Sheet Feeder Dual Optical Detection for Low-Stack Reliability
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Existing sheet feeders face issues with sheet feeding failure when the number of sheets approaches zero, leading to low space density in the sheet floating region, causing the uppermost sheet to fail in reaching the attraction belt, resulting in incomplete sheet feeding.
Innovation Solution
A sheet feeder system incorporating a first and second reflective optical detector to detect upper and multiple floating sheets, respectively, with a controller managing the sheet loader's elevation based on their output values, ensuring the correct density of floating sheets in the sheet floating region, thereby preventing sheet feeding failures.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a single reflective optical sensor is used to detect floating sheets, then the device complexity is reduced, but the sheet feeding reliability deteriorates when the number of sheets approaches zero
Solution Approach 1:
The detection system is segmented into two distinct reflective optical sensors: a first sensor for detecting upper floating sheets and a second sensor for detecting multiple floating sheets below. This segmentation allows each sensor to specialize in detecting specific sheet positions, improving overall detection accuracy and sheet feeding reliability without requiring a single complex sensor system.
Solution Approach 2:
The detection system employs a nested arrangement where the second reflective optical sensor detects sheets below the range of the first sensor, creating overlapping detection zones. This nested detection approach ensures comprehensive coverage of the sheet floating region, maintaining high reliability while keeping the overall system structure compact and manageable.
2Quantity of substance
If the sheet loader elevation is increased to maintain sheet density, then the sheet floating density is improved, but the risk of sheet feed failure increases when sheets are low
Solution Approach 1:
The system implements feedback control by continuously monitoring the output values of both reflective optical sensors and dynamically adjusting the sheet loader elevation accordingly. When the first sensor detects reduced upper sheet density or the second sensor detects insufficient lower sheet density, the controller automatically adjusts the elevation to maintain optimal sheet floating density, ensuring reliable sheet feeding even when the sheet supply is low.
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 system effectively maintains the correct sheet density, preventing sheet feeding failures and ensuring consistent sheet feeding even when the number of sheets is low, by adjusting the loader elevation to optimize sheet floating and conveying.
Implementation Method 1
a reflective optical detector including a first reflective optical detector configured to detect the upper sheets floated by the air blower, and a second reflective optical detector configured to detect multiple floating sheets located below the floating sheets detected by the first reflective optical detector
Implementation Method 2
The air blower blows air to the sheet bundle loaded on the sheet loader and float upper sheets of the sheet bundle
Data Source
AI summary
A sheet feeder, which is included in an image forming apparatus and an image forming system, includes a sheet loader on which a sheet bundle is loaded, an air blower to blow air to the sheet bundle loaded on the sheet loader and float upper sheets of the sheet bundle, a loader elevation device to lift and lower the sheet loader, a reflective optical detector including a first reflective optical detector to detect the upper sheets floated by the air blower and a second reflective optical detector to detect multiple floating sheets located below the floating sheets detected by the first reflective optical detector, and a controller configured to control the loader elevation device to perform a lifting operation of the sheet loader based on a combination of an output value of the first reflective optical detector and an output value of the second reflective optical detector.