Paper-sheet Processing Apparatus Standby Power Control

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Solution Overview

Problem

The existing paper-sheet processing apparatuses face challenges in power saving as turning off the power supply to the motor driving the backup causes the backup to shift, necessitating a complex recovery operation when resuming normal mode, which involves restacking paper sheets.

Innovation Solution

The apparatus incorporates a mode setting unit that suspends power supply to certain operational parts during standby mode while maintaining power to the backup motor, using a fixing unit to secure the backup's position, allowing for immediate restart without re-stacking paper sheets.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Loss of energy

If the power supply to the backup motor is turned off during standby mode, then power saving is achieved, but the backup position shifts requiring complex recovery operations

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvepower consumptionVSAvoidrecovery operation complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
Loss of energyVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The backup motor is maintained in a ready state with power supply during standby mode, performing preliminary action to prevent position shift before it occurs. This allows the backup to remain positioned without requiring complex recovery operations when normal mode resumes, while still achieving power saving by suspending power to other operational parts.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

2Loss of energy

If the power supply to operational parts is suspended during standby mode, then power saving is achieved, but the apparatus cannot immediately resume normal operation

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvepower consumptionVSAvoidrestart time
Core Design Contradiction:
Loss of energyVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The power supply system is segmented into multiple parts: operational parts (pickup unit, inspection unit, banding unit) have power suspended during standby, while the backup motor receives continued power to maintain position. This selective segmentation allows power saving while preventing position shift, enabling immediate resume capability without the time loss associated with full system shutdown and recovery operations.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Data Source

PatentEP2778106B1Paper-sheet processing apparatus
Publication Date: 2016.08.31 KK TOSHIBA
  • EP2778106B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP2778106B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP2778106B1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

According to one embodiment, a paper-sheet processing apparatus includes a feed unit (11), a pickup unit (14), an inspection unit (18), a stacking unit (66), a backup drive unit, a banding unit (68), at least one power supply, a mode setting unit, and a fixing unit. At least one power supply supplies electric power to electrically operational parts of the extraction unit, inspection unit, stacking unit, backup drive unit, and a banding unit. The mode setting unit sets a standby mode in which electric power supply to at least one of the electrically operational parts is suspended temporarily. While the standby mode is set by the mode setting unit, the fixing unit fixes the backup to a position for setting of the standby mode.