WO2005095240A1 - Distributeur a courroie ondulee sous vide - Google Patents

Distributeur a courroie ondulee sous vide Download PDF

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Publication number
WO2005095240A1
WO2005095240A1 PCT/US2005/010757 US2005010757W WO2005095240A1 WO 2005095240 A1 WO2005095240 A1 WO 2005095240A1 US 2005010757 W US2005010757 W US 2005010757W WO 2005095240 A1 WO2005095240 A1 WO 2005095240A1
Authority
WO
WIPO (PCT)
Prior art keywords
pressure separator
high pressure
vacuum
actuated
positive air
Prior art date
Application number
PCT/US2005/010757
Other languages
English (en)
Other versions
WO2005095240A8 (fr
Inventor
Michael Thomas Dobbertin
Thomas Kevin Sciurba
Anton Suk
Original Assignee
Eastman Kodak Company
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 Eastman Kodak Company filed Critical Eastman Kodak Company
Priority to EP05730772A priority Critical patent/EP1737770A1/fr
Publication of WO2005095240A1 publication Critical patent/WO2005095240A1/fr
Publication of WO2005095240A8 publication Critical patent/WO2005095240A8/fr

Links

Classifications

    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B65—CONVEYING; PACKING; STORING; HANDLING THIN OR FILAMENTARY MATERIAL
    • B65H—HANDLING THIN OR FILAMENTARY MATERIAL, e.g. SHEETS, WEBS, CABLES
    • B65H3/00—Separating articles from piles
    • B65H3/08—Separating articles from piles using pneumatic force
    • B65H3/12—Suction bands, belts, or tables moving relatively to the pile
    • B65H3/124—Suction bands or belts
    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B65—CONVEYING; PACKING; STORING; HANDLING THIN OR FILAMENTARY MATERIAL
    • B65H—HANDLING THIN OR FILAMENTARY MATERIAL, e.g. SHEETS, WEBS, CABLES
    • B65H3/00—Separating articles from piles
    • B65H3/46—Supplementary devices or measures to assist separation or prevent double feed
    • B65H3/48—Air blast acting on edges of, or under, articles
    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B65—CONVEYING; PACKING; STORING; HANDLING THIN OR FILAMENTARY MATERIAL
    • B65H—HANDLING THIN OR FILAMENTARY MATERIAL, e.g. SHEETS, WEBS, CABLES
    • B65H7/00—Controlling article feeding, separating, pile-advancing, or associated apparatus, to take account of incorrect feeding, absence of articles, or presence of faulty articles
    • B65H7/16—Controlling air-supply to pneumatic separators
    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B65—CONVEYING; PACKING; STORING; HANDLING THIN OR FILAMENTARY MATERIAL
    • B65H—HANDLING THIN OR FILAMENTARY MATERIAL, e.g. SHEETS, WEBS, CABLES
    • B65H2220/00—Function indicators
    • B65H2220/09—Function indicators indicating that several of an entity are present
    • 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
    • B65H2406/12—Means using fluid made only for exhausting gaseous medium producing gas blast
    • B65H2406/122—Nozzles
    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B65—CONVEYING; PACKING; STORING; HANDLING THIN OR FILAMENTARY MATERIAL
    • B65H—HANDLING THIN OR FILAMENTARY MATERIAL, e.g. SHEETS, WEBS, CABLES
    • B65H2515/00—Physical entities not provided for in groups B65H2511/00 or B65H2513/00
    • B65H2515/30—Forces; Stresses
    • B65H2515/34—Pressure, e.g. fluid pressure

Definitions

  • the present invention is in the field of printers and copiers. More specifically this invention relates to a receiver sheet supply and feed apparatus, including a vacuum corrugated feeder, and which may have a positive air pressure separator on such printers and copiers.
  • This invention is useful for the apparatus described by the US Patent # 5,344,133 "Vacuum belt feeder having a positive air pressure separator and method of using a vacuum belt feeder” by Jantsch et al, which patent is hereby incorporated by reference in its entirety.
  • the incorporated patent refers to a vacuum, a first positive air supply, and a second positive air supply.
  • the first and second positive air supplies are used simultaneously and will herein be referred to collectively as the airknife.
  • the present invention is further useful for the apparatus described by the US Patent # 6,629,692 B2 "Device for Separating an Uppermost Sheet from a Supply Stack by Means of Air Blowers" by Allner et al, which patent is hereby incorporated by reference in its entirety.
  • the incorporated patent refers to a vacuum, a first positive air supply, and a second air supply, wherein one of the positive air supplies is from a pressurized source.
  • typical reproduction apparatus such as copiers or printers, information is reproduced on individual cut sheets of receiver material such as plain bond paper or transparencies. Such receiver sheets are stored in a stack and fed individually when copies are to be produced.
  • the sheet feeder for the reproduction apparatus must be able to handle a wide range of sheet types and sizes reliably and without damage.
  • Sheets must be fed individually, without misfeeds or multi-feeds.
  • the vacuum belt feeder described in the incorporated patent is useful for separating the top sheet from a sheet supply stack when the stack is a bond, cover, index, recycled, or other relatively rough, uncoated papers.
  • Coated paper is frequently used in the offset printing market due to its improved print quality for that purpose. These papers are generally considerably smoother than the uncoated papers.
  • Color prints, either printed on a color digital printer or by adding digital monochrome print over color offset shells, are quickly gaining in popularity.
  • the use of smoother papers in electrophotographic printers is becoming much more common. The smoothness of the paper makes it difficult to get air between the sheets to allow the top sheet to be separated from the rest of the stack.
  • a method of operating a vacuum corrugated belt feeder is desired which would allow for reliable separation even when the paper is a coated or a heavier weight paper, or is prepunched.
  • a method of operating a vacuum corrugated belt feeder during a feed cycle wherein the paper is taken away by a belt which is activated when a feed clutch is energized, and wherein the vacuum is actuated at the start of the feed cycle and de-actuated prior to, or at the same time as the feed clutch is de- energized.
  • the improvement comprises pulsing the positive air pressure separator by actuating and de-actuating the positive air pressure separator during the feed cycle, and pulsing the high pressure separator by actuating and de-actuating the high pressure separator during the feed cycle.
  • FIGURE 1 is a side view of a receiver sheet supply and feeding apparatus.
  • FIGURE 2 is a top plan view of a receiver sheet supply and feeding apparatus of Fig 1 with portions removed or broken away to facilitate viewing
  • FIGURE 3 is a side view of a cross-section of a receiver sheet supply and feeding apparatus taken along lines 3 — 3 of Fig. 2.
  • FIGURE 4 is a side cross-sectional view of a portion of a receiver sheet supply and feeding apparatus
  • FIGURE 5 is an end view of a portion of the receiver sheet supply and feeding apparatus, taken along the lines 5 — 5 of Fig. 3.
  • FIGURE 6 is an end view of a portion of the receiver sheet supply and feeding apparatus, taken along the lines 6 — 6 of Fig. 3.
  • FIGURE 7 is a timing chart for operation of a receiver sheet supply and feeding apparatus with 8.5" x 11" receiver paper, according to an aspect of the invention.
  • FIGURE 8 is a timing chart for operation of a receiver sheet supply and feeding apparatus with 11" x 17" receiver paper, according to an aspect of the invention.
  • FIGURE 9 is a timing chart for operation of a receiver sheet supply and feeding apparatus with 11" x 17" receiver paper, according to an aspect of the invention.
  • the receiver sheet supply and feeding apparatus designated generally by the numeral 10, includes an open hopper 12 and an elevating platform 14 for supporting a stack of sheets.
  • a sheet stack 15 supported on the platform 14 contains individual sheets suitable for serving as receiver sheets for having reproductions formed thereon in a copier or printer device.
  • the sheet stack-supporting platform 14 is supported within the hopper 12 for substantially vertical elevational movement by a lifting mechanism. The lifting mechanism serves to raise the platform 14 to an elevation for maintaining the topmost sheet in the stack at a predetermined level during operation.
  • a sheet feed head assembly 30 is located in association with the hopper 12 so as to extend over a portion of the platform 14 in spaced relation to a sheet stack 15 supported thereon.
  • the sheet feed head assembly 30 includes a ported plenum 32 connected to a vacuum source 31 , and an airknife 40 connected to a positive pressure air source 41. A positive pressure airjet from the airknife 40 levitates the top sheets in the supported sheet stack 15.
  • Vacuum at the plenum 32 is effective through the plenum ports 33 to cause the topmost levitated sheet from the stack to thereafter be acquired at the plenum 32 for separation from the sheet stack 15. This adheres the topmost sheet to the belt 36 via the belt ports 37..
  • a vacuum valve 38 (see Fig 5) is used to control the operation of the vacuum. Thus during a feed cycle, the valve will be open so as to levitate the top sheet in the stack.
  • valve operation may also be controlled by other methods, such as a pressure or a mechanically activated switch.
  • a switch may be attached to the plenum 32 to detect when a sheet has been acquired.
  • a signal provided by the switch on detection of sheet acquisition may be utilized to control operation of various components of the sheet feed head assembly 30, such as timing of activations or setting of air flow levels, to optimize operation for a particular type (size) of sheet to be fed from the sheet supply and feeding mechanism 10.
  • the airknife 40 comprises a first airjet arrangement 42 and a second airjet arrangement 44.
  • the first airjet arrangement incorporates a single nozzle 43 in fluid communication with a source of positive pressure air 41, for example a range of 4-10 inwg (inches of water) in certain embodiments.
  • the chambers which are part of the first airjet arrangement 42 and the second airjet arrangement 44 may be separate chambers, or may be combined into one larger chamber.
  • the nozzle 43 directs a positive pressure air stream at the sheet stack, in the center of the lead edge, to fluff the top sheets in the stack to bring the topmost sheet into association with the sheet feed head assembly 30 where it can be acquired by vacuum, at the plenum 32.
  • the second airjet arrangement 44 incorporates a plurality of nozzles 46 in fluid communication with the source of positive pressure air 41. The nozzles 46 are aimed slightly above the aim point for the first airjet nozzle 43. The purpose of the second airjet arrangement 44 is to separate any sheets adhering to the topmost sheet acquired by the sheet feed head assembly 30.
  • a positive pressure air valve 60 is used to control the flow of positive pressure air through the airknife 40.
  • the positive air pressure separator 40 When the positive air pressure separator 40 is actuated, this means the positive air pressure valve 60 is open. When the positive air pressure separator 40 is de-actuated, this means the positive air pressure valve 60 is closed. However, when the positive air pressure valve 60 is closed, that does not necessarily mean that there is no positive pressure airflow. In a preferred design, the positive air pressure valve 60 allows some airflow even when closed (does not close all the way). One commonly used valve design allows about one third of the airflow through an open valve to flow through when the valve is 'closed'.
  • the high pressure separator 70 comprises a high pressure jet arrangement 72 in fluid communication with a high pressure air source 74.
  • the high pressure air source is at least 5 psi, and typically on the order of 5-30 psi.
  • a high pressure air valve 76 is used to control the flow of high pressure air. When the high pressure separator 70 is actuated, this means the air pressure valve 76 is open. When the high pressure separator 70 is de-actuated, this means the high pressure air valve 76 is closed.
  • the improvement comprises pulsing the positive air pressure separator 40 by actuating and de-actuating the positive air pressure separator 40 during the feed cycle, and pulsing the high pressure separator 70 by actuating and de-actuating the high pressure separator 70 during the feed cycle.
  • the positive air pressure separator 40 and the high pressure separator 70 are actuated prior to or when the vacuum is actuated, and the positive air pressure separator 40 and the high pressure separator 70 are de-actuated before the feed clutch is energized.
  • the positive air pressure separator 40 and the high pressure separator 70 are actuated when the vacuum is actuated, and the positive air pressure separator 40 and the high pressure separator 70 are de- actuated approximately 50 milliseconds before the feed clutch is energized.
  • the high pressure separator 70 may be manually deactivated.
  • the high pressure separator 70 is automatically deactivated based on predetermined criteria. For instance, pulsing of high pressure air is not desirable for non-continuous trail edge paper such as tabstock, and if such paper is detected, the high pressure air should be deactivated.
  • Figure 7 is a timing chart showing how the timing of the various operations interact, according to an aspect of the invention.
  • a method of operating a vacuum corrugated belt feeder feeding specialized paper sheets pulses the positive air pressure separator 40 by actuating and de-actuating the positive air pressure separator 40 during the feed cycle, and pulses the high pressure separator 70 by actuating and de-actuating the high pressure separator 70 during the feed cycle.
  • This method is especially useful when the specialized paper is a smoother paper such as a coated paper, when the paper is of a heavier weight, such as heavier than 200 gsm (grams per square meter), or when the paper is prepunched.
  • large format receivers e.g.
  • pulsing of a high pressure separator 70 during non-feed cycle time is also useful to improve feed reliability.
  • a method for operating a vacuum corrugated belt feeder during non-feed cycle time comprises agitating the top sheets in a stack by actuating the vacuum 38, and pulsing the high pressure separator 70 and the positive air pressure separator 40.
  • the high pressure separator 70 and the positive air pressure separator 40 remain actuated until the feed cycle begins.
  • the vacuum 38, the high pressure separator 70, and the positive air pressure separator 40 are actuated and de-actuated every frame as if supply were feeding.
  • the vacuum 38, the high pressure separator 70, and the positive air pressure separator 40 are actuated for the frame immediately following the last feed, de- actuated, and then not actuated again until the feed cycle begins.
  • the vacuum, the high pressure separator 70, and the positive air pressure separator 40 are actuated at least one frame during non-feed cycle time, but not every frame.
  • the impending feed is identified, and the vacuum, the high pressure separator 70, and the positive air pressure separator 40 are actuated during the last frame before the impending feed begins.
  • a method of operation additionally comprises pulsing the vacuum 38, the high pressure separator 70, and the positive air pressure separator 40 during this down time. This is shown in the timing chart of Figure 8.
  • Figure 9 is a timing chart for operation of a receiver sheet supply and feeding apparatus with 11" x 17" paper, in duplex mode, according to an aspect of the invention.

Landscapes

  • Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
  • Mechanical Engineering (AREA)
  • Sheets, Magazines, And Separation Thereof (AREA)
  • Machines For Manufacturing Corrugated Board In Mechanical Paper-Making Processes (AREA)

Abstract

L'invention concerne un procédé d'exploitation d'un distributeur à courroie ondulée sous vide (30) lors du cycle d'alimentation. Le papier est entraîné par une courroie (36) activée par la mise sous tension d'un système à griffes, le vide étant activé dès le lancement du cycle d'alimentation et désactivé avant ou pendant la mise hors tension du système à griffes. Selon un aspect de l'invention, l'amélioration réside dans l'application d'impulsions au séparateur à pression d'air positif (40) par l'activation et la désactivation du séparateur à pression d'air positif (40) lors du cycle d'alimentation, et dans l'application d'impulsions au séparateur haute pression (70) par l'activation et la désactivation du séparateur haute pression (70) au cours du cycle de distribution.
PCT/US2005/010757 2004-03-29 2005-03-29 Distributeur a courroie ondulee sous vide WO2005095240A1 (fr)

Priority Applications (1)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
EP05730772A EP1737770A1 (fr) 2004-03-29 2005-03-29 Distributeur a courroie ondulee sous vide

Applications Claiming Priority (4)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
US55751204P 2004-03-29 2004-03-29
US60/557,512 2004-03-29
US11/055,811 US20050212198A1 (en) 2004-03-29 2005-02-11 Method of operating a vacuum corrugated belt feeder to improve sheet acquisition from a feed supply
US11/055,811 2005-02-11

Publications (2)

Publication Number Publication Date
WO2005095240A1 true WO2005095240A1 (fr) 2005-10-13
WO2005095240A8 WO2005095240A8 (fr) 2005-12-08

Family

ID=34964215

Family Applications (1)

Application Number Title Priority Date Filing Date
PCT/US2005/010757 WO2005095240A1 (fr) 2004-03-29 2005-03-29 Distributeur a courroie ondulee sous vide

Country Status (3)

Country Link
US (1) US20050212198A1 (fr)
EP (1) EP1737770A1 (fr)
WO (1) WO2005095240A1 (fr)

Families Citing this family (3)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
KR20170127313A (ko) * 2016-05-11 2017-11-21 에스프린팅솔루션 주식회사 급지 장치 및 이를 채용한 매체 처리 장치
JP7004232B2 (ja) * 2016-05-18 2022-01-21 株式会社リコー シート給送装置、画像形成装置および画像形成システム
DE102016214184A1 (de) * 2016-08-01 2018-02-01 Asys Automatisierungssysteme Gmbh Transportsystem und Bearbeitungssystem für Substrate

Citations (5)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US5344133A (en) * 1993-02-25 1994-09-06 Eastman Kodak Company Vacuum belt feeder having a positive air pressure separator and method of using a vacuum belt feeder
US6082728A (en) * 1993-10-01 2000-07-04 Canon Kabushiki Kaisha Sheet feeding apparatus
EP1197450A2 (fr) * 2000-10-14 2002-04-17 Heidelberger Druckmaschinen Aktiengesellschaft Commande d'un couteau à air pulsé pour un mécanisme d'alimentation au moyen d'une bande sous vide
US20020047235A1 (en) * 2000-02-25 2002-04-25 Nexpress Solutions Llc Device for separating an uppermost sheet from a supply stack by means of air blowers
US6554269B1 (en) * 2000-10-14 2003-04-29 Heidelberger Druckmashinen Ag Airknife and vacuum control changes to improve sheet acquisition for a vacuum corrugated feed supply

Patent Citations (5)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US5344133A (en) * 1993-02-25 1994-09-06 Eastman Kodak Company Vacuum belt feeder having a positive air pressure separator and method of using a vacuum belt feeder
US6082728A (en) * 1993-10-01 2000-07-04 Canon Kabushiki Kaisha Sheet feeding apparatus
US20020047235A1 (en) * 2000-02-25 2002-04-25 Nexpress Solutions Llc Device for separating an uppermost sheet from a supply stack by means of air blowers
EP1197450A2 (fr) * 2000-10-14 2002-04-17 Heidelberger Druckmaschinen Aktiengesellschaft Commande d'un couteau à air pulsé pour un mécanisme d'alimentation au moyen d'une bande sous vide
US6554269B1 (en) * 2000-10-14 2003-04-29 Heidelberger Druckmashinen Ag Airknife and vacuum control changes to improve sheet acquisition for a vacuum corrugated feed supply

Also Published As

Publication number Publication date
EP1737770A1 (fr) 2007-01-03
US20050212198A1 (en) 2005-09-29
WO2005095240A8 (fr) 2005-12-08

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