EP0960845A1 - Chemin d'alimentation de papier pneumatique - Google Patents

Chemin d'alimentation de papier pneumatique Download PDF

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Publication number
EP0960845A1
EP0960845A1 EP99303804A EP99303804A EP0960845A1 EP 0960845 A1 EP0960845 A1 EP 0960845A1 EP 99303804 A EP99303804 A EP 99303804A EP 99303804 A EP99303804 A EP 99303804A EP 0960845 A1 EP0960845 A1 EP 0960845A1
Authority
EP
European Patent Office
Prior art keywords
transport
thin
transport path
air
pneumatic
Prior art date
Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
Withdrawn
Application number
EP99303804A
Other languages
German (de)
English (en)
Inventor
Warren Bruce Jackson
Lars Erik Swartz
David Kalman Biegelsen
Current Assignee (The listed assignees may be inaccurate. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation or warranty as to the accuracy of the list.)
Xerox Corp
Original Assignee
Xerox Corp
Priority date (The priority date is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the date listed.)
Filing date
Publication date
Application filed by Xerox Corp filed Critical Xerox Corp
Publication of EP0960845A1 publication Critical patent/EP0960845A1/fr
Withdrawn legal-status Critical Current

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    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B65—CONVEYING; PACKING; STORING; HANDLING THIN OR FILAMENTARY MATERIAL
    • B65H—HANDLING THIN OR FILAMENTARY MATERIAL, e.g. SHEETS, WEBS, CABLES
    • B65H5/00—Feeding articles separated from piles; Feeding articles to machines
    • B65H5/22—Feeding articles separated from piles; Feeding articles to machines by air-blast or suction device
    • B65H5/228—Feeding articles separated from piles; Feeding articles to machines by air-blast or suction device by air-blast devices
    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B65—CONVEYING; PACKING; STORING; HANDLING THIN OR FILAMENTARY MATERIAL
    • B65H—HANDLING THIN OR FILAMENTARY MATERIAL, e.g. SHEETS, WEBS, CABLES
    • B65H2406/00—Means using fluid
    • B65H2406/10—Means using fluid made only for exhausting gaseous medium
    • B65H2406/11—Means using fluid made only for exhausting gaseous medium producing fluidised bed

Definitions

  • This invention generally relates to a pneumatic paper path that is versatile and capable of rapid adjustment to accommodate feeding to several different outputs.
  • Pneumatic paper transports are known.
  • the role of pneumatics has primarily been concerned with use of air jets for registration or as assist devices that work in conjunction with more conventional roller pairs, endless belts and vacuum systems.
  • Air jet modules are also used to provide air bearings for paper, particularly web paper.
  • rollers are heavy and require heavy motors and heavy mechanical support frames. Roller transports also require extensive electronics and design to properly handoff paper from roller to roller without inducing curl, jams, registration errors or other inherent problems. Additionally, roller systems are limited in the extent how much velocity changes that can be achieved within a flow path. Moreover, roller systems are not easily adaptable to changing flow paths without extensive redesign and intricate flow diverters or other mechanical devices. As such, most roller systems have a high number of moving parts.
  • Vacuum endless belt structures and conveyors suffer similar problems. They are also cumbersome and have small adaptability to flow path changes.
  • a more adaptable transport system that is flexible in nature, low cost, easy to implement, reliable, and capable of high transport speeds is needed.
  • a transport system that can achieve a large range of flow velocities and directions along a flow path is also needed.
  • the invention provides a pneumatic transport system for moving a thin, flexible object between two spaced positions.
  • the invention further provides a dynamically adjustable flexible transport path that can be adapted for easy positioning adjacent any of a plurality of output devices.
  • the invention further provides one or more flow boosters within the transport path to further control transporting of the thin, flexible object or provide a continuous supply of air.
  • the pneumatic transport system includes a flexible transport path defined by at least two closely spaced substantially parallel walls that extend a predetermined length in a process direction and a source of air communicating with the transport path.
  • the source of air directs an air flow through the flexible transport path in the process direction onto opposite sides of a thin, flexible object placed in the flexible transport path.
  • the transport path constrains the air flow and allows non-contact transporting of the thin, flexible object through the transport path.
  • the pneumatic transport system can also include an air module having top and bottom plates defining a transport channel between the top and bottom plates.
  • the transport channel receives a thin, flexible object.
  • a source of air directs an air flow through the transport channel and onto opposite sides of the thin, flexible object to propel the thin, flexible object in a process direction.
  • the top and bottom plates constrain the air flow while the air flow forms an air bearing between the thin, flexible object and the top and bottom plates.
  • a transport path lies downstream from the air module in the process direction and communicates with the transport channel.
  • the transport path is defined by at least two closely spaced substantially parallel walls that extend a predetermined length in the process direction.
  • the transport path constrains the air flow and allows non-contact transporting of the thin, flexible object through the transport path.
  • An output device lies downstream from the transport path and receives the thin, flexible object from the transport path.
  • the transport path may be used for transporting paper and can include anywhere from 1-4 walls, depending on the requirements of the paper being transported.
  • a pneumatic paper path system 10 includes an air module 12 comprising a bottom plate 14 and top plate 16 defining a transport channel 18.
  • the transport channel 18 transports one or more thin, flexible objects, such as a sheet of paper P.
  • One or more air jets 20 are provided within the air module 12 to provide a motive force to propel the sheet of paper P in a process direction F.
  • the air jets 20 can be controlled as a group, in small banks or arrays, or individually, depending on the desired level of control.
  • a suitable air module can be found in U.S. Patent No. 5,634,636 to Jackson et al., assigned to the same assignee as this application.
  • the air module 12 provides an airstream that passes around both sides of the sheet of paper P in the process direction F.
  • This airstream constrained by the plates 14 and 16, flows between the sheet of paper and the plates 14 and 16 to form an air bearing for the sheet of paper P.
  • the sheet of paper P can be centered and supported within the transport channel 18 without contacting the walls. This is preferable for many applications, particularly if the sheet of paper P contains an unfused image or an otherwise sensitive surface.
  • a pneumatic paper path 30 is provided at an outlet of the air module 12.
  • the pneumatic paper path 30 includes top and bottom paper path walls 32 and 34, respectively, to constrain the supply of air. As shown in Fig. 2, side walls 36 can be provided to assist in registration of the sheet of paper P, and to further constrain the airstream and prevent efficiency losses.
  • the pneumatic paper path 30 may comprise rigid, semi-rigid or flexible portions, allowing the pneumatic paper path 30 to dynamically adapt to several configurations easily, as well as to accommodate directional changes for the traveling sheet of paper P.
  • air jets 20 can be controlled to advance the sheet of paper P through the air module 12 at a proper velocity and with a desired amount of flutter, buckling or without any flutter, buckling or other undesirable dynamic motions.
  • the air jets 20A and 20B can be provided opposite each other to dynamically hold the sheet of paper P between the bottom plate 14 and the top plate 16 while longitudinally transporting the sheet of paper P.
  • the downstream air jet pairs 20C and 20D can be used to suspend the sheet of paper P at a desired location, or to slow down the transport rate of the sheet of paper P.
  • the air jets 20 can be suitably controlled by valving 22 or other known control devices and/or structures.
  • the pneumatic paper path 30 can include anywhere from one to four walls, depending on the configuration and velocities of the sheet of paper P.
  • the pneumatic paper path 30 includes the top, bottom and side walls 32, 34 and 36, respectively.
  • the walls 32, 34 and 36 can be formed as individual elements or as part of a unitary tube member.
  • discrete sections of the side walls 36 can be provided to retain the spacing between the top and bottom walls 32 and 34, while also providing side openings that can be used for removal of jammed sheets of paper P.
  • the spacing between the top and bottom walls 32 and 34 is on the order of 1/8" for maximum motion of most commonly used paper sizes and weights.
  • the radius of curvature of the pneumatic paper path 30 is primarily dictated by the stiffness and size of the paper being transported by the pneumatic paper path 30. A 6" radius bend in the pneumatic paper path appears to easily transport most papers. Smaller radii may be achieved when the transport is properly controlled.
  • the speed of the sheet of paper P can be controlled by valving the airstream supplied at the entrance to the pneumatic paper path 30.
  • pneumatic paper paths 30 of several feet can be used between the air module 12 and a downstream device.
  • the paper path distance between modules can be up to 3-4 feet without further air assist, depending on the paper stiffness and the curvature of the paper path.
  • one or more flow booster sections 60 can be provided.
  • the flow booster sections 60 incorporate separately controlled air jets that further manipulate the transporting of the sheet of paper P.
  • the air jet structure can be the same as in the air module 12.
  • Typical paper paths within machines may be 3-15 feet in length while distances between machines in a print shop, for example, may be 30 feet or more.
  • the inventive pneumatic paper path can be virtually any length.
  • a simple pneumatic paper path 30 can be provided that does not require large numbers of rollers or other members to transport the sheet of paper P.
  • manual transport of paper between print shop machines is no longer necessary.
  • the booster section 60 can extend along all or part of the transport path. As such, air jets are distributed along the path. The paper can thereby be continuously propelled along the path. This avoids possible instabilities associated with very thin paper when propelled from behind by air.
  • the flow booster sections 60 assist in transporting the sheet of paper P by: 1) returning the sheet of paper P to a transport desired speed after momentum is diminished by a long flow path; 2) providing additional air in the process direction to increase the transport speed; 3) providing additional air opposite the process direction to slow down the transport speed of the sheet of paper P; or 4) providing an air flow to temporarily stop transporting the sheet of paper P.
  • the transport speed of the sheet of paper P can also be controlled by several other factors, including adjusting the spacing between top and bottom transport walls 32 and 34 and/or providing venting along one or more portions of the wall surfaces 32, 34 and/or 36.
  • Figure 6 shows an embodiment in which the pneumatic paper path 30 includes flexible walls 32 and 34.
  • the flexible pneumatic paper path 30 is easily adjustable to supply paper to any one of various output devices, including another air module 12, a roller pair 70 or an output tray 80.
  • suitable output devices include a finisher, a collator, a fixer, and a photoreceptor.
  • the dashed lines show the flexible pneumatic paper path 30 engaging the inlet of the roller pair 70 and the output tray 80, respectively.
  • the movement of the flexible pneumatic paper path 30 between the various output devices can either be performed manually or automatically, and may include predefined stops to select an appropriate output device to receive the paper P.
  • Rigid supports 90 at the output can be translated to alter the paper path direction without changing the spacing between opposing walls of the transport.
  • Such an embodiment has several advantages over the more conventional approach of moving an output device relative to a fixed transport.
  • One of these advantages is the highly flexible form that the flexible pneumatic paper path 30 can assume.
  • Another is the reduction in the structural complexity of the transport system, as a highly adaptable flexible pneumatic paper path can readily change position without requiring complicated structure to adjust its positioning.
  • moving mechanisms such as drive motors or conveyors can be of lesser size and capacity.
  • Figure 7 illustrates an additional embodiment of the pneumatic paper path 30 in which two tight bends are provided between the air module 12 and an output device, which in this example is another air module 12.
  • Applicants have found that when sharp bends occur in the pneumatic paper path 30, providing a paper path wall on an outside curve of the bend is all that is necessary to ensure that the sheet of paper P is properly transported past the bend. This occurs because the air velocity coupled with centrifugal forces act to constrain the air flow and retain the sheet of paper P in a proper orientation within the pneumatic paper path 30.
  • This can have several advantages. First, it requires less materials.
  • providing of only one wall on portions of the pneumatic paper path 30 can provide a jam recovery location for easy access to the pneumatic paper path 30 to remove any jammed or misfed sheets of paper pneumatic paper within the path 30.
  • no additional structures are necessary to provide access to the paper path for repairs or jams.
  • the wall 32 forms the path for a first bend 31 while the wall 34 forms the path for a second bend 33.
  • the side walls 36 may be provided along the entirety of the pneumatic paper path 30 or at discrete portions of the pneumatic paper path to assist in paper registration or guidance.
  • ridges or grooves can be provided along the process direction to better retain the airstream, contained within the pneumatic paper path 30, within the pneumatic paper path 30. This may allow for better efficiency and accuracy, particularly when the side walls 36 are not provided, to reduce air loss out the sides of the pneumatic paper path 30.
  • the pneumatic paper path 30 can be provided with one or more flexible conduits 100 adjacent each of walls 32 and 34 and extending in the process direction a length that can be up to the full length of the transport path 30.
  • the flexible conduits 100 are connected to an air supply 110.
  • Flexible conduits 100 define an air chamber 105 and include one or more air jets 115 spaced in the process direction.
  • the combination of air supply 110, flexible conduits 100, air chamber 105 and air jets 115 can form an air source for supplying air to the transport path 30.
  • a suitable flexible conduit may be a flexible plastic or rubber tube.
  • the pneumatic paper path according to this invention has been found to be capable of providing paper transport velocities of up to about 5 m/sec. However, even greater transport speeds may be obtained. Moreover, the transport system according to this invention can achieve transport at much slower rates, although extremely slow rates may have reduced efficiencies resulting in air bearing losses if side walls are not provided. This is due to gravity squeezing air from between the paper and top and bottom walls 32, 34.
  • the pneumatic paper path 30 can be formed from one or more of several materials, including various metals used to form rigid paper paths, or flexible thin plastic or rubber sheets used to form flexible paper paths.
  • the pneumatic paper path 30 can include molded sections formed from a suitable rigid or flexible plastic composition.
  • the pneumatic paper path 30 could include top and bottom walls 32, 34 formed from thin Mylar or transparency sheet material.
  • the pneumatic paper path 30 could have a composite construction comprising rigid, semi-rigid and flexible portions made from different materials.
  • the jets may be angled with respect to the process direction to passively direct the paper as it is transported. Self-centering and tensioning are also possible by appropriate arrays of jets.
  • the pneumatic paper path 30 according to this invention can have significantly reduced paper path weight compared with conventional transport systems. Moreover, as fewer moving parts are necessary, wear and reliability of the pneumatic paper path according to this invention can be increased. Further, the pneumatic paper path transport according to this invention is capable of achieving a very broad range of paper velocities, which can be rapidly changed by properly modulating the airstream. A pneumatic paper path according to this invention can more readily adapt to varied paper thickness and size than can conventional roller or vacuum transport systems. The design time is also considerably reduced.
  • the flexible pneumatic paper path 30 Besides the ability to allow adjustability within a single transport device, such as a unitary copier, the flexible pneumatic paper path 30 according to this invention also can have advantages in a typical print shop environment where several machines are used in production of a particular job.
  • a flexible and simple pneumatic paper path would allow great flexibility in interconnecting machines to transport paper from an output of one machine to an input of another machine.
  • Current print shops include a number of document processing machines that sequentially operate on various media to provide a desired print job. Typically, the output from one machine is manually carried to the next machine.
  • the invention permits the process to be accomplished using flexible air transport paths to move print jobs from one machine to the next. This allows easy setup and control, as a paper path can be implemented specially for a single job or small class of jobs and then be altered for a different job.

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  • Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
  • Mechanical Engineering (AREA)
  • Delivering By Means Of Belts And Rollers (AREA)
  • Separation, Sorting, Adjustment, Or Bending Of Sheets To Be Conveyed (AREA)
EP99303804A 1998-05-28 1999-05-17 Chemin d'alimentation de papier pneumatique Withdrawn EP0960845A1 (fr)

Applications Claiming Priority (2)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
US8647298A 1998-05-28 1998-05-28
US86472 1998-05-28

Publications (1)

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EP0960845A1 true EP0960845A1 (fr) 1999-12-01

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EP99303804A Withdrawn EP0960845A1 (fr) 1998-05-28 1999-05-17 Chemin d'alimentation de papier pneumatique

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EP (1) EP0960845A1 (fr)
JP (1) JPH11349179A (fr)

Cited By (4)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
EP1209539A2 (fr) * 2000-11-27 2002-05-29 Xerox Corporation Méchanisme à coussin d'air pour lisser du papier dans une machine d'impression
EP2093057A1 (fr) * 2008-02-20 2009-08-26 SPM Steuer GmbH & Co. KG Procédé d'élimination d'une bande d'estampage usagée et dispositif d'estampage doté d'un dispositif d'élimination travaillant en continu
EP1970334A3 (fr) * 2007-03-15 2009-12-30 Heidelberger Druckmaschinen Aktiengesellschaft Machine de traitement de feuilles dotée d'un dispositif de transport pneumatique
DE102008061506A1 (de) * 2008-12-10 2010-06-17 Giesecke & Devrient Gmbh Verfahren und Vorrichtung zum Führen von Wertdokumenten

Families Citing this family (2)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
JP4919115B2 (ja) 2009-09-24 2012-04-18 横河電機株式会社 放射線検査装置
JP5555761B2 (ja) * 2012-12-19 2014-07-23 グローリー株式会社 紙葉類搬送装置

Citations (4)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US3243181A (en) * 1963-12-23 1966-03-29 Pitney Bowes Inc Sheet handling device
US3918706A (en) * 1974-06-24 1975-11-11 Ibm Pneumatic sheet transport and alignment mechanism
US4113247A (en) * 1972-12-22 1978-09-12 Sperry Rand Corporation Edge vacuum guide for flexible members
US5634636A (en) * 1996-01-11 1997-06-03 Xerox Corporation Flexible object handling system using feedback controlled air jets

Patent Citations (4)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US3243181A (en) * 1963-12-23 1966-03-29 Pitney Bowes Inc Sheet handling device
US4113247A (en) * 1972-12-22 1978-09-12 Sperry Rand Corporation Edge vacuum guide for flexible members
US3918706A (en) * 1974-06-24 1975-11-11 Ibm Pneumatic sheet transport and alignment mechanism
US5634636A (en) * 1996-01-11 1997-06-03 Xerox Corporation Flexible object handling system using feedback controlled air jets

Cited By (7)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
EP1209539A2 (fr) * 2000-11-27 2002-05-29 Xerox Corporation Méchanisme à coussin d'air pour lisser du papier dans une machine d'impression
EP1209539A3 (fr) * 2000-11-27 2006-02-08 Xerox Corporation Méchanisme à coussin d'air pour lisser du papier dans une machine d'impression
EP1970334A3 (fr) * 2007-03-15 2009-12-30 Heidelberger Druckmaschinen Aktiengesellschaft Machine de traitement de feuilles dotée d'un dispositif de transport pneumatique
EP2093057A1 (fr) * 2008-02-20 2009-08-26 SPM Steuer GmbH & Co. KG Procédé d'élimination d'une bande d'estampage usagée et dispositif d'estampage doté d'un dispositif d'élimination travaillant en continu
DE102008061506A1 (de) * 2008-12-10 2010-06-17 Giesecke & Devrient Gmbh Verfahren und Vorrichtung zum Führen von Wertdokumenten
US8317194B2 (en) 2008-12-10 2012-11-27 Giesecke & Devrient Gmbh Method and device for guiding value documents
CN102317184B (zh) * 2008-12-10 2015-04-01 德国捷德有限公司 用于导引有价票券的方法和装置

Also Published As

Publication number Publication date
JPH11349179A (ja) 1999-12-21

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