JP2001278476A - Paper sheet carrying device - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a paper sheet carrying device in a paper sheet classification system capable of rapidly and properly carrying out operation of carrying paper sheets to a paper sheet sending-out position where paper sheets are sent out downstream while being separated one by one, and operation of separating and sending-out the paper sheets at the paper sheet sending-out position. SOLUTION: This carrying device provided with a separating and supply part 63 which sends out downstream one by one a plurality of paper sheets 10 sent by paper sheet transporting means 12, by means of a rotating separating and supply belt 67 along with rotation of the belt 67, comprises a system control unit 100 which detects a thickness of a paper sheet 10 sent-out from the separating and supply part 63 by paper sheet thickness detecting means 113, and corrects a sending speed of the paper sheets 10 sent by paper sheet transporting means 12 based on output information of the paper sheet thickness detecting means 113.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a sheet sorting system used in a postal service or the like, for example. The present invention relates to a paper sheet transport device in a paper sheet sorting system suitable for transporting paper to a paper sheet.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art In recent years, a mail sorting function has been provided which has a recognition function for reading a bar code attached to a mail or a character recognition function for reading address information such as a postal code, and automatically sorts and processes mail based on the address information. The device has been put to practical use. Such a sheet sorting apparatus for mails (hereinafter referred to as "sheets") requires a small space, small work,
Low cost, high speed, etc. are required. Among them, in order to realize high-speed operation, it is required to eliminate the occurrence of troubles such as double feeding during the conveyance and to quickly and accurately perform the conveyance and sorting processing operations.

In general, in this type of sheet sorting apparatus, sheets to be sorted are put in a bundle in a state of being bundled, and they are separated one by one in a separating / supplying section. The paper sheets are transported to a paper sheet sorting section in such a manner that the paper sheets are sandwiched between a pair of rotating conveyor belts. Unless the feeding operation is performed quickly and properly, such as separation of paper sheets in the copy unit, the reading accuracy of the address information and the conveyance / sorting process are adversely affected.

[0004]

When a large number of papers are to be conveyed at high speed and continuously, the papers are fed and fed at the separation / feeding section or at intervals that cannot be sorted. In some cases, a trouble may occur in which the sorting operation of paper sheets performed during conveyance is not performed correctly. Further, even if the double feeding does not occur directly in the separation and supply unit, the interval between the paper sheets being conveyed in the paper sheet conveyance path becomes unstable, and one paper sheet and another paper sheet following the same paper sheet become unstable. The interval of papers is extremely widened or shrunk, and the paper sheets are multi-fed or become unseparable, causing troubles that the paper sheet sorting work performed during conveyance is not performed correctly. Things are possible. Further, since the thickness of the paper sheets is arbitrarily varied, if the paper sheet transport means is fed at a constant speed ignoring the thickness of the paper sheets, when a thick paper sheet is fed out, a large space is thereafter required. It is conceivable that useless time is generated in the next several seconds for feeding out, and the processing capacity of the machine is reduced.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention has been made in view of the above-mentioned problems, and has been made in consideration of the above-described problems. The present invention has been made to convey paper sheets to a paper sheet feeding position in which the paper sheets are separated one by one and fed out downstream. It is an object of the present invention to provide a paper sheet transporting device in a paper sheet sorting system having a structure capable of quickly and properly separating and feeding out a paper sheet at a sheet feeding position.

[0006]

According to the present invention, there is provided a paper sheet transporting device for transporting a plurality of paper sheets input from an input port to a paper sheet feeding position in a standing position; A rotating separation / supply belt to which the sheets fed to the sheet feeding position are sequentially contacted, and the sheets are sequentially moved downstream one by one with the rotation of the separation / feed belt. A separating and feeding unit, a sheet thickness detecting unit for detecting a thickness of the sheet fed from the separating and feeding unit, and a feeding and feeding of the sheet by the sheet transferring unit. While controlling the feeding of the paper sheets,
A control unit for correcting a feed speed of the paper sheet by the paper sheet transport unit based on output information of the paper sheet thickness detection unit. According to this configuration, the thickness of the sheet fed from the sheet feeding position by the separation / supply belt is detected, and the speed at which the sheet transport means sends the sheet to the sheet feeding position is determined. Feeding control is performed according to the thickness of the paper, so that the force at which the papers touch each other at the paper feeding position is set to a specified value or less, and the paper is fed out by the separation and feeding belt in a stable suction state. It is possible to prevent the subsequent paper sheet from being pressed too much against the preceding paper sheet and fed out by double feeding, or being fed out at an interval that can be sorted,
Separation and supply of paper sheets at the paper sheet feeding position can be performed stably.

In the paper sheet transport apparatus of the present invention, when the paper sheet has not arrived at the paper sheet unwinding position, the paper sheet inserted into the insertion port is moved to the paper sheet unwinding position. Control means for fast-forwarding the paper sheet transport means toward. By this control means, when the paper sheet has not arrived at the paper sheet feeding position, the paper sheet is rapidly fed to the paper sheet feeding position. , And can be processed at high speed.

[0008]

Embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings. FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing the overall configuration of the paper sheet sorting system according to the present invention, FIG. 2 is a plan view showing the overall configuration of the paper sheet sorting system, and FIG. FIG. 2 is a schematic configuration view as viewed from a direction.

(Overall Schematic Configuration of Paper Sheet Sorting System) Referring to FIGS. 1 to 3, the paper sheet sorting system mainly includes a sheet feeding section 1, a reading section 2, a sheet sorting section 3,
It comprises a paper sheet transporting means 4, a transfer trolley 5, a storage shelf 6, and the like.

The paper sheet supply unit 1 sets a plurality of paper sheets 10 (see FIGS. 3 and 20) to be sorted together in a bundle and sets the paper sheets 10 in an upright position. The sheet is transported to the sheet feeding position 8 as it is, and is separated one by one by the sheet separating / supplying device 9 provided at the sheet feeding position 8, and is sequentially fed to the downstream side where the reading unit 2 is provided. It has a structure that can be. The reading unit 2 reads the destination information of the barcode (or zip code or the like) attached to the paper sheet 10 that has been separated and fed out one by one by the paper sheet separation and supply device 9. Send the destination information to the computer.

In the present embodiment, the paper sheet sorting section 3 is formed in three vertical stages. The sheet stacking unit 3 temporarily stores the sheets 10 sorted and sorted according to the destination information in each sheet sorting unit 3.
a is plural in a row (in the present embodiment, 33 ports)
Is provided.

The paper sheet transport means 4 includes a paper sheet supply unit 1.
Transports the paper sheets 10 fed out one by one from the paper sheet separation and supply device 9 to the paper sheet sorting section 3 through the reading section 2, and sorts and accumulates the paper sheet sorting section 3. Part 3
A sorting section (not shown) for sorting the paper sheets 10 to the sorting / stacking sections 3a arranged in three stages is provided on the upstream (upstream) side before entering a.

The transfer trolley 5 receives and stores the paper sheets 10 discharged from the sorting / stacking section 3a of the sheet sorting section 3, and the sorting / stacking section 3a of the sheet sorting section 3.
Corresponding to the above, the paper sheet relay path 5a is provided in three upper and lower stages.

The storage shelves 6 are vertically stacked in three rows of 33 paper storage paths 6a, each of which corresponds to the sorting / stacking section 3a of the paper sorting section 3, in one row. ing.

(Schematic Structure of Sheet Feeding Unit 1) FIG. 4 is a perspective view schematically showing the main structure of the sheet feeding unit 1, and FIG. It is a perspective view which expands and shows some peripheral structures of the leaf feeding position 8. FIG.
4 and 5, the sheet supply unit 1 includes a sheet 1
There is an input unit 11 in which a plurality of 0s are bundled together and input in a standing posture.

(Structure of Input Unit) As shown in FIGS. 6 and 7, the input unit 11 includes a bottom wall 11a for receiving a bottom portion of the input paper sheet 10 and a back surface of the paper sheet 10. And a back wall 11b for receiving the portion. The bottom wall 11a and the back wall 11b intersect each other at approximately 90 degrees to form a substantially L-shaped cross section, and the back wall 11b and the bottom wall 11a are entirely θ degrees (about 15 degrees) on the rear side. Degree) It is in a state of falling (see FIGS. 3 and 7). FIG. 6 is a perspective view schematically showing a main structure of the charging section 11, and FIG. 7 is a schematic sectional view taken along line AA in FIG.

The peripheral structure of the loading section 11 will be further described. The paper sheet 10 on the loading section 11 is fed horizontally to the paper sheet feeding position 8 while standing on the back wall 11b. Is provided. In addition, the back wall 11b includes an upper back plate 13a and an intermediate back plate 13a.
b and the lower back plate 13c, with slits 14a and 14b provided between the upper back plate 13a and the middle back plate 13b and between the middle back plate 13b and the lower back plate 13c, respectively. It is formed as one back wall in combination. Here, the width of each of the back plates 13a to 13c is not the same, but decreases in the order of the upper back plate 13a, the intermediate back plate 13b, and the lower back plate 13c. Further, the respective back plates 13a to 13c are not arranged on the same plane, and as shown in FIG. 7, the intermediate back plate 13b is slightly retracted rearward by the dimension t from the upper back plate 13a. , The lower back plate 1 than the intermediate back plate 13b
3c is retracted slightly toward the rear side by the dimension t, and is arranged stepwise so as to retreat in order as it approaches the bottom wall 11a. As described above, the three back plates 13a to 13C of different widths forming the back wall 11b are formed.
By sequentially shifting the position of 13c to the rear side, vibration is applied, and the paper sheet 10 being aligned is flipped up, and the next time the paper sheet 10 falls, the corner of the paper sheet 10 (the bottom surface and the back surface Back plate 13 whose intersections form slits 14a, 14b
This prevents the alignment state from being disturbed by being caught on the upper surface of the b and the upper surface of the back plate 13c. That is, the slit 14
back plates 13a to 13c provided with a and 14b
Are arranged on the same plane, a step protruding between the back plates 13a is likely to be formed, and when the paper sheet 10 falls along the back wall 11b in a state where the step is formed, the protrusion protrudes. In some cases, the corner of the paper sheet 10 is caught on a step, and the paper sheet 10 is rotated, so that the alignment state may be disturbed. However, as in the present embodiment, the back plate 13
When a to 13c are arranged to retreat, no projecting step is created. Therefore, the back plate 13a
The paper sheets 10 that have fallen along the backs 13b and 13
c can smoothly fall to the bottom wall 11a without being caught on the upper surface of c, and can perform reliable positioning without disturbing positioning during alignment. Also, even if the paper sheet 10 is returned while rotating clockwise in FIG. 7, the back plate 13b,
The upper surface of 13c is the back plate 13a, 13b
The position of the paper sheet 10 is more retracted, so that the corner of the paper sheet 10 can be prevented from being caught, and similarly, the alignment of the paper sheet in the middle of the alignment can be reliably performed without being disturbed again. become.

On the other hand, on the side of the bottom wall 11a, vibration is applied to the paper sheet 10 placed on the input section 11, and two sides (a lower side and a back side) of the paper sheet 10 are respectively attached to the bottom wall. A sheet vibrating means 15 (see FIGS. 4, 5 and 19) for aligning the sheets 10 by bringing them into contact with the back wall 11b;
A second sheet transporting means 16 and the like for horizontally feeding the upper sheet 10 together with the sheet transporting means 12 toward the sheet unwinding position 8 in the upright state are provided.

(Structure of Sheet Transfer Means) As shown in FIG. 8, the entire structure of the sheet transfer means 12 is as follows.
Through the slits 14a, 14b of the back wall 11b, the back wall 1
Upper and lower 2 protruding forward at substantially right angles from 1b
Partition arm 1 having two arms 18a, 18b
9, a transfer belt 21, which is connected endlessly in a chain 20 at substantially equal intervals, a driving unit 22 for rotating the transfer belt 21, and a transfer belt 2.
It is constituted by a cam portion 23 for controlling the movement of the partition arm portion 19 when it rotates. In addition,
The drive means 22 has a motor 42 as a drive source. Further, the partitioning arm 19 divides the paper sheets 10 to be collectively input into the input section 11 on the input section 11, supports the divided paper sheets 10 from both sides, and holds the paper sheets 10 in an upright position. The sheet is transferred toward the sheet feeding position 8 in cooperation with a second sheet transferring means 16 described later. The partition arm 19 is provided with a transfer belt 21.
When the transfer belt 21 is disposed on the upper half side by the rotation of, the arms 18a, 18b of the partition arm portions 19 pass through the slits 14a, 14b and protrude forward from the back wall 11b at a substantially right angle. The sheet is moved toward the sheet feeding position 8 and immediately before the sheet feeding position 8 (the end 1).
2A), it retreats rearward from the back wall 11b, and thereafter is disposed on the lower half side of the transport belt 21 folded back downward, and heads toward the end 12B opposite to the paper sheet feeding position 8 and moves therefrom. At the opposite end 12B, it is folded upward again. Further, immediately before the end portion 12B, the arms 18a and 18b of the partition arm portion 19 are again projected forward from the back wall 11b through the slits 14a and 14b under the guidance of the cam portion 23. The movement is guided toward the paper sheet feeding position 8 on the side.

(Structure of the Cam) The cam 23 shown in FIG.
As shown in detail in FIGS.
A first cam 23A disposed along the traveling path of the partition arm 19 guided by the upper half side of the traveling belt 21;
The second cam 2 disposed along the traveling path of the partition arm 19 at the end 12B opposite to the paper sheet feeding position 8 of the second cam 2
3B. The second cam 23B has an inclined surface 23b that is inclined so as to gradually protrude toward the front side as the upward turning is started.
The inclined surface 23b is formed in such a manner that the maximum amount of protrusion is obtained when the upward turning is completed. On the other hand, the first cam 23A is formed as a single columnar rail material,
B (the maximum protruding portion of the inclined surface 23b), and is arranged in a state where the maximum protruding amount is maintained.
The sheet extends straight toward the sheet feeding position 8 toward A). The positions of the first cam 23A on the side of the sheet feeding position 8 are the arms 18a and 18b of the partition arm 19 most moved to the sheet feeding position 8.
However, the sheet contacting surface 6 of the separation / supply belt 67 in the sheet / sheet separation / supplying device 9 with approximately one sheet 10 disposed therebetween.
The roller 40 of the partition arm 19 is arranged so as to be in contact with the position immediately before the contact with the roller 7a. In the vicinity of the first cam portion 23A, a pair of front and rear guide bars 2 is provided along the first cam portion 23A.
4a and 24b are provided (see FIGS. 10 and 11). The pair of front and rear guide bars 24a and 24b are held in parallel with each other via a spacer 25 fixed to the apparatus main body side. The upper half side of the transfer belt 21 toward the paper sheet feeding position 8 is supported from below.

(Structure of partition arm) Partition arm 1
Reference numeral 9 denotes a mounting plate 26 fixedly mounted on a pair of front and rear chains 20 and fixed to front and rear ends of the mounting plate 26, respectively, as shown in detail in FIGS. Brackets 27a, 27
b, a pair of guide bars 28a, 28b and a center bar 29 whose front and rear ends are fixed to
8a, 28b and a center bar 29, a slider 30 slidably mounted in the front-rear direction, an arm holder 31 fixed on the slider 30, and an arm holder 31 fixed on the arm holder 31. And a pair of the arms 18a and 18b. Further, as shown in the exploded perspective view of FIG. 15, the slider 30 has through holes 30a and 30b penetrating front and rear at left and right positions, and also penetrating front and rear at the center position. Has a through hole 30c. A cylindrical bearing 32 is inserted into the through holes 30a and 30b, and the bearing 32 is fixed to the slider 30 by snap rings 33 mounted on the bearing 32 before and after the slider 30. And
The guide bars 28a and 28b pass through the slider 30 through the inside of the bearing 32, and furthermore, the both ends are brackets 27.
The slider 30 is fixedly mounted on the screws 27a and 27b with screws 34, and holds the slider 30 slidably in the front-rear direction. In addition,
When the slider 30 is mounted on the guide bars 28a, 28b, the space between the slider 30 and the bracket 27b is
A ring-shaped spacer 35 for regulating the sliding amount of the slider 30 is mounted. Center bar 29
Are arranged in parallel with the guide bars 28a and 28b through the through holes 30c of the slider 30, and both ends penetrate through the brackets 27a and 27b.
Outside and a and 27b, it is positioned and fixed by an E-ring 36. Also, the bracket 27a and the slider 30
Between them, the coil spring 37 is mounted on the center bar 29 in a compressed state, and the slider 30 is always pressed against the bracket 27b (see FIGS. 12 and 13). Arm holder 3
Reference numeral 1 denotes a horizontal piece 31 which is formed in a substantially L-shape and is bent substantially perpendicularly from the lower end of the upright piece 31a toward the rear with the upright piece 31a facing the front.
b is fixed to the upper surface of the slider 30 with screws 38. The pair of arms 18a and 18b are attached to the standing piece 31a so as to protrude substantially perpendicularly toward the front while being separated vertically. On the other hand, on the rear end side of the horizontal piece 31b, a horizontal piece 31
A roller 40 that is horizontally rotatable around a pivot 39 extending perpendicularly upward from b is attached. The roller 40 is provided with a first cam 23A and a second cam 2A.
3B, the first cam 23A and the second cam 23
B can be contacted.

The driving means 22 comprises rotatable drums 41A, 4 which are rotatably arranged separately at the left and right ends of the charging section 11.
1B, a gear (not shown) engaged with the chain 20 is integrally formed on the outer periphery of each of the rotary drums 41A and 41B. When the rotating drums 41A and 41B rotate, the gears and the chain 20 are sequentially meshed with each other, and the transfer belt 21 runs endlessly integrally with the partition arm 19 in the rotating direction of the rotating drums 41A and 41B. In addition, among the rotating drums 41A and 41B, the rotating drum 41A is a driving drum, and the rotating drum 41B is a driven drum. The rotating drum 41A receives a rotational driving force from a motor 42 and rotates. That is, the motor 42
Is rotated, the rotating drum 41A rotates,
The rotation of the rotary drum 41A is received by the chain 20, and the rotary drum 41B is driven to rotate, whereby the transfer belt 21 is rotated endlessly.

In the configuration of the paper sheet transport means 12,
Next, the operation of the partition arm 19 will be described. When the partition arm 19 corresponds to the first cam 23A, the roller 4
0 is in contact with the first cam 23A, and the slider 30 is moved from the position shown in FIGS.
6, the arm 18a, 18b is pushed toward the bracket 27a side, and the arms 18a, 18b are largely protruding forward from the back wall 11B. And this arm 18
a, 18b with a large protrusion
The transfer belt 21 moves in the inside of 4a, 14b from the end 12B side to the end 12A (sheet feeding position 8) with the rotation of the transfer belt 21. At this time, the arm is subdivided between the partition arm 19 and the arms 18a,
A plurality of sheets 10, which are supported by the arms 18b and the arms 18a and 18b and are put together in the bundle 11 in a state of being bundled, are put into a second sheet transfer means 16 to be described later.
With the movement of the sheet and the vibration of the sheet vibration means 15, the sheet is pushed toward the sheet feeding position 8 by the arms 18a and 18b. Further, the partition arm 19 is moved to the sheet feeding position 8 and the roller 40 is moved to the first cam 23.
When the slider 30 deviates from A, the slider 30
Guided by the guide bars 28a, 28b with the repulsion force of 7,
As shown in FIG. 12, FIG. 13, and a part of FIG. 16, it instantaneously moves to the bracket 27b side. In other words, the arms 18a and 18b are moved by this movement so that
Retreat to the position on the rear side of. FIG. 16 shows the peripheral structure of the paper sheet feeding position 8 and the first cam 23.
A arm 18a, 1 of the partition arm portion 19 which is not detached from A
Reference numeral 8b denotes a state in which the arms 18a, 18b of the partition arm 19, which protrude forward and are separated from the first cam 23A, are retracted to a position on the rear side of the back wall 11b.

Then, the arm 1 is moved at the sheet feeding position 8.
The partition arm 19, which has been retracted to a position where the rear walls 8 a and 18 b are on the rear side of the back wall 11 b, is moved by the transfer belt 21 while the arms 18 a and 18 b are retracted.
2B, and the roller 40 is brought into contact with the portion at the minimum height position of the inclined surface 23b of the second cam 23B immediately before the other end 12B. Further, when the roller 40 is moved together with the transfer belt 21 in a state of being in contact with the inclined surface 23b, the height of the inclined surface 23b in contact with the roller gradually increases, and the cam action of the inclined surface 23b causes the roller 40 to move. The slider 30 is gradually moved toward the bracket 27a while compressing the coil spring 37, whereby the arms 18a and 18b again protrude farther forward than the back wall 11b. FIG.
In this manner, the roller 40 is connected to the second cam 23 at the other end 12B.
A state is shown in which the arms 18a and 18b are protruded by being brought into contact with the inclined surface 23b of B. This protrusion is maximized at a position adjacent to the first cam 23A, and when it reaches the end of the second cam 23B, the protrusion is shifted to the first cam 23A.
The sheet is fed toward the sheet feeding position 8 while being in contact with the first cam 23A again. Immediately before shifting from the second cam 23B to the first cam 23A, the arms 18a,
Reference numeral 18b corresponds to the slits 14a and 14b again, and is shifted to the sheet feeding position 8 through the slits 14a and 14b.

Therefore, in the structure of the present embodiment, when the roller 40 moves while being in contact with the first cam 23A, the arm 18a, 18b projects toward the sheet feeding position 8 with the arm 18a, 18b protruding from the back wall 11b. And the partition arm 19 approaches the paper sheet feeding position 8 and the roller 4
0 is disengaged from the first cam 23a, the arms 18a, 18
The slider 30 is retracted together with the slider 30 to a position where b is on the rear side of the back wall 11b. Further, the arms 18a and 18b are moved toward the other end 12B while being retracted.
When approaching 2B, the roller 40 comes into contact with the second cam 23b. When it is moved as it is, the slider 30 is moved to the arm 1
The cycle of being transported to the first cam 23 again while being projected forward together with 8a and 18b is repeated. By this operation, the paper sheets 10 placed on the insertion section 11 can be sequentially moved toward the paper sheet feeding position 8.

In the structure of the present embodiment, the position of the end of the first cam 23A on the side of the paper sheet feeding position 8 is the last position that the arms 18a and 18b carry toward the paper sheet feeding position 8. The paper sheet 10 is set so that it can be supported immediately before the sheet feeding position 8 can lightly touch a separation supply belt 67 of the sheet separation and supply device 9 described later. Specifically, it has been described before that the arms 18a and 18b have a structure in which the arms 18a and 18b instantaneously retreat when the sheet 10 lightly touches the sheet separation and supply device 9.
With such a structure, the last sheet is transported at the sheet feeding position 8 until the sheet comes into a state of lightly touching the belt contact surface 67a of the separation / supply belt 67 in the sheet separation / feeding device 9. Can be reliably delivered. By the way, in the paper sheet transfer means in the conventional device,
When the arm is retracted, it was impossible to retract immediately before the sheet feeding position. In addition, the mechanism for selecting the retreat operation also increases or decreases the speed of the retreating arm to the sheet feeding position with respect to the next-transferring arm, and also increases or decreases the arm interval. Was causing a double feed. Also, the arm itself cannot be retracted instantaneously, and the arm gradually and slowly retracts before the arm reaches the paper sheet feeding position. In other words, since the arm of the sheet transport means of the conventional device cannot reach the position immediately before the sheet feeding position in a protruding manner, the sheet that falls down and falls down is separated from the sheet feeding surface (belt contact surface). In order to make contact, the worker must directly support the paper sheets, and there is a problem in safety and realization of one-person work. On the other hand, in the structure according to the present embodiment, the belt contact surface 67a of the sheet
The arms 18a and 18b are configured to protrude until immediately before the last sheet 10 comes into contact with the paper sheet 10. Therefore, before the sheet 10 comes into contact with the belt contact surface 67a, the sheet It is possible to eliminate a situation in which the device 10 falls down and a transfer failure occurs. As a result, it is possible to eliminate the need for a dedicated worker or the like, which is required for the conventional apparatus, for solving a problem due to a fall afterward, and it is possible to reduce personnel and cost. In the structure of the present embodiment, the position of the first cam 23A on the side of the sheet feeding position 8;
That is, the roller 40 of the partition arm 19 is
The position in which the arms 18a and 18b can retreat away from the contact of the 3A has a structure that can be adjusted arbitrarily.

(Structure of Second Sheet Transfer Means) As shown in FIG. 18, the second sheet transfer means 16 is parallel to the transfer belt 21 on the back wall 11b and is arranged in the left-right direction. Between the pair of front and rear transfer belt means 43A and 43B extending, and the pair of front and rear transfer belt means 43A and 43B and the sheet feeding position 8, a part of the transfer belt means 43A and 43B is provided.
And a pair of front and rear auxiliary transfer belt means 44A and 44B extending in the left-right direction so as to overlap. The pair of front and rear auxiliary transfer belt units 44A and 44B are disposed between the transfer belt units 43A and 43B.

The transfer belt means 43A, 43B includes a driving pulley 46a, a driven pulley 46b,
6a and an endless belt 47 spanned between the driven pulley 46b. The surface of the endless belt 47 has a tooth shape, and the surface is provided so as to protrude upward from an opening 11c (see FIG. 6) of the bottom wall 11a of the input section 11. Then, since the paper sheet 10 placed on the input unit 11 is directly received on the surface of the endless belt 47, if the endless belt 47 rotates, the paper sheet 10 is fed toward the paper sheet feeding position 8. Can be Here, the driving pulley 46a rotates the driving force of the motor 42 that drives the paper sheet transporting means 12 via a power transmission belt (not shown), so that the second paper sheet transporting means 16 It moves at a speed completely synchronized with the transfer means 12. The endless belt 47 and the driven pulley 46b also rotate following the rotation of the driving pulley 46a.

The auxiliary transfer belt means 44A and 44B are composed of a driving pulley 49a and a driven pulley 49b, and an endless belt 50 stretched between the driving pulley 49a and the driven pulley 49b. The surface of the endless belt 50 is provided so that the frictional force between the endless belt 50 and the paper sheet 10 can be reduced.
Unlike the surface shape of the endless belt 47 used in the above, it is formed smoothly. The endless belt 50 has an upper surface formed in the opening 1 of the bottom wall 11 a of the input section 11.
1d (see FIG. 6), and is provided so as to protrude upward.
Since the paper sheet 10 placed on the input unit 11 is directly received on the endless belt 50, the paper sheet 10 is sent toward the paper sheet feeding position 8 when the endless belt 50 rotates. Here, the direction of rotation of the endless belt 50 may be a direction away from the sheet feeding position 8 opposite to the normal feeding. The transport speed of the endless belt 50 is the same as that of the paper sheet transport means 12 when the paper sheet 10 moves to the paper sheet unwinding position 8, and the paper sheet 10 moves away from the paper sheet unwinding position 8. When moving, the speed is set to a high speed irrespective of the speed of the paper sheet feeding means 12.

The auxiliary transfer belt means 44A, 44B
The first reason is that when the sheets 10 are fed one after another in the area of the sheet feeding position 8 and are pushed too much, the sheet is transported. The paper sheet 10 is returned from the paper sheet feeding position by stopping the transfer by the means 12 and the transfer belt means 43A and 43B, and the endless belt 50 immediately before separation is reversed, and the paper sheet at the paper sheet feeding position 8 is returned. This is because the over-pressing state of the class 10 is alleviated, and only one sheet 10 is attracted to the separation / supply belt 67 so as to be easily fed to the downstream side. The second reason is that although the paper sheet 10 inserted in the backward inclined posture in the insertion section 11 does not come to a position where it is sufficiently attracted to the belt contact surface 67a and is fed out, the arrival detecting means 106 The arrival detecting sensor 93 detects the contact 92 connected to the paper sheet 10 and the sheet 10 is moved to the sheet feeding position 8.
It is determined that the sheet has arrived at the point, and the transport speed should be still fast-forward, but the speed drops to the speed synchronized with the feeding operation in the separation / feed unit 63, and the waste time in which the paper sheet 10 cannot be fed quickly can be found. Since the paper sheet 10 is generated, the paper sheet 10 that has been transported to the paper sheet feeding position 8 in the backwardly inclined position is corrected to the forwardly inclined position, and this waste time is reduced. The surface of the endless belt 50 is made smooth so that the frictional force between the endless belt 50 and paper sheets can be reduced. The paper sheet 10 is excessively pushed at the paper sheet feeding position 8, or the paper sheet 10 inserted in the backward inclined position by the input unit 11 is transported to the sheet feeding position 8 with the same posture. In this case, it is necessary to reverse only the endless belt 50 in a state where the paper sheet transporting means 12 and the second paper sheet transporting means 16 are stopped. If the frictional force of the belt surface is large or the belt has a tooth shape, the endless belt 50 is stopped in a state in which the sheet transporting means 12 and the second transporting transporting means 16 are stopped.
Is reversed at a high speed, the paper sheet 10 retreating from the paper sheet feeding position 8 is in a state of being sandwiched between the paper sheet transfer means 12 and the second sheet transfer means 16 and the endless belt 50. That is, only the lower surface of the paper sheet 10 loses the place to go, and an event of peeling off from the belt surface always occurs. At the time of this peeling, the lower surface of the paper sheet 10 may be damaged. However, if the paper sheet 10 is smoothed to reduce the friction, such damage will not occur.

(Structure of Sheet Vibrating Means) As shown in FIG. 19, the sheet vibrating means 15 has an endless belt 47 between the transfer belt means 43A and 43B.
Vertically movable member 52 extending in the left-right direction in parallel with
a, 52b, and vibration generating means 53 for vertically moving the vertically movable members 52a, 52b alternately.
The vertically movable members 52a and 52b can largely protrude or retreat from the bottom wall 11a through an opening 11e (see FIG. 6) provided in the bottom wall 11a.

The vibration generating means 53 has an eccentric cam 54 on its peripheral surface.
a and 54b integrally provided, a driving means 55 for rotating the rotating shaft 54, and eccentric cams 54a and 54b.
Cam rings 56a, 56b as link pieces for transmitting the cam operation of the upper member 54b to the vertically movable members 52a, 52b.
The cam ring 56a is provided with an eccentric cam 54.
The cam ring 56b is rotatably mounted on the eccentric cam 54b. In this embodiment, the eccentric cam 54a and the eccentric cam 54b are arranged so as to be shifted from each other by 180 degrees in the rotation direction. Each of the cam rings 56a and 56b is provided with a vertically movable member 52.
The cam rings 56a and 56b are connected to the centers of the cam rings 56a and 56b when the rotation shaft 54 rotates and the eccentric cams 54a and 54b vertically move the cam rings 56a and 56b. The vertical movable members 52a and 52b are also configured to move up and down. Further, pulling means 58 having a coil spring 57 for always pulling the vertically movable members 52a, 52b downward are provided on both left and right sides of each of the vertically movable members 52a, 52b.

The driving means 55 includes a motor 59, a pulley 60 attached to the output shaft 59a of the motor 59 so as to be integrally rotatable, a pulley 61 attached to the rotating shaft 54 so as to be integrally rotatable, and a pulley 60. And a power transmission belt 62 stretched across the pulley 61. The rotation of the motor 59 is transmitted to the output shaft 59a, the pulley 60, the power transmission belt 62, and the pulley 61, and
1 is configured to be able to rotate the rotation shaft 54 integrally.

The paper sheet vibrating means 15 constructed as described above
When the rotation shaft 54 is rotated by the motor 59, the eccentric cams 54a and 54b push up one of the vertically movable members 52a and 52b via the cam rings 56a and 56b, and pull down the other, so that the vertically movable members 52a and 52b are pulled down.
b is alternately moved up and down. That is, one of the upper and lower movable members 52a (or 52b) is
If it protrudes from 1a, the other vertically movable member 52b (or 52a) moves so as to retreat from the bottom wall 11a to the lower side. In addition, the entire loading section 11 is in a state of being turned over by about 15 degrees to the rear side, and the weight of the paper sheet 10 is divided into a back direction and a bottom direction. When the paper sheet 10 is pushed up from below by the plate 52a or 52b, vibration is applied so that the paper sheet 10 rotates around a corner portion where the bottom surface and the back surface of the paper sheet 10 intersect. Further, since the two vertically movable members 52a and 52b are provided to be separated from each other in the front and rear directions, the positions at which the bottom surface of the sheet 10 is hit are different, and the vertically movable member 52b on the front side is protruded to vibrate the sheet 10 When the vertical movable member 52a on the rear side is protruded and the paper sheet 10 is vibrated, different amplitudes can be given at the same time, and at the same time, a slight rotational force can be given. Efficient and timely alignment (alignment)
It can be performed.

(Structure of Sheet Separating and Supplying Apparatus) Next, the sheets 10 sent to the sheet feeding position 8 are separated one by one and sent out toward the sheet conveying means 4. The structure of the paper sheet separation and supply device 9 will be described. FIG. 5 and FIGS. 20 to 23 show the detailed structure of the paper sheet separation and supply device 9. FIG. 5 is a perspective view showing the peripheral structure of the paper sheet separation and supply device 9 at the paper sheet feeding position 8 of the paper sheet supply section 1, and FIGS. FIG. 21 is a diagram schematically showing the peripheral structure and operation of the feeding device 9, FIG. 21 is an overall perspective view of the feeding / separating device 9, FIG. 22 is a front view of the feeding / separating device 9, and FIG. FIG. 2 is a top view of the class separation supply device 9. 5 and FIGS. 20 to 23, the paper sheet separation and supply device 9 is transported by the paper sheet transport means 12 and the second paper sheet transport means 16 to the paper sheet unwinding position 8 in a standing state. A separation and supply unit 63 capable of vacuum-suctioning and sucking only one of the sheets 10 that have been fed, and transporting this substantially vertically toward the sheet conveying means 4 on the downstream side; A separation assisting unit 64 for facilitating separation of the paper sheets 10 one by one in the supply unit 63, and a paper sheet for detecting the presence or absence of the paper sheets 10 sent to the paper sheet feeding position 8. It is composed of a kind detecting means 106 (see FIG. 28), a paper sheet excessive pressing detecting means 105 (see FIG. 28), and the like.

(Structure of Separation Supply Unit) The separation supply unit 63
An endless separation / supply belt 67 stretched around three guide rollers 66a, 66b, 66c.
A vacuum suction means 68 for evacuating the paper sheet 10 conveyed to the separation and supply belt 67 to the separation and supply belt 67 by suction, and a paper sheet 10 sent to the separation and supply section 63. Sheets 1 supplied with poor size and posture
It is composed of three sensors 69a, 69b, 69c, etc., for detecting the presence of a paper sheet having a posture failure due to zero or alignment and sending output information to the posture failure detection means 115 (see FIG. 28). .

The three guide rollers 66a, 66b, 66
c, the two guide rollers 66a and 66b are vertically divided along the direction in which the paper sheet 10 is fed, and the remaining one guide roller 66c is disposed on the rear side. . Accordingly, a portion 67a of the separation / supply belt 67 stretched by the three guide rollers 66a, 66b, and 66c facing the sheet feeding position 8 (hereinafter, this portion is referred to as a "belt contact surface 67a").
) Is a plane (vertical plane) running straight up and down. The guide rollers 66a and 66b are driven rollers rotatably mounted on the pivots 70a and 70b, and the guide roller 66c is a drive roller rotatably mounted on a drive shaft 70c rotated by a motor 71. When the drive shaft 70c is rotated by the motor 71 together with the guide roller 66c, the separation and supply belt 67 is rotated together with the guide roller 66c with the rotation of the guide rollers 66a and 66b. The rotation direction is the counterclockwise direction in FIGS. 5 and 20 to 23.

Further, the drive shaft 70c is connected to the guide roller 6
The movable holding plate 72b is mounted on a movable holding plate 72b different from the fixed holding plate 72a to which the pivots 70a and 70b supporting the 6a and 66b are attached.
Is a guide roller 66 with a motor 71 and a drive shaft 70c.
22A, and can move in the direction of arrow L in FIG. 22 away from the direction of arrow S in FIG. Then, when the guide rollers 66a, 66b, 66
c, the separation and supply belt 67 stretched around the outside can be in a strongly tensioned state. On the contrary, when the separation and supply belt 67 is moved in the approaching direction, which is the direction of arrow S, the separation and supply belt 67 can be loosened. it can. The movable holding plate 72b
The position of the lock means 73 has a lock lever 73a.
The structure is such that it can be locked so that it can be released. Therefore, the separation supply unit 63 of the present embodiment
In the structure (1), when the lock by the locking means 73 is loosened and the guide roller 66c is moved together with the movable holding plate 72b to the inside of the separation / supply belt 67, the tension of the separation / supply belt 67 is relaxed, and the replacement of the separation / supply belt 67 can be simplified. Can be done. Further, after the replacement, the guide roller 66c together with the movable holding plate 72b can be returned to the original state and locked, so that the replacement work of the separation and supply belt 67 can be easily performed.

In the conventional separation and supply belt, the outer peripheral surface of the belt needs to be uneven in order to reliably separate and feed the belt. Therefore, when a system in which a tension roller is provided on the outer side of the belt and is stretched inward is employed, there is a problem that the tension roller may be damaged because the outer peripheral surface of the belt is uneven. In addition, an automatic tension mechanism using a spring by making the tension roller movable has been performed. However, a continuous load is applied to the spring itself, and a problem that the spring is damaged is considered. Further, in the conventional belt replacement method, after the replacement, the belt tension depends on the operator's feeling, so that there is a problem that the value does not become uniform or a special tool is required. However, in the structure of the present embodiment, the lock by the locking means 73 is loosened, and the movable holding plate 7 is released.
When the guide roller 66c is moved to the inside of the separation / supply belt 67 together with 2b, the tension of the separation / supply belt 67 is loosened, and replacement of the separation / supply belt 67 can be easily performed. Further, after the replacement, the guide roller 66c together with the movable holding plate 72b can be returned to the original state and locked, so that the replacement work of the separation and supply belt 67 can be easily performed.

In the structure of the present embodiment, the paper sheets 1
The guide rollers 66a and 66b forming the belt contact surface 67b facing the direction in which 0 is sent have a fixed structure after the position adjustment described below is performed together with the fixed holding plate 72. That is, the guide rollers 66a, 66b
Has a structure that is not moved when the belt is replaced, so that even if the belt is replaced, the position where the belt contact surface 67a is arranged does not move. If the position of the belt contact surface 67a at the sheet feeding position 8 shifts, the positional relationship between the above-described arms 18a and 18b of the sheet transfer means 12 and the belt contact surface 67ba needs to be adjusted again. In some cases, the operation is complicated, but in the structure of the present embodiment, the belt is not moved at the time of belt replacement, so that it can be secured at the same position and in the same state. Further, since the guide roller 66c is moved integrally with the motor 71, the drive shaft 70c, and the movable holding plate 52b, the motor 7 can be moved even if the guide roller 66c is moved.
1. The positional relationship between the drive shaft 70c is always ensured, and there is no need to adjust (including reassembly) the positional relationship between the motor 71 and the drive shaft 70c after replacement.

Further, the separation supply belt 67 here is
The belt contact surface 67a is arranged at a right angle to the horizontal plane (bottom wall 11a) or slightly inclined (θ1) toward the input unit 11 side. The angle of the belt contact surface 67a is adjusted by rotating the fixed holding plate 72a, which rotatably holds the guide rollers 66a and 66b, clockwise or counterclockwise in FIG. The angle can be adjusted arbitrarily. This angle adjustment is usually performed only once at the time of manufacturing and assembling, and is fixed thereafter. In the structure of this embodiment, the belt contact surface 67b is perpendicular to the bottom wall 11a or
The reason for the forward inclination is that the weight (self-weight) of the succeeding paper sheet 10 that has been sent following the preceding paper sheet 10 that has been in contact with the belt contact surface 67a of the separation and supply belt 67. Is added to the preceding paper sheet 10, and this is to eliminate the contact pressure between the preceding paper sheet 10 and the succeeding paper sheet 10. That is, the preceding sheet 10 is moved to the belt contact surface 67a.
, The weight of the succeeding paper sheet 10 does not add to the preceding paper sheet 10 when held in a vertical (right angle) or forward inclined state. Therefore, in the structure of the separation and supply unit 63 of the present embodiment, the preceding paper sheet 10 is
Since a weight of 0 is added, which eliminates an external force acting as a large contact pressure between the preceding sheet 10 and the succeeding sheet 10, the preceding sheet 10 is separated from the supply belt. 67 enables smooth feeding. Further, it is possible to prevent the succeeding paper sheet 10 from being dragged by the preceding paper sheet 10 and becoming uneven, and
Can be prevented from being fed out in an unstable posture, and the paper sheet 10 can be fed smoothly without any trouble. Note that a pair of front and rear suction windows 7 for vacuum suction of the paper sheet 10 are provided on the separation / feed belt 67.
The two paper sheet suction holding portions 67b having the number 4 are displaced by 180 degrees and provided with no air permeability except for the suction window 74.

The vacuum suction means 68 of the separation and supply section 63 has a belt contact surface 67 inside the separation and supply belt 67.
a suction duct 75 provided on the rear side of the vacuum pump 78, and the suction duct 75 is connected to the vacuum pump 78. Further, the suction duct 75 is connected to the separation supply belt 6.
7, the suction port 74 is disposed at a position corresponding to the suction window 74 of the paper sheet suction holding unit 67 b, and when the separation / supply belt 67 is rotated and the suction window 74 does not reach the front of the suction duct 75, the suction port is separated. The suction duct 74 is placed in a state closed by the supply belt 67 and opened when the suction window 74 reaches the front, and receives the suction force from the vacuum pump 78.
5, air is sucked into the paper sheet suction holding section 67 at this time.
The paper sheet 10 sent to a position adjacent to b is
It is adsorbed in a state of being in close contact with the sheet adsorbing and holding unit 67b and closes the air inlet again.
That is, the sheet 10 is transported in the vertical direction toward the sheet transporting means 4. The suction duct 75 is elongated in the running direction of the separation and supply belt 67, and is sucked by the suction window 74 and moved upward integrally with the separation and supply belt 67. Reference numeral 10 denotes the conveying belts 95a and 95 of the sheet conveying means 4.
It is set so that it can be moved until it is sandwiched between b. Further, the separation and supply belt 67 is not always rotating, and is normally
b is waiting at the origin position deviated from the front surface of the suction duct 75, the front surface of the suction port of the suction duct 75 is closed by the separation supply belt 67, and the paper sheet 10 is sent to the paper sheet feeding position 8. When the sensor 93 detects the arrival, the motor 71 is rotated, and the separation and supply belt 67 starts rotating. When the separation and supply belt 67 rotates by 180 degrees and reaches the origin position, the rotation of the motor 71 is restarted. After stopping, the separation supply belt 67 also stops. Then, while the separation and supply belt 67 moves by 180 degrees, the intake window 74 passes once before the intake duct 75, and the paper sheet 10 is fed out once. That is, each time the sheet is moved by 180 degrees, one sheet 10 is fed out. In the present embodiment, there is a case where the sheet suction holding section 67b is provided on the separation / supply belt 67 one by one every 180 degrees. In the case of one sheet, one sheet becomes one every time the paper rotates 360 degrees. Depending on the size of the separation supply belt 67, three or more separation supply belts may be provided.

The three sensors 69a, 69b, 69c for the posture defect detecting means 115 are reflection type sensors.
As shown in a schematic diagram in FIG. 27, a sheet A1 that is adsorbed on the separation and supply belt 67 and can be used in the sheet sorting apparatus.
In the transport area 120 where 0 is normally fed out, the transport area 120 is scattered along the transport direction at a portion having a substantially maximum width. In the posture defect detecting means 115 using these sensors 69a to 69c, when the three sensors 69a to 69c simultaneously detect as shown in a sheet A10 shown by a solid line in FIG. Judge that it is. On the other hand, only one sensor 69a among the three sensors 69a to 69c (i.e., one point) is tilted or tilted like a sheet A10 indicated by a one-dot chain line or a sheet A10 indicated by a two-dot chain line. In the case where the sheet A10 indicated by the dashed line) or only the two sensors 69a and 69b (in the case of the sheet A10 indicated by the two-dot chain line) are detected,
It is determined that the paper sheet A10 is being fed out in a state of a poor posture, and output information is sent from the poor posture detecting means 115 to a system control unit 100 (FIG. 28) described later, and the system control unit 100 issues an alarm or the like. At the same time, the apparatus is stopped to urge the operator to perform the processing. Accordingly, it is possible to prevent the paper sheet 10 from being fed from the separation / supply unit 63 in a state of a poor posture.

The separation assisting section 64 is provided below the separating / supplying section 63, and serves as an auxiliary contact surface which is opened in the direction in which the sheet is transported by the sheet transporting means 12. It has a housing 81 provided with an auxiliary suction window 80 (hereinafter, this portion is referred to as an “auxiliary contact surface 80”). In the housing 81, an intake port of a suction duct 84 a as an auxiliary vacuum suction means 84 is provided. . Suction duct 84
a uses a vacuum pump 78 whose suction source is the same as the suction duct 75 of the vacuum suction means 68;
In the middle of the suction, the air is branched in a bifurcated manner into an intake passage toward the suction duct 75 and an intake passage toward the suction duct 84a. The suction duct 84a is provided with a negative pressure gauge 87 for measuring a negative pressure in the suction duct 84a. In the relationship between the suction area of the suction duct 84a in the auxiliary suction means 84 and the suction area of the suction duct 75 in the vacuum suction means 68, the suction area of the suction duct 84a in the auxiliary suction means 84 is set to be larger. Further, the auxiliary contact surface 80 is not linearly aligned with the belt contact surface 67a of the separation / supply belt 67, and the lower side slightly protrudes toward the input unit 11, and the contact portion 67a and the auxiliary contact surface 8
The connection with 0 is arranged in a substantially “C” shape. In addition, a net 82 having air permeability is attached to the front surface of the auxiliary contact surface 80 so as to cover the front surface, as shown in detail in FIGS. A frame 83 having a U-shape is attached to the outside. The frame 83 has an uneven portion formed outside the auxiliary contact surface 80. The frame 83 is convex, and the area surrounded by the frame 83 is concave. Also, the lower end of the frame 83 is
0 is provided so as not to cover the lower part 83a.

When the paper sheet 10 is sent to the paper sheet unreeling position 8, the lower end portion of the paper sheet 10 is vacuum-sucked by the suction duct 84a, and the lower end portion of the paper sheet 10 is assisted. While being suctioned by the contact surface 80, the suction port of the suction duct 84a is closed by the suction. At this time, the lower end portion of the paper sheet 10 warps as shown in FIGS. More specifically, FIG. 24 is an exploded perspective view of a main part in a state where a lower end portion of the paper sheet 10 is attracted to the auxiliary contact surface 80, and FIG. 25 is a cross-sectional view taken along line BB of FIG. FIG. 26 is a sectional view taken along line CC of FIG. 24.
In FIGS. 24 to 26, the suction here is performed by forming the protrusions by the frame body 83 on both ends (front and rear) and the upper portion of the auxiliary contact surface 80, as shown in FIGS. 24 to 26. The central portion of the paper sheet 10 protrudes toward the auxiliary contact surface 80, and both ends of the paper sheet 10 protrude toward the succeeding paper sheet 10; Made. In this case, the lower end portion 80a of the auxiliary contact surface 80 has no frame 83 and is flat, so that the lowermost portion of the paper sheet 10 corresponding to the portion 80 is formed. The portion forms a flat portion 10a. When the flat portion 10a is formed below the arch-shaped portion, a gap 88 formed between the flat sheet 10a and the succeeding paper sheet 10 is formed.
, And air for peeling, which will be described later, is added to the gap 88. Therefore, in the structure of the portion of the auxiliary contact surface 80 configured as described above, the sheet feeding position 8
The lower end portion of the paper sheet 10 sent to the auxiliary contact surface 80 is attracted to the lower end side of the paper sheet 10 so that the lower end side of the paper sheet 10 is warped. If it has come, it can be peeled off by warping, and a gap 88 (see FIGS. 25 and 26) is created between the following paper sheets 10 that have been delayed by warping. It can be left without contact. At the same time, the auxiliary contact surface 80 and the belt contact surface 67a of the separation / supply belt 67
20 (see FIGS. 20 to 26 and FIG. 30), the paper sheet 10 adsorbed on the auxiliary contact surface 80 is provided with an The bent portion 96 is bent between the contact surface 80 and the belt contact surface 67a, and a gap is formed between the bent portion 96 and the succeeding sheet 10 as schematically shown in FIGS. Will be.

In addition, a blow duct 85 for blowing air toward the gap 88 is disposed below the separation assisting portion 64 corresponding to a portion where the gap 88 is formed.
Then, air from a blower duct 85 that blows out is applied to the gap 88 from below, and this air actively separates the paper sheets 10 from each other, and only the first paper sheet is separated and supplied. The paper is sent while being held by the belt 67. Further, the flat portion 10a is provided at the lower end of the paper sheet 10 which is in contact with the auxiliary contact surface 80, and a large opening for blowing air is secured.
The gap 88 receives a large amount of air from the fifth sheet 5, and the following sheet 10 is conveniently peeled off. The air duct 8
5 is connected to a blower 90 via a valve 89.

The paper sheet arrival detecting means 106 and the paper sheet over-pressing detecting means 105 are arranged below the separation assisting section 64, and the input section 11 is moved in the direction in which the paper sheet 10 is conveyed. A contact 92 extending into the contact 9
The arrival detection sensor 93 for the paper sheet arrival detection means 106 and the over-push detection sensor 94 for the paper sheet over-push detection means 105 are disposed behind the paper sheet 2. Further, a part of the contact 92 is provided with a light shielding plate 92a for an arrival detection sensor and a light shielding plate 92b for an over-push detection sensor. Then, the contact 92 moves the sheet 10 to the sheet feeding position 8.
When is not conveyed, the light-shielding plates 92a and 92b protrude largely into the insertion portion 11, and are arranged at positions separated from the arrival detection sensor 93 and the over-push detection sensor 94, respectively. The paper sheet 10 is transferred to the paper sheet unreeling position 8 by the paper sheet transfer means 12 and the second paper sheet transfer means 16, and when pressed by the paper sheet 10, the contact 92 retreats. First, the light-shielding plate 92a enters the arrival detection sensor 93, thereby detecting that the sheet 10 has been transferred to the sheet feeding position 8 by the arrival detection sensor 9.
3, the sheet arrival detecting means 106 (see FIG. 28)
Is sent to the sheet, and the sheet arrival detecting means 106 can detect the arrival of the sheet 10. And
When the paper sheet 10 is properly fed and the paper sheet 10 is not pushed too much toward the separation / feed belt 67, the contact 92 does not retreat beyond this state. If the paper sheets 10 are successively sent one after another and jammed, the contact 92 retreats further, and the light-shielding plate 92b is pushed too far into the detection sensor 94. Is detected by the over-push detection sensor 94, a signal is sent to the over-push detection means 105 (see FIG. 28), and the paper sheet 10 is over-pressed by the over-push detection means 105. It has a structure that can detect that it is.

(Structure on the side of the sheet conveying means) The sheet conveying means 4 is a conveying belt on the drive system side, which is disposed adjacent to the belt contact surface 67a of the separation and supply belt 67 and opposed to each other. Means 95a and conveyor belt means 95b on the driven system side
have. The paper sheet transporting means 4 draws the paper sheet 10 which is fed out in the vertical direction by the separation and supply belt 67 between the transporting belt means 95a on the driving system side and the transporting belt means 95b on the driven system side. The sheet 10 is sorted and conveyed to the stacking unit 3a side through the reading unit 2 by the conveying belt unit 95a on the driving system side and the conveying belt unit 95b on the driven system side.

Also, inside the conveyor belt means 95b,
It is fed out by the separation supply belt 67,
A thickness detection sensor 79 for a paper sheet thickness detecting means 113 (see FIG. 28) for detecting the thickness of the paper sheet 10 passing between 5a and 95b is arranged. The thickness detection sensor 79 is a reflection type sensor,
When the paper sheet 10 passes between a and 95b, a signal corresponding to the amount by which the belt of the transport belt means 95b is displaced is sent to the paper sheet thickness detecting means 113. Paper sheet thickness detecting means 11
In step 3, the thickness of the paper sheet is detected from the output information of the thickness detection sensor 79, and the information is sent to the system control unit 100. In the system control unit 100, the sheet thickness detecting means 1
Based on the information from 13, the sheet transfer means 12 and the second sheet transfer means 16 calculate the optimum speed for continuously feeding the sheets toward the sheet feeding position 8, and feedback. Control. Here, for example, between the case where the thick paper sheet 10 is fed out by the separation / feeding belt 67 and the case where the thin paper sheet 10 is fed out, at the paper sheet feeding position 8, the subsequent paper sheet 10 And belt contact surface 6
7a is different. That is, among the paper sheets being transported, there are paper sheets having an arbitrary thickness, such as a thick one and a thin one. Therefore, it is necessary to control the transport speed of the paper sheet transporting means 12 for feeding the paper sheet to the separation and supply unit by the thickness of the delivered paper sheet. If the paper sheet transport means 12 feeds the paper sheet 10 at a constant speed without looking at the thickness information, the thinnest paper sheet 1 is used to prevent over-pressing.
The feed rate must be unified to zero. Then, when thick papers are fed, useless time is generated for feeding for several seconds thereafter. In order to speed up the processing capacity of the machine, the thickness of the paper sheet immediately after being fed is detected, and the thickness information is reflected in the control of the paper sheet transfer means 12. Therefore, in the structure of the present embodiment, the thickness of the paper sheet immediately after being fed out is detected, and the thickness information is reflected in the control of the paper sheet transfer means 12, so that the processing capacity of the machine is improved. Can be speeded up.

(Circuit Configuration) FIG. 28 is a block diagram showing the circuit configuration of the entire sheet transporting apparatus of the sheet sorting system. 28. In FIG. 28, components denoted by the same reference numerals as those in FIGS. 1 to 27 indicate the same components as those in FIGS. 1 to 27. In FIG. 28, the entire sheet transport device is controlled by a system control unit (CPU) 100. The system control unit 100 includes the reading unit 2, the sheet sorting unit 3, and the sheet transport unit. In addition to the means 4, a charging unit 11 and a paper sheet separation and supply device 9 are connected. A motor 42 for driving the endless belt 21 in the input unit 11 is connected to a system control unit 100 via a motor drive control unit 101, and a motor 51 for driving the auxiliary transfer belt units 44A and 44B is a motor drive control unit. A motor 59 for driving the paper sheet vibrating means 15 is connected to the system control unit 100 via a motor drive control unit 104. In the paper sheet separation and supply device 9, the over-push detection sensor 94 is connected to the system control unit 100 via the over-push detection unit 105.
The sensor 93 for detecting the arrival of the paper sheet 10 is connected to the system controller 10 via the paper sheet arrival detecting means 106.
0, the vacuum pump 78 is connected to the system controller 100 via the vacuum pump controller 110, and the blower 90 is connected to the system controller 100 via the blower controller 111 to reduce the thickness of the paper sheet 10. The thickness detecting sensor 79 to be measured is connected to the system control unit 100 via the sheet thickness detecting means 113,
The motor 71 for driving the separation / feed belt 67 of the third system is connected to the system controller 100 via the motor drive controller 114.
It is connected to the.

(Control Operation of Main Part) FIG. 29 is a flowchart showing the operation of the main part of the paper sheet supply unit in the paper sheet sorting system. Therefore, the operation of the paper sheet supply processing according to the present embodiment will be described next with reference to the flow of FIG. First, prior to the description of the operation, in the structure of the present embodiment, the suction source of the suction duct 75 (vacuum suction means 68) on the separation supply unit 63 side and the suction duct 84 on the separation auxiliary unit 64 side
The suction source of a (auxiliary suction means 84) is configured to be covered by the same single supply source, but the principle of operation in this structure will be described first. In this structure, the suction duct 75 and the suction duct 84a are connected to the same suction source (the vacuum pump 7).
The suction from 8) is bifurcated on the way, and when the openings of the suction duct 75 and the suction duct 84a are not closed, the internal pressures of both suction blocks are in an equilibrium state and are equal. Even when there is an environmental change such as closing or opening in one of the two, the internal pressure of the two instantaneously changes to an equilibrium state, that is, becomes the same pressure, although the internal pressures of the two are different values. In addition, when either of the intake ports is open, a large amount of air is supplied to the vacuum at the open intake port, so the effectiveness of the vacuum is neutralized and the internal pressure is set to a small value. Both are in equilibrium. This is called a leak, atmospheric pressure release, or the like.

Therefore, the sheet 1 is moved to the sheet feeding position 8.
0 arrives from the state where it has not arrived,
Looking at the operation until the paper is fed toward the paper sheet transporting means 4 at 7, the operations are performed in the order of (1) to (4). The separation and supply belt 67 in the separation and supply unit 63 holds and holds the sheet 10 until the sheet 10 is detected by the sheet detection unit 92 or the negative pressure detection unit 109 at the sheet feeding position 8. The position of the origin where the suction window 74 of the portion 67b is separated from the front surface of the suction duct 75 and the suction port of the suction duct 75 is closed by a portion of the separation and supply belt 67 other than the suction window 75 (hereinafter, this position is referred to as this position). (The position is simply referred to as "origin position.")
Are located in (1) First, when the paper sheet 10 has not arrived at the paper sheet unreeling position 8 and the suction duct 75 is on standby with the suction port closed by the separation belt 67, the suction duct 84a Are released to the atmosphere, so that the internal pressures of the two become equilibrium at a small value. Therefore, an excessive load is not applied to the vacuum pump 78 as the suction source. (2) When the paper sheet 10 is sent to the paper sheet unreeling position 8 and the paper sheet 10 comes into contact with the auxiliary contact surface 80, the two are in a sealed state, so that the internal pressure of both is large. Equilibrate with value. Subsequently, when the separation supply belt 67 is rotated and the suction window 74 of the sheet suction holding unit 67 corresponds to the sheet 10 at the front of the suction duct 75, the sheet 10 is sucked by the suction window 74 and the suction The state where the front surface of the duct 75 is closed is maintained. Here, the suction duct 84 in the auxiliary suction means 84
Since the suction port area of the suction duct 75 in the vacuum suction means 68 is formed larger than the suction port area of “a”,
When the separation supply belt 67 is rotated, the vacuum suction means 68
Due to the large suction force generated by the (intake duct 75), the preceding sheet 10 is fed out while being adsorbed by the intake window 74. ((Adsorption power) = (Suction port internal pressure) x (Suction port area)). (3) Further, since the preceding paper sheet 10 is attracted to the separation / supply belt 67 by the vacuum suction means 68 (the suction duct 75) and is fed out, when separation from the bundle of the paper sheets 10 is started, the auxiliary suction means Since the closed state of the intake duct 84a at 84 is released, a slight atmospheric pressure release occurs,
The internal pressure decreases. Therefore, the work of releasing the preceding paper sheet 10 from the suction force of the auxiliary suction means 84 is performed smoothly. (4) One moment later, the following paper sheet 10 sent by the transfer belt means 43A and 43B and the auxiliary transfer belt means 44A and 44B of the sheet transfer means 12 and the second sheet transfer means 16 and the like. Abuts on the auxiliary contact surface 80. Therefore, both are in a sealed state, and the internal pressure of both is in a state of equilibrium with a large value. As a result, the succeeding paper sheet sucked by the suction duct 84a is held (held) so as not to be fed at an unstable timing, and the preceding paper sheet 10 to be fed is separated and supplied by a large force. Done. That is, the valve is substantially opened and closed using the paper sheet 10 and controlled.

By the way, when a plurality of sheets 10 are bundled and thrown in the loading section 11 of the sheet feeding section 1, the partitioning arm 19 and the partitioning arm 1 are placed in an upright position.
9 and the partition arm 19 (1
8a, 18b and 18a, 18b). If the paper sheet 10 is not detected by the paper sheet arrival detecting means 106 or the negative pressure detecting means 109 at the paper sheet unreeling position 8, the paper sheet transport means 12 and the second paper sheet transport means The sixteen transfer belt means 43A and 43B and the auxiliary transfer belt means 44A and 44B move at a faster speed than usual. At this time, the paper sheets 10 inserted into the insertion section 11 are aligned by the vibration of the paper sheet vibration means 15 on the way, while the paper sheets 10 are being moved by the paper sheet transfer means 12 and the second paper sheet transfer means 16. By the transfer belt means 43A, 43B and the auxiliary transfer belt means 44A, 44B, the sheet is conveyed toward the paper feeding position 8 by fast-forward while standing. The paper sheet 10 is fast-forwarded to the paper sheet unreeling position 8 and the paper sheet arrival detecting means 106 or the negative pressure detecting means 1
09, the transport belt means 43A, 43B and the auxiliary transport belt means 44A, 44B of the paper sheet transporting means 12, the second paper sheet transporting means 16, and the sheet feeding operation in the separation / feed unit 63. And the feedback control is performed.

On the other hand, as described above, the paper sheet 10 arrives at the paper sheet feeding position 8 and the paper sheet arrival detecting means 106
Alternatively, the separation / supply belt 67 in the separation / supply unit 63 keeps the sheet 10
Is stopped by closing the suction hole 75 so as not to accidentally jump into the suction hole 75 from a distance and be separated and fed out,
The output of the vacuum pump 78 is suppressed (low-speed operation). As described above, when the vacuum suction is not actually required, by suppressing the output of the vacuum pump 78, unnecessary noise can be reduced and power consumption can be suppressed. At the same time, the load on the vacuum pump 78 is reduced, so that the life can be extended. Then, when the paper sheet 10 arrives at the paper sheet unreeling position 8 and is detected by the paper sheet arrival detecting means 106, the output suppression of the vacuum pump 78 is released, the operation is returned to the normal operation, and the separation is performed. By rotating the supply belt 67, an operation of separating and feeding the paper sheet 10 is performed. Also, when both the intake port of the intake duct 75 and the intake port of the intake duct 84 are closed and the internal pressure increases sharply and is detected by the negative pressure detecting means 109, the paper sheet 10 is It is determined that it has arrived at the feed-out position 8, and the output suppression of the vacuum pump 78 is released to return to the normal operation.
By rotating the separation belt 67, a separation and feeding operation of the paper sheet 10 is performed.

The subsequent control includes the processing (pattern A) when the paper sheet 10 sent to the feeding position is detected by the paper sheet arrival detecting means 106, and the processing of the paper sheet arrival detecting means 10
6, the processing (pattern B) when it is detected that the paper sheet is excessively pressed by the paper sheet excessively detecting means 105, and the negative pressure gauge 87 is not detected by the paper sheet arrival detecting means 106 but exceeds the specified value. There is a process (pattern C) when a negative pressure value is presented and detected by the negative pressure detecting means 109. The processing in each of the patterns A, B, and C will be described below.

(Pattern A) When the sheet 10 is sent to the sheet feeding position 8 and the contact 92 is pressed, the contact 9
2 retracts, the light-shielding plate 92a enters the sensor 93, and from the output information, the sheet
Is being transferred to the paper sheet feeding position 8. The sheet 10 is detected by the sheet arrival detecting means 106.
Is detected, the speed of the transfer of the sheet transfer means 12 and the second sheet transfer means 16 by the transfer belt means 43A and 43B and the transfer by the auxiliary transfer belt means 44A and 44B is controlled by the separation and supply belt 67. The speed returns to the normal speed synchronized with the feeding operation of the paper sheet 10. At the same time, the suppression of the operation of the vacuum pump 78 is released, the separation / feeding belt 67 is rotated, and the sheet 1 is held by the sheet suction holding section 67b.
Transport belt means 9 of the paper sheet transport means 4
5a and 95b. Then, the paper sheet 10 passing between the belt means 95a and 95b of the paper sheet transporting means 4 detects the thickness on the way from the output information obtained by the paper sheet thickness detection sensor 79, and according to this thickness, The system control unit 100 executes the above-described feedback control by correcting the transfer speed of the transfer belt units 43A and 43B of the sheet transfer unit 12 and the second sheet transfer unit 16. Here, the feeding speeds of the paper sheet transporting means 12 and the second paper sheet transporting means 16 by the transport belt means 43A and 43B are the same, and are adjusted to the feeding ability of the separation and supply belt 67. In addition, the sheet 1 by the separation feeding belt 67 is used.
If unsuccessful feeding of the sheet is failed, the sheet transport means 12
And the transfer belt means 43A of the second paper sheet transfer means 16,
43B, the auxiliary transfer belt means 44
The reverse rotation of A and 44B by fast-forwarding is performed for a predetermined time, the paper sheet 10 is once separated from the belt contact surface 67a, and the feeding operation by the separation / supply belt 67 is performed again. If this dispensing operation has failed several times, an alarm is issued to instruct the worker on necessary processing.

(Pattern B) At the sheet feeding position 8,
When the contact 92 is pushed more than necessary by the sheet 10 and the light-shielding plate 92b enters the sensor 94, the sheet 10 is pushed more than necessary at the sheet feeding position 8 from this output information. Can be recognized by the over-press detection means 105. Then, the system control unit 100 controls the transfer belt unit 43 of the sheet transfer unit 12 and the second sheet transfer unit 16.
A, 43B and auxiliary transfer belt means 44A, 4
The transfer by 4B is stopped, and the sheet 10 is fed out by the separation and supply belt 67. Here, if the feeding of the paper sheet 10 by the separation / supply belt 67 is successful, the paper sheet 10 is transferred to the transport belt unit 95 similarly to the pattern A.
a and 95b, and the sheet thickness is detected by the sheet thickness detection sensor 79 on the way, and is sent downstream. On the other hand, when the feeding operation of the paper sheet 10 by the separation / supply belt 67 fails, the auxiliary transfer belt is stopped while the transfer belt means 43A and 43B of the paper sheet transfer means 12 and the second paper sheet transfer means 16 are stopped. The means 44A and 44B perform fast-forward reverse rotation for a certain period of time, so that the paper sheet 10 is once separated from the belt contact surface 67a, and the separation / feed belt 6
7 is performed. If this dispensing operation has failed several times, an alarm is issued to instruct the worker on necessary processing.

(Pattern C) Since the paper sheet 10 has been transferred to the paper sheet feeding position 8 while being shifted from the position of the contact element 92, the contact element 92 is not pressed, and the paper sheet arrival detecting means 106 is not pressed.
Even if the paper sheet 10 is not detected by the
When 0 is in contact with the auxiliary contact surface 80, the negative pressure in the suction duct 84a in the separation auxiliary section 64 becomes equal to or higher than a specified value. Therefore, when the negative pressure obtained from the negative pressure gauge 87 is equal to or less than the specified value, it is determined that the paper sheet 10 has not been sent to the paper sheet feeding position 8 and the separation feeding belt 67 is determined.
And the vacuum pump 78 is shifted to the standby state. If the negative pressure exceeds the specified value, it is determined that the paper sheet 10 has been sent, and the paper sheet transporting means 12 and the second paper sheet transport Means 1
While the transfer by the transfer belt means 43A and 43B and the transfer by the auxiliary transfer belt means 44A and 44B are stopped, the paper sheet 10 is fed out by the separation and supply belt 67. Thereafter, as in the case of the pattern A, the sheet 10 is sent between the conveying belt means 95a and 95b, and the sheet thickness is detected by the sheet thickness detection sensor 79 on the way, and is sent downstream. Other operations are the same as those of the pattern A.

[0059]

As described above, according to the present invention, the thickness of a sheet fed from the sheet feeding position by the separation / feeding belt is detected, and the sheet transferring means transfers the sheet to the sheet. Since the feedback control that corrects the speed of feeding to the kind feeding position according to the thickness is applied, the force at which the sheets touch each other at the sheet feeding position is set to a predetermined value or less, and the separation and feeding belt is stably sucked. Can be fed out. That is, since the papers do not become dense or the papers are excessively pushed at the paper feeding position, the papers are not pressed excessively, and the papers are pressed too much by the preceding papers. Since the papers in the input area are always transported toward the separation and feeding position by the thickness of the fed papers, waste time does not occur in the separation and feeding, and paper An object of the present invention is to provide a paper sheet separation and supply device having an excellent effect that separation and feeding of leaves are performed smoothly.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing the overall configuration of a paper sheet sorting system according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a plan view showing the overall configuration of the paper sheet sorting system according to the embodiment.

FIG. 3 is a schematic configuration diagram of the paper sheet sorting system according to the present embodiment as seen from the side while seeing through the inside;

FIG. 4 is a perspective view showing a main structure of a paper sheet supply unit of the paper sheet sorting system according to the embodiment.

FIG. 5 is a perspective view showing a main structure of the paper sheet sorting system according to the embodiment;

FIG. 6 is a perspective view showing a main part structure of a charging section in the present embodiment.

FIG. 7 is a schematic sectional view taken along line AA of FIG. 6;

FIG. 8 is an overall perspective view of a sheet transporting means in the present embodiment.

FIG. 9 is a perspective view showing a main structure of a sheet transporting means according to the embodiment.

FIG. 10 is a front view showing the main structure of the paper sheet transporting means according to the embodiment.

FIG. 11 is an exploded perspective view showing the structure of a main part of the paper sheet transporting means in the present embodiment.

FIG. 12 is a side view of a partition arm portion of the sheet transporting means according to the embodiment.

FIG. 13 is a perspective view of a partition arm portion of the paper sheet transport means in the present embodiment.

FIG. 14 is a perspective view of a partition arm of the paper sheet transporting means in the embodiment.

FIG. 15 is an exploded perspective view of a partition arm portion of the sheet transporting means according to the embodiment.

FIG. 16 is an operation diagram of a partition arm unit in the present embodiment.

FIG. 17 is an operation diagram of a partition arm unit in the present embodiment.

FIG. 18 is a perspective view showing a configuration of a main part of a charging unit in the present embodiment.

FIG. 19 is an exploded perspective view of sheet vibration in the present embodiment.

FIG. 20 is a diagram schematically illustrating a peripheral structure of a paper sheet separation and supply device according to the present embodiment.

FIG. 21 is an overall perspective view of a paper sheet separation and supply device in the present embodiment.

FIG. 22 is a front view of the paper sheet separation and supply device in the present embodiment.

FIG. 23 is a top view of the paper sheet separation and supply device in the present embodiment.

FIG. 24 is a perspective view showing a main structure of a separation assisting unit according to the present embodiment.

FIG. 25 is a sectional view taken along line BB of FIG. 24;

FIG. 26 is a sectional view taken along line CC of FIG. 24;

FIG. 27 is an explanatory diagram of a posture defect detection operation in the present embodiment.

FIG. 28 is a block diagram showing a circuit configuration of the entire sheet conveying apparatus of the sheet sorting system according to the present embodiment;

FIG. 29 is a flowchart showing a process of a main part operation of the paper sheet sorting system according to the embodiment;

FIG. 30 is a schematic diagram showing a main structure of a paper sheet separation and supply device according to the present embodiment.

[Explanation of symbols]

 REFERENCE SIGNS LIST 1 sheet feeding section 2 reading section 3 sheet sorting section 3 a sorting / stacking section 4 sheet conveying means 5 transfer trolley 6 storage shelf 8 sheet feeding position 9 sheet separating / supplying device 10 sheet 11 Injection unit 12 Sheet transfer means 63 Separation and supply unit 79 Thickness detection sensor 80 Auxiliary suction window (Auxiliary contact surface) 84 Auxiliary suction means 84a Suction duct 92 Contact 93 93 Sheet detection sensor 94 Over-press detection sensor 95a, 95b Conveying belt means 100 System control unit 105 Over-pressing detection means 106 Sheet detection means 113 Sheet thickness detection means

 ──────────────────────────────────────────────────続 き Continuing on the front page (72) Inventor Akihiko Nakamoto 4-3-1 Tsunashima Higashi, Kohoku-ku, Yokohama-shi, Kanagawa Prefecture Inside Matsushita Communication Industrial Co., Ltd. (72) Inventor Nobuo Shibata Tsunashima-Higashi, Kohoku-ku, Yokohama, Kanagawa Prefecture 4-3-1, Matsushita Communication Industrial Co., Ltd. F-term (reference) 3F048 AA09 AB04 BA06 CA02 DA01 DA06 EA15 EB02 EB21 3F079 AA02 AA03 BA03 BA06 BA09 BA11 CA02 CA03 CA06 DA12 DA15 DA16 DA33 EA02 EA14 EA16 3F343 FA17 GB01 GC01 GD01 HD15 JB05 LC05 LC08 LC09 MA27 MC09 MC13 MC23

Claims (3)

[Claims] 1. A paper sheet transporting means for feeding a plurality of paper sheets fed from an input port to a paper sheet feeding position in an upright position, and wherein the paper sheets sent to the paper sheet feeding position are A separation / supply unit that has a rotating separation / supply belt that is in contact with the separation unit, the separation / supply unit that sequentially feeds the sheets one by one to the downstream side one by one with the rotation of the separation / supply belt, A sheet thickness detecting unit for detecting the thickness of the sheet, controlling the feeding of the sheet by the sheet transporting unit and the feeding of the sheet by the separation and supply unit, and Control means for correcting a feed speed of the paper sheet by the paper sheet transfer means in accordance with output information of the sheet thickness detection means. 2. A paper sheet transporting means for transporting the paper sheet immediately after being fed out from the separation and supply section between a pair of belts and transporting the paper sheet further downstream, wherein the paper sheet thickness detecting means is provided. The paper sheet transfer device according to claim 1, wherein the paper sheet transfer device is provided. 3. When the paper sheet is not present at the paper sheet feeding position, the paper sheet transfer means fast-forwards the paper sheet inserted into the insertion port toward the paper sheet feeding position. The paper sheet transporting device in the paper sheet sorting system according to claim 1, further comprising a control unit that performs the control.