Apparatus for detecting the flotation level in an air supported sheet separating and feeding device
AssigneeXerox Corporation
InventorsMorton Silverberg, John M. Browne, Dale W. Young
Life of this patent
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Abstract
An apparatus in which sheets are separated and fed, in seriatim, from a stack with a flow of pressurized fluid being directed between the stack and support thereof. The pressurized fluid produces a gap between the stack and support which is detected. The pressure of the fluid is controlled in response to the detected gap.
Claims17
An apparatus for separating and feeding sheets, in seriatim, from a stack, including:
- means for supporting a stack of sheets;
- means for directing a flow of pressurized fluid between the stack and said supporting means;
- means for moving the stack against the influence of gravity from a first position to a second position and measuring the time for the stack to return to the first position from the second position under the influence of gravity;
- and
- means, responsive to the measured time, for controlling said directing means to regulate the pressure of the fluid flowing between said supporting means and the stack.
An apparatus for separating and feeding sheets, in seriatim, from a stack, including:
- means for supporting a stack of sheets;
- means for directing a flow of pressurized fluid between the stack and said supporting means to create a gap between said stack and said supporting means;
- means for directing light rays between the stack and said supporting means in the gap;
- means of sensing the light rays transmitted through the gap;
- and
- means, responsive to the sensed light rays, for controlling said directing means to regulate the pressure of the fluid flowing between said supporting means and the stack.
A method of separating and feeding sheets, in seriatim, from a stack, including the steps of:
- supporting a stack of sheets on a tray;
- directing a flow of pressurized fluid between the stack and the tray;
- moving the stack against the influence of gravity from a first position to a second position and measuring the time for the stack to return to the first position from the second position under the influence of gravity;
- and
- controlling the pressure of the fluid flowing between the stack and the tray in response to the measured time.
A method of separating and feeding sheets, in seriatim, from a stack, including the steps of:
- supporting a stack of sheets on a tray;
- directing a flow of pressurized fluid between the stack and the tray to create a gap between said stack and said tray;
- directing light rays between the stack and tray in the gap;
- measuring the light rays transmitted through the gap;
- and
- controlling the pressure of the fluid flowing between the stack and the tray in response to the measured light rays.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.