JP2007022696A - Paper feeding device and gathering device - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To shorten the time of adjustment of paper feeding conditions by adjusting the paper feeding conditions based on stored paper feeding condition information. <P>SOLUTION: On a paper feeding stand 10, a sheet bundle is loaded. A paper feeding device 60 feeds paper sheets one by one from the sheet bundle loaded on the paper feeding stand 10. A paper sensor 58 detects a paper feeding error of the paper feeding device 60. When the paper feeding error is detected by the paper sensor 58, a paper feeding pressure adjustment device 52 and a separating pressure adjustment device 54 respectively adjust paper feeding pressure and separating pressure. A storage means stores information on the adjusted paper feeding pressure and separating pressure. An electronic control device accepts designation by a user of the information stored in the storage means. The paper feeding pressure adjustment device 52 and the separating pressure adjustment device 54 adjust the paper feeding pressure and the separating pressure based on the designated paper feeding condition information. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2007,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to a sheet feeding device and a collating device, and in particular, adjusts a sheet feeding condition in which a sheet feeding unit that feeds sheets one by one from a sheet bundle stacked on the sheet feeding table feeds sheets from the sheet bundle. The present invention relates to a sheet feeding device and a collating device having sheet feeding condition adjusting means.

In a sheet feeding device that feeds sheets one by one from a bundle of sheets, a so-called friction method or belt suction method is generally used. In such a sheet feeding device, various efforts have been made to suppress sheet feeding errors. For example, Patent Document 1 proposes a friction-type paper feeding device that adjusts the separation pressure by moving a forced pressure plate in the horizontal direction. For example, Patent Document 2 proposes a belt suction type paper feeding device that adjusts the amount of air blown to the end of a paper bundle and the height of a separating member for separating paper. For example, Patent Document 3 proposes a friction-type paper feeding device that controls the separation pressure in accordance with the double feed detection result.
Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 6-87544 JP 2002-226068 A JP 2003-261238 A

  For example, there are many cases in which paper is fed by a paper feeding device under the same paper feeding conditions as before, such as when a periodical is issued. On the other hand, even during that period, the paper feed conditions are usually changed every day in order to feed various paper. However, in the paper feeding device described in the above-mentioned patent document, once the adjusted paper feed condition is changed, it is difficult to readjust to the previously adjusted paper feed condition. For this reason, it takes a lot of adjustment time to adjust the paper feed conditions again as previously adjusted. Such an excessive adjustment time of the paper feed conditions may lead to a reduction in paper feed productivity.

  Accordingly, the present invention has been made in view of the above-described circumstances, and an object thereof is to shorten the adjustment time of paper feed conditions.

  In order to solve the above-described problems, a sheet feeding device according to an aspect of the present invention includes a sheet feeding table on which a sheet bundle is stacked, and a sheet feeding unit that feeds sheets one by one from the sheet bundle loaded on the sheet feeding table. And an error detection means for detecting a paper feed error of the paper feed means, and a paper feed means for adjusting a paper feed condition for feeding paper from the paper bundle when the paper feed error is detected by the error detection means. A sheet condition adjusting unit; and a storage unit that stores sheet condition information indicating the adjusted sheet condition so as to be recalled. According to this aspect, the paper feed condition can be adjusted based on the stored paper feed condition information, and the paper feed condition adjustment time can be shortened.

  There may be further provided a paper feed condition designating unit for accepting designation by the user of stored paper feed condition information to be called. The paper feed condition adjusting means may adjust the paper feed condition to the adjusted paper feed condition with reference to the designated paper feed condition information. According to this aspect, the paper feed condition can be automatically adjusted to the previously adjusted paper feed condition, so that the paper feed condition adjustment time can be shortened.

  When a paper feed error is detected by the error detection unit, the paper feed condition is adjusted by the paper feed condition adjusting unit, and the paper feed condition information indicating the adjusted paper feed condition is stored in the storage unit, and then error detection is performed. When a paper feed error is detected again by the means, the paper feed condition adjusting means may adjust the paper feed conditions based on the stored paper feed condition information. According to this aspect, it is possible to adjust the paper feed condition according to the adjustment value and the adjustment method performed for the paper feed error that has occurred previously. The paper feed condition adjusting means can quickly adjust to an appropriate paper feed condition in order to suppress paper feed errors, and can shorten the paper feed condition adjustment time.

  The paper feed means rotates while applying a paper feed pressure to the paper bundle loaded on the paper feed tray, and feeds the paper from the paper bundle, and applies a separation pressure to the paper fed by the paper feed roller. And a separation roller that rotates and separates the paper. The paper feed condition adjusting means may adjust the paper feed pressure or the separation pressure. According to this aspect, in the so-called friction type paper feeding device, it is possible to shorten the time for adjusting the paper feeding conditions.

  The paper feed condition adjusting means may be characterized in that when the paper feed pressure or the separation pressure is equal to or higher than a predetermined value, the paper feed pressure or the separation pressure higher than the predetermined value is excluded from the adjustment target. According to this aspect, it is possible to suppress an excessive increase in the sheet feeding pressure or the separation pressure, and it is possible to improve the reliability of the sheet feeding device.

  The paper feeding means includes an air suction means for sucking the uppermost sheet of the sheet bundle stacked on the paper feed base by sucking air, an air blowing means for blowing air to the end of the sheet bundle, and an air blowing means And a sheet conveying unit that holds the sheet sucked by the air suction unit and held on the sheet conveying surface in the sheet feeding direction. The paper feed condition adjusting means adjusts the air suction amount per unit time by the air suction means or adjusts the air blow amount per unit time by the air blowing means when a paper feed error is detected by the error detection means. Alternatively, the interval between the uppermost sheet of the sheet bundle and the sheet conveying surface may be adjusted. According to this aspect, even in the so-called belt suction type paper feeding device, it is possible to shorten the time for adjusting the paper feeding conditions.

  The paper feeding means sucks air to suck the uppermost sheet of the stack of papers stacked on the paper feed table, and holds the paper sucked by the air suction means on the paper transport surface. A sheet conveying unit that conveys the sheet in the paper direction. The paper feed condition adjusting means may adjust the distance between the paper holding surface and the separation member by moving the separation member forward and backward toward the paper holding surface when a paper feed error is detected by the error detection means. According to this aspect, the paper feed condition can be adjusted by adjusting the distance between the paper holding surface and the separating member.

  You may further provide the paper information input means which receives the input by the user of paper information. The paper feed condition adjusting means may adjust the paper feed conditions according to the inputted paper information. According to this aspect, when the user inputs the paper information, the paper feeding device can be adjusted in advance to the paper feeding conditions corresponding to the paper information. For this reason, the paper feed condition adjusting means can quickly adjust to an appropriate paper feed condition in order to suppress a paper feed error, and can shorten the time for adjusting the paper feed condition.

  Another embodiment of the present invention is also a paper feeding device. The apparatus includes a paper feed tray on which a stack of paper is stacked, a paper feed unit that feeds paper one by one from the paper bundle stacked on the paper feed tray, and a paper feed unit that feeds paper from the paper bundle. Paper condition input means that accepts user input of paper conditions, paper condition adjustment means that adjusts the paper condition to the input paper conditions, and paper condition information that indicates the adjusted paper conditions can be called Storage means for storing the data. According to this aspect, it is possible to adjust again to the paper feed conditions input by the user, and it is possible to shorten the time for adjusting the paper feed conditions.

  Yet another aspect of the present invention is a collating apparatus. This apparatus is provided corresponding to each of a plurality of paper feed trays for stacking paper bundles and a plurality of paper feed stands, and feeds paper one by one from the paper bundles stacked on the paper feed stands. An error detecting means for detecting a paper feeding error of the paper feeding means, and provided for each of the plurality of paper feeding stands, by the error detecting means. When a paper feed error is detected, the paper feed unit feeds paper feed condition adjustment means for adjusting the paper feed conditions for feeding paper from the paper bundle and paper feed condition information indicating the adjusted paper feed conditions. Storage means for storing in association with the paper feed means in which an error has been detected, and batch designation means for accepting batch designation by the user of the paper feed condition information of a plurality of paper feed trays. The paper feed condition adjusting means adjusts the paper feed conditions of each of the plurality of paper feed bases to the adjusted paper feed conditions from the collectively designated paper feed condition information. According to this aspect, in the collating apparatus having a plurality of paper feed trays, the paper feed conditions of the plurality of paper feed trays can be adjusted by collectively specifying one paper feed condition information. Adjustment time can be shortened.

  According to the present invention, it is possible to shorten the adjustment time of the paper feed conditions.

  Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention (hereinafter referred to as embodiments) will be described in detail with reference to the drawings.

(First embodiment)
FIG. 1 is an overall configuration diagram of a sheet feeding device 60 according to the first embodiment. The paper feeding device 60 includes a paper feeding table 10, a roller 28, a separation pad 30, and the like, and feeds the uppermost sheet of the sheet bundle placed on the paper feeding table 10 from the paper feeding table 10 one by one. Make paper.

  The paper feed table 10 has a paper placement surface 10a on the upper surface, and a paper bundle for feeding paper is placed on the paper placement surface 10a. The paper feed table 10 is rotatably inserted into the rotary shaft 12 on the upstream side in the paper feed direction, which is the left direction in the drawing (hereinafter, simply referred to as “upstream side”). A stopper (not shown) is provided below the sheet feed table 10 to prevent the sheet feed table 10 from rotating downward beyond a predetermined angle. This stopper is placed when the paper feed table 10 is rotated so that the downstream side in the paper feed direction of the paper feed table 10 (hereinafter referred to as “downstream side” at the end) is at the lowest position. The surface 10a is disposed so as to be gently inclined downward in the paper feeding direction. Further, on the downstream side from the paper feed tray 10, a paper regulation plate 48 that locks the downstream end portion of the paper stack placed on the paper feed tray 10 is provided. Therefore, when a sheet bundle is placed on the inclined sheet placement surface 10a, the placed sheet bundle is moved toward the sheet regulation plate 48 by gravity. For this reason, the end portion of the sheet bundle is adjusted, and the sheet can be easily fed from the sheet bundle. As the sheets of the sheet bundle placed on the sheet feed table 10 are fed, and the remaining amount of the sheet bundle placed on the sheet feed table 10 decreases, the inclination angle of the sheet placement surface 10a also becomes gentle. When the remaining amount placed on the paper feed tray 10 becomes zero, the paper placement surface 10 a comes into contact with the roller 28.

  A paper feed pressure adjusting device 52 as a paper feed pressure adjusting means for adjusting the paper feed pressure applied to the paper bundle by the roller 28 is provided on the rear side of the paper feed tray 10. The paper feed pressure adjusting device 52 includes the motor 14, the adjustment shaft 22, the spring 26, and the like. One end of an adjustment shaft 22 is fixed to the motor shaft 20 so that the motor shaft 20 can rotate together with the motor shaft 20. A hook 24 is provided at the other end of the adjustment shaft 22. On the other hand, a hook 25 is provided at the approximate center of the sheet feeding direction on the rear surface of the sheet feeding table 10. Both ends of the spring 26 are hooked on the hook 24 and the hook 25, respectively. The spring 26 applies a tensile force between the hook 24 and the hook 25. Accordingly, when the hook 24 is positioned above the hook 25, the paper feed table 10 is biased upward by the spring 26.

  A roller 28 is provided on the upper downstream side of the paper feed tray 10. The roller 28 urges the paper feed table 10 upward to sandwich the paper bundle between the paper placement surface 10a and the roller 28, and applies a paper feed pressure to the paper bundle. The roller 28 is fixed to a roller shaft 29, and the roller 28, which is driven by a motor (not shown), is driven. As a result, the paper feeding device 60 applies the paper feeding pressure to the paper placed on the paper feeding base 10 and drives the roller 28 to thereby remove the uppermost paper of the paper placed on the paper feeding base 10. Feed paper. Therefore, the roller 28 has a function as a paper feed roller that feeds the topmost paper placed on the paper feed tray 10.

  The sheet feeding pressure applied to the sheet bundle increases as the angle between the direction in which the spring 26 biases the sheet feeding table 10 and the sheet placing surface 10a approaches 90 °, and decreases as the angle approaches 0 °. This angle can be changed by the motor 14 driving the adjustment shaft 22. Accordingly, the paper feed pressure adjusting device 52 adjusts the angle formed between the direction in which the spring 26 urges the paper feed table 10 and the paper placement surface 10a by driving the adjustment shaft 22 by the motor 14, and gives the paper bundle to the paper bundle. Adjust the paper feed pressure.

  A stepping motor is employed as the motor 14. On the motor shaft 20 of the motor 14, a slit plate 16 provided with slits around the entire outer periphery is fixed so as to be rotatable together with the motor shaft 20. The sensor unit 18 detects the home position of the motor 14 by detecting the slit of the slit plate 16.

  A separation pad 30 that separates the overlapped sheets together with the rollers 28 is provided on the downstream side of the sheet feed table 10 and below the rollers 28. A roller shaft 29 to which the roller 28 is fixed is rotatably attached to a frame (not shown) of the paper feeding device 60 via a sliding member such as a bearing. Accordingly, the roller 28 is configured so that its position does not fluctuate even if the paper 28 is supplied with the paper feeding pressure and the separation pressure by the roller 28. The separation pad 30 is fixed to a holder 32 as support means for supporting the separation pad 30. The holder 32 has a shaft hole 32 a on the downstream side, and the rotation shaft 36 is inserted into the shaft hole 32 a so that the holder 32 can rotate about the rotation shaft 36. For this reason, the separation pad 30 can be moved together with the roller 28 in the direction of sandwiching the paper. In this way, the holder 32 is pressed and supported from below, so that a separation pressure is applied to the paper sandwiched between the roller 28 and the separation pad 30. Therefore, in this embodiment, the roller 28 not only functions as a paper feed roller but also functions as a separation roller that separates the paper together with the separation pad 30. Needless to say, in order to separate the respective functions, the paper feed roller and the separation roller may be provided separately.

  The separation pad 30 is made of urethane rubber or artificial leather such as Clarino. On the other hand, in order to separate the paper satisfactorily, the roller 28 is generally formed of silicon rubber, natural rubber, ethylene propylene rubber (EPDM) or the like which is an elastic body having a higher friction coefficient with the paper than the separation pad 30. Is done. In addition, you may give the process which raises a friction coefficient to the surface. The process for increasing the friction coefficient means, for example, a case where an uneven portion is provided on the surface of the roller 28.

  A separation pressure adjusting device 54 is provided below the holder 32. The separation pressure adjusting device 54 applies a separation pressure to the paper sandwiched between the roller 28 and the separation pad 30 by pressing the sliding portion 34 provided on the lower side of the holder 32. The separation pressure adjusting device 54 includes a motor 38, a slit plate 40, a motor shaft 42, a gear 44, an adjusting member 46, and the like.

  The paper separated by the roller 28 and the separation pad 30 is transported on the paper transport plate 50 and passes through a paper sensor 58 that functions as a paper feed error detecting means for detecting a paper feed error. The paper sensor 58 is composed of an optical sensor, and detects the timing at which the paper is conveyed and the light transmission amount of the paper. Since the paper sensor 58 does not detect the paper at a predetermined timing, it is possible to detect the paper advance. For this reason, the paper sensor 58 functions as a pre-feed detection means. Further, by detecting that the light transmission amount of the paper conveyed by the paper sensor 58 is lower than a predetermined value, it is possible to detect double feeding of paper. For this reason, the paper sensor 58 also functions as a double feed detection unit.

  FIG. 2 is an overall configuration diagram of the separation pressure adjusting device 54 according to the first embodiment viewed from the direction of arrow A in FIG. The sliding part 34 provided in the holder 32 is formed in a spherical shape. The adjusting member 46 of the separation pressure adjusting device 54 has an inclined portion 46 a that contacts the sliding portion 34. For this reason, the force which presses the sliding part 34 can be adjusted because the adjustment member 46 moves on the flame | frame 56 in a horizontal direction.

  A rack gear 46 b is formed on the adjustment member 46. On the other hand, a motor 38 is provided around the rack gear 46b. A gear 44 is fixed to the motor shaft 42 of the motor 38, and the gear portion 44a of the gear 44 and the gear portion 46c of the rack gear 46b are engaged with each other. As a result, the separation pressure adjusting device 54 can adjust the separation pressure by moving the adjusting member 46 in the front-rear direction of the device by operating the motor 38 and changing the force with which the separation pad 30 presses the roller 28. it can.

  A stepping motor is adopted as the motor 38. On the motor shaft of the motor 38, a slit plate 40 provided with slits around the entire outer periphery is fixed so as to be rotatable together with the motor shaft. The sensor unit 39 detects the home position of the motor 38 by detecting the slit of the slit plate 40.

  FIG. 3 is a functional block diagram of the electronic control device 100 according to the first embodiment. The electronic control device 100 is provided in the paper feeding device 60 and stores a ROM 302 as a storage unit for storing programs and the like, a RAM 304 for temporarily storing data, a calculation unit 306 for performing various calculations, data, and the like. A storage unit 308 and the like are included. The storage unit 308 has a task storage unit 316 for storing tasks.

  The electronic control device 100 is connected to the paper sensor 58, and the detection result detected by the paper sensor 58 is input to the electronic control device 100. The electronic control device 100 determines whether a paper feed error has occurred in the paper feed device 60 based on the detection result of the paper sensor 58. Specifically, if no paper is detected by the paper sensor 58 at a predetermined timing, it is determined that a pre-feed has occurred. If the light transmission amount of the paper detected by the paper sensor 58 is lower than a predetermined value, it is determined that double feeding has occurred.

  The electronic control device 100 is connected to an operation panel 314 provided in the paper feeding device 60 and accepts an input to the operation panel 314 by a user. In the present embodiment, a touch panel type liquid crystal display is adopted as the operation panel 314, and numbers and other characters can be input.

  The electronic control device 100 also includes a paper feed pressure control unit 310 that controls the paper feed pressure adjustment device 52 and a separation pressure control unit 312 that controls the separation pressure adjustment device 54. The paper feed pressure control unit 310 receives an input of the detection result of the home position of the motor shaft 20 of the motor 14 from the paper feed pressure adjustment device 52. The paper feed pressure control unit 310 calculates a rotation angle from the home position of the motor shaft 20 necessary for setting the target paper feed pressure. The paper feed pressure control unit 310 calculates the number of pulses to be input to the motor 14 in order to rotate the motor shaft 20 by the calculated rotation angle. The paper feed pressure control unit 310 adjusts the paper feed pressure by inputting a pulse signal having the calculated number of pulses to the motor 14.

  The separation pressure control unit 312 receives the detection result of the home position of the motor shaft 42 of the motor 38 from the separation pressure adjustment device 54. The separation pressure control unit 312 calculates a rotation angle of the motor shaft 42 from the home position that is necessary to obtain a target separation pressure. The paper feed pressure control unit 310 calculates the number of pulses to be input to the motor 38 in order to rotate the motor shaft 42 by the calculated rotation angle. The separation pressure control unit 312 adjusts the separation pressure by inputting a pulse signal having the calculated number of pulses to the motor 38.

  FIG. 4 is a flowchart illustrating processing for adjusting the paper feed conditions of the paper feed device 60 according to the first embodiment. The processing in this flowchart starts when the power supply of the sheet feeding device 60 is turned on.

  When the power supply of the paper feeding device 60 is turned on by the user, the electronic control device 100 performs initial adjustment of the paper feeding pressure and the separation pressure (S11). The paper feed pressure adjusting device 52 and the separation pressure adjusting device 54 are paper feed pressures suitable for paper that is most commonly used for initial adjustment, for example, plain paper, when the paper feed device 60 is powered on. And adjust to separation pressure. Further, the user can input sheet information indicating the sheet type from the operation panel 314 as an external condition that is a condition that changes the occurrence state of the sheet feeding error of the sheet feeding device 60. The paper feed pressure adjusting device 52 and the separation pressure adjusting device 54 can be adjusted to the paper feed pressure and the separation pressure suitable for the external conditions input by the user in this way. Therefore, the operation panel 314 functions as an input unit that receives input of such external conditions by the user. Further, the paper feed pressure adjusting device 52 and the separation pressure adjusting device 54 can also adjust the paper feed pressure and the separation pressure to the initial adjustment values previously input by the user on the operation panel 314. Further, the paper feed pressure adjusting device 52 and the separation pressure adjusting device 54 can be adjusted to the paper feed pressure and the separation pressure when the power was last turned off by being selected by the user through the operation panel 314.

In the present embodiment, the user can use the operation panel 314 as the paper information, such as “thick paper, plain paper, thin paper” or the like, “coated paper, art paper, matte paper, high-quality paper, medium-size paper”, or the like. Paper quality information can be entered. In addition to this, the user can also input density information such as size information as a paper size and a continuous amount (g / m ² ) as paper information from the operation panel 314. By inputting the paper information in advance, the paper feed pressure adjusting device 52 and the separation pressure adjusting device 54 set the paper feed conditions such as the paper feed pressure and the separation pressure to the paper feed conditions suitable for the paper of the paper information. Can be adjusted. For this reason, subsequent paper feed errors can be reduced, and the time for adjusting the paper feed conditions can be shortened. The “paper feed conditions suitable for paper” refers to typical paper feed conditions such as paper feed pressure and separation pressure suitable for the paper. As a result, it is possible to quickly adjust to the optimum paper feed pressure and separation pressure by automatic adjustment after the paper feed start, which will be described later, and the time for adjusting the paper feed conditions can be shortened.

  After the initial adjustment, the user can input paper information using the operation panel 314 (S12). Therefore, the operation panel 314 functions as a paper information input unit that accepts input of paper information by the user. The paper information is the same as the paper information described in S11. When the input of paper information by the user is accepted by the operation panel 314, the input paper information is input to the electronic control device 100. When the input of paper information by the user is accepted (Y in S12), the electronic control unit 100 adjusts the paper feed pressure and the separation pressure suitable for the paper of the input paper information (S13). Thus, when the user inputs paper information to the operation panel 314, the paper feeding pressure and separation pressure of the paper feeding device 60 can be adjusted to the paper feeding pressure and separation pressure more suitable for the paper.

  Further, after the initial adjustment, the user can designate and call the task information stored in the task storage unit 316 using the operation panel 314 (S14). This task information includes the adjustment value of the feed pressure or separation pressure that has been adjusted before. For this reason, the operation panel 314 functions as a paper feed condition designating unit that accepts designation of stored paper feed condition information by the user. When designation of a task by the user is accepted by the operation panel 314, information indicating the designated task information is input to the electronic control device 100. When the designation of task information by the user is accepted (Y in S14), the electronic control unit 100 refers to the designated task information and supplies the sheet feed pressure or the separation pressure adjusted previously. The paper pressure adjustment device 52 or the separation pressure adjustment device 54 adjusts the paper feed pressure and the separation pressure. As a result, it is possible to shorten the time for adjusting to the previously adjusted paper feed conditions and improve the paper feed productivity. When both the paper information input and the task information designation by the user are not accepted (N in S12, N in S14), the electronic control unit 100 maintains the paper feed pressure and the separation pressure as the initial adjustment values. .

  In the present embodiment, as will be described later, the user can store the adjustment values of the feeding pressure and the separation pressure, which are automatically adjusted or adjusted by the user by inputting numerical values, in the storage unit 308 as task information. it can. As for this task information, the user can specify the task information on the operation panel 314. For this reason, when the user selects a task (Y in S14), the paper feed pressure adjustment device 52 and the separation pressure adjustment device 54 use the adjustment values included in the task information designated by the user for the paper feed pressure and separation. The pressure is adjusted (S15). As a result, the paper feed conditions can be adjusted again with the adjustment values automatically adjusted or adjusted by the user. For this reason, it is possible to reproduce paper feed pressure and separation pressure adjusted to reduce paper feed errors such as idle feed and double feed in the past by feeding similar paper, reducing paper feed errors In addition, the adjustment time of the sheet feeding pressure and the separation pressure can be shortened.

  When the paper feed pressure and the separation pressure are adjusted to any of the adjustment values, the user can start paper feed by pressing a start button (not shown) (S16). When a paper feed start input by the user is received, the electronic control device 100 performs an automatic adjustment process described later (S17). In this automatic adjustment process, the feed pressure and separation pressure are adjusted to reduce subsequent feed errors each time a feed error such as idle feed or double feed occurs, so that the optimum feed for the currently fed paper is achieved. A process of gradually adjusting the paper pressure and the separation pressure is performed.

  After the automatic adjustment process is executed, the user can input an instruction to store the adjusted paper feed conditions as task information using the operation panel 314 (S18). Therefore, this task information is used as paper feed condition information indicating a paper feed condition that has been adjusted before. The operation panel 314 functions as a storage condition information storage instruction unit. When the user inputs an instruction to store the paper feed conditions adjusted using the operation panel 314 as task information, the user enters an arbitrary name in the task information, for example, using the name or date of the paper that has been fed. can do. In addition, accompanying information such as the fed paper information can be stored in association with the task information. When there is a task saving instruction from the user (Y in S18), the electronic control unit 100 stores the adjusted paper feed pressure and separation pressure as task information in association with each other so as to be callable (S19). . Thus, by specifying and calling the task information stored in the task storage unit 316, it is possible to readjust the paper feed conditions such as the paper feed pressure and the separation pressure to the previously adjusted paper feed conditions, It is possible to shorten the adjustment time of the paper feed conditions.

  In this case, the electronic control unit 100 adjusts the rotation angle from the home position of the motor shaft 20 necessary for adjusting the sheet feeding pressure by the sheet feeding pressure adjusting device 52 or the sheet feeding pressure adjustment to adjust the sheet feeding pressure. The number of pulses of the pulse signal input to the motor of the device 52 is stored as an adjustment value of the paper feed pressure. In addition, the electronic control unit 100 is provided with the motor of the separation pressure adjusting device 54 for adjusting the rotation angle from the home position of the motor shaft 42 necessary for adjusting the separation pressure by the separation pressure adjusting device 54 or the separation pressure. The number of pulses of the input pulse signal is stored as a separation pressure adjustment value. If there is no task saving instruction from the user (N in S18), the electronic control unit 100 skips saving the task.

  The electronic control unit 100 monitors whether or not the power supply of the paper feeding device 60 is turned off (S20), and when the power is turned off (N in S20), the paper feeding pressure and the separation pressure are released (S21). ). Thereby, the reliability of the paper feed pressure adjusting device 52 and the separation pressure adjusting device 54 can be improved. The electronic control device 100 accepts paper information input, task selection, or paper feed start input until the power of the paper feed device 60 is turned off.

  FIG. 5 is a flowchart showing in detail the automatic adjustment process of S17 of FIG. 4 in the first embodiment. The processing in this flowchart starts after a paper feed start is input and is repeated until the paper feed is completed or until paper feed is interrupted due to a paper feed error.

  When receiving an input of paper feed start, the electronic control unit 100 determines whether or not a paper feed error due to idle feeding has occurred (S31). The determination as to whether or not the pre-feed has occurred is made based on whether or not the paper is detected by the paper sensor 58 at a predetermined timing.

  If it is determined that a paper feed error has occurred due to idle feeding (Y in S31), the electronic control unit 100 performs idle feeding adjustment processing (S32). If it is determined that no paper feed error due to idle feeding has occurred (N in S31), the electronic control unit 100 determines whether or not a paper feeding error has occurred due to double feeding (S33). Whether or not double feeding has occurred is determined by detecting the amount of light transmitted through the paper sensor 58 by the paper sensor 58. In this case, when the amount of light transmitted through the paper sensor 58 is lower than a predetermined value, it is determined that double feeding is performed.

  When it is determined that the double feed is made (Y in S33), the electronic control unit 100 performs a double feed adjustment process (S34). If it is determined that no paper feed error due to idle feeding or double feeding has occurred (N in S33), the electronic control unit 100 repeats the processing in this flowchart until paper feeding is completed.

  FIG. 6 is a flowchart showing in detail the idle feed adjustment process in S32 of FIG. 5 in the first embodiment.

  If it is determined that a paper feed error has occurred due to idle feed, the electronic control unit 100 determines whether or not the idle feed has previously occurred in the same paper feed task (S41). The determination as to whether or not there has been a blank feed before is based on whether or not the blank feed occurrence flag is 1.

  The same paper feeding task means single or continuous paper feeding performed under the same paper feeding conditions. The electronic control device 100 performs the same paper feeding task until the user turns off the power of the paper feeding device 60, accepts input of paper information by the user, or accepts an instruction to call task information by the user. The pre-feed flag is not reset. When these are accepted by the electronic control unit 100, the electronic control unit 100 resets the idle feed generation flag to zero. As a result, when the idle feed occurs, the electronic control apparatus 100 can determine whether or not the idle feed is the first in the same paper feed task.

  If it is determined that there has been a pre-feed in the same paper feed task (Y in S41), the electronic control unit 100 determines whether or not a separation pressure adjustment has been performed when the previous pre-feed has occurred (S41). S42). The determination as to whether or not the separation pressure adjustment has been performed when the previous idle feed has occurred is made by determining whether or not the idle feed adjustment flag is zero. If the idle feed adjustment flag is zero, it is determined that the separation pressure adjustment has been performed when the previous idle feed has occurred. If the idle feed adjustment flag is 1, it is determined that the paper feed pressure adjustment has been performed.

  When it is determined that the separation pressure adjustment has been performed when the previous idle feed has occurred (Y in S42), the paper feed pressure control unit 310 causes the paper feed pressure adjustment device 52 to increase the paper feed pressure. To implement. In this way, when the separation pressure adjustment is performed last time, by performing the paper feed pressure adjustment, it is possible to suppress bias to any adjustment.

  Further, the electronic control unit 100 increases the paper feed pressure with a lower adjustment value than when the previous paper feed pressure adjustment was performed (S43). In this case, the previous paper feed pressure adjustment includes both a paper feed pressure adjustment that lowers the paper feed pressure due to the occurrence of idle feed and a paper feed pressure adjustment that increases the paper feed pressure due to the occurrence of double feed. Including. As a result, it is possible to gradually approach the optimum sheet feeding pressure for idle feeding and double feeding. If the paper feed pressure adjustment has never been performed, the electronic control unit 100 increases the paper feed pressure with a predetermined initial adjustment value.

  When the paper feed pressure is adjusted, the electronic control unit 100 stores the adjustment value of the paper feed pressure adjustment performed this time in the storage unit 308 (S44). As a result, when a paper feed error such as idle feed or double feed subsequently occurs in the same paper feed task, the adjustment value can be determined from the adjustment value of the paper feed pressure adjustment performed. When the paper feed pressure is adjusted, the electronic control unit 100 sets the idle feed adjustment flag to zero indicating that the paper feed pressure adjustment has been performed.

  If it is determined that the separation pressure adjustment has not been performed when the previous idle feed has occurred, that is, the paper feed pressure adjustment has been performed (N in S42), the electronic control unit 100 reduces the separation pressure. To implement. As a result, the separation pressure adjustment and the paper feed pressure adjustment can be performed alternately each time the idle feed occurs. Further, the electronic control unit 100 reduces the paper feed pressure with a lower adjustment value than when the previous separation pressure adjustment was performed (S45). Also in this case, the previous paper feed pressure adjustment includes both a paper feed pressure adjustment that lowers the paper feed pressure due to the occurrence of idle feed and a paper feed pressure adjustment that increases the paper feed pressure due to the occurrence of double feed. including. As a result, it is possible to gradually approach the optimum sheet feeding pressure for idle feeding and double feeding. If the separation pressure adjustment has never been performed, the electronic control unit 100 reduces the separation pressure with a predetermined initial adjustment value.

  When the separation pressure is adjusted, the electronic control unit 100 stores the adjustment value of the separation pressure adjustment performed this time in the storage unit 308 (S46), and the idle feed adjustment flag indicates that the separation pressure adjustment has been performed. Set to 1.

  In the same paper feed task, when it is determined that a paper feed error due to idle feeding has not previously occurred (N in S41), the electronic control unit 100 performs a separation pressure adjustment for reducing the separation pressure. By performing the separation pressure adjustment for reducing the separation pressure for the first idle feed, priority can be given to the adjustment for reducing the pressure. By giving priority to the adjustment for lowering the sheet feeding pressure or the separation pressure in this way, it is possible to reduce the load on the sheet feeding pressure adjusting device 52 and the separation pressure adjusting device 54 for adjusting the sheet feeding conditions. The reliability of the pressure adjusting device 52 and the separation pressure adjusting device 54 can be improved.

  In this case, if a paper feed error due to double feed has occurred before the paper feed error due to the current feed has occurred, and the separation pressure adjustment has been performed for the double feed, The separation pressure is lowered with a lower adjustment value than when the separation pressure is adjusted (S47). If the separation pressure adjustment has never been performed, the electronic control unit 100 reduces the separation pressure with a predetermined initial adjustment value.

  When the separation pressure is adjusted, the electronic control unit 100 stores the adjustment value of the separation pressure adjustment performed this time in the storage unit 308 (S48), and the idle feed adjustment flag indicates that the separation pressure adjustment has been performed. 1 is set, and the idle feed occurrence flag is set to 1.

  An upper limit value is provided for the sheet feeding pressure. The electronic control unit 100 determines whether or not the current paper feed pressure is equal to or higher than the upper limit value before performing the paper feed pressure adjustment for increasing the paper feed pressure. Whether or not the current paper feed pressure is equal to or higher than the upper limit value is determined by adjusting the rotation angle from the home position of the motor shaft 20 or the paper feed pressure necessary for adjusting the paper feed pressure by the paper feed pressure adjusting device 52. For this purpose, it is determined by determining whether or not the number of pulses of the pulse signal input to the motor of the paper feed pressure adjusting device 52 is equal to or greater than the upper limit value. When it is determined that the current sheet feeding pressure is equal to or higher than the upper limit value, the electronic control unit 100 performs the separation pressure adjustment for reducing the separation pressure regardless of the previous adjustment state. Similarly, a lower limit is set for the separation pressure. The electronic control unit 100 determines whether or not the current separation pressure is equal to or lower than the lower limit value before performing the separation pressure adjustment for reducing the separation pressure. Whether the current separation pressure is equal to or lower than the lower limit value is determined by adjusting the rotation angle from the home position of the motor shaft 42, which is necessary for adjusting the separation pressure by the separation pressure adjusting device 54, or adjusting the separation pressure. This is performed by determining whether the number of pulses of the pulse signal input to the motor of the pressure adjusting device 54 is equal to or greater than the upper limit value. When it is determined that the current separation pressure is equal to or lower than the lower limit value, the electronic control unit 100 performs the paper feed pressure adjustment to increase the paper feed pressure regardless of the previous adjustment state. When the paper feed pressure is equal to or higher than the upper limit value and the separation pressure is equal to or lower than the lower limit value, the electronic control unit 100 lights a lamp (not shown) that displays an error and adjusts the paper feed conditions. Notify that it cannot be implemented.

  FIG. 7 is a flowchart showing in detail the double feed adjustment process of S34 of FIG. 5 in the first embodiment.

  If it is determined that a paper feed error due to double feeding has occurred, the electronic control unit 100 determines whether or not double feeding has previously occurred in the same paper feeding task (S61). The determination as to whether or not there has been a double feed is made based on whether or not the double feed occurrence flag is 1. As described above, when a new paper feed task is started or the power supply of the paper feeder 60 is turned off, the electronic control unit 100 resets the double feed generation flag to zero. Thereby, when a double feed occurs, the electronic control unit 100 can determine whether or not it is the first double feed in the same paper feed task.

  If it is determined that a double feed has previously occurred in the same paper feed task (Y in S61), the electronic control unit 100 determines whether or not a paper feed pressure adjustment has been performed when the previous double feed occurred. (S62). The determination as to whether the paper feed pressure adjustment was performed when the previous double feed occurred is made by determining whether the double feed adjustment flag is zero. If the double feed adjustment flag is zero, it is determined that the paper feed pressure adjustment has been performed when the previous double feed has occurred. If the double feed adjustment flag is 1, it is determined that the separation pressure adjustment has been performed.

  If it is determined that the paper feed pressure adjustment has been performed when the previous double feed has occurred (Y in S62), the electronic control unit 100 performs the separation pressure adjustment to increase the separation pressure. In this way, by performing the separation pressure adjustment when the paper feed pressure adjustment was performed last time, it is possible to suppress biasing to any adjustment.

  Further, the electronic control unit 100 increases the separation pressure with a lower adjustment value than when the previous separation pressure adjustment was performed (S63). In this case, the previous separation pressure adjustment includes both a separation pressure adjustment that lowers the separation pressure due to occurrence of double feed and a separation pressure adjustment that increases the separation pressure due to occurrence of idle feed. Thereby, it is possible to gradually approach the optimum separation pressure for double feed and idle feed. If the separation pressure adjustment has never been performed, the electronic control unit 100 increases the separation pressure with a predetermined initial adjustment value.

  When the separation pressure is adjusted, the electronic control unit 100 stores the adjustment value of the separation pressure adjustment performed this time in the storage unit 308 (S64). As a result, when a paper feed error such as double feed or idle feed subsequently occurs in the same paper feed task, the adjustment value can be determined from the adjustment value of the performed separation pressure adjustment. When the separation pressure is adjusted, the electronic control unit 100 sets the double feed adjustment flag to zero indicating that the separation pressure adjustment has been performed.

  When it is determined that the paper feed pressure adjustment has not been performed when the last double feed has occurred, that is, the separation pressure adjustment has been performed (N in S62), the electronic control unit 100 feeds the paper to reduce the paper feed pressure. Perform pressure adjustment. Thereby, every time double feeding occurs, the paper feed pressure adjustment and the separation pressure adjustment can be performed alternately. In addition, the electronic control unit 100 reduces the separation pressure with an adjustment value lower than when the previous paper feed pressure adjustment was performed (S65). Also in this case, the previous separation pressure adjustment includes both a separation pressure adjustment that lowers the separation pressure due to the occurrence of double feeding and a separation pressure adjustment that increases the separation pressure due to the occurrence of idle feeding. Thereby, it is possible to gradually approach the optimum separation pressure for double feed and idle feed. If the paper feed pressure adjustment has never been performed, the electronic control unit 100 decreases the paper feed pressure with a predetermined initial adjustment value.

  When the paper feed pressure is adjusted, the electronic control unit 100 stores the adjustment value of the paper feed pressure adjustment performed this time in the storage unit 308 (S66), the double feed adjustment flag is set, and the paper feed pressure adjustment is performed. Set to 1 to indicate this.

  In the same paper feed task, when it is determined that a paper feed error due to double feeding has not occurred before (N in S61), the electronic control unit 100 performs paper feed pressure adjustment to reduce the paper feed pressure. By performing the paper feed pressure adjustment that lowers the paper feed pressure for the first double feed, priority can be given to the adjustment that lowers the pressure. By giving priority to the adjustment for lowering the separation pressure or the sheet feeding pressure in this way, it is possible to reduce the load on the sheet feeding pressure adjusting device 52 and the separation pressure adjusting device 54 for adjusting the sheet feeding conditions. The reliability of the pressure adjusting device 52 and the separation pressure adjusting device 54 can be improved.

  In this case, if a paper feed error due to idle feed has occurred before the paper feed error due to this double feed occurs, and the paper feed pressure adjustment has been performed for the idle feed, the same as described above. The paper feed pressure is lowered with an adjustment value lower than that when the paper feed pressure was adjusted last time (S67). If the paper feed pressure adjustment has never been performed, the electronic control unit 100 decreases the paper feed pressure with a predetermined initial adjustment value.

  When the paper feed pressure is adjusted, the electronic control unit 100 stores the adjustment value of the paper feed pressure adjustment performed this time in the storage unit 308 (S68), the double feed adjustment flag is set, and the paper feed pressure adjustment is performed. Is set to 1, indicating that the double feed occurrence flag is set to 1.

  The separation pressure has an upper limit value. The electronic control unit 100 determines whether or not the current separation pressure is equal to or higher than the upper limit value before performing the separation pressure adjustment for increasing the separation pressure. Whether or not the current separation pressure is equal to or higher than the upper limit value is determined by adjusting the rotation angle from the home position of the motor shaft 42 necessary for adjusting the separation pressure by the separation pressure adjusting device 54 or the separation pressure. This is performed by determining whether the number of pulses of the pulse signal input to the motor of the pressure adjusting device 54 is equal to or greater than a predetermined value. When it is determined that the current separation pressure is equal to or lower than the lower limit value, the electronic control unit 100 performs the paper feed pressure adjustment to reduce the paper feed pressure regardless of the previous adjustment state.

  Similarly, a lower limit value is provided for the paper feed pressure. The electronic control unit 100 determines whether or not the current paper feed pressure is equal to or lower than the lower limit value before performing the paper feed pressure adjustment for reducing the paper feed pressure. Whether or not the current sheet feeding pressure is lower than the lower limit is determined by adjusting the rotation angle from the home position of the motor shaft 20 or the sheet feeding pressure necessary for adjusting the sheet feeding pressure by the sheet feeding pressure adjusting device 52. For this purpose, it is determined by determining whether or not the number of pulses of the pulse signal input to the motor of the paper feed pressure adjusting device 52 is equal to or greater than a predetermined value. When it is determined that the current paper feed pressure is equal to or lower than the lower limit value, the electronic control unit 100 performs the separation pressure adjustment to increase the separation pressure regardless of the previous adjustment state.

  As described above, when the paper feed pressure or the separation pressure is equal to or higher than the predetermined value, the electronic control device 100 excludes the paper feed pressure or the separation pressure higher than the predetermined value from the adjustment target. Thereby, the reliability of the paper feeding device 60 can be improved. When the separation pressure is equal to or higher than the upper limit value and the paper feed pressure is equal to or lower than the lower limit value, the electronic control unit 100 lights a lamp (not shown) that displays an error and adjusts the paper feed conditions. Notify that it cannot be implemented.

(Second Embodiment)
FIG. 8 is an overall configuration diagram of a collation apparatus 300 according to the second embodiment. The collating apparatus 300 includes a plurality of paper feeding units 118, a first sheet bundle conveying apparatus 114, a second sheet bundle conveying apparatus 145, an electronic control apparatus 100, and the like in the apparatus main body 110.

  The paper feed unit 118 includes a paper feed device 112, a paper feed stand 116, a blowout duct 126, and the like. The paper feed table 116 can be moved up and down, and even when sheets are fed from a bundle of paper placed on the paper feed table 116, the paper feed table 116 is gradually raised to be placed on the paper feed table 116. It is possible to adjust the height of the uppermost sheet in the stacked sheet bundle. The sheet bundle placed on the sheet feed tray 116 facilitates separation of the uppermost sheet of the sheet bundle loaded on the sheet feed tray 116 by blowing air from the blowout duct 126.

  The paper feeding device 112 includes a paper feeding belt 122, a suction duct 124, a first transport roller 128, a first transport path 132, and the like. The uppermost sheet in the sheet bundle placed on the sheet feeding table 116 is adsorbed to the sheet conveying surface 122 a of the sheet feeding belt 122 by the suction duct 124. The paper is fed from the paper feeding unit 118 by driving the paper feeding belt 122 while the paper is attracted to the paper conveyance surface 122a. The paper fed by the paper feed belt 122 is transported along the first transport path 132 by the first transport roller 128 and transported to the first paper bundle transport device 114.

  The first sheet bundle conveying device 114 includes a second conveying roller 130, a sheet conveying belt 136, a second sheet conveying path 134, and the like. The first sheet bundle conveying device 114 conveys the sheet fed from each of the plurality of sheet feeding units 118 through the second sheet conveying path 134 by the second conveying roller 130 and the sheet conveying belt 136 while sequentially overlapping the sheets. Then, the sheet is conveyed downward as a sheet bundle. The sheet bundle conveyed by the first sheet bundle conveyance device 114 is conveyed rightward in the drawing by the second sheet bundle conveyance device 145 or collated with the sheet bundle conveyed by the second sheet bundle conveyance device 145. From the apparatus 300, it conveys to the conveyance apparatus (not shown) of the left direction. The electronic control unit 100 controls the sheet feeding device 112, the first sheet bundle conveying device 114, and the second sheet bundle conveying device 145, and uses the sheet bundle placed on the sheet feeding table 116 of the plurality of sheet feeding units 118. A collating operation is performed in which the sheets are fed and stacked one by one.

  FIG. 9 is an overall configuration diagram of the paper feeding unit 118 according to the second embodiment. The paper feed unit 118 includes a paper feed stand 116, a blowout duct 126, a paper feed device 112, a paper feed stand lifting device 160, a first transport path 132, a first transport roller 128, a paper sensor 138, and the like.

  Below the sheet feed table 116, a sheet feed platform lifting device 160 is provided. The sheet feed lifting device 160 includes a motor 164, a rack gear 170, a support member 162, and the like. A gear portion 168 a of a gear 168 attached to the motor shaft 166 of the motor 164 meshes with the gear portion 170 a of the rack gear 170. The rack gear 170, the support member 162, and the paper feed table 116 are fixed to each other, and can be moved up and down integrally. As a result, the motor 164 operates to move the paper feed table 116 in the vertical direction.

  The uppermost sheet in the sheet bundle placed on the sheet feeding table 116 is adsorbed to the sheet conveying surface 122 a of the sheet feeding belt 122 by the suction duct 124. The sheet is fed from the sheet feeding unit 118 by driving the sheet feeding belt 122 by the first roller 121 and the second roller 123 while the sheet is attracted to the sheet conveying surface 122a. For this reason, the sheet upper surface height, which is the sheet upper surface height of the uppermost sheet of the sheet bundle placed on the sheet feeding tray 116 when being attracted to the sheet feeding belt 122 by the suction duct 124, is determined by the idle feed and the weight. Related to the occurrence of sending. For example, when the upper surface height of the sheet is low and the distance between the uppermost sheet of the sheet bundle placed on the sheet feeding table 116 and the suction duct 124 and the sheet feeding belt 122 is large, the sheet is sucked by the suction duct 124. Power is weakened. In this case, there is a high possibility that the paper will not be satisfactorily attracted to the paper feed belt 122 and the idle feed will occur. On the other hand, for example, when the height of the upper surface of the sheet is high and the distance between the uppermost sheet of the sheet bundle placed on the sheet feeding table 116 and the suction duct 124 and the sheet feeding belt 122 is small, The suction force becomes stronger. In this case, the sheet is strongly attracted to the sheet feeding belt 122, and there is a high possibility that double feeding will occur.

  For this reason, each of the plurality of paper feeding units 118 is provided with a paper height adjusting device 140. The sheet height adjusting device 140 has a function as an interval adjusting unit that adjusts an interval between the uppermost sheet of the sheet bundle placed on the sheet feeding table 116 and the sheet conveying surface 122a. The paper height adjusting device 140 includes a paper height sensor 142, a motor 158, a sensor unit 156, a slit plate 154, and the like. The paper height sensor 142 includes a sensor unit 146, a sensor frame 144, and a rotating member 148. The blowout duct 126 is fixed to the sensor frame 144, and the rotation member 148 is rotatable about the rotation shaft 150 on the sensor frame 144. The rotating member 148 has a contact portion 148a and a detected portion 148b. When the detected portion 148 b that is the end of the rotating member 148 is not detected by the sensor unit 146, the electronic control device 100 inputs a drive signal to the motor 164 and raises the paper feed table 116. The abutting portion 148 a abuts on the uppermost sheet of the sheet bundle placed on the sheet feeding table 116. As a result, the contact portion 148a that contacts the paper is pushed upward as the paper upper surface height increases, and the rotating member 148 rotates about the rotating shaft 150. When the rotating member 148 rotates and the detected portion 148b is detected by the sensor unit 146, the electronic control unit 100 stops the input of the drive signal to the motor 164 and stops the raising of the paper feed table 116. . Thus, the sheet upper surface height is controlled to be a predetermined height.

  The sensor frame 144 is fixed to the motor shaft of the motor 158 and rotates together with the motor shaft. Therefore, by operating the motor 158, it is possible to change the paper upper surface height detected by the paper height sensor 142. A stepping motor is employed as the motor 158. On the motor shaft of the motor 158, a slit plate 154 provided with slits around the entire outer periphery is fixed so as to be rotatable together with the motor shaft. The sensor unit 156 detects the home position of the motor 158 by detecting the slit of the slit plate 154.

  The paper fed by the paper feed belt 122 is transported to the first paper bundle transport device 114 by the first transport roller 128. At this time, the sheet conveyed through the first conveyance path 132 is detected by the sheet sensor 138. The paper sensor 138 can detect whether the paper is conveyed at a predetermined timing, and thus functions as an idle feed sensor. The paper sensor 138 is configured by a transmissive optical sensor, and detects the light transmission amount of the paper passing through the first transport path 132. When the sheets are double fed, the detected light transmission amount is lower than when the sheets are conveyed one by one. Therefore, it can be determined from the detection result of the paper sensor 138 whether double feeding has occurred. Therefore, the paper sensor 138 also functions as a double feed sensor.

  FIG. 10 is an overall configuration diagram of a suction adjustment device 178 according to the second embodiment. This figure is a view of the suction adjustment device 178 as viewed from below. In this figure, the upper side is the upstream side, the lower side is the downstream side, the right side is the rear side of the device, and the left side is the front side of the device.

  When the air suction amount per unit time from the suction duct 124 (hereinafter simply referred to as “air suction amount”) is low, there is a high possibility that idle feeding will occur in the paper feed from the paper feed unit 118. Therefore, a suction adjustment device 178 is provided in each of the plurality of paper feeding units 118.

  The suction adjustment device 178 includes a suction duct 124, a suction adjustment plate 180, a motor 190, a slit plate 192, a sensor unit 198, and the like. A plurality of paper feed belts 122 are provided in parallel in a direction perpendicular to the paper transport direction and in a direction parallel to the paper surface of the paper placed on the paper feed table 116. Each paper feed belt 122 is extended in the paper transport direction by a plurality of first rollers 121 and second rollers 123 provided corresponding to each paper feed belt 122. The plurality of first rollers 121 are fixed to a belt drive shaft 125 that extends in a direction perpendicular to the paper transport direction. The belt drive shaft 125 is rotatably fixed to the frame 182 via a bearing 184, and is rotatably fixed to the main body frame 186 by a bearing 188. The plurality of second rollers 123 are also fixed to a belt driven shaft 127 extending in a direction perpendicular to the paper transport direction. The belt driven shaft 127 is rotatably fixed to the frame 182 via a bearing 185. The belt driving shaft 125 is driven by a motor (not shown), and thereby the plurality of paper feeding belts 122 are driven.

  A suction duct 124 is inserted into the ring of the plurality of paper feed belts 122 so as to extend in a direction perpendicular to the paper transport direction. The suction duct 124 is formed so that a cross section viewed from the front side of the apparatus has a rectangular shape with a hollow inside. A plurality of suction holes 124 a are provided on the lower surface of the suction duct 124, that is, the surface facing the sheet surface of the uppermost sheet of the sheet bundle placed on the sheet feeding table 116. The suction holes 124 a are formed so as to be disposed between the plurality of paper feed belts 122. Note that a paper feed control hole 124b, which will be described later, is provided on the lower surface of the suction duct 124 on the rear side of the apparatus.

  A suction adjusting plate 180 is inserted into the hollow portion of the suction duct 124. The suction adjustment plate 180 is formed of a plate-like member. The suction adjustment plate 180 is provided with a plurality of suction adjustment holes 180 c having substantially the same size as the suction holes 124 a of the suction duct 124. The suction adjustment hole 180 c is formed at a position where the suction opening 200 is formed so as to overlap the suction hole 124 a of the suction duct 124 when the suction adjustment plate 180 is inserted into the suction duct 124.

  A rack gear 180 a is formed on the front side of the suction adjustment plate 180. On the other hand, a motor 190 is provided around the rack gear 180a. A gear 196 is fixed to the motor shaft 194 of the motor 190, and the gear portion 196a of the gear 196 and the gear portion 180b of the rack gear 180a are engaged with each other. As a result, the suction adjustment device 178 operates the motor 190 to move the suction adjustment plate 180 in the front-rear direction of the device and change the opening area of the suction opening 200, thereby sucking air from the suction opening 200. The amount can be adjusted.

  A stepping motor is adopted as the motor 190. A slit plate 192 provided with slits on the entire outer periphery of the motor shaft of the motor 190 is fixed so as to be rotatable together with the motor shaft. The sensor unit 198 detects the home position of the motor 190 by detecting the slit of the slit plate 192.

  FIG. 11 is a diagram illustrating a state in which the air suction amount by the suction duct 124 is adjusted by the suction adjustment device 178 according to the second embodiment, and FIG. FIG. 11B is a diagram illustrating a state in which the suction amount is reduced, and FIG. 11B is a diagram illustrating a state in which the suction amount by the suction duct 124 is increased by the suction adjustment device 178.

  When the suction adjustment plate 180 is moved to the front side of the apparatus by the operation of the motor 190, the suction hole 124a of the suction duct 124 and the suction adjustment hole 180c of the suction adjustment plate 180 are moved as shown in FIG. The overlapping range is reduced and the opening area of the suction opening 200 is reduced. On the other hand, when the motor 190 is operated and the suction adjustment plate 180 is moved to the rear side of the apparatus from the state shown in FIG. 11A, the suction hole 124a of the suction duct 124 is shown in FIG. 11B. And the suction adjustment hole 180c of the suction adjustment plate 180 are enlarged, and the opening area of the suction opening 200 is increased. Thus, the suction adjusting device 178 can adjust the air suction amount by operating the motor 190 to reduce and increase the opening area of the suction opening 200.

  FIG. 12 is an overall configuration diagram of the blowing adjustment device 240 according to the second embodiment. This figure is a view of the paper feeding unit 118 as viewed from the upstream side. The left side of this figure is the front side of the apparatus and the rear side of the right side of the figure.

  The blowing adjustment device 240 includes a blowing adjustment plate 210, a motor 231, a slit plate 232, a sensor unit 238, and the like. The blowing adjustment plate 210 is formed of a plate-like member, and is formed so as to extend in the front-rear direction of the apparatus and in the direction perpendicular to the sheet surface. The blow adjustment plate 210 has a blow adjustment portion 210 d that shields a part of the blow hole 126 a of the blow duct 126 and forms a blow opening 214. The blow adjustment plate 210 is provided with a long hole 210c extending in the longitudinal direction of the apparatus, and a pin 212 attached to the apparatus main body is inserted into the long hole 210c. Therefore, the blowing adjustment plate 210 can move in the front-rear direction of the apparatus using the pin 212 as a guide. As the blowing adjustment plate 210 moves in the front-rear direction of the apparatus, the area where the blowing adjustment unit 210d closes the blowing hole 126a of the blowing duct 126 also changes, and the opening area of the blowing opening 214 changes.

  A rack gear 210 a is formed on the front side of the blowing adjustment plate 210. On the other hand, a motor 231 is provided around the rack gear 210a. A gear 196 is fixed to the motor shaft 194 of the motor 231, and the gear portion 236a of the gear 236 and the gear portion 210b of the rack gear 210a are engaged with each other. Thereby, the blow adjustment device 240 operates the motor 231 to move the blow adjustment plate 210 in the front-rear direction of the device, and changes the opening area of the blow opening 214 to thereby change the unit time from the blow opening 214. Each air blowing amount (hereinafter simply referred to as “air blowing amount”) can be adjusted.

  A stepping motor is adopted as the motor 231. A slit plate 232 provided with slits on the entire outer circumference of the motor shaft of the motor 231 is fixed so as to be rotatable together with the motor shaft. The sensor unit 238 detects the home position of the motor 231 by detecting the slit of the slit plate 232.

  A paper feed controller 230 is provided on the rear side of the suction duct 124. The paper feed control device 230 includes a solenoid 220, an operation lever 222, a shielding plate 228, a spring 226, and the like.

  On the lower surface of the suction duct 124, a paper feed control hole 124b for controlling the suction of the paper to the paper feed belt 122 and the release of the suction is provided. The paper feed control hole 124b has a larger opening area than each of the suction holes 124a, and is formed on the downstream side of the suction duct 124 closer to the air suction source than the suction holes 124a. Below the paper feed control hole 124b, a shielding plate 228 for shielding and releasing the paper feed control hole 124b is provided. When the shielding of the sheet feed control hole 124b by the shielding plate 228 is released, a large amount of air is sucked from the sheet feed control hole 124b, so that almost no air is sucked from the suction hole 124a. For this reason, the adsorption of the sheet to the sheet feeding belt 122 is suppressed. However, when the paper feed control hole 124b is shielded by the shielding plate 228, air is sucked from the suction hole 124a of the suction duct 124 with a very large suction amount. Therefore, the sheet is adsorbed to the sheet feeding belt 122. Therefore, when the shielding plate 228 shields and releases the sheet feed control hole 124b at a predetermined timing, the sheet is attracted to and removed from the sheet feeding belt 122 and placed on the sheet feed table 116. The sheets can be fed one by one from the placed sheet bundle.

  The shielding plate 228 is fixed to an operating lever 222 formed in an L shape. The first end portion 222a of the operation lever 222 on the side where the operation lever 222 is fixed is biased by a spring 226 in a direction in which the shielding of the paper feed control hole 124b by the shielding plate 228 is released. The operating lever 222 is fixed to the bracket so as to be rotatable at an L-shaped bent portion 224. A plunger 220 a of a solenoid 220 is attached to the other end of the operating lever 222. Thus, when the solenoid 220 is turned on, the operation lever 222 is rotated, and the paper feed control hole 124 b is shielded by the roller 28. The electronic control device 100 to be described later controls the paper feeding timing for feeding paper from the paper feeding unit 118 by controlling on and off of the solenoid 220.

  FIG. 13 is an overall configuration diagram of the separation member adjusting device 250 according to the second embodiment, FIG. 13A is a view showing a state in which the separation member 274 is raised, and FIG. FIG. 6 is a view showing a state in which a separating member 274 is lowered.

  The separation member adjusting device 250 includes a motor 252, a first connection shaft 258, a second connection shaft 264, a sliding member 266, a support member 272, a separation member 274, and the like. One end of the first connecting shaft 258 is fixed to the motor shaft 260 of the motor 252. One end of a second connection shaft 264 is rotatably attached to the other end of the first connection shaft 258 via a rotation shaft 262. A sliding member 266 is attached to the other end of the second connecting shaft 264 via a rotating shaft 268. The sliding member 266 is guided by a guide member 269 and is slidable in the longitudinal direction of the apparatus. A projecting portion 266a is formed on the upper surface of the sliding member 266, and an inclined portion 266b is formed on the front side of the projecting portion 266a.

  The blowout duct 126 has a sheet end regulating surface 126b that regulates the position of the downstream end portion of the sheet bundle placed on the sheet feed table 116. The sheet end regulating surface 126b is formed with a recessed portion recessed downstream, and the support member 272 is disposed in the recessed portion. The concave portion accommodates the support member 272 and at the same time functions as guide means for the support member 272 to move in the vertical direction. The lower end of the support member 272 is in contact with the upper surface of the sliding member 266. A separation member 274 formed by an elastic member such as urethane is attached to the upper portion of the support member 272. Thereby, when the sliding member 266 is moved in the apparatus front-rear direction, the lower end of the support member 272 slides on the inclined portion 266b of the sliding member 266, and the separation member 274 can be moved in the vertical direction. The support member 272, the separation member 274, and the recess are formed so that the support member 272 and the separation member 274 do not protrude upstream from the sheet end restriction surface 126b in a state where the support member 272 and the separation member 274 are accommodated in the recess of the sheet end restriction surface 126b.

  The separation member 274 has an upper end protruding from the upper surface of the blowing duct 126 when the separation member 274 is moved upward, and an upper end than the upper surface of the blowing duct 126 when the separation member 274 is moved downward. It attaches to the support member 272 so that a part may become low. As described above, the separation member adjusting device 250 can move the separation member 274 in the vertical direction by operating the motor 252, and can adjust the vertical position of the separation member 274.

  Between the upper surface of the blowout duct 126 and the sheet conveying surface 122a of the sheet feeding belt 122, a sheet feeding path for feeding sheets from the sheet bundle placed on the sheet feeding table 116 is formed. If the height of the paper feed path is large, the paper feed is reduced, but the paper double feed is increased. In addition, as the height of the paper feed path is small or the separation member 274 comes into contact with the paper transport surface 122a of the paper feed belt 122 and the contact pressure increases, the double feed of paper is reduced, but the paper is not fed forward. To increase. Therefore, the separating member adjusting device 250 serves as a sheet feeding path height adjusting unit that enlarges and reduces the sheet feeding path height, or a contact pressure adjusting unit that adjusts the contact pressure of the separating member 274 to the sheet conveying surface 122a. Function.

  A stepping motor is employed as the motor 252. A slit plate 254 provided with slits on the entire circumference of the outer periphery of the motor 252 is fixed so as to be rotatable together with the motor shaft. The sensor unit 256 detects the home position of the motor 252 by detecting the slit of the slit plate 254.

  FIG. 14 is a functional block diagram of the electronic control device 100 according to the second embodiment. Note that description of the same parts as in the first embodiment is omitted.

  The electronic control device 100 is connected to the paper sensor 138, and the detection result detected by the paper sensor 138 is input to the electronic control device 100. Based on the detection result of the paper sensor 58, the electronic control device 100 determines whether or not a paper feed error has occurred in the paper feed device 60 due to idle feeding and double feeding.

  In addition, the electronic control device 100 is connected to an operation panel 314 provided in the collation device 300, and accepts an input to the operation panel 314 by a user. Also in the present embodiment, the operation panel 314 employs a touch panel type liquid crystal display, and can input numbers and other characters. The collating apparatus 300 is provided with one operation panel 314 for all the paper feeding units 118, and all the paper feeding units 118 can be set from the operation panel 314.

  The electronic control device 100 is provided in the collating device 300, and includes a paper height control unit 320 that controls the paper height adjustment device 140, a suction control unit 322 that controls the suction adjustment device 178, and a blowout adjustment device 240. A blowout control unit 324 for controlling and a separation member control unit 326 for controlling the separation member adjusting device 250 are provided.

  The paper height control unit 320 receives the detection result of the home position of the motor shaft of the motor 158 from the paper height adjustment device 140. The paper height control unit 320 calculates the rotation angle from the home position of the motor shaft of the motor 158 necessary for setting the target paper upper surface height. The paper height control unit 320 calculates the number of pulses to be input to the motor 158 in order to rotate the motor shaft of the motor 158 by the calculated rotation angle. The paper height control unit 320 adjusts the paper upper surface height when paper is fed from a paper bundle placed on the paper feed tray 116 by inputting a pulse signal having the calculated number of pulses to the motor 158. To do.

  The suction control unit 322 receives the detection result of the home position of the motor shaft 194 of the motor 190 from the suction adjustment device 178. The suction control unit 322 calculates a rotation angle from the home position of the motor shaft 194 necessary for setting the air suction amount from the suction opening 200 as a target suction amount. The suction controller 322 calculates the number of pulses to be input to the motor 190 in order to rotate the motor shaft 194 by the calculated rotation angle. The suction control unit 322 adjusts the amount of air sucked from the suction opening 200 by inputting a pulse signal having the calculated number of pulses to the motor 190.

  The blowing control unit 324 receives an input of the detection result of the home position of the motor shaft 234 of the motor 231 from the blowing adjustment device 240. The blowing control unit 324 calculates a rotation angle from the home position of the motor shaft 234 necessary for setting the air blowing amount from the blowing opening 214 as a target blowing amount. The blowing control unit 324 calculates the number of pulses to be input to the motor 231 in order to rotate the motor shaft 234 by the calculated rotation angle. The blowing control unit 324 adjusts the amount of air blown from the blowing opening 214 by inputting a pulse signal having the calculated number of pulses to the motor 231.

  The separation member control unit 326 receives an input of the detection result of the home position of the motor shaft 260 of the motor 252 from the separation member adjustment device 250. The separation member control unit 326 calculates a rotation angle from the home position of the motor shaft 260 necessary for setting the height of the separation member 274 to a target height. The separation member control unit 326 calculates the number of pulses to be input to the motor 252 in order to rotate the motor shaft 260 by the calculated rotation angle. The separation member control unit 326 adjusts the height of the separation member 274 by inputting a pulse signal having the calculated number of pulses to the motor 252.

  Using the operation panel 314, the user uses the paper upper surface height, the air suction amount, the air blowing amount, and the adjustment value of the separation member position, which are the paper feed conditions, for each paper feed unit 118 as the paper feed condition information. A sheet feed condition storage instruction can be input so as to be stored in the task storage unit 316 as task information to be used. For this reason, the electronic control unit 100 receives an instruction from the user, and stores the adjustment value of the sheet upper surface height, the air suction amount, the air blowing amount, and the separation member position in the task storage unit 316 as task information. In this case, the electronic control unit 100 adjusts the rotation angle from the home position of the motor shaft necessary for adjusting the sheet upper surface height by the sheet height adjusting device 140 or the sheet height for adjusting the sheet upper surface height. The number of pulses of the pulse signal input to the motor of the adjustment device 140 is stored as an adjustment value for the paper upper surface height. In addition, the electronic control unit 100 controls the rotation angle from the home position of the motor shaft 194 necessary for adjusting the air suction amount by the suction adjustment device 178 or the motor of the suction adjustment device 178 to adjust the air suction amount. The number of pulses of the input pulse signal is stored as an adjustment value of the air suction amount. Further, the electronic control unit 100 controls the rotation angle from the home position of the motor shaft 234 necessary for adjusting the air blowing amount by the blowing adjusting device 240 or the motor of the blowing adjusting device 240 to adjust the air blowing amount. The number of pulses of the input pulse signal is stored as an adjustment value of the air blowing amount. In addition, the electronic control device 100 is configured to adjust the rotation angle from the home position of the motor shaft 260 necessary for adjusting the position of the separating member by the separating member adjusting device 250 or the position of the separating member. The number of pulses of the pulse signal input to the motor 250 is stored as an adjustment value for the position of the separating member.

  Note that the user can input a batch storage instruction using the operation panel 314 so that the paper feed conditions of all the paper feed units 118 included in the collating apparatus 300 are collectively stored in the task storage unit 316. . Therefore, the operation panel 314 functions as a collective storage instruction unit that instructs to store the paper feed conditions of the plurality of paper feed units 118 in a batch. The electronic control unit 100 receives the collective storage instruction from the user, and sets the adjustment values of the sheet upper surface height, the air suction amount, the air blowing amount, and the separation member position in all the sheet feeding units 118 included in the collating device 300 as a task. Information is collectively stored in the task storage unit 316.

  In addition, the user can designate and call task information stored in the task storage unit 316 for each sheet feeding unit 118 using the operation panel 314. In response to designation of task information by the user, the paper height control unit 320 adjusts the paper upper surface height with the stored adjustment value by the paper feed pressure adjusting device 52. Further, the suction control unit 322 uses the suction adjustment device 178 to adjust the air suction amount with the stored adjustment value. Further, the blowout control unit 324 uses the blowout adjustment device 240 to adjust the air blowout amount with the stored adjustment value. Further, the separation member control unit 326 uses the separation member adjustment device 250 to adjust the position of the separation member with the stored adjustment value. As a result, it is possible to shorten the time for adjusting to the previously adjusted paper feed conditions and improve the paper feed productivity.

  Further, the user can collectively designate and call the task information stored in the task storage unit 316 for all the sheet feeding units 118 included in the collation apparatus 300 using the operation panel 314. Therefore, the operation panel 314 functions as a collective designation unit that collectively designates the paper feed conditions of the plurality of paper feed units 118. The electronic control device 100 receives the batch designation by the user, and for all the paper feeding units 118 included in the collating device 300, the paper upper surface height, the air suction amount, the air blowing amount, and the separation member position according to the stored adjustment values. Make adjustments. As a result, the paper feed conditions can be adjusted in a batch for all the paper feed units 118, and the paper feed condition adjustment time can be further shortened. Note that the user may instruct to store paper feed conditions for some of the paper feed units 118 included in the collating apparatus 300. Of course, the user may instruct to adjust the paper feed conditions to the adjustment values stored for some of the plurality of paper feed units 118 stored in this way. Thus, for example, even when a plurality of paper feeding units 118 among the paper feeding units 118 included in the collating apparatus 300 perform paper feeding, the paper feeding conditions are stored and called for these paper feeding units 118. be able to.

  FIG. 15 is a flowchart showing in detail the idle feed adjustment process of S32 of FIG. 5 in the second embodiment. Note that description of the same parts as in the first embodiment is omitted.

  If it is determined that a paper feed error has occurred due to idle feed, the electronic control unit 100 determines whether or not the idle feed has previously occurred in the same paper feed task (S81). The determination as to whether or not there has been a blank feed before is based on whether or not the blank feed occurrence flag is 1. The setting of the idle feed generation flag is the same as in the first embodiment.

  If it is determined that there has been a pre-feed (Y in S81), the electronic control unit 100 determines whether or not the paper top surface height adjustment has been performed when the previous pre-feed has occurred (S82). The determination as to which adjustment was performed when the previous blank feed occurred is made based on the blank feed adjustment information stored in the storage unit 308. When the idle feed adjustment information is 1, it is determined that the paper top surface height adjustment was performed at the previous idle feed, and when the idle feed adjustment information is 2, it is determined that the air blowing amount adjustment was performed at the previous idle feed. When the idle feed adjustment information is 3, it is determined that the separation member adjustment has been performed at the previous idle feed, and when the idle feed adjustment information is 4, it is determined that the air suction amount adjustment has been performed at the previous idle feed. .

  If it is determined that the paper upper surface height adjustment has been performed when the previous idle feed has occurred (Y in S82), the electronic control unit 100 performs the air blowing amount adjustment for reducing the air blowing amount. In addition, the electronic control unit 100 reduces the air blowing amount with a lower adjustment value than when the previous air blowing amount adjustment was performed (S83). In this case, the previous air blowout amount adjustment includes both the air blowout amount adjustment that reduces the air blowout amount due to the occurrence of double feed and the air blowout amount adjustment that increases the air blowout amount due to the occurrence of idle feed. Including. As a result, it is possible to gradually approach the optimum air blowing amount for idle feeding and double feeding. If the paper feed pressure adjustment has never been performed, the electronic control unit 100 reduces the air blowing amount with a predetermined initial adjustment value.

  When the air blowing amount is reduced, the electronic control unit 100 stores the adjustment value of the air blowing amount performed this time in the storage unit 308 (S84). As a result, when a paper feed error such as idle feed or double feed subsequently occurs in the same paper feed task, the adjustment value can be determined from the adjustment value of the air blowing amount adjustment performed. When the air blowing amount is adjusted, the electronic control unit 100 sets the idle feed adjustment information to 2 indicating that the air blowing amount adjustment has been performed, and stores the information in the storage unit 308. Note that the initial value of the blank feed adjustment information when the blank feed adjustment has not been performed before is set to zero.

  When it is determined that the paper top surface height adjustment has not been performed when the previous idle feed has occurred (N in S82), the electronic control unit 100 performs the air blowing amount adjustment when the previous idle feed has occurred. It is determined whether or not (S85).

  When it is determined that the air blowing amount adjustment has been performed when the previous idle feed has occurred (Y in S85), the separation member control unit 326 performs the separation member adjustment for raising the separation member by the separation member adjustment device 250. To do. Further, the separation member control unit 326 raises the separation member with a lower adjustment value than when the previous separation member adjustment was performed (S86). In this case, the previous separation member adjustment includes both a separation member adjustment that lowers the separation member due to the occurrence of idle feeding and a separation member adjustment that raises the separation member due to the occurrence of double feeding. As a result, it is possible to gradually approach the optimum position of the separating member in order to suppress idle feeding and double feeding. If the separation member adjustment has never been performed, the electronic control device 100 raises the separation member with a predetermined initial adjustment value.

  When the separation member is raised, the electronic control unit 100 stores the adjustment value of the separation member adjustment performed this time in the storage unit 308 (S87). As a result, when a paper feed error such as idle feeding or double feeding subsequently occurs in the same paper feed task, the adjustment value can be determined from the adjustment value of the performed separation member adjustment. When the separating member is raised, the electronic control unit 100 sets the idle feed adjustment information to 3 indicating that the separating member adjustment has been performed, and stores the information in the storage unit 308.

  If it is determined that the air blow amount adjustment was not performed when the previous idle feed occurred (N in S85), the electronic control unit 100 determines whether the separation member adjustment was performed when the previous idle feed occurred. Is determined (S88).

  When it is determined that the separation member adjustment has been performed when the previous idle feed has occurred (Y in S88), the suction control unit 322 causes the suction adjustment device 178 to increase the air suction amount from the suction opening 200. Perform volume adjustment. In addition, the suction control unit 322 increases the air suction amount with an adjustment value lower than when the previous air suction amount adjustment was performed (S89). Thereby, it is possible to gradually approach the optimum air suction amount in order to suppress idle feeding and double feeding. When the air suction amount adjustment has never been performed, the electronic control unit 100 increases the air suction amount by a predetermined initial adjustment value.

  When the air suction amount is increased, the electronic control unit 100 stores the adjustment value of the air suction amount adjustment performed this time in the storage unit 308 (S90). As a result, when a paper feed error such as idle feeding or double feeding subsequently occurs in the same paper feed task, the adjustment value can be determined from the adjustment value of the air suction amount adjustment performed. When the air suction amount is increased, the electronic control unit 100 sets the idle feed adjustment information to 4 indicating that the air suction amount adjustment has been performed, and stores the information in the storage unit 308.

  When it is determined that the separation member adjustment was not performed when the previous idle feed occurred, that is, when it was determined that the air suction amount adjustment was performed when the previous idle feed occurred (N in S88), the sheet height The height controller 320 adjusts the paper upper surface height by causing the paper height adjustment device 140 to lower the paper upper surface height. Further, the paper feed pressure control unit 310 lowers the paper upper surface height with an adjustment value lower than that when the previous paper upper surface height adjustment was performed (S91). In this case, the previous paper upper surface height adjustment is performed by adjusting the paper upper surface height to increase the paper upper surface height due to the occurrence of idle feeding, and the paper upper surface height to decrease the paper upper surface height due to the occurrence of double feeding. Includes both adjustments. As a result, it is possible to gradually approach the optimum sheet upper surface height in order to suppress idle feeding and double feeding. If the paper top surface height adjustment has never been performed, the electronic control unit 100 lowers the paper top surface height adjustment by a predetermined initial adjustment value.

  When the paper upper surface height is lowered, the electronic control unit 100 stores the adjustment value of the paper upper surface height adjustment performed this time in the storage unit 308 (S92). As a result, when a paper feed error such as idle feeding or double feeding subsequently occurs in the same paper feed task, the adjustment value can be determined from the adjustment value of the paper top surface height adjustment performed. When the paper upper surface height is lowered, the electronic control unit 100 sets the idle feed adjustment information to 1 indicating that the paper upper surface height adjustment has been performed, and stores the information in the storage unit 308.

  In the same paper feed task, when it is determined that a paper feed error due to idle feeding has not occurred before (N in S81), the paper height control unit 320 uses the paper height adjustment device 140 to adjust the paper upper surface height. Adjust the paper upper surface height to be lowered. In this case, when the double feed has occurred before the current idle feed has occurred and the paper upper surface height adjustment has been performed for the double feed, the paper height control unit 320 is the same as described above. In step S93, the paper upper surface height is adjusted to lower the paper upper surface height by an adjustment value lower than the previous paper upper surface height adjustment. If the paper upper surface height adjustment has never been performed, the electronic control unit 100 lowers the paper upper surface height by a predetermined initial adjustment value.

  When the paper upper surface height is lowered, the electronic control unit 100 stores the adjustment value of the paper upper surface height adjustment performed this time in the storage unit 308 (S94), and also feeds the idle feed adjustment information to the paper upper surface height adjustment. Is set to 1 indicating that has been implemented and stored in the storage means 308.

  As described above, the paper upper surface height adjustment, the air blowing amount adjustment, the separation member adjustment, and the air suction amount adjustment are sequentially performed with respect to the pre-feed, thereby suppressing the adjustment by any of the adjusting devices. And the reliability of each adjusting device can be improved. In addition, by adjusting the paper feed conditions in the order of high effect with respect to the pre-feed as described above, the pre-feed can be suppressed at an early stage, and the paper feed productivity can be improved.

  Note that an upper limit value or a lower limit value is provided for each sheet feeding condition such as the sheet upper surface height, the air blowing amount, the separation member position, and the air suction amount. The electronic control unit 100 determines whether each paper feed condition is equal to or higher than the upper limit value or lower than the lower limit value before adjusting each paper feed condition. When it is determined that any one of the paper feed conditions is equal to or higher than a predetermined upper limit value or lower than the lower limit value, the paper feed condition is not adjusted and the paper feed condition is excluded from the adjustment target. In this case, the adjustment for suppressing the idle feeding is performed by adjusting other paper feed conditions. Whether or not each paper feed condition is greater than or equal to a predetermined upper limit value or less than a lower limit value is determined by the rotation angle of the motor shaft necessary for adjusting each paper feed condition and the number of pulses input to the motor. This is performed by determining whether or not the value is equal to or greater than a predetermined value. If any of the paper feed conditions is determined to be greater than or equal to the upper limit position or less than the lower limit value, the electronic control unit 100 cannot turn on a lamp (not shown) that displays an error to adjust the paper feed conditions. Inform the effect.

  In addition, when air feed occurs after the air blow amount adjustment for reducing the air blow amount is performed twice, the electronic control device 100 may perform the air blow amount adjustment for increasing the air blow amount. . Other paper feed conditions may affect the relationship between the amount of air blown out and the occurrence of paper feed errors due to double feed or idle feed. This is because it may be possible to reduce. For example, when the paper height is low, if the air blowing amount is small, the paper may not be sufficiently lifted up and cannot be attracted to the paper feed belt 122. In this way, if there is a possibility that the direction of adjustment and the tendency of occurrence of paper feed errors may change depending on other paper feed conditions, there is no effect even if the adjustment in one direction is performed multiple times. May be controlled to adjust in the opposite direction. In addition, when performing the air blowing amount adjustment for increasing the air blowing amount in this way, the electronic control device 100 performs the adjustment with a value smaller than the adjustment value of the air blowing amount adjustment for reducing the air blowing amount performed last time. To do. As a result, it is possible to approach the optimum adjustment value.

  FIG. 16 is a flowchart showing in detail the double feed adjustment process in S34 of FIG. 5 in the second embodiment. Note that description of the same parts as in the first embodiment is omitted.

When it is determined that a paper feed error due to double feeding has occurred, the electronic control unit 100 determines whether or not double feeding has previously occurred in the same paper feeding task (S101). The determination as to whether or not there has been a double feed is made based on whether or not the double feed occurrence flag is 1. The setting of the double feed generation flag is the same as in the first embodiment.

  When it is determined that there has been a double feed before (Y in S101), the electronic control unit 100 determines whether or not the paper upper surface height adjustment has been performed when the previous double feed has occurred (S102). The determination as to which adjustment was performed when the previous double feed occurred is made based on the double feed adjustment information stored in the storage means 308. When the double feed adjustment information is 1, it is determined that the paper top surface height adjustment has been performed at the time of the previous double feed, and when the double feed adjustment information is 2, it is determined that the air blowing amount adjustment has been performed at the previous multi feed. When the double feed adjustment information is 3, it is determined that the separation member adjustment was performed at the time of the previous double feed.

  When it is determined that the paper upper surface height adjustment has been performed when the previous double feed has occurred (Y in S102), the blowing control unit 324 performs the air blowing amount adjustment for reducing the air blowing amount by the blowing adjustment device 240. To do. In addition, the blowing control unit 324 reduces the air blowing amount with an adjustment value lower than when the previous air blowing amount adjustment was performed (S103). In this case, the previous air blowout amount adjustment includes both the air blowout amount adjustment that reduces the air blowout amount due to the occurrence of double feed and the air blowout amount adjustment that increases the air blowout amount due to the occurrence of idle feed. Including. As a result, it is possible to gradually approach the optimum air blowing amount for idle feeding and double feeding. If the paper feed pressure adjustment has never been performed, the blowing control unit 324 reduces the air blowing amount by a predetermined initial adjustment value.

  When the air blowing amount is reduced, the electronic control unit 100 stores the adjustment value of the air blowing amount performed this time in the storage unit 308 (S104). As a result, when a paper feed error such as idle feed or double feed subsequently occurs in the same paper feed task, the adjustment value can be determined from the adjustment value of the air blowing amount adjustment performed. When the air blowing amount is adjusted, the electronic control unit 100 sets the double feed adjustment information to 2 indicating that the air blowing amount adjustment has been performed, and stores the information in the storage unit 308. Note that the initial value of the double feed adjustment information when the double feed adjustment has not been performed previously is set to zero.

  When it is determined that the paper top surface height adjustment has not been performed when the previous double feed has occurred (N in S102), the electronic control unit 100 performs the air blowing amount adjustment when the previous double feed has occurred. It is determined whether or not (S105). When it is determined that the air blowing amount adjustment has been performed when the last double feed has occurred (Y in S105), the separation member control unit 326 performs the separation member adjustment for raising the separation member by the separation member adjustment device 250. To do. Further, the separation member control unit 326 raises the separation member with an adjustment value lower than when the previous separation member adjustment was performed (S106). In this case, the previous separation member adjustment includes both a separation member adjustment that lowers the separation member due to the occurrence of idle feeding and a separation member adjustment that raises the separation member due to the occurrence of double feeding. As a result, it is possible to gradually approach the optimum position of the separating member in order to suppress idle feeding and double feeding. If the separation member adjustment has never been performed, the separation member control unit 326 raises the separation member with a predetermined initial adjustment value.

  When the separation member is raised, the electronic control unit 100 stores the adjustment value of the separation member adjustment performed this time in the storage unit 308 (S107). As a result, when a paper feed error such as idle feeding or double feeding subsequently occurs in the same paper feed task, the adjustment value can be determined from the adjustment value of the performed separation member adjustment. When the separating member is raised, the electronic control unit 100 sets the idle feed adjustment information to 3 indicating that the separating member adjustment has been performed, and stores the information in the storage unit 308.

  When it is determined that the air blowing amount adjustment was not performed when the previous double feed occurred, that is, when it was determined that the separation member adjustment was performed when the previous double feed occurred (N in S105), the sheet height The height controller 320 adjusts the paper upper surface height by causing the paper height adjustment device 140 to lower the paper upper surface height. Further, the sheet height control unit 320 lowers the sheet upper surface height with an adjustment value lower than that when the previous sheet upper surface height adjustment was performed (S108). In this case, the previous paper upper surface height adjustment is performed by adjusting the paper upper surface height to increase the paper upper surface height due to the occurrence of idle feeding, and the paper upper surface height to decrease the paper upper surface height due to the occurrence of double feeding. Includes both adjustments. As a result, it is possible to gradually approach the optimum sheet upper surface height in order to suppress idle feeding and double feeding. If the paper top surface height adjustment has never been performed, the electronic control unit 100 lowers the paper top surface height adjustment by a predetermined initial adjustment value.

  When the paper upper surface height is lowered, the electronic control unit 100 stores the adjustment value for the paper upper surface height adjustment performed this time in the storage unit 308 (S109). As a result, when a paper feed error such as idle feeding or double feeding subsequently occurs in the same paper feed task, the adjustment value can be determined from the adjustment value of the paper top surface height adjustment performed. When the paper upper surface height is lowered, the electronic control unit 100 sets the double feed adjustment information to 1 indicating that the paper upper surface height adjustment has been performed, and stores the information in the storage unit 308.

  If it is determined that a paper feed error due to double feeding has not previously occurred in the same paper feed task (N in S101), the paper height control unit 320 uses the paper height adjustment device 140 to adjust the paper upper surface height. Adjust the paper upper surface height to be lowered. In this case, if the paper feed has occurred before the current double feed and the paper upper surface height adjustment has been performed for the feed, the paper height control unit 320 is the same as described above. In step S110, the paper upper surface height adjustment is performed to lower the paper upper surface height with an adjustment value lower than the previous paper upper surface height adjustment. If the paper upper surface height adjustment has never been performed, the paper height control unit 320 lowers the paper upper surface height by a predetermined initial adjustment value.

  When the paper upper surface height is lowered, the electronic control unit 100 stores the adjustment value of the paper upper surface height adjustment performed this time in the storage unit 308 (S111), and also displays the double feed adjustment information as the paper upper surface height adjustment. Is set to 1 indicating that has been implemented and stored in the storage means 308.

  As described above, by sequentially performing the paper upper surface height adjustment, the air blowing amount adjustment, and the separation member adjustment with respect to the double feed, it is possible to suppress the bias toward adjustment by any of the adjustment devices, The reliability of the adjusting device can be improved. In addition, by adjusting the sheet feeding conditions in the order of high effect with respect to the multi-feed as described above, the multi-feed can be suppressed at an early stage, and the paper feed productivity can be improved. Each paper feed condition, such as the paper top surface height, air blowout amount, separation member position, and air suction amount, has a predetermined upper limit value or lower limit value. When the value is equal to or greater than the lower limit value, the adjustment based on the paper feed condition is not performed, and the paper feed condition is excluded from the adjustment target.

  Further, when double feeding occurs after the paper upper surface height adjustment for lowering the paper upper surface height and the air blowing amount adjustment for increasing the air blowing amount are performed twice each, the electronic control device 100 displays the paper upper surface height. You may implement the paper upper surface height adjustment which raises height, or the air blowing amount adjustment which reduces air blowing amount. Further, when the paper upper surface height adjustment for increasing the paper upper surface height or the air blowing amount adjustment for lowering the air blowing amount is performed in this way, the electronic control device 100 performs the paper for lowering the paper upper surface height that was previously performed. The adjustment is performed with a value smaller than the adjustment value of the upper surface height adjustment or the adjustment value of the air blowing amount adjustment for increasing the air blowing amount performed last time. Thereby, it is possible to suppress excessively lowering the sheet upper surface height or increasing the air blowing amount.

(Third embodiment)
FIG. 17 is an overall configuration diagram of a paper height adjusting device 140 according to the third embodiment. The paper height adjusting device 140 includes a sensor frame 280, a sensor unit 284, a rotating member 282, and the like.

  The sensor frame 280 is fixed to an apparatus main body frame (not shown). The rotation member 282 is rotatable about a rotation shaft 286. The rotating member 282 has an abutting portion 282a that abuts on the uppermost sheet of the sheet bundle placed on the sheet feeding table 116, and a slit 282b formed of a plurality of slit teeth on the outer peripheral portion. The sensor unit 284 is fixed to the sensor frame 280 and detects the slit 282b. The paper height control unit 320 receives the detection result input from the sensor unit 284 of the paper height adjusting device 140. The paper height control unit 320 adjusts the paper upper surface height by determining the slit teeth detected when the target paper upper surface height is reached. This makes it possible to adjust the paper upper surface height at a low cost without providing a motor or the like.

  When the paper upper surface height is adjusted by the paper height adjusting device 140, the electronic control device 100 stores the slit tooth information indicating the detected slit tooth in the storage unit 308. As a result, the adjustment value obtained by adjusting the sheet upper surface height by the sheet height adjusting device 140 last time can be used thereafter.

  The present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiments, and an appropriate combination of the elements of each embodiment is also effective as an embodiment of the present invention. Various modifications such as design changes can be added to each embodiment based on the knowledge of those skilled in the art, and embodiments to which such modifications are added can also be included in the scope of the present invention. Here are some examples.

  When adjusting the paper feed condition in the opposite direction to the previously adjusted direction, adjust the paper feed condition to a value smaller than the adjustment value that adjusted the previous paper feed condition, and adjust it in the same direction as the previously adjusted direction. In this case, the paper feed condition may be adjusted with an adjustment value obtained by adjusting the previous paper feed condition. For example, when the previous paper feed pressure is increased and the current paper feed pressure is decreased, the paper feed pressure may be reduced by a value smaller than the adjustment value that increased the previous paper feed pressure. Further, when the paper feed pressure is increased and this time the paper feed pressure is also increased, the paper feed pressure may be increased by the same adjustment value as the adjustment value that increased the previous paper feed pressure. As a result, it is possible to quickly approach an appropriate sheet feeding condition in order to reduce sheet feeding errors such as idle feeding and double feeding.

  When the paper feed condition adjustment for adjusting the same paper feed condition in the same direction continues for a predetermined number of times, the electronic control unit 100 may notify the user that an adjustment error has occurred. For example, when the paper feed pressure adjustment for increasing the paper feed pressure is continued 10 times, a lamp (not shown) for displaying an error may be lit to notify. In this way, when the paper feed condition adjustment for adjusting the same paper feed condition in the same direction continues for a predetermined number of times, for example, when the paper feed device 60 or the collating device 300 is out of order, The case where there is an abnormality in the paper placed on 116 may be considered. In such a case, it is difficult to feed paper well even if adjustment is continued as it is. In such a case, by notifying the user by a lamp or the like, it is possible to promptly cope with the situation, and as a result, it is possible to improve paper feed productivity.

  One sheet feeding condition may be adjusted to suppress a sheet feeding error. For example, in the first embodiment, the electronic control unit 100 may adjust either the paper feed pressure or the separation pressure when a paper feed error such as idle feed or double feed occurs. In the first embodiment, the electronic control unit 100 adjusts any one of the paper top surface height, the air blowing amount, and the separation member position when a paper feed error such as idle feeding or double feeding occurs. May be. Thereby, it is possible to easily adjust the sheet feeding conditions at a low cost.

  In the first embodiment, when idle feeding occurs a plurality of times, the frequency of performing the separation pressure adjustment for decreasing the separation pressure is increased more frequently than the frequency of performing the sheet feeding pressure adjustment for increasing the sheet feeding pressure. Also good. For example, when idle feeding occurs a plurality of times, when the paper feed pressure adjustment for increasing the paper feed pressure is performed, the separation pressure adjustment for decreasing the separation pressure is performed twice in succession to lower the separation pressure. When the separation pressure adjustment is performed twice in succession, the paper feed pressure adjustment for increasing the paper feed pressure may be performed once. Similarly, when multiple feeds occur a plurality of times, the frequency of performing the paper feed pressure adjustment for decreasing the paper feed pressure may be increased more than the frequency of performing the separation pressure adjustment for increasing the separation pressure. Thereby, in each adjustment apparatus, the adjustment which reduces a load can be performed preferentially and the reliability of each adjustment apparatus can be improved.

  In the second embodiment or the third embodiment, when the paper upper surface height adjustment, the air blowing amount adjustment, the separation member adjustment, and the air suction amount adjustment are performed, there is a difference in the frequency of performing each adjustment. Good. In this case, it is possible to increase the frequency of adjustment of paper feed conditions that are effective in reducing paper feed errors and reduce the frequency of paper feed conditions that are less effective. As a result, paper feed errors can be reduced earlier, and paper feed productivity can be improved.

  In the second embodiment or the third embodiment, the air blowing amount may be adjusted by adjusting the rotational speed of a fan (not shown) for blowing air. Thereby, adjustment of air blowing amount can be performed simply and at low cost. The air blowing amount may be adjusted by adjusting an opening of a valve provided in an air passage between a fan for blowing air and an air outlet.

  In the second embodiment or the third embodiment, the air suction amount may be adjusted by adjusting the rotational speed of a fan (not shown) for sucking air. Thereby, adjustment of air suction amount can be performed simply and at low cost. The air suction amount may be adjusted by adjusting an opening of a valve provided in an air passage between a fan for sucking air and an air suction port.

  The user may adjust the paper feed conditions by inputting adjustment values of the paper feed conditions such as the paper feed pressure and the separation pressure to the operation panel 314. In this case, the user uses the operation panel 314 to input a paper feed condition storage instruction so that the adjustment value of the paper feed condition is stored in the task storage unit 316 as task information used as the paper feed condition information. Can do. As a result, the paper feed condition can be adjusted again using the paper feed condition adjustment value input by the user, and the paper feed condition adjustment time can be reduced.

1 is an overall configuration diagram of a sheet feeding device according to a first embodiment. It is the whole block diagram seen from the direction of arrow A of Drawing 1 of the separation pressure regulation device concerning a 1st embodiment. It is a functional block diagram of the electronic control unit concerning a 1st embodiment. 6 is a flowchart illustrating processing for adjusting a sheet feeding condition of the sheet feeding device according to the first embodiment. It is a flowchart which shows the automatic adjustment process of S of FIG. 4 in detail in 1st Embodiment. It is a flowchart which shows in detail the idle feed adjustment process of S32 of FIG. 5 in 1st Embodiment. It is a flowchart which shows in detail the double feed adjustment process of S34 of FIG. 5 in 1st Embodiment. It is a whole block diagram of the collation apparatus which concerns on 2nd Embodiment. It is a whole block diagram of the paper feed part which concerns on 2nd Embodiment. It is a whole block diagram of the suction adjustment apparatus which concerns on 2nd Embodiment. It is a figure which shows a mode that the air suction amount by a suction duct is adjusted by the suction adjustment apparatus which concerns on 2nd Embodiment, and Fig.11 (a) is the state by which the air suction amount by the suction duct was reduced by the suction adjustment device FIG. 11B is a diagram showing a state in which the air suction amount by the suction duct is increased by the suction adjustment device. It is a whole block diagram of the blowing adjustment apparatus which concerns on 2nd Embodiment. It is a whole block diagram of the separation member adjustment device concerning a 2nd embodiment, Drawing 13 (a) is a figure showing the state where a separation member was raised, and Drawing 13 (b) is a state where a separation member is lowered. FIG. It is a functional block diagram of the electronic controller which concerns on 2nd Embodiment. It is a flowchart which shows in detail the idle feed adjustment process of S32 of FIG. 5 in 2nd Embodiment. It is a flowchart which shows in detail the double feed adjustment process of S34 of FIG. 5 in 2nd Embodiment. It is a whole block diagram of the paper height adjustment apparatus which concerns on 3rd Embodiment.

Explanation of symbols

  DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 10 Paper feed stand 28 Roller 30 Separation pad 52 Paper feed pressure adjustment device 54 Separation pressure adjustment device 60 Paper feed device 100 Electronic control device 116 Paper feed stand 118 Paper feed unit 122 Paper feed belt 124 suction duct, 126 blowing duct, 140 paper height adjusting device, 178 suction adjusting device, 240 blowing adjusting device, 250 separating member adjusting device, 300 collating device, 308 storage means, 310 paper feed pressure control unit, 312 separating pressure Control unit, 314 operation panel, 316 task storage unit, 320 paper height control unit, 322 suction control unit, 324 blowout control unit, 326 separation member control unit.

Claims (10)

A paper tray for stacking paper bundles;
A sheet feeding means for feeding sheets one by one from a bundle of sheets stacked on the sheet feeding table;
An error detection means for detecting a paper feed error of the paper feed means;
A paper feed condition adjusting means for adjusting a paper feed condition for the paper feed means to feed paper from a paper bundle when a paper feed error is detected by the error detection means;
Storage means for storing the paper feed condition information indicating the adjusted paper feed condition in a callable manner;
A sheet feeding device comprising: A paper feed condition designating unit for accepting designation by the user of the stored paper feed condition information to be called;
2. The sheet feeding device according to claim 1, wherein the sheet feeding condition adjusting unit refers to the designated sheet feeding condition information and adjusts the sheet feeding condition to the adjusted sheet feeding condition.   When a paper feed error is detected by the error detecting means, the paper feed conditions are adjusted by the paper feed condition adjusting means, and paper feed condition information indicating the adjusted paper feed conditions is stored in the storage means. The paper feed condition adjusting means adjusts the paper feed conditions based on the stored paper feed condition information when a paper feed error is detected again by the error detecting means. The sheet feeding device according to 1 or 2. The paper feeding means is divided into a paper feeding roller that feeds paper from the paper bundle and rotates while applying a paper feeding pressure to the paper bundle stacked on the paper feeding table, and a paper fed by the paper feeding roller. A separation roller that rotates while applying pressure to separate the paper, and
The sheet feeding device according to claim 1, wherein the sheet feeding condition adjusting unit adjusts the sheet feeding pressure or the separation pressure.   5. The sheet feeding condition adjusting unit according to claim 4, wherein when the sheet feeding pressure or the separation pressure is equal to or greater than a predetermined value, the sheet feeding pressure or the separation pressure exceeding the predetermined value is excluded from the adjustment target. Paper feeder. The sheet feeding means sucks air to suck the uppermost sheet of the sheet bundle stacked on the sheet feeding table, air blowing means for blowing air to the end of the sheet bundle, Paper conveying means for holding the paper sucked by the air suction means and being held by the air suction means and conveying the paper in the paper feeding direction by the air blowing means.
The paper feed condition adjusting unit adjusts an air suction amount per unit time by the air suction unit or an air per unit time by the air blowing unit when a paper feed error is detected by the error detection unit. 4. The sheet feeding device according to claim 1, wherein an amount of blowout is adjusted, or an interval between the uppermost sheet of the sheet bundle and the sheet conveying surface is adjusted. 5. The paper feeding unit sucks air to suck the uppermost sheet of the stack of sheets stacked on the paper feeding table, and the sheet sucked by the air sucking unit is placed on the sheet conveying surface. Paper conveying means for holding and conveying in the paper feeding direction,
The paper feed condition adjusting means adjusts the distance between the paper holding surface and the separation member by advancing and retracting the separation member toward the paper holding surface when a paper feed error is detected by the error detection means. The sheet feeding device according to claim 1, wherein Paper information input means for accepting input by the user of paper information;
4. The sheet feeding device according to claim 1, wherein the sheet feeding condition adjustment unit adjusts the sheet feeding condition according to the input sheet information. 5. A paper tray for stacking paper bundles;
A sheet feeding means for feeding sheets one by one from a bundle of sheets stacked on the sheet feeding table;
A paper feed condition input means for accepting an input by a user of a paper feed condition for the paper feed means to feed paper from a paper bundle;
A paper feed condition adjusting means for adjusting the paper feed condition to the input paper feed condition;
Storage means for storing the paper feed condition information indicating the adjusted paper feed condition in a callable manner;
A sheet feeding device comprising: A plurality of paper trays for stacking paper bundles;
A paper feed means provided corresponding to each of the plurality of paper feed trays, for feeding paper one by one from a bundle of sheets stacked on the paper feed tray;
An error detection means provided corresponding to each of the plurality of paper feed trays for detecting a paper feed error of the paper feed means;
A paper feed unit that is provided corresponding to each of the plurality of paper feed trays and that adjusts a paper feed condition for feeding paper from the paper bundle when the paper feed error is detected by the error detection unit. Paper condition adjusting means;
Storage means for storing paper supply condition information indicating the adjusted paper supply conditions in association with a paper supply means in which a paper supply error is detected;
Collective designation means for accepting collective designation by the user of the feed condition information of the plurality of feed trays,
The sheet feeding condition adjusting unit adjusts the sheet feeding conditions of each of the plurality of sheet feeding tables to the adjusted sheet feeding conditions from the batch designated sheet feeding condition information. .

Images