Sheet Feeding Device Air-Blowing Control for Sheet Separation

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing sheet feeding devices experience separation defects due to increased adsorption force between sheets over time, even after air blowing operations to reduce close contact, leading to feeding issues.

Innovation Solution

A control mechanism that alternates between air blowing and sheet feeding operations, stopping the air blowing after a predetermined time to maintain optimal sheet separation by periodically reducing adsorption force.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Ease of operation

If air blowing operation is performed to reduce close contact between sheets, then sheet separation is improved, but adsorption force between sheets increases over time leading to separation defects

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvesheet separationVSAvoidseparation defect occurrence

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of operationVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The patent implements periodic air blowing operations at predetermined time intervals after the initial blowing. The control unit executes subsequent blowing operations when the predetermined time has elapsed since the previous blowing operation completed, maintaining reduced adsorption force throughout the sheet feeding process and preventing separation defects.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #19Periodic action

2Reliability

If air blowing is stopped after predetermined time to execute feeding operation, then feeding reliability is improved, but adsorption force increases again requiring repeated blowing operations

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvefeeding operation reliabilityVSAvoidtime for repeated blowing operations

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The control unit predicts when adsorption force will reach a level causing separation defects by calculating based on the elapsed time since the previous blowing operation. It executes subsequent blowing operations proactively when the predetermined time has elapsed, before separation defects actually occur, ensuring continuous reliable feeding without waiting for defect detection.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

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

Prevents separation defects by ensuring the adsorption force between sheets does not exceed the feeding device's capacity, thereby maintaining reliable sheet feeding.

Implementation Method 1

an air blowing portion configured to blow air to a side end of the sheet bundle

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectAir flow:

Implementation Method 2

adsorption force between the sheets may increase

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectAdsorption: Adsorption

Data Source

PatentUS20250320074A1Sheet feeding device and image forming apparatus

Publication Date: 2025.10.16 CANON KK

AI summary

A sheet feeding device includes a supporting portion to support a sheet bundle, a feeder to separate and feed a sheet one by one from the sheet bundle, an air blower to blow air to a side end of the sheet bundle and controller to execute a blowing operation in which the air is blown to the side end of the sheet by the air blower and a feeding operation in which the sheet is fed by the feeder. After execution of the blowing operation. the controller executes the feeding operation in a state of stopping the blowing operation in a case where a predetermined time has not elapsed from completion of the blowing operation, and executes another blowing operation and executes the feeding operation in a stated of stopping the anther blowing operation in a case where the predetermined time has elapsed from the completion of the blowing operation.