Sheet Feed Device Tray Height Control via Light Reflection
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Existing sheet feed devices face accuracy issues in controlling the height position of the sheet feed tray due to various factors such as sheet size, type, color, and individual device differences, leading to problems like multiple feeding or no feeding, and floating unevenness, which affects the precision of sheet feeding.
Innovation Solution
A sheet feed device with a controller that acquires light reflection values during sheet floating, determines a threshold value, and adjusts the tray height based on these values, incorporating features like stop periods for air blowing and averaging sensor values to improve accuracy and reduce noise in sensor readings.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If a threshold value is set for every combination of sheet sizes, sheet types, and sheet colors to address floating state variations, then the adaptability to various sheet conditions is improved, but the device complexity increases due to multiple threshold configurations
Solution Approach 1:
The system automatically determines appropriate threshold values through self-learning by acquiring sensor values during sheet floating operations and identifying relationships between sensor values and feeding results, eliminating the need for manual threshold configuration for each sheet condition
Solution Approach 2:
The system changes the operating parameters (threshold values) based on learned patterns from actual operation data, adapting to different sheet conditions dynamically rather than using fixed pre-configured thresholds
2Manufacturing precision
If the sheet feed tray is lifted frequently to maintain target position, then the positioning accuracy is improved, but the productivity decreases due to increased adjustment operations
Solution Approach 1:
The system uses sensor feedback to determine when tray position adjustment is actually needed based on real sheet floating conditions, rather than adjusting at fixed intervals, thus maintaining accuracy while minimizing unnecessary operations
Solution Approach 2:
The system dynamically adjusts the tray position based on real-time sensor readings and learned threshold values, making adjustments only when necessary to maintain optimal sheet floating conditions
3Reliability
If air blowing is applied continuously to float sheets, then the sheet floating reliability is improved, but the sheet alignment deteriorates causing floating unevenness
Solution Approach 1:
The system applies air blowing in periodic pulses rather than continuously, with timing coordinated to float sheets for feeding while allowing alignment to be maintained between pulses
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
The solution enhances the accuracy of sheet feeding by dynamically adjusting the tray height based on real-time sensor data, reducing errors in sheet feeding and maintaining optimal sheet alignment, thus preventing issues like multiple or no feeding.
Implementation Method 1
a detector configured to emit light from a side of the sheet stack toward the sheet stack and receive light reflected from the sheet stack
Implementation Method 2
a floating unit configured to blow air to the sheet stack to float sheets of the sheet stack
Data Source
AI summary
A controller drives a floating unit and a conveyor to perform a sheet feed operation, during the sheet feed operation, acquires an amount of received light at a detector during floating of sheets floated by the floating unit each time each sheet is conveyed by the conveyor, and perform a following control of lifting a stacking tray upon the acquired amount of received light being less than a threshold value. The controller, after start of the sheet feed operation, samples amounts of received light at the detector during floating of the sheets floated by the floating unit, performs a threshold value determination process of determining the threshold value by using the sampled amounts of received light, and starts the following control upon determining the threshold value.