Method and apparatus for feeding media sheets in an image production device

摘要

A method and apparatus for feeding media sheets in an image production device is disclosed. The method may include applying air downward to a top of a trailing edge of a media sheet located at a top of a media stack that is to be fed to an image production section of the image production device, the applied air causing the top media sheet to separate from the media stack, and feeding the separated top media sheet to the image production section.

主权项

1. An image production device, comprising:
a sheet separation unit that applies air vertically downward through a single air supply hole in a bottom surface plate, without using conventional fluffing techniques, toward a top surface of a trailing edge of a top media sheet positioned at a top of a media stack and positioned to be fed to an image production section of the image production device, the sheet separation unit (1) being configured to cause the applied air exiting the single air supply hole to impinge on the top media sheet and to be diverted in substantially all directions across a top surface of the top media sheet at the trailing edge creating a Bernoulli effect that causes the top media sheet to separate from the media stack, the bottom surface plate facing parallel to the top media sheet, the single air supply hole in the bottom surface plate being 5.5mm-10mm in diameter; a feeder section to feed an acquired top media sheet to the image production section; a sheet separation sensor that senses whether the top media sheet has been acquired by the image production section; a sheet separation management unit having a processor coupled to a storage device, wherein the storage device contains instructions operative on the processor for: waiting a predetermined time period to sense with the sheet separation sensor if the top media sheet has been acquired by the image production section, wherein the predetermined time period is 0.5-3.0 seconds; and if after waiting the predetermined period and determining that the top media sheet has not been acquired by the image production section, then adjusting the air applied to the top media sheet.