JP2016160058A - Paper sheet processing apparatus - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a paper sheet processing apparatus, the size of which can be reduced.SOLUTION: A paper sheet processing apparatus includes: a conveying part; a shifting part; a first detection part; a second detection part, and a measurement part. The conveying part conveys paper sheets. The shifting part is provided in a part of the conveying part and conveys the paper sheets while sandwiching them between sandwiching members which each have different speeds. The first detection part is provided in a position on the downstream side of the shifting part in the conveying part in the conveying direction of the paper sheets and detects the presence or absence of the paper sheets. The second detection part is provided between the shifting part and the first detection part in the conveying part and detects the presence or absence of the paper sheets. The measurement part measures the length of the paper sheets based on the detection results of the first detection part, the detection results of the second detection part, and the speed at which the conveying part conveys the paper sheets.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 3

Description

  Embodiments described herein relate generally to a paper sheet processing apparatus.

  2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, there is a paper sheet processing apparatus that recognizes a destination described on a paper sheet by a recognition unit and performs processing for conveying the paper sheet to a stacking unit corresponding to a delivery classification destination based on the recognized destination. Are known. In the paper sheet processing apparatus, for example, the length of the paper sheet is measured based on the detection result of the sensor provided on the downstream side of the shifting mechanism that performs the shifting operation when two sheets overlap. ing. However, in the conventional technique, it is necessary to take a sufficient length of the transport mechanism on the downstream side of the shifting mechanism, and the apparatus may be increased in size.

JP 2007-76795 A

  The problem to be solved by the present invention is to provide a paper sheet processing apparatus capable of downsizing the apparatus.

  The paper sheet processing apparatus according to the embodiment includes a transport unit, a shift unit, a first detection unit, a second detection unit, and a measurement unit. The transport unit transports paper sheets. The shifting section is provided in a part of the transport section, and transports the paper sheets while sandwiching them with sandwiching members having different speeds. The first detection unit is provided at a position downstream of the shifting unit in the transport unit with respect to the transport direction of the paper sheet, and detects the presence or absence of the paper sheet. The second detection unit is provided between the shifting unit and the first detection unit in the transport unit, and detects the presence or absence of the paper sheet. The measurement unit measures the length of the paper sheet based on the detection result of the first detection unit, the detection result of the second detection unit, and the speed at which the transport unit transports the paper sheet. To do.

The figure which shows the outline of a structure of the paper sheet processing apparatus 1 of 1st Embodiment. The figure which shows the outline of a structure of the division | segmentation pre-processing part 10. FIG. The figure which shows the outline of a structure of the 2 sheet picking detection part 100. FIG. The figure which shows the structural example of the paper sheet processing apparatus 1 centering on the rejection control part 150. FIG. 7 is a flowchart showing a flow of processing executed by the reject control unit 150. The figure for demonstrating the 2 sheet picking detection part 200 of the paper sheet processing apparatus X of a comparison object. The figure for demonstrating the 2 sheet picking detection part 200 of the paper sheet processing apparatus 1 of embodiment. The figure which shows the outline of a structure of 100A of 2 sheet picking-up detection parts which concern on 2nd Embodiment. The figure which shows the structural example of the paper sheet processing apparatus 1 centering on rejection control part 150A. The flowchart which shows the flow of the process performed by 150 A of rejection control parts. The figure for demonstrating 200 A of 2 sheet picking detection parts of the paper sheet processing apparatus X of a comparison object. The figure for demonstrating 100A of 2 sheet picking detection parts of the paper sheet processing apparatus 1 of 2nd Embodiment.

  Hereinafter, a paper sheet processing apparatus according to an embodiment will be described with reference to the drawings.

(First embodiment)
FIG. 1 is a diagram schematically illustrating the configuration of a paper sheet processing apparatus 1 according to the first embodiment. The paper sheet processing apparatus 1 is a postal matter classification processing apparatus installed in, for example, a post office. The paper sheet processing apparatus 1 is an apparatus that recognizes a destination described or pasted on a paper sheet S such as a postcard or a sealed letter, and sorts and accumulates the paper sheet S in a stacker corresponding to the destination.

  The paper sheet processing apparatus 1 includes, for example, a pre-sorting processing unit 10 and a sorting unit 20. The sorting unit 20 is provided with a plurality of stackers (stacking units), for example, stackers 30 (1) to 30 (9). An operation terminal 70 is arranged at one corner of the paper sheet processing apparatus 1. The operation terminal 70 includes an input device (input unit) 71 such as a keyboard, a mouse, and a touch panel, and a display device 72 such as an LCD (Liquid Crystal Display) and an organic EL (Electroluminescence) display device.

  FIG. 2 is a diagram showing an outline of the configuration of the sorting preprocessing unit 10. The pre-classification processing unit 10 includes, for example, a supply unit 11, an extraction unit 12, a two-sheet detection unit 100, an exclusion stack unit 13, a barcode reading unit 14, an OCR (Optical Character Recognition) processing unit 15, A VC (Video Coding) request unit 16 and an IJP (Ink Jet Printer) 17 are provided.

In the supply unit 11, for example, a plurality of paper sheets S are set manually by an operator. The take-out unit 12 takes out the paper sheets set in the supply unit 11 one by one and supplies them to the two-sheet pick-up detection unit 100. The two-sheet picking-up detection unit 100 detects the sheets S conveyed in a state where two or more sheets are stacked, and stacks the detected two or more stacked sheets S in the exclusion stacking unit 13. Details of the two-sheet taking detection unit 100 will be described later.

  The barcode reading unit 14 reads the barcode from the sheet S on which the stealth barcode is printed, decodes the information encoded in the read stealth barcode, and controls the sorting of the sheet processing apparatus 1. Output to a control unit (not shown). The OCR processing unit 15 includes a camera (line sensor) that captures the paper sheet S, performs OCR processing on the image captured by the camera, and information such as the postal code of the paper sheet, the destination, and the sender Read. The VC requesting unit 16 transmits an image of the paper sheet S, in which part or all of the information cannot be read by the OCR processing unit 15, to the VC terminal 90 via the network NW, and the VC terminal 90 relates to the paper sheet S. Receive information (eg zip code or destination). The VC terminal 90 displays an image received from the paper sheet S to the operator, and returns information input by the operator to the paper sheet processing apparatus 1. The IJP 17 prints an object encoded with the information on the paper sheet S acquired by the OCR processing unit 15 or the VC request unit 16 on the paper sheet S as a stealth barcode.

  FIG. 3 is a diagram showing an outline of the configuration of the two-sheet picking-up detection unit 100. The two-sheet pick-up detection unit 100 includes a first transport belt 110, a second transport belt 112, a third transport belt 114, a shift unit 120, a pre-shift detection sensor 130, and a tip detection sensor (first sensor). 1 detection unit) 132, a rear end detection sensor (second detection unit) 134, a passage sensor 136, and a switching unit 140. The first conveyor belt 110, the second conveyor belt 112, and the third conveyor belt 114 are driven by a plurality of pulleys P connected to a motor (not shown) that generates a driving force through gears or the like. . The first transport belt 110, the second transport belt 112, and the third transport belt 114 include, for example, two pairs of transport belts that sandwich and transport the paper sheet S from both sides in the thickness direction. The class S is conveyed in the D direction.

  The shifting unit 120 is provided on the downstream side of the first conveyance belt 110 and on the upstream side of the second conveyance belt 112. The paper sheets S set in the supply unit 11 are taken out one by one by the take-out unit 12, but the first sheet is overlapped by the action of friction between the set paper sheets S, static electricity, or the like. May be conveyed to the other conveyor belt 110. When the plurality of paper sheets S are transported from the first transport belt 110 in a state in which a plurality of paper sheets S are stacked, the shifting unit 120 transports the plurality of paper sheets S in the transport direction (D Direction).

  For example, the shifting unit 120 includes a pulley P1 provided on the upper side of the shifting unit 120 and a conveyance belt 122 driven by the pulley P1, and a conveyance driven by a pulley P2 and a pulley P2 provided on the lower side of the shifting unit 120. Belt 124. Here, the speed of the conveyor belt 122 and the speed of the conveyor belt 124 are controlled to be different. For example, the rotational speed of a motor (not shown) that drives the pulley P1 may be controlled to be different from the rotational speed of a motor (not shown) that drives the pulley P2, or the motor speed is the same, but the pulley It may be designed such that the diameter of P1 and the diameter of the pulley P2 are different (the speed increasing ratio is different). As a result, when a plurality of paper sheets S in a stacked state pass through the shifting unit 120, the plurality of paper sheets S are shifted in the transport direction.

  The second conveying belt 112 conveys the paper sheet S conveyed from the shifting unit 120 to the barcode reading unit 14 or the third conveying belt 114. The third transport belt 114 transports the paper sheet S transported from the second transport belt 112 to the rejection stacking unit 13.

  The switching unit 140 is disposed at a branch point where the third transport belt 114 branches from the second transport belt 112. The switching unit 140 is controlled to be in an on state or an off state by control of a reject control unit 150 (described later). The off state is a state (140-1 in the figure) in which the switching unit 140 is positioned at the initial position and the paper sheet S conveyed from the second conveying belt 112 is conveyed toward the barcode reading unit 14. is there. That is, the off state is a state in which the paper sheet S is not branched to the exclusion stacker 13. On the other hand, the ON state is a state (140-2 in the figure) in which the paper sheet S conveyed from the second conveying belt 112 is conveyed to the rejection stacking unit 13. That is, the ON state is a state in which the paper sheet S is branched to the exclusion stacker 13.

  The pre-shift detection sensor 130 is provided on the first conveyor belt 110. The pre-shift detection sensor 130 detects that the paper sheet S taken out by the take-out unit 12 has been transported to the two-sheet pick-up detection unit 100, and a plurality of sheets stacked by the shift unit 120. Used to measure the length before the leaf S is displaced. The leading edge detection sensor 132 is provided on the second conveying belt 112 that is located downstream of the shifting unit 120 in the conveying direction of the paper sheet S. The leading edge detection sensor 132 is used to detect the timing at which the leading edge of the paper sheet S that has passed the shifting portion 120 has passed. The rear end detection sensor 134 is provided on the second conveyance belt 112 and on the upstream side of the front end detection sensor 132, that is, between the shifting portion 120 and the front end detection sensor 132. The trailing edge detection sensor 134 is used to detect the timing at which the trailing edge of the paper sheet S that has passed the shifting portion 120 has passed. Then, as will be described later, based on the time difference between the timing when the leading edge of the paper sheet S passes and the timing when the trailing edge passes, the post-shift length of the paper sheet S is measured. The passage sensor 136 is provided on the second conveyance belt 112 and at a position downstream of the tip detection sensor 132. The passage sensor 136 is used for controlling the operation timing of the switching unit 140, for example. The post-shift length of the paper sheet S is the length of the paper sheet S after being transported by the first transport belt 110 and passing through the shift section 120. When one sheet S passes through the shifting unit 120, the length of one sheet S that has been shifted by the shifting unit 120 but not shifted is the length after shifting. In the case where a plurality of stacked sheets S pass through the shifting unit 120, the length of the sheet S after being shifted by the shifting unit 120 is the length after shifting.

  Hereinafter, when the pre-shift detection sensor 130, the front end detection sensor 132, the rear end detection sensor 134, and the passage sensor 136 are not distinguished, they are simply referred to as “detection sensors”. A detection sensor detects the presence or absence of the paper sheet S in a detection location. The detection sensor detects the presence or absence of the paper sheet S using, for example, an optical method. The detection sensor includes a light emitting unit and a light receiving unit (not shown) arranged to face each other so as to cross the conveyance path through which the paper sheet S is conveyed. Irradiation light emitted from the light emitting unit is received by the light receiving unit when there is no obstruction, and when the paper sheet S conveyed on the conveyance path exists between the light emitting unit and the light receiving unit, by the light receiving unit. It is installed so that the received light is blocked. The detection sensor outputs an ON signal indicating that the paper sheet S is present on the optical axis of the irradiation light output from the light emitting unit when the reception of the irradiation light by the light receiving unit is interrupted. On the other hand, the detection sensor outputs an off signal indicating that the sheet S does not exist on the optical axis of the irradiation light output from the light emitting unit when the reception of the irradiation light by the light receiving unit is not blocked.

  FIG. 4 is a diagram illustrating a configuration example of the paper sheet processing apparatus 1 with the reject control unit 150 as a center. The reject control unit 150 includes, for example, a measurement unit 152, a determination unit 154, a switching control unit 156, and a storage unit 80. These functional units are software functional units that function when, for example, a processor such as a CPU executes a program stored in a program memory. Some or all of these functional units may be hardware functional units such as LSI (Large Scale Integration) and ASIC (Application Specific Integrated Circuit). The reject control unit 150 may be realized by two or more processors. The reject control unit 150 may be integrated with a control unit that controls the barcode reading unit 14, the OCR processing unit 15, the VC request unit 16, and the like included in the paper sheet processing apparatus 1.

  The reject control unit 150 includes a communication interface for communicating with the operation terminal 70 and the like via a LAN (Local Area Network) or the like. The reject control unit 150 and the operation terminal 70 may be a single computer device. That is, the processor of the operation terminal 70 may function as the reject control unit 150.

  The reject control unit 150 is connected to the storage unit 80 via a bus or the like. The storage unit 80 is realized by a storage device such as a RAM (Random Access Memory), a HDD (Hard Disk Drive), a flash memory, or an EEPROM (Electrically Erasable Programmable Read-Only Memory). In addition, the storage unit 80 stores various programs to be executed by the CPU included in the sheet processing apparatus 1 such as firmware and application programs, results of processing executed by the reject control unit 150, and the like.

  The reject control unit 150 includes a measurement unit 152, a determination unit 154, and a switching control unit 156. The measuring unit 152 detects the length of the sheet S based on the detection result of the leading end detection sensor 132, the detection result of the trailing end detection sensor 134, and the speed at which the second conveying belt 112 conveys the sheet S. Measure. The determination unit 154 determines whether or not a plurality of paper sheets S are transported in an overlapping manner based on the measurement result of the measurement unit 152, and the predetermined transport of the paper sheets S based on the determination result. Decide whether to carry in the direction. The switching control unit 156 controls the switching unit 140 based on the determination result of the determination unit 154.

FIG. 5 is a flowchart showing the flow of processing executed by the reject control unit 150. First, the measurement unit 152 of the reject control unit 150 waits until the paper sheet S is detected by the pre-shift detection sensor 130 (step S100). When the paper sheet S is detected by the pre-shift detection sensor 130, the measurement unit 152 measures the length Lb of the paper sheet S before the shift (step S102), and stores the measurement result in the storage unit 80 (step S102). Step S104). The measuring unit 152 measures the length Lb of the paper sheet S before shifting by using, for example, Equation (1). In the formula, V1 is the conveyance speed of the first conveyance belt 110, and T is the time from the detection of the paper sheet S by the pre-shift detection sensor 130 to the end of detection. In addition, the conveyance speed of each conveyance belt is stored in the memory | storage part 80 etc. previously as a part of program, for example. Further, the conveyance speed of each conveyance belt may be input to the reject control unit 150 from, for example, a control unit (not shown) that controls a motor that is a power source of each conveyance belt.
Lb = V1 × T (1)

  Next, the measurement unit 152 stands by until an ON signal is acquired from the tip detection sensor 132 (step S106). When the ON signal is acquired from the tip detection sensor 132, the measurement unit 152 stores the time T1 at which the ON signal is acquired in the storage unit 80 (step S108). This time T1 substantially coincides with the time when the paper sheet S conveyed from the shifting unit 120 starts to be detected by the leading edge detection sensor 132.

  Next, the measurement unit 152 stands by until an off signal is acquired from the rear end detection sensor 134 (step S110). Here, at the time when the processes of steps S106 and S108 are performed, the rear end detection sensor 134 outputs an ON signal. The interval between the detection points of the leading edge detection sensor 132 and the trailing edge detection sensor 134 is set to be sufficiently shorter than the length of the paper sheet S. For this reason, it is because the rear end detection sensor 134 outputs the ON signal when it is determined in step S106 that “ON signal is acquired”.

  When the off signal is acquired from the rear end detection sensor 134, the measurement unit 152 stores the time T2 at which the off signal is acquired in the storage unit 80 (step S112). This time T2 substantially coincides with the time when the paper sheet S is no longer detected by the trailing edge detection sensor 134.

Next, the measuring unit 152 measures the length La of the paper sheet S after being shifted (step S114). The measuring unit 152 measures the length La of the paper sheet S after being shifted, for example, by the equation (2). In the formula, V2 is the conveyance speed of the second conveyance belt 112, and d is the distance between the detection points of the rear end detection sensor 134 and the front end detection sensor 132 (intersensor distance). The inter-sensor distance d is stored in advance in, for example, the storage unit 80 as a part of the program. In addition, when only one sheet S is conveyed, since it is not shifted by the shifting unit 120, the length La after shifting coincides with the length Lb before shifting.
La = {(T2−T1) × V2} + d (2)

  Here, in order to measure the length La after shifting, the distance d between the detection points of the trailing edge detection sensor 134 and the leading edge detection sensor 132 is the minimum of the sheet S that the sheet processing apparatus 1 can handle. Must be shorter than the length Lmin. When the distance d is longer than the length Lmin, the paper sheet S may fall between the detection points of the trailing edge detection sensor 134 and the leading edge detection sensor 132. In this case, the time T1 is greater than the time T2. This is because equation (2) is not satisfied because it will be later.

  Next, the value (La / Lb) obtained by dividing the length La of the sheet S measured by the measurement unit 152 after the shift by the length Lb before the shift is greater than or equal to the threshold (1 + α). It is determined whether or not (step S116). The value α is set to a value between 0 and 1, for example. When the value (La / Lb) is equal to or greater than the threshold value (1 + α), the determination unit 154 instructs the switching control unit 156 to control the switching unit 140 to be in an on state (step S118). Note that the switching control unit 156 receives, for example, the instruction from the determination unit 154 and then receives the ON signal from the passage sensor 136 and then the estimated time required for the paper sheet S to pass through the switching unit 140. Until the time elapses, the switching unit 140 is kept on. When the estimated time has elapsed, the switching control unit 156 returns the switching unit 140 to the off state. When the value (La / Lb) is less than the threshold value (1 + α), the determination unit 154 continues to control the switching unit 140 in the off state with respect to the switching control unit 156 (step S120).

  As described above, when the length La of the sheet S measured by the measurement unit 152 after shifting is longer than the reference length Lb before the shifting, the determination unit 154 turns on the switching unit 140. And the sheet S is conveyed to the exclusion stacking unit 13. Here, when the length ΔL obtained by subtracting the length Lb before shifting from the length La after shifting is equal to or greater than the threshold value, the determining unit 154 indicates that “the length La after shifting becomes the length Lb before shifting. It may be determined that it is longer than the reference.

  The reason why the length La after shifting is longer than the reference length compared to the length Lb before shifting is that the plurality of paper sheets S transported in an overlapping manner are shifted in the transport direction by passing through the shift section 120. In this case, the length when viewed as a single unit is increased. In this case, a plurality of paper sheets S may be transported in an overlapping manner. When a plurality of paper sheets S are transported in an overlapping manner, a paper sheet S whose postal code or destination cannot be confirmed is generated in the OCR processing unit 15 or the VC terminal 90. In such a case, if the paper sheet S whose postal code or destination cannot be confirmed is controlled to be automatically conveyed to the stacking destination stacker 30, the paper sheet S is conveyed to an inappropriate stacker 30. Can be. In contrast, in the paper sheet processing apparatus 1 according to the present embodiment, the paper sheet S is stored in the exclusion stacker 13 when the length La after the shift is longer than the reference length Lb compared to the length Lb before the shift. By transporting, when there is a high possibility that a plurality of paper sheets S are transported in an overlapping manner, this can be guided to the exclusion stacking unit 13. Note that when the paper sheet S is taken out from the take-out unit 12, the plurality of paper sheets S are overlapped in a shifted state, conveyed from the first transport belt 110, and the state in which the shift is corrected by the shift unit 120. When such a situation is assumed, the determination unit 154 also causes the exclusion stacking unit 13 to execute the case where the length ΔL obtained by subtracting the length La after the shift from the length Lb before the shift is equal to or greater than the threshold value. You may make it guide.

  When the measurement result by the measurement unit 152 is less than the allowable value (1 + α), the determination unit 154 instructs the switching control unit 156 to control the switching unit 140 to the off state (step S120). As a result, the sheets S that are not stacked, that is, the sheets S that are being conveyed one by one, are conveyed to the barcode reading unit 14. Thus, the process executed by this flowchart ends.

  Here, the principle by which the paper sheet processing apparatus 1 of the embodiment can downsize the apparatus will be described. FIG. 6 is a diagram for explaining the two-sheet taking detection unit 200 of the paper sheet processing apparatus X to be compared. The two-sheet taking detection unit 200 includes one detection sensor 232 and a passage sensor 236 on the downstream side of the shift unit 220 having the same configuration as the shift unit 120 of the embodiment. The two-sheet pick-up detection unit 200 of the paper sheet processing apparatus X performs the conveyance speed of the second conveyance belt 212 from the time when the detection sensor 232 starts detecting the paper sheet S to the time when the paper sheet S is no longer detected. By multiplying by V2, the length La after shifting the paper sheet is calculated.

  In such a configuration, the length from the exit portion Ex of the shifting portion 220 to the detection sensor 232 is longer than the length La after the shifting of the paper sheet S plus the mechanical margin distance e1. There is a need to. If the length from the exit part Ex of the shifting unit 220 to the detection sensor 232 is shorter than the length after the shifting of the paper sheet S, before the shifting unit 220 completes the operation of shifting the paper sheet S, This is because the length of the paper sheet S is measured based on the result detected by the detection sensor 232, and an error may occur in the measurement result of the paper sheet S. Further, since the state of the sheet S is not stable immediately after the shifting operation by the shifting unit 220 is completed, it is preferable to provide a margin distance e1.

  In the case of such a configuration, the length from the detection sensor 232 to the passage sensor 236 is set to the length La after shifting the paper sheet S, and during the calculation processing time for calculating the length La after shifting. It is necessary to make it longer than the length including the distance e2 along which the paper sheet S is conveyed. As a result, the required length from the exit portion Ex of the shifting portion 220 to the passage sensor 236 is {2 × La + e1 + e2}.

  On the other hand, in the paper sheet processing apparatus 1 according to the embodiment, by providing the front end detection sensor 132 and the rear end detection sensor 134 at different locations, the distance from the exit portion Ex of the shifting portion 120 to the passage sensor 136 is increased. The length can be shortened. FIG. 7 is a diagram for explaining the two-sheet taking detection unit 200 of the paper sheet processing apparatus 1 according to the embodiment. In the configuration of the embodiment, the length from the exit portion Ex of the shifting portion 120 to the leading end detection sensor 132 is longer than the length La after shifting the paper sheet S plus the mechanical margin e1. It needs to be long. Further, the length from the trailing edge detection sensor 134 to the passage sensor 136 is set to the length La after shifting the paper sheet S, and the paper sheet S is calculated during the calculation processing time for calculating the length La after shifting. It is necessary to make it longer than the length including the distance e <b> 2 to be conveyed. As a result, the necessary length from the exit part Ex of the shifting unit 120 to the passage sensor 136 is {2 × La + e1 + e2−d}, which is shorter than the paper sheet processing apparatus X to be compared. Thus, the paper sheet processing apparatus 1 of the embodiment can reduce the size of the apparatus. In addition, the paper sheet processing apparatus 1 according to the embodiment accurately detects whether a plurality of paper sheets S are conveyed in a stacked state even when the installation location is limited in space. can do.

  Here, the shifted length La is a length that can be predicted to some extent by experiments or the like based on the assumed length of the paper sheet S (for example, the assumed length of the paper sheet S). 1.2 times to 1.5 times, etc.). The optimal length can be designed by adding e1 and e2 according to the specifications of the apparatus to the predicted length La after the shift. The assumed length of the paper sheet S is the maximum length Lmax of the paper sheet S that can be handled by the paper sheet processing apparatus 1. The maximum length Lmax is, for example, the length of the largest standard mail among the standard mails in the environment where the paper sheet processing apparatus 1 is used. Further, since the margin distance e1 depends on the conveyance speed at which the paper sheet S is conveyed, it is preferable to set the margin distance e1 large if the conveyance speed is fast and set small if the conveyance speed is slow.

  As described above, the arrangement position of the leading end detection sensor 132 on the second conveyor belt 112 is a position displaced by the length La after being shifted from the exit portion Ex of the shifting portion 120 without providing the margin distance e1. There may be. Further, the position of the leading end detection sensor 132 on the second transport belt 112 may be made variable according to the length of the paper sheet S processed by the paper sheet processing apparatus 1. For example, when the length of the transported paper sheet S is long, the leading edge detection sensor 132 is installed farther from the shifting unit 120 than when the transported paper sheet S is short. Is preferred. Further, for example, the distance between the detection positions of the leading edge detection sensor 132 and the trailing edge detection sensor 134 is set to be shorter than the post-shift length La of the assumed paper sheet S. Accordingly, it is possible to prevent a situation in which the trailing edge detection sensor 134 has finished detecting the paper sheet S when the leading edge detection sensor 132 starts detecting the paper sheet S.

  According to the paper sheet processing apparatus 1 of the first embodiment described above, the detection result of the leading edge detection sensor 132, the detection result of the trailing edge detection sensor 134, and the second conveying belt 112 are the paper sheets S. Since the length La after shifting of the paper sheet S is measured based on the speed at which the paper sheet S is conveyed, compared to the case where the length La after shifting of the paper sheet S is measured using one detection sensor. The apparatus can be reduced in size.

  Further, according to the paper sheet processing apparatus 1 of the first embodiment, the measurement is performed based on the length La after the shift of the paper sheet S measured as described above and the detection result of the detection sensor 130 before the shift. Since the transport direction of the paper sheet S is determined by comparison with the length Lb before shifting, the paper sheet S can be transported to an appropriate location.

(Second Embodiment)
Hereinafter, the second embodiment will be described. The sheet processing apparatus 1 according to the second embodiment is different from the first embodiment in the configuration of the two-sheet take-out detection unit. Hereinafter, the two-sheet removal detection unit according to the second embodiment is referred to as a two-sheet removal detection unit 100A. The two-shot detection unit 100 according to the first embodiment includes one pre-shift detection sensor 130, but the two-shot detection unit 100A according to the second embodiment includes a front-edge detection sensor 131A. (Fourth detection unit) and a shifting front and rear end detection sensor 131B (third detection unit). Further, the measurement unit 152A of the reject control unit 150A determines whether or not to convey the paper sheet S in a predetermined conveyance direction based on the measurement result using the detection results of the two sensors described above. Hereinafter, these differences will be mainly described.

  FIG. 8 is a diagram showing an outline of the configuration of the two-sheet picking-up detection unit 100A according to the second embodiment. The pre-shift tip detection sensor 131 </ b> A is provided on the first transport belt 110 that transports the paper sheet S from the exit portion of the take-out portion 12. The pre-shift front end detection sensor 131A detects that the paper sheet S taken out by the take-out unit 12 has been transported to the two-sheet pick-up detection unit 100, and the paper before passing through the shift unit 120. Used to detect the timing when the tip of the class S passes. The shifting front / rear end detection sensor 131B is provided on the first conveying belt 110 and at a position upstream of the front shifting front end detection sensor 131A, that is, between the take-out portion 12 and the front shifting front end detection sensor 131A. . The shift front / rear end detection sensor 131B is used to detect the timing at which the rear end of the paper sheet S before passing through the shift portion 120 has passed. Then, as will be described later, based on the time difference between the timing when the leading edge of the paper sheet S passes and the timing when the trailing edge passes, the post-shift length of the paper sheet S is measured.

  FIG. 9 is a diagram illustrating a configuration example of the paper sheet processing apparatus 1 centering on the reject control unit 150A. The rejection control unit 150A includes a measurement unit 152A. The measurement unit 152A determines the length of the sheet S based on the detection result of the leading end detection sensor 132, the detection result of the trailing end detection sensor 134, and the speed at which the second conveyance belt 112 conveys the sheet S. The sheet is measured based on the detection result of the leading edge detection sensor 131A, the detection result of the leading and trailing edge detection sensor 131B, and the speed at which the first transport belt 110 transports the sheet S. The length of class S is measured.

  FIG. 10 is a flowchart showing the flow of processing executed by the reject control unit 150A. First, the measurement unit 152A of the reject control unit 150A stands by until an on signal is acquired from the sensor 131A for detecting the leading edge before shifting (step S200). When acquiring the ON signal from the pre-shift tip detection sensor 131A, the measurement unit 152A stores the time T1 * at which the ON signal is acquired in the storage unit 80 (step S202). This time T1 * substantially coincides with the time when the paper sheet S conveyed from the take-out portion 12 side starts to be detected by the front leading edge detection sensor 131A.

  Next, the measurement unit 152A stands by until an off signal is acquired from the shifted front and rear end detection sensor 131B (step S204). Here, when the processes of steps S200 and S202 are performed, the shifted front and rear end detection sensor 131B outputs an ON signal. The distance between the detection points of the leading edge detection sensor 131A and the leading edge detection sensor 131B is set sufficiently shorter than the length of the paper sheet S. For this reason, when it is determined in step S200 that “the ON signal has been acquired”, the shifted front and rear end detection sensor 131B outputs the ON signal. When the off signal is acquired from the shifted front and rear end detection sensor 131B, the measurement unit 152A stores the time T2 * at which the off signal is acquired in the storage unit 80 (step S206). This time T2 * substantially coincides with the time when the paper sheet S is no longer detected by the shifting front and rear end detection sensor 131B.

Next, the measurement unit 152A measures the length Lb of the paper sheet S before shifting (step S208), and stores the measurement result in the storage unit 80 (step S210). The measurement unit 152A measures the length Lb of the paper sheet S before shifting, for example, using Equation (3). In the equation, V1 is the conveyance speed of the first conveyance belt 110, and d * is the distance between the detection points of the front and rear end detection sensor 131B and the detection front end detection sensor 131A (intersensor distance). The inter-sensor distance d * is stored in advance in the storage unit 80 as a part of the program, for example.
Lb = {(T2 * −T1 *) × V1} + d * (3)
Here, in order to measure the length Lb before shifting, the distance d * between the detection positions of the shifting front / rear end detection sensor 131B and the shifting front end detection sensor 131A is a paper sheet that the paper sheet processing apparatus 1 can handle. It must be shorter than the minimum length Lmin of the class S. When the distance d * is longer than the length Lmin, the paper sheet S may be displaced between the detection points of the shifted front edge detection sensor 131A and the shifted front and rear edge detection sensor 131B. In this case, the time T1 * This is because Equation (3) does not hold because is after the time T2 *.

  Next, the measurement unit 152A stands by until an ON signal is acquired from the tip detection sensor 132 (step S212). When the ON signal is acquired from the tip detection sensor 132, the measurement unit 152 stores the time T1 at which the ON signal is acquired in the storage unit 80 (step S214). This time T1 substantially coincides with the time when the paper sheet S conveyed from the shifting unit 120 starts to be detected by the leading edge detection sensor 132.

  Next, the measurement unit 152 stands by until an off signal is acquired from the rear end detection sensor 134 (step S216). Here, when the processes of steps S212 and S214 are performed, the rear end detection sensor 134 outputs an ON signal. The interval between the detection points of the leading edge detection sensor 132 and the trailing edge detection sensor 134 is set to be sufficiently shorter than the length of the paper sheet S. For this reason, it is because the rear end detection sensor 134 outputs the ON signal when it is determined in step S212 that “ON signal is acquired”.

  When acquiring the off signal from the rear end detection sensor 134, the measuring unit 152 stores the time T2 at which the off signal is acquired in the storage unit 80 (step S218). This time T2 substantially coincides with the time when the paper sheet S is no longer detected by the trailing edge detection sensor 134.

Next, the measuring unit 152 measures the length La of the paper sheet S after shifting (step S220). The measuring unit 152 measures the length La of the paper sheet S after being shifted, for example, by the equation (2). In the formula, V2 is the conveyance speed of the second conveyance belt 112, and d is the distance between the detection points of the rear end detection sensor 134 and the front end detection sensor 132 (intersensor distance). The inter-sensor distance d is stored in advance in, for example, the storage unit 80 as a part of the program. In addition, when only one sheet S is conveyed, since it is not shifted by the shifting unit 120, the length La after shifting coincides with the length Lb before shifting.
La = {(T2−T1) × V2} + d (2)

  Next, the value (La / Lb) obtained by dividing the length La of the sheet S measured by the measurement unit 152 after the shift by the length Lb before the shift is greater than or equal to the threshold (1 + α). It is determined whether or not (step S222). The value α is set to a value between 0 and 1, for example. When the value (La / Lb) is equal to or greater than the threshold value (1 + α), the determination unit 154 instructs the switching control unit 156 to control the switching unit 140 to be on (step S224). Note that the switching control unit 156 receives, for example, the instruction from the determination unit 154 and then receives the ON signal from the passage sensor 136 and then the estimated time required for the paper sheet S to pass through the switching unit 140. Until the time elapses, the switching unit 140 is kept on. When the estimated time has elapsed, the switching control unit 156 returns the switching unit 140 to the off state. When the value (La / Lb) is less than the threshold value (1 + α), the determination unit 154 continues to control the switching unit 140 to the OFF state with respect to the switching control unit 156 (step S226).

  FIG. 11 is a diagram for explaining the two-sheet taking detection unit 200A of the paper sheet processing apparatus X to be compared. The two-sheet picking-up detection unit 200A includes one detection sensor 230 on the upstream side of the shifting unit 220 having the same configuration as the shifting unit 120 of the embodiment. The two-sheet picking-up detection unit 200A of the paper sheet processing apparatus X starts from the time when the paper sheet S conveyed from the exit part Ex * of the pick-up unit 12 is detected by the detection sensor 230 to the time when it is no longer detected. Is multiplied by the conveying speed V1 of the first conveying belt 210 to calculate the length Lb before the paper sheet is shifted.

  In such a configuration, the length from the exit part Ex * of the take-out part 12 to the detection sensor 230 is calculated by adding a mechanical margin distance e3 to the length Lb before the paper sheet S is shifted. It must be longer than the length. If the length from the exit part Ex * of the take-out part to the detection sensor 230 is shorter than the length Lb before the paper sheet S is shifted, before the take-out part 12 completes the operation of taking out the paper sheet S. In addition, the length Lb of the paper sheet S before shifting is measured based on the result detected by the detection sensor 230, and an error may occur in the measurement result of the paper sheet S. Moreover, since the state of the paper sheet S is not stable immediately after the take-out operation by the take-out unit 12 is completed, it is preferable to provide a margin distance e3. In addition, the length from the detection sensor 230 to the entrance portion En of the shifting unit 220 needs to be longer than the length Lb of the sheet S before shifting. If the length from the detection sensor 230 to the entrance portion En of the shifting unit is shorter than the length Lb before the shifting of the sheet S, the sheet S is affected by the operation of the shifting unit 220. This is because the length Lb of the paper sheet S before being shifted is measured based on the result detected by the detection sensor 230, and an error may occur in the measurement result of the paper sheet S. As a result, the necessary length from the outlet portion Ex * of the extraction 12 to the inlet portion En of the shifting portion 220 is {2 × Lb + e3}.

  In contrast, in the paper sheet processing apparatus 1 according to the second embodiment, the entrance portion En of the shifting portion 120 is provided by providing the shifting front end detection sensor 131A and the shifting front / rear end detection sensor 131B at different locations. To the outlet portion Ex * of the extraction portion 12 can be shortened. FIG. 12 is a diagram for explaining the two-sheet taking detection unit 100A of the paper sheet processing apparatus 1 according to the second embodiment. In the configuration of the second embodiment, the mechanical margin distance e3 is set such that the length from the exit portion Ex * of the take-out portion 12 to the front leading edge detection sensor 131A is the length Lb before the paper sheet S is shifted. It is necessary to make it longer than the length added. In addition, the length from the shifting front / rear end detection sensor 131B to the entrance portion En of the shifting portion 120 needs to be longer than the length Lb of the paper sheet S before shifting. As a result, the necessary length from the outlet portion Ex * of the take-out 12 to the inlet portion En of the shifting portion 120 is shorter than that of the paper sheet processing apparatus X to be compared, {2 × La + e3-d *} It becomes. Thus, the paper sheet processing apparatus 1 of the embodiment can reduce the size of the apparatus. In addition, the paper sheet processing apparatus 1 according to the embodiment accurately detects whether a plurality of paper sheets S are conveyed in a stacked state even when the installation location is limited in space. can do.

  Note that the assumed length Lb of the paper sheet S before shifting, that is, the assumed length of the paper sheet S is the maximum length Lmax of the paper sheet S that can be handled by the paper sheet processing apparatus 1. . The maximum length Lmax is, for example, the length of the largest standard mail among the standard mails in the environment where the paper sheet processing apparatus 1 is used. Further, it is preferable that the margin distance e3 is set to be larger if the operation speed taken out from the take-out unit 12 is faster and set to be smaller if the operation speed is slower, depending on the specifications of the take-out unit 12.

  According to the second embodiment described above, in addition to the same effects as those of the first embodiment, the length is also increased in the upstream portion with respect to the transport direction of the paper sheet S relative to the shifting portion 120. Can be shortened. As a result, the apparatus can be further downsized.

  Note that the upstream side of the shifting unit 120 may be provided with the sensor 131A for detecting the leading edge before shifting and the sensor 131B for detecting the front and back ends of the shifting unit, and one detecting sensor may be provided on the downstream side of the shifting unit 120.

  According to at least one embodiment described above, it is provided at a position downstream of the shifting unit (120) in the transport unit (110, 112, 114) with respect to the transport direction of the paper sheet, and the presence or absence of the paper sheet is determined. A first detection unit (132) that detects, a second detection unit (134) that is provided between the shift unit and the first detection unit in the transport unit and detects the presence or absence of paper sheets; And a measurement unit (152) for measuring the length of the paper sheet based on the detection result of the second detection unit, the detection result of the second detection unit, and the speed at which the transport unit transports the paper sheet. Thus, the apparatus can be reduced in size.

  Further, according to the embodiment, since the apparatus can be downsized, the length of the paper sheet S can be accurately measured even when the apparatus is installed in a narrow installation space.

Moreover, this embodiment can be expressed as follows.
A transport unit for transporting paper sheets;
A shift unit provided in a part of the transport unit, for transporting the paper sheets while sandwiching the paper sheets by sandwiching members having different speeds;
Provided at a position downstream of the shifting unit in the transport unit with respect to the transport direction of the paper sheet, and includes a light emitting unit and a light receiving unit, and the paper sheet blocks the light emitting unit and the light receiving unit. A first detector that outputs a predetermined signal when
Provided between the shifting unit and the first detection unit in the transport unit, and has a light emitting unit and a light receiving unit, and is predetermined when the light emitting unit and the light receiving unit are blocked by the paper sheets. A second detection unit that outputs a signal of
The time from the time when the first detection unit starts detecting the paper sheet to the time when the second detection unit no longer detects the paper sheet, and the transport unit detects the paper sheet. A measurement unit that measures the length of the paper sheet based on a result obtained by adding a distance between the detection points of the first detection unit and the second detection unit to a value obtained by multiplying the conveyance speed by a value; ,
A paper sheet processing apparatus comprising:

  Although several embodiments of the present invention have been described, these embodiments are presented by way of example and are not intended to limit the scope of the invention. These embodiments can be implemented in various other forms, and various omissions, replacements, and changes can be made without departing from the spirit of the invention. These embodiments and their modifications are included in the scope and gist of the invention, and are also included in the invention described in the claims and the equivalents thereof.

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 ... Paper sheet processing apparatus, 13 ... Exclusion stacking unit, 100 ... Two sheet picking detection unit, 130 ... Pre-shift detection sensor, 131A ... Pre-shift tip detection sensor, 131B ... Shift front / rear edge detection sensor, 132 ... Tip Detection sensor, 134... Rear end detection sensor, 150... Reject control unit, 152... Measurement unit, 154.

Claims (10)

A transport unit for transporting paper sheets;
A shift unit provided in a part of the transport unit, for transporting the paper sheets while sandwiching the paper sheets by sandwiching members having different speeds;
A first detection unit that is provided at a position downstream of the shifting unit in the transport unit with respect to the transport direction of the paper sheet, and detects the presence or absence of the paper sheet;
A second detection unit that is provided between the shifting unit and the first detection unit in the transport unit and detects the presence or absence of the paper sheet;
A measurement unit that measures the length of the paper sheet based on a detection result of the first detection unit, a detection result of the second detection unit, and a speed at which the transport unit transports the paper sheet; ,
A paper sheet processing apparatus comprising: The measurement unit includes a time from the time when the first detection unit starts detecting the paper sheet to the time when the second detection unit stops detecting the paper sheet, and the transport unit Based on the result of adding the distance between the detection points of the first detection unit and the second detection unit to a value obtained by multiplying the speed of conveying the paper sheet, the length of the paper sheet Measuring,
The paper sheet processing apparatus according to claim 1. A third detection unit that is provided upstream of the shifting unit in the transport unit with respect to the transport direction of the paper sheet, and detects the presence or absence of the paper sheet;
The measurement unit measures the length of the paper sheet before shifting based on the detection result of the third detection unit;
The paper sheet processing apparatus according to claim 1 or 2. The measurement unit includes a time from a time when the paper sheet is detected by the third detection unit to a time when the paper sheet is no longer detected by the third detection unit, and the transport unit Based on the result of multiplying the speed of conveying the paper sheet, measure the length of the paper sheet before shifting,
The paper sheet processing apparatus according to claim 3. A third detection unit that is provided upstream of the shifting unit in the transport unit with respect to the transport direction of the paper sheets, and detects the presence or absence of the paper sheets;
A fourth detection unit that is provided between the shifting unit and the third detection unit in the transport unit and detects the presence or absence of the paper sheet;
The measurement unit measures the length of the paper sheet before shifting based on the detection results of the third detection unit and the fourth detection unit;
The paper sheet processing apparatus according to claim 1 or 2. The measurement unit includes a time from a time when the paper sheet is detected by the fourth detection unit to a time when the paper sheet is no longer detected by the third detection unit. Based on the result of multiplying the speed of conveying the paper sheet, measure the length of the paper sheet before shifting the paper sheet,
The paper sheet processing apparatus according to claim 5. The paper sheet measured by the measurement unit based on the length before shifting of the paper sheet measured by the measurement unit, the detection result of the first detection unit, and the detection result of the second detection unit. A determination unit that determines whether or not to convey the paper sheet in a predetermined conveyance direction based on a comparison with the length after the shift of the class;
The paper sheet processing apparatus according to any one of claims 3 to 6. The determining unit is configured to measure the length of the paper measured by the measuring unit by the measuring unit based on the detection result of the first detecting unit and the detection result of the second detecting unit. If the length of the leaf is longer than the reference, the paper sheet is determined to be transported in a predetermined transport direction.
The paper sheet processing apparatus according to claim 7. A third detection unit that is provided upstream of the shifting unit in the transport unit with respect to the transport direction of the paper sheets, and detects the presence or absence of the paper sheets;
A determination unit that determines whether or not to convey the paper sheets in a predetermined conveyance direction based on the measurement result of the measurement unit and the detection result of the third detection unit;
The paper sheet processing apparatus according to claim 1 or 2. A third detection unit that is provided upstream of the shifting unit in the transport unit with respect to the transport direction of the paper sheets, and detects the presence or absence of the paper sheets;
A fourth detection unit that is provided between the shifting unit and the third detection unit in the transport unit and detects the presence or absence of the paper sheet;
A determination unit that determines whether or not to convey the paper sheets in a predetermined conveyance direction based on the measurement result of the measurement unit, the detection result of the third detection unit, and the detection result of the fourth detection unit. And further comprising
The paper sheet processing apparatus according to claim 1 or 2.

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