Two-Ply Sheet Separation Using Curved Conveyance and Separation Claws

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing sheet separation devices struggle to effectively separate two-ply sheets that are overlapped and bonded at a bonding portion, often causing damage to the sheets during the separation process.

Innovation Solution

A sheet separation device with a conveyor that bends the two-ply sheet in a direction intersecting its conveyance path, using a winding roller to create a gap between the sheets and separation claws to separate them, while minimizing contact with the sheet edges, and a gripper mechanism to handle the sheets without damaging them.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If a sheet separation device is used to separate two-ply sheets, then the sheets can be separated, but the sheets may be damaged during the separation process

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvesheet separation effectivenessVSAvoidsheet damage

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The conveyor bends the two-ply sheet in advance before the separation process, creating a curvature that facilitates subsequent separation while minimizing direct contact and damage to the sheet edges during the actual separation operation

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The curved conveyor acts as an intermediary mechanism between the sheet feeding system and the separation mechanism, preparing the sheet in a controlled manner that reduces the risk of damage during separation

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

2Reliability

If the sheet separation device is designed with more components to improve separation effectiveness, then separation reliability improves, but device size and cost increase

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvesheet separation effectivenessVSAvoiddevice size and cost

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The curved conveyor is designed to perform multiple functions: it conveys the sheet, bends the sheet in the required direction, and prepares it for separation. This multi-functionality reduces the need for additional separate components, thereby limiting increases in device size and cost while maintaining separation effectiveness

Inventive Principle:

Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

Solution Approach 2:

The separation device integrates the conveyor and bending mechanisms into a unified structure, combining multiple functions into a single compact unit that achieves effective separation without requiring proportionally more components

Inventive Principle:

Principle #5Merging (Combining)

Data Source

PatentUS12485660B2Sheet separation device, sheet laminator, image forming apparatus, and image forming system

Publication Date: 2025.12.02 RICOH CO LTD

AI summary

A sheet separation device includes a sheet separator and a conveyor. The sheet separator separates a non-bonding portion of a two-ply sheet in which two sheets are overlapped and bonded together at a bonding portion of the two-ply sheet. The conveyor conveys the two-ply sheet toward the sheet separator while bending the two-ply sheet in a direction that intersects a conveyance direction of the two-ply sheet.