JP2022053157A - Sheet feeding device - Google Patents

Abstract

To provide a sheet feeding device capable of reducing failed sheet feeding.SOLUTION: A conveying unit 9 holds and conveys an uppermost sheet P among a plurality of sheets P having levitated from a sheet bundle PT so that a part of the uppermost sheet P is in contact with a conveying surface 36b. A separation unit 8 blows air out for separating the uppermost sheet P held on the conveying surface 36b from the second and lower sheets P. A control unit 13 performs control to reduce air flowing in a space above the uppermost paper P held on the conveying surface 36b among air blown out by the separation unit 8.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 1

Description

The present invention relates to a sheet supply device that supplies sheets.

As a sheet supply device for supplying sheets, a paper feeding device that sucks paper to a transport belt by air suction to feed the paper is known. In such a paper feeding device, air is blown onto a bundle of paper loaded on the paper feeding table to float a plurality of papers, and the topmost (top) paper is attracted to the transport belt by a suction unit. Then, this paper is conveyed by the conveying belt and fed to the printing apparatus.

In such a paper feed device, in order to feed paper one by one, air is flown between the top-level paper that is attracted to and transported by the transport belt and the second sheet from the top, and the top-level paper is fed. Paper and the second and lower papers from the top are separated (see Patent Document 1).

Japanese Unexamined Patent Publication No. 2010-126305

However, in the above-mentioned paper feeding device, a part of the air blown out to separate the top-level paper adsorbed on the transport belt and the second and lower sheets from the top is adsorbed on the transport belt. It may flow into the space above the paper. Then, a downward force acts on the paper due to the air flowing into the space above the paper adsorbed on the transport belt, and the paper may be peeled off from the transport belt. As a result, blank paper feeding may occur.

The present invention has been made in view of the above, and an object of the present invention is to provide a sheet supply device capable of reducing air feeding of sheets.

In order to achieve the above object, the sheet supply device of the present invention holds and conveys the uppermost sheet among a plurality of sheets floating from the sheet bundle so that a part of the uppermost sheet is in contact with the conveying surface. The transport section, the separation section that blows out air for separating the top sheet held on the transport surface and the second and lower sheets from the top, and the transport section among the air blown out by the separation section. It is characterized by including a control unit that controls to reduce the air flowing in the space above the uppermost sheet held on the surface.

According to the sheet feeding device of the present invention, it is possible to reduce the air feeding of sheets.

It is a schematic block diagram of the paper feed device which concerns on 1st Embodiment. It is a control block diagram of the paper feed device shown in FIG. It is a partially enlarged plan view of the paper feed device shown in FIG. 1. It is an enlarged view near the buoyant air outlet of the paper feed device shown in FIG. 1. It is an enlarged view near the suction part of the paper feed device shown in FIG. 1. It is a figure which looked at the inside of the chamber of the suction part of the paper feed device shown in FIG. 1 from the downstream side in the paper transport direction. It is a timing chart for demonstrating the operation of the paper feed device in 1st Embodiment. It is a figure which shows the path of the separation air flow in the state which a switching opening is closed. It is a figure which shows the path of the airflow guided in the chamber with the switching opening open. It is a schematic block diagram of the switching part in 2nd Embodiment. It is a timing chart for demonstrating the operation of the paper feed device in 2nd Embodiment. It is a figure which shows the path of the separated airflow when the path switching plate is a normal state. It is a figure which shows the path of the separated airflow when the path switching plate is a switching state.

Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. The same or equivalent parts and components are designated by the same or equivalent reference numerals throughout the drawings.

The embodiments shown below exemplify an apparatus or the like for embodying the technical idea of the present invention, and the technical idea of the present invention includes the material, shape, structure, arrangement, etc. of each component. Is not specified as the following. The technical idea of the present invention can be modified in various ways within the scope of claims.

[First Embodiment]
FIG. 1 is a schematic configuration diagram of a paper feeding device according to the first embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 2 is a control block diagram of the paper feed device shown in FIG. FIG. 3 is a partially enlarged plan view of the paper feeding device shown in FIG. FIG. 4 is an enlarged view of the vicinity of the floating air outlet of the paper feed device shown in FIG. FIG. 5 is an enlarged view of the vicinity of the suction portion of the paper feeding device shown in FIG. FIG. 6 is a view of the inside of the chamber of the suction unit of the paper feed device shown in FIG. 1 as viewed from the downstream side in the paper transport direction. In the following description, the direction orthogonal to the paper surface of FIG. 1 is the front-back direction, and the paper surface front direction is the front direction. Further, the vertical and horizontal directions of the paper surface in FIG. 1 are defined as the vertical and horizontal directions.

As shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, the paper feed device (corresponding to the sheet supply device) 1 according to the first embodiment includes a paper feed table 2, an elevating motor 3, a paper feed guide plate 4, and a sabaki gate 5. The end fence 6, the floating upper portion 7, the separating unit 8, the transport unit 9, the suction unit 10, the switching unit 11, the upper limit sensor 12, and the control unit 13 are provided.

The paper feed device 1 is a device that feeds (supplies) paper (corresponding to a sheet) P to a printing device (not shown). In FIG. 1, the direction from left to right is the transport direction of the paper P by the transport unit 9. In the following description, upstream and downstream mean upstream and downstream in the transport direction of the paper P by the transport unit 9.

The paper feed tray 2 is loaded with the paper P used for printing. The paper feed tray 2 is configured to be able to move up and down.

The elevating motor 3 raises and lowers the paper feed table 2.

The paper feed guide plate 4 is a member that regulates the position of the downstream end (right end) of the paper P on the paper feed table 2. The paper feed guide plate 4 is arranged near the downstream side of the paper feed table 2. The upper end of the paper feed guide plate 4 is inclined so as to be higher toward the downstream side. The paper feed guide plate 4 has a vertical guide surface 4a that regulates the position of the downstream end of the paper P on the paper feed table 2. Further, as shown in FIGS. 3 and 4, the paper feed guide plate 4 has a notch portion 4b for blowing air from the floating upper portion 7 onto the paper P on the paper feed table 2 at the center portion in the front-rear direction. It is formed by cutting out the upper part.

The sabaki gate 5 is a member that dams up the paper P other than the uppermost paper P adsorbed on the transport portion 9 among the paper P floated by the floating upper portion 7. Two Sabaki gates 5 are installed so as to be separated from each other in the front-rear direction in the vicinity below the downstream end portion of the transport portion 9.

The end fence 6 is a member that regulates the position of the upstream end (left end) of the paper P on the paper feed tray 2.

The floating upper portion 7 blows air onto a paper bundle (corresponding to a sheet bundle) PT composed of a plurality of papers P stacked and loaded on the paper feed tray 2, and floats the plurality of papers P at the upper end of the paper bundle PT. .. The floating upper portion 7 is arranged on the downstream side of the paper bundle PT. The levitation portion 7 includes a levitation fan 21, a levitation air shutter 22, a levitation air shutter drive unit 23, and two levitation air outlets 24.

The levitation fan 21 is a source of levitation airflow for levitation of the paper P of the paper bundle PT on the paper feed tray 2.

The levitation air shutter 22 switches on / off the levitation airflow from the levitation air outlet 24.

The levitation air shutter drive unit 23 opens and closes the levitation air shutter 22.

The levitation air outlet 24 is an outlet for levitation airflow generated by driving the levitation fan 21. The two levitation air outlets 24 are arranged apart from each other in the front-rear direction.

In addition to the above-mentioned floating upper portion 7, two floating tops are arranged so as to face each other with the paper bundle PT on the paper feed tray 2 sandwiched in the front-rear direction, and air is blown to the paper bundle PT in order to float the paper P, respectively. Further mechanisms may be provided.

The separation unit 8 blows out air for separating the top-level paper P, which is floated by the floating upper portion 7 and held on the transport surface 36b of the transport unit 9, and the second and lower sheets P from the top, and separates the sheets. An air flow F (see FIG. 8) is generated. The separation unit 8 is arranged on the downstream side of the paper bundle PT. The separation unit 8 includes a separation fan 26 and two separation air outlets 27.

The separation fan 26 is a source of the separation airflow F.

The separation air outlet 27 is an outlet for the separation airflow F. The separated air outlet 27 blows air (separated airflow F) diagonally upward (diagonally upward to the left) toward the paper bundle PT from a position lower than the transport portion 9. The two separated air outlets 27 are arranged in parallel in the front-rear direction.

In addition to the separation unit 8 described above, the paper bundle PT on the paper feed tray 2 is arranged so as to face each other in the front-rear direction, and the top-level paper P and the second or less paper P from the top are respectively. Two separation mechanisms that blow out air for separation may be further provided.

The transport unit 9 transports the highest-ranked paper P among the plurality of papers P that have floated from the paper bundle PT by the floating airflow blown out by the floating upper portion 7. The transport unit 9 includes two belt units 31 and a transport motor 32.

The belt unit 31 holds and conveys the paper P by the suction force generated by the air suction of the suction unit 10. The two belt units 31 are arranged apart from each other in the front-rear direction. The belt unit 31 includes a transport belt 36, a drive roller 37, and a driven roller 38.

The transport belt 36 is an annular belt that is hung between the drive roller 37 and the driven roller 38. A plurality of belt holes 36a are formed in the transport belt 36 over the entire circumference. The transport belt 36 holds the paper P on the transport surface 36b by the suction force generated in the belt hole 36a by driving the suction fan 42 described later.

The transport surface 36b is a downward horizontal surface that is the lower surface of the lower portion of the transport belt 36 between the drive roller 37 and the driven roller 38. The transport surface 36b of the two transport belts 36 is in contact with a part of the upper surface of the paper P to hold the paper P. The paper P is transported by rotating (endlessly moving) the transport belt 36 by driving the drive roller 37 while the paper P is held on the transport surface 36b.

The drive roller 37 rotates the transport belt 36 (endless movement). The drive rollers 37 of the two belt units 31 are connected to each other by a shaft 39.

The driven roller 38 supports the transport belt 36 together with the drive roller 37. The driven roller 38 is driven and rotated by the rotating conveyor belt 36. The driven rollers 38 of the two belt units 31 are connected to each other by a shaft 40.

The transfer motor 32 rotates the drive roller 37 by rotating the shaft 39.

The suction unit 10 sucks the uppermost paper P among the plurality of papers P floating from the paper bundle PT onto the transport surface 36b of the transport belt 36 by air suction. The suction unit 10 includes a chamber 41 and a suction fan 42.

The chamber 41 forms a negative pressure chamber for generating an attractive force in the belt hole 36a of the conveyor belt 36. In the chamber 41, the portion forming the transport surface 36b of the transport belt 36 (the lower portion of the transport belt 36 between the drive roller 37 and the driven roller 38) passes under the bottom plate 41a of the chamber 41. , The belt unit 31 is held inside. Therefore, the chamber 41 is arranged above the transport surface 36b.

A ventilation hole (not shown) is formed in a portion of the bottom plate 41a of the chamber 41 through which the transport belt 36 passes. A suction force is generated in the belt hole 36a by sucking air into the chamber 41 through the belt hole 36a of the conveyor belt 36 and the ventilation hole of the chamber 41.

Further, the bottom plate 41a of the chamber 41 is formed with a switching opening (corresponding to the opening) 41b for guiding a part of the air blown out by the separating portion 8 to the inside of the chamber 41. The switching opening 41b can be opened and closed by the path switching shutter 46 described later.

As shown in FIG. 6, the switching opening 41b is arranged between the two belt units 31 in the front-rear direction.

In the left-right direction, the switching opening 41b guides a part of the air blown out by the separating portion 8 to the inside of the chamber 41, so that among the air blown out by the separating portion 8, the air flowing through the space S shown in FIG. Is placed in a position where it can be reduced. Here, the space S is a space above the paper P held on the transport surface 36b and surrounded by the paper P, the bottom plate 41a of the chamber 41, and the two belt units 31.

As an example, in the present embodiment, the switching opening 41b is arranged so that the center position of the switching opening 41b is the same as the tip of the paper P held on the transport surface 36b in the left-right direction. That is, as shown in FIG. 5, the switching opening 41b is arranged so that the center position of the switching opening 41b in the left-right direction is the same as the guide surface 4a of the paper feed guide plate 4.

The suction fan 42 exhausts air from the chamber 41. When the suction fan 42 exhausts from the chamber 41, air is sucked into the chamber 41 from the outside of the chamber 41 through the belt hole 36a of the conveyor belt 36 and the ventilation hole of the chamber 41. The suction fan 42 is arranged above the chamber 41.

The switching unit 11 switches the flow path of a part of the air blown out by the separating unit 8 to guide the air to the inside of the chamber 41 so that the air flowing through the space S among the air blown out by the separating unit 8 is reduced. Do the action. The switching unit 11 includes a path switching shutter 46 and a switching drive unit 47.

The path switching shutter 46 opens and closes the switching opening 41b. The path switching shutter 46 performs an operation of opening the closed switching opening 41b as a switching operation, thereby switching the path through which a part of the air blown out by the separating portion 8 flows and guiding the air into the chamber 41. ..

The switching drive unit 47 drives the path switching shutter 46 to open and close the switching opening 41b. The switching drive unit 47 has a solenoid (not shown) or the like.

The upper limit sensor 12 monitors the end face on the downstream side (right side) of the paper P loaded on the paper feed tray 2. The upper limit sensor 12 is arranged on the downstream side of the paper feed tray 2 at a height position where the paper P floated by the floating upper portion 7 can be detected. The upper limit sensor 12 is composed of a reflection type optical sensor.

The control unit 13 controls the operation of the entire paper feeding device 1. The control unit 13 includes a CPU, RAM, ROM, a hard disk, and the like.

Next, the operation of the paper feed device 1 in the first embodiment will be described.

FIG. 7 is a timing chart for explaining the operation of the paper feed device 1 in the first embodiment.

When starting paper feeding, the control unit 13 opens the levitation air shutter 22 (time t1 in FIG. 7). Further, the control unit 13 starts driving the levitation fan 21, the separation fan 26, and the suction fan 42.

As a result, the floating airflow is blown out from the floating air outlet 24, and the separated airflow F is blown out from the separated air outlet 27. Further, an attractive force is generated in the belt hole 36a of the transport belt 36. Here, at the start of the paper feeding operation, the switching opening 41b is closed by the path switching shutter 46.

Due to the levitation airflow from the levitation air outlet 24, a plurality of papers P at the top of the paper bundle PT are levitated from the paper bundle PT. Then, the uppermost paper P among the plurality of floated papers P is adsorbed and held on the transport surface 36b of the transport belt 36.

The control unit 13 closes the levitation air shutter 22 at the time t2 after the lapse of a predetermined levitation on time from the time t1 in FIG. 7 when the levitation air shutter 22 is opened. As a result, the blowing of air onto the paper bundle PT by the floating upper portion 7 is turned off. Therefore, the second or less paper P from the top of the plurality of floating paper P begins to fall.

At time t3 after closing the levitation air shutter 22 and before inputting a paper feed start signal from the printing device at the paper feed destination, the control unit 13 controls the path switching shutter 46 so as to open the switching opening 41b. To drive.

Here, in a state where the switching opening 41b is closed, as shown in FIG. 8, when the separation airflow F blown out by the separation portion 8 reaches the bottom plate 41a of the chamber 41 and the transport belt 36, the bottom plate of the chamber 41 is reached. It flows upstream (left side) along the 41a and the transport belt 36.

The separated airflow F flows between the top-level paper P adsorbed on the transport surface 36b and the top-level second sheet paper P, so that the top-level sheet P and the top-level second or lower sheet P are used. Is separated, and the second and lower sheets of paper P from the top fall.

When the switching opening 41b is opened, the air that has reached the switching opening 41b among the air blown out by the separating portion 8 is guided into the chamber 41. That is, when the switching opening 41b is opened, the flow path of a part of the air (separation airflow F) blown out by the separation portion 8 is switched, so that the switching opening is opened from the separation portion 8 as shown in FIG. An airflow Fa toward the inside of the chamber 41 is generated through the portion 41b. As a result, after the switching opening 41b is opened, the air flowing through the space S among the air blown out by the separating portion 8 is reduced compared to before the switching opening 41b is opened.

Here, in a state where the switching opening 41b is closed, a part of the air blown out by the separating portion 8 flows into the space S. Of the air blown out by the separating portion 8, the air that has flowed into the space S may push the paper P adsorbed on the transport surface 36b downward and peel the paper P from the transport surface 36b. On the other hand, in the paper feed device 1, the paper P is peeled off from the transport surface 36b by reducing the air flowing through the space S among the air blown out by the separation unit 8 by opening the switching opening 41b. It can be suppressed.

When the levitation air shutter 22 is closed, the second or less paper P from the top starts to fall, and by the time the switching opening 41b is opened, the top paper P and the second or less paper P from the top And are separated. Therefore, even if the switching opening 41b is opened, there is no problem in separating the top-level paper P and the second and lower papers P from the top.

Returning to FIG. 7, when the paper feed start signal was input at time t4 after the levitation air shutter 22 was closed, the control unit 13 was attracted to the transfer surface 36b by driving the transfer unit 9. The paper P is conveyed to the printing apparatus. When the transfer of the paper P adsorbed on the transfer surface 36b is completed, the control unit 13 stops the transfer unit 9.

At time t5 after the transfer of the paper P is completed, the control unit 13 opens the levitation shutter 22 to levitate the paper P for the next paper feeding. Further, at time t5, the control unit 13 drives the path switching shutter 46 so as to close the switching opening 41b at the same time as opening the floating shutter 22.

The timing of closing the switching opening 41b is not limited to the same time as the opening of the floating shutter 22, and the switching opening 41b may be closed by the time t6 when the floating shutter 22 is closed.

By repeating the operation of floating and transporting the paper P as described above, the paper P is sequentially fed from the paper feeding device 1 to the printing device.

During this paper feeding operation, the control unit 13 controls to raise the paper feeding table 2 according to the decrease of the paper P on the paper feeding table 2 due to the paper feeding. Specifically, the control unit 13 acquires the sensor value of the upper limit sensor 12 at the timing when the paper P is floating for each paper feed. Then, when the acquired sensor value is less than a predetermined tracking threshold value, the control unit 13 raises the paper feed tray 2 by the height corresponding to the difference between the sensor value and the tracking threshold value.

When the paper feeding for the number of sheets to be fed is completed in the paper feeding operation, the control unit 13 ends the paper feeding operation.

As described above, in the paper feed device 1 of the first embodiment, the control unit 13 controls to reduce the air flowing through the space S among the air blown out by the separation unit 8 by the switching unit 11. As a result, it is possible to prevent the paper P from being peeled off from the transport surface 36b by the air that has flowed into the space S among the air blown out by the separation unit 8, so that the blank feeding of the paper P can be reduced.

Further, in the control unit 13, after the air is blown off to the sheet bundle PT by the floating upper portion 7 by closing the floating air shutter 22, the separating unit 8 blows out until the driving of the transport unit 9 is started. Switching control is performed to switch the path through which a part of the air flows so that the air flowing through the space S among the air blown out by the separation unit 8 is reduced. As a result, the paper P from the transport surface 36b is not prevented from separating the top-level paper P adsorbed on the transport surface 36b from the second and lower sheets P from the top to transport the top-level paper P. It is possible to reduce the blank feeding of the paper P by suppressing the peeling.

Further, the control unit 13 controls to open the switching opening 41b by the route switching shutter 46 as a switching control for switching the path through which a part of the air blown out by the separation unit 8 flows. As a result, switching control can be realized by a simple mechanism.

[Second Embodiment]
Next, a second embodiment in which the switching unit of the first embodiment described above is changed will be described. FIG. 10 is a schematic configuration diagram of a switching unit in the second embodiment.

The switching unit 11A in the second embodiment performs a switching operation of switching the flow path of the air blown out by the separating unit 8 so as to prevent the air blown out by the separating unit 8 from flowing into the space S. As shown in FIG. 10, the switching unit 11A includes a path switching plate (corresponding to a switching plate) 51, a rotation shaft 52, and a switching drive unit 53. In the second embodiment, the chamber 41 is not provided with the switching opening 41b.

The route switching plate 51 is a plate for switching the flow path of the air blown out by the separating unit 8 so as to prevent the air blown out by the separating unit 8 from flowing into the space S. One path switching plate 51 is provided for each of the two separated air outlets 27.

The lower end of the path switching plate 51 is connected to the rotation shaft 52 inside the separation portion 8, and the upper end portion protrudes upward from the separation air outlet 27. The upper end of the route switching plate 51 is bent to the upstream side (left side).

The path switching plate 51 can be switched between the normal state shown by the solid line and the switching state shown by the alternate long and short dash line in FIG. 10 by rotating around the rotation shaft 52.

The normal state of the path switching plate 51 is a state in which the air (separation airflow F) blown out by the separation unit 8 flows diagonally upward to the left toward the bottom plate 41a of the chamber 41 and the transport belt 36 (FIG. FIG.). See 12).

The switching state of the route switching plate 51 is a state in which the separation unit 8 switches the flow path of the air blown out so as to prevent the air blown out by the separation unit 8 from flowing into the space S (see FIG. 13). Specifically, the path switching plate 51 in the switching state horizontally (upstream) the flow direction of the air (separation airflow F) blown out by the separation unit 8 from diagonally upward to the left at a position lower than the transport surface 36b. Switch in the direction toward.

The switching state of the path switching plate 51 is a state in which the path switching plate 51 is rotated in the clockwise direction in FIG. 10 by a predetermined angle with respect to the normal state. In the switching state, the upper end portion of the route switching plate 51 becomes horizontal at a position lower than the transport surface 36b, and the upper end portion allows the air (separated airflow F) flowing along the lower surface of the route switching plate 51 to flow along the transport surface 36b. It is guided horizontally to the left (upstream) at a lower position.

The rotation shaft 52 is a shaft extending in the front-rear direction for rotating the path switching plate 51. The rotation shaft 52 is arranged inside the separation portion 8.

The switching drive unit 53 switches the path switching plate 51 between the normal state and the switching state by rotating the rotation shaft 52. The switching drive unit 53 has a solenoid (not shown) or the like.

Next, the operation of the paper feed device 1 in the second embodiment will be described.

FIG. 11 is a timing chart for explaining the operation of the paper feed device 1 in the second embodiment.

The operation of the paper feed device 1 in the second embodiment is the same as the operation of the paper feed device 1 in the first embodiment described above, except that the operation of the switching unit 11 is replaced with the operation of the switching unit 11A.

Further, the timing of the switching operation, which is the operation of switching the path switching plate 51 of the switching unit 11A in the second embodiment from the normal state to the switching state, is the same as the timing of the switching operation of the switching unit 11 in the first embodiment described above. be. That is, in the second embodiment, the control unit 13 changes the route switching plate 51 of the switching unit 11A from the normal state to the switching state at the timing when the switching opening 41b in which the switching unit 11 in the first embodiment is closed is opened. Switch.

Further, in the second embodiment, the control unit 13 changes the route switching plate 51 of the switching unit 11A from the switching state to the normal state at the timing when the switching unit 11 in the first embodiment closes the opened switching opening 41b. return.

When the path switching plate 51 is in the normal state, as shown in FIG. 12, the separated airflow F blown out by the separating portion 8 flows diagonally upward to the left toward the bottom plate 41a of the chamber 41 and the transport belt 36. Then, when the separated airflow F reaches the bottom plate 41a and the transport belt 36 of the chamber 41, it flows upstream (left side) along the bottom plate 41a and the transport belt 36 of the chamber 41.

The separated airflow F flows between the top-level paper P adsorbed on the transport surface 36b and the top-level second sheet paper P, so that the top-level sheet P and the top-level second or lower sheet P are used. Is separated, and the second and lower sheets of paper P from the top fall.

When the route switching plate 51 is switched from the normal state to the switching state, as shown in FIG. 13, the route switching plate 51 changes the flow direction of the air blown out by the separating portion 8 from the diagonally upper left direction from the transport surface 36b. Switch horizontally to the left (upstream) at a low position. As a result, after switching from the normal state to the switching state of the path switching plate 51, it is possible to prevent the air blown out by the separating unit 8 from flowing into the space S.

Even when the path switching plate 51 is in the switching state, the separated airflow F flows between the top-level paper P adsorbed on the transport surface 36b and the second paper P from the top. Therefore, even if the path switching plate 51 is in the switching state, there is no problem in separating the top-level paper P and the second and lower papers P from the top.

As described above, in the second embodiment, the control unit 13 controls the switching unit 11A to prevent the air blown out by the separation unit 8 from flowing into the space S. As a result, as in the first embodiment, it is possible to prevent the paper P from being peeled off from the transport surface 36b by the air that has flowed into the space S among the air blown out by the separation unit 8, so that the paper P can be fed empty. Can be reduced.

Further, in the control unit 13, after the air is blown off to the sheet bundle PT by the floating upper portion 7 by closing the floating air shutter 22, the separating unit 8 blows out until the driving of the transport unit 9 is started. In order to prevent the air from flowing into the space S, the separation unit 8 performs switching control for switching the flow path of the blown air. As a result, as in the first embodiment, the top-level paper P adsorbed on the transport surface 36b and the second and lower-level paper P from the top are separated without preventing the top-level paper P from being transported. In addition, it is possible to prevent the paper P from being peeled off from the transport surface 36b and reduce the blank feeding of the paper P.

Further, in the switching control, the control unit 13 switches the flow path of the air blown out by the separation unit 8 by the path switching plate 51 so as to prevent the air blown out by the separation unit 8 from flowing into the space S. As a result, switching control can be realized by a simple mechanism.

[Other embodiments]
As mentioned above, the invention has been described by the first and second embodiments, but the statements and drawings that form part of this disclosure should not be understood as limiting the invention. This disclosure will reveal to those skilled in the art various alternative embodiments, examples and operational techniques.

In the first embodiment described above, the switching opening 41b and the path switching shutter 46 may be provided on at least one of the front side of the front belt unit 31 and the rear side of the rear belt unit 31.

In the first and second embodiments described above, the transport unit 9 has a structure having two belt units 31 (transport surface 36b). Then, in the first embodiment, the switching unit 11 opens the switching opening 41b by the path switching shutter 46 to switch the path through which a part of the air blown out by the separating unit 8 flows, and the air inside the chamber 41. The air flowing through the space S among the air blown out by the separation unit 8 was reduced. Further, in the second embodiment, the switching unit 11A switches the flow path of the air blown out by the separating unit 8 so as to suppress the air blown out by the separating unit 8 from flowing into the space S by the path switching plate 51. And said.

However, the number of transport surfaces of the transport unit is not limited to two, and may be one or three or more. The transport unit may be any as long as it is held so that a part of the top-level paper is in contact with the transport surface and is transported. Then, the switching unit reduces the flow path of at least a part of the air blown out by the separating part in the space above the uppermost paper held on the transport surface among the air blown out by the separating part. Anything that switches to is sufficient.

In the first embodiment, when the transport unit 9 has only one belt unit 31 (conveyor surface 36b), the switching opening 41b and the path switching shutter 46 are provided on at least one of the front side and the rear side of the belt unit 31. Should be provided.

Further, in the first embodiment, when the transport unit 9 has three or more belt units 31 (conveyor surfaces 36b), the switching opening 41b is provided in at least one of the regions between the belt units 31 adjacent to each other. And the path switching shutter 46 may be provided. Further, in this case, the switching opening 41b and the path switching shutter 46 may be provided on at least one of the front side of the frontmost belt unit 31 and the rear side of the rearmost belt unit 31.

In the second embodiment described above, the route switching plate 51 sets the flow direction of the air blown out by the separating portion 8 from diagonally upward to the left so as to prevent the air blown out by the separating portion 8 from flowing into the space S. At a position lower than the transport surface 36b, the direction was switched horizontally toward the left (upstream). However, the route switching plate is not limited to this, and the path switching plate is for the air blown out by the separating part so as to reduce the air flowing in the space above the uppermost paper held on the transport surface among the air blown out by the separating part. Anything that switches the flow path may be used.

Although the paper feeding device for feeding paper has been described in the first and second embodiments described above, the present invention can also be applied to a device for supplying sheets other than paper.

As described above, it goes without saying that the present invention includes various embodiments not described here. Therefore, the technical scope of the present invention is defined only by the matters specifying the invention relating to the reasonable claims from the above description.

[Additional Notes]
This application discloses the following inventions.

(Appendix 1)
A transport unit that holds and transports the top-level sheet among a plurality of sheets that have emerged from the sheet bundle so that a part of the top-level sheet is in contact with the transport surface.
A separating portion for blowing out air for separating the uppermost sheet held on the transport surface and the second and lower sheets from the top, and
A sheet supply device including a control unit that controls to reduce the air flowing in the space above the uppermost sheet held on the transport surface among the air blown out by the separation unit.

(Appendix 2)
Further provided with a floating top that blows air onto the sheet bundle to raise the sheet.
The control unit
By controlling to switch the flow path of at least a part of the air blown out by the separation portion, the air flowing through the space is reduced.
For each sheet to be transported to the transport unit, the air blown to the sheet bundle by the floating top is switched on and off, and the air blown to the sheet bundle by the floating top is turned off during the transporting period. The unit is driven to control the transfer of the uppermost sheet,
The sheet supply device according to Appendix 1, wherein the control is performed to switch the path between the time when the air blown to the sheet bundle by the floating portion is turned off and the time when the driving of the transport unit is started. ..

(Appendix 3)
Further provided with a suction unit that attracts the uppermost sheet to the transport surface by air suction.
The suction portion has a chamber provided above the transport surface and having an openable / closable opening for guiding at least a part of the air blown out by the separation portion to the inside.
The sheet supply device according to Appendix 2, wherein the control unit controls to open the closed opening as a control for switching the route.

(Appendix 4)
Further provided with a switching plate for switching the flow path of the air blown out by the separation unit.
The sheet according to Appendix 2, wherein the control unit switches the flow path of the air blown out by the separation unit by the switching plate so that the air flowing through the space is reduced in the control of switching the path. Feeding device.

1 Paper feed device 2 Paper feed stand 3 Lifting motor 4 Paper feed guide plate 5 Sabaki gate 6 End fence 7 Floating upper part 8 Separation unit 9 Transport unit 10 Suction unit 11, 11A Switching unit 12 Upper limit sensor 13 Control unit 26 Separation fan 27 Separation air Outlet 31 Belt unit 32 Conveying motor 36 Conveying belt 36a Belt hole 36b Conveying surface 41 Chamber 41a Bottom plate 41b Switching opening 42 Suction fan 46 Path switching shutter 51 Path switching plate 52 Rotating shaft 53 Switching drive unit P Paper PT Paper bundle S space

Claims (4)

A transport unit that holds and transports the top-level sheet among a plurality of sheets that have emerged from the sheet bundle so that a part of the top-level sheet is in contact with the transport surface.
A separating portion for blowing out air for separating the uppermost sheet held on the transport surface and the second and lower sheets from the top, and
A sheet supply device including a control unit that controls to reduce the air flowing in the space above the uppermost sheet held on the transport surface among the air blown out by the separation unit. Further provided with a floating top that blows air onto the sheet bundle to raise the sheet.
The control unit
By controlling to switch the flow path of at least a part of the air blown out by the separation portion, the air flowing through the space is reduced.
For each sheet to be transported to the transport unit, the air blown to the sheet bundle by the floating top is switched on and off, and the air blown to the sheet bundle by the floating top is turned off during the transporting period. The unit is driven to control the transfer of the uppermost sheet,
The sheet supply according to claim 1, wherein the control for switching the path is performed after the air blowing to the sheet bundle by the floating portion is turned off and before the driving of the transport unit is started. Device. Further provided with a suction unit that attracts the uppermost sheet to the transport surface by air suction.
The suction portion has a chamber provided above the transport surface and having an openable / closable opening for guiding at least a part of the air blown out by the separation portion to the inside.
The sheet supply device according to claim 2, wherein the control unit controls to open the closed opening as a control for switching the route. Further provided with a switching plate for switching the flow path of the air blown out by the separation unit.
The second aspect of claim 2, wherein the control unit switches the flow path of the air blown out by the separation unit by the switching plate so that the air flowing through the space is reduced in the control of switching the path. Seat feeder.

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