Abstract
We have developed a downward paper-sheet separating mechanism using a vacuum. This mechanism separates paper sheets one by one to downward direction. Even when paper sheets of various length are mixed and fed into the sheet feeder, their bottom side is at the same level. By using a gap control roller while detecting the leading edge and the trailing edge of each paper sheet, each paper sheet can therefore be separated in the downward direction so as to minimize the gap between the paper sheets. As the result, the average gap of each paper sheet is shortened and thus throughput is increased.
