Sheet Feeding Guide for Folded Flap Conveyance
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing sheet feeding devices often experience conveyance failures when sheets are conveyed in a fold line direction, leading to transport issues and potential damage due to the design of air blowing and suction units that can cause sheets to drop or jam.
Innovation Solution
The introduction of a guide that supports the flap of sheets or envelopes, positioned between the attraction belt and the inclined plate, prevents the flap from falling into the space between the conveyance passage and the inclined plate, thereby reinforcing the fold and preventing paper jams.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If air blowing and suction units are used to convey sheets, then sheet feeding capability is improved, but conveyance failure occurs when sheets are conveyed in fold line direction
Solution Approach 1:
A guide structure is introduced as an intermediary element between the air blowing/suction units and the sheet flap. The guide has a guide face that contacts and supports the flap during conveyance, preventing it from falling into the space between the conveyance passage and inclined plate. This mediator resolves the contradiction by enabling reliable conveyance of folded sheets while maintaining the air-based feeding capability.
2Ease of operation
If space is provided below sheet conveyance passage for easy sheet loading, then ease of operation is improved, but sheet flap may fall into space causing paper jams
Solution Approach 1:
The guide structure acts as an intermediary barrier that prevents the sheet flap from falling into the space below the conveyance passage. The guide face provides support during loading and conveyance, allowing the space to remain accessible for easy sheet loading while preventing jams caused by flaps dropping into the space.
Solution Approach 2:
The guide structure is positioned in advance to intercept and support the flap before it can fall into the problematic space. By providing preliminary support during the loading and initial conveyance phases, the system prevents the harmful action of flap dropping before it can occur.
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 configuration effectively reduces the likelihood of conveyance failures and sheet damage by maintaining the sheet's posture and preventing it from dropping into the space where it could be jammed, ensuring smooth feeding even when sheets are loaded with folded flaps.
Implementation Method 1
a floating air blowing unit that blows floating air to an uppermost sheet of a sheet bundle to float the uppermost sheet
Implementation Method 2
a suction belt device that conveys the floating uppermost sheet
Implementation Method 3
an air suction unit that sucks air so that downward force is applied to a sheet near the floating uppermost sheet
Data Source
Figure 1
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Figure 3
AI summary
A sheet feeding device (200) includes a sheet loader (11), a first conveyor (21, 70), a second conveyor (56, 71), and a guide (55, 58, 75). The sheet loader (11) is configured to load a sheet bundle (P) including a sheet (P1) with a flap (P1a). The first conveyor (21, 70) is configured to convey the sheet (P1) with the flap (P1a) loaded on the sheet loader (11). The second conveyor (56, 71) is disposed adjacent to the first conveyor (21, 70). The guide (55, 58, 75) is disposed below the flap (P1a) of the sheet (P1) to be conveyed, between the second conveyor (56, 71) and the sheet loader (11) in a sheet conveying direction of the sheet (PI), and is configured to guide the sheet (P1).