Development of a Mechanism for the Automatic Separation and Page Turning of Book Pages in a Disinfection Device

Background: The disinfection of books and other printed materials is an important hygienic procedure in libraries, archives, educational institutions, and other facilities where large quantities of printed materials are stored and regularly used. Conventional disinfection procedures often require manual opening and turning of individual pages, which can be time-consuming and may result in uneven exposure of pages to the disinfectant. Therefore, the development of an automated mechanism capable of sequentially separating and turning individual book pages is an important technical task. Purpose: The purpose of this research is to develop and substantiate a mechanism for the automatic separation and page turning of individual book pages during the disinfection process. The proposed mechanism is intended to reduce manual intervention, ensure sequential page turning, improve the uniformity of disinfectant exposure, and minimize the risk of mechanical damage to books. Methods: The structural and functional principles of the proposed mechanism were investigated, with particular attention to the processes of separating adjacent pages, transferring a single page, and synchronizing page turning with the disinfection cycle. The operating sequence of the mechanical elements was analyzed to prevent simultaneous feeding of multiple pages, incomplete page turning, excessive deformation, and tearing. Controlled mechanical elements and sensors were incorporated into the system to detect the position and movement of pages and to coordinate the operation of the drive mechanism. The interaction between the page-separation unit, page-transfer mechanism, sensors, and drive system was considered to ensure stable and sequential operation. Results: The developed mechanism provides controlled separation and sequential turning of individual pages, allowing the pages to be exposed more uniformly during the disinfection process. The use of sensors for detecting page position and movement improves the coordination between the page-turning mechanism and the disinfection cycle. The proposed technical solution also reduces the probability of simultaneous feeding of several pages and mechanical damage associated with uncontrolled page movement. Conclusion: The proposed automatic page-separation and turning mechanism provides a technical basis for increasing the productivity and operational reliability of book disinfection equipment while preserving the physical condition of printed materials. The developed approach can be applied in libraries, archives, educational institutions, and other facilities requiring regular automated hygienic treatment of books and similar printed materials.