Sheet Feeder Brightness Measurement for Air Flow Control
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Solution Overview
Problem
Adjusting the air blowing amount in air blowing type sheet feeders is cumbersome and requires visual observation, and existing automated methods are complicated and prone to errors due to sheet warpage and varying cutting conditions.
Innovation Solution
An air blowing type sheet feeder with a brightness measuring section to determine the appropriate air blowing amount by measuring light reflected from the sheet bundle at multiple points, allowing for automatic adjustment without visual confirmation, using a controller to regulate the air blower based on measured brightness levels.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If air blowing amount is increased to float sheets, then sheet separation is improved, but sheets may be conveyed in a state where two or more sheets are superimposed
Solution Approach 1:
The patent uses a camera to capture images of the sheet bundle end face, calculates the distance between the uppermost sheet and the sheet below it, and feeds this information back to automatically adjust the air blowing amount. This closed-loop feedback mechanism ensures that the air blowing amount is precisely controlled to float sheets without causing multiple sheets to be conveyed together, thereby resolving the contradiction between sheet separation and conveyance accuracy.
2Reliability
If air blowing amount is decreased to prevent sheet superposition, then sheet conveyance accuracy is improved, but no sheet is floated
Solution Approach 1:
The camera-based distance measurement system provides real-time feedback on the floating state of sheets. The controller uses this information to automatically adjust the air blowing amount, ensuring that sheets are properly floated without requiring manual visual observation. This resolves the contradiction by maintaining conveyance accuracy while ensuring reliable sheet floating through automated control.
Solution Approach 2:
The system performs automatic adjustment of air blowing amount based on camera image analysis, eliminating the need for manual visual observation and adjustment by the user. The system serves itself by automatically detecting sheet floating state and adjusting parameters accordingly, resolving the contradiction between automated control and operational simplicity.
3Device complexity
If manual visual observation is used to adjust air blowing amount, then adjustment simplicity is maintained, but user intervention and time consumption increase
Solution Approach 1:
The system automatically adjusts the air blowing amount by capturing images with a camera, calculating sheet distances, and controlling the air blower without user intervention. This self-service mechanism eliminates the time-consuming manual visual observation and adjustment process, resolving the contradiction between device complexity and time loss by automating the adjustment process.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent replaces manual visual observation and mechanical adjustment with an optical measurement system (camera) and automated control. The camera captures images, the system calculates distances automatically, and the controller adjusts air blowing without manual intervention, substituting mechanical/manual processes with automated optical-mechanical systems to reduce adjustment time.
4Extent of automation
If camera-based automatic adjustment is implemented, then user intervention is reduced, but operation complexity and calculation requirements increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces manual adjustment operations with an automated optical measurement and control system. The camera captures images, the system automatically calculates sheet distances using image processing, and the controller adjusts air blowing parameters automatically. This substitution of manual mechanical operations with automated optical-electronic systems achieves high extent of automation while managing operation complexity through integrated software control.
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
Automatically adjusts the air blowing amount to ensure proper sheet separation and feeding without user intervention, simplifying the process and improving accuracy by measuring light reflection patterns from the sheet bundle.
Implementation Method 1
a brightness measuring section adapted to measure brightness of light reflected from the end face of the sheet bundle at two or more points in the height direction of the sheet bundle
Implementation Method 2
an air blower adapted to blow air onto an end face of a stacked sheet bundle to thereby float the sheets of the sheet bundle
Data Source
AI summary
A sheet feeder includes an air blower adapted to blow air onto an end face of a stacked sheet bundle to thereby float the sheets of the sheet bundle, a conveying section adapted to convey the uppermost floated sheet, a brightness measuring section adapted to measure brightness of light reflected from the end face of the sheet bundle at two or more points in the height direction of the sheet bundle, a determination unit adapted to determine, based on the brightness of each point measured by the brightness measuring section, whether or not the air blowing amount of the air blower is appropriate, and a controller adapted to control the air blowing amount of the air blower based on the determination of the determination unit.