JP2010064824A - Paper feeder - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To surely return, to a hopper, a second form taken into a separating section together with a first form from the hopper. <P>SOLUTION: An optical image processor includes: a pickup roller 3 taking the form P placed on the hopper, into a case; the separating section 6 holding the forms P between a feed roller 4 and a separating roller 5 to separate the forms P sheet by sheet utilizing the mutual rotating speed difference, wherein the feed roller 4 has a driving shaft 4a and a roller part 4b which is an outer ring, and includes a built-in one-way clutch mechanism configured to idle-turn the roller part 4b when the driving shaft 4a is reversely rotated; a paper thickness detecting section 10 arranged vertically facing downstream of the separating section 6; and a controller 40 controlling the rotation of the driving shaft 4a of the feed roller 4 according to the form detecting situation ("light" or "dark" detecting situation) of a plurality of sensors S1, S2 arranged in front and rear of the paper thickness detecting section 10 and take-in timing of the form P or not. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2010,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to a paper feeding device that takes in paper sheets such as a form loaded on a hopper table one by one into a paper sheet processing apparatus such as an optical form reading apparatus.

  A paper-sheet-moving optical form reading device that takes in a form, etc., loaded on a hopper table into a conveyance path inside the apparatus, and reads characters, figures, etc. written on the form as an image by an optical reading unit provided in the conveyance path. That is, a sheet-fed optical form reading apparatus is known.

The conventional sheet-fed optical form reading device is a one-way clutch on the feed roller side that always reverses the separation roller facing the feed roller in the paper feed mechanism to prevent double feeding when taking forms from the hopper table. The second form is returned to the hopper table side by reversing the feed roller by the amount of play between the colors (see, for example, Patent Document 1).
Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 2-144334

  Thus, conventionally, the separate roller was reversed to prevent double feed, and the feed roller side was reverse by the amount of backlash between the one-way clutch and the collar. The second form may not return correctly.

  The present invention has been made to solve such a problem, and when taking the paper sheets loaded on the hopper table one by one into the apparatus, the paper sheets are taken together with the first paper sheet to the separation unit. The second and subsequent sheets are reliably returned to the hopper table while the second and subsequent sheets are prevented from being double fed, and the second and subsequent sheets are taken in at a desired timing. It is an object of the present invention to provide a paper feeding device that can perform printing.

  In order to achieve the above-described object, a paper feeding device of the present invention includes a hopper table on which paper sheets are stacked, a pickup roller that feeds the paper sheets from the hopper table into the device, an inner ring, and an outer ring. A paper roller having a built-in one-way clutch in which the outer ring is idled when the inner ring rotates in reverse, and a separate roller disposed opposite to the feed roller, the sheet being fed by the pickup roller. When a plurality of sheets are fed out by holding the sheet between the feed roller and the separation roller and stopping or reversing the separation roller while the feed roller rotates normally A separation unit that separates and feeds leaves one by one, and the inner ring of the feed roller is driven to rotate forward, stop, and reverse. A drive unit, a paper thickness detection unit provided downstream of the separation unit in the transport direction, for detecting the paper thickness of the paper sheet, and provided between the paper thickness detection unit and the separation unit; A first sensor for detecting the paper sheet passing therethrough, a second sensor provided downstream of the paper thickness detection unit in the transport direction and detecting the paper sheet passing through the position, the first sensor and the first sensor The state of detection or non-detection of the paper sheet by two sensors is monitored, and at least when the first sensor detects the paper sheet and when the paper sheet is not being taken in, the feed roller And a controller for controlling the drive unit so as to reverse the inner ring.

  A sheet feeding device according to the present invention includes a hopper table on which sheets are stacked, a pick-up roller for feeding the sheets from the hopper table into the apparatus, a drive shaft, and a roller on the outside thereof via a roller. A feed roller having a built-in one-way clutch that idles when the drive shaft rotates in reverse, and a separate roller disposed oppositely below the feed roller. A plurality of paper sheets can be obtained by holding the paper sheet fed by the pickup roller between the feed roller and the separation roller, and stopping or reversing the separation roller while the feed roller rotates normally. When the uppermost paper sheet is fed out, the uppermost paper sheet is separated from the second and subsequent paper sheets brought into the paper sheet. A separating unit that feeds the drive shaft of the feed roller so as to rotate forward, stop, and reverse, and the separating unit so that the drive roller and the pinch roller face each other vertically and abut each other. A paper thickness having a displacement sensor for detecting a displacement amount of the pinch roller that is displaced up and down by a paper thickness when the paper sheet passes between the drive roller and the pinch roller. A detection unit, a first sensor that is provided between the paper thickness detection unit and the separation unit and detects the paper sheets passing through the position; and a downstream of the paper thickness detection unit in the transport direction; A second sensor that detects the paper sheet that passes through this position, and a detection state or non-detection state of the paper sheet by the first sensor and the second sensor, and at least the first sensor detects the paper sheet. Upon detection of, when not busy period of the paper sheet, comprising a controller for controlling the driving unit so as to reverse the inner ring of the feed roller.

  As described above, according to the present invention, when the sheets loaded on the hopper table are taken into the apparatus one by one, the second and subsequent sheets taken into the separation unit together with the first sheet. The second and subsequent paper sheets can be reliably returned to the hopper table while the second and subsequent paper sheets are taken in at a desired timing while preventing the double feeding of the paper.

  The best mode for carrying out the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings. FIG. 1 is a schematic view of an optical form reading apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention, FIG. 2 is a side view schematically showing the configuration of the optical form reading apparatus, and FIG. It is a block diagram which shows a control system functionally.

  As shown in FIG. 1, this optical form reading apparatus has a form taking-in port and a form discharge opening provided on the front surface of the housing 1, and a paper sheet such as a form P from the form taking-in port. The image is read as image data (images) on the form while it is transported through the circulating conveyance path, and the form that has been read from the information is printed. The sheet moving type optical form reading device discharged from the form discharge port, that is, the sheet-fed type optical form reading device.

  A display 47 and an operation unit 48 are provided on the front surface of the housing 1. The display 47 displays various menus such as operation procedures, processing statuses, error contents, and the like. The operation unit 48 is provided with buttons for instructing to start and stop processing of a form and for canceling an error.

  As shown in FIGS. 2 to 4, the optical form reading apparatus includes a hopper table 2 (hereinafter referred to as “hopper 2”) provided so as to protrude from the side surface of the case 1, and a form take-in of the case 1. Printing having a paper feed unit 11 provided near the mouth, an optical reading unit 14 provided downstream in the transport direction of the paper feed unit 11, and a print head 12 and a platen roller 18 provided further downstream in the transport direction. Unit, a flapper 13 as a form distribution unit, a reject stacker 15, an accept stacker 17, a power supply unit 19 that supplies power to each unit in the apparatus, and a controller 40 that controls each unit in the apparatus. .

As shown in FIG. 3, the controller 40 mainly has a CPU 41, a memory 42, and an interface 43.
An internal bus from each part in the apparatus is connected to the interface 43. Each unit includes the optical reading unit 14, the display 47 as the display unit, the operation unit 48, the drive unit 44 including a motor, a belt, and a gear, the displacement sensor 9, the sensors S1 and S2, the print head 12, and the like.

The hopper 2 is provided at the form taking-in port of the housing 1 so as to be movable up and down. The hopper 2 is loaded with a large number of forms P to be taken into the apparatus.
Note that the form is simply represented as a form P in the description not considering double feed, and when the double feed is considered like the separating unit 6 or the like, it is represented as a form P1, form P2, etc. in order from the top.

  The paper feed unit 11 includes a pickup roller 3 as a form take-in unit, a separation unit 6 (see FIG. 4) having a feed roller 4 and a separate roller 5, a pinch roller 8 and a lower transport roller as upper transport rollers. A sheet thickness detector 10 (see FIG. 4) composed of a drive roller 7 and a displacement sensor 9 disposed on the pinch roller 8, and a sheet passage disposed on both sides of the sheet thickness detector 10. Sensors S1 and S2 for detection are provided.

  The pickup roller 3 abuts on the uppermost surface of a large number of forms P stacked on the raised hopper 2 and is rotated clockwise as viewed in the figure by the drive unit 44 so that the uppermost form P is removed from the roller surface. It is drawn out (withdrawn) into the device with the frictional force.

  The separation unit 6 includes a feed roller 4 and a separate roller 5 disposed to face the feed roller 4. The drive shaft 4a of the feed roller 4 is connected to the shaft (not shown) of the pickup roller 3 by a gear or a timing belt, and the shaft itself rotates in the same direction, but the feed roller 4 has a built-in one-way clutch. Therefore, the movement of the roller itself is different.

  The feed roller 4 is a drive roller that feeds the form P drawn into the apparatus by the pickup roller 3 in a downstream direction where the optical reading unit 14 is disposed. The feed roller 4 has a drive shaft 4a and a roller portion 4b on its outer ring (see FIG. 6). The feed roller 4 incorporates a one-way clutch mechanism, and the roller portion 4b rotates idly when the drive shaft 4a rotates in reverse (detailed in the description of FIGS. 6 to 9).

  The feed roller 4 and the separate roller 5 are arranged to face each other in the vertical direction. The form P fed out by the pickup roller 3 is sandwiched between the feed roller 4 and the separation roller 5, and the separation roller 5 is stopped or reversed while the feed roller 4 rotates in the forward direction (arrow A in FIG. 4). For example, when a plurality of forms P1 and P2 are double-fed, the uppermost first form P1 is separated from the first form P1 and the second and subsequent second forms P2 fed out. The first form P1 is fed forward (conveyance direction).

  The separating roller 5 rotates with a delay relative to the feed roller 4, or cooperates with the feed roller 4 by stopping or reversing, for example, when a plurality of forms P1, P2,. Are taken into the device after separating them one by one.

  The pinch roller 8 and the drive roller 7 of the paper thickness detection unit 10 are arranged to face each other up and down across the reference position T. The drive roller 7 is rotationally driven by the drive unit 44 and is drawn and conveyed by sandwiching the form P with the pinch roller 8. The drive roller 7 is a part of a transport mechanism that is driven by the drive unit 44 and transports the form P together with the pinch roller 8 from both sides. In addition to this, the transport mechanism also includes a belt, a guide rail, and the like, and makes the form P taken into the inside of the housing 1 from the hopper 2 of the form take-in port by the pickup roller 3 almost half. The pinch roller 8 is displaced in height in a direction (vertical direction in the figure) perpendicular to the form conveyance direction according to the thickness of the form P sandwiched between the drive rollers 7 when the form P passes through this position. It is provided to move.

  The other pinch rollers 8 and the drive rollers 7 provided after the optical reading unit 14 face each other in a vertical direction so as to form a conveyance path for the form P, and each part (position) in the apparatus as shown in FIG. Is arranged.

  The displacement sensor 9 is provided at a position for detecting the upper surface of the pinch roller 8 in order to detect the amount of displacement of the pinch roller 8. The displacement sensor 9 detects a displacement amount at the height (vertical position) of the pinch roller 8 and sends a position detection signal indicating the displacement amount to the controller 40. The CPU 41 receives the position detection signal from the displacement sensor 9 and compares the displacement amount included in the position detection signal with the reference sheet thickness of a single sheet set in advance in the memory 42 to detect double feed of the form A. (Judgment) is performed. The reference paper thickness has a range of 0.09 mm ± 0.02 mm, for example.

The sensors S1 and S2 are arranged on both sides of the paper thickness detection unit 10. The sensors S1 and S2 are forms position detection sensors. The sensor S1 is disposed between the separation unit 6 and the paper thickness detection unit 10. The sensor S2 is disposed between the paper thickness detection unit 10 and the optical reading unit 14.
Sensors S1 and S2 are, for example, light shielding sensors, and a light emitter and a light receiver are disposed so as to straddle the conveyance path. The form P is transported on the transport path and becomes “dark” when it reaches the installation position of each sensor, and becomes “bright” when the form P passes through that position, and a detection signal indicating each situation is sent to the controller 40. It is done.

  The memory 42 stores a feed roller drive axis control table 51 shown in FIG. 5, and the detection status of the forms from the sensors S1 and S2 (detection signal status “bright” and “dark”) is always managed by the CPU 41. The CPU 41 refers to the feed roller drive axis control table 51 to control the drive unit 44 in relation to the detection status of the form P in each sensor and the take-in timing of the form P, so that the drive axis of the feed roller 4 is controlled. 4a is rotated in the forward rotation direction (direction of arrow A), stopped, or reverse rotation direction (direction of arrow B).

  In the feed roller drive shaft control table 51, for example, when both the sensors S1 and S2 are in the “bright” detection state, the drive shaft 4a of the feed roller 4 is rotated forward at the take-in timing. For example, the drive shaft 4a of the feed roller 4 is stopped.

  Also, when the sensor S1 is in the “dark” detection state and the sensor S2 is in the “bright” detection state, if it is the take-in timing, the drive shaft 4a of the feed roller 4 is rotated forward, and if it is not the take-in timing, The drive shaft 4a of the feed roller 4 is reversed.

  Further, when both of the sensors S1 and S2 are in the “dark” detection state, the drive shaft 4a of the feed roller 4 is stopped at the take-in timing, and the drive shaft 4a of the feed roller 4 is stopped at the take-in timing. Reverse.

  When the sensor S1 is in the “light” detection state and the sensor S2 is in the “dark” detection state, the drive shaft 4a of the feed roller 4 is stopped regardless of the take-in timing.

  That is, the CPU 41 refers to the feed roller drive shaft control table 51 and controls the drive unit 44 to drive the drive shaft 4a of the feed roller 4 so as to rotate forward, stop, and reverse.

  The CPU 41 monitors the state of detection or non-detection of the form P by the sensors S1 and S2, and at least when the sensor S1 detects the form P, and when the form P is not being taken in, the drive shaft of the feed roller 4 The drive unit 44 is controlled to reverse 4a.

When the amount of displacement exceeds the range of the reference sheet thickness of one form, the CPU 41 determines that double feeding. Double feeding means that a plurality of forms are transported in an overlapping manner.
When the CPU 41 detects double feeding of a form, the CPU 41 controls the drive unit 44 that rotationally drives the pickup roller 3, the feed roller 4, the separation roller 5, the drive roller 7, and the like to feed the form P (carrying in and carrying). Control.

  The optical reading unit 14 is provided in the conveyance path downstream of the paper feeding unit 11. The optical reading unit 14 is an image reading unit that reads an image from a form P conveyed on the conveyance path, and is, for example, a contact type CCD line sensor (contact sensor).

  The print head 12 is provided at a position near the form discharge port downstream of the transport path. The print head 12 is provided to face the platen roller 18. The print head 12 and the platen roller 18 disposed to face each other are collectively referred to as a print unit. The print head 12 prints, for example, a serial number or a mark indicating that processing has been performed on a form whose information has been normally read by the optical reading unit 14. Specifically, the print head 12 prints, for example, a serial number or the like on a normally read form.

The flapper 13 is provided downstream of the print head 12 in the transport direction (before the form discharge port) and is controlled by the CPU 41. The flapper 13 is controlled by the controller 40 and sorts the form P in the direction of the reject stacker 15 or the accept stacker 17.
The reject stacker 15 is a form stacking unit in which forms P that have not been read normally are stacked. The accept stacker 17 is a form stacking unit in which forms P that have been normally read are stacked.

  The CPU 41 detects that the form P1 which is the first form preceded by the sensors S1 and S2 arranged before and after the paper thickness detection unit 10 is not detected “bright” or detected “dark”, and the image reading state of the form P1. Based on the above, it is determined whether or not it is the timing of taking in the second and subsequent forms P2, which is the second form taken into the separation unit 6 together with the form P1. As a result of the determination, if it is not the timing for taking in the form P2, the CPU 41 controls the drive unit 44 so as to reverse the drive shaft 4a of the feed roller 4.

The take-in timing is a period from when the feed roller 4 is rotated forward (take-up of the form by the pickup roller 3) to when the sensor S2 detects “dark” and the feed roller 4 is stopped. The CPU 41 refers to the feed roller drive axis control table 51 and rotates the drive axis 4a of the feed roller 4 in the normal rotation (arrow A) direction according to the detection state of the sensors S1 and S2, assuming that it is the take-in timing. The drive unit 44 is controlled to move or stop.
During a period other than the capture timing, that is, the non-capture period, the CPU 41 drives or rotates the drive shaft 4a of the feed roller 4 in the reverse direction (arrow B) according to the detection state of the sensors S1 and S2. To control.

The one-way clutch mechanism of the feed roller 4 will be described with reference to FIGS.
As shown in FIG. 6, the feed roller 4 includes a drive shaft 4a, a roller portion 4b as an outer ring that is rotatable around the drive shaft 4a, a spherical roller 4c interposed between the drive shaft 4a and the roller portion 4b, 4c is provided between the drive shaft 4a and the roller portion 4b so as to dispose the separation member 4d substantially evenly.
The roller portion 4b is provided with a recess for accommodating the roller 4c. One wall surface of the recess is formed vertically, and the height between the drive shaft 4a and the roller portion 4b corresponds to the diameter of the roller 4c. Have The other wall surface is formed obliquely, and the distance between the drive shaft 4a and the roller portion 4b is lower than the diameter of the roller 4c.

When the outer ring roller portion 4b and the inner ring drive shaft 4a rotate at the same speed, the roller 4c hardly moves as shown in FIG.
On the other hand, when the rotational speed of the roller portion 4b of the outer ring is higher than the rotational speed of the drive shaft 4a of the inner ring, the roller 4b moves in the opposite direction to the rotational direction of the roller portion 4b. Press to lock.
Further, when the rotation speed of the roller portion 4b of the outer ring is lower than the rotation speed of the drive shaft 4a of the inner ring, the roller portion 4b moves in the rotation direction, and in FIG. 9, the roller 4c contacts the left vertical wall surface. Since the drive shaft 4a and the roller portion 4b do not hold the roller 4c, the roller 4c rotates.

The operation of this optical form reading apparatus will be described below with reference to the flowchart of FIG.
In this optical form reading apparatus, when an instruction command for starting processing is input from the operation unit 48, the controller 40 controls and drives the motor for raising the hopper 2 to move the pickup roller 3 in the normal rotation direction. And the hopper table 2 is raised (step S101 in FIG. 10).

The uppermost form P of the forms P loaded on the hopper 2 contacts the pickup roller 3 at the reference position T at which the height is optimal for picking up. At this position, the controller 40 Stops raising of the hopper 2 (step S102).
Here, the uppermost form P is fed out by the rotating pickup roller 3.

After stopping the hopper 2, the controller 40 controls the drive unit 44 to rotate the drive shaft 4a of the feed roller 4 forward (rotate in the direction of arrow A) and rotate the separate roller 5 in the direction of arrow C. As a result, the feed roller 4 rotates in the forward direction (rotates in the direction of arrow A), and the separate roller 5 rotates in the direction of arrow C. As a result, the form P fed out by the pickup roller 3 is taken into the apparatus (step S103).
The operation of taking in the form P is repeated until a command for instructing the stop is input or the form P is removed from the hopper 2.

  Here, it is assumed that the form P that has been fed out is a double feed (a state in which the two forms P1 and P2 are overlapped). A plurality of forms P1 and P2 are sandwiched between the feed roller 4 and the separation roller 5.

  At this time, since the form P has not yet reached the position of the sensors S1 and S2, the detection states of the sensors S1 and S2 are both “bright” and “bright”, and the form taking-in operation has just started. This is the capture timing. The controller 40 causes the drive shaft 4 a of the feed roller 4 to rotate normally according to the feed roller drive shaft control table 51. Since the uppermost form P1 and the lower form P2 are rubbed in different directions by the feed roller 4 and the separate roller 5, they are separated from each other, and one uppermost form P1 is sent out in the transport direction (downstream). .

  When the height of the pickup roller 3 is lowered as the form is successively fed out, such as the next form P2, following the form P1, the lifting mechanism provided in the hopper 2 has an optimum height for the pickup. Since the hopper 2 is lifted upward until it reaches, the feeding height of the form P (reference position T) is always maintained, and the feeding action of the form P is continuously performed.

  One form P1 sent out from the separation unit 6 passes the position of the sensor S1. While the form P1 passes the position of the sensor S1, the sensor S1 is shielded from light by the form P1, so that a “dark” signal is output from the sensor S1 to the controller 40 (step S104).

  In the paper thickness detection unit 10, when the form P passes between the drive roller 7 and the pinch roller 8, the pinch roller 8 is lifted upward by the paper thickness of the form P, and the height of the pinch roller 8 is displaced. The displacement sensor detects the amount of displacement at this height, and sends a position detection signal indicating the amount of displacement to the controller 40.

The CPU 41 of the controller 40 compares the height fluctuation value based on the position detection signal (displacement amount detection signal) from the displacement sensor 9 with a preset reference sheet thickness, and the thickness of the form P1 is normal. Whether or not (step S105).
As a result of the determination, if the thickness of the form P is not normal (No in step S105), the CPU 41 generates an alarm (alarm sound or warning display) from the buzzer, the display 47, or the like (step S106).

  When the thickness of the form P1 is normal as a result of the above determination (Yes in step S105), the CPU 41 checks the detection status of each sensor S1, S2 of the feed roller drive shaft control table 51, and the sensor S1 is “dark”. When the leading edge of the form P1 reaches the position of the sensor S2 and the sensor S2 detects “dark”, the rotation of the drive shaft 4a of the feed roller 4 is stopped (step S107).

Further, when the form P passes through the position of the optical reading unit 14 while the sensor S2 is in the “dark” detection state, the optical reading unit 14 reads an image on the surface of the form (step S108).
Then, when the sensor S1 switches from “dark” detection to “light” detection state (step S109), the rear end of the form P has left the position of the sensor S1, that is, the first form P1 is separated by the separating unit 6. Is completely removed (step S110).

  When the optical reading unit 14 is reading the image of the form P1, the drive roller 7 is driven at a constant speed by a pulse motor so that the image does not expand and contract. During this time, the controller 40 controls the feed roller drive shaft control table 51 so that the remaining separated form P2 does not enter the paper thickness detection part 10 side from the separation part 6, that is, the separation part 6 does not send out the form P2. The rotation of the drive shaft 4a of the feed roller 4 is controlled with reference to FIG.

  After the sensor S1 detects “bright”, when the sensor S2 switches to the “bright” detection state (step S111), the rear end of the form P1 has left the position of the sensor S2.

An electrical signal of the image read by the optical reading unit 14 is output to the controller 40.
The CPU 41 of the controller 40 generates an image of the surface of the form from the input electrical signal, and performs post-processing on the image. Post-processing includes character recognition processing.
The form P on which the surface reading process has been performed by the optical reading unit 14 and the controller 40 in this way is conveyed to the print head 12 side on the conveyance path.

When the character recognition process ends normally, the CPU 41 performs a print process on the form P that has reached the position of the print head 12 by the print head 12.
In this case, the CPU 41 controls the print head 12 to print, for example, a serial number indicating that the conveyed form has been read and processed by the printing unit.
Then, the CPU 41 drives the flapper 13 to switch the transport direction to the accept stacker 17 side, sorts the printed forms P, and accumulates them in the accept stacker 17.
On the other hand, if the character recognition process does not end normally after reading the image in step S108, the CPU 41 drives the flapper 13 without printing and switches the transport direction to the reject stacker 15 side. The forms P are accumulated in the reject stacker 15.

  When such operations are repeated and the form P is no longer in the hopper 2 (Yes in step S112), or when a command (stop instruction) instructing stoppage is input (No in step S113), the CPU 41 The reading operation is stopped (step S114).

According to the optical form reading apparatus of this embodiment, sensors S1 and S2 for detecting the passage of the form P are provided before and after the paper thickness detection unit 10, and the state of form detection by these sensors S1 and S2 (“bright”). , “Dark”) is managed by the feed roller drive shaft control table 51, and when the form P is not taken in, the drive shaft 4a of the feed roller 4 is reversed at the same time as the separation roller 5 is reversed in the separation unit 6. Then, since the feed roller 4 is provided with a one-way clutch mechanism, the roller portion 4b of the outer ring is idled by the reverse rotation of the drive shaft 4a which is the inner ring, and the frictional force in the reverse direction of the separation roller 5 is caused by this idling torque. Thus, the second and subsequent forms P2 are smoothly returned from the separating unit 6 to the hopper 2.
That is, even if the second form P2 is taken into the separation unit 6 together with the first form P1, the second form P2 is actively sent from the separation unit 6 by controlling the drive shaft 4a of the feed roller 4. Then, after returning to the hopper 2 and processing the first sheet P1 normally, the second sheet P2 can be taken out from the hopper 2 at a desired timing.

  The present invention has been specifically described above by taking the optical form reading device as an example. However, the present invention is not limited to these embodiments, and a sheet feeding device that conveys paper sheets without double feeding. If it has, it is applicable. Various modifications can be made without departing from the scope of the invention.

  In the above embodiment, the controller 40 is provided with a conveyance control function and a character recognition function. However, a host computer such as a computer connected to the optical form reading device with a communication cable or the like is provided with a character recognition function. Also good.

1 is an external view of an optical form reading apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention. It is a side view which shows roughly the structure of the optical form reading apparatus of FIG. FIG. 2 is a block diagram functionally showing a configuration of a control system of the optical form reading apparatus in FIG. 1. It is a figure which shows the detailed structure of the paper feed part of an optical form reading apparatus. It is a figure which shows an example of a feed roller drive shaft control table. It is a figure which shows an example of the one-way clutch of a feed roller. It is a figure which shows when an inner ring | wheel and an outer ring | wheel are the same speed. It is a figure which shows when the speed of an outer ring is faster than an inner ring. It is a figure which shows when the speed of an outer ring is slower than an inner ring. It is a flowchart which shows operation | movement of an optical form reading apparatus.

Explanation of symbols

  P ... Form, 2 ... Hopper table (hopper), 3 ... Pickup roller, 4 ... Feed roller, 4a ... Drive shaft, 4b ... Roller part, 4c ... Roller, 4d ... Separating member, 5 ... Separating roller, 6 ... Separating part , 7 ... Drive roller, 8 ... Pinch roller, 9 ... Displacement sensor, 10 ... Paper thickness detector, 11 ... Paper feed unit, 13 ... Flapper, 15 ... Reject stacker, 17 ... Accept stacker, 18 ... Platen roller, 40 ... controller.

Claims (6)

A hopper table loaded with paper sheets,
A pickup roller that feeds the paper sheets from the hopper table into the apparatus;
A feed roller having an inner ring and an outer ring, and having a built-in one-way clutch in which the outer ring idles when the inner ring rotates reversely, and a separate roller disposed opposite to the feed roller, A plurality of paper sheets are fed out by holding the fed paper sheets between the feed roller and the separation roller and stopping or reversing the separation roller while the feed roller rotates forward. A separation unit that separates and feeds the paper sheets one by one when
A drive unit that drives the inner ring of the feed roller to rotate forward, stop, and reverse;
A paper thickness detection unit that is provided downstream in the transport direction of the separation unit and detects the paper thickness of the paper sheet;
A first sensor that is provided between the paper thickness detection unit and the separation unit and detects the paper sheets passing through this position;
A second sensor that is provided downstream in the transport direction of the paper thickness detector and detects the paper sheets passing through this position;
When the state of detection or non-detection of the paper sheets by the first sensor and the second sensor is monitored, and at least when the first sensor detects the paper sheets, the paper sheets are not being taken in And a controller for controlling the drive unit so as to reverse the inner ring of the feed roller. A hopper table loaded with paper sheets,
A pickup roller that feeds the paper sheets from the hopper table into the apparatus;
A feed roller having a drive shaft and a roller portion rotatable outside via a roller, and having a built-in one-way clutch in which the roller portion idles when the drive shaft reverses; and below the feed roller A separation roller disposed opposite to the sheet, and the sheet fed by the pickup roller is sandwiched between the feed roller and the separation roller, and the separation roller is stopped against the forward rotation of the feed roller. Alternatively, by reversing, when a plurality of paper sheets are fed out, the uppermost paper sheet is separated from the second and subsequent paper sheets brought into the paper sheet, and the uppermost paper sheet is separated. A separation unit for feeding out paper sheets;
A drive unit for driving the drive shaft of the feed roller to rotate forward, stop, and reverse;
While the drive roller and the pinch roller are vertically opposed to each other and provided downstream in the conveying direction of the separation unit, the paper sheet passes through between the drive roller and the pinch roller. A paper thickness detector having a displacement sensor for detecting the amount of displacement of the pinch roller that is displaced up and down by thickness;
A first sensor that is provided between the paper thickness detection unit and the separation unit and detects the paper sheets passing through this position;
A second sensor that is provided downstream in the transport direction of the paper thickness detector and detects the paper sheets passing through this position;
The state of detection or non-detection of the paper sheets by the first sensor and the second sensor is monitored, and at least when the first sensor detects the paper sheets and the paper sheets are not being taken in, And a controller for controlling the drive unit so as to reverse the inner ring of the feed roller. The controller is
When both the first sensor and the second sensor are not detecting the paper sheet, if the paper sheet is being taken in, the inner ring of the feed roller is rotated forward to take the paper sheet. 2. The paper feeding device according to claim 1, wherein the inner ring of the feed roller is stopped unless it is in a loading period. The controller is
When the first sensor detects the paper sheet and the second sensor does not detect the paper sheet, if the paper sheet is being taken in, the inner ring of the feed roller is rotated forward, 2. The sheet feeding device according to claim 1, wherein an inner ring of the feed roller is reversely rotated when the sheet is not being taken in. The controller is
When both the first sensor and the second sensor detect the paper sheet, if the paper sheet is being taken in, the inner ring of the feed roller is stopped and the paper sheet is taken in 2. The paper feeding device according to claim 1, wherein the inner ring of the feed roller is reversely rotated if not inside. The controller is
When the first sensor does not detect the paper sheet and the second sensor detects the paper sheet, the inner ring of the feed roller is stopped regardless of the taking-in period of the paper sheet. The paper feeding device according to claim 1.

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