EP2441713A1

EP2441713A1 - Document loading device, document loading method and document sorting machine

Info

Publication number: EP2441713A1
Application number: EP10783322A
Authority: EP
Inventors: Kazuhito Yoshitani; Kenichi Ikegami
Original assignee: NEC Corp
Current assignee: NEC Corp
Priority date: 2009-06-01
Filing date: 2010-05-21
Publication date: 2012-04-18
Anticipated expiration: 2030-05-21
Also published as: JP2010275105A; JP5412961B2; EP2441713A4; EP2441713B1; WO2010140538A1

Abstract

A hopper unit 2 which includes stacking unit 22 on which a plurality of sheets, which are in a standing-stack state, are placed, a push-plate 23 to push out the sheets which are placed on the stacking unit 22, a push-plate moving part to drive the push-plate 23, and a rising and falling part to make the stacking unit 22 and the push-plate 23 rise and fall, a hopper unit moving part 3 which moves the hopper unit 2 between a supplying position where the hopper units 2 is supplied with the sheet and a predetermined stacking position on a sheet supplying apparatus 6 where the sheet is placed, and a control unit which controls the hopper unit moving part, the rising and falling part and the push-plate moving part are arranged.

Description

TECHNICAL FIELD

The present invention relates to a sheet stacking apparatus, a sheet stacking method and a sheet sorting machine.

BACKGROUND ART

The sheet sorting machine has been used in order to sort efficiently a sheet, on which a destination address is described, such as a postcard, an envelope, a magazine which is stored in a cover, a book which is stored in a box, and a large-sized envelope.
This kind of the sheet sorting machine generally includes a sheet sorting and collecting apparatus which sorts the sheet (mail), and a sheet supplying apparatus which supplies the sheet sorting and collecting apparatus with the sheet. The sheet supplying apparatus includes a feeding unit, a conveyance unit (reading unit) and a moving and stacking unit. The sheet supplying apparatus reads the destination address of the sheet, which will be sorted, and conveys the sheet to a conveyance box.
Meanwhile, the ┌{sheet sorting and collecting apparatus}┘ includes an universal chain which can be bent freely, a plurality of the conveyance boxes which are attached to the universal chain and store and convey the sheet, a moving part which moves the conveyance box at a predetermined speed, and the like. Moreover, the sheet sorting and collecting apparatus conveys the sheet, which is put into the conveyance box, and drops the sheet into a collection box which is corresponding to the destination address. As a result, the sheet is sorted into each collection box which is assigned according to the destination address.
Various technologies to improve a processing ability of the sheet sorting machine have been developed. For example, Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2008-149207 discloses a sheet sorting machine including a sheet supplying apparatus which includes a feeding unit, a conveyance unit, a discharge unit, a correction unit, a moving and stacking unit and a control unit. In the case that the control unit judges that it is impossible to convey the sheet to a prearranged conveyance box, the control unit conveys the sheet to the following conveyance box. According to the technology, ability to process sorting the sheet is improved substantially.
As mentioned above, by virtue of the automatic sheet sorting machine, it is possible to sort the sheet efficiently. However, it is necessary to supply the feeding unit (usually, absorption belt is used.) with the sheet, which is in a specific state, in order for the sheet sorting machine to sort the sheet efficiently. The specific state is state where a plurality of sheets is placed vertically and piled each other. Hereinafter, this specific state is described as a standing-stack state. If supplying of the sheet is delayed in this state, the sheet sorting machine cannot exert the excellent ability to process sorting the sheet.
Usually, the sheets in the standing-stack state are placed on a conveyor having a partition bar by an operator. Then, the plural sheets are supplied automatically to the feeding unit by the sheet supplying apparatus. That is, if the operator places the sheet with a space in spite of necessity to place the sheets continuously, a time that the feeding unit is not supplied with the sheet is caused. Consequently number of the sorted sheets becomes decreasing. Therefore, an operator receives work instruction and training so that it may become skillful in the loading work of a sheet and sorting processing may not fall. Thereby, the predetermined desired value (rational desired value generally is determined based on movement analysis) is set up to be accomplished. An operator's leader and manager carry out the work guidance so that each operator may achieve the predetermined target value.

DISCLOSURE OF THE INVENTION

However, while the sheet sorting machine can sort the sheet at a high speed, the sheet sorting machine can not exert its ability thoroughly and stably in an actual operation.
The reason is due to the following. That is, the sheet supplying apparatus of the sheet sorting machine results in working with no sheet which should be supplied, since the operator's stacking speed is slower than a process speed of the sheet supplying apparatus Accordingly, even if the sheet sorting machine has the ability to carry out sorting the sheet at the high speed, the sheet sorting machine can not exert the ability thoroughly in some cases.
One reason why the operator can not achieve the predetermined target value is that a work of stacking the sheet is hard in the case that the sheet is heavy and thick as a book and/or large-sized envelope. Accordingly, the operator with weak physical strength has to divide the sheets into several groups. Consequently the operator may not achieve the predetermined target value in these cases. Then, it has been desired to develop a technology with which the operator can avoid carrying out the hard work even if the sheet to be placed is heavy.
Meanwhile, in the case that the sheets have the almost same shape and size each other, and each of the sheets is an envelope or a large-sized envelope which contains a document of several pages, it is possible to place several tens of sheets by one stacking work. On the other hand, in the case that the sheets have different thickness, different centers of balance, different shapes or the like each other, it is difficult to achieve the predetermined target value since only few of the sheets can be placed by one stacking work. Accordingly, in order to achieve the predetermined target value, even if the sheets have the different thickness, the different centers of balance, the different shapes or the like each other, the operator has to place a large number of the sheets by one stacking work.
Furthermore, in order not to cause damage to the sheet in the stacking work, it is requested to carry out the stacking work carefully. For this reason, the operator may be guided to avoid causing the damage to the sheet by a leader or the like. However, the operator may not achieve the predetermined target value in some cases since the operator who is guided not to cause the damage to the sheet tends to carrying out the stacking work too carefully. Accordingly, it is desired to realize a specific means which can place the sheet quickly without causing the damage to the sheet.
Since the operator is a human being, the ability of the operator for carrying out the stacking work is also different dependently on the operator. Moreover, efficiency of carrying out the stacking work may fluctuate in some cases due to an operator's physical condition. Therefore, it is desired to realize a specific means which can absorb the difference of the operator's abilities, and achieve the predetermined target value.
An object of the present invention is to provide a sheet stacking apparatus, a sheet stacking method and a sheet sorting machine which can place a sheet efficiently without causing the damage to the sheet, and can reduce an operator's load.

(Mean to solve the Problem)

In order to achieve the above-mentioned object, a sheet stacking apparatus includes a hopper unit which has a stacking unit for stacking a plurality of sheets in a standing-stack state, a push-plate for pushing out a plurality of sheets which are placed on the stacking unit, a push-plate moving part for driving the push-plate, and a rising and falling part for making the stacking unit and the push-plate rise and fall, a hopper unit moving part which moves the hopper unit between a supplying position where the sheet is supplied for the hopper unit and a predetermined stacking position on a sheet supplying apparatus where the sheet is placed, and a control unit which controls the hopper unit moving part, the rising and falling part, and the push-plate moving part.
Moreover, a sheet stacking method includes a procedure to move a stacking unit on which a plurality of sheets, which are in a standing-stack state, are placed, and a push-plate, which supports the sheets so that the sheets may not fall down and pushes out the sheets from the stacking unit to move the sheets, from a supplying position where the sheet is supplied to a position above a predetermined stacking position on a sheet supplying apparatus on which the sheet is placed, a procedure to make the stacking unit and the push-plate fall, a procedure to move the push-plate in a pushing direction for the stacking unit and to move the stacking unit in an opposite direction to the pushing direction, and to place the sheets, which are in the state of continuously being the standing-stack state, at the predetermined stacking position from the stacking unit, and a procedure to move the push-plate in the opposite direction to the pushing direction for the stacking unit and to make the stacking unit and the push-plate rise and to move the stacking unit and the push-plate to the supplying position.

(Effect of the Invention)

According to the sheet stacking apparatus, the sheet stacking method and the sheet sorting machine of the present invention, it is possible to place the sheet efficiently and with causing no damage to the sheet, and to reduce the operator's load.
Furthermore, it is possible for the sheet sorting machine to carry out the high-speed process and to exert its effect thoroughly and stably in the actual operation.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a schematic plan view of a main part of a sheet stacking apparatus according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 2 is a schematic front view of the main part of the sheet stacking apparatus according to the exemplary embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 3A is a side view of the main part of the sheet stacking apparatus according to the exemplary embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 3B is a cross section view along arrows A-A in FIG. 3A.
FIG. 4 is a schematic plan view of a main part of a sheet supplying apparatus of a sheet sorting machine according to the exemplary embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 5 is a schematic front view of the main part of the sheet supplying apparatus of the sheet sorting machine according to the exemplary embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 6 is a schematic enlarged side view of the main part of the sheet supplying apparatus of the sheet sorting machine according to the exemplary embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 7 is a schematic front view, which is used for explanation of an operational state, of the main part of the sheet stacking apparatus according to the exemplary embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 8 is a schematic front view, which is used for explanation of the operational state, of the main part of the sheet stacking apparatus according to the exemplary embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 9 is a schematic front view, which is used for explanation of the operational state, of the main part of the sheet stacking apparatus according to the exemplary embodiment of the present invention.
Fig. 10 is a schematic flowchart explaining a sheet stacking method according to the exemplary embodiment of the present invention.

EXEMPLARY EMBODIMENT TO CARRY OUT THE INVENTION

Next, an exemplary embodiment according to the present invention will be described. FIG. 1 is a partial plan view of a main part of a sheet stacking apparatus 1 according to the exemplary embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 2 is a partial front view of the sheet stacking apparatus 1. FIG. 3A is a partial side view, which is seen from a right side of FIG. 2, of the sheet stacking apparatus 1. FIG. 3B is a partial front view of a stopping bar 565 along arrows A-A in FIG. 3A. Here, a mail conveying part 4 or the like is omitted in FIG. 3 for the sake of convenience.
FIG. 4 is a partial plan of a sheet sorting machine 7 which includes a sheet supplying apparatus 6 on which the sheet stacking apparatus 1 mentioned above is mounted. FIG. 5 is a partial front view, which is seen from a right side of FIG. 5, of the sheet sorting machine 7. FIG. 6 is a partial side view of the sheet sorting machine 7.
As shown in FIGs.5 and 6, the sheet sorting machine 7 includes, as a main constituent, the sheet stacking apparatus 1 to place and supply a sheet which is in a predetermined state, and the sheet supplying apparatus 6 to supply the sheet, which is supplied by the sheet stacking apparatus 1, to a predetermined position. Moreover, as shown in FIG. 1 or the like, the sheet stacking apparatus 1 includes a hopper unit 2, a hopper unit moving part 3, the mail conveying part 4, a rotation part 5, a control unit (not shown in the figure), and the like.
The sheet stacking apparatus 1 places the mails, which are corresponding to the sheets, at a predetermined-stacking position in a standing-stacked state. Here, "standing-stack state" means, for example, a state that a book is placed in a bookcase. As shown in FIG. 4, a mail which has been already placed on a supplying table 62 of the sheet supplying apparatus 6 is indicated by Number 10, and a mail which is placed on the sheet stacking apparatus 1 is indicated by Number 11, as shown in FIG. 7c which will be described later. If it is necessary to distinguish these mails each other, the mail 10 is denoted as a sort-waiting mail 10 and the mail 11 is denoted as a supply-waiting mail 11. The mail mentioned above includes, for example, a postcard, an envelope, a large-sized envelope which contains a magazine, a book or the like.

(Hopper unit)

As shown in FIGs.1 to 3A, the hopper unit 2 includes a push-plate moving part which includes a unit case 21, a stacking unit 22, a push-plate 23, a motor 24 and the like , and a rising and falling part which includes a motor 25, a linear bearing 26 or the like.
This hopper unit 2 is connected to the hopper unit moving part 3 through the rotation part 5, and is moved in the almost horizontal direction by the hopper unit moving part 3.
The unit case 21 is provided with a base, a casing or the like, and store the motor 24, the motor 25 and the like. Moreover, the unit case 21 is connected to a rotary shaft 51 of the rotation part 5 and are tilted to a base 31 of the hopper unit moving part 3. Moreover, an operable state indicating lamp 28 is mounted on an upper part of the unit case 21.
When a detecting device 567b, which is mounted on the stopping bar 565 shown in FIG. 3B, detects a stopping bar 564, and afterward a stopping bar detecting device 567a detects the stopping bar 564, an operation switch 27 act and the sheet stacking apparatus 1 shifts in a standby state. Therefore, lamp 28 which is indicating the operable state, is lighted. Here, while the unit case 21 has a shape almost equivalent to a rectangular parallelepiped as shown in FIG. 1 or the like, the shape is not limited to the rectangular parallelepiped. It is possible that the unit case 21 has any one of various shapes.
As shown in FIG. 1, the stacking unit 22 is made of a member whose shape is almost equivalent to a rectangular, and a pair of the stacking units 22 are arranged so as to be separate each other by a predetermined distance. Then, a plurality of the supply waiting mails 11 are placed on the stacking unit part 22 in the standing-stack state (refer to FIG. 8). A low end corner of the stacking unit 22 is planed off, and the planed off part forms a notch part 22a (refer to FIG. 6).
As a result, even if the stacking unit 22 rotates and falls around the rotary shaft 51, interference between the notch part 22a of the stacking unit 22 and a partition bar 622 of the sheet supplying apparatus 6 can be avoided (refer to Fig. 6). As shown in FIG. 2, the stacking units 22 are connected to the unit case 21 so that it may be possible to rise from the unit case 21 and to fall to the unit case 21 by the linear bearing 26.
An inclined plane 22b is formed at an end part of each stacking unit 22 which exists on a pushing direction D1 (refer to FIG. 1 and FIG. 2) side of the stacking unit 22. Here, the pushing direction D1 part a direction which is vertical to the push-plate 23 and faces toward the push-plate 23 from the rotary shaft 51. Moreover, a detecting bar 222 is provided at an end part of stacking unit 22 which exists in the pushing direction D1 side.
The detecting bar 222 has a guide plane 222a which shares the same plane with the inclined plane 22b of each stacking unit 22 Further; the detecting bar 222 has a detecting device 223 which detects a placed mail. When the detecting device 223 detects that the detecting bar 222 comes into contact with the waiting mail 10, the detecting device 223 outputs a contact detecting signal for the control unit. When the control unit receives the contact detecting signal, the control unit stops a motor 34. As a result, the hopper unit 2 stops moving in the pushing direction D1.
Then, the supply waiting mail 11 slip down over the inclined plane 22b and the guide plane 222a of the stacking unit 22 and is placed at a predetermined position. Since the supply waiting mail 11 slip down and is placed smoothly on the predetermined position as mentioned above, the damage to the supply waiting mail 11 is suppressed surely and effectively.
Moreover, since the detecting device can detect automatically a position of the last sorting waiting mail 10 which has been already placed, it is possible to avoid a defect of pushing the sorting waiting mail 10 excessively, and consequently causing the damage to the sorting waiting mail 10. Moreover, it is possible to place the supply waiting mail 11 with piling the supply waiting mail 11 on the last sorting waiting mail 10 with no space. Furthermore, since it is enough that an operator only checks whether the sheet supplying apparatus 6 works normally, an operator's work load is reduced substantially.
Each stacking unit 22 is equipped with a pre-placement mail detecting device 221 at a position where is apart from the inclined plane 22b by a predetermined distance in an opposite direction to the pushing direction D1.
The pre-placement mail detecting device 221 detects the supply waiting mail 11 which is moved by the push-plate 23. That is, the control unit controls the push-plate moving part to move the push-plate in the pushing direction D1 for the stacking unit 22.
The supply waiting mail 11 is pushed out through the push-plate 23 being moved. When the pre-placement mail detecting device 221 detects the supply waiting mail 11 which is moved, the pre-placement mail detecting device 221 outputs a movement detecting signal and provides the control unit with the movement detecting signal. When the control unit receives the movement detecting signal, the control unit stops the motor 24. As a result, the moving of the push-plate 23 is stop.
Accordingly, the supply waiting mail 11 is moved to the almost end part of the stacking unit 22. As a result, it is possible to place the next supply waiting mail 11 almost continuously with the sorting waiting mail 10 which has been already placed.
The push-plate 23, which is made of an almost rectangular bar and is mounted vertically on the stacking unit 22 so as to be movable, is moved by the push-plate moving part in the pushing direction D1 and in the opposite direction to the pushing direction D1. The notch part 22a (refer to FIG. 6), which has a predetermined shape, is formed at an almost central lower position on the push-plate 23. When the stacking unit 22 falls, it is possible to avoid contact of the stacking unit 22 with the partition bar 622 of the sheet supplying apparatus 6. Here, a falling state of the stacking unit 22 is indicated by a two-dotted line in FIG. 6. The push-plate 23 supports a plurality of the supply waiting mails 11 so that a plurality of the supply waiting mails 11 may not fall down, and pushes out a plurality of the supply waiting mails 11 from the stacking unit 22 to move a plurality of the supply waiting mails 11.
The push-plate moving part is mounted on the stacking unit 22, and includes the motor 24, a ball screw, a linear bearing or the like (not shown in the figure). The push-plate moving part, which is controlled by the control unit, moves the push-plate 23 in the pushing direction D1 and in the opposite direction to the pushing direction D1 for the stacking unit 22.
The rising and falling part, which is mounted on the unit case 21, includes the motor 25, the linear bearing 26, a ball screw, a linear bearing and the like (not shown in the figure). The rising and falling part, which is controlled by the control unit, makes the stacking unit 22 and the push-plate 23 rise and fall.

(Hopper unit moving part)

The hopper unit moving part 3 includes the base 31, a pair of rails 32, a timing belt 33, the motor 34, a base detecting device 35 and the like. The base 31, which is arranged on the pair of rails 32, is moved forward and backward by the timing belt 33 and the motor 34. As shown in FIG 1, the base detecting device 35 is arranged at a predetermined position (supplying position) in the opposite direction to the pushing direction D1. In the case that the base detecting device 35 detects the base 31, the base detecting device 35 outputs a detecting signal to the control unit. The motor 34 is controlled by the control unit.
When the control unit receives the detecting signal, the control unit stops the moving of the base 31. The base 31 is connected to the hopper unit 2 through the rotation part 5. The hopper unit moving part 3 moves the hopper unit 2 between the supplying position where the hopper unit 2 is supplied with the supply waiting mail 11, and a predetermined position on the sheet supplying apparatus 6 where the supply waiting mail is placed.

(Control unit)

The control unit, which is an information processing apparatus such as a programmable logic controller, a computer or the like, controls the hopper unit moving part 3, the rising and falling part, the push-plate moving part and the like.
Here, it is preferable that, during the operator pushes down an operation switch 27, the control unit carries out one cycle of a place work mentioned later automatically, and when the operator releases the operation switch 27, the control unit stops moving the hopper unit moving part, the rising and falling part and the push-plate moving part. According to the control mentioned above, for example, in the case that the operator releases the operation switch 27 in order to line the supply waiting mails 11, the hopper unit moving part, the rising and falling part and the push-plate moving part are stopped. As a result, it is possible to improve workability and safety.

(Rotation part)

The rotation part 5 includes the rotary shaft 51, a bearing 52, an energizing part 53, an arm 54, a handle 55 and a position locking part 56. The rotary shaft 51 is arranged in a direction crossing at right angle with the pushing direction D1. Moreover, one end part of the rotary shaft 51 is fixed on the unit case 21 of the hopper unit 2, and other end part is attached to the base 31 of the hopper unit moving part 3 through a pair of bearings 52 so as to be able to be rotated.
As shown in FIG. 1, the energizing part 53 such as a counter spring is attached to the rotary shaft 51. Then, when seen from a front side of the sheet stacking apparatus 1 as shown in FIG. 2, the energizing part 53 energizes the hopper unit 21 in the clockwise direction and in the counter-clockwise direction with making the rotary shaft 51 work as a rotation center. That is, when rotating the hopper unit 2 in the clockwise direction with making the rotary shaft 51 work as the rotation center, the energizing part 53 works in an opposite direction to a direction of gravity of the hopper unit 2 to reduce the operator's load for rotating the hopper unit 2. Moreover, when rotating the hopper unit 2, which has been rotated in the clockwise direction, in the counter-clockwise direction with making the rotary shaft 51 work as the rotation center, the energizing part 53 works in the opposite direction to the direction of gravity of the hopper unit 2 to reduce the operator's load for rotating the hopper unit 2. Accordingly, even the operator with weak physical strength can rotate the hopper unit 2 with ease.
The arm 54 is mounted vertically on the unit case 21, and the handle 55 is mounted on an upper end part of the arm 54. Furthermore, the operation switch 27 is arranged above the handle 55. According to the structure mentioned above, the operator can push down the operation switch 27 simultaneously by use of the thumb of the right hand with the right hand grasping the handle 55.
The positioning locking part 56 includes a lever 561, a 1 ink mechanism 562, a spring 563, the stopping bar 564, the stopping bar 565, stopping holes 566a and 566b, the stopping bar detecting devices 567a and 567b and stoppers 568a and 568b. Apart of the lever 561 is stored in the arm 54 and the handle 55. When the handle 55 is grasped, the lever 561 rotates, and the hopper unit 2, whose position has been locked, is released. The lever 561 is connected to the stopping bar 564 through the link mechanism 562. Moreover, the stopping bar 564 is energized by the spring 563 in a direction toward the stopping bar 565.
As shown in FIG. 3B, the stopping bar 565 is a semicircular bar fixed on the base 31, and the stopping hole 566a is formed above the rotating shaft 51 on the stopping bar 565, and the stopping hole 566b is formed at a position where is rotated by 65 degrees in the clockwise direction from the stopping hole 566a. The stopping bar detecting devices 567a and 567b, which detects that the stopping bar 564 is inserted into the stopping holes 566a and 566b, are arranged in the stopping holes 566a and 566b. As shown in FIG. 1, the stopper 568a to support the hopper unit 2 which is not rotated yet, and the stopper 568b to support the hopper unit 2 which is rotated are mounted on the stopping bar 565.
When supplying the hopper unit 2 with the supply waiting mail 11, the operator can rotate the hopper unit 2 with ease by virtue of the rotation part 5 so that a plurality of the supply waiting mails 11, which are piled in an inclined state, may be placed on the push-plate 23 and may be supported by the stacking unit 22.
While the case that the hopper unit 2 is rotated by 65 degrees has been described according to the exemplary embodiment, the rotation angle is not limited to 65 degrees.

(Mail conveying part)

The mail conveying part 4 includes a stacking bar 41, a supporting bar 42, a carry plate 43 and the like. The stacking bar 41 is arranged in an inclined state so that the stacking bar 41 may form an almost equivalent plane to the push-plate 23 of the rotated hopper unit 2.
Moreover, the supporting bar 42 is arranged in an inclined state so that the supporting bar 42 may form an almost equivalent plane to the stacking unit 22 of the rotated hopper unit 2. As a result, a plurality of supply waiting mails 11, which are piled in the inclined state, are placed on the stacking bar 41 and are supported by the supporting bar 42. Moreover, the carry plate 43, which is made of a flat bar whose shape is an almost rectangular, supplies the hopper unit 2, which is rotated by the rotation part 5, with a plurality of the supply waiting mails 11, which are in a state of being placed almost flat (state of being inclined 25 degrees), by a driving part such as an air cylinder.
Here, the mail conveying part 4 takes out the supply waiting mail 11 automatically from a case or the like (not shown in the figure) and supplies the hopper unit 2 with the supply waiting mail 11 which is in the state of being placed almost flat.
Next, the sheet sorting machine 7 which is equipped with the sheet stacking apparatus 1 will be described with reference to a drawing.
As shown in FIG. 4, FIG. 5 and FIG. 6, the sheet sorting machine 7 includes a sorting and collecting apparatus (not shown in the figure) which sorts the sorting waiting mail 10, the sheet or the like supplying apparatus 6 which supplies the sorting and collecting apparatus with the sorting waiting mail 10, and the sheet stacking apparatus 1 which places the supply waiting mail 11.
Here, since the sorting and collecting apparatus has an almost identical configuration to one of a sorting and collecting apparatus described, for example, in Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2008-149207 , detailed description on the sorting and collecting apparatus is omitted.

(Sheet supplying apparatus)

The sheet supplying apparatus 6 according to the exemplary embodiment has an almost identical configuration to one of a supplying apparatus described, for example, in Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2008-149207 mentioned above. However, a different point is that the sheet supplying apparatus 6 includes a chain conveyer 621 to which a plurality of partition bars 622 are attached, or the like, in comparison with the supplying apparatus described in Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2008-149207 . Here, the configuration of the sheet supplying apparatus 6 except for the chain conveyer 621 is almost identical to one of the supplying apparatus mentioned above. Accordingly, description on a constituent of the sheet supplying apparatus 6, which is identical to the constituent of the supplying apparatus mentioned above, is omitted.
As shown in FIG. 4, the sheet supplying apparatus 6 includes a supplying mechanism 61, a supplying table 62 and the like. The supplying mechanism 61 includes an absorption belt 611, a mail detecting lever 612, supply starting belts 613 and 614 and the like. Moreover, the supplying table 62 includes the chain conveyor 621 to which a plurality of partition bars 622 are attached.
As shown in FIG. 6, the partition bar 622 is made of a flat bar whose shape is almost similar to the character L, and in order to avoid contact with the absorption belt 611, a notch part 622a is formed at a central part of the partition bar 622. Here, the chain conveyor 621 is positioned lower than a surface of the supplying table 62.
As shown in FIG. 4, a conveying direction of the chain conveyor 621 is the same as the hopper unit pushing direction D. Moreover, the sheet stacking apparatus 1 places the supply waiting mail 11 at a predetermined position on the supplying table 62 which is corresponding to the chain conveyor 621, and the partition bar 622 of the chain conveyor 621 conveys the sorting waiting mails 10, which are in the standing-stack state, in a conveying direction (direction toward the absorption belt 611). Furthermore, the supplying mechanism 61 can take out the sorting waiting mail 10, which is conveyed; one by one and afterward forward the sorting waiting mail 10 in a supplying direction D2.
Moreover, the hopper unit moving part 3 of the sheet stacking apparatus 1 is arranged in parallel with the chain conveyor 621 of the sheet supplying apparatus 6. As a result, the hopper unit 2 can be moved from an upstream position where the partition bar 622 appears on the supplying table 62 to a position where is just in front of the absorption belt 611.
Next, operations of the sheet stacking apparatus 1 and the sheet sorting machine 7 will be described with reference to a drawing. FIGs.7A to 7D, FIGs.8A to 8D and FIGs. 9A to 9D are partial front views of the sheet stacking apparatus.
First, as shown in FIG. 7A, the sheet stacking apparatus 1 is at a position where the base 31 is detected by the base detecting device 35 (supplying position mentioned above), and the stacking unit 22 is in a horizontal state. At this time, the stopping bar detecting device 567a detects the stopping bar 564 which is inserted into the stopping hole 566a. This state is defined to be an initial state of the sheet stacking apparatus 1.
Meanwhile, a plurality of the sorting waiting mails 10 are placed in the standing-stack state on the absorption belt 611 side of the supplying table 62 which is corresponding to the chain conveyor 621. These sorting waiting mails 10 are conveyed in the pushing direction D1 by the partition bar 622 of the chain conveyor 621. Then, the sorting waiting mails 10 are taken out one by one by the absorption belt 611, and each sorting waiting mail 10 is forwarded in the supplying direction D2. Afterward, the forwarded mail is sorted by a sorting apparatus or the like which is not shown in the figure.
Next, as shown in FIG. 7B, the hopper unit 2 is rotated in the clockwise direction by 65 degrees by the operator. At this time, the operator grasps the handle 55 by use of the right hand and moves the lever 561 toward a central axis of the handle 55. As a result, the stopping bar 564 is pulled out of the stopping hole 566a of the stopping bar 565 through the link mechanism 562, and consequently the hopper unit 2 can be rotated.
In the case that the hopper unit 2 is rotated in the clockwise direction by 65 degrees, rotation of the hopper unit 2 is stopped by the stopper 568b. Afterward, when the operator releases the lever 561, the stopping bar 564 is inserted into the stopping hole 566b of the stopping bar 565 through the link mechanism 562 and the spring 563. The stopping bar detecting device 567b detects the stopping bar 564 which is inserted into the stopping hole 566b. When the stopping bar 564 is inserted into the stopping hole 566b, the hopper unit 2 continues to be in the rotated state. Accordingly, the operator's right hand can release the handle 55.
Next, as shown in FIG. 7C, a plurality of the supply waiting mails 11, which are piled in the almost flat state (state inclined by 25 degrees), are supplied to the rotated hopper unit 2 by the carry plate 43. According to the operation above mentioned, the supply waiting mail 11 is supplied automatically through the carry plate 43 moving toward the hopper unit 2. As a result, it is possible to reduce the operator's load (physical load).
Here, when the control unit is provided with a detecting signal, which indicates that the stopping bar 564 is detected, by the stopping bar detecting device 567b, the control unit makes the carry plate 43 move toward the hopper unit 2. Needless to say, it may be preferable to adopt not the method that the control unit controls the carry plate 43, but a method, for example, that the operator handles a switch (not shown in the figure) which makes the carry plate 43 moves.
Next, as shown in FIG. 7D, the operator supports a plurality of the supply waiting mails 11, which are piled each other, by use of one hand (for example, left hand), and grasps the handle 55 by use of the other hand (for example, right hand) with moving the lever 561 toward the central axis of the handle 55. As a result, the stopping bar 564 is pulled out of the stopping hole 566b of the stopping bar 565 through the link mechanism 562, and the hopper unit 2 can be rotated. Afterward, the operator rotates the hopper unit 2, which is supplied with the supply waiting mail 11, in the counter-clockwise direction.
Next, as shown in FIG. 8A, the hopper unit 2 is rotated in the counter-clockwise direction. As a result, the hopper unit 2 is stopped by the stopper 568a, and the stacking unit 22 is in an almost horizontal state. Next, when the operator releases the lever 561, the stopping bar 564 is inserted into the stopping hole 566a of the stopping bar 565 by the link mechanism 562 and the spring 563. As a result, the stopping bar detecting device 567a detects the stopping bar 564. When the stopping bar 564 is inserted into the stopping hole 566a, the stacking unit 22 continues to be in the almost horizontal state.
Here, when the control unit is provided with a detecting signal, which indicates that the stopping bar 564 is detected, by the stopping bar detecting device 567a, the control unit makes the operable state indicating lamp 28 lighted. Next, when the operator pushes down the operation switch 27 in a direction D3 by use of the hand which grasps the handle 55, the motor 34 of the hopper unit moving part 3 is driven. The hopper unit 2 is moved in the pushing direction D1 through the motor 34 being driven. Here, since the operator supports the supply waiting mails 11 which are placed in the standing-stack state on the stacking unit 22, the supply waiting mails 11 do not fall down in the pushing direction D1. Moreover, in the case that the operator detects some danger or the like, the sheet stacking apparatus 1 is stopped through the operator releasing the operation switch 27 which the operator has been pushing down. As a result, it is possible to improve safety.
Next, as shown in FIG. 8B, when the detecting bar 222 comes in contact with the last of the sorting waiting mails 10 which have been already placed on the supplying table 62, the detecting device detects the last sorting waiting mail 10 and outputs the contact detecting signal, and then provides the control unit with the contact detecting signal. When the control unit receives the contact detecting signal, the control unit stops the motor 34. As a result, the hopper unit 2 is stopped. That is, the hopper unit moving part 3 moves the hopper unit 2, which is supplied with the supply waiting mail 11, from the supplying position to a position above the predetermined stacking position. Since the supply waiting mails 11, which are placed in the standing-stack state on the stacking unit 22, are supported by the operator at this time, the supply waiting mails 11 do not fall down in the pushing direction D1. Moreover, when the operation switch 27, which the operator's hand has been pushing down, is released, the sheet stacking apparatus 1 is stopped. As a result, it is possible to improve safety.
Next, as shown in FIG. 8C, the control unit drives the motor 24 to move the push-plate 23 in the pushing direction D1 at a speed of Vp1. Next, when the pre-placement mail detecting device 221 detects the supply waiting mail 11, the pre-placement mail detecting device 221 outputs the movement detecting signal and provides the control unit with the movement detecting signal. When the control unit receives the movement detecting signal, the control unit stops the motor 24.
According to the operation mentioned above, the supply waiting mail 11 is moved to the almost end part of the stacking unit 22. Accordingly, the supply waiting mail 11 is placed at the predetermined stacking position on the supplying table 62 corresponding to the chain conveyor 621 with following the sorting waiting mail 10, which has been already placed, with almost no space. Since the supply waiting mails 11, which are placed in the standing-stack state on the stacking unit 22, are supported by the operator's hand at this time, the supply waiting mails 11 do not fall down in the pushing direction D1. Moreover, when the operator releases the operation switch 27, the sheet stacking apparatus 1 is stopped. As a result, it is possible to improve safety.
Next, as shown in FIG. 8D, the control unit, through driving the motor 25, makes the stacking unit 22 and push-plate 23 fall to a predetermined height (refer to FIG. 6) in a downward direction D4 and stops the stacking unit 22 and push-plate 23. Here, the predetermined height part a position shown by a two-dotted line in FIG. 6. That is, the rising and falling part makes the stacking unit 22 and the push-plate 23 fall.
Here, even if the stacking unit 22 and the push-plate 23 fall to the predetermined height, the stacking unit 22 and the push-plate 23 do not come in contact with the partition bar 622. Since the supply waiting mails 11, which are placed in the standing-stack state on the stacking unit 22, are supported by the operator's hand at this time, the supply waiting mails 11 do not fall down in the pushing direction D1. Moreover, when the operator releases the operation switch 27 which the operator has been pushing down, the sheet stacking apparatus 1 is stopped. As a result, it is possible to improve safety.
Here, when making the stacking unit 22 and the push-plate 23 fall, the supply waiting mail 11 may hit a top part of the partition bar 622 in some cases. Therefore, the supply waiting mail 11 can not fall. In this case, through the operator releasing the handle 55 and the operation switch 27, the sheet stacking apparatus 1 is stopped. As a result, the operator can handle the supply waiting mail 11, which hits the top part of the partition bar 622, safely by use of the operator's free hand which releases the handle 55 and the operation switch 27. After handling the supply waiting mail 11 which hits the top part of the partition bar 622, the operator grasps the handle 55, and pushes down the operation switch 27. Consequently, the operator can restart the sheet stacking apparatus 1 which has been stopped. Accordingly, in the case that the operator foresees danger that the supply waiting mail 11 will be damaged, it is possible to avoid the danger through the operator stopping the sheet stacking apparatus 1 temporarily. Therefore, it is possible to avoid almost surely and easily the defect that the supply waiting mail 11 is damaged
Next, as shown in FIG. 9A, the control unit drives the motor 34. As a result, the hopper unit 2 starts moving in the opposite direction to the pushing direction D1 at a speed of Vu1. The control unit drives the motor 24 at the almost same time when the hopper unit 2 starts moving. As a result, the push-plate 23 is moved in the pushing direction D1 at the speed of Vp1 for the stacking unit 22.
Here, it is set that the speed Vu1 and the speed Vp1 are equal each other. Then, the relative positions of the push plate 23 and the supply waiting mail 11 to the sheet supplying apparatus 6 are not changed. Accordingly, the stacking unit 22, which supports the supply waiting mail 11, results in being pulled out, and consequently the supply waiting mail 11, which has been placed on the stacking unit 22, is placed at the predetermined stacking position on the supplying table 62. Here, it is desirable that the speed Vp1 is set so as to make the apparatus work smoothly and stably, that is, it is desirable specifically that the speed Vp1 is set to about 50 to 100mm/sec.
Through carrying out the above-mentioned operation, the supply waiting mails 11, which have been placed on the stacking unit 22, are placed at the predetermined stacking position on the supplying table 62 continuously placed in the standing-stack state. Since the supply waiting mails 11, which are placed at the predetermined stacking position on the supplying table 62, are supported by the operator's hand at this time, the supply waiting mails 11 do not fall down in the pushing direction D1. Moreover, when the operator releases the operation switch 27, the sheet stacking apparatus 1 is stopped. As a result, it is possible to improve safety.
Next, as shown in FIG. 9B, when the push-plate 23 is moved above the detecting bar 222, all of the supply waiting mails 11, which have been placed on the stacking unit 22, are placed at the predetermined stacking position on the supplying table 62. That is, the push-plate moving part moves the push-plate 23 in the pushing direction D1 for the stacking unit 22. Through the push-plate 23 being moved, a plurality of supply waiting mails 11, which are placed the standing-stack state, are pushed out from the stacking unit 22.
Through the hopper unit moving part 3 moving the hopper unit 2 in the opposite direction D4 to the pushing direction D1, the supply waiting mails 11, which are in the standing-stack state, are placed at the predetermined stacking position placed in the standing-stack state. When the operator releases the operation switch 27 which the operator has been pushing down, the sheet stacking apparatus 1 is stopped. As a result, it is possible to improve safety.
Next, as shown in FIG. 9C, the control unit controls the push-plate moving part to move the push-plate 23 in an opposite direction D3 to the pushing direction D1 for the stacking unit 22, and controls the rising and falling part to make the stacking unit 22 and the push-plate 23 rise. When the hopper unit moving part 3 moves the hopper unit 2 to the supplying position, the operable state indicating lamp 28 is put out.
As a result, one cycle of the stacking operation ends as shown in FIG. 9D, and the sheet stacking apparatus 1 returns to the initial state shown in FIG. 7A.
Here, when the operation switch 27, which the operator has been pushing down, is released before returning to the initial state shown in FIG. 7A, the sheet stacking apparatus 1 is stopped. As a result, it is possible to improve safety.
Here, number of the supply waiting mails 11, which can be placed in one cycle of the stacking operation, is defined as X, and an operation time for one cycle is defined as Y, and a process time of the sheet supplying apparatus 6 per one mail is defined as Z. Through setting that X x Z/Y is larger than 1, it is possible that a large number of the supply waiting mails 11 can be placed in excess of process speed of the sheet supplying apparatus 6. For example, it is assumed that the process time of the sheet supplying apparatus 6 per one mail is 0.3 second. Through stacking not less than 40 supply waiting mails 11 in one cycle operation whose total process time is shorter than 12 sec, it is possible to place the supply waiting mails 11 in time with the process speed of the sheet or the like supplying apparatus 6.
That is, the sheet stacking apparatus 1 moves the supply waiting mails 11, which is placed on the stacking unit 22, to the just front position of the sorting waiting mail 10, which has been already placed, and afterward makes the supply waiting mails 11 fall to the low position where is easy to place the supply waiting mails 11, and pulls out only the stacking unit 22 from the position under the supply waiting mails 11. As a result, the sheet stacking apparatus 1 can semi-automatically carry out the one cycle operation of stacking a large number of supply waiting mails 11 at once.
According to the sheet stacking apparatus 1, while it is necessary that the operator supports the supply waiting mails 11, which are placed in the standing-stack state, so that the supply waiting mails 11 may not fall down, it is unnecessary for the operator to do a hard work even if the supply waiting mail 11 is a heavy and thick large-sized envelope containing a magazine and a book, since it is unnecessary that the operator raises and moves the supply waiting mails 11.
Moreover, it is possible to place a large number (for example, several tens) of the supply waiting mails 11 in one cycle of the stacking operation. Even if the supply waiting mails 11 have different thickness, different centers of balance, different shapes each other or the like, it is possible to place a large number (for example, several tens) of the supply waiting mails 11 in one cycle of the stacking operation. Furthermore, it is possible to avoid almost surely and easily the defect that the supply waiting mail 11 is damaged, as mentioned above.
Therefore, according to the sheet stacking apparatus 1, it is possible to achieve the predetermined target value in spite of existence of difference in the ability of the operator.
Moreover, in the sheet supplying apparatus 6 of the sheet sorting machine 7 according to the exemplary embodiment, the supply waiting mails 11, whose number is corresponding to the predetermined target value, are placed almost continuously at the predetermined stacking position on the supplying table 62 by the sheet stacking apparatus 1, as mentioned above. That is, it is possible to avoid a defect that the operator can not achieve the predetermined target value, and the apparatus works with no sheet intermittently. Accordingly, it is possible in the actual operation for the sheet sorting apparatus 7 to display thoroughly and stably the effect to be able to carry out the operation at the high speed.
As it has been described above, according to the sheet stacking apparatus 1 according to the exemplary embodiment, it is possible to place the supply waiting mail 11 efficiently and without causing the damage to the supply waiting mail 11, and to reduce the operator's load. Furthermore, since the sheet sorting machine 7 can carry out the operation at the high speed in the actual operation, it is possible for the sheet sorting machine 7 to display thoroughly and stably the effect to be able to carry out the operation at the high speed.

(Exemplary embodiment of sheet stacking method)

The present invention is also effective as an invention of a sheet stacking method. An exemplary embodiment of the sheet stacking method will be described in the following with reference to a drawing. The sheet stacking method is related to a method for stacking the supply waiting mail 11 by use of the sheet stacking apparatus 1 at a predetermined position on the supplying table 62 of the sheet supplying apparatus 6 in a state that the supply waiting mails 11 are placed in the standing-stack state.
FIG. 10 is a flowchart showing the sheet stacking method according to the exemplary embodiment of the present invention. According to FIG. 10, the hopper unit 2 of the sheet stacking unit 1 is rotated in the clockwise direction by 65 degrees as a start from the initial state. Then, a plurality of the supply waiting mails 11, which are in a state of being placed almost flat (state of being inclined by 25 degrees) and piled each other, are supplied by the mail conveying part 4 to the hopper unit 2 (Step S1 (refer to FIGs. 7A to 7C)).
Next, the operator makes the hopper unit 2 rotate in the counter-clockwise direction with supporting a plurality of supply waiting mails 11 which are in the state of being placed almost flatly and piled each other (Step S2 (refer to FIG. 7D)).
Next, when the operation switch 27 is pushed down, the stacking unit 22 is moved to a predetermined stacking position on the supplying table 62 from a supplying position where the supply waiting mail 11 is supplied, with the operator supporting a plurality of the supply waiting mails 11 which are in the standing-stack state (Step S3 (refer to FIG. 8A and FIG. 8B reference)). At this time, as shown in FIG. 8B, when the detecting bar 222 comes in contact with the last of the sorting waiting mails 10 which have been already placed on the supplying table 62, the post-placement mail detecting device 223 detects the last sorting waiting mail 10. As a result, the hopper unit 2 is stopped.
Next, the push-plate 23 is moved in the pushing direction D1, and the supply waiting mail 11 is moved to an almost end part of the stacking unit 22 (Step S4 (refer to FIG. 8C)). When the supply waiting mail 11 is moved to the almost end part of the stacking unit 22, the pre-placement mail detecting device 221 detects the supply waiting mail 11 which is moved to the almost end part, as shown in FIG. 8C As a result, the push-plate 23 is stopped.
Next, the stacking unit 22 and the push-plate 23 are made fall to a predetermined height and are stopped at a predetermined position (Step S5 (refer to FIG. 8D)).
Next, through the push-plate being moved in the pushing direction for the stacking unit 22 and the stacking unit 22 being moved to the opposite direction to the pushing direction, a plurality of the supply waiting mails 11, which are in the state of being placed in the standing-stack state, are pushed out from the stacking unit 22. As a result, the supply waiting mails 11 are placed at the predetermined stacking position in the standing-stack state (refer to Step S6 (FIG. 9A and FIG. 9B)).
Next, the push-plate 23 is moved in the opposite direction to the pushing direction for the stacking unit 22, and the stacking unit 22 and the push-plate 23 are made rise, and afterward the stacking unit 22 and the push-plate 23 are moved to the supplying position (Step S7 (refer to FIG. 9C)).
When the operator releases the operation switch 27 which the operator has been pushing down, one cycle of the stacking operation ends, as shown in FIG. 9D,. As a result, the sheet stacking apparatus 1 returns to the initial state shown in FIG. 7A.
According to the sheet stacking method, while it is necessary that the operator supports the supply waiting mails 11, it is unnecessary for the operator to do a hard work even if the supply waiting mail 11 is a heavy and thick large-sized envelope containing a magazine and a book, since it is unnecessary that the operator raises and moves the supply waiting mail 11.
Moreover, it is possible to place a large number (for example, several tens) of the supply waiting mails 11 in one cycle of the stacking operation. Even if the supply waiting mails 11 have different thickness, different centers of balance, different shapes each other or the like, it is possible to place a large number (for example, several tens) of the supply waiting mails 11 in one cycle of the stacking operation. Furthermore, it is possible to avoid almost surely and easily the defect that the supply waiting mail 11 is damaged, as mentioned above.
Therefore, according to the sheet stacking apparatus 1, it is possible to achieve the predetermined target value in spite of existence of difference in the ability of the operator.
According to the sheet stacking method, it is possible to place the supply waiting mail efficiently and with causing no damage to the supply waiting mail, and to reduce the operator's load, as mentioned above.
While the sheet stacking apparatus, the sheet stacking method and the sheet sorting machine according to the present invention have been explained through describing the preferred exemplary embodiment or the like, the sheet stacking apparatus, the sheet stacking method and the sheet sorting machine according to the present invention are not limited to the above-mentioned exemplary embodiment. It is needless to say that various changes are possible within the scope of the present invention.
For example, while the hopper unit is rotated by the operator's hand according to the sheet stacking apparatus, the present invention is not limited to the rotation by the operator's hand. It may be preferable, for example, that the sheet stacking apparatus includes a driving part (motor or air cylinder) which rotates the hopper unit.
Moreover, while the hopper unit 2 is moved from the right to the left when stacking the supply waiting mail 11 according to the sheet stacking apparatus 1, the present invention is not limited to the hopper unit 2 which is moved from the right to the left. It may be preferable that the hopper unit 2 is moved from the left to the right.
Furthermore, while the sheet stacking apparatus is a kind of a semi-automated apparatus from a point of view that it is necessary for the operator to support the supply waiting mail which is placed on the stacking unit, the sheet stacking apparatus is not limited to the semi-automated apparatus. For example, through installing a supporting part which supports the supply waiting mail placed on the stacking unit, it is possible to make the sheet stacking apparatus automated almost completely.
Various changes in form and detail, which are able to be understood by a person skilled in the art, may be made therein without departing from the spirit and scope of the present invention
This application is based upon and claims the benefit of priority from Japanese Patent Application No. 2009-132487, filed on June 1, 2009 , the disclosure of which is incorporated herein in its entirety by reference.
Description of the Codes 1 Sheet stacking apparatus 2 Hopper unit 3 Hopper unit moving part 4 Mail conveying part 5 Rotation part 6 Sheet supplying apparatus 10 and 11 Mail 21 Unit case 22 Stacking unit 23 Push- plate 24 and 25 Motor 26 Linear bearing 27 Operation switch 28 Operable state indicating lamp 31 Base 32 Rail 33 Timing belt 34 Motor 35 Base detecting device 41 Stacking bar 42 Supporting bar 43 Carry plate 51 Rotary shaft 52 Bearing 53 Energizing part 54 Arm 55 Handle 56 Positioning locking part 61 Supplying mechanism 62 Supplying table 221 Pre-placement mail detecting device 222 Sensing bar 223 Post-placement mail detecting device 561 Lever 562 Link mechanism 563 Spring 564 Stopping stick 565 Stopping bar 566a and 566b Stopping hole 567a and 567b Stopping stick detecting device 568a and 568b Stopper 611 Absorption belt 612 Mail detecting lever 613 and 614 Supply starting belt 614 Supply starting belt 621 Chain conveyor.

Claims

A sheet stacking apparatus, comprising:
a hopper unit which has a stacking unit for stacking a plurality of sheets in a standing-stack state;

a push-plate for pushing out a plurality of sheets which are placed on the stacking unit;

a push-plate moving part for driving the push-plate, and a rising and falling part for making the stacking unit and the push-plate rise and fall;

a hopper unit moving part which moves the hopper unit between a supplying position where the sheet is supplied for the hopper unit and a predetermined stacking position on a sheet supplying apparatus where the sheet is placed; and

a control unit which controls the hopper unit moving part, the rising and falling part, and the push-plate moving part.
The sheet stacking apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising:
a post-placement sheet detecting device which is mounted at a position near to an end part of the stacking unit and which, in the case of detecting the sheet which has been already placed, outputs a detecting signal to the control unit for stopping a moving of hopper unit.
The sheet stacking apparatus according to Claim 2, further comprising:
a pre-placement sheet detecting device which is mounted at a position near to an end part of the stacking unit and which, in the case of detecting a pre-placement sheet, outputs a signal for making the push-plate moving part move the push-plate in the pushing direction for the stacking unit until receiving the detecting signal provided by the pre-placement sheet detecting device, and provides the control unit with the outputted signal before the rising and falling part makes the stacking unit and the push-plate fall.
The sheet stacking apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 3, further comprising:
a rotation part to rotate the hopper unit, when supplying the hopper unit with the sheet, so that a plurality of sheets may be placed on the push-plate in a state of being placed almost flat and piled each other and may be supported by the stacking unit.
The sheet stacking apparatus according to claim 4, further comprising:
a sheet conveying part to supply the hopper unit, which is rotated by the rotation part, with the sheet.
The sheet stacking apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 5, wherein
the control unit carries out automatically a cycle of a stacking work by the push-plate moving part, the rising and falling part and hopper unit moving part when an operation switch is pushed by an operator, and stops the stacking work when the operator releases the operation switch.
The sheet stacking apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 6, wherein
the sheet supplying apparatus has a conveyor provided with a plurality of partition bars, and
the stacking unit has a notch part which avoids contact of the stacking unit with the partition bar in the case that the stacking unit falls.
A sheet stacking method, comprising:
a procedure to move a stacking unit on which a plurality of sheets, which are in a standing-stack state, are placed, and a push-plate, which supports the sheets so that the sheets may not fall down and pushes out the sheets from the stacking unit to move the sheets, from a supplying position where the sheet is supplied to a position above a predetermined stacking position on a sheet supplying apparatus on which the sheet is placed;

a procedure to make the stacking unit and the push-plate fall;

a procedure to move the push-plate in a pushing direction for the stacking unit and to move the stacking unit in an opposite direction to the pushing direction, and to place the sheets, which are in the state of continuously being the standing-stack state, at the predetermined stacking position from the stacking unit; and

a procedure to move the push-plate in the opposite direction to the pushing direction for the stacking unit and to make the stacking unit and the push-plate rise and to move the stacking unit and the push-plate to the supplying position.
The sheet stacking method according to claim 8, further comprising:
a procedure to make the stacking unit and the push-plate stop moving when a post-placement sheet sensing device, which is mounted at a position near to an end part of the stacking unit, senses the sheet which has been already placed in the case of moving the stacking unit and the push-plate from the supplying position to a position above the predetermined stacking position.
A sheet sorting machine, comprising:
a sheet sorting and collecting apparatus which sorts a sheet;

a sheet supplying apparatus which supplies the sheet sorting and collecting apparatus with the sheet; and

a sheet stacking apparatus which places the sheet at a predetermined stacking position on the sheet supplying apparatus, wherein the sheet stacking apparatus, wherein

a hopper unit, further comprising:
a stacking unit on which the sheets, which are in a standing-stack state, are placed;

a push-plate to support the sheets so that the sheets may not fall down and to push out the sheets from the stacking unit to move the sheets; a push-plate moving part to move the push-plate for the stacking unit; and

a rising and falling part to make the stacking unit and the push-plate rise and fall;

a hopper unit moving part which moves the hopper unit between a supplying position where the hopper unit is supplied with the sheet and a predetermined stacking position on the sheet supplying apparatus where the sheet is placed; and

a control unit which controls the hopper unit moving part, the rising and falling part and the push-plate moving part, and wherein the hopper unit moving part moves the hopper unit, which is supplied with the sheet, from the supplying position to a position above the predetermined stacking position.
The sheet sorting machine according to claim 10, further comprising:
a post-placement sheet sensing device which is mounted on a position near to an end part of the stacking unit and which outputs a sensing signal for making the hopper unit moving part stop moving the hopper unit and provides the control unit with the sensing signal in the case that the sheet, which has been already placed, is sensed.