Sheet Feeding Tray Control for High-Stiffness Sheets
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing sheet feeding apparatuses face issues with feeding failure due to insufficient tray raising when handling sheets with high stiffness, as the trailing edge of such sheets is less likely to sag, leading to shortened detection times and reduced floating sheets.
Innovation Solution
Implementing a control unit that adjusts the raising time of the tray based on sheet stiffness, allowing for extended raising when the trailing edge of high-stiffness sheets is detected below a reference position, and incorporating an air blowing unit to float sheets for accurate detection and conveyance.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If the tray is raised based on detection from sheet surface sensors, then the height of the upper surface of the sheet is controlled to be within an appropriate range, but the tray raising is insufficient for high stiffness sheets, leading to feeding failure
Solution Approach 1:
The control unit executes a preliminary tray raising operation before the sheet feeding process. By raising the tray in advance based on predetermined conditions (such as sheet type or detection signals), the system ensures that the tray is positioned correctly before the sheet is fed, preventing feeding failures due to insufficient tray raising for high stiffness sheets
Solution Approach 2:
The system uses sheet surface sensors to detect the upper surface of the sheet and provides feedback to the control unit. Based on this feedback, the control unit adjusts the tray raising operation, extending the raising time or adjusting the raising position to accommodate high stiffness sheets that do not sag significantly, thereby ensuring reliable sheet feeding
2Adaptability or versatility
If the trailing edge of the sheet is used as reference for detection, then low stiffness sheets with sagging trailing edges can be detected, but high stiffness sheets with minimal sagging result in shortened detection time
Solution Approach 1:
The control unit dynamically adjusts the tray raising time based on the detected sheet characteristics. For high stiffness sheets with minimal sagging, the control unit extends the tray raising time to ensure proper positioning, while for low stiffness sheets with significant sagging, the standard detection time is sufficient. This dynamic adjustment maintains adaptability across different sheet types while optimizing detection time
Solution Approach 2:
The system changes the detection parameters (such as detection position, detection sensitivity, or raising time) based on the sheet type. By adjusting these parameters dynamically, the system can accurately detect both low stiffness sheets with sagging trailing edges and high stiffness sheets with minimal sagging, preventing feeding failures while maintaining efficient operation
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 feeding failures by ensuring the tray is raised sufficiently for sheets with high stiffness, maintaining accurate sheet detection and conveyance, thereby enhancing the reliability of the sheet feeding process.
Implementation Method 1
an air blowing unit configured to blow air to a side edge of the sheet supported by the tray to float the sheet
Data Source
AI summary
A sheet feeding apparatus includes a tray configured to support a sheet, a lifting unit configured to raise and lower the tray, an air blowing unit configured to blow air to a side edge of the sheet supported by the tray to float the sheet, an attraction and conveyance unit configured to execute a feeding operation of attracting and feeding the floated sheet, an upper surface detection unit configured to detect a lower state where an upper surface of the sheet is below a detection position, and a control unit configured to control the lifting unit and the attraction and conveyance unit. The control unit is configured to execute a mode in which the tray is raised by the lifting unit for a second time longer than a first time in which the lower state is detected.