Air-Suction Sheet Supplying Device with Rotating Belt
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing air-suction sheet supplying devices face issues with effectively vacuuming small size recording sheets due to air leakage when the suction opening is sized for large sheets, and conversely, large sheets are not conveyed smoothly when sized for small sheets, leading to inefficiencies and increased costs.
Innovation Solution
The air-suction sheet supplying device features a belt with varying distributions of suction holes in a direction perpendicular to the conveying direction, allowing for selection of the appropriate area based on the recording sheet size, using a detecting section to control the starting position of the suction operation.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If the suction opening is determined based on a large size recording sheet, then large sheets can be effectively vacuumed, but air leakage occurs with small sheets leading to ineffective vacuuming
Solution Approach 1:
The belt member is designed with multiple areas having different distributions of air-suction holes, allowing the system to dynamically adapt to different sheet sizes. The detecting section identifies the sheet size, and the control section selects the appropriate area on the belt member, making the suction opening configuration dynamic rather than fixed.
Solution Approach 2:
Different areas of the belt member have different distributions of air-suction holes tailored for specific sheet sizes. The first area has a distribution suitable for large sheets while the second area has a distribution suitable for small sheets, allowing each local region to optimize its vacuuming performance for its designated sheet size.
2Reliability
If the suction opening is determined based on a small size recording sheet, then small sheets can be effectively vacuumed, but large sheets are not conveyed smoothly and may be folded
Solution Approach 1:
The system dynamically switches between different belt member areas based on detected sheet size. When a large sheet is detected, the control section positions the first area under the suction opening; when a small sheet is detected, it positions the second area, ensuring optimal conveyance conditions for each sheet size.
Solution Approach 2:
The belt member has locally optimized hole distributions: the first area with a pattern suitable for large sheets that provides smooth conveyance, and the second area with a pattern optimized for small sheets that ensures effective vacuuming without folding.
3Reliability
If air-suction force is increased to prevent air leakage with small sheets, then vacuuming effectiveness improves, but production cost and sound increase due to high power fan requirement
Solution Approach 1:
Instead of uniformly increasing suction force across the entire belt, the invention creates local quality differences in hole distributions. The second area has a hole pattern optimized for small sheets that maintains vacuuming effectiveness without requiring excessive suction force, thereby avoiding the need for a high-power fan.
Solution Approach 2:
The invention changes the physical parameters of the suction system by providing multiple hole distributions with different characteristics. This allows the system to use appropriate parameters for each sheet size rather than always using high-power settings, reducing both production cost and operational sound.
4Adaptability or versatility
If a shutter mechanism is used to change the size of the suction aperture, then adaptability to different sheet sizes is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The invention achieves dynamic adaptability not through a mechanical shutter that moves to change aperture size, but through a rotating belt member that presents different pre-configured hole distributions to the fixed suction opening. This dynamic switching mechanism is simpler as it uses the existing rotational motion of the belt rather than adding a separate shutter actuation system.
5Adaptability or versatility
If a fan speed control mechanism is used to change suction force, then adaptability to different sheet sizes is improved, but device complexity and energy consumption increase
Solution Approach 1:
The invention uses local quality differences in hole distributions rather than global fan speed changes. Each area of the belt member has a hole pattern optimized for specific sheet sizes, allowing the fan to operate at consistent, moderate speed while achieving effective vacuuming for both small and large sheets through the appropriate belt area configuration.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
This solution ensures efficient vacuuming and smooth conveyance of recording sheets of varying sizes without the need for high-power fans or complex shutter mechanisms, reducing production costs and improving operational efficiency.
Implementation Method 1
an air-suction duct (21), arranged to face a top surface of the recording sheet stacked on the sheet stacking plate (10), and having an air-suction opening (31) with a predetermined width, wherein the air-suction duct (21) sucks air through the air-suction opening (31) to draw up the recording sheet
Implementation Method 2
a belt member (20), rotatably arranged so as to cover the air-suction opening (31)... the belts are rotated, the vacuumed recording sheet is supplied to a conveying roller, arranged downstream
Data Source
AI summary
An air-suction sheet supplying device includes a sheet stacking plate to stack recording sheets; an air-suction duct, arranged to face a top surface of the recording sheet stacked on the sheet stacking plate, and having an air-suction opening with a predetermined width; a belt member, rotatably arranged so as to cover the air-suction opening, and having plural areas having various distributions of suction holes in a direction perpendicular to a conveying direction; a driving section to rotate the belt member; a detecting section to detect a position of the belt member in a rotating direction; and a control section to operate the driving section so as to set a starting position of suction work, in a conveying direction of the belt member, on an area having suitable distribution of the suction holes, based on information detected by the detecting section.