Abstract:
A storage module (1) comprises a storage zone (3) for storing flat articles (2) by accumulation in a stack and on edge, a main conveyor (9) that extends transversely to the storage zone, a stacking function for transferring an article from the main conveyor to the storage zone and for stacking it at the back of the stack of articles in the storage zone, and an unstacking function for extracting an article from the stack of articles and for transferring it to the main conveyor. The unstacking function comprises an unstacking plate (7) having a perforated belt and controlled suction and disposed between the main conveyor and the storage zone, said unstacking plate having a first segment parallel to the stack of articles and a second segment that is adjacent to the first segment and that extends slantwise relative to the first segment, said controlled suction being disposed in the slantwise second segment of the unstacking plate.
Abstract:
A sheet separating and feeding apparatus has a separating device and a vacuum-attracting device to separate and feed sheets one by one from piled sheets. The separating device includes a compressed air plenum chamber, and main nozzles, first auxiliary nozzles and second auxiliary nozzles which are provided on the compressed air plenum chamber for causing air to blow to an upper portion of the piled sheets to separate the uppermost sheet from the remaining sheets. The vacuum-attracting device includes a vacuum chamber and an endless belt having a plurality of through holes provided in a part of the belt. The endless belt rotates around the vacuum chamber, and attracts the uppermost sheet which is separated by the separating device, when the through holes intermittently communicate with a negative pressure in the vacuum chamber. The endless belt is driven it different speeds according to the rotational positions of the through holes, such that the rotational speed of the belt is increased until the belt reaches a position for attracting a next sheet after it has fed the uppermost sheet.
Abstract:
A sheet feeding apparatus includes: a second conveyance belt disposed on an upstream side of a first conveyance belt in a sheet conveyance direction; a second absorption section configured to absorb the sheet stored in the sheet storage section to suck the sheet on the second conveyance belt; and a control section configured to perform a stopping operation for stopping at least one of a conveyance operation of the second conveyance belt and an absorption operation of the second absorption section during a conveyance operation of the first conveyance belt.
Abstract:
A transport unit that comprises a de-stacking device which is configured to drop trays from a stack of trays individually or in groups into a drop area, and a transport belt unit with a transport surface passing through the drop area for receiving and transporting away the dropped trays. The transport surface may comprise at least one opening. A negative pressure device may be provided to generate a suction force in the drop area through one or more of the openings of the transport surface, wherein the suction force sucks the dropped trays in the drop area in a direction towards the transport surface. This configuration reduces the rebound of the trays when they impact the transport surface as they are dropped. The invention also relates to a corresponding method for transporting trays.
Abstract:
A pneumatic sheet separating device is provided whereby sheets in a holder can be discharged one by one from the bottom of a stack and wherein the holder is provided with a carrier and lateral supports. The carrier is permanently bent or depressed transversely of the direction of sheet transport such that it is nonplanar. In the vicinity of the deepest part of the bend or depression, the carrier is preferably provided with at least one aperture beneath at least one edge zone of a side edge of the stack of sheets in the holder, wherein a partial vacuum can be created so that the bottom sheet is sucked against the carrier. An air duct is also provided to blow air against the side edge of the stack, as considered with respect to the direction of sheet transport, to create a layer of air at least between the bottom sheet and the stack thereabove. Preferably the air duct is disposed so that the air flow is blown out over the deepest part of the carrier causing the friction between the bottom sheet which is to be discharged and the stack thereabove to be reduced. At the instant that the layer of air forms between the bottom sheet and the stack thereabove, the bottom sheet is discharged by a transport belt.
Abstract:
A device for sequentially introducing sheets placed in a stack into the nips of a pair of introduction rollers comprising at least one linear member having ends secured to a control pulley or roller and passing around a return pulley or roller which is adjacent the nips of the introduction rollers. A plurality of cams mounted on rotating shafts for engaging a run of the linear member to shift it from a retracted position to a position for engaging a bottom sheet in a stack disposed above the linear member, a vacuum chamber disposed along each linear member for holding the sheet on the members as they engage the sheet and carry it toward the nips.
Abstract:
A sheet feeding device includes an attracting mechanism and a changing mechanism. The attracting mechanism includes a lifting section and a maintaining section. The lifting section attracts a portion of a sheet material that is fed and lifts the portion of the sheet material. The maintaining section attracts an edge of the sheet material that is lifted by the lifting section and maintains an orientation of the edge of the sheet material. The changing mechanism changes at least one of an attraction force that is generated at the lifting section and an attraction force that is generated at the maintaining section.
Abstract:
The suction transport device for taking off a sheet from a sheet stack in a sheet running direction (BL) includes at least two revolving suction means (12, 14) which are mounted to be adjustable horizontally and transversally to the sheet running direction.
Abstract:
A sheet feeding device includes an attracting mechanism and a changing mechanism. The attracting mechanism includes a lifting section and a maintaining section. The lifting section attracts a portion of a sheet material that is fed and lifts the portion of the sheet material. The maintaining section attracts an edge of the sheet material that is lifted by the lifting section and maintains an orientation of the edge of the sheet material. The changing mechanism changes at least one of an attraction force that is generated at the lifting section and an attraction force that is generated at the maintaining section.
Abstract:
Disclosed is an image forming apparatus including: a plurality of paper feed trays in which paper sheets are to be stacked; paper feed units each provided to each of the plurality of paper feed trays, the paper feed units sucking or discharging air in accordance with setting values corresponding to types of paper sheet to carry the paper sheets stacked in the respective paper feed trays toward a paper path; a storage unit to store the setting values for the paper feed units according to the types of paper sheet; an input unit to input a change instruction value for changing at least one of the setting values; and a control unit to change the at least one of the setting values stored in the storage unit into the change instruction value and to store the changed at least one of the setting values into the storage unit.