U.S. patent application number 14/615604 was filed with the patent office on 2015-08-13 for paper sheet taking-out and separating device and paper sheet handling apparatus.
The applicant listed for this patent is Kabushiki Kaisha Toshiba. Invention is credited to Haruhiko Horiuchi.
Application Number | 20150225192 14/615604 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 53774322 |
Filed Date | 2015-08-13 |
United States Patent
Application |
20150225192 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Horiuchi; Haruhiko |
August 13, 2015 |
PAPER SHEET TAKING-OUT AND SEPARATING DEVICE AND PAPER SHEET
HANDLING APPARATUS
Abstract
A paper sheet taking-out and separating device according to an
embodiment includes a first take-out part, a guide part, a second
take-out part and a separation part. The first take-out part takes,
by suction, a forefront paper sheet out of a plurality of stacked
paper sheets and sends out the paper sheet toward a sending-out
direction. The guide part guides the sending out of the paper sheet
by the first take-out part. The second take-out part sucks the
paper sheet sent out by the first take-out part and sends out the
paper sheet toward the sending-out direction. The separation part
separates a plurality of the paper sheets sent out in an
overlapping manner by the first take-out part. The first take-out
part and the second take-out part are positioned spaced apart from
each other on opposite sides of the guide part with a predetermined
distance therebetween in the sending-out direction.
Inventors: |
Horiuchi; Haruhiko;
(Yokohama, JP) |
|
Applicant: |
Name |
City |
State |
Country |
Type |
Kabushiki Kaisha Toshiba |
Tokyo |
|
JP |
|
|
Family ID: |
53774322 |
Appl. No.: |
14/615604 |
Filed: |
February 6, 2015 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
271/3.22 ;
271/5 |
Current CPC
Class: |
B65H 7/12 20130101; B65H
2513/20 20130101; B65H 2553/82 20130101; B65H 2515/342 20130101;
B65H 5/224 20130101; B65H 2511/51 20130101; B65H 2701/1916
20130101; B65H 1/025 20130101; B65H 2511/22 20130101; B65H 7/02
20130101; B65H 29/242 20130101; B65H 2406/412 20130101; B65H
2515/342 20130101; B65H 2601/25 20130101; B65H 7/16 20130101; B65H
2511/515 20130101; B65H 2220/02 20130101; B65H 2220/03 20130101;
B65H 2220/02 20130101; B65H 2220/01 20130101; B65H 2220/01
20130101; B65H 2406/32 20130101; B65H 3/124 20130101; B65H 3/52
20130101; B65H 2511/515 20130101; B65H 2511/51 20130101; B65H
2513/20 20130101; B65H 2511/22 20130101 |
International
Class: |
B65H 3/08 20060101
B65H003/08; B65H 7/20 20060101 B65H007/20; B65H 5/24 20060101
B65H005/24; B65H 5/26 20060101 B65H005/26; B65H 1/02 20060101
B65H001/02; B65H 5/22 20060101 B65H005/22 |
Foreign Application Data
Date |
Code |
Application Number |
Feb 7, 2014 |
JP |
2014-022173 |
Claims
1. A paper sheet taking-out and separating device comprising: a
first take-out part taking out, by suction, a forefront paper sheet
out of a plurality of stacked paper sheets and sending out the
paper sheet toward a sending-out direction; a guide part provided
on a downstream side of the first take-out part in the sending-out
direction, the guide part guiding the sending out of the paper
sheet by the first take-out part; a second take-out part provided
on the downstream side of the guide part in the sending-out
direction, the second take-out part sucking the paper sheet sent
out by the first take-out part and sending out the paper sheet
toward the sending-out direction; and a separation part provided on
the downstream side of the guide part in the sending-out direction,
the separation part separating a plurality of the paper sheets sent
out in an overlapping manner by the first take-out part, wherein
the first take-out part and the second take-out part are positioned
spaced apart from each other on opposite sides of the guide part
with a predetermined distance therebetween in the sending-out
direction.
2. The paper sheet taking-out and separating device according to
claim 1, wherein an end of the second take-out part on an upstream
side in the sending-out direction is positioned on the upstream
side of the separation part in the sending-out direction.
3. The paper sheet taking-out and separating device according to
claim 1 or 2, wherein the first take-out part and the second
take-out part are turned into an on state which enables suction of
the paper sheet substantially at the same time.
4. The paper sheet taking-out and separating device according to
claim 3, further comprising a conveyance mechanism positioned on
the downstream side of the separation part in the sending-out
direction, the conveyance mechanism conveying the paper sheet sent
out by the second take-out part toward a conveyance direction,
wherein the first take-out part and the second take-out part are
switched from the on state to an off state which disables the
suction of the paper sheet substantially at a same time when a
front end, in the sending-out direction, of the paper sheet which
has been sent out by the second take-out part reaches a front of
the conveyance mechanism.
5. The paper sheet taking-out and separating device according to
claim 4, wherein the first take-out part and the second take-out
part are switched from the off state to the on state substantially
at a same time when any two of the paper sheets adjacent one behind
the other in the sending-out direction between the guide part and
the conveyance mechanism have an interval equal to or larger than a
predetermined value therebetween.
6. The paper sheet taking-out and separating device according to
claim 4, further comprising a sensor which detects passage of the
paper sheet through a predetermined point between the guide part
and the conveyance mechanism in the sending-out direction, wherein
the first take-out part and the second take-out part are turned
into one of the on state and the off state corresponding to the
passage of the papers sheet detected by the sensor.
7. The paper sheet taking-out and separating device according to
any one of claims 1, wherein the first take-out part and the second
take-out part are connected to a single chamber to which a negative
pressure is applied by a pressure pump.
8. A paper sheet handling apparatus comprising: a first take-out
part taking out, by suction, a forefront paper sheet out of a
plurality of stacked paper sheets and sending out the paper sheet
toward a sending-out direction; a guide part provided on a
downstream side of the first take-out part in the sending-out
direction, the guide part guiding the sending out of the paper
sheet by the first take-out part; a second take-out part provided
on the downstream side of the guide part in the sending-out
direction, the second take-out part sucking the paper sheet sent
out by the first take-out part and sending out the paper sheet
toward the sending-out direction; a separation part provided on the
downstream side of the guide part in the sending-out direction, the
separation part separating a plurality of the paper sheets sent out
in an overlapping manner by the first take-out part; and a
classification unit provided on the downstream side of the
separation part in the sending-out direction, the classification
unit classifying the paper sheet.
Description
CROSS-REFERENCE RELATED TO RELATED APPLICATION
[0001] This application is based upon and claims the benefit of
priority from the prior Japanese Patent Application No.
2014-022173, filed on Feb. 7, 2014, the entire contents of which
are incorporated herein by reference.
FIELD
[0002] An embodiment of the present invention relates to a paper
sheet taking-out and separating device and a paper sheet handling
apparatus.
BACKGROUND
[0003] A paper sheet taking-out and separating device has been
known which includes a take-out part sucking and sending out a
paper sheet by movement of a take-out belt having a suction hole
and a separation part provided on the opposite side of a paper
sheet to be sent out by the take-out part from the take-out part
for separating two sheets sent out in an overlapping manner.
[0004] The paper sheet taking-out and separating device
unfortunately causes conveyance problems such as jam if a paper
sheet buckles between the take-out part and the separation part
when, for example, the paper sheet is soft or the separating action
of the separation part is strong. Accordingly, a paper sheet
taking-out and separating device is desired to prevent buckling of
a paper sheet and conveyance problems while appropriately
preventing sending out two paper sheets in an overlapping
manner.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS
[0005] FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing the configuration of a
paper sheet handling apparatus according to an embodiment.
[0006] FIG. 2 is a plan view showing the configuration of a paper
sheet taking-out and separating device according to the
embodiment.
[0007] FIG. 3 is a perspective view showing a partial configuration
of the paper sheet taking-out and separating device according to
the embodiment.
[0008] FIG. 4 is a perspective view showing a plurality of paper
sheets placed at a supply part of the paper sheet taking-out and
separating device according to the embodiment.
[0009] FIG. 5 is a perspective view showing the configuration of a
valve unit of the paper sheet taking-out and separating device
according to the embodiment.
[0010] FIG. 6 is a perspective view showing the configuration of a
body block of the valve unit of the paper sheet taking-out and
separating device according to the embodiment.
[0011] FIG. 7 is a perspective view showing the configuration of a
valve member of the valve unit of the paper sheet taking-out and
separating device according to the embodiment.
[0012] FIG. 8 is a cutaway, cross-sectional view showing the body
block in the valve unit of the paper sheet taking-out and
separating device according to the embodiment.
[0013] FIG. 9 is a perspective view showing the configuration of a
double feed prevention block of the paper sheet taking-out and
separating device according to the embodiment.
[0014] FIG. 10 is a plan view showing an exemplary case where a
first take-out part and a second take-out part of the paper sheet
taking-out and separating device according to the embodiment switch
from an on state to an off state.
[0015] FIG. 11 is a perspective view showing a partial
configuration of a paper sheet taking-out and separating device
according to a first modification of the embodiment.
[0016] FIG. 12 is a perspective view showing the configuration of a
body block in a valve unit of the paper sheet taking-out and
separating device according to the first modification of the
embodiment.
DESCRIPTION OF EMBODIMENTS
[0017] A paper sheet taking-out and separating device according to
an embodiment includes a first take-out part, a guide part, a
second take-out part and a separation part. The first take-out part
takes, by suction, a forefront paper sheet out of a plurality of
stacked paper sheets and sends out the paper sheet toward a
sending-out direction. The guide part is provided on a downstream
side of the first take-out part in the sending-out direction and
guides the sending out of the paper sheet by the first take-out
part. The second take-out part is provided on the downstream side
of the guide part in the sending-out direction and the second
take-out part sucks the paper sheet sent out by the first take-out
part and sends out the paper sheet toward the sending-out
direction. The separation part is provided on the downstream side
of the guide part in the sending-out direction and the separation
part separates a plurality of the paper sheets sent out in an
overlapping manner by the first take-out part. The first take-out
part and the second take-out part are positioned spaced apart from
each other on opposite sides of the guide part with a predetermined
distance therebetween in the sending-out direction.
[0018] Hereinafter, a paper sheet taking-out and separating device
and a paper sheet handling apparatus of an embodiment will be
described with reference to the drawings.
[0019] As shown in FIG. 1, a paper sheet handling apparatus 1 of
the embodiment includes a control part 1a, a supply part 2, a
take-out and separation part 3, a main conveyance passage 4, an
examination part 5, a conveyance sorting part 6, gap correction
parts 7, and a classification box 8. The control part 1a totally
controls the operation of the paper sheet handling apparatus 1. The
supply part 2 holds a plurality of stacked paper sheets such as
letters in an upright position where the sheets are erected
substantially perpendicular to a horizontal plane and moves the
sheets in the stacking direction. Thus, the supply part 2 supplies
a plurality of paper sheets at the front end side in the stacking
direction to the take-out and separation part 3. The take-out and
separation part 3 sucks and takes a paper sheet at the forefront in
the stacking direction out of the paper sheets supplied by the
supply part 2 and sends out the taken out paper sheet to the main
conveyance passage 4. The examination part 5 reads classification
information provided on the paper sheet. The conveyance sorting
part 6 sorts paper sheets into vertically provided four conveyance
passages.
[0020] The gap correction parts 7 are each provided immediately
after the take-out and separation part 3, on an upstream portion of
the conveyance sorting part 6, and immediately after the conveyance
sorting part 6. The gap correction parts 7 correct an interval
(gap) between any two paper sheets adjacent one behind the other in
the conveyance direction so that the interval falls within a
predetermined interval. The classification box 8 has four levels in
a vertical direction. The classification box 8 accumulates paper
sheets conveyed by the main conveyance passage 4 and the conveyance
sorting part 6 as the sheets are classified according to their
classification information.
[0021] The paper sheet taking-out and separating device 10 includes
the supply part 2, the take-out and separation part 3, and the main
conveyance passage 4. FIG. 2 is a plan view from above of the paper
sheet taking-out and separating device 10. FIG. 3 is a perspective
view showing a portion of the paper sheet taking-out and separating
device 10. As shown in FIGS. 2 and 3, the supply part 2 includes a
flat bottom wall 21a, a guide wall 21b provided to rise
substantially vertically from the bottom wall 21a. A plurality of
stacked paper sheets are placed on the bottom wall 21a in the
upright position at the supply part 2. Also, the supply part 2
holds the paper sheets stacked in a supply direction A toward the
take-out and separation part 3. The supply part 2 guides the
movement of the paper sheets moving toward the supply direction A
with the guide wall 21b contacting each end of the paper
sheets.
[0022] The supply part 2 includes a main belt 22a and a sub-belt
22b which are provided on the bottom wall 21a, and a back-up plate
23 which moves toward the supply direction A on the bottom wall
21a. The main belt 22a and the sub-belt 22b contact each end of the
paper sheets placed on the bottom wall 21a and are separately
driven toward the supply direction A. As a result, the main belt
22a moves the paper sheets placed on the bottom wall 21a toward the
supply direction A and the sub-belt 22b adjusts the attitude of
each of the paper sheets. The back-up plate 23 contacts a paper
sheet at the rearmost in the supply direction A among the stacked
paper sheets and moves synchronously with the driving of the main
belt 22a, pushing the paper sheets toward the supply direction A.
As a result, the back-up plate 23 moves the paper sheets placed on
the bottom wall 21a toward the supply direction A.
[0023] As shown in FIG. 4, in the paper sheet taking-out and
separating device 10 of the embodiment, the bottom wall 21a of the
supply part 2 forms a horizontal plane and the guide wall 21b forms
a vertical plane orthogonal to the horizontal plane. Each paper
sheet with a rectangular surface is supported at a long side
downward in the vertical direction by a surface of the bottom wall
21a forming the horizontal plane. Each paper sheet is placed with
the long sides in parallel with a horizontal direction and with the
short side toward a sending-out direction B of the take-out and
separation part 3 to be described later abutting the guide wall
21b. As a result, the paper sheets are placed at the supply part 2
with their long sides downward in the vertical direction aligned by
the bottom wall 21a and with their short sides toward the
sending-out direction B (namely, ends in the sending-out direction
B) aligned by the guide wall 21b.
[0024] The take-out and separation part 3 includes an auxiliary
take-out part 31, a main take-out part 32, and a separation part
33. The auxiliary take-out part 31 is positioned on the upstream
side of the main take-out part 32 in the sending-out direction B
parallel with the horizontal direction. The auxiliary take-out part
31 includes a sub air chamber 31a connected to a negative pressure
generator (not shown, the suction side of a blower, for example)
and a suction belt 31b driven by a drive motor (not shown, a step
motor, for example). The sub air chamber 31a is provided with an
auxiliary guide plate 31d having a plurality of openings 31c facing
the supply part 2. The auxiliary guide plate 31d is formed in a
rectangular plate shape and allows the openings 31c to communicate
with the inside of the sub air chamber 31a. As a result, a negative
pressure (a pressure lower than atmospheric pressure) is applied to
the openings 31c of the auxiliary guide plate 31d. The auxiliary
guide plate 31d guides the movement of the suction belt 31b toward
the sending-out direction B.
[0025] The suction belt 31b is an endless belt with a plurality of
suction holes 31e and positioned such that at least a partial
region of the belt 31b overlaps a portion of the auxiliary guide
plate 31d. The suction holes 31e of the suction belt 31b
communicate with at least portion of the openings 31c of the
auxiliary guide plate 31d at the region where the suction belt 31b
overlaps the auxiliary guide plate 31d. As a result, a negative
pressure is applied to the suction holes 31e of the suction belt
31b by the sub air chamber 31a through the openings 31c. The
suction belt 31b is opposed at the region overlapping the auxiliary
guide plate 31d to the paper sheets held by the supply part 2 in
the supply direction A and moves toward the sending-out direction
B. Thus, when a negative pressure is applied to the suction holes
31e, the suction belt 31b takes, by suction, a paper sheet at the
forefront in the supply direction A out of a plurality of paper
sheets supplied by the supply part 2. Then, the suction belt 31b
sends out the paper sheet taken out by suction toward the
sending-out direction B at a predetermined speed.
[0026] It is to be noted that the predetermined speed of the
suction belt 31b is made slower than the speed of a take-out belt
43 to be described later. As a result, the auxiliary take-out part
31 takes, by suction, a first paper sheet out of the supply part 2
and sends out the first paper sheet to the main take-out part 32.
The auxiliary take-out part 31 takes out a second paper sheet by
suction after the back end of the first sheet passes the sub air
chamber 31a. Then, the auxiliary take-out part 31 sends out the
second paper sheet to the main take-out part 32 at a speed slower
than the speed at which the first paper sheet is sent by the main
take-out part 32 toward the sending-out direction B. This provides
an interval equal to or larger than the predetermined interval
between the first paper sheet and the second paper sheet in the
sending-out direction B, thereby eliminating the overlap between
the first and second paper sheets.
[0027] The main take-out part 32 is positioned on the downstream
side of the auxiliary take-out part 31 in the sending-out direction
B. Referring to FIGS. 5, 6, and 8, the main take-out part 32
includes an air chamber 41, a valve unit 42 integrally provided
with the air chamber 41, and the take-out belt 43 driven by a drive
motor (not shown, a step motor, for example).
[0028] The valve unit 42 includes a body block 51 having an
opposing face 51A which opposes a plurality of paper sheets held by
the supply part 2 in the supply direction A, as shown in FIGS. 2 to
8. Referring to FIGS. 5, 6, and 8, the valve unit 42 includes the
air chamber 41 formed by a recess 51a provided on the opposing face
51A. The body block 51 has a first air hole (negative pressure side
air hole) 52 and a second air hole (positive pressure side air
hole) 53 which independently penetrate the body block 51 at the
recess 51a. First ends 52a and 53a of the first and second air
holes 52 and 53 are connected to the recess 51a to be opened to the
inside of the air chamber 41. Thus, the first and second air holes
52 and 53 communicate with the inside of the air chamber 41.
Referring to FIG. 8, a second end 52b of the first air hole 52 is
connected to a negative pressure port 55a of a vacuum pump 55
through a pipe fitting 54a. A second end 53b of the second air hole
53 is connected to a positive pressure port 55b of the vacuum pump
55 through a pipe fitting 54b.
[0029] Referring to FIG. 8, the body block 51 has a through hole 56
intersecting the first and second air holes 52 and 53 at the inside
of the body block 51 and penetrating the center of the body block
51. The body block 51 includes a shaft-shaped valve member 58
inserted through the through hole 56 and rotatably supported by
bearings 57a and 57b. Referring to FIGS. 7 and 8, the valve member
58 has first and second communication holes 58a and 58b
respectively having the same size as the first and second air holes
52 and 53 and penetrating the valve member 58 in the direction
orthogonal to the rotation axis of the valve member 58. The first
and second communication holes 58a and 58b are provided at
positions that allow connection to the first and second air holes
52 and 53. The penetration directions of the first and second
communication holes 58a and 58b intersect with each other at a
predetermined angle (90 degrees, for example). Referring to FIG. 7,
the valve member 58 is connected to a drive motor 59b such as an AC
servomotor through a coupling 59a and rotatably driven by the drive
motor 59b. Thus, as the valve member 58 is rotatably driven by the
drive motor 59b, the valve member 58 switches between a first state
where the first air hole 52 communicates with the first
communication hole 58a while the second air hole 53 is blocked and
a second state where the first air hole 52 is blocked while the
second air hole 53 communicates with the second communication hole
58b.
[0030] The valve member 58 is provided with a sensor 60 detecting a
rotational position around the rotation axis. The sensor 60
includes a plate-shaped sensor dog 60a provided integrally with the
valve member 58 and first and second photoelectric sensors 60b and
60c. The first photoelectric sensor 60b is positioned such that the
sensor dog 60a in the first state blocks light from a light source.
The second photoelectric sensor 60c is positioned such that the
sensor dog 60a in the second state blocks light from the light
source. Thus, the first and second photoelectric sensors 60b and
60c separately detect the first and second states switched by the
valve member 58.
[0031] Referring to FIGS. 2, 3, 5, and 8, the valve unit 42
includes a rectangular plate-shaped main guide plate 61 attached to
the opposing face 51A of the body block 51. The main guide plate 61
guides the movement of the take-out belt 43 toward the sending-out
direction B. The main guide plate 61 has a plurality of first
openings 62 and a plurality of second openings 63. The first
openings 62 and the second openings 63 communicate with the air
chamber 41. The first openings 62 and the second openings 63 are
positioned with a predetermined interval in the sending-out
direction B and also on opposite sides of the guide wall 21b of the
supply part 2. Each of a negative pressure and a positive pressure
is applied at substantially the same time to the first openings 62
and the second openings 63 through the air chamber 41 depending on
the first state and the second state switched by the valve member
58. The negative pressure is lower than atmospheric pressure and
the positive pressure is higher than atmospheric pressure. The
above substantially the same time means the same time or within a
predetermined time width from the same time.
[0032] Referring to FIG. 3, the take-out belt 43 is an endless belt
having a plurality of suction holes 43a formed uniformly over the
entire region and is wound around a plurality of pulleys (not
shown) including two pulleys 64a and 64b positioned on opposite
sides of the valve unit 42 in the sending-out direction B. The
take-out belt 43 is positioned such that at least a partial region
of the belt 31b overlaps the main guide plate 61. The suction holes
43a of the take-out belt 43 communicates with the first openings 62
and the second openings 63 of the main guide plate 61 at the region
where the belt 43 overlaps the plate 61. As a result, the first
openings 62 of the main guide plate 61 and the take-out belt 43
constitute the first take-out part 65, and the second openings 63
of the main guide plate 61 and the take-out belt 43 constitute the
second take-out part 66.
[0033] In the first take-out part 65, the air chamber 41 applies a
negative pressure or a positive pressure to the suction holes 43a
of the take-out belt 43 through the first openings 62. Also, in the
second take-out part 66, the air chamber 41 applies a negative
pressure or a positive pressure to the suction hole 43a of the
take-out belt 43 through the second openings 63. In each of the
first take-out part 65 and the second take-out part 66, the region
of the take-out belt 43 overlapping the main guide plate 61 moves
toward the sending-out direction B. In the first take-out part 65,
the region of the take-out belt 43 overlapping the main guide plate
61 is opposed to a plurality of paper sheets held by the supply
part 2 in the supply direction A. Accordingly, when a negative
pressure is applied to the suction holes 43a in the first take-out
part 65, the take-out belt 43 takes out, by suction, a paper sheet
supplied by the supply part 2 toward the supply direction A and
sent out by the auxiliary take-out part 31 toward the sending-out
direction B. Then, the take-out belt 43 sends out the paper sheet
taken out by suction toward the sending-out direction B at a speed
higher than the speed at the auxiliary take-out part 31. At that
time, the guide wall 21b of the supply part 2 guides the sending
out of the paper sheet by the take-out belt 43 of the first
take-out part 65 toward the sending-out direction B.
[0034] Further, when a negative pressure is applied to the suction
holes 43a of the take-out belt 43 in the second take-out part 66,
the take-out belt 43 takes out, by suction, a paper sheet sent out
by the first take-out part 65 toward the sending-out direction B
beyond the guide wall 21b of the supply part 2. Then, the take-out
belt 43 sends out the paper sheet taken out by suction toward the
sending-out direction B to the separation part 33.
[0035] As shown in FIG. 2, the separation part 33 is positioned on
the downstream side of the guide wall 21b of the supply part 2 in
the sending-out direction B and on the opposite side of the main
take-out part 32 regarding paper sheets sent out by the main
take-out part 32 toward the sending-out direction B from the main
take-out part 32. The separation part 33 includes a double feed
prevention block 71 opposing the take-out belt 43 of the main
take-out part 32 with a predetermined distance. The double feed
prevention block 71 is made of an elastic material such as urethane
rubber (rubber material). As shown in FIG. 9, the double feed
prevention block 71 has an arc-shaped end surface 71A facing the
main take-out part 32. The double feed prevention block 71 has a
suction aperture 72 which is formed on the end surface 71A and to
which a negative pressure is applied by a negative pressure
generator (not shown, a vacuum pump, for example). In case where
the take-out belt 43 of the first take-out part 65 takes out a
plurality of sheets at a time, the double feed prevention block 71
stops, by suction, the paper sheet closest to the double feed
prevention block 71, thereby preventing simultaneously sending a
plurality of paper sheets to the gap correction part 7.
[0036] The suction aperture 72 of the separation part 33 is
positioned on the downstream side of the upstream side ends of the
second openings 63 of the second take-out part 66 in the
sending-out direction B. As a result, a paper sheet is sent out
from the guide wall 21b of the supply part 2 to the separation part
33 toward the sending-out direction B without overlapping another
paper sheet and reaches the separation part 33 as the sheet is
sucked by the take-out belt 43 of the second take-out part 66.
[0037] In the paper sheet handling apparatus 1 of the embodiment,
the gap correction parts 7 together with various conveyance belts
and rollers (not shown) partially constitute a conveyance mechanism
80 conveying paper sheets. As shown in FIG. 2, the gap correction
part 7 is positioned on the downstream side of the separation part
33 in the sending-out direction B. As shown in FIGS. 2 and 3, the
gap correction part 7 includes a sponge roller 81 and a drive
roller 82 opposed to each other across the main conveyance passage
4. The sponge roller 81 is an elastic soft roller and is deformed
according to a change in the thickness of a paper sheet being
conveyed through the main conveyance passage 4. The drive roller 82
is rotatably driven by a drive motor (not shown, an AC servomotor,
for example) and changes the speed to convey paper sheets by
acceleration and deceleration of the rotation. Thus, when a paper
sheet caught between the sponge roller 81 and the drive roller 82
and a paper sheet preceding in the conveyance direction have an
interval (gap) smaller than a preset value, the gap correction part
7 decelerates the paper sheet conveying speed to widen the
interval. On the other hand, when a paper sheet caught between the
sponge roller 81 and the drive roller 82 and a paper sheet
preceding in the conveyance direction have an interval (gap) larger
than a preset value, the gap correction part 7 accelerates the
paper sheet conveying speed to narrow the interval.
[0038] As shown in FIG. 10, the paper sheet taking-out and
separating device 10 of the embodiment is provided with a plurality
of, for example five, shift sensors of first to fifth shift sensors
91 to 95, in a region from the downstream side of the guide wall
21b of the supply part 2 to the gap correction part 7 in the paper
sheet sending-out direction B. The first shift sensor 91 is
positioned between the guide wall 21b of the supply part 2 and the
separation part 33. The second to fourth shift sensors 92 to 94 are
positioned in sequence between the separation part 33 and the gap
correction part 7. The fifth shift sensor 95 is positioned on the
downstream side of the gap correction part 7. Each of the first to
fifth shift sensors 91 to 95 has a light-emitting part and a
light-receiving part opposed to each other. The light-emitting part
and the light-receiving part are positioned on opposite sides of
the main conveyance passage 4 so that light from the light-emitting
part crosses the main conveyance passage 4. Irradiation light from
each light-emitting part is received by the corresponding
light-receiving part without any obstruction and is made to be
temporarily blocked by a paper sheet being conveyed through the
main conveyance passage 4. With this, the first to fifth shift
sensors 91 to 95 output an OFF signal indicating that a paper sheet
is present on the axis of the irradiation light from the
light-emitting part when the reception of the irradiation light by
the light-receiving part is interrupted. On the other hand, the
sensors 91 to 95 output an ON signal indicating that a paper sheet
is not present on the axis of the irradiation light from the
light-emitting part when the light-receiving part has received the
irradiation light. The first to fifth shift sensors 91 to 95 are
connected to the control part 1a. Accordingly, an ON signal and an
OFF signal from each of the shift sensors 91 to 95 is input to the
control part 1a.
[0039] Hereinafter, the operation of the paper sheet taking-out and
separating device 10 of the embodiment will be described. The
control part 1a controls the switching between the first state and
the second state by the valve member 58 of the main take-out part
32 corresponding to the ON or OFF signal from the first to fifth
shift sensors 91 to 95. When at least any one of the first to fifth
shift sensors 91 to 95 has output an ON signal, the control part 1a
determines that there is an interval (gap) equal to or larger than
the predetermined interval between a paper sheet and a following
sheet. For example, as shown in the upper view of FIG. 10, when the
first shift sensor 91 has output an ON signal, the control part 1a
determines that a first paper sheet P1 and a following second paper
sheet P2 are spaced apart from each other between the guide wall
21b of the supply part 2 and the separation part 33. In response to
this, the control part 1a switches from the second state to the
first state through the valve member 58 and applies a negative
pressure to the first openings 62 of the first take-out part 65 and
the second openings 63 of the second take-out part 66 through the
air chamber 41. As a result, the control part 1a turns the first
take-out part 65 and the second take-out part 66 into the on state
which enables the suction of a paper sheet. Then, the take-out belt
43 of the main take-out part 32 starts suctioning the second paper
sheet P2 which is then sent out toward the sending-out direction
B.
[0040] In addition, when the third shift sensor 93 positioned at
the front of the conveyance mechanism 80 in the sending-out
direction B has output an OFF signal, the control part 1a
determines that a paper sheet has arrived at a point at which the
sheet is passed from the main take-out part 32 to the conveyance
mechanism 80. For example, as shown in the lower view of FIG. 10,
when the second paper sheet P2 undergoing suctioning and sending
out by the take-out belt 43 of the main take-out part 32 reaches a
point on the optical axis of the third shift sensor 93, the control
part 1a switches from the first state to the second state through
the valve member 58. With this, the control part 1a applies a
positive pressure to the first openings 62 of the first take-out
part 65 and the second openings 63 of the second take-out part 66
through the air chamber 41, turning the first and second take-out
parts 65 and 66 into the off state which disables the suction of a
paper sheet. Accordingly, the take-out belt 43 of the main take-out
part 32 releases the suction of the second paper sheet P2 and
passes the second paper sheet P2 to the conveyance mechanism 80 on
the downstream side. It is to be noted that, as shown in the lower
view of FIG. 10, even if the second paper sheet P2 has been taken
out with a third paper sheet P3 overlapping the second paper sheet
P2 by the take-out belt 43 of the main take-out part 32, the
sending out of the third paper sheet P3, which is closer to the
separation part 33, is suspended by the separation part 33. The
third paper sheet P3 will be sent out by the take-out belt 43 of
the main take-out part 32 after the second paper sheet P2 is passed
to the conveyance mechanism 80 and an interval equal to or larger
than the predetermined interval is formed between the sheets P2 and
P3.
[0041] According to the above described embodiment, because of the
first and second take-out parts 65 and 66 positioned spaced apart
from each other on opposite sides of the guide wall 21b with a
predetermined distance therebetween in the paper sheet sending-out
direction B, it is appropriately prevented that a plurality of
paper sheets are sent out in an overlapping manner. That is, a
paper sheet in the supply part 2 is taken out as it is sucked by
the first take-out part 65 at a point on the upstream side of the
guide wall 21b in the sending-out direction B. Accordingly, even if
a plurality of paper sheets are stacked and placed as they are not
aligned along the guide wall 21b and a forefront paper sheet is
misaligned to the upstream side of the guide wall 21b, only the
forefront paper sheet is appropriately sucked by the first take-out
part 65. Further, because of the first and second take-out parts 65
and 66 positioned spaced apart from each other on opposite sides of
the guide wall 21b with a predetermined distance therebetween in
the paper sheet sending-out direction B, buckling of paper sheets
and conveyance problems are prevented. That is, after a paper sheet
is sent out by the first take-out part 65 to the downstream side of
the guide wall 21b in the sending-out direction B, the sheet is
sucked by the second take-out part 66 to be sent out toward the
sending-out direction B. With this, even if a paper sheet is sucked
by the separation part on the downstream side of the guide wall 21b
in the sending-out direction B, the second take-out part 66
appropriately keeps sending out the paper sheet toward the
sending-out direction B.
[0042] Further, because the second openings 63 of the second
take-out part 66 has the ends positioned on the upstream side of
the suction aperture 72 of the separation part 33 in the
sending-out direction B, buckling of paper sheets and conveyance
problems are prevented. That is, after a paper sheet is sent out
toward the sending-out direction B from the guide wall 21b of the
supply part 2 toward the separation part 33, the sheet reaches the
separation part 33 as the sheet is sucked by the second take-out
part 66, which appropriately keeps sending out the sheet toward the
sending-out direction B. Further, because of the first and second
take-out parts 65 and 66 turned, substantially at the same time,
into the on state which enables the suction of a paper sheet,
sending out paper sheets toward the sending-out direction B is
appropriately kept, and buckling of paper sheets and conveyance
problems are prevented. Further, because of the first and second
take-out parts 65 and 66 switched from the on state to the off
state substantially at the same time when a front end of a paper
sheet in the sending-out direction B reaches the front of the
conveyance mechanism 80, a paper sheet is smoothly passed from the
main take-out part 32 to the conveyance mechanism 80. Further,
because of the first and second take-out parts 65 and 66 switched
from the off state to the on state substantially at the same time
when any two paper sheets adjacent one behind the other in the
sending-out direction B have an interval therebetween equal to or
larger than the predetermined interval, a plurality of paper sheets
are sent out toward the sending-out direction B successively at
suitable time.
[0043] Further, because of the first to fifth shift sensors 91 to
95 detecting passage of a paper sheet on the main conveyance
passage 4, the first and second take-out parts 65 and 66 are
switched between the on state and the off state at suitable time.
Further, because of the first and second take-out parts 65 and 66
communicating with the single common air chamber 41, it is possible
to simplify the device configuration for switching the first and
second take-out parts 65 and 66 between the on state and the off
state substantially at the same time.
[0044] Hereinafter, a first modification will be described. In the
above described embodiment, the plurality of suction holes 43a is
uniformly formed on the entire take-out belt 43, but the take-out
belt 43 is not limited to this. As shown in FIG. 11, a take-out
belt 43 of the first modification has a plurality of suction holes
43a which are formed only on partial regions with predetermined
distance in the length direction of the take-out belt 43. As shown
in FIG. 12, a valve unit 42 of the first modification includes a
main guide plate 61 having a plurality of third openings 99
communicating with the air chamber 41. Each of the third openings
99 has a shape formed by integrating the first opening 62 and the
second opening 63 described above.
[0045] Hereinafter, a second modification will be described. In the
above embodiment, the first openings 62 of the first take-out part
65 and the second openings 63 of the second take-out part 66
communicate with a single air chamber 41, but the present invention
is not limited to this. The first openings 62 of the first take-out
part 65 and the second openings 63 of the second take-out part 66
may communicate with different air chambers from each other. In
this case, the control part 1a may control the switching between
negative pressure and positive pressure to be applied to each of
the different air chambers substantially at the same time. Thus,
the control part 1a synchronize the operations of the first and
second take-out parts 65 and 66, namely, to execute and stop
sucking a paper sheet similarly to the foregoing embodiment.
[0046] Hereinafter, a third modification will be described. In the
above embodiment, the first and second take-out parts 65 and 66 are
switched between the on state and the off state substantially at
the same time, but the present invention is not limited to this.
For example, the first and second take-out parts 65 and 66 may be
switched between the on state and the off state at different times
in synchronization with each other.
[0047] According to at least one of the foregoing embodiment and
modifications, because of the first and second take-out parts 65
and 66 positioned spaced apart from each other on opposite sides of
the guide wall 21b with a predetermined distance therebetween in
the paper sheet sending-out direction B, it is appropriately
prevented that a plurality of paper sheets are sent out in an
overlapping manner and buckling and conveyance problems are
prevented. Further, because the second openings 63 of the second
take-out part 66 have the ends positioned on the upstream side of
the suction aperture 72 of the separation part 33 in the
sending-out direction B, buckling of paper sheets and conveyance
problems are prevented.
[0048] The embodiment and modifications of the present invention
has been described, but they are provided for the purpose of
example and are not intended to limit the scope of the invention.
These embodiment and modifications may be embodied in various other
forms, and various omissions, substitutions and changes in the form
of the embodiment and modifications may be made without departing
from the spirit of the invention. The accompanying claims and their
equivalents are intended to cover such forms or modifications as
would fall within the scope and spirit of the invention.
* * * * *