Sheet Storage Apparatus Floating Regulation Member Dynamics
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional sheet storage apparatuses face issues with sheet separability due to high adhesion, leading to multi-feed and feeding failures, especially in high humidity environments, and existing solutions for air blowing can interfere with operations or cause breakage of floating regulation members.
Innovation Solution
A sheet storage apparatus with turnable floating regulation members and elastic members that differ in load when turned upward and downward, combined with a turning regulation guide to prevent breakage and improve user operability, ensures reliable sheet separation and feeding.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If air blowing pressure is increased to separate sheets, then sheet separability is improved, but sheets may be blown away or adhere again due to negative pressure
Solution Approach 1:
The floating regulation member is made movable rather than fixed, allowing it to dynamically adjust its position based on the floating sheet's height. This dynamic adjustment prevents excessive air pressure from blowing sheets away while maintaining effective separation, resolving the contradiction between sheet separability and sheet damage prevention
Solution Approach 2:
The floating regulation member provides visual feedback about sheet floating height, allowing operators to adjust air blowing pressure appropriately. This feedback mechanism prevents over-blowing that causes sheet damage while ensuring sufficient separation, addressing the contradiction between effective separation and harmful effects
2Reliability
If floating regulation members are provided to regulate sheet floating height, then sheet separation is improved, but they interfere with sheet replenishing and removing operations
Solution Approach 1:
The floating regulation member is designed to be movable rather than fixed, allowing it to be easily moved aside during sheet replenishment and removal operations. This dynamic characteristic eliminates interference with manual operations while maintaining sheet separation during automatic feeding, resolving the contradiction between separation reliability and operational ease
Solution Approach 2:
The floating regulation member can be temporarily removed or moved out of the way during manual sheet handling operations. This extraction principle allows uninterrupted sheet replenishment and removal while maintaining separation functionality during automatic feeding, addressing the contradiction between separation and ease of operation
3Reliability
If floating regulation members are used to regulate sheets, then sheet separability is improved, but the members may break when sheet bundles or foreign matter are forcibly moved
Solution Approach 1:
The floating regulation member is designed as a movable component that can flex and move with applied forces rather than being rigidly fixed. This dynamic design allows it to withstand forced movement of sheet bundles or foreign matter without breaking, while still maintaining effective sheet separation under normal operating conditions, resolving the contradiction between separability and member durability
Solution Approach 2:
The floating regulation member's movable design inherently provides cushioning against unexpected forces from sheet bundles or foreign matter. This prior cushioning capability prevents breakage during abnormal operations while maintaining separation functionality during normal use, addressing the contradiction between separability and member strength
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 apparatus effectively loosens sheets, reduces the risk of multi-feed and feeding failures, and enhances user operability by maintaining sheet separation and preventing damage to the floating regulation members during sheet replenishment and removal.
Implementation Method 1
blows air to the end portions of the sheets stored in the deck so as to make the air flow between the sheets
Implementation Method 2
an elastic member for defining the position of the floating regulation member in its turning direction
Data Source
AI summary
To reduce, at the time of sheet replenishment, breakage of a floating regulation member that regulates floating of a sheet floated by air blowing in a sheet storage apparatus that loosen stored sheets by means of air blowing. Air is blown to sheets stored in a storage part to loosen the sheets. One of a pair of side regulation members for regulating both ends of the sheets stored in the storage part has a floating regulation member for regulating floating of a sheet floated by means of air blowing. The floating regulation member is configured to be turnable in a sheet stacking direction about a rotation axis provided to one of the side regulation members on the side at which the floating regulation member is provided. A load applied to the floating regulation member differs between when the floating regulation member is turned upward and when it is turned downward.