SE539682C2 - Device for feeding papers - Google Patents

Abstract

70931ABSTRACT Disclosed is a paper feeding device (10) comprising a storage surface (14) for astack of papers (12) adapted to be moved vertically. The device further comprisesa vacuum feeder (16) for feeding papers from their position on the storage surface(14) and imparting on an uppermost sheet of paper (12a) a horizontaldisplacement, and a blower arrangement (18, 20) adapted to provide a curtain ofair separating the uppermost sheet of paper (12a) from the rest of the stack ofpapers. The device further comprises an upper paper stop (26) dispiaceablebetween a lower position and an upper position, wherein, in the lower position, anunderside of the upper paper stop (26) is aligned with an underside of the vacuumfeeder (16), and wherein, in the upper position, the underside of the upper paperstop (26) is above the |eve| of the side guides. (Fig. 2)

Description

DEVICE FOR FEEDING PAPERS Technical field

[0001] The present invention relates generally to a paper feeding device forfeeding sheets of paper in a feeder or sorter.

Background art

[0002] There are essentially two types of feeders for use for after-treatment ofsheets of paper in printing machines and copiers, viz. friction feeder and vacuumfeeders. ln friction feeders, individual sheets are picked from piles of sheets by arotary feeding roll abutting against and pulling the top sheet from the pile, whereina subjacent friction block normally retains subjacent sheets of the pile. Frictionfeeders are robust and in general reliable in operation, but occasion- ally morethan one sheet at a time may happen to be picked mistakenly. The feeding rollsmay also leave marks in the sheets. ln vacuum feeders, sheets are picked frompiles by the fact that the top sheet of the pile is sucked against a conveyor belt fortransportation of the sheet to subsequent further processing. The vacuum feederdoes not have the disadvantages mentioned above of the friction feeder, but thefunction thereof is more sensitive and a vacuum feeder is considerably more expensive than a friction feeder.

[0003] A vacuum feeder picks individual sheets of paper from a paper stack.First, the uppermost sheets of papers are separated by means of separation airand levitation air which are blown into the upper portion of the stack of papers. Asthe uppermost sheet of paper is separated it is lifted towards a vacuum unitcomprising vacuum belts, which are rotating around a suction unit. Thereby, theuppermost sheet of paper is pulled from the stack of papers.

[0004] One challenge in a vacuum feeder is to over time separate the papersheets from each other. I prior art, separation has been achieved by means ofblowing units blowing separation air and lifting air in a so called separation area between a homogenous stack of papers and a vacuum unit.

[0005] A problem that may arise when separation air and Iifting air are blowninto the separation area is that the uppermost paper sheet is bent away from thedesired horizontal paper path. This in turn punctures the air bed which over timehas been built up. The paper sheets are compressed in the radius created whenthe paper sheets are bent, which increases the risk of misfeeding.

Summary of invention

[0006] An object of the present invention is to provide a paper feeding device wherein deviation from a horizontal paper path is minimized.

[0007] According to a first aspect of the invention there is thus provided a paperfeeding device comprising a storage surface for a stack of papers, the storagesurface having a leading edge, a trailing edge, and a first and a second side edgeand being adapted to be move vertically between a first, lower end position and asecond, upper end position. The device further comprises a vacuum feeder forfeeding papers from their position on the storage surface and imparting ahorizontal displacement on an uppermost sheet of paper. The device furthercomprises a blower arrangement adapted to provide a curtain of air separating theuppermost sheet of paper from the rest of the stack of papers. The device furthercomprises an upper paper stop (26) displaceable between a lower position and anupper position, wherein, in the lower position, an underside of the upper paperstop (26) is aligned with an underside of the vacuum feeder (16), and wherein, inthe upper position, the underside of the upper paper stop (26) is above the level ofthe side guides.

[0008] ln an optional embodiment, the upper paper stop comprises two partsseparated by a gap, in order to achieve a better and easier separation of papersheets.

[0009] A paper processing machine comprising a paper feeding device according to the invention is also provided.

Brief description of drawinqs

[0010] The invention is now described, by way of example, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which: Figs. 1 and 2 show an embodiment of a paper feeding device according to theinvention from a side and a top view, respectiveiy, which is provided with a vacuum feeder; Figs. 3a and 3b show a side blower unit nozzle in a side and top sectional view, respectively; Figs. 4a and 4b show a front blower unit comprised in the paper feeding device of Figs. 1-3 in a top and side sectional view, respectively; and Fig. 5 shows a side view of a sensor arrangement comprised in the paper feedingdevice of Figs. 1-3.

Description of embodiments

[0011] ln the following, a detailed description of a paper feeding deviceaccording to the invention will be given. Special references given in thedescription, such as “up” or “down”, refer to directions during normal operation ofthe device.

[0012] Reference is first made to Figs. 1 and 2 showing a paper feeding device10 according to the invention provided with a vacuum feeder. A stack of papers 12is provided on a storage surface 14 in the form of a mechanical elevator adaptedto be move vertically between a first, lower end position and a second, upper endposition by means of a mechanical arrangement (not shown in the figures). ln thiscontext, the term “stack of papers” should be interpreted as at least two sheets ofpaper, but usually the stack of papers comprises a much higher number of sheets.The storage surface 14 has a leading edge 14a, a trailing edge 14b, and a firstand a second side edge 14c, 14d.

[0013] The paper feeding device 10 further comprises adjustable paper guidesfor positioning of the stack of papers 12. Thus, four side guides 15a are provided, two on each side edge 14c, 14d of the storage surface 14 and an end guide 15b isprovided at the trailing edge 14b of the storage surface 14. Thus, the side guides15a are provided along the first and second side edges 14c, 14d and somewherebetween the leading edge 14a and the trailing edge 14b of the storage surface 14.The side guides 15a cooperate so that the side guides on the different sides movean equal distance to keep the stack of papers 12 centrally positioned on theelevator 14 with respect to the longitudinal axis of the paper feeding device. Themovable end guide 15b is adapted to control the length of the storage surface 14,by changing the distance between the leading edge 14a and the end guide 15b.Typically, the guide is positioned such that the papers are as close as possible tothe leading edge 14a, which means that the stack of papers 12 abuts a stoppingplate 13 at the leading edge 14a of the storage surface 14. The operating positionof the stack of papers 12 is shown in Fig. 2 by dash-dotted lines.

[0014] A vacuum feeder 16 extends across essentially the entire with of thestack of papers 12 and comprises in the shown embodiment five feeding belts 16aprovided around a suction box 16b adapted to, during operation, generate anunder-pressure to make a sheet of paper from the stack of papers adhere theretofor subsequent transportation by means of the feeding belts. Thus, the vacuumfeeder 16 is provided for the feeding of papers from their position on the storagesurface 14 and imparts the uppermost sheet of paper 12a a horizontaldisplacement to the left, as shown in the figures. lt is also shown that the stack ofpapers 12 is centred with respect to the vacuum feeder 16.

[0015] The paper feeding device 10 also comprises a blower arrangement in theform of pairs of side blower units 18 adapted to provide a flow of air separating theuppermost sheet of paper 12a from the rest of the stack. The blower units areprovided on the upper portion of the side guides 15a. This means that they areprovided along the first and second side edges 14c, 14d of the storage surface 14and somewhere between the leading edge 14a and the trailing edge 14b thereof.

[0016] Each side blower unit 18 is preferably provided with a fan and a nozzlehaving a slot-shaped exhaust opening substantially horizontal or orientated substantially parallel to the storage surface. The nozzle will now be described withreference to Figs. 3a and 3b.

[0017] ln the embodiment shown in Figs. 3a and 3b, the nozzle 18a has two airopenings 18b, 18c, preferably with a height of 20 mm and a width of 10 mm. Thenarrow air openings create a turbulent air flow. ln the preferred embodiment, theair openings are directed at an angle d of between 30° and 80°, more preferablybetween 40° and 70°, even more preferably between 50° and 60°, most preferablyat 56° in relation to the side edges 14d, 14c of the storage area, which also entailsthat the angle is relative to the flow direction of air from the fan, as shown in Fig.3b.This results in an air flow directed partly in the feeding direction of the paperfeeding device 10, see Fig. 2. This air flow cooperates with the air flow from a frontblower unit, as will be described below.

[0018] lt is seen in Fig. 3a that the part 18a comprises two sets of openings 18b,18c. This is to reduce the number of different parts in the paper feeding device.The air flow from the side blower units 18 is directed essentially in the direction ofthe paper feeding, i.e. to the left in a horizontal direction as seen in Figs. 1 and 2.The nozzles 18a are mirrored on the different sides of the storage surface 14, i.e.the air from the fans are deflected to the left on one side and to the right on theother side. By providing openings only for one set of openings 18b, 18c in eachguide 15a and rotating the nozzle 18a 180 degrees before mounting, the samekind of part can be used for all four side guides 15a.

[0019] The blower arrangement also comprises a front blower unit 20 mountedin front of the stack of papers 12, i.e., along the leading edge 14a of the storagesurface 14. When a paper sheet is moved by the vacuum feeder 16 it will passabove the front blower unit 20. The front blower unit 20 provides multiple air flows,preferably four, by means of a respective air opening. Each of the air openings ismade up of a first portion 20a and a second portion 20b, see Fig. 4a. The width ofeach air opening is between 20 and 40 mm, more preferably between 25 and 35mm, and most preferably about 28 mm. The height of each air opening is between10 and 20 mm, most preferably about 14 mm. Thus, each opening of the multiple openings has substantially the same shape, which in turn results in that themultiple air flows are all substantially the same, wherein one air flow flows out of a respective opening.

[0020] The air openings are designed such that the air from each air opening isseparated into two different cones in order to obtain a turbulent air flow.Approximately 60 % of the air creates a first air cone 20a' with a height of 10 mmwhen it impinges the stack of papers 12 at a distance of about 10 mm. Theremaining air, i.e. approximately 40 % of the air, creates a second air cone with asimilar, although approximately 50% smaller, geometry, but which is verticallydisplaced approximately 5 mm in relation to the first air cone. ln this way, the frontblower unit 20 will cover a larger vertical distance from the vacuum belts 16a. Themajor part of the total air, flow, i.e. the approximately 60% that constitute the firstair cone, is directed at a steeper angle than the 40% that constitute the second aircone towards the vacuum belts 16. This is due to the separation at the top part ofthe stack of papers is more important than separation at a lower portion of thestack of papers, since the final separation of the paper sheets happens close tothe vacuum belts 16a, i.e. close to the top of the stack of papers.

[0021] Referring to Fig. 2, it can be seen that the air flows from the side blowerunits 18 and the front blower unit 20 cooperate. Typically, the air flows meetsomewhere close to the leading edge of the storage surface 14, which in turn isclose to a leading edge of the stack of papers. The air flow from the side blowerunits 18 is directed essentially in the direction of the paper feeding and the air flowfrom the front blower unit 20 is directed in the direction opposite to the paperfeeding. This results in a total air flow which separates the upper paper sheets inthe stack of papers 12 and which simultaneously prevents curling of lifted papersheets.

[0022] The paper feeding device 10 also comprises a sensor arrangement 22,shown in detail in Fig. 5, which is arranged to determine the position of thehomogenous stack of papers, i.e., where the upper paper sheets in the stack ofpapers 12 start to separate from the rest of the paper sheets. The nature of this separation is seen in Fig. 4b. The sensor arrangement 22 is adapted to beprovided adjacent to a side of the stack of papers 12 and is in the preferredembodiment provided on one of the side guides 15a, see Fig. 2. ln order to beable to detect the position of the homogenous stack of papers, the sensorarrangement is provided in the area of the upper portion of the stack of papers 12.Referring back to Fig. 5a, the sensor arrangement 22 preferably comprises ap|ura|ity of infrared (IR) ref|ective sensors 22a, preferably 16 sensors, which arearranged in two parallel rows. The sensors 22a in a row have a mutual distance of2 mm. The sensors 22a of the two rows are vertically displaced by half the mutualdistance between two sensors in a row, in the present embodiment by 1 mm. Thisresults in an increased resolution for the sensor arrangement 22, due to astaggered arrangement providing twice as many positions in a vertical plane forlight to impinge the sensors 22.

[0023] The sensor arrangement 22 preferably also comprises 16 auxiliary IRdiodes 22b, which provide extra IR light and which can be controlled depending onthe requirements, and is used especially when the natural lighting conditions areinsufficient. ln Fig. 5b it is shown how the light from the auxiliary IR diodes 22b isemitted at an angle to the stack of papers 12 and is thus reflected so that itimpinges the ref|ective sensors 22a. Fig. 5b is a top view of the sensorarrangement 22 and the stack of papers 12, and thus the light, as shown in thefigure, is emitted in a horizontal plane of the paper feeding device. When thenatural lighting conditions are sufficient, the same function is achieved by naturallight impinging the ref|ective sensors 22a, rather than the light from auxiliary IRdiodes 22b.

[0024] At start of operation of the paper feeding device 10 a homogenous stackof papers cover eight of the 16 sensors 22a of the sensor arrangement 22. Acalibration is then performed to make the sensor arrangement independent of thetype of paper medium and colour. The position of the homogenous stack ofpapers, i.e., where the papers start to separate, is determined by the positionwhere the reflection detected by the sensors 22a falls below a predeterminedthreshold value, such as 15 %. Thus, the position of the homogenous stack of papers is determined by the vertical position of the uppermost sensor 22adetecting a reflection above the threshold value.

[0025] The auxiliary IR diodes 22b are operated when no reflection above apredetermined threshold value, such as 15 %, is detected by the reflective sensors22a at the calibration thereof, which in other words mean that the IR diodes 22bare operated only when the original lighting conditions are insufficient to achieve adetection above a certain threshold value. Thus, the operating mode isautomatically determined at the start of operation, in the sense that the IR diodes22b are either used, i.e. turned on, or not use, i.e. turned off.

[0026] During operation the sensor arrangement 20 performs sampling atregular intervals, in the preferred embodiment every 20ms, starting at the top andprogressing downward. When the sensor arrangement identifies a reflection valuewhich is above the threshold value, this position is submitted to the control unitcontrolling the operation of the paper feeding device 10. This value is used forcontrolling the operation of the elevator arrangement controlling the verticalposition of the storage surface 14. This is due to the reflection value beingindicative of how tightly packed the papers in the stack of papers are, and as suchthe reflection value will be higher at a bottom part of the stack of papers than atthe top of the stack of papers during operation of the paper feeding device, sincethe paper sheets are more tightly packed at the bottom of the stack of papers.

[0027] Again referring to Figs. 1 and 2, there are shown distance meters 24a,24b adapted to measure the distance to an associated paper guide, which in mostembodiments also is an opposing paper guide. ln order to be able to measure boththe length and the width of the stack of papers 12, two different distance metersmust be provided. A first distance meter 24a is provided below the storage surface14, in order to avoid blockage by the stack of papers 12. The first distance meter24a is provided behind one of the side guides 15a and is thus directed towards theback surface thereof. A second distance meter 24b is also provided below thestorage surface 14 and in the vicinity of the leading edge 14a thereof. Each distance meter 24a, 24b comprises an ultrasound meter directed towards therespective paper guide.

[0028] Before operation of the paper feeding device but after the stack of papers12 has been p|aced on the e|evator 14, the first and second distance meters 24a,24b perform at least one measurement of the distance from the respectivedistance meter and the respective paper guide, in order to determine the size ofthe paper sheets in the stack of papers 12. lt is preferred that multiplemeasurements are performed by each distance meter, such as 10 measurements,and that subsequently an averaging is performed. The values Sx and Sy,respectively, are stored and the paper size can be calculated as follows.

[0029] The width of the papers in the stack of papers 12 is determined by thefirst distance meter 24a. When the side guides 15a are in their rearmost position,i.e., accommodating a maximum width, they are in a basic position. ln the presentembodiment this accommodates a maximum width Wmax of 360.0 mm. This basicposition is connected to a basic distance DWbaSe from the first distance meter 24aand the surface of the side guide 15a facing towards the first distance meter 24a,for example 20.0 mm. When performing a measurement by the first distance meter24a a distance value DWmeaSufed is obtained. lt should be noted that the distance value DWmeaSufed is always at least as large as the distance value DWbaSe.

[0030] lt has already been mentioned that the associated side guides 15a movean equal distance in order to centre the stack of papers 12. Thus, if one side guide15a moves a distance A towards the stack of papers 12, the accommodated widthis decreased by 2xA. These relationships can be used to calculate theaccommodated width Waccomodaied of the stack of papers 12 as follows.

Vvaccomodated = Vvmax _ 2 X (Dvvmeasured _ Dvvbase) For example, given the values in the above example, if the measured distanceDWmeaSufed is 95.0 mm, the width of the papers in the stack of papers 12 iscalculated to 360.0 - 2 x (95.0 - 20.0) = 210.0 mm.

[0031] The length of the papers in the stack of papers 12 is determined by thesecond distance meter 24b. This is provided at a fixed distance DLbase from theleading edge 14a of the storage surface, which is the same as the position of astopping plate 13 or wall to which the stack of papers 12 abuts in during operationof the device for feeding papers. When the end guide 15b is in a positionaccommodating a maximum length, it is in a basic position. ln the presentembodiment this position accommodates a maximum length Lmax of 660.0 mm.When performing a measurement by the second distance meter 24b from thedistance meter 24b to the side of the end guide 15b facing towards the distancemeter 24b, a distance value DLmeasufed is obtained.. lt has already been mentionedthat the second distance meter 15b is positioned a distance DLbase from theposition of a stopping plate 13 or wall to which the stack of papers 12 abuts induring operation, i.e., the leading edge of the stack of papers 12. This can be usedto calculate the accommodated length Laccomodaied of the stack of papers 12 as follows.

Laccomodated = (DLmeasured + DI-base) For example, given the values in the above example, if the measured distanceDLmeasufed is 197 mm, the length of the papers in the stack of papers 12 iscalculated to 197.0 + 100 = 297.0 mm.

[0032] Referring to Fig. 1, upper paper stops 26 are shown from the side. ln thelower position thereof which is shown in solid lines the underside of the upperpaper stops 26 is aligned with the underside of the vacuum unit 16, i.e. with thevacuum belts 16a. ln this way, when air from the side and from blowing units 18,20 forces the uppermost paper sheet upward, towards the vacuum belts 16a, theupper paper stops 26 prevent this paper sheet from bending. ln other words, thevacuum unit 16 and the upper paper stops 26 together keep the uppermost papersheet in a horizontal paper path. The upper paper stops 26 are suspended bymeans of pivotable arms 26a extending from the roof 28 of the compartmenthousing the stack of papers 16. 11

[0033] The upper paper stops 26 are divided into two parts, and it preferably hasa gap in between the parts, see Fig. 2, to provide an even abutment for the papersheets when they are lifted by the separation air, keeping them in the horizontal.This in turn avoids puncturing of the air bed build up by means of the blower unitswhich results in better performance of the paper feeding device. By having a gapbetween the two parts of the upper paper stop, the stack of papers are also lesslikely to curl when abutting the upper paper stop 26, since no air cushion is formedbetween the paper and the upper paper stop 26.

[0034] ln Fig. 1 an upper position for the upper paper stops 26 is shown indashed lines. lt is shown how the pivotable arms 26a have moved from the verticalpositions shown in solid lines to essentially horizontal positions, bringing the upperpaper stops 26 to a higher position. ln this higher position, the upper paper stops26 keep clear of the side blower units 18 when the paper tray is moved sidewaysto enable refilling thereof.

[0035] Preferred embodiments of a paper feeding device have been described.lt will be appreciated that these can be modified without departing from theinventive idea as defined by the appended claims. lir-tus;--al-trieugri--ïïïf 12 Reference numerals: 12131414a14b14c14d15a15b161818a18b, c20a20b20a'20b'2222a22b24a24b2626a Paper feeding device Stack of papers Stopping plate Storage surface Leading edge of storage surfaceTrai|ing edge of storage surfaceFirst side edge of storage surfaceSecond side edge of storage surfaceSide paper guides End paper guide Vacuum feeder Side blower units Nozzle Air openings of nozzle Front blower unit, First portion of air openingsSecond portion of air openingsFirst air cone Second air cone Sensor arrangement Infrared ref|ective sensorsAuxiliary IR diodes First distance meter Second distance meter Upper paper stop Pivotable arms of upper paper stop

Claims (7)

1. A paper feeding device (10) comprising: - a storage surface (14) for a stack of papers (12), the storage surface havinga leading edge (14a), a trailing edge (14b), and a first and a second sideedge (14c, 14d) (and being adapted to be move vertically between a first, lower end position and a second, upper end position,-; - a vacuum feeder (16) for feeding papers from their position on the storagesurface (14) and imparting an uppermost sheet of paper (12a) a horizontal displacement, - a blower arrangement (18, 20) adapted to provide a curtain of air separatingthe uppermost sheet of paper (12a) from the rest of the stack of papers, characterized by - an upper paper stop (26) displaceable between a lower position and anupper position, wherein, in the lower position, an underside of the upperpaper stop (26) is aligned with an underside of the vacuum feeder (16), andwherein, in the upper position, the underside of the upper paper stop (26) isabove the level of the side guides.

2. The paper feeding device according to claim 1, wherein the upperpaper stop (26) is adapted to prevent a paper from the stack of papers frombending.

3. The paper feeding device according to any one of claims 1 to 2, whereinthe vacuum feeder (16) and the upper paper stop (26) together keep anuppermost paper sheet in a horizontal paper path.

4. The paper feeding device according to any one of claims 1 to 3, whereinthe upper paper stop (26) is suspended by means of pivotable arms (26a). 14

5. The paper feeding device according to any one of the previous claims, wherein the upper paper stop (26) comprises two parts.

6. The paper feeding device according to claim 5, wherein the two parts of the upper paper stop (26) are separated by a gap.

7. A paper processing machine comprising a paper feeding device (10) according to any one of claims 1-6.