Sheet Feeder Tip-End Air Blower Prevents Overlap Transport
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing sheet-shaped medium feeders face challenges in preventing overlap transport when the leading ends of stacked sheets are bent upward, leading to inefficiencies and potential misalignment during the feeding process.
Innovation Solution
The feeder incorporates a mount board that allows vertical movement, a suction device to transport the uppermost sheet, left and right edge air blowers to align edges, and a tip-end air blower to separate the bent leading end of the second uppermost sheet from the first, ensuring proper spacing and preventing overlap transport.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If the uppermost sheet is sucked by the suction portion, then the sheet is transported to the transporter, but the upwardly bent leading end of the second uppermost sheet may cause overlap transport
Solution Approach 1:
The tip-end air blower applies air to the leading end of the second uppermost sheet before the suction portion operates, creating a preliminary separating force that prevents the bent leading end from being drawn upward during suction. This preemptive action counteracts the potential overlap transport problem before it occurs.
Solution Approach 2:
The system performs a preliminary spacing operation by blowing air to separate the leading end of the second uppermost sheet from the uppermost sheet before the actual suction and transport process begins. This preliminary separation ensures that when suction occurs, the bent leading end does not cause overlap.
2Reliability
If the leading end of the second uppermost sheet is spaced apart by blowing air, then overlap transport is prevented, but additional air blowing operation is required
Solution Approach 1:
The tip-end air blower serves multiple functions: it separates the leading end of the second uppermost sheet during normal operation, and can also be used to prevent overlap when bent leading ends are detected. This multi-functionality reduces the need for additional dedicated components.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent combines the sheet separation function and the overlap prevention function into a single air blowing operation system. The same air blowing mechanism that separates sheets during normal feeding also prevents overlap transport when bent leading ends are present, merging two functions into one integrated system.
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 solution effectively prevents overlap transport by ensuring the bent leading ends are spaced apart, maintaining efficient feeding and alignment of sheets, even when the second uppermost sheet has an upwardly bent leading end, thereby enhancing the reliability and precision of the sheet handling process.
Implementation Method 1
a suction portion that sucks the uppermost one of the sheet-shaped media stacked on the mount board
Implementation Method 2
a tip-end air blower that blows air to below the uppermost sheet-shaped medium sucked by the suction portion from a position downstream from a transportation leading end of the uppermost sheet-shaped medium in a transport direction
Implementation Method 3
left and right edge air blowers that blow air to transportation left and right edge portions of upper ones of the sheet-shaped media stacked
Data Source
AI summary
A feeder includes a mount board that moves vertically while allowing sheet-shaped media to be stacked thereon; a transport device allows an uppermost one of the sheet-shaped media stacked on the mount board to be sucked by a suction portion to transport the uppermost medium to a transporter and to feed the uppermost medium to a destination; left and right edge air blowers blow air to transportation left and right edge portions of upper ones of the sheet-shaped media stacked; and a tip-end air blower blows air to below the uppermost medium sucked by the suction portion from a position downstream from a transportation leading end of the uppermost medium in a transport direction. When the uppermost medium is sucked by the suction portion, the feeder performs a first operation of spacing an upwardly bent transportation leading-end portion of a second uppermost medium apart downward from the sucked uppermost medium.