Sheet feeding device comprising a heating unit

Abstract

A sheet feeding device (1) is provided. The sheet feeding device comprises a storage surface (11) for a stack of sheets (5), a blower arrangement comprising a plurality of side blower units (21) and a front blower unit (22), at least one fan (23) configured to supply one or more air streams (3) to each of the side blower units and the front blower unit. The plurality 5 of side blower units and the front blower unit are configured to direct the one or more air streams towards an upper region (12) of the sheet feeding device for floating a plurality of upper sheets (5a) of the stack of sheets. The sheet feeding device further comprises a vacuum belt feeder (30) configured to grab and feed away an uppermost sheet (5b) of the plurality of floated sheets. The blower arrangement further comprises a heating unit (40) arranged between a first fan (23) of the at least one fan and the front blower unit, and configured to heat the one or more air streams supplied by the first fan to the front blower unit.

1 . Sheet feeding device comprising:
 a storage surface for a stack of sheets, the storage surface having a leading edge, a trailing edge, and a first side edge and a second side edge and being adapted to move vertically between a lower position and an upper position;   a blower arrangement comprising:
 a plurality of side blower units provided along the first side edge and the second side edge of the storage surface, and a front blower unit provided along the leading edge of the storage surface; 
 at least one fan configured to supply one or more air streams to each of the side blower units and the front blower unit; and 
 wherein the plurality of side blower units and the front blower unit are configured to direct the one or more air streams towards an upper region of the sheet feeding device for floating a plurality of upper sheets of the stack of sheets; and 
   a vacuum belt feeder configured to grab and feed away an uppermost sheet of the plurality of floated sheets;   characterized in that   
       the blower arrangement further comprises:
 a heating unit arranged between a first fan of the at least one fan and the front blower unit, and configured to heat the one or more air streams supplied by the first fan to the front blower unit; and 
 at least one side heating unit arranged between a third fan of the at least one fan and a side blower unit of the plurality of side blower units, and configured to heat the one or more air streams supplied by the third fan to said side blower unit. 
 
     
     
         2 . The sheet feeding device according to  claim 1 , wherein the front blower unit is further configured to direct the one or more air streams in a direction substantially perpendicular to the leading edge. 
     
     
         3 . The sheet feeding device according to  claim 1 , further comprising a channel configured to guide the air stream from the first fan to the front blower unit; and
 wherein the heating unit is arranged within the channel.   
     
     
         4 . The sheet feeding device according to  claim 1 , wherein the heating unit comprises at least one resistive wire configured to generate heat, and wherein the heating unit is further configured to heat the one or more air streams supplied to the front blower unit via the at least one resistive wire. 
     
     
         5 . The sheet feeding device according to  claim 4 , wherein a resistive wire of the at least one resistive wire is extending along and/or across a path of the one or more air streams supplied by the first fan to the front blower unit. 
     
     
         6 . The sheet feeding device according to  claim 5 , wherein at least a portion of the resistive wire of the at least one resistive wire is arranged along a coiling or winding path. 
     
     
         7 . The sheet feeding device according to  claim 1 , wherein the blower arrangement further comprises:
 a second heating unit arranged between a second fan of the at least one fan and the front blower unit, and configured to heat the one or more air streams supplied by the second fan to the front blower unit.   
     
     
         8 . The sheet feeding device according to  claim 1 , further comprising:
 a sensor unit configured to measure humidity and/or temperature of at least one of air within the sheet feeding device and ambient air; and   wherein the sheet feeding device is further configured to adjust an amount of air supplied by the at least one fan and/or an amount of heat generated by the heating unit based on the measured humidity and/or temperature.