Sheet Feed Device Air Direction Conversion
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Existing sheet feed devices face issues with multiple sheet feeding due to insufficient separation of the top sheet from subsequent sheets, often caused by air blowing in an obliquely upward direction, which generates a floating force and interferes with the conveyance process.
Innovation Solution
A sheet feed device with a conveyor and a blower that blows air in an obliquely upward direction, and a direction converter, such as conveyance belts, which converts the air direction to a horizontal flow between the top sheet and the second sheet, preventing the generation of a floating force and ensuring proper separation.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If air is blown in an obliquely upward direction to separate sheets, then sheet separation is attempted, but a floating force is generated causing multiple sheets to be fed
Solution Approach 1:
Instead of blowing air upward to lift and separate sheets, the invention blows air downward from below the conveyor toward the sheet stack. This inverted approach pushes sheets downward, preventing floating while achieving separation through pressure differential between the upward-blowing separation air and downward-blowing conveyance air.
Solution Approach 2:
The invention applies different air blowing directions to different functional zones: upward-blowing separation air is applied locally at the sheet stack position for separation, while downward-blowing conveyance air is applied locally at the conveyor position for stable sheet conveyance without floating.
2Reliability
If air is blown horizontally to prevent floating force, then multiple feeding is prevented, but the blow opening and sheets interfere with each other
Solution Approach 1:
The invention transitions from horizontal air blowing to downward air blowing from below the conveyor. This dimensional change in air flow direction eliminates interference between the blow opening and sheets while maintaining stable conveyance, as the air is delivered from a different spatial dimension (below the conveyor rather than beside it).
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 configuration effectively decreases the occurrence of multiple sheet feeding by increasing the pressure between sheets and ensuring accurate separation of the top sheet from subsequent sheets, enhancing the reliability of the sheet feeding process.
Implementation Method 1
a blower configured to blow air in an obliquely upward direction from a position lower than the conveyor toward the sheet stack
Implementation Method 2
a direction converter configured to convert a direction of the air blown by the blower to a direction which is downward more than a direction of the air at a position where the air is blown from the blower
Implementation Method 3
let the air flow in between the top sheet and a second sheet subsequent to the top sheet of the sheets floated from the sheet stack
Data Source
AI summary
A sheet feed device includes: a conveyor configured to convey a top sheet of sheets floated from a sheet stack; a blower configured to blow air in an obliquely upward direction from a position lower than the conveyor toward the sheet stack; and a direction converter configured to convert a direction of the air blown by the blower to a direction which is downward more than a direction of the air at a position where the air is blown from the blower and let the air flow in between the top sheet and a second sheet subsequent to the top sheet of the sheets floated from the sheet stack.