Vertical Alignment Members for Sheet Stacking Misalignment
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing sheet processing devices face challenges in preventing misalignment of sheets during post-processing operations such as stapling or saddle folding.
Innovation Solution
The implementation of vertical alignment members that feed sheets towards a stacker and are movable integrally with the stacker, ensuring that the sheets are properly aligned and supported during post-processing.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If sheets are conveyed through the conveyance path to the stacker, then sheets are stacked for post-processing, but misalignment occurs in the sheet bundle during post-processing operations
Solution Approach 1:
The vertical alignment members perform preliminary alignment action on the sheet bundle before post-processing operations. The members are positioned to contact and align the sheets vertically as they are conveyed to the stacker, ensuring proper alignment is established in advance before any post-processing such as stapling or folding occurs.
Solution Approach 2:
The vertical alignment members act as intermediary elements between the conveyance path and the stacker. These members are movable and can be positioned to contact the sheet bundle, providing an intermediate alignment function that ensures sheets are properly aligned before being stacked and processed, thereby preventing misalignment without requiring changes to the conveyance or stacking mechanisms themselves.
2Manufacturing precision
If vertical alignment members are made movable integrally with the stacker, then alignment is maintained during conveyance, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The vertical alignment members are merged with the stacker by making them movable integrally with it. This means the alignment members are attached to or form part of the stacker assembly, allowing them to move together as a single unit during conveyance. This integration maintains alignment accuracy while reducing the number of separate mechanisms required.
Solution Approach 2:
The stacker assembly is given multi-functionality by incorporating the vertical alignment members into it. The stacker not only performs its primary function of stacking sheets but also performs the additional function of vertical alignment through the integrated members. This reduces overall device complexity by combining multiple functions into a single mechanism.
Data Source
AI summary
A sheet processing device in an embodiment includes a conveyance path, a stacker, a post processing section, and vertical alignment members. The conveyance path conveys sheets in a conveying direction and stacks the sheets. The stacker restricts a leading end of the conveyed sheets. The stacker is movable in the conveying direction. The post processing section processes the sheets further on an upstream side in the conveying direction than a position where the sheets are supported by the stacker. The vertical alignment members feed the sheets in the conveying direction toward the stacker. The vertical alignment members are enabled to come into contact with a bundle of the sheets supported by the stacker. The vertical alignment members are movable in the conveying direction integrally with the stacker.