JP2014080263A - Paper sheet take-out device - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a paper sheet take-out device having a high processing capacity.SOLUTION: The paper sheet take-out device according to an embodiment includes: an upper stage feeding mechanism that moves a paper sheet accumulated in an upright position toward its accumulation direction to feed the paper sheet to a drop position; and a lower stage feeding mechanism that receives in the upright position the paper sheet fed by the upper stage feeding mechanism and dropped to the drop position, and then moves the paper sheet toward the accumulation direction to feed to a take-out position. The paper sheet fed by the lower stage feeding mechanism to the take-out position is taken out in a surface direction by a take-out mechanism. A control unit detects density state of the paper sheet that is dropped to the lower stage feeding mechanism and fed to the take-out position by a plurality of lower stage density sensors, and when at least one of the lower stage density sensor detects a sparse state of the paper sheet, the control unit operates the upper stage feeding mechanism.

Description

  Embodiments described herein relate generally to a paper sheet take-out device that takes out paper sheets such as postal items one by one.

  Conventionally, as a paper sheet take-out device, for example, a plurality of postal items stacked in a standing position are moved in the stacking direction, and postal items at the front end in the stacking direction are sequentially supplied to the pick-up position and supplied to the pick-up position. 2. Description of the Related Art A mail picking device that picks up mail one by one in the surface direction is known.

Special table 2011-506092 gazette

  Since postal items differ in thickness, size, weight, etc., depending on the supply method and take-out speed, the posture of the collected postal items may collapse and gaps may be formed between the postal items. . When the gap reaches the take-out position as it is, take-out of mail is interrupted at the gap portion, and the processing capacity is reduced accordingly.

  Therefore, it is desired to develop a paper sheet take-out device having a high processing capacity.

  The paper sheet take-out device according to the embodiment moves the paper sheets accumulated in a standing position in the stacking direction and supplies the paper sheets to the drop position, and is supplied to the drop position and dropped by the upper stage feed mechanism. A lower-stage supply mechanism that receives the paper sheets in a standing position, moves in the stacking direction, and supplies them to the take-out position. The paper sheets supplied to the take-out position by the lower supply mechanism are taken out in the surface direction by the take-out mechanism. The control unit detects the density of the paper sheets that are dropped into the lower level supply mechanism and supplied to the take-out position by a plurality of lower level density sensors, and at least one lower level density sensor detects the density of the paper sheets In such a case, the upper supply mechanism is operated.

Drawing 1 is a top view which looked at a mail pickup device concerning an embodiment from the upper part. 2 is a side view of the take-out unit incorporated in the take-out apparatus of FIG. 1 as viewed from the lower supply unit side. FIG. 3 is a front view of the take-out device of FIG. 1 as viewed from the direction of arrow F3. FIG. 4 is a block diagram of a control system that controls the operation of the take-out device of FIG. FIG. 5 is a diagram showing a control table by the control unit of FIG. FIG. 6 is a flowchart for explaining the operation of the control unit of FIG. FIG. 7 is a flowchart for explaining the operation of the control unit of FIG. FIG. 8 is a front view for explaining the operation together with FIG. FIG. 9 is a front view for explaining the operation together with FIG. FIG. 10 is a front view for explaining the operation together with FIG. FIG. 11 is a front view for explaining the operation together with FIG. FIG. 12 is a front view for explaining the operation together with FIG.

Hereinafter, embodiments will be described in detail with reference to the drawings.
First, with reference to FIG. 1 to FIG. 4, a mail pickup device 100 (paper sheet pickup device) (hereinafter simply referred to as a pickup device 100) according to an embodiment will be described.

  FIG. 1 is a plan view of the take-out device 100 according to the present embodiment as viewed from above. FIG. 2 is a side view of the take-out unit 40 incorporated in the take-out device 100 as viewed from the lower supply unit 30 side. FIG. 3 is a front view of the take-out device 100 as viewed from the upstream side (the direction of arrow F3 in FIG. 1) along the take-out direction of the postal matter M (the direction of arrow T). Further, FIG. 4 is a block diagram of a control system that controls the operation of the take-out device 100.

  The take-out apparatus 100 according to the present embodiment accumulates various mail items M having different thicknesses, sizes, and weights in a mixed state, puts them together in a standing position, and sends them one by one to a subsequent processing unit. It is a device for taking out. The standing position mentioned here means a posture in which the surface of the postal matter M is along the direction of gravity with one side of the postal matter M down. The take-out device 100 can process cards, forms, and the like in addition to the postal matter M as paper sheets. In the following description, the supply direction of the postal matter M by the upper stage supply unit 20 and the lower stage supply unit 30 is indicated by an arrow F, and the takeout direction of the postal matter M is indicated by an arrow T. That is, the arrow F is a direction along the stacking direction of the postal matter M, and the arrow T is a direction along the surface direction of the postal matter M.

  The take-out device 100 includes an upper supply unit 20 (upper supply mechanism), a lower supply unit 30 (lower supply mechanism), an extraction unit 40 (extraction mechanism), and a control unit 50. The upper supply unit 20 moves the postal matter M collected in a standing position in the stacking direction (arrow F direction) and supplies the postal matter M at the front end in the stacking direction to the drop position P1 in order. The lower supply unit 30 receives the postal matter M dropped from the dropping position P1 while standing, collects the postal matter M while moving further in the stacking direction F, and supplies the postal matter M at the front end in the stacking direction to the take-out position P2. . The take-out unit 40 takes out the postal matter M supplied to the take-out position P2 in the surface direction T. The control unit 50 detects the state of the postal matter M and the state of the apparatus 100 via various sensors 61, 62, 63, 64, 65, 66, 67, and 68 to be described later, and the upper supply unit 20 and the lower supply unit. 30 and the operation of the take-out unit 40 are controlled.

  The upper supply unit 20 includes an endless flat belt 22 that travels in the stacking direction F of the postal matter M, a backup paddle 24 (pressing member) that moves in the stacking direction F in synchronization with the flat belt 22, and these flat belts. 22 and motors 26 and 23 for driving the backup paddle 24 independently. In the present embodiment, the apparatus configuration is employed in which the flat belt 22 and the backup paddle 24 are driven separately by the two motors 26 and 23, but the flat belt 22 and the backup paddle 24 are driven by one drive source. Anyway.

  The flat belt 22 has a placement surface 22a that is parallel to the horizontal plane during traveling, and is placed with the lower end side of each postal matter M in contact with the placement surface 22a. On the mounting surface 22a, a plurality of ridge portions (not shown) extending along the take-out direction T are integrally formed. The plurality of protrusions function to prevent the slip by locking the lower end side of the mail M. Thus, the flat belt 22 travels in the stacking direction F of the mail items M with the lower end of the mail items M in contact with the placement surface 22a, and a plurality of mail items M (the lower ends thereof) are dropped to a position where they fall. Supply in the stacking direction F toward P1.

  The backup paddle 24 is in contact with the back surface (the surface on the side away from the take-out position P2) of the postal matter M at the rear end in the stacking direction of at least one postal matter M placed on the flat belt 22 in the stacking direction. F is movably provided. For example, as shown in FIG. 3, the backup paddle 24 is always slightly inclined to a posture in which the lower end close to the mounting surface 22a of the flat belt 22 is advanced from the upper end toward the take-out position P2. As a result, the supply posture of the postal matter M whose back surface is pushed by the backup paddle 24 is also inclined as shown in the figure, and there is no fear that the upper end of the postal matter M will fall in the direction of the take-out position P2, and a stable supply posture is maintained. be able to. Alternatively, the postal matter M accumulated in the upper supply unit 20 can be inclined as shown in the figure by making the moving speed of the backup paddle 24 slightly slower than the traveling speed of the flat belt 22.

  In any case, the flat belt 22 and the backup paddle 24 move in the stacking direction F in synchronization with the rotation of the motors 26 and 23, and cooperate to move the collected mail M in the stacking direction F. The postal matter at the leading end in the stacking direction is supplied to the drop position P1 in order. The postal matter M supplied to the drop position P1 is then pushed by the postal matter M supplied to the drop position P1, or further pushed by the backup paddle 24 when there is one postal matter M, It falls to the lower supply part 30 by its own weight.

  The lower supply unit 30 includes three supply belts 32a, 32b, and 32c (see FIG. 1) that run in a stacking direction F along a horizontal plane at a position spaced vertically below the mounting surface 22a of the flat belt 22. It has a motor 34 that causes three supply belts 32a, 32b, and 32c (hereinafter sometimes collectively referred to as supply belt 32) to travel in the stacking direction F.

  The three supply belts 32a, 32, and 32c are spaced apart from each other along the take-out direction T of the mail M and travel endlessly in the same direction as the flat belt 22, that is, along the accumulation direction F. Here, an example in which the supply belt 32 runs at the same speed as the flat belt 22 will be described, but the supply belt 32 may run at a speed different from that of the flat belt 22.

  The postal matter M dropped from the drop position P1 by the upper supply unit 20 described above is transferred near the upstream end along the stacking direction F of the three supply belts 32a, 32b, 32c, and the lower end side thereof is moved. It is brought into contact with the upper surface of the supply belt 32. At this time, after the backup paddle 24 moves along the flat belt 22, it continuously moves along the supply belt 32 through the lower supply unit 30 in the accumulation direction F (that is, the upper supply unit 20 and the lower supply unit 30. Therefore, the postal matter M whose lower end is brought into contact with the three supply belts 32 traveling along the accumulation direction F is supported by the backup paddle 24 on the back side. It will be supplied to the take-out position P2 on the supply belt 32.

  Note that the postal matter M falling from the drop position P1 to the lower supply unit 30 is guided by the curved guide plate 25 at the lower end side and delivered to the supply belt 32. For this reason, the lower end edge of the guide plate 25 is partially cut away at the positions of the three supply belts 32a, 32b, and 32c, as shown in FIG.

  The take-out device 100 according to this embodiment includes a guide plate 25 having a shape that is gently curved from the downstream end (left side in the drawing) of the flat belt 22 to the upstream side (right side in the drawing) of the supply belt 32 and recessed downward. Although it employ | adopted, you may employ | adopt the guide plate bent into the L-shaped cross section, for example. The guide plate 25 has a function of guiding the lower end of the postal matter M from the upper supply unit 20 to the lower supply unit 30 and abutting the lower end of the falling postal matter M to make it fall apart.

  Further, a guide plate 28 (see FIG. 1) is provided on the downstream side of the upper supply unit 20 and the lower supply unit 30 along the extraction direction T to guide the collected mail M in the extraction direction. An end portion of the guide plate 28 close to the take-out position P2 is curved toward the take-out direction T.

  The take-out unit 40 is disposed on the opposite side of the lower supply unit 30 with the take-out position P2 interposed therebetween, and at least a part of the take-out unit 40 is stretched so as to run endlessly in the take-out direction T along the take-out position P2. Belts 42a and 42b are provided. Each take-out belt 42a, 42b has a number of suction holes 49 (see FIGS. 2 and 3). The take-out belt 42a arranged on the upstream side along the take-out direction T is driven by the motor 44a, and the take-out belt 42b arranged on the downstream side along the take-out direction T is driven by the motor 44b.

  In addition, negative pressure chambers 46a and 46b having openings 45a and 45b (see FIG. 1) opened toward the extraction position P2 are disposed inside the extraction belts 42a and 42b, respectively. , 46b are connected to pumps 48a, 48b via valves 47a, 47b.

  Further, the take-out unit 40 has another guide plate 41 that extends in a standing position along the take-out direction T adjacent to the take-out position P2. The guide plate 41 has two rectangular openings 41a and 41b (FIG. 2) for exposing a part of each of the take-out belts 42a and 42b to the take-out position P2. Further, the guide plate 41 has two rectangular openings 43a and 43b for exposing two upper-stage proximity sensors 66a and 66b described later to the take-out position P2.

  Accordingly, when the motors 44a and 44b rotate in the direction shown in FIG. 1 (counterclockwise direction), the two sets of the take-out belts 42a and 42b travel in the take-out direction T along the take-out position P2. At this time, when the valves 47a and 47b are opened and the pumps 48a and 48b are driven, the negative pressure chambers 46a and 46b are evacuated, and negative pressure is applied to the suction holes 49 of the take-out belts 42a and 42b through the openings 45a and 45b. Will occur. Due to this negative pressure, the postal matter M at the take-out position P2 is attracted to the take-out belts 42a and 42b, and taken out in the take-out direction T from the take-out position P2 by the running of the take-out belts 42a and 42b.

Hereinafter, the layout and functions of the various sensors 61 to 68 of the take-out device 100 will be described.
An upper density sensor 61 is disposed slightly above the placement surface 22a of the flat belt 22 of the upper supply unit 20 and near the drop position P1. More specifically, as shown in FIG. 1, the upper density sensor 61 includes a light emitting portion 61 a and a light receiving portion 61 b with the upper supply portion 20 sandwiched in the take-out direction. The upper density sensor 61 is arranged in a posture and a position where the light beam directed from the light emitting unit 61a toward the light receiving unit 61b is separated above the placement surface 22a and extends in the vicinity of the drop position P2 in parallel with the extraction direction T. Yes.

  The upper density sensor 61 is a transmissive sensor that detects the presence or absence of the postal matter M when the postal matter M blocks its optical axis. That is, when the light beam emitted from the light emitting unit 61a is not received by the light receiving unit 61b (sensor output: dark), the presence of the postal matter M is detected at that position, and the postal matter M is accumulated in a “dense” state. Can be detected. On the other hand, when the light beam emitted from the light emitting unit 61a is received by the light receiving unit 61b (sensor output: bright), it is detected that the postal matter M does not exist at that position, and the postal matter M is accumulated in the “ Sparse state can be detected.

  In other words, the upper density sensor 61 laid out at the illustrated position detects the vicinity of the lower end of the postal matter M supplied to the vicinity of the drop position P1 by the upper stage supply unit 20, and the postal matter M supplied to the drop position P1. By detecting the presence / absence, the density of the mail M at that position is detected. In the present embodiment, one upper density sensor 61 is arranged in the upper supply section 20, but a plurality of upper density sensors may be arranged at positions separated along the integration direction F.

  A first lower-stage density sensor 62 is disposed near the upper surface of the supply belt 32 of the lower-stage supply unit 30, that is, in the vicinity of the guide plate 25 at a position spaced below the drop position P <b> 1. The first lower density sensor 62 has the same structure and function as the upper density sensor 61 described above, together with second and third lower density sensors 64 and 63 described below. That is, the first lower stage density sensor 62 also includes a light emitting part 62a and a light receiving part 62b.

  That is, the first lower density sensor 62 laid out at the position shown in the figure detects the vicinity of the lower end of the postal matter M dropped from the drop position P1 of the upper supply unit 20 and immediately after being dropped to the lower supply unit 30. It is detected whether or not a gap is formed in the object M, and the density of the mail M at this position is detected.

  Further, a second lower-stage density sensor 64 is disposed above the supply belt 32 of the lower-stage supply unit 30 and near the take-out position P2. As shown in FIG. 2, the second lower stage density sensor 64 has an optical axis inclined upward in the extraction direction T. That is, the light emitting part 64a of the second lower stage density sensor 64 is arranged at a position higher than the light receiving part 64b. In this way, by tilting the optical axis of the second lower-stage density sensor 64 close to the take-out position P2, the density state of the postal matter M can be detected at the entire height along the height direction, and a backup paddle 24 described later. This is effective when controlling the operation of

  The second lower-stage density sensor 64 laid out at the position shown in the figure detects the postal matter M supplied to the take-out position P2 by the lower-stage supply unit 30, detects the presence or absence of a gap in the postal matter M in the vicinity of the take-out position P2, The density of the mail M at this position is detected.

  Furthermore, at least one third lower-stage density sensor 63 is arranged above the supply belt 32 of the lower-stage supply section 30 and between the first lower-stage density sensor 62 and the second lower-stage density sensor 64 described above. . In the present embodiment, one third lower-stage density sensor 63 is arranged at this position, but two or more third lower-stage density sensors 63 may be arranged apart from each other along the integration direction F. The position of the third lower stage density sensor 63 along the integration direction F can be arbitrarily set.

  The third lower density sensor 63 detects the presence or absence of a gap near the lower end of the mail M accumulated on the supply belt 32 of the lower supply section 30 between the first and second lower density sensors 62 and 64. The density of the mail M at this position is detected. If the number of the third lower stage density sensors 63 is increased, the density state of the postal matter M in the lower stage supply unit 30 can be detected at a plurality of locations.

  Between the three supply belts 32a, 32b, 32c of the lower supply unit 30 vertically below the take-out position P2, two lower proximity sensors 65a, 65b (hereinafter, collectively referred to as a lower proximity sensor 65 may be referred to in some cases). ) Is arranged. The two lower-stage proximity sensors 65 are disposed so as to face the two take-out belts 42a and 42b of the take-out unit 40 and are separated from each other along the take-out direction T.

  These lower proximity sensors 65, together with an upper proximity sensor 66 described below, apply light emitted from a light emitting unit (not shown) to a detection target and receive the reflected light by a light receiving unit (not shown) from the amount of received light. It is a reflective sensor that detects the presence or absence of a detection object. The lower proximity sensor 65 of the present embodiment is disposed at a position where the lower end of the mail M supplied to the take-out position P2 can be detected by irradiating light upward from between the supply belts 32a, 32b, and 32c.

  Further, two upper proximity sensors 66a and 66b (on the back side of the guide plate 41 disposed at the take-out position P2 (on the side opposite to the take-out position P2) at positions spaced apart above the two lower-stage proximity sensors 65 ( Hereinafter, they may be collectively referred to as the upper proximity sensor 66). These two upper proximity sensors 66 are respectively disposed above the take-out belts 42a and 42b.

  As described above, these two upper proximity sensors 66 irradiate the postal matter M at the take-out position P2 through the openings 43a and 43b of the guide plate 41, and whether there is a postal matter M close to the guide plate 41. Detect whether or not. That is, when the surface of the postal matter M close to the take-out position P2 is close to the upper stage proximity sensor 66, that is, when the postal matter M is in a state where it can be taken out close to the guide plate 41, the light received by the upper stage proximity sensor 66 is received. The amount of received light is a sufficient value, and when the postal matter M is away from the guide plate 41, the amount of received light decreases.

  A first BU sensor 67 for detecting the passage of the backup paddle 24 is disposed in the vicinity of the drop position P1 at a position spaced apart from the mounting surface 22a of the flat belt 22 of the upper supply unit 20 to supply the lower supply unit 30. A second BU sensor 68 that detects the passage of the backup paddle 24 is disposed at a position spaced above the belt 32 and further above the take-out position P2. These two BU sensors 67 and 68 function as a detection unit that detects the position of the backup paddle 24 along the stacking direction F.

  The first and second BU sensors 67 and 68 of the present embodiment are, for example, sensors of the type in which the optical axis is blocked by a not-shown projection protruding from the front side edge along the take-out direction T of the backup paddle 24. is there. The first BU sensor 67 can detect the position where the backup paddle 24 immediately after dropping all the mail items M in the upper supply unit 20 can be detected, that is, the backup paddle 24 immediately after passing through the optical axis of the upper density sensor 61. It is arranged in the position. Further, the second BU sensor 68 is disposed at a position where it can be detected that the backup paddle 24 has passed the optical axis of the second lower density sensor 64 in the vicinity of the take-out position P2.

  In the present embodiment, the case where the two BU sensors 67 and 68 are arranged along the moving direction (stacking direction F) of the backup paddle 24 has been described. However, three or more sensors may be provided, or a plurality of sensors may be provided. Alternatively, an encoder (not shown) may be attached to the motor 26 that drives the backup paddle 24 to detect the position of the backup paddle 24 in the stacking direction.

Here, a control system of the take-out device 100 will be described.
As shown in FIG. 4, the control unit 50 that controls the operation of the take-out device 100 includes an upper density sensor 61, a first lower density sensor 62, a second lower density sensor 64, a third lower density sensor 63, a lower proximity sensor. 65a, 65b, upper stage proximity sensors 66a, 66b, a first BU sensor 67, and a second BU sensor 68 are connected.

  The control unit 50 includes a motor 26 that drives the flat belt 22 of the upper supply unit 20, a motor 23 that drives the backup paddle 24, and a motor that drives the three supply belts 32a, 32b, and 32c of the lower supply unit 30. 34, a motor 44a for running the take-out belt 42a of the take-out section 40, a pump 48a for evacuating the negative pressure chamber 46a, a valve 47a, a motor 44b for running the take-out belt 42b, a pump 48b for evacuating the negative pressure chamber 46b, and A valve 47b is connected.

FIG. 5 shows a control table in the control unit 50.
The control unit 50 controls the operations of the flat belt 22, the backup paddle 24, and the supply belt 32 based on the outputs of the various sensors 61 to 68 according to this control table. In the table of FIG. 5, when the sensor output is bright, or when the backup paddle 24 is not detected, the state of the corresponding sensor is “0”, and when the sensor output is dark or when the backup paddle 24 is detected. The corresponding sensor state is set to “1”.

Hereinafter, the operation of the control unit 50 will be described with reference to the flowcharts of FIGS. 6 and 7 and FIGS. 8 to 12.
For example, the supply belt 32 of the lower supply unit 30 is driven and controlled by the control unit 50 according to the flowchart of FIG.
In this control, the control unit 50 monitors the sensor output of the lower proximity sensor 65 and, when detecting that the lower proximity sensor 65 is “bright” (step 1; NO), rotates and supplies the motor 34. The belt 32 is driven at the speed V1 (step 2). That is, when the lower-stage proximity sensor 65 is “bright”, it is determined that at least the lower end of the postal matter M at the front end in the stacking direction has not reached the take-out position P2, and the supply belt 32 of the lower-stage supply unit 30 is driven.

  On the other hand, when it is detected in step 1 that the lower proximity sensor 65 is “dark” (step 1; YES), the control unit 50 determines that at least the lower end of the postal matter M is supplied to the take-out position P2. Then, the rotation of the motor 34 is stopped and the supply belt 32 is stopped (step 3). And the control part 50 repeats the process of step 1-step 3 until there is no process target object (step 4; NO).

  That is, in the drive control of the supply belt 32, the control unit 50 monitors only the output of the lower stage proximity sensor 65 and controls the motor 34 of the lower stage supply unit 30.

On the other hand, the flat belt 22 of the upper supply mechanism 20 is driven and controlled by the control unit 50 in accordance with the flowchart of FIG.
In the control, the control unit 50 first looks at the output of the second BU sensor 68 close to the take-out position P2 (step 11). When it is detected in step 11 that the second BU sensor 68 is “dark” (step 11; YES), the control unit 50 determines that the backup paddle 24 has moved to the position of FIG. Is stopped, and the flat belt 22 and the backup paddle 24 of the upper supply section 20 are stopped (step 12).

  On the other hand, when it is detected in step 11 that the second BU sensor 68 is “bright” (step 11; NO), the control unit 50 determines that at least the backup paddle 24 has not moved to the position of FIG. The output of the second lower density sensor 64, the upper proximity sensor 66, and the first BU sensor 67 close to the take-out position P2 is observed (step 13).

  When it is detected in step 13 that all the sensors 64, 66, 67 are “dark” (step 13; YES), the control unit 50 has moved the backup paddle 24 to the drop position P1 and the mail M Is determined to be normally supplied up to the take-out position P2, the motor 26 is stopped, and the flat belt 22 and the backup paddle 24 of the upper supply unit 20 are stopped (step 12).

  On the other hand, when it is detected in step 13 that at least one of the three sensors 64, 66, and 67 is “bright” (step 13; NO), the control unit 50 determines that the upper density sensor 61, the first sensor Go to the outputs of the lower sparse sensor 62, the third lower sparse sensor 63, the second lower sparse sensor 64, and the upper proximity sensor 66 (step 14).

  When it is detected in step 14 that all the sensors 61 to 64, 66 are “dark” (step 14; YES), the control unit 50 places the upper supply unit 20 and the lower supply unit 30 between the postal items M. It is determined that there is no gap, the motor 26 is stopped, and the flat belt 22 and the backup paddle 24 of the upper supply unit 20 are stopped (step 12).

  On the other hand, when it is detected in step 14 that at least one of the five sensors 61 to 64, 66 is “bright” (step 14; NO), the control unit 50 performs the upper supply unit 20 and / or It is determined that a gap is formed between the postal items M collected in the lower supply unit 30, and the motor 26 is rotated to drive the flat belt 22 and the backup paddle 24 of the upper supply unit 20 (step 15). ).

  And the control part 50 repeats the process of step 11-step 15 until there is no process target object (step 16; NO).

Here, some examples in which one of the sensors 61 to 64 and 66 becomes “bright” in step 14 are shown in FIGS. 9 to 12.
For example, in the example of FIG. 9, the second lower density sensor 64 and the upper proximity sensor 66 near the take-out position P2 are “bright”, and there is a gap between the postal matter M at the leading end in the stacking direction and the take-out position P2. It can be seen that is formed. In this case, the postal matter M accumulated in the upper supply unit 20 is sequentially dropped to the lower supply unit 30 by the process of step 15 in the flow of FIG. 7, and the gap is filled. At the same time, the process of step 2 is executed by the determination of step 1 in the flow of FIG. 6 and the supply belt 32 of the lower supply unit 30 is also driven.

  In the example of FIG. 10, only the first lower density sensor 62 arranged in the vicinity of the guide plate 25 is “bright”, and it can be seen that a gap is formed at this position. In this case, the postal matter M accumulated in the upper supply unit 20 is sequentially dropped to the lower supply unit 30 by the process of step 15 in the flow of FIG. 7, and the gap is filled.

  Further, in the example of FIG. 11, only the upper density sensor 61 in the upper supply section 20 is “bright”, and it can be seen that a gap is formed at this position. In this case, the postal matter M accumulated in the upper supply unit 20 is moved in the accumulation direction F by the process of step 15 in the flow of FIG. 7, and the gap is filled.

  Further, in the example of FIG. 12, the above-described upper density sensor 61, the first lower density sensor 62, and the second lower density sensor 64 are “bright”. At the same time, the first BU sensor 67 also has the backup paddle 24. Is detected, the output signal of the upper density sensor 61 is ignored. That is, when the backup paddle 24 is at this position (that is, the drop position P1), since the postal matter M does not exist in the upper supply unit 20, this sensor output becomes invalid.

  In other words, in this case, there are three sensors that are “bright”, but it can be seen that there are gaps formed at two locations separated along the stacking direction F. In this case, the backup paddle 24 is pushed down to the lower supply unit 30 by the process of step 15 in the flow of FIG. 7, the postal matter M accumulated in the lower supply unit 30 is pressed in the accumulation direction F, and the gap is Buried.

  As described above, according to the present embodiment, since the density sensors are arranged at a plurality of locations separated along the stacking direction F in the lower supply unit 30, most gaps can be detected during the movement of the postal matter M, and the pickup position P2 In this case, there is almost no possibility that the gap will reach, and the processing capacity will not be reduced.

  The above-described embodiments are presented as examples and are not intended to limit the scope of the invention. The above-described embodiments can be implemented in various other forms, and various omissions, replacements, and changes can be made without departing from the scope of the invention. This embodiment and its modifications are included in the scope of the present invention and the gist thereof, and are also included in the invention described in the claims and the equivalent scope thereof.

  For example, in the above-described embodiment, the direction of the optical axis of the density sensors 61 to 63 other than the second lower density sensor 64 is not particularly mentioned, but if the postal matter M with the shortest height is installed in a detectable state. The arrangement location, the optical axis inclination direction, and the like can be arbitrarily set. Further, the density sensors 61 to 64 are not limited to transmissive sensors as in the present embodiment, and reflective sensors can also be used.

  In the above-described embodiment, the case where the reflection type sensors are used as the lower stage proximity sensor 65 and the upper stage proximity sensor 66 has been described. For example, a pin that can be projected and retracted toward the postal matter M is provided. A mechanical sensor that mechanically detects the protrusion state may be used.

  DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 20 ... Upper stage supply part, 22 ... Flat belt, 22a ... Mounting surface, 24 ... Backup paddle, 25 ... Guide plate, 30 ... Lower stage supply part, 32 ... Supply belt, 40 ... Extraction part, 42 ... Extraction belt, 61 ... Upper sparse sensor, 62 ... first lower sparse sensor, 63 ... third lower sparse sensor, 64 ... second lower sparse sensor, 65 ... lower proximity sensor, 66 ... upper proximity sensor, 67 ... first BU sensor, 68 ... second BU Sensor, M ... mail.

Claims (7)

An upper stage supply mechanism that moves the sheets stacked in a standing position in the stacking direction and supplies the sheets at the front end in the stacking direction to the dropping position;
The lower stage supply that receives the paper sheets that have been supplied and dropped to the dropping position by the upper stage feeding mechanism in a standing position, accumulates while further moving in the stacking direction, and supplies the paper sheets at the front end in the stacking direction to the take-out position Mechanism,
A take-out mechanism for taking out the sheets fed to the take-out position by the lower-stage feed mechanism in the surface direction;
A plurality of lower density sensors for detecting the density state of the paper sheets from being dropped to the lower supply mechanism until being supplied to the take-out position at a plurality of positions along the stacking direction;
A control unit that operates the upper supply mechanism when at least one of the plurality of lower density sensors detects a sparse state of the paper sheet; and
A paper sheet take-out device. The plurality of lower-stage sparse sensors include a first lower-stage sparse sensor disposed below the drop position, a second lower-stage sparse sensor disposed near the take-out position, and the first lower-stage sparse sensor and the second lower stage sensor. Including at least one third lower density sensor disposed between the density sensors;
The paper sheet takeout device according to claim 1. The upper supply mechanism includes a pressing member that is disposed in contact with the sheets at the rear end in the stacking direction and is movable in the stacking direction toward the take-out position beyond the drop position.
The paper sheet takeout device according to claim 1 or 2. A lower stage proximity sensor for detecting the lower end of the paper sheet supplied to the take-out position;
The control unit operates the lower supply mechanism when not detecting the paper sheets supplied to the take-out position via the lower proximity sensor.
The paper sheet takeout device according to any one of claims 1 to 3. An upper-stage proximity sensor that detects paper sheets supplied to the take-out position at a position spaced above the lower-stage proximity sensor;
The control unit operates the upper supply mechanism when not detecting the paper sheets supplied to the take-out position via the upper proximity sensor.
The paper sheet takeout device according to claim 4. And further comprising at least one upper density sensor for detecting a density state of the paper sheets supplied to the dropping position by the upper level supply mechanism,
The control unit operates the upper supply mechanism when at least one of the upper density sensors detects a sparse state of paper sheets.
The paper sheet takeout device according to any one of claims 1 to 5. At least one upper-stage density sensor for detecting the density state of the paper sheets supplied to the drop position by the upper-stage supply mechanism;
A detection unit that detects a position along the accumulation direction of the pressing member, and
The control unit detects the density of the paper sheet at a position closer to the take-out position than the position of the pressing member detected by the detection unit among the at least one upper density sensor and the plurality of lower density sensors. Operating the upper supply mechanism when at least one of the sensors detects a sparse state of the paper sheet,
The paper sheet takeout device according to any one of claims 3 to 5.

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