U.S. patent application number 15/598012 was filed with the patent office on 2017-09-07 for sheet takeout and separation device and sheet processing apparatus.
The applicant listed for this patent is Kabushiki Kaisha Toshiba. Invention is credited to Haruhiko Horiuchi.
Application Number | 20170253446 15/598012 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 53886917 |
Filed Date | 2017-09-07 |
United States Patent
Application |
20170253446 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Horiuchi; Haruhiko |
September 7, 2017 |
SHEET TAKEOUT AND SEPARATION DEVICE AND SHEET PROCESSING
APPARATUS
Abstract
A sheet takeout and separation device of an embodiment has a
takeout section, a sending section, a separation portion. The
takeout section takes out a sheet. The sending section sends out
the sheet taken out by the takeout section. The separation portion
is provided so as to come in contact with the sheets taken out in
an overlapping state by the takeout section, and separates the
sheets one by one. In addition, the separation portion has a
separation portion main body and a cover. The separation portion
main body elastically deforms in accordance with a thickness of the
sheet. The cover is provided on the separation portion main body so
as to come in contact with the sheet. And, on a surface of the
cover, a surface roughening treatment for enhancing a friction
coefficient of the relevant surface is performed.
Inventors: |
Horiuchi; Haruhiko;
(Kanagawa-ken, JP) |
|
Applicant: |
Name |
City |
State |
Country |
Type |
Kabushiki Kaisha Toshiba |
Tokyo |
|
JP |
|
|
Family ID: |
53886917 |
Appl. No.: |
15/598012 |
Filed: |
May 17, 2017 |
Related U.S. Patent Documents
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Application
Number |
Filing Date |
Patent Number |
|
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14830461 |
Aug 19, 2015 |
|
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15598012 |
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Current U.S.
Class: |
1/1 |
Current CPC
Class: |
B65H 3/64 20130101; B65H
2404/522 20130101; B65H 2406/351 20130101; B65H 3/32 20130101; B65H
5/222 20130101; B65H 3/124 20130101; B65H 3/5207 20130101; B65H
3/50 20130101; B65H 2701/1916 20130101; B65H 2404/563 20130101;
B65H 2401/2311 20130101; B65H 5/023 20130101 |
International
Class: |
B65H 3/32 20060101
B65H003/32; B65H 3/64 20060101 B65H003/64; B65H 3/12 20060101
B65H003/12; B65H 5/22 20060101 B65H005/22; B65H 3/52 20060101
B65H003/52; B65H 3/50 20060101 B65H003/50; B65H 5/02 20060101
B65H005/02 |
Foreign Application Data
Date |
Code |
Application Number |
Aug 21, 2014 |
JP |
2014-168481 |
Claims
1. A sheet takeout and separation device, comprising: a takeout
section to take out a sheet; a sending section to send out the
sheet taken out by the takeout section; and a separation portion
which is provided so as to come in contact with the sheets taken
out in an overlapping state by the takeout section, and separates
the relevant sheets one by one; wherein the separation portion
includes a separation portion main body which elastically deforms
in accordance with a thickness of the sheet, and a cover which is
provided on the separation portion main body so as to come in
contact with the sheet, wherein a roughening treatment has been
applied on a surface of the cover; a plurality of suction holes
aligned perpendicular to a conveying direction for sucking the
sheet provided in a contact surface of the separation portion to
contact with the sheet, wherein the roughening treatment is
performed on the cover so as to surround at least a periphery of
the suction holes; wherein the roughening treatment is applied only
within a range separated by d/2 along the sending direction from
rims of the suction holes; and wherein a friction coefficient of a
place where the roughening treatment is performed is higher than
that of a place where the roughening treatment is not performed,
when it is assumed that a diameter of the suction hole is d.
2. The sheet takeout and separation device according to claim 1,
wherein the separation portion faces the sending section via a gap,
at a downstream side in a sheet sending direction in the sending
section.
3. The sheet takeout and separation device according to claim 2,
wherein the separation portion main body is in the form of an arc
surface at an entering side of the sheet.
4. The sheet takeout and separation device according to claim 3,
wherein when it is assumed that a radius of curvature of the arc
surface is R, a wall thickness of the cover is t, a maximum
thickness of the sheet is Hmax, and the gap is S, the radius of
curvature R is set so as to satisfy
R.gtoreq.(Hmax-S).times.2-t.
5. The sheet takeout and separation device according to claim 3,
wherein the separation portion further has a support plate fitted
on the separation portion main body at the entering side of the
sheet, and the cover is fitted on the support plate.
6. The sheet takeout and separation device according to claim 1,
wherein the sending section has a suction hole for sucking the
sheet, and a suction force of the suction hole of the sending
section is larger than a suction force of the suction hole of the
separation portion.
7. The sheet takeout and separation device according to claim 1,
wherein the sending section has a belt formed with the suction hole
of the sending section.
8. The sheet takeout and separation device according to claim 2,
wherein the separation portion is provided so as to come in contact
with the sheet located at an opposite side of the sending section,
out of the sheets taken out in an overlapping state by the takeout
section.
9. A sheet processing apparatus, comprising: the sheet takeout and
separation device according to any one of claims 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6,
7, and 8; and a sorting processing section to perform sorting
processing of the sheet sent out by the sending section.
Description
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION
[0001] This application is a continuation of U.S. application Ser.
No. 14/830,461, filed on Aug. 19, 2015, which is based upon and
claims the benefit of priority to the prior Japanese Patent
Application No. 2014-168481, filed on Aug. 21, 2014, the entire
contents of which are incorporated herein by reference.
FIELD
[0002] Embodiments relate to a sheet takeout and separation device
and a sheet processing apparatus.
BACKGROUND
[0003] Conventionally, a sheet takeout and separation device is
known that is provided with a takeout section which sucks and sends
out a sheet by the movement of a takeout belt formed with suction
holes, and a separation section which is arranged opposite to the
takeout section and separates a sheet which has been sent in an
overlapping manner with the sucked sheet.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
Problems to be Solved by the Invention
[0004] In the above-described takeout and separation device, in the
case in which a sheet is made of a material through which air
passes easily, when a takeout power is increased by enlarging a
suction power, there has been a case that plural sheets may be
taken out simultaneously, and in the case in which a sheet is soft
or the separation operation by the separation section is strong,
when a sheet is buckled between the takeout section and the
separation section, there has been a case that conveying trouble
such as a jam may occur. For this reason, in the sheet takeout and
separation device, it has been desired to prevent the occurrence of
conveying trouble of a sheet, while properly preventing that two
sheets are sent out in an overlapping manner.
[0005] An object of the present invention is to provide a sheet
takeout and separation device and a sheet processing apparatus
which can properly prevent that a plurality of sheets are sent out
in an overlapping manner, and can prevent the occurrence of
conveying trouble.
Means for Solving the Problem
[0006] A sheet takeout and separation device of an embodiment has a
takeout section, a sending section, a separation portion. The
takeout section takes out a sheet. The sending section sends out
the sheet taken out by the takeout section. The separation portion
is provided so as to come in contact with the sheets taken out in
an overlapping state by the takeout section, and separates the
sheets one by one. In addition, the separation portion has a
separation portion main body and a cover. The separation portion
main body elastically deforms in accordance with a thickness of the
sheet. The cover is provided on the separation portion main body so
as to come in contact with the sheet. And, on a surface of the
cover, a surface roughening treatment is performed.
[0007] According to the sheet takeout and separation device with
the above-described configuration, it is possible to properly
prevent that a plurality of sheets are sent out in an overlapping
manner, and it is possible to prevent the occurrence of conveying
trouble.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0008] FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing a configuration of a
sheet processing apparatus of an embodiment.
[0009] FIG. 2 is a plan view of the sheet takeout and separation
device of the embodiment.
[0010] FIG. 3 is an enlarged perspective view of the feeding
section of the embodiment and its periphery.
[0011] FIG. 4 is a perspective view showing a state in which sheets
are arranged in the feeding section of the embodiment.
[0012] FIG. 5 is a perspective view of the double-sheet takeout
preventing block of the embodiment.
[0013] FIG. 6 is a side view of the double-sheet takeout preventing
block of the embodiment.
[0014] FIG. 7 is a plan view of the periphery of the suction holes
in the protection cover of the embodiment.
[0015] FIG. 8 is a plan view of the periphery of the suction holes
in the protection cover of the embodiment.
[0016] FIG. 9 is an explanation diagram showing a behavior of the
double-sheet takeout preventing block of the embodiment.
[0017] FIG. 10A, FIG. 10B, FIG. 10C are diagrams each showing a
behavior of a sheet passing through the separation portion of the
embodiment.
EMBODIMENT TO PRACTICE THE INVENTION
[0018] A sheet takeout and separation device of an embodiment has a
takeout section, a sending section, a separation portion. The
takeout section takes out a sheet. The sending section sends out
the sheet taken out by the takeout section. The separation portion
is provided so as to come in contact with the sheets taken out in
an overlapping state by the takeout section, and separates the
sheets one by one. In addition, the separation portion has a
separation portion main body and a cover. The separation portion
main body elastically deforms in accordance with a thickness of the
sheet. The cover is provided on the separation portion main body so
as to come in contact with the sheet. And, on a surface of the
cover, a surface roughening treatment is performed.
[0019] Hereinafter, a sheet takeout and separation device and a
sheet processing apparatus of an embodiment will be described with
reference to the drawings.
[0020] FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing a sheet processing
apparatus.
[0021] As shown in FIG. 1, a sheet processing apparatus 1 is
provided with a controller la, a feeding section 2, a takeout and
separation section 3, a main conveying path 4, an inspection
section 5, a conveying and sorting section 6, gap correction
sections 7, sorting boxes 8.
[0022] The controller la totally controls an operation of the sheet
processing apparatus 1.
[0023] The feeding section 2 holds a plurality of sheets stacked in
an upright position in an approximately vertical direction with
respect to a horizontal plane, and moves the plurality of sheets
toward a stacking direction. By this means, the feeding section 2
feeds the plurality of sheets to the takeout and separation section
3 existing at a forefront side of the stacking direction. The sheet
is a letter, for example.
[0024] The takeout and separation section 3 sucks and takes out a
front sheet in the stacking direction, out of the plurality of
sheets fed by the feeding section 2, and sends out the taken-out
sheet toward the main conveying path 4.
[0025] The inspection section 5 reads sorting information described
on the sheet.
[0026] The conveying and sorting section 6 sorts sheets into four
conveying paths which are provided at different positions in the
vertical direction.
[0027] The gap correction sections 7 are respectively provided
immediately after the takeout and separation section 3, at an
upstream portion of the conveying and sorting section 6, and
immediately after the conveying and sorting section 6. The gap
correction section 7 corrects an interval (gap) between adjacent
sheets in the conveying direction within a prescribed range.
[0028] The sorting box 8 has four steps in the vertical direction.
The sorting box 8 sorts and collects a sheet in accordance with the
sorting information of the sheet.
[0029] Here, the feeding section 2, the takeout and separation
section 3, and the main conveying path 4 compose a sheet takeout
and separation device 10. In addition, the conveying and sorting
section 6 and sorting boxes 8 compose a sorting processing
section.
[0030] FIG. 2 is a plan view of the sheet takeout and separation
device, FIG. 3 is an enlarged perspective view of the feeding
section and a periphery thereof, FIG. 4 is a perspective view
showing a state in which sheets are arranged in the feeding
section.
[0031] As shown in FIG. 2-FIG. 4, the feeding section 2 of the
sheet takeout and separation device 10 is provided with a flat
bottom wall 21a, and a guide wall 21b which is provided so as to
rise approximately vertically from the bottom wall 21a. The feeding
section 2 holds a plurality of stacked sheets which are loaded on
the bottom wall 21a in an upright position in a feeding direction A
toward the takeout and separation section 3. The guide wall 21b
comes in contact with respective end portions of the plurality of
sheets moving in the feeding direction A, to guide the movement of
the plurality of sheets.
[0032] The feeding section 2 is further provided with a main belt
22a and sub belts 22b provided on the bottom wall 21a, and a backup
plate 23 which moves on the bottom wall 21a in the feeding
direction A. The main belt 22a and the sub belts 22b come in
contact with respective end portions of the plurality of sheets
loaded on the bottom wall 21a, and are independently driven in the
feeding direction A. By this means, the main belt 22 moves the
plurality of sheets loaded on the bottom wall 21a in the feeding
direction A, and the sub belts 22b adjust a posture of each of the
plurality of sheets.
[0033] The backup plate 23 comes in contact with a rearmost sheet
in the feeding direction A, out of the plurality of sheets arranged
on the bottom wall 21a, presses the plurality of sheets in the
feeding direction A, and moves in synchronization with the driving
of the main belt 22a. By this means, the backup plate 23 moves the
plurality of sheets loaded on the bottom wall 21a in the feeding
direction A.
[0034] As shown in FIG. 4, in the sheet takeout and separation
device 10, the bottom wall 21a of the feeding section 2 forms a
horizontal plane, and the guide wall 21b forms a vertical plane
orthogonal to the horizontal plane. In each sheet having a surface
of a rectangular shape, a side in the short direction is made
approximately in parallel with the vertical direction. Each sheet
is supported by the surface of the bottom wall 21a forming the
horizontal plane, at lower side end portions in the vertical
direction, out of the both end portions of sides in the short
direction.
[0035] Each sheet is arranged such that a side in the long
direction is made in parallel with the horizontal direction, and
end portions in a sending direction B side of the takeout and
separation section 3 described later, out of the both end portions
of sides in the long direction, are butted against the guide wall
21b. By this means, the plurality of sheets are arranged in the
feeding section 2 such that, regarding each sheet, the end portions
of the side in the short direction at the lower side in the
vertical direction are aligned by the bottom walls 21a, and the end
portions of the side in the long direction at the sending direction
B side (that is, a forefront portion in the sending direction B)
are aligned by the guide walls 21b.
[0036] The takeout and separation section 3 is provided with a sub
takeout portion 31, a main takeout portion 32, a separation portion
33.
[0037] The sub takeout portion 31 is arranged at a more upstream
side than the main takeout portion 32 in the sending direction B
that is in parallel with the horizontal direction. The sub takeout
portion 31 is provided with a sub air chamber 31a connected to a
negative pressure generator (Not shown. a suction side of a blower
or the like, for example), and a suction belt 31b driven by a drive
motor (Not shown. a step motor or the like, for example).
[0038] The sub air chamber 31a is provided with a sub guide plate
31d formed with a plurality of openings 31c which are opened toward
the feeding section 2. The sub guide plate 31d is of a rectangular
plate shape, and the plurality of openings 31c are communicated
with the inside of the sub air chamber 31a. By this means, a
negative pressure (a pressure lower than the atmospheric pressure)
is given to the openings 31c of the sub guide plate 31d. The sub
guide plate 31d guides the movement of the suction belt 31 to the
sending direction B.
[0039] The suction belt 31b is an endless belt formed with a
plurality of suction holes 31e, and is arranged such that at least
a part of the region thereof overlaps with a part of the sub guide
plate 31d. At the region where the suction belt 31b overlaps with
the sub guide plate 31c, a plurality of the suction holes 31e of
the suction belt 31b communicate with at least a part of the
plurality of openings 31c of the sub guide plate 31d. By this
means, a negative pressure is given to a plurality of the suction
holes 31e of the suction belt 31b by the sub air chamber 31a via a
plurality of the openings 31c.
[0040] At the region where the suction belt 31b overlaps with the
sub guide plate 31d, the suction belt 31b faces the plurality of
sheets held in the feeding section 2 in the feeding direction A,
and the suction belt 31b moves in the sending direction B, in a
state that the suction belt 31b is arranged so as to extend in
parallel with the sending direction B. By this means, when a
negative pressure is given to the plurality of suction holes 31a,
the suction belt 31b takes out, by suction, a front sheet in the
feeding direction A from the plurality of sheets fed by the feeding
section 2. And the suction belt 31b sends out the sheet taken out
by suction, to the sending direction B at a prescribed speed.
[0041] The prescribed speed of the suction belt 31b is set slower
than a speed of a takeout belt 43 described later. By this means,
the sub takeout portion 31 takes out a first sheet from the feeding
section 2 by suction, and sends out the first sheet to the main
takeout portion 32, and in addition, takes out a second sheet by
suction, after the back end of the first sheet has passed through
the sub air chamber 31a.
[0042] And, the suction belt 31b sends out the second sheet to the
main takeout portion 32 at a speed slower than the speed at which
the first sheet is sent out to the sending direction B by the main
takeout portion 32. By this means, an interval not less than a
prescribed interval value is provided between the first sheet and
the second sheet in the sending direction B, to resolve the
overlapping of the first sheet and the second sheet.
[0043] The main takeout portion 32 is arranged at a more downstream
side than the sub takeout portion 31 in the sending direction B.
The main takeout portion 32 is provided with a valve device 42, the
takeout belt 43 which is driven by a drive motor (Not shown. a step
motor or the like, for example).
[0044] The valve device 42 is provided with a main body block 51
formed with a main guide plate 61 on one surface thereof. The main
guide plate 61 is arranged so as to face the plurality of sheets
held in the feeding section 2 in the feeding direction A. The main
guide plate 61 guides the movement of the takeout belt 43 to the
sending direction B.
[0045] In the main body block 51 and the main guide plate 61, a
plurality of through holes (not shown) which communicate with each
other is formed. These through holes are connected to a vacuum pump
(not shown) provided in the valve device 42. By this means, a
negative pressure is given to the through holes of the main body
block 51 and the main guide plate 61.
[0046] The takeout belt 43 is an endless belt in which a plurality
of suction holes 43a is uniformly formed over the entire region
thereof. The takeout belt 43 is wound around a plurality of pulleys
(not shown) including two pulleys 64a, 64b which are respectively
arranged at the both sides of the valve device 42 in the sending
direction B. The takeout belt 43 is arranged so that at least a
part of the region of the takeout belt 43 overlaps with the main
guide plate 61. The plurality of suction holes 43a of the takeout
belt 43 communicate with the through holes (not shown) formed in
the main guide plate 61, at the region of the takeout belt 43 where
it overlaps with the main guide plate 61. By this means, a negative
pressure is given to a plurality of the suction holes 43a of the
takeout belt 43.
[0047] In addition, the takeout belt 43 moves in the sending
direction B, in the state that the region of the takeout belt 43
where it overlaps with the main guide plate 61 extends in parallel
with the sending direction B. By this means, when a negative
pressure is given to the plurality of suction holes 43a, the
takeout belt 43 takes out a sheet by suction which is fed in the
feeding direction A by the feeding section 2, and is sent out to
the sending direction B by the sub takeout portion 31. And, the
takeout belt 43 sends out the sheet taken out by suction to the
sending direction B, at a speed higher than the sending speed by
the sub takeout portion 31. At this time, the guide wall 21b of the
feeding section 2 guides the sending of a sheet to the sending
direction B by the takeout belt 43.
[0048] As shown in FIG. 2 and FIG. 3, the separation portion 33 is
arranged at an opposite side of the main takeout portion 32, with
respect to a sheet sent out in the sending direction B by the main
takeout portion 32, at a more downstream side than the guide wall
21b of the feeding section 2 in the sending direction B. The
separation portion 33 is provided with a double-sheet takeout
preventing block 71. The double-sheet takeout preventing block 71
is arranged so that the double-sheet takeout preventing block 71
may face the takeout belt 43 through a gap S therebetween, at a
downstream side of the takeout belt 43 in the sending direction B.
The gap S is set to about 0.5 mm, for example.
[0049] FIG. 5 is a perspective view of the double-sheet takeout
preventing block. FIG. 6 is a side view of the double-sheet takeout
preventing block. As shown in FIG. 6, when a plurality of sheets is
taken out by the takeout belt 43 simultaneously, the double-sheet
takeout preventing block 71 sucks a sheet at the double-sheet
takeout preventing block 71 side to stop the relevant sheet, and
thereby the double-sheet takeout preventing block 71 functions not
to send a plurality of sheets into the gap correction portion 7
simultaneously.
[0050] The double-side takeout preventing block 71 has a main body
portion 72 formed of elastic material such as urethane rubber
(rubber material), for example. The main body portion 72 is formed
of elastic material, and thereby the main body portion 72 can be
lightened, and also it is possible to shorten a time for the main
body portion 72 to return to the original shape, after the main
body portion 72 has been deformed by the entering of a sheet.
[0051] An arc surface 72a is formed on the main body portion 72, at
the takeout belt 43 side (tip side), and also at the entering side
(an upstream side in the sending direction B) of a sheet.
[0052] A plurality of (6, for example) suction holes 73 is formed
at a position closest to the takeout belt 43, out of the arc
surface 72a, that is, at a tip of the arc surface 72a. These
suction holes 73 are arranged along a direction orthogonal to the
sending direction B with equal intervals. Each suction hole 73 is
connected to a negative pressure generator (Not shown. a vacuum
pump or the like, for example) provided in the separation portion
33. By this means, a negative pressure is given to each suction
hole 73.
[0053] At a base end side (an opposite side of the arc surface 72a)
of the main body portion 72, a base plate 74 for fixing the main
body portion 72 to the sheet takeout and separation device 10 is
provided. In addition, on the arc surface 72a of the main body
portion 72, and a side surface 72b where the arc surface 72a is
formed, a support plate 75 is formed so as to cover the arc surface
72a and the side surface 72b.
[0054] The base plate 74 and the support plate 75 are respectively
fixed to the main body portion 72 using bonding agent or the like.
In addition, a base end side of the support plate 75 is fixed to
the base plate 74 via a fixing plate 76 and bolts 77.
[0055] The support plate 75 has a role to prevent that the main
body portion 72 is torn off from the base plate 74 due to the shock
when a sheet enters, and a role for supporting that the main body
portion 72 returns to the original shape after the main body
portion 72 has been deformed. In addition, stainless-steel is
preferable for the material of the support plate 75.
Stainless-steel is used, and thereby elasticity and rust prevention
of the support plate 75 can be ensured. In addition, a wall
thickness of the support plate 75 is set to about 0.1 mm, for
example, so that the support plate 75 does not affect the
deformation of the main body portion 72 as far as possible.
[0056] Further, a protection cover 78 is provided on the surface of
the support plate 75, at a position corresponding to the arc
surface 72a of the main body portion 72. The protection cover 78
prevents the deterioration, abrasion of the main body portion 72
and the support plate 75 due to the shock when a sheet enters.
[0057] The protection cover 78 is formed of a metal plate such as a
stainless-steel plate, for example. A wall thickness of the
protection cover 78 is set to about 1 mm, for example. With the
configuration like this, the protection cover 78 can follow the
deformation of the main body portion 72. In addition, in the
support plate 75 and the protection cover 78, suction holes 79 are
respectively formed at the positions corresponding to the suction
holes 73 of the main body portion 72. By this means, a negative
pressure is given to the suction holes 79 of the protection cover
78 via the suction holes 73 of the main body portion 72.
[0058] Here, a surface roughening treatment M for increasing a
friction coefficient of the surface of the protection cover 78 is
performed on the protection cover 78, at a periphery of the suction
holes 79. For example, as the surface roughening treatment M,
diamond coating, sand blast, spraying and so on can be cited. For
example, when it is assumed that a friction coefficient .mu.' of a
place where the surface roughening treatment M is not performed is
0.1, the surface roughening treatment M is performed so that a
friction coefficient .mu. of a place where the surface roughening
treatment M is performed becomes about 0.3-0.5.
[0059] Here, to perform the surface roughening treatment M to the
periphery of the suction holes 79 means to perform the surface
roughening treatment M to the surface within a range separated by
each d/2 along the sending direction B from the rims of the suction
holes 739, when it is assumed that a diameter of the suction hole
79 is d, as shown in FIG. 7, for example. In addition, as shown in
FIG. 8, the surface roughening treatment M may be performed on the
surface within a range of a diameter of about 2d, with respect to
the diameter d of the suction hole 79, coaxially with the suction
holes 79.
[0060] Returning to FIG. 2 and FIG. 3, the gap correction section
7, along with a plurality of various conveying belts and rollers
(not shown), compose a part of a conveying mechanism 80 to convey a
sheet. The gap correction section 7 is arranged at the downstream
side of the separation portion 33 in the sending direction B. The
gap correction section 7 is provided with a sponge roller 81 and a
drive roller 82 which are arranged opposite to each other so as to
sandwich the main conveying path 4 therebetween. The sponge roller
81 is a soft roller having elasticity, and deforms in accordance
with the change in a thickness of a sheet to be conveyed through
the main conveying path 4.
[0061] The drive roller 82 is rotationally driven by a drive motor
(Not shown. an AC servo motor or the like, for example), and
changes a conveying speed of a sheet by the acceleration and
deceleration of the rotation. By this means, when an interval (gap)
between a sheet which has been sandwiched by the sponge roller 81
and the drive roller 82, and a preceding sheet in the conveying
direction is smaller than a specified value, the gap correction
section 7 decelerates the conveying speed of the sheet, to broaden
the interval. On the other hand, when an interval between a sheet
which has been sandwiched by the sponge roller 81 and the drive
roller 82, and a preceding sheet in the conveying direction is
larger than a specified value, the gap correction section 7
accelerates the conveying speed of the sheet, to shorten the
interval.
[0062] Next, an operation of the separation portion 33 will be
described, based on FIG. 2, FIG. 6, FIG. 9 and FIG. 10.
[0063] FIG. 9 is an explanation diagram showing a behavior of the
double-sheet takeout preventing block when a sheet passes through
the separation portion. FIG. 10A, FIG. 10B and FIG. 10C are
explanation diagrams of an action of the separation portion, and
each shows a behavior of a sheet passing through the separation
portion.
[0064] To begin with, as shown in FIG. 2, a front sheet (a sheet
located closest to the sub takeout portion 31 side), out of a
plurality of sheets stacked along the feeding direction A, is
sucked and taken out by the sub takeout portion 31, and the
taken-out sheets are sent out to the main takeout portion 32 one by
one. A sheet which has been sent out to the main takeout portion 32
passes through the gap S (refer to FIG. 6) between the double-sheet
takeout preventing block 71 of the separation portion 33 and the
takeout belt 43 of the main takeout portion 32, and is sent out to
the gap correction section 7.
[0065] Here, when a thickness of a sheet is equivalent to, or
thinner than the gap S between the double-sheet takeout preventing
block 71 and the takeout belt 43, the sheet passes through the gap
S, without change.
[0066] On the other hand, when a thickness of a sheet is thicker
than the gap S between the double-sheet takeout preventing block 71
and the takeout belt 43, as shown in FIG. 9, an end portion of the
sheet at the sending direction B side comes in contact with the
protection cover 78 of the double-sheet takeout preventing block
71. Further, the sheet presses the double-sheet takeout preventing
block 71. Then, the double-sheet takeout preventing block 71 is
compressed and deformed so that it is slightly bent backward toward
the downstream side in the sending direction B. And the sheet
passes through the gap S while pressing the double-sheet takeout
preventing block 71 away.
[0067] Here, when it is assumed that a radius of curvature of the
arc surface 72a formed on the main body portion 72 of the
double-sheet takeout preventing block 71 is R, a wall thickness of
the protection cover 78 is t, a maximum thickness of a sheet is
Hmax, and the gap between the double-sheet takeout preventing block
71 and the takeout belt 43 is S, as shown in FIG. 6, FIG. 9,
[0068] the radius of curvature R is set so as to satisfy
R.gtoreq.(Hmax-S).times.2-t (1).
[0069] When the expression (1) is satisfied, it is possible to set
a position of a contact point P (refer to FIG. 9) where the
protection cover 78 and the sheet contact, so that an angle .theta.
which a line connecting the contact point P and the center of the
arc surface 72a and a line connecting the suction hole 93 of the
protection cover 78 and the center of the arc surface 72a make
becomes not more than 60 degrees. In other words, the contact point
P that contacts the sheet can be set within a range of R/2 from the
tip of the takeout belt 43 side of the main body portion 72. For
this reason, when the main body portion 72 is pressed by the sheet,
it is possible to set a direction of the force acting on the main
body portion 72 by this pressing force, to a direction to which the
main body portion 72 is surely compressed.
[0070] In addition, it is preferable to set a size of the main body
portion 72 in the length direction (a vertical direction in FIG. 6)
to not less than about 5 times the maximum deformation amount
(Hmax-S) of the main body portion 72. When set in this manner, the
compression deformation distortion of the main body portion 72 can
be decreased as much as possible, and thereby it is possible to
enhance the durability against fatigue destruction, when the main
body portion 72 is repeatedly deformed.
[0071] In addition, since the surface roughening treatment M is
performed on the protection cover 78 only at the periphery of the
suction holes 79 (refer to FIG. 5), when the double-sheet takeout
preventing block 71 is compressed and deformed so that it is
slightly bent backward toward the downstream side in the sending
direction B, the place where the surface roughening treatment M is
performed faces toward the downstream side in the sending direction
B. For this reason, when a thick sheet comes in contact with the
protection cover 78, the sheet comes to make contact with the place
of the protection cover 78 where the surface roughening treatment
is not performed, and thereby the friction between the protection
cover 78 and the sheet does not increase. Accordingly, the sheet
can smoothly pass through between the double-sheet takeout
preventing block 71 and the takeout belt 43.
[0072] Next, a case in which two sheets are sent out from the main
takeout portion 32 in an overlapping manner will be described.
[0073] When two sheets conveyed by the main takeout portion 32 try
to pass through the gap S between the double-sheet takeout
preventing block 71 and the takeout belt 43 in an overlapping
state, as shown in FIG. 10A, a sheet at the double-sheet takeout
preventing block 71 side, out of the sheets in an overlapping
state, is sucked by the suction holes 79 of the double-sheet
takeout preventing block 71, and stops on the spot, as shown in
FIG. 10B. Since, a large friction force does not act on between the
sheets in an overlapping state, the sheet at the takeout belt 43
side is sent out to the gap correction section 7 without
change.
[0074] Here, the surface roughening treatment M is performed on the
protection cover 78 of the double-sheet takeout preventing block
71, at the periphery of the suction holes 79 (refer to FIG. 5). For
this reason, a friction force between the periphery of the suction
holes 79 and the sheet sucked by the suction holes 79 becomes
large. Accordingly, it is possible to surely stop one of the sheets
in an overlapping state, by the double-sheet takeout preventing
block 71, while weakening the suction force (negative pressure) of
the double-sheet takeout preventing block 71.
[0075] In addition, the plurality of suction holes 79 provided in
the protection cover 78 are arranged along a direction orthogonal
to the sending direction B with equal intervals (refer to FIG. 5).
For this reason, it is possible to prevent that the sheet sucked by
the double-sheet takeout preventing block 71 might be rotated
(skew) around one point.
[0076] Subsequently, when the sheet at the takeout belt 43 side
completely passes through the double-sheet takeout preventing block
71, as shown in FIG. 10C, the sheet which has been stopped by the
double-sheet takeout preventing block 71 is sucked to the takeout
belt 43 side. And this sheet is sent out to the gap correction
section 7 without change.
[0077] Here, a suction force of the valve device 42 of the main
takeout portion 32 against a sheet is set sufficiently larger than
a suction force of the separation portion 33 against a sheet. For
this reason, when the sheet at the takeout belt 43 side has
completely passed through the double-sheet takeout preventing block
71, the sheet which has been stopped by the double-sheet takeout
preventing block 71 is surely sucked to the takeout belt 43
side.
[0078] In addition, when at least one sheet out of overlapping two
sheets is sufficiently thick, the sheet at the double-sheet takeout
preventing block 71 side comes to stop in front thereof, without
reaching the suction holes 79 of the protection cover 78. That is,
a force by which the sheet at the double-sheet takeout preventing
block 71 side tries to press the double-sheet takeout preventing
block 71 away acts on as a resistance force, and thereby the sheet
stops, and during this time, the sheet at the takeout belt 43 side
is sent out to the gap correction section 7. For the reason, sheets
still in an overlapping state can be surely separated by the
separation portion 33, regardless of the thicknesses of the
sheets.
[0079] In addition, as described above, a prescribed speed of the
suction belt 31b in the sub takeout portion 31 is set slower than a
speed of the takeout 076885.0317 belt 43 in the main takeout
portion 32. For this reason, an interval not less than a prescribed
interval is provided between a sheet (first sheet) which has
firstly been sent out from the feeding section 2, and a sheet
(second sheet) which has been sent out next, and thereby the
overlapping of the first sheet and the second sheet can be
resolved. Accordingly, it is possible to prevent that the sheet
which has been stopped by the double-sheet takeout preventing block
71 might overlap again with a sheet located in a more upstream side
than this sheet in the sending direction B.
[0080] In this manner, in the double-sheet takeout preventing block
71 of the present embodiment, the surface roughening treatment M is
performed on the protection cover 78 provided on the main body
portion 72. For this reason, when sheets still in an overlapping
state are conveyed by the takeout belt 43, it is possible to surely
stop a sheet at the double-sheet takeout preventing block 71 side,
using a friction force of a place where the surface roughening
treatment M is performed. Accordingly, it is possible to prevent
that a plurality of sheets is sent out in an overlapping manner,
and the occurrence of conveying trouble can be prevented. In
addition to this, it is possible to strengthen a stopping power of
a sheet without increasing the suction force of the separation
portion 33, and it can be prevented that a plurality of sheets is
sent out in a overlapping manner, and thereby the sheet takeout and
separation device 10 (a negative pressure generator and so on
provided in the separation portion 33) can be miniaturized.
[0081] In addition, the main body portion 72 is formed of elastic
material which elastically deforms in accordance with the thickness
of a sheet, and further the surface roughening treatment M is
performed on the protection cover 78 at the periphery of the
suction holes 79. For this reason, overlapping sheets can be
efficiently stopped by the suction holes 79, and in addition, it is
possible to prevent that a thick sheet or the like might be damaged
by a place where the surface roughening treatment M is
performed.
[0082] Further, the protection cover 78 of the double-sheet takeout
preventing block 71 is of a metal plate (stainless-steel plate, for
example). For this reason, it is possible to set a friction
coefficient of a place where the surface roughening treatment M is
not performed low, while keeping the stiffness of the protection
cover 78 itself. Accordingly, when sheets do not overlap and the
sheets are conveyed one by one, the sheets can smoothly pass
through on the double-sheet takeout preventing block 71.
[0083] In addition, a plurality of the suction holes 79 of the
protection cover 78 is formed with equal intervals along a
direction orthogonal to the sending direction B. For this reason,
the suction holes 79 can prevent that a sheet sucked by the
double-sheet takeout preventing block 71 is rotated (skew) around
one point. That is, when a sheet is stopped at one point, there is
a possibility that the sheet might be skewed around that point. But
a sheet is stopped at at least two or more points, and thereby it
can be prevented that a sheet might be skewed.
[0084] Further, the double-sheet takeout preventing block 71 is
arranged opposite to the takeout belt 43 through the gap S, at the
downstream side of the sending direction B in the takeout belt 43.
For this reason, when sheets still in an overlapping state are
conveyed by the takeout belt 43, while one sheet out of these
sheets is stopped by the double-sheet takeout preventing block 71,
the other sheet can surely be sent out to the gap correction
section 7 by the takeout belt 43.
[0085] In addition, on the main body portion 72 of the double-sheet
takeout preventing block 71, the arc surface 72a is formed at the
takeout belt 43 side (tip side), and also at the entering side of a
sheet (upstream side in the sending direction B). For this reason,
the double-sheet takeout preventing block 71 can smoothly receive a
sheet.
[0086] Further, the radius of curvature R of the arc surface 72a is
set so as to satisfy the expression (1). For this reason, when the
main body portion 72 is pressed by a sheet, it is possible to set a
direction of the force acting on the main body portion 72 by this
pressing force, to a direction to which the main body portion 72 is
surely compressed.
[0087] In the above-described embodiment, the case has been
described that the surface roughening treatment M is performed only
to the periphery of the suction holes 79 in the protection cover 78
of the double-sheet takeout preventing block 71. But without being
limited to this, the surface roughening treatment M may be
performed to the whole surface of the protection cover 78. In
addition, the surface roughening treatment M may be performed to
only about a half of the whole surface of the protection cover 78
including the periphery of the suction holes 79. In this case, it
is necessary to set a friction coefficient by the surface
roughening treatment M, so that the surface roughening treatment M
does not damage a sheet.
[0088] In addition, in the above-described embodiment, the case has
been described in which the surface roughening treatment M is
performed to the protection cover 78, by diamond coating, sand
blast, spraying, and so on, for example. But the surface roughening
treatment M is not limited to this, a tape, a rubber sheet, or the
like for enhancing the friction resistance may be pasted on the
surface of the protection cover 78. In this case, it is desirable
to perform a replacing operation of a tape or a rubber sheet, in
accordance with the using frequency of the sheet processing
apparatus 1.
[0089] In addition, in the above-described embodiment, the case in
which the protection cover 78 is formed of a stainless-steel plate,
for example, has been described. But the protection cover 78 is not
limited to this, the material of the protection cover 78 may be
material, if a friction coefficient at the surface of the material
is low. For example, the material may be engineering plastics of
which abrasion resistance was examined.
[0090] According to the sheet takeout and separation device and the
sheet processing apparatus as described above, since the surface
roughening treatment M is performed on the protection cover 78 of
the double-sheet takeout preventing block 71, it is possible to
surely prevent that a plurality of sheets are sent out in an
overlapping manner, and the occurrence of conveying trouble can be
prevented. In addition, since it is possible to prevent that a
plurality of sheets are sent out in an overlapping manner, while
weakening the suction force of the separation portion 33 as much as
possible, the sheet takeout and separation device 10 (a negative
pressure generator and so on provided in the separation portion 33)
can be miniaturized.
[0091] While certain embodiments have been described, these
embodiments have been presented by way of example only, and are not
intended to limit the scope of the inventions. Indeed, the novel
embodiments described herein may be embodied in a variety of other
forms; furthermore, various omissions, substitutions and changes in
the form of the embodiments described herein may be made without
departing from the spirit of the inventions. The accompanying
claims and their equivalents are intended to cover such forms or
modifications as would fall within the scope and spirit of the
inventions.
* * * * *