Sheet Feeding Apparatus Vibration Noise Reduction
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing sheet feeding apparatuses experience vibration noise due to the separation roller's high amplitude rotation, especially when handling sheets with low stiffness, which can lead to unstable sheet conveyance and increased noise levels.
Innovation Solution
The apparatus employs a control system that selects between a first and second control mode based on sheet stiffness, adjusting the stop timing of the drive unit to minimize vibration noise by optimizing the drive force application at the separation and conveyance nip portions.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If the feed roller continues to be driven after the sheet reaches the conveyance portion to assist sheet conveyance, then sheet conveyance stability is improved, but the separation roller vibrates with high amplitude producing harsh vibration noise
Solution Approach 1:
The drive unit operates in periodic cycles: driving the feed roller to feed the sheet, then stopping before the sheet reaches the conveyance portion. This periodic operation prevents continuous vibration of the separation roller while ensuring stable sheet conveyance during each active phase.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent extracts the drive force application timing from continuous operation, separating the driving phase from the conveyance phase. By stopping the drive unit at the appropriate timing, the harmful vibration is eliminated while the useful sheet conveyance function is maintained.
2Reliability
If the separation roller is driven against the feeding direction to improve sheet separation performance, then sheet separation is enhanced, but the separation roller repeatedly rotates and vibrates
Solution Approach 1:
The separation roller is driven periodically against the feeding direction only during the sheet separation phase, then stopped. This periodic operation maintains effective sheet separation while preventing continuous vibration that would occur with sustained operation.
Solution Approach 2:
The separation roller is driven in advance to separate the sheet at the separation nip portion before the sheet reaches the conveyance portion. This preliminary separation action ensures proper sheet positioning while limiting the duration of vibration.
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 approach stabilizes sheet conveyance and reduces vibration noise, particularly for sheets with low stiffness, while maintaining efficient operation by selecting appropriate control modes based on sheet type and stiffness.
Implementation Method 1
a separation roller connected to the drive unit through a torque limiter
Data Source
AI summary
A sheet feeding apparatus includes a feed roller configured to feed a sheet in a feeding direction, a drive unit to drive the feed roller, a separation roller driven by the drive unit through a torque limiter in a direction against the feeding direction, and a pair of conveyance rollers. In addition, a control portion executes a first control mode in which a first sheet is conveyed and a second control mode in which a second sheet having a lower basis weight than that of the first sheet is conveyed. The control portion stops the drive unit with the sheet nipped at a separation nip portion and at a conveyance nip portion in each of the first and second control modes, and a timing when the drive unit is stopped by the control portion in the second control mode is earlier than a timing when the drive unit is stopped by the control portion in the first control mode.