Patent ID: 7694957
Filing Date: 2010-04-13
Classification: B65H

Abstract:
1. A separation and extraction device, comprising: a supporting unit configured to support a stack of sheets; a vibrator configured to apply a spot vibration on the sheet surface of the stack, the vibrator including a vibrating member generating a high frequency vibration having a frequency which is not smaller than 10 kHz and an ultrasonic horn coupled to the vibrating member and amplifying the high frequency vibration thereof, the ultrasonic horn having a leading end which is in spot-contact with a uppermost sheet of the stack to apply the high frequency vibration on the sheet surface of the stack from the ultrasonic horn to separate the sheets of the stack; a sheet extraction mechanism configured to extract a sheet or sheets from the sheet surface of the stack and convey the sheet or sheets sequentially; a separating mechanism configured to separate one sheet from the other sheet or sheets and convey the one sheet; and a holding mechanism configured to hold the vibrator so that the vibrator can be moved in the direction substantially orthogonal to the surface of the sheets, the holding mechanism contacting the vibrator with the surface of the sheets under a predetermined contact force.