Method of operating a vacuum corrugated belt feeder to improve sheet acquisition from a feed supply

Abstract

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. According to an aspect of the invention 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.

1 . In a vacuum corrugated belt feeder with a positive air pressure separator and a high pressure separator, a method of operating a vacuum corrugated belt feeder during a feed cycle wherein said vacuum, said positive pressure air, and said high pressure air are controlled by a vacuum valve, a positive air pressure valve, and a high pressure valve respectively, wherein the paper is taken away by a belt which is activated when a feed clutch is energized, 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 comprising: 
 pulsing the positive air pressure separator by actuating and de-actuating said positive air pressure separator during the feed cycle; and,    pulsing the high pressure separator by actuating and de-actuating said high pressure separator during the feed cycle.    
   
   
       2 . The method of  claim 1  wherein said positive air pressure separator and said high pressure separator are actuated prior to or when said vacuum is actuated, and said positive air pressure separator and said high pressure separator are de-actuated before the feed clutch is energized.  
   
   
       3 . The method of  claim 1  when the feed rate is in the range of 110-150 pages per minute, wherein said positive air pressure separator and said high pressure separator are actuated when said vacuum is actuated, and said positive air pressure and said high pressure separator are de-actuated approximately 50 milliseconds before the feed clutch is energized.  
   
   
       4 . The method of  claim 1  wherein said high pressure separator may be manually deactivated.  
   
   
       5 . The method of  claim 1  wherein said high pressure separator is automatically deactivated based on predetermined criteria.  
   
   
       6 . In a vacuum corrugated belt feeder with a positive air pressure separator and a high pressure separator, a method of operating a vacuum corrugated belt feeder feeding specialized paper sheets during a feed cycle wherein said vacuum, said positive pressure air, and said high pressure air are controlled by a vacuum valve, a positive air pressure valve, and a high pressure valve respectively, wherein the paper is taken away by a belt which is activated when a feed clutch is energized, wherein the vacuum is actuated at the start of the feed cycle and de-actuated when the feed clutch is de-energized, the improvement comprising: 
 pulsing the positive air pressure separator by actuating and de-actuating said positive air pressure separator during the feed cycle; and,    pulsing the high pressure separator by actuating and de-actuating said high pressure separator during the feed cycle.    
   
   
       7 . The method of  claim 6  wherein said specialized paper is coated paper.  
   
   
       8 . The method of  claim 6  wherein said specialized paper is paper heavier than 200 gsm.  
   
   
       9 . The method of  claim 6  wherein said positive air pressure separator and said high pressure separator are actuated when said vacuum is actuated, and said positive air pressure separator and said high pressure separator are de-actuated before the feed clutch is energized.  
   
   
       10 . The method of  claim 6  when the feed rate is in the range of 110-150 pages per minute, wherein said positive air pressure separator and said high pressure separator are actuated when said vacuum is actuated, and said positive air pressure and said high pressure separator are de-actuated approximately 50 milliseconds before the feed clutch is energized.  
   
   
       11 . In a vacuum corrugated belt feeder with a positive air pressure separator and a high pressure separator, a method of operating a vacuum corrugated belt feeder during non-feed cycle time so as to separate a sheet from a sheet supply stack, comprising agitating the top sheets in the stack by actuating said vacuum, and pulsing said high pressure separator and said positive air pressure separator.  
   
   
       12 . The method of  claim 11  wherein said vacuum and said high pressure separator and said positive air pressure separator remain actuated until the feed cycle begins.  
   
   
       13 . The method of  claim 11  wherein said vacuum and said high pressure separator and said positive air pressure separator are actuated and de-actuated every frame as if supply were feeding.  
   
   
       14 . The method of  claim 11  wherein said vacuum and said high pressure separator and said positive air pressure separator are actuated for the frame immediately following the last feed, de-actuated, and then not actuated again until the feed cycle begins.  
   
   
       15 . The method of  claim 11  wherein said vacuum and said high pressure separator and said positive air pressure separator are actuated at least one frame during non-feed cycle time, but not every frame.  
   
   
       16 . The method of  claim 11  wherein the impending feed is identified, and said vacuum and said high pressure separator and said positive air pressure separator are actuated during the last frame before the impending feed begins.  
   
   
       17 . In a vacuum corrugated belt feeder with a positive air pressure separator and a high pressure separator, a method of operating a vacuum corrugated belt feeder, feeding a sheet too large to image in one frame, during feed cycle time comprises pulsing the vacuum, the high pressure separator, and the positive air pressure separator after a previous sheet has been fed, but before a next sheet is fed.