Sheet Feeding Apparatus Variable Air Blowing Control
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing sheet feeding apparatuses face challenges in feeding sheets with high adhesive forces, leading to issues like double feeding due to inconsistent air blowing times that do not account for sheet attributes or environmental conditions.
Innovation Solution
A sheet feeding apparatus with a control unit that performs sheet feeding control by initially blowing air to separate sheets and then stopping the air blowing operation. The control unit resumes air blowing during sheet feeding operations on a predetermined number of sheets set based on the sheet attributes, thereby reducing adhesive forces and preventing double feeding.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If a constant predetermined time is used for air blowing operation, then the control method is simple, but sheet conveyance problems such as double feeding occur due to insufficient separation of sheets with high adhesive forces
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies dynamics by making the air blowing time variable rather than constant. The control unit adjusts the air blowing duration dynamically based on detected sheet attributes (such as sheet size, weight, or material type) to ensure reliable sheet separation for each specific sheet type, thereby resolving the contradiction between operational simplicity and separation reliability.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes the parameter of air blowing time from a fixed constant to a variable parameter that is adjusted according to sheet attributes. By modifying this temporal parameter based on detected sheet characteristics, the system achieves reliable sheet separation for different sheet types while maintaining a relatively simple control structure.
2Reliability
If air blowing operation is extended to ensure sheet separation, then sheet separation reliability improves, but sheet feeding time increases and productivity decreases
Solution Approach 1:
The system dynamically adjusts air blowing duration to match the specific requirements of each sheet type. By detecting sheet attributes and setting appropriate air blowing times, the system achieves reliable sheet separation without unnecessarily extending the air blowing period, thus maintaining high sheet feeding speed and productivity.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent optimizes the air blowing time parameter by changing it from a uniformly long duration to a precisely controlled variable duration based on sheet characteristics. This parameter optimization ensures sufficient sheet separation while minimizing the time penalty, thereby maintaining high productivity.
3Reliability
If air blowing is performed for each sheet feeding operation, then sheet separation is ensured, but energy consumption increases
Solution Approach 1:
The system dynamically determines whether air blowing is necessary for each sheet feeding operation based on detected sheet attributes. For sheet types with low adhesive forces, the system may skip or reduce air blowing, thereby reducing energy consumption while maintaining reliable sheet separation when actually needed.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes the operational parameter of air blowing from a mandatory continuous operation to a conditional operation that is activated only when sheet attributes indicate high adhesive forces requiring separation. This selective parameter adjustment reduces overall energy consumption while maintaining separation reliability.
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
The solution effectively reduces sheet conveyance problems such as double feeding by adjusting the air blowing operation based on sheet attributes and environmental conditions, ensuring accurate and reliable sheet feeding.
Implementation Method 1
an air sheet-separation unit configured to perform an air blowing operation to separate the sheets by blowing air to a side end of the sheets supported on the sheet support portion
Data Source
AI summary
A sheet feeding apparatus includes a sheet support portion supporting a sheet or sheets, a sheet feeding unit for performing a sheet feeding operation, an air sheet-separation unit for performing an air blowing operation, and a control unit for performing sheet feeding control to perform the sheet feeding operation by using the sheet feeding unit, in a state where the air blowing operation is in a stopped state, after the air blowing operation is performed by the air sheet-separation unit and the air blowing operation is stopped. In the sheet feeding control, after performing the air blowing operation, the control unit performs the air blowing operation again when performing the sheet feeding operation by using the sheet feeding unit on sheets of a set number of sheets set in advance based on an attribute of the sheet supported on the sheet support portion.