U.S. patent application number 14/233731 was filed with the patent office on 2014-06-12 for medium separating and supplying mechanism.
The applicant listed for this patent is OKI ELECTRIC INDUSTRY CO., LTD.. Invention is credited to Masaaki Okamoto, Hiroshi Yokokawa.
Application Number | 20140159300 14/233731 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 48289764 |
Filed Date | 2014-06-12 |
United States Patent
Application |
20140159300 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Okamoto; Masaaki ; et
al. |
June 12, 2014 |
MEDIUM SEPARATING AND SUPPLYING MECHANISM
Abstract
The present invention provides a medium separating and supplying
mechanism that may reduce the causes of jams and errors on a
conveyance path and so forth from supply onward. Namely, by making
the skew angle of a medium less than a limit angle .theta.max, at
which skewing is regard to increase, when the medium reaches a gate
portion, the present invention may prevent the medium from rotating
at an overlap point in a direction in which the skew angle is
increased, which occurs as a result of the medium reaching the
overlap point.
Inventors: |
Okamoto; Masaaki; (Tokyo,
JP) ; Yokokawa; Hiroshi; (Tokyo, JP) |
|
Applicant: |
Name |
City |
State |
Country |
Type |
OKI ELECTRIC INDUSTRY CO., LTD. |
Tokyo |
|
JP |
|
|
Family ID: |
48289764 |
Appl. No.: |
14/233731 |
Filed: |
September 20, 2012 |
PCT Filed: |
September 20, 2012 |
PCT NO: |
PCT/JP2012/074073 |
371 Date: |
January 17, 2014 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
271/109 |
Current CPC
Class: |
B65H 2404/1316 20130101;
B65H 3/5284 20130101; B65H 3/06 20130101; B65H 2404/623 20130101;
B65H 3/063 20130101; B65H 9/002 20130101; B65H 2701/1912
20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
271/109 |
International
Class: |
B65H 3/06 20060101
B65H003/06; B65H 9/00 20060101 B65H009/00 |
Foreign Application Data
Date |
Code |
Application Number |
Nov 10, 2011 |
JP |
2011-246459 |
Claims
1. A medium separating and supplying mechanism comprising: a side
surface guide having paper sheet mediums stacked inside; a pickup
roller that supplies the mediums stacked inside the side surface
guide; a gate portion including a separation feed roller and a
separation gate roller that are arranged on a downstream side of
the pickup roller in a supply direction in which the mediums are
supplied, form an overlap portion as a result of channels and
ridges disposed in their outer peripheral surfaces overlapping one
another, hold in the overlap portion the mediums supplied by the
pickup roller, and separate and supply the mediums one item at a
time; supply feed rollers that supply the mediums that have been
separated one item at a time in the gate portion; and supply
rollers that are arranged touching the supply feed rollers on the
downstream side of the gate portion in the supply direction and
hold and supply the mediums at contact points where the supply
rollers touch the supply feed rollers, wherein the medium
separating and supplying mechanism is configured such that the skew
angle, with respect to a width direction orthogonal to the supply
direction, of the mediums reaching the gate portion becomes smaller
than a limit angle formed by a straight line that joins a contact
point farthest from the center in the width direction and a point,
nearest to the contact point, of the overlapping channels and
ridges in the gate portion farthest from that contact point and a
straight line that is parallel to the width direction.
2. The medium separating and supplying mechanism according to claim
1, wherein supply direction and width direction lengths of the side
surface guide are determined such that the skew angle, with respect
to the width direction, of the mediums reaching the gate portion
becomes smaller than the limit angle.
3. The medium separating and supplying mechanism according to claim
1, wherein the supply feed rollers and the supply rollers that are
farthest from the center in the width direction are disposed nearer
to the center so that the limit angle becomes larger.
4. The medium separating and supplying mechanism according to claim
1, wherein in the gate portion, the number of channels and ridges
disposed on the outer peripheral surfaces of the separation feed
roller and the separation gate roller is few so that the limit
angle becomes larger.
Description
TECHNICAL FIELD
[0001] The present invention relates to a medium separating and
supplying mechanism that uses rollers to separate and supply, one
item at a time, paper sheet mediums such as banknotes, for
example.
BACKGROUND ART
[0002] Conventionally, medium separating and supplying mechanisms
configured to separate and supply, one item at a time, mediums
(banknotes) stacked in an ATM or the like, for example, have been
proposed (e.g., see Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open (JP-A)
No. 2008-273669).
[0003] Specifically, as shown in FIG. 1 to FIG. 3, a medium
separating and supplying mechanism 1 is given a configuration
including pickup rollers 2 (2a to 2d), supply feed rollers 3 (3a to
3c), separation feed rollers 4 (4a and 4b), separation gate rollers
5 (5a and 5b), supply rollers 6 (6a to 6c), shafts 7, 8, and 9, and
a side surface guide 10.
[0004] The pickup rollers 2 are arranged in a line in a direction
(hereinafter this will also be called a width direction) orthogonal
to a direction in which mediums P are supplied (hereinafter this
will also be called a supply direction) below a region (hereinafter
this will also be called a stacking area) 11, indicated by the
hatching in FIG. 1, in which the mediums P are stacked inside the
side surface guide 10, and the pickup rollers 2 are fixed to the
shaft 7. The shaft 7 is rotatably supported by bearings and a fixed
frame (not illustrated in the drawings).
[0005] The pickup rollers 2 have rubber disposed on part of their
outer peripheral surfaces and are driven by a driver such as a
motor (not illustrated in the drawings) via the shaft 7 to rotate
in both forward and reverse directions (arrows 21a and 21b in the
drawings).
[0006] The supply feed rollers 3 and the separation feed rollers 4
are arranged in the order of the supply feed roller 3a, the
separation feed roller 4a, the supply feed roller 3b, the
separation feed roller 4b, and the supply feed roller 3c along the
width direction on the supply direction downstream side of the
pickup rollers 2 and are fixed to the shaft 8.
[0007] The shaft 8 is rotatably supported by bearings and a fixed
frame (not illustrated in the drawings). The supply feed rollers 3a
and 3c are arranged in positions farthest from the center in the
range in which the mediums P can be held in order to stably hold
the mediums P.
[0008] The supply feed rollers 3 have rubber disposed on their
outer peripheral surfaces. The separation feed rollers 4 have three
grooves (channels) of a predetermined width disposed in them along
their entire circumferential direction, whereby channels and ridges
are formed in the outer peripheral surfaces of the separation feed
rollers 4. The separation feed rollers 4 have rubber disposed on
part of the outer peripheral surfaces of the four ridges.
[0009] The supply feed rollers 3 and the separation feed rollers 4
are driven by a driver such as a motor (not illustrated in the
drawings) via the shaft 8 to rotate in both forward and reverse
directions (arrows 22a and 22b in the drawings).
[0010] The pickup rollers 2, the supply feed rollers 3, and the
separation feed rollers 4 rotate synchronously via the shafts 7 and
8 due to a belt or the like (not illustrated in the drawings).
[0011] The separation gate rollers 5 are supported, in such a way
as to be rotatable only in one direction (arrow 23 in the
drawings), on the shaft 9 above the separation feed rollers 4. The
separation feed rollers 4 and the separation gate rollers 5 will
also be collectively called a gate portion 12.
[0012] As shown in FIG. 4, the separation gate rollers 5 have two
grooves (channels), having a wider width than the width of the
ridges of the separation feed rollers 4, formed in their outer
peripheral surfaces so as to be in alignment with those ridges.
[0013] Additionally, the separation feed rollers 4 and the
separation gate rollers 5 are arranged such that the ridges of one
enter (overlap) the channels of the other. The separation gate
rollers 5 have rubber disposed on the outer peripheral surfaces of
their ridges.
[0014] The portions where the separation feed rollers 4 and the
separation gate rollers 5 overlap one another will also be called
overlap portions 13.
[0015] The supply rollers 6 are supported on a shaft (not
illustrated in the drawings), such that they touch the supply feed
rollers 3 on the downstream side of the separation gate rollers 5,
and apply forces that press against the supply feed rollers 3 at
positions (hereinafter these will also be called contact points) 14
at which the supply rollers 6 contact the supply feed rollers 3.
The supply rollers 6 turn in conjunction with the rotation of the
supply feed rollers 3 and rotate in both forward and reverse
directions (arrows 24a and 24b in the drawings).
[0016] When the medium separating and supplying mechanism 1
supplies the mediums P stacked in the stacking area 11 such as
shown in FIG. 5, the medium separating and supplying mechanism 1
causes the pickup rollers 2 to rotate in the direction of arrow
21a. From FIG. 5 on, for convenience of description, the mediums P
will always be indicated by a solid line even in a case where they
are positioned below the separation gate rollers and the supply
rollers, for example, and the area inside the solid line will be
indicated by a dot pattern.
[0017] By causing the pickup rollers 2 to rotate, as shown in FIG.
6, the medium separating and supplying mechanism 1 supplies a
lowermost medium P1 of the mediums P stacked in the stacking area
11 to the gate portion 12.
[0018] At this time, the medium separating and supplying mechanism
1 also supplies mediums P2 and P3, placed on top of the medium P1,
together with the medium P1 to the gate portion 12 in a staggered
and stacked state because of friction, for example, between the
mediums that arises in the rotational direction of the pickup
rollers 2.
[0019] In the gate portion 12, the separation feed rollers 4 rotate
in the direction of arrow 22a, whereby, as shown in FIG. 7, the
separation feed rollers 4 apply, to the medium P1, forces
(hereinafter these will also be called feed forces) 41 (41a and
41b) that supply the mediums P.
[0020] When the mediums P1 to P3 try to pass through the gate
portion 12 in a staggered and stacked state, the separation gate
rollers 5 contact the mediums P2 and P3, the frictional force
between the mediums P and the separation gate rollers 5 becomes
larger than the frictional force between the mediums P, and the
separation gate rollers 5 allow only the medium P1 to pass through
the gate portion 12.
[0021] The medium P1 separated down to one item in the gate portion
12 is held at the contact points 14 by the supply feed rollers 3
and the supply rollers 6.
[0022] The supply feed rollers 3 and the supply rollers 6 rotate in
the directions of arrows 22a and 24a, respectively, whereby the
supply feed rollers 3 and the supply rollers 6 apply feed forces 42
(42a to 42c) to the held medium P1 and supply the medium P1 in the
direction of arrow 25.
[0023] Incidentally, in the medium separating and supplying
mechanism 1, the side surface guide 10 is formed such that the
stacking area 11 is larger than the mediums P, so there are also
cases where, as shown in FIG. 8, the mediums P are stacked
obliquely (skewed) with respect to the width direction in the
stacking area 11. Further, there are also cases where the mediums P
end up becoming skewed while being supplied even if they are
stacked in an unskewed state with respect to the width
direction.
[0024] In the medium separating and supplying mechanism 1, in a
case where a medium P is not more oblique than a limit angle
.theta.max (described in detail later) when the medium P has
reached the gate portion 12, as shown in FIG. 9, the medium P
supplied to the gate portion 12 as a result of the pickup rollers 2
rotating in the direction of arrow 21a is first held by the
separation feed roller 4a and the separation gate roller 5a so that
the feed forces 41a are applied to the medium P.
[0025] Thereafter, as shown in FIG. 10, the medium P is held by the
separation feed roller 4b and the separation gate roller 5b so that
the feed forces 41b are applied to the medium P, and thereafter,
the medium P is held by the supply feed roller 3a and the supply
roller 6a and the feed force 42a is applied to the medium P.
[0026] Then, the medium P is supplied in the direction of arrow 25
(FIG. 2) by the feed forces 41 of the separation feed rollers 4 and
the separation gate rollers 5 and the feed forces 42 of the supply
feed rollers 3 and the supply rollers 6.
SUMMARY
Technical Problem
[0027] Incidentally, in the medium separating and supplying
mechanism 1 described above, in a case where the medium P that has
reached the gate portion 12 is skewed at a larger angle than the
limit angle .theta.max with respect to the width direction, this
ends up increasing the skew when supplying the medium P.
[0028] Here, the limit angle .theta.max will be described. In the
medium separating and supplying mechanism 1, as shown in (1) of
FIG. 11, a length L1 from the supply direction rearmost end of the
inside of the side surface guide 10 to the overlap portions 13 and
a length L2 from the overlap portions 13 to the contact points 14
are each found.
[0029] Additionally, considering the medium separating and
supplying mechanism 1 in a case where the lengths L1 and L2 are
rendered as straight lines, as shown in (2) of FIG. 11, the overlap
portions 13 are positioned in the position of the length L1 on the
downstream side from the supply direction rearmost end of the
inside of the side surface guide 10, and the centers of the
separation feed rollers 4 and the separation gate rollers 5 are
arranged in a line in the up-and-down direction.
[0030] Further, in the medium separating and supplying mechanism 1,
the contact points 14 are positioned in the position of the length
L2 on the downstream side from the overlap portions 13, and the
centers of the supply rollers 6 are arranged in such a way as to be
positioned above the contact points 14. The sum of the lengths L1
and L2 is a length L3.
[0031] Additionally, in the medium separating and supplying
mechanism 1, as shown in (3) of FIG. 11, a contact point 14a
between the supply feed roller 3a and the supply roller 6a, which
make up a set farthest from the center among the sets of the supply
feed rollers 3 and the supply rollers 6, is selected.
[0032] In actuality, the sets farthest from the center are the set
made up of the supply feed roller 3a and the supply roller 6a and
the set made up of the supply feed roller 3c and the supply roller
6c. However, for the purpose of description, the set made up of the
supply feed roller 3a and the supply roller 6a is used, but the
same also holds true in a case where the set made up of the supply
feed roller 3c and the supply roller 6c is used.
[0033] Further, in the medium separating and supplying mechanism 1,
among the sets of the separation feed rollers 4 and the separation
gate rollers 5, the separation feed roller 4b and the separation
gate roller 5b arranged in the position farthest from the set made
up of the supply feed roller 3a and the supply roller 6a are
selected. Additionally, the position nearest to the contact point
14a in an overlap portion 13b between the separation feed roller 4b
and the separation gate roller 5b is selected as an overlap point
31.
[0034] Additionally, in a case where the medium separating and
supplying mechanism 1 is seen from above, the angle formed by a
straight line 32 that joins the contact point 14a and the overlap
point 31 and a straight line 33 that passes through the centers of
the separation feed rollers 4 and the separation gate rollers 5 and
is parallel to the width direction, is defined as the limit angle
.theta.max.
[0035] In the medium separating and supplying mechanism 1, in a
case where the medium P is skewed at a larger angle .theta. than
the limit angle .theta.max with respect to the width direction and
has reached the gate portion 12, the medium P reaches the contact
point 14a between the supply feed roller 3a and the supply roller
6a before the medium P reaches the overlap point 31.
[0036] In this case, the feed force 42a resulting from the supply
feed roller 3a and the supply roller 6a, and the feed forces 41a
resulting from the separation feed roller 4a and the separation
gate roller 5a become applied to the medium P.
[0037] Thereafter, in the medium separating and supplying mechanism
1, when the medium P reaches the overlap point 31, as shown in FIG.
12, the medium P ends up rotating about the overlap point 31 in the
direction in which the skew angle is further increased because of
these feed forces 41a and 42a.
[0038] Specifically, the following cases are conceivable. First, a
case where, as shown in FIG. 13, an angle .theta. at which a medium
P stacked in the stacking area 11 is skewed is larger than the
limit angle .theta.max, will be described.
[0039] In the medium separating and supplying mechanism 1, when the
pickup rollers 2 rotate in the direction of arrow 21 a and supply
the medium P to the gate portion 12, as shown in FIG. 14, the
medium P is held by the separation feed roller 4a and the
separation gate roller 5a, and thereafter the medium P reaches the
contact point 14a between the supply feed roller 3a and the supply
roller 6a.
[0040] In the medium separating and supplying mechanism 1, as shown
in FIG. 15, when the medium P has reached the overlap point 31, the
medium P rotates about the overlap point 31 in the direction in
which the skew angle is further increased because of the feed force
42a resulting from the supply feed roller 3a and the supply roller
6a and the feed forces 41a resulting from the separation feed
roller 4a and the separation gate roller 5a.
[0041] Further, as another example, a case where, as shown in FIG.
16, a medium P stacked in an unskewed state in the stacking area 11
has become skewed at a larger angle .theta. than the limit angle
.theta.max while being supplied to the gate portion 12 by the
pickup rollers 2 will be described.
[0042] In the medium separating and supplying mechanism 1, as shown
in FIG. 17, the medium P that has become skewed at a larger angle
.theta. than the limit angle .theta.max while being supplied by the
pickup rollers 2 is held by the separation feed roller 4a and the
separation gate roller 5a, and thereafter the medium P reaches the
contact point 14a between the supply feed roller 3a and the supply
roller 6a.
[0043] In the medium separating and supplying mechanism 1, as shown
in FIG. 18, when the medium P has reached the overlap point 31, the
medium P rotates about the overlap point 31 in the direction in
which the skew angle is further increased because of the feed force
42a resulting from the supply feed roller 3a and the supply roller
6a and the feed forces 41a resulting from the separation feed
roller 4a and the separation gate roller 5a.
[0044] In this way, the medium separating and supplying mechanism 1
sometimes increases the skew angle of the medium P in a case where
the medium P stacked in the stacking area 11 is skewed at a larger
angle than the limit angle .theta.max or a case where the medium P
becomes skewed at a larger angle than the limit angle .theta.max
while being supplied and reaches the gate portion 12. Because of
this, the medium separating and supplying mechanism 1 increases the
causes of jams and errors in the conveyance path and so forth from
supply onward.
[0045] The present invention provides a medium separating and
supplying mechanism that may reduce the causes of jams and errors
on the conveyance path and so forth from supply onward.
Solution to Problem
[0046] A first aspect of the present invention is a medium
separating and supplying mechanism including: a side surface guide
having paper sheet mediums stacked inside; a pickup roller that
supplies the mediums stacked inside the side surface guide; a gate
portion comprising a separation feed roller and a separation gate
roller that are arranged on a downstream side of the pickup roller
in a supply direction in which the mediums are supplied, form an
overlap portion as a result of channels and ridges disposed in
their outer peripheral surfaces overlapping one another, hold in
the overlap portion the mediums supplied by the pickup roller, and
separate and supply the mediums one item at a time; supply feed
rollers that supply the mediums that have been separated one item
at a time in the gate portion; and supply rollers that are arranged
touching the supply feed rollers on the downstream side of the gate
portion in the supply direction and hold and supply the mediums at
contact points where the supply rollers touch the supply feed
rollers, wherein the medium separating and supplying mechanism is
configured such that the skew angle, with respect to a width
direction orthogonal to the supply direction, of the mediums
reaching the gate portion becomes smaller than a limit angle formed
by a straight line that joins a contact point farthest from the
center in the width direction and a point, nearest to the contact
point, of the overlapping channels and ridges in the gate portion
farthest from that contact point and a straight line that is
parallel to the width direction.
[0047] According to the above-described first aspect, the medium
separating and supplying mechanism of the present invention may
suppress a situation where a medium is held by a supply feed roller
and a supply roller, thereafter reaches an overlap point in the
gate portion, and rotates at that overlap point in a direction in
which the skew angle is increased.
Advantageous Effects of Invention
[0048] According to the above-described aspect of the present
invention, there may be provided a medium separating and supplying
mechanism which, because it may increase the size of the limit
angle, may suppress a situation where a medium is held by a supply
feed roller and a supply roller, thereafter reaches an overlap
point in the gate portion, and rotates at that overlap point in a
direction in which the skew angle is increased, and in this way the
medium separating and supplying mechanism may reduce the causes of
jams and errors on the conveyance path and so forth from supply
onward.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS
[0049] FIG. 1 is a top view showing the configuration of a
conventional medium separating and supplying mechanism (1);
[0050] FIG. 2 is a side view showing the configuration of the
conventional medium separating and supplying mechanism (2);
[0051] FIG. 3 is a rear view showing the configuration of the
conventional medium separating and supplying mechanism (3);
[0052] FIG. 4 is a schematic diagram showing the configuration of a
gate portion;
[0053] FIG. 5 is a schematic diagram showing the separation and
supply of a medium (1);
[0054] FIG. 6 is a schematic diagram showing the separation and
supply of the medium (2);
[0055] FIG. 7 is a schematic diagram showing the separation and
supply of the medium (3);
[0056] FIG. 8 is a schematic diagram showing the separation and
supply of a skewed medium
[0057] FIG. 9 is a schematic diagram showing the separation and
supply of the skewed medium (2);
[0058] FIG. 10 is a schematic diagram showing the separation and
supply of the skewed medium (3);
[0059] FIG. 11 is a schematic diagram showing the conventional
medium separating and supplying mechanism in a case where the
conveyance path is rendered as a straight line;
[0060] FIG. 12 is a schematic diagram showing an increase in the
skew of a medium;
[0061] FIG. 13 is a schematic diagram showing the separation and
supply of a medium stacked skewed more than a limit angle (1);
[0062] FIG. 14 is a schematic diagram showing the separation and
supply of the medium stacked skewed more than the limit angle
(2);
[0063] FIG. 15 is a schematic diagram showing the separation and
supply of the medium stacked skewed more than the limit angle
(3);
[0064] FIG. 16 is a schematic diagram showing the separation and
supply of a medium that has become skewed more than the limit angle
during conveyance (1);
[0065] FIG. 17 is a schematic diagram showing the separation and
supply of the medium that has become skewed more than the limit
angle during conveyance (2);
[0066] FIG. 18 is a schematic diagram showing the separation and
supply of the medium that has become skewed more than the limit
angle during conveyance (3);
[0067] FIG. 19A is a schematic diagram showing the configuration of
the conventional medium separating and supplying mechanism;
[0068] FIG. 19B is a schematic diagram showing the configuration of
a medium separating and supplying mechanism of a first exemplary
embodiment;
[0069] FIG. 20 is a schematic diagram showing the size of a side
surface guide;
[0070] FIG. 21 is a schematic diagram showing the separation and
supply of a medium stacked skewed (1);
[0071] FIG. 22 is a schematic diagram showing the separation and
supply of the medium stacked skewed (2);
[0072] FIG. 23 is a schematic diagram showing the separation and
supply of the medium stacked skewed (3);
[0073] FIG. 24 is a schematic diagram showing the separation and
supply of the medium stacked skewed (4);
[0074] FIG. 25 is a schematic diagram showing the separation and
supply of a medium that has become skewed more than the limit angle
during conveyance (1);
[0075] FIG. 26 is a schematic diagram showing the separation and
supply of the medium that has become skewed more than the limit
angle during conveyance (2);
[0076] FIG. 27 is a schematic diagram showing the separation and
supply of the medium that has become skewed more than the limit
angle during conveyance (3);
[0077] FIG. 28 is a schematic diagram showing the separation and
supply of the medium that has become skewed more than the limit
angle during conveyance (4);
[0078] FIG. 29 is a schematic diagram showing the configuration of
the conventional medium separating and supplying mechanism and the
configuration of a medium separating and supplying mechanism of a
second exemplary embodiment;
[0079] FIG. 30 is a schematic diagram showing a comparison between
the conventional limit angle and the limit angle in the second
exemplary embodiment;
[0080] FIG. 31 is a schematic diagram showing the configuration of
a medium separating and supplying mechanism of a third exemplary
embodiment (1);
[0081] FIG. 32 is a schematic diagram showing the configuration of
the medium separating and supplying mechanism of the third
exemplary embodiment (2);
[0082] FIG. 33 is a schematic diagram showing the configuration of
the conventional medium separating and supplying mechanism and
configuration of the medium separating and supplying mechanism of
the third exemplary embodiment;
[0083] FIG. 34 is a schematic diagram showing the medium separating
and supplying mechanism of the third exemplary embodiment in a case
where the conveyance path is rendered as a straight line;
[0084] FIG. 35 is a schematic diagram showing a comparison between
the conventional limit angle and the limit angle in the third
exemplary embodiment; and
[0085] FIG. 36 is a schematic diagram showing a medium separating
and supplying mechanism of a fourth exemplary embodiment in a case
where the conveyance path is rendered as a straight line.
DESCRIPTION OF EMBODIMENTS
[0086] Exemplary embodiments of the present invention will be
described in detail below in relation to the drawings.
1. First Exemplary Embodiment
[1-1. Configuration of Medium Separating and Supplying
Mechanism]
[0087] First, a first exemplary embodiment will be described. FIG.
19A shows the conventional medium separating and supplying
mechanism 1, and FIG. 19B shows a medium separating and supplying
mechanism 100 in the first exemplary embodiment. The medium
separating and supplying mechanism 100 has the same configuration
as that of the conventional medium separating and supplying
mechanism 10 except that the side surface guide 10 is replaced with
a side surface guide 110.
[0088] The side surface guide 110 has a supply direction length L11
and a width direction length W11 that are shorter than a supply
direction length L1 and a width direction length W1 of the side
surface guide 10.
[0089] Specifically, the supply direction length L11 and the width
direction length W11 of the side surface guide 110 are determined
in the following way.
[0090] As shown in FIG. 20, PW, PH, and PD denote a supply
direction length, a width direction length, and a diagonal length,
respectively, of a rectangular medium P that is long in the width
direction and stacked in a stacking area 111 of the side surface
guide 110.
[0091] Further, .theta.a denotes a skew angle with respect to the
width direction in a state in which one pair of diagonal corners of
the medium P are in contact with side surfaces of the side surface
guide 110, one of the corners of the medium P is in contact with a
back surface 110a of the side surface guide 110, and the medium P
does not become skewed more than this, that is, a state in which
the medium P is skewed the most in the stacking area 111.
[0092] Additionally, W12 denotes a length from the position at
which the medium P is in contact with the back surface 110a of the
side surface guide 110 to the side surface that is farther from
that position among the side surfaces of the side surface guide
100, and W13 denotes a value obtained by subtracting the length W12
from the length W11.
[0093] In this case, the relationship expressed by the following
formula (1) holds true for .theta.a, which is the angle formed by
the medium P and the back surface 110a.
.theta.a=.theta.b-.theta.c (1)
[0094] .theta.b is an angle formed by the diagonal line of the
medium P passing through the corners in contact with the back
surface 110a and the back surface 110a, and .theta.c is an angle
formed by the diagonal line and the long side of the medium P.
[0095] Further, the relationships expressed by the following
formula (2) to formula (5) hold true for .theta.c.
tan .theta.c=PH/PW (2)
.theta.c=tan.sup.-1(PH/PW) (3)
sin .theta.c=PH/PD (4)
PD=PH/sin .theta.c (5)
[0096] Substituting formula (3) into formula (5) yields:
PD=PH/sin { tan.sup.-1(PH/PW)} (6)
[0097] Moreover, the relationships expressed by the following
formula (7) and formula (8) hold true for .theta.b.
sin .theta.b=L11/PD (7)
.theta.b=sin.sup.-1(L11/PD) (8)
[0098] Additionally, substituting formula (6) into formula (8)
yields:
.theta. b = sin - 1 { L 11 / { P H / { sin { tan - 1 ( P H / P W )
} } } } ( 9 ) = sin - 1 { L 11 .times. { sin { tan - 1 ( P H / P W
) } } / P H } ( 10 ) ##EQU00001##
[0099] Thus, using formula (1), formula (3), and formula (10),
.theta.a is expressed as:
0a= sin.sup.-1{L11.times.{ sin { tan.sup.-1(PH/PW)}}/PH}-
tan.sup.-1(PH/PW) (11)
[0100] Meanwhile, the relationships expressed by formula (12) to
formula (15) hold true for .theta.a.
cos .theta.a=W12/PW (12)
W12=PW.times.cos .theta.a (13)
sin .theta.a=W13/PH (14)
W13=PH.times.sin .theta.a (15)
[0101] The width direction length W11 of the side surface guide 110
is expressed as:
W11=W12+W13 (16)
[0102] So substituting formula (13) and formula (15) into formula
(16) yields:
W11=PW.times.cos .theta.a+PH.times.sin .theta.a (17)
[0103] Further, the relationships expressed by formula (18) and
formula (19) hold true for .theta.b.
sin .theta.b=L11/PD (18)
L11=PD.times.cos .theta.b (19)
[0104] Substituting formula (1) into formula (19) yields:
L11=PD.times.sin(.theta.a-.theta.c) (20)
[0105] Substituting formula (3) into formula (20) yields:
L11=PD.times.sin(.theta.a-tan.sup.-1(PH/PW) (21)
[0106] Consequently, the supply direction length L11 and the width
direction length W11 of the side surface guide 110 are determined
using formula (17) and formula (21) in such a way as to satisfy
.theta.a<.theta.max on the basis of the supply direction length
PH and the width direction length PW of the medium P.
[0107] Note that, in a case where plural types of mediums P of
different sizes are stacked in the stacking area 111 and supplied,
it suffices to decide the supply direction length L11 and the width
direction length W11 of the side surface guide 110 on the basis of
the supply direction length L11 and the width direction length W11
of the medium P that is the smallest among the plural types of
mediums P.
[1-2. Operation of Supply of Medium]
[0108] Next, the operation of the supply of the mediums P by the
medium separating and supplying mechanism 100 will be described. In
the medium separating and supplying mechanism 100, as shown in FIG.
21, when supply is started in a state in which a medium P skewed at
angle .theta.a is stacked in the stacking area 111 of the side
surface guide 110, the medium P is supplied to the gate portion 12
by the pickup rollers 2.
[0109] At this time, the supply direction length L11 and the width
direction length W11 of the side surface guide 110 are determined
using formula (17) and formula (21) in such a way as to satisfy
.theta.a<.theta.max, so the medium P does not reach the gate
portion 12 with the skew angle becoming larger than the limit angle
.theta.max.
[0110] Consequently, in the medium separating and supplying
mechanism 100, as shown in FIG. 22, the medium P is held by the
separation feed roller 4a and the separation gate roller 5a, and
thereafter the medium P is held by the separation feed roller 4b
and the separation gate roller 5b.
[0111] Thereafter, in the medium separating and supplying mechanism
100, the medium P reaches the contact point 14a between the supply
feed roller 3a and the supply roller 6a, and the medium P is held
by the supply feed roller 3a and the supply roller 6a.
[0112] That is, in the medium separating and supplying mechanism
100, as shown in FIG. 23, the feed forces 41a are applied to the
medium P by the separation feed roller 4a and the separation gate
roller 5a, and next, the feed forces 42b are applied to the medium
P by the separation feed roller 4b and the separation gate roller
5b, and thereafter, the feed force 42a is applied to the medium P
by the supply feed roller 3a and the supply roller 6a.
[0113] In this way, in the medium separating and supplying
mechanism 100, the medium P is not held by the supply feed roller
3a and the supply roller 6a before the medium P is held by the
separation feed roller 4b and the separation gate roller 5b, so the
medium P may be prevented from rotating at the overlap point 31 in
the direction in which the skew angle is increased.
[0114] Thereafter, in the medium separating and supplying mechanism
100, as shown in FIG. 24, the supply feed roller 3b and supply
roller 6b and the supply feed roller 3c and supply roller 6c hold
the medium P, apply the feed forces 42b and 43c, respectively, and
supply the medium P.
[0115] Next, a case where a medium P stacked in an unskewed state
in the stacking area 111 becomes skewed while being supplied to the
gate portion 12 by the pickup rollers 2 will be described.
[0116] In the medium separating and supplying mechanism 100, in a
case where a medium P stacked in an unskewed state in the stacking
area 111 as shown in FIG. 25 has become skewed while being supplied
to the gate portion 12, the corners of the medium P come into
contact with the side surfaces of the side surface guide 110 as
shown in FIG. 26.
[0117] When the corners of the medium P come into contact with the
side surfaces of the side surface guide 110, the skew angle becomes
a maximum with respect to the width direction and the medium P
becomes skewed only at angle .theta.a. In this case also, the
supply direction length L11 and the width direction length W11 of
the side surface guide 110 are determined using formula (17) and
formula (21) in such a way as to satisfy .theta.a <.theta.max,
so the medium P does not reach the gate portion 12 with the skew
angle becoming larger than the limit angle .theta.max.
[0118] Consequently, in the medium separating and supplying
mechanism 100, the medium P is held by the separation feed roller
4a and the separation gate roller 5a, and next, the medium P is
held by the separation feed roller 4b and the separation gate
roller 5b, and thereafter, the medium P is held by the supply feed
roller 3a and the supply roller 6a.
[0119] That is, in the medium separating and supplying mechanism
100, as shown in FIG. 27, the feed forces 41a are applied to the
medium P by the separation feed roller 4a and the separation gate
roller 5a, and next, the feed forces 42b are applied to the medium
P by the separation feed roller 4b and the separation gate roller
5b, and thereafter, the feed force 42a is applied to the medium P
by the supply feed roller 3a and the supply roller 6a.
[0120] In this way, in the medium separating and supplying
mechanism 100, the medium P is not held by the supply feed roller
3a and the supply roller 6a before the medium P is held by the
separation feed roller 4b and the separation gate roller 5b, so the
medium P may be prevented from rotating at the overlap point 31 in
the direction in which the skew angle is increased.
[0121] Thereafter, in the medium separating and supplying mechanism
100, as shown in FIG. 28, the supply feed roller 3b and supply
roller 6b and the supply feed roller 3c and supply roller 6c hold
the medium P, apply the feed forces 42b and 43c, respectively, and
supply the medium P.
[1-3. Effects, Etc.]
[0122] As described above, in the medium separating and supplying
mechanism 100, the supply direction length L11 and the width
direction length W11 of the side surface guide 100 are determined
using formula (17) and formula (21) in such a way as to satisfy
.theta.a<.theta.max on the basis of the supply direction length
PH and the width direction length PW of the medium P.
[0123] Thus, the medium separating and supplying mechanism 100 may
make the skew angle of the medium P less than the limit angle
.theta.max, at which the skew angle is regarded to increase, when
the medium P reaches the gate portion 12.
[0124] Because of this, in the medium separating and supplying
mechanism 100, the medium P is held by the separation feed roller
4a and the separation gate roller 5a, and next, the medium P is
held by the separation feed roller 4b and the separation gate
roller 5b, and thereafter, the medium P is held by the supply feed
roller 3a and the supply roller 6a.
[0125] Consequently, the medium separating and supplying mechanism
100 may prevent the medium P from rotating at the overlap point 31
in the direction in which the skew angle is increased, which occurs
as a result of the medium P reaching the overlap point 31 between
the separation feed roller 4b and the separation gate roller 5b
after the medium P becomes held by the supply feed roller 3a and
the supply roller 6a. In this way, the medium separating and
supplying mechanism 100 may reduce the causes of jams and errors on
the conveyance path and so forth from supply onward.
2. Second Exemplary Embodiment
[2-1. Configuration of Medium Separating and Supplying
Mechanism]
[0126] Next, a second exemplary embodiment will be described. (1)
of FIG. 29 shows the conventional medium separating and supplying
mechanism 1, and (2) of FIG. 29 shows a medium separating and
supplying mechanism 200 in a second exemplary embodiment. In FIGS.
1) of 29 and (2) of 29, the side surface guide 10 is omitted for
convenience of description. Further, in the medium separating and
supplying mechanism 200 of the second exemplary embodiment, the
side surface guide 110 of the first exemplary embodiment may also
be used instead of the side surface guide 10.
[0127] The medium separating and supplying mechanism 200 has a
configuration where, compared to the conventional medium separating
and supplying mechanism 1, a supply feed roller 203a and supply
roller 206a and a supply feed roller 203c and supply roller 206c
are each nearer to the center by a distance D1. Other
configurations are the same except that the reference signs are
different for convenience of description.
[0128] That is, the medium separating and supplying mechanism 200
is given a configuration including pickup rollers 200, supply feed
rollers 203, separation feed rollers 204, separation gate rollers
205, supply rollers 206, shafts 207, 208, and 209, and the side
surface guide 10.
[0129] In the medium separating and supplying mechanism 200,
similar to what was described above, the position, in an overlap
portion 212 of a set made up of a separation feed roller 204b and a
separation gate roller 205b that are farthest from a contact point
214a of a set made up of the supply feed roller 203a and the supply
roller 206a that are farthest from the center, that is nearest to
the contact point 214a is selected as an overlap point 231.
[0130] Further, the limit angle .theta.max of the medium separating
and supplying mechanism 200 is an angle formed by a straight line
232 that joins the contact point 214a and the overlap point 231 and
a straight line 233 that passes through the centers of the
separation feed rollers 204 and the separation gate rollers 205 and
is parallel to the width direction.
[0131] Here, as shown in FIG. 30, a comparison will be made between
the limit angle .theta.max of the conventional medium separating
and supplying mechanism 1 (hereinafter this will also be called
.theta.d) and the limit angle .theta.max of the medium separating
and supplying mechanism 200 in the second exemplary embodiment
(hereinafter this will also be called .theta.e).
[0132] In the medium separating and supplying mechanism 200, the
supply feed roller 203a and the supply roller 206a are nearer to
the center by the distance D1 than the supply feed roller 3a and
the supply roller 6a in the conventional medium separating and
supplying mechanism 1, so the relationship expressed by the
following formula (22) holds true.
.theta.d<.theta.e (22)
[0133] Consequently, the medium separating and supplying mechanism
200 may increase the size of the limit angle .theta.max compared to
the conventional medium separating and supplying mechanism 1.
[2-2. Effects, Etc.]
[0134] As described above, the medium separating and supplying
mechanism 200 has a configuration where, compared to the
conventional medium separating and supplying mechanism 1, the
supply feed roller 203a and supply roller 206a and the supply feed
roller 203c and supply roller 206c are each nearer to the center by
the distance D1.
[0135] Because of this, the medium separating and supplying
mechanism 200 may increase the size of the limit angle .theta.max
compared to the conventional medium separating and supplying
mechanism 1, so the medium separating and supplying mechanism 200
may prevent an increase in the skew angle of the medium P more than
conventionally, and in this way the medium separating and supplying
mechanism 200 may reduce the causes of jams and errors on the
conveyance path and so forth from supply onward.
[0136] Incidentally, in the conventional the conventional medium
separating and supplying mechanism 1, the supply feed roller 3a and
supply roller 6a and the supply feed roller 3c and supply roller 6c
are arranged in positions farther from the center so that the
medium P may be stably held.
[0137] In contrast, in the medium separating and supplying
mechanism 200, the disposed positions of the supply feed roller
203c and supply roller 206a and the supply feed roller 203c and
supply roller 206c are determined from the standpoint of preventing
the medium P from rotating at the overlap point 231 in the
direction in which the skew angle is increased.
3. Third Exemplary Embodiment
[3-1. Configuration of Medium Separating and Supplying
Mechanism]
[0138] Next, a third exemplary embodiment will be described. As
shown in FIG. 31 and FIG. 32, a medium separating and supplying
mechanism 300 in the third exemplary embodiment is given a
configuration including pickup rollers 302, supply feed rollers
303, separation feed rollers 304, separation gate rollers 305,
supply rollers 306, shafts 307, 308, and 309, and the side surface
guide 10.
[0139] In FIG. 32, the side surface guide 10 is omitted for
convenience of description. Further, in the medium separating and
supplying mechanism 300 of the third exemplary embodiment, the side
surface guide 110 in the first exemplary embodiment may also be
used instead of the side surface guide 10.
[0140] The pickup rollers 302 are arranged on and fixed to the
shaft 307 in a line in the width direction below the stacking area
11 of the side surface guide 10. The shaft 307 is rotatably
supported by bearings and a fixed frame (not illustrated in the
drawings).
[0141] The pickup rollers 302 have rubber disposed on part of their
outer peripheral surfaces and are driven by a driver such as a
motor (not illustrated in the drawings) via the shaft 307 to rotate
in both forward and reverse directions (arrows 321a and 321b in the
drawings).
[0142] The supply feed rollers 303 and the separation feed rollers
304 are arranged in the order of a supply feed roller 303a, a
separation feed roller 304a, a supply feed roller 303b, a
separation feed roller 304b, and a supply feed roller 303c along
the width direction on the supply direction downstream side of the
pickup rollers 302 and are fixed to the shaft 308. The shaft 308 is
rotatably supported by bearings and a fixed frame (not illustrated
in the drawings).
[0143] The supply feed rollers 303 have rubber disposed on their
outer peripheral surfaces. The separation feed rollers 304 have two
grooves (channels) of a predetermined width disposed in their outer
peripheral surfaces along their entire circumferential direction,
whereby channels and ridges are formed in the outer peripheral
surfaces of the separation feed rollers 304. The separation feed
rollers 304 have rubber disposed on part of the outer peripheral
surfaces of the ridges.
[0144] The supply feed rollers 303 and the separation feed rollers
304 are driven by a driver such as a motor (not illustrated in the
drawings) via the shaft 308 to rotate in both forward and reverse
directions (arrows 322a and 322b in the drawings).
[0145] The pickup rollers 302, the supply feed rollers 303, and the
separation feed rollers 304 rotate synchronously via the shafts 307
and 308 because of a belt or the like (not illustrated in the
drawings).
[0146] The separation gate rollers 305 are supported, in such a way
as to be rotatable only in one direction (arrow 323 in the
drawings), on the shaft 309 above the separation feed rollers 304.
The separation feed rollers 304 and the separation gate rollers 305
will also be collectively called a gate portion 312.
[0147] The separation gate rollers 305 have two grooves (channels),
of a somewhat wider width than the width of the ridges of the
separation feed rollers 304, formed in their outer peripheral
surfaces so as to be in alignment with those ridges.
[0148] Additionally, the separation feed rollers 304 and the
separation gate rollers 305 are arranged such that the ridges of
one enter (overlap) the channels of the other. The separation gate
rollers 305 have rubber disposed on the outer peripheral surfaces
of their ridges.
[0149] The portions where the separation feed rollers 304 and the
separation gate rollers 305 overlap one another will also be called
overlap portions 313.
[0150] The supply rollers 306 are supported on a shaft (not
illustrated in the drawings) such that they touch the supply feed
rollers 303 on the downstream side of the separation gate rollers
305 and apply forces that press against the supply feed rollers 303
at contact points 314. The supply rollers 306 turn in conjunction
with the rotation of the supply feed rollers 303 and rotate in both
forward and reverse directions (arrows 324a and 324b in the
drawings).
[0151] In the medium separating and supplying mechanism 301 having
the above configuration, as shown in FIG. 33, the separation feed
rollers 304 and the separation gate rollers 305 have one fewer
channel and ridge each compared to the conventional medium
separating and supplying mechanism 1.
[0152] Further, in the medium separating and supplying mechanism
301, the supply feed roller 303a and supply roller 306a and the
supply feed roller 303c and supply roller 306c are nearer to the
center by a length D2 that is proportional to the separation feed
rollers 304 and the separation gate rollers 305 having one fewer
channel and ridge each.
[0153] In the medium separating and supplying mechanism 300, as
shown in (1) of FIG. 34, a length L21 from the supply direction
rearmost end of the inside of the side surface guide 10 to the
overlap portions 313 and a length L22 from the overlap portions 313
to the contact points 314 are each defined.
[0154] Additionally, considering the medium separating and
supplying mechanism 300 in a case where the lengths L21 and L22 are
rendered as straight lines, as shown in (2) of FIG. 34, the overlap
portions 313 are positioned in the position of the length L21 on
the downstream side from the supply direction rearmost end of the
inside of the side surface guide 10, and the centers of the
separation feed rollers 304 and the separation gate rollers 305 are
arranged in a line in the up-and-down direction.
[0155] Further, in the medium separating and supplying mechanism
300, the contact points 314 are positioned in the position of the
length L22 on the downstream side from the overlap portions 313,
and the centers of the supply rollers 306 are arranged in such a
way as to be positioned above the contact points 314. The sum of
the lengths L21 and L22 is a length L23.
[0156] Additionally, in the medium separating and supplying
mechanism 1, as shown in (3) of FIG. 34, a contact point 314a
between the supply feed roller 303a and the supply roller 306a, for
example, which make up a set farthest from the center among the
sets of the supply feed rollers 303 and the supply rollers 306, is
selected.
[0157] Further, in the medium separating and supplying mechanism
300, among the sets of the separation feed rollers 304 and the
separation gate rollers 305, the separation feed roller 304b and
the separation gate roller 305b arranged in the position farthest
from the set made up of the supply feed roller 303a and the supply
roller 306a are selected. Additionally, the position nearest to the
contact point 314a in an overlap portion 313b between the
separation feed roller 304b and the separation gate roller 305b is
selected as an overlap point 331.
[0158] Additionally, the limit angle .theta.max of the medium
separating and supplying mechanism 300 is an angle formed by a
straight line 332 that joins the contact point 314a and the overlap
point 334 and a straight line 333 that passes through the centers
of the separation feed rollers 304 and the separation gate rollers
305 and is parallel to the width direction.
[0159] Here, as shown in FIG. 35, a comparison will be made between
the limit angle .theta.max of the conventional medium separating
and supplying mechanism 1 (hereinafter this will also be called
.theta.f) and the limit angle .theta.max of the medium separating
and supplying mechanism 300 in the third exemplary embodiment
(hereinafter this will also be called .theta.g).
[0160] In the medium separating and supplying mechanism 300, the
supply feed roller 303a and the supply roller 306a are nearer to
the center by the distance D2 than the supply feed roller 3a and
the supply roller 6a in the conventional medium separating and
supplying mechanism 1, so the relationship expressed by the
following formula (23) holds true.
.theta.f<.theta.g (23)
[0161] Consequently, the medium separating and supplying mechanism
300 may increase the size of the limit angle .theta.max compared to
the conventional medium separating and supplying mechanism 1.
[3-2. Effects, Etc.]
[0162] As described above, the medium separating and supplying
mechanism 300 has a configuration where, compared to the
conventional medium separating and supplying mechanism 1, the
separation feed rollers 304 and the separation gate rollers 305
have one fewer channel and ridge each and the supply feed roller
303a and supply roller 306a and the supply feed roller 303c and
supply roller 306c are nearer to the center by the length D2 that
is proportional to the separation feed rollers 304 and the
separation gate rollers 305 having one fewer channel and ridge
each.
[0163] Because of this, the medium separating and supplying
mechanism 300 may increase the size of the limit angle .theta.max
compared to the conventional medium separating and supplying
mechanism 1, so the medium separating and supplying mechanism 300
may prevent an increase in the skew angle of the medium P more than
conventionally, and in this way the medium separating and supplying
mechanism 300 may reduce the causes of jams and errors on the
conveyance path and so forth from supply onward.
4. Fourth Exemplary Embodiment
[4-1. Configuration of Medium Separating and Supplying
Mechanism]
[0164] Next, a fourth exemplary embodiment will be described. As
shown in FIG. 36, a medium separating and supplying mechanism 400
in the fourth exemplary embodiment is given a configuration
including pickup rollers 402, supply feed rollers 403, separation
feed rollers 404, separation gate rollers 405, supply rollers 406,
shafts 407, 408, and 409, a side surface guide 410, and a stage
450.
[0165] The pickup rollers 402 are arranged in a line in the width
direction above a stacking area 411 of the side surface guide 410
and are fixed to the shaft 407. The shaft 407 is rotatably
supported by bearings and a fixed frame (not illustrated in the
drawings).
[0166] The pickup rollers 402 have rubber disposed on part of their
outer peripheral surfaces and are driven by a driver such as a
motor (not illustrated in the drawings) via the shaft 407 to rotate
in both forward and reverse directions (arrows 421a and 421b in the
drawings).
[0167] The stage 450 is positioned below the pickup rollers 402 in
the stacking area 411 of the side surface guide 410, and mediums P
are stacked on the stage 450. The stage 450 is moved in the
up-and-down direction via a belt or the like from a power source
such as a motor (not illustrated in the drawings).
[0168] The pickup rollers 402 are pressed against the mediums P
stacked on the stage 450 by the force of a spring (not illustrated
in the drawings) or the like and apply constant pressing forces to
the mediums P.
[0169] The supply feed rollers 403 and the separation feed rollers
404 are arranged in the order of a supply feed roller 403a, a
separation feed roller 404a, a supply feed roller 403b, a
separation feed roller 404b, and a supply feed roller 403c along
the width direction on the supply direction downstream side of the
pickup rollers 402 and are fixed to the shaft 408. The shaft 408 is
rotatably supported by bearings and a fixed frame (not illustrated
in the drawings).
[0170] The supply feed rollers 403 have rubber disposed on their
outer peripheral surfaces. The separation feed rollers 404 have two
grooves (channels) of a predetermined width disposed in their outer
peripheral surfaces along their entire circumferential direction,
whereby channels and ridges are formed in the outer peripheral
surfaces of the separation feed rollers 404. The separation feed
rollers 404 have rubber disposed on part of the outer peripheral
surfaces of the three ridges.
[0171] The supply feed rollers 403 and the separation feed rollers
404 are driven by a driver such as a motor (not illustrated in the
drawings) via the shaft 408 to rotate in both forward and reverse
directions (arrows 422a and 422b in the drawings).
[0172] The pickup rollers 402, the supply feed rollers 403, and the
separation feed rollers 404 rotate synchronously via the shafts 407
and 408 due to a belt or the like (not illustrated in the
drawings).
[0173] The separation gate rollers 405 are supported, in such a way
as to be rotatable only in one direction (arrow 423 in the
drawings), on the shaft 409 below the separation feed rollers 404.
The separation feed rollers 404 and the separation gate rollers 405
will also be collectively called a gate portion 412.
[0174] The separation gate rollers 405 have two grooves (channels),
of a somewhat wider width than the width of the ridges of the
separation feed rollers 404, formed in their outer peripheral
surfaces so as to be in alignment with those ridges.
[0175] Additionally, the separation feed rollers 404 and the
separation gate rollers 405 are arranged such that the ridges of
one enter (overlap) the channels of the other. The separation gate
rollers 405 have rubber disposed on the outer peripheral surfaces
of their ridges.
[0176] Note that the portions where the separation feed rollers 404
and the separation gate rollers 405 overlap one another will also
be called overlap portions 413.
[0177] The supply rollers 406 are supported on a shaft (not
illustrated in the drawings) such that they touch the supply feed
rollers 403 on the downstream side of the separation gate rollers
405 and apply forces that press against the supply feed rollers 403
at contact points 414. The supply rollers 406 turn in conjunction
with the rotation of the supply feed rollers 403 and rotate in both
forward and reverse directions (arrows 424a and 424b in the
drawings).
[0178] When the medium separating and supplying mechanism 400
supplies the mediums P stacked in the stacking area 411, the medium
separating and supplying mechanism 400 causes the pickup rollers
402 to rotate in the direction of arrow 421 a and supplies the
mediums P stacked in the stacking area 411 to the gate portion
412.
[0179] In the gate portion 412, the separation feed rollers 404
rotate in the direction of arrow 422a, and the mediums P are held
by the separation feed rollers 404 and the separation gate rollers
405 so that only the uppermost medium P is supplied downstream by
the feed forces thereof.
[0180] The medium P supplied from the gate portion 412 is held at
the contact points 414 by the supply feed rollers 403 and the
supply rollers 406.
[0181] The supply feed rollers 403 and the supply rollers 406
rotate in the directions of arrows 422a and 424a, respectively,
whereby the supply feed rollers 403 and the supply rollers 406
apply feed forces to the held medium P and supply the medium P in
the direction of arrow 425.
[0182] In the medium separating and supplying mechanism 400 having
the above configuration, the separation feed rollers 404 and the
separation gate rollers 405 have one fewer channel and ridge each
compared to the conventional medium separating and supplying
mechanism 1.
[0183] Further, in the medium separating and supplying mechanism
400, the supply feed roller 403a and supply roller 406a and the
supply feed roller 403c and supply roller 406c are nearer to the
center by a length D2 that is proportional to the separation feed
rollers 404 and the separation gate rollers 405 having one fewer
channel and ridge each.
[0184] In the medium separating and supplying mechanism 400, a
length L31 from the supply direction rearmost end of the inside of
the side surface guide 410 to the overlap portions 413 and a length
L32 from the overlap portions 413 to the contact points 414 are
each defined.
[0185] Additionally, considering the medium separating and
supplying mechanism 400 in a case where the lengths L31 and L32 are
rendered as straight lines, the overlap portions 413 are positioned
in the position of the length L31 on the downstream side from the
supply direction rearmost end of the inside of the side surface
guide 410, and the centers of the separation feed rollers 404 and
the separation gate rollers 405 are arranged in a line in the
up-and-down direction.
[0186] Further, in the medium separating and supplying mechanism
400, the contact points 414 are positioned in the position of the
length L32 on the downstream side from the overlap portions 313,
and the centers of the supply rollers 406 are arranged in such a
way as to be positioned above the contact points 414. The sum of
the lengths L31 and L32 is a length L33.
[0187] Additionally, in the medium separating and supplying
mechanism 1, a contact point 414a between the supply feed roller
403a and the supply roller 406a, for example, which make up a set
farthest from the center among the sets of the supply feed rollers
403 and the supply rollers 406, is selected.
[0188] Further, in the medium separating and supplying mechanism
400, among the sets of the separation feed rollers 404 and the
separation gate rollers 405, the separation feed roller 404b and
the separation gate roller 405b arranged in the position farthest
from the set made up of the supply feed roller 403a and the supply
roller 406a are selected. Additionally, the position nearest to the
contact point 414a in an overlap portion 413b between the
separation feed roller 404b and the separation gate roller 405b is
selected as an overlap point 431.
[0189] Additionally, the limit angle .theta.max of the medium
separating and supplying mechanism 400 is an angle formed by a
straight line 432 that joins the contact point 414a and the overlap
point 431 and a straight line 433 that passes through the centers
of the separation feed rollers 404 and the separation gate rollers
405 and is parallel to the width direction.
[0190] Consequently, in the medium separating and supplying
mechanism 400, the supply feed roller 403a and the supply roller
406a are nearer to the center by the distance D2 than the supply
feed roller 3a and the supply roller 6a in the conventional medium
separating and supplying mechanism 1, so the medium separating and
supplying mechanism 400 may increase the size of the limit angle
.theta.max compared to the conventional medium separating and
supplying mechanism 1.
[4-2. Effects, Etc.]
[0191] As described above, the medium separating and supplying
mechanism 400 has a configuration where, compared to the
conventional medium separating and supplying mechanism 1, the
separation feed rollers 404 and the separation gate rollers 405
have one fewer channel and ridge each and the supply feed roller
403a and supply roller 406a and the supply feed roller 403c and
supply roller 406c are nearer to the center by the length D2 that
is proportional to the separation feed rollers 404 and the
separation gate rollers 405 having one fewer channel and ridge
each.
[0192] Because of this, the medium separating and supplying
mechanism 400 may increase the size of the limit angle .theta.max
compared to the conventional medium separating and supplying
mechanism 1, so the medium separating and supplying mechanism 400
can prevent an increase in the skew angle of the medium P more than
conventionally, and in this way the medium separating and supplying
mechanism 400 may reduce the causes of jams and errors on the
conveyance path and so forth from supply onward.
5. Other Exemplary Embodiments
[0193] In the above-described exemplary embodiments, cases where
the medium separating and supplying mechanisms 100, 200, 300, and
400 separate and supply the mediums P stacked in an ATM were
described. However, the present invention is not limited to this.
The present invention can also be adapted to printers and printing
presses, for example, provided that they separate and supply the
stacked mediums P.
[0194] Further, in the above-described exemplary embodiments, cases
where the medium separating and supplying mechanisms 100, 200, 300,
and 400 were configured to perform stacking, separation, and
supply, were described. However, the present invention is not
limited to this. For example, the medium separating and supplying
mechanisms may also be configured to perform any one of stacking,
separation, and supply or may also be configured to perform two of
these.
[0195] Further, in the above-described exemplary embodiments, cases
where the medium separating and supplying mechanisms 100, 200, 300,
and 400 already had the mediums P stacked in the stacking areas 11,
111, and 411, were described. However, the present invention is not
limited to this. For example, the medium separating and supplying
mechanisms may also be configured such that a user stacks the
mediums P in the stacking areas 11, 111, and 411.
[0196] Further, in the above-described exemplary embodiments, cases
where the medium separating and supplying mechanisms 100, 200, 300,
and 400 were disposed with four pickup rollers 2, 202, 302, and
402, three supply feed rollers 3, 203, 303, and 403, two separation
feed rollers 4, 204, 304, and 404, two separation gate rollers 5,
205, 305, and 405, and three supply rollers 6, 206, 306, and 406,
were described. The present invention is not limited to this and
may also be configured by different numbers of rollers.
[0197] For example, the medium separating and supplying mechanisms
may also be disposed with one pickup roller 2, 202, 302, and 402,
two supply feed rollers 3, 203, 303, and 403, one separation feed
roller 4, 204, 304, and 404, one separation gate roller 5, 205,
305, and 405, and two supply rollers 6, 206, 306, and 406.
[0198] Further, in the above-described exemplary embodiments, cases
where, in the medium separating and supplying mechanisms 300 and
400, the separation feed rollers 304 and 404 were disposed with
three ridges and the separation gate rollers 305 and 405 were
disposed with two ridges were described. However, for example, the
separation feed rollers may also be disposed with two ridges and
the separation gate rollers may also be disposed with one
ridge.
INDUSTRIAL APPLICABILITY
[0199] The present invention can be widely utilized in devices that
separate and supply mediums, for example.
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