Media Sheet Feeding via Trailing Edge Air

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Solution Overview

Problem

In image production devices, the consistent separation of top media sheets from the media stack is challenging, especially for larger sheets, due to edge welds and ambient conditions, leading to issues like multi-feeds and mis-feeds, as conventional air fluffers fail to accurately direct air for separation.

Innovation Solution

Applying air downward to the trailing edge of the top media sheet using the Bernoulli effect to create a high-speed boundary layer, which lifts the sheet and reduces friction, allowing for consistent and efficient separation and feeding.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If conventional air fluffers are used to force air into the media stack, then air is introduced to reduce resistance at the trailing edge, but the air cannot be directed accurately enough to consistently separate the top media sheet

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveconsistent separation of top media sheetVSAvoidair direction accuracy

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSMeasurement precision

Solution Approach 1:

The air delivery system provides air to a specific localized area at the trailing edge of the top media sheet rather than forcing air into the entire media stack. This localized air delivery directly at the separation point enables precise control over where air acts to lift the sheet, achieving consistent separation without affecting other sheets in the stack.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #3Local quality

Solution Approach 2:

A trailing edge air delivery system acts as an intermediary between the air source and the top media sheet. This intermediary system includes components such as air delivery channels or nozzles positioned to deliver air precisely to the trailing edge area, enabling accurate control of air direction and application point for reliable sheet separation.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

2Reliability

If air is forced into the media stack to separate sheets, then resistance at the trailing edge may be reduced, but the air forces a subset of media sheets rather than focusing on the top sheet separation

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvetop sheet separation accuracyVSAvoidair application control

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The system applies air locally to the trailing edge of the top media sheet rather than forcing air into the bulk media stack. This localized application ensures that only the top sheet is affected by the air flow, enabling precise control over which sheet is separated without inadvertently affecting other sheets in the stack.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #3Local quality

Solution Approach 2:

The air delivery is segmented to target specifically the trailing edge region of the top media sheet. By dividing the air application into a focused segment rather than a broad application across the stack, the system achieves precise control over sheet separation while maintaining ease of operation.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

3Reliability

If the top media sheet is not fully separated due to edge welds and contact issues, then the feed head may not acquire the sheet properly, but increasing separation force may cause multi-feeds or mis-feeds

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvesheet acquisition reliabilityVSAvoidmulti-feeds and mis-feeds

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSObject-generated harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The trailing edge air delivery system performs preliminary separation action on the top media sheet before the feed head attempts to acquire it. By delivering air to the trailing edge in advance, the system pre-lifts or pre-separates the sheet, ensuring that when the feed head engages, the sheet is already properly positioned and separated from the stack, preventing both failure to acquire and multi-feed conditions.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The air delivery system applies a preliminary counteracting force to edge welds and contact issues that prevent proper sheet separation. By delivering air to the trailing edge before feed head engagement, the system counteracts the harmful effects of edge welds and ambient conditions that would otherwise cause acquisition failures or multi-feeds.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #9Preliminary anti-action

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 method ensures reliable acquisition of the top media sheet, reduces frictional loads, and prevents multi-sheet acquisition issues, particularly for longer sheets, by applying air from above the stack, improving the feed process efficiency.

Implementation Method 1

Applying air downward to the trailing edge of the top media sheet using the Bernoulli effect to create a high-speed boundary layer, which lifts the sheet and reduces friction

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectBernoulli effect: Bernoulli Effect

Implementation Method 2

create a high-speed boundary layer, which lifts the sheet and reduces friction

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectBoundary layer: Boundary Layer

Data Source

PatentUS9067439B2Method and apparatus for feeding media sheets in an image production device

Publication Date: 2015.06.30 XEROX CORP

AI summary

A method and apparatus for feeding media sheets in an image production device is disclosed. The method may include applying air downward to a top of a trailing edge of a media sheet located at a top of a media stack that is to be fed to an image production section of the image production device, the applied air causing the top media sheet to separate from the media stack, and feeding the separated top media sheet to the image production section.