Sheet Feeding Device Duct Pressure Management
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Solution Overview
Problem
Air-suction sheet feeding devices face challenges in stopping air flow quickly enough to achieve desired sheet feeding speeds, leading to sheets being blown violently or away due to increased air pressure when the duct is blocked.
Innovation Solution
A sheet feeding device with a duct having doors that can be opened to discharge air, allowing controlled re-blowing without increasing air pressure, featuring a shutter member to block airflow and an openable/closeable member to manage air flow passages.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Speed
If the duct is blocked by a shutter member to stop air flow quickly, then sheet feeding speed is improved, but air pressure in the duct increases causing sheets to be blown violently or away
Solution Approach 1:
An openable/closeable member (intermediary element) is introduced between the fan and the shutter member to gradually discharge accumulated air from the duct. This intermediary mechanism allows controlled release of air pressure while maintaining the flow control function, preventing sheets from being blown violently when the shutter opens.
Solution Approach 2:
The openable/closeable member performs preliminary action by gradually discharging accumulated air from the duct before the shutter member fully opens. This preliminary discharge of air pressure prevents the harmful effect of sheets being blown violently, allowing the shutter to then open completely without causing damage.
2Productivity
If air is continuously blown toward sheets to maintain high-speed feeding, then productivity is improved, but sheets may run violently or be blown away when air flow is restarted after blocking
Solution Approach 1:
The openable/closeable member serves as an intermediary that gradually discharges accumulated air from the duct in a controlled manner. This prevents sudden air flow bursts when restarting, maintaining sheet stability while allowing continuous high-speed operation capability.
Solution Approach 2:
The system implements periodic controlled discharge of air through the openable/closeable member during operation cycles. This periodic action manages air pressure buildup and release, ensuring stable sheet handling during continuous high-speed feeding operations and restarts.
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
Enables appropriate re-blowing of air without causing sheets to deform or be blown away, maintaining stability and efficiency in sheet feeding by reducing air pressure in the duct.
Implementation Method 1
blows air toward an end face of an upper part of a bundle of loaded sheets, thereby floating sheets
Implementation Method 2
transports each sheet by a suction belt (an air suction belt)
Implementation Method 3
air staying in the duct by blocking the flow passage by the shutter member is discharged from the opening part
Data Source
AI summary
An aspect of the present invention includes: a sheet storage unit configured to store sheets; an air blowing unit configured to blow air; a duct configured as a flow passage to an air blowing outlet for blowing air sent from the air blowing unit toward the front end of an upper part of a sheet bundle stored in the sheet storage unit; a suction transport unit configured to suck a sheet floating from the sheet bundle upward and transport the sheet; a shutter member configured to block the flow passage in the duct; and an openable/closeable member configured to open an opening part of the duct, such that air staying in the duct by blocking the flow passage by the shutter member is discharged from the opening part.