JP4413111B2 - Media cassette - Google Patents

Description

  The present invention relates to a medium cassette that is detachably attached to an apparatus main body such as a medium feeding apparatus and separates and feeds media one by one.

A conventional medium cassette is a medium in which a weight such as a passbook, a card, a banknote, a slip, etc. is bundled and loaded on the uppermost medium as it is, and the stacked medium is pressed against the feeding roller by the weight. Each sheet is separated and fed out by a gate that allows passage of one sheet (see, for example, Patent Document 1).
Further, the medium cassette provided with the shutter is a medium to the apparatus main body by a shutter lock plate interlocked with an L angle engageable with a lock lever of a safe lock mechanism and a connecting wire, and a chassis pin provided in the chassis. A locking mechanism is provided for locking the opening operation of the shutter, which is provided with an unlocking stopper that is linked to the attachment / detachment of the cassette via a link plate or the like, and the engagement piece of the shutter lock plate is moved by the unlocking operation of the lock lever. The release of the media cassette from the main body of the apparatus releases the chassis pin to restrict the L-angle unlocking operation, and the shutter covering the opening of the media cassette is locked to remove the media cassette. Safety at the outside is ensured (for example, refer to Patent Document 2).
Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 9-208072 (mainly page 3, paragraphs 0010-0013, FIG. 2) JP-A-2002-279484 (mainly, page 7 paragraph 0041-8 page 8 paragraph 0043, FIGS. 16-18)

However, in the technique disclosed in Patent Document 2 described above, various mechanisms and parts are concentrated in the vicinity of the opening of the medium cassette, resulting in a complicated configuration of the medium cassette. Therefore, the medium cassette is increased in size and weight. There is a problem that portability increases and portability deteriorates.
Further, in the technique of Patent Document 1, since it is necessary to store the medium in a bundled state when the medium is loaded in the storage unit, the maintenance staff pays sufficient attention to load the medium. There is a problem that the burden on maintenance personnel increases and loading without aligning may cause feeding failure and skewing.

Furthermore, since the weight is placed on the uppermost medium loaded in the storage unit and the laminated medium is pressed against the feeding roller, if the weight is forgotten to be loaded when the medium is loaded, There is a problem in that the pressing force to the feeding roller decreases with the feeding operation, and it becomes impossible to perform a good feeding operation.
The present invention has been made to solve the above problems, and an object of the present invention is to provide means for reducing the weight of the medium cassette by simplifying the shutter locking mechanism of the medium cassette.

The present invention, in order to solve the above problems, a housing part for housing the medium, and hard gates for separating one by one the media that is received in the receiving portion, in the vicinity of the medium outlet of the housing part provided the, the protective cover having a feed roller that face each other with a separation gap on the hard gate, and a shutter portion which covers the downstream of the feeding direction of the separating gap and roller cover portion covering the outside of the feed roller, the A media cassette having a feed roller shaft for rotating the feed roller and rotatably supporting the protective cover, wherein the shutter portion of the roller cover portion of the protective cover is opposite to the feed roller shaft. On the side, a presser portion having a stepped portion is provided, and a stopper whose tip is engaged with the stepped portion and a stopper shaft for rotating the stopper are provided. A locking mechanism is provided, during detachment of the media cassette, and meshed tip of the stopper of the locking mechanism on the stepped portion, characterized in that covering the medium outlet by the shutter portion of the protective cover.

  As described above, the present invention supports a protective cover having a roller cover portion that covers the outside of the feed roller and a shutter portion that covers the downstream side of the separation gap in a feed-out direction so as to be rotatable on the feed roller shaft. By providing a lock mechanism that prevents the rotation of the protective cover when outside, the shutter that covers the opening of the medium cassette can function as a guide plate that guides the medium to the transport path when the medium is fed out. The cassette structure can be simplified, and the medium cassette can be reduced in weight and its portability can be improved.

  Embodiments of a media cassette according to the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings.

FIG. 1 is an explanatory view showing a side surface of the medium cassette of the first embodiment, FIG. 2 is an explanatory view showing an upper surface of the feeding mechanism of the first embodiment, and FIG. 3 is an explanatory view showing a side surface of the lock mechanism of the first embodiment.
3 is a cross-sectional view taken along the line BB of FIG.
In FIG. 1, 1 is a medium cassette.
Reference numeral 2 denotes a case of the medium cassette 1, which is a substantially hexahedron case that separates the inside and the outside of the medium cassette 1, is provided with a locking mechanism (not shown), and is qualified to load and collect the medium P Is configured to be unlockable by a key possessed by.

Reference numeral 3 denotes a storage unit, in which a relatively thick medium P such as a bankbook or a card is accumulated in a tilt direction in the feeding direction indicated by the arrow A in FIG. 1 provided at the bottom (the opposite direction of the arrow A is referred to as the counter feeding direction). Collected and stored on the plate 4.
In addition, the storage unit 3 is provided with a front alignment plate 3a that aligns the medium P by preventing the displacement of the medium P accumulated on the accumulation plate 4 in the inclination direction and aligning the medium P while aligning the medium P. Guide the downward movement of the medium P.

  A feeding roller 5 is provided at the bottom of the storage unit 3, and a friction member having a large friction coefficient such as rubber is attached to a part or all of the outer peripheral surface so that the medium P can be easily conveyed. 2 is driven by a drive motor 7 via a gear train 6 as a power transmission mechanism shown in FIG. 2 (in this embodiment, a reduction gear train using a spur gear), and is normally rotated in the forward and reverse directions. And the lowest medium P pressed by the weight of the weight 8 and the medium P is conveyed in the feeding direction.

  Reference numeral 9 denotes a feed roller, which is disposed downstream in the feeding direction of the feeding roller 5 and has a friction member having a large friction coefficient such as rubber attached to part or all of its outer peripheral surface so that the medium P can be easily conveyed. The feed belt 5 is attached to a feed roller shaft 11 that rotates in the same direction by a drive belt 10 that is stretched between the feed roller 5 and the feed roller 5, and is configured to rotate in synchronization with the feed roller 5.

Reference numeral 12 denotes a hard gate, which is adjustably fixed to a support shaft 14 disposed in the vicinity of the medium feed opening 13 which is an opening of the medium cassette 1 and is disposed below the front alignment plate 3a. A separation gap G is formed between the feed roller 9 and the feed roller 9 for separating the media P fed from the storage unit 3 one by one.
Reference numeral 15 denotes a protective cover, a roller cover portion 16 having a substantially arc-shaped cross section that covers the outside of the feed roller 9, a plate-like shutter portion 17 that protrudes to cover the downstream of the separation gap G in the feed direction, and a shutter of the roller cover portion 16. The presser part 18 having a flat trapezoidal shape provided on the opposite side of the part 17 is provided.

Further, the vicinity of the feed roller shaft 11 of the roller cover portion 16 of the protective cover 15 is formed in a substantially C shape surrounding the feed roller shaft 11 as shown in FIG. 3, and the claw portion 19 is a steel plate such as spring steel. Is attached in a state of loosely fitting on the feed roller shaft 11 by engaging with the square hole of the clip 20 manufactured by the above.
In FIG. 3, reference numeral 21 denotes a step portion formed on the trapezoidal flat surface of the presser portion 18 of the protective cover 15, which is a portion where the tip of the stopper 23 attached to the stopper shaft 22 meshes when the medium cassette 1 is removed. is there.

The outer shape of the presser portion 18 in this embodiment is a shape having a protruding portion that protrudes outward to provide a wide flat surface that forms the stepped portion 21, but there is a margin in the space outside the roller cover portion 16. If there is is an arc shape by extending the arc of the roller cover 16, but it may also be provided with a wide flat there.
The stopper shaft 22 is disposed between the feed roller 9 and the feeding roller 5 and is rotatably supported by a support portion (not shown) of the case 2.

Reference numeral 24 denotes a stopper release lever, which is attached to one end of the stopper shaft 22 as shown in FIG. 2, the end of one arm 24a is fixed to the stopper shaft 22, and the end of the other arm 24b is provided in the case 2. FIG. 3 shows a substantially L-shaped plate member that abuts against the push rod 25 indicated by a two-dot chain line in FIG. 3.
Note that the position of the push rod 25 shown in FIG. 3 indicates the position when the medium cassette 1 is mounted on the apparatus main body.

Reference numeral 26 denotes a spring, one end of which is fixed to the case 2 and the other end is a tension coil spring or the like attached to one arm 24a of the stopper release lever 24. The 15 pressing portions 18 are urged in the pressing direction.
FIG. 3 shows a state in which the medium cassette 1 is removed from the apparatus main body, the pressing by the push rod 25 is released, and the stopper release lever 24 is centered on the stopper shaft 22 by the urging force of the spring 26. In this state, the tip of the stopper 23 is engaged with the stepped portion 21 of the pressing portion 18 of the protective cover 15 and the tip of the shutter portion 17 of the protective cover 15 is in contact with the support shaft 14 and stopped.

  Reference numeral 28 denotes a return spring of the protective cover 15, which is a torsion spring in which an inner diameter portion is loosely fitted to the stopper shaft 22, one end is locked to the case 2, and the other end presses the pressing portion 18 of the protective cover 15. That is, when the medium P is not being fed, the protective cover 15 is rotated in the anti-feeding rotation direction about the feed roller shaft 11 so that the tip of the shutter portion 17 is brought into contact with the support shaft 14.

Reference numeral 30 denotes a feeding detection lever, which is a substantially U-shaped plate member that rotates around the support shaft 14, and the end on the medium feeding outlet 13 side is always provided on the shutter portion 17 of the protective cover 15. In addition, it is loosely fitted into the cutout portion 17a so as to function as the detection portion 31 and is arranged so as to cross the shutter portion 17 and close the medium feeding port 13.
The end of the feeding detection lever 30 opposite to the detection unit 31 functions as a shielding unit 32 that blocks the optical axis of the sensor unit 34 of the medium detection sensor 33 when the medium P is fed, and one end is fixed to the case 2 at all times. The end is urged in the opposite direction to the housing portion 3 by a spring 35 such as a tension coil spring attached to the arm of the shielding portion 32 of the feeding detection lever 30, and the end portion of the arm of the shielding portion 32 is applied to the case 2. It abuts against the provided abutting portion 36 and stops.

Reference numeral 40 denotes a transport roller, which is a transport roller on the most side of the medium cassette 1 that forms a transport path 41 provided in the apparatus main body, and transports the medium P by a pair of rollers facing each other across the transport path 41. To do.
Reference numeral 42 denotes a passage detection sensor, which is an optical sensor in which the light emitting unit and the light receiving unit are opposed to each other with the conveyance path 41 interposed therebetween, and is disposed on the downstream side of the conveyance roller 40 in the conveyance direction. The light receiving unit detects that P has been blocked, and detects the passage of the medium.

Locking mechanism of the present embodiment is constituted by the stepped portion 21 formed on the pressing portion 18 of the stopper shaft stopper 23 attached to 22 and the feed roller shaft 11 rotatably supported protective cover 15, As shown in FIG. 3, the distance between the centers of the feed roller shaft 11 and the stopper shaft 22 is L, the distance between the center of the stopper shaft 22 and the tip of the stopper 23 is M, and the center of the feed roller shaft 11 and the step portion 21. the distance between when the N, locking the rotation of the protection cover 15 when the medium cassette 1 by placing the stopper shaft 22 in relation of L <M + N is removed from the apparatus main body.

  Further, the release mechanism of the lock mechanism of the present embodiment includes a stopper release lever 24 attached to one end of the stopper shaft 22 and a spring that urges the lever release lever 24 in a direction in which the tip of the stopper 23 presses the holding portion 18 of the protective cover 15. 26 and a push rod 25 provided on the apparatus main body. When the medium cassette 1 is mounted on the apparatus main body, the other arm 24b of the stopper release lever 24 is pushed by the push rod 25 and the protective cover 15 by the stopper 23 is provided. Release the lock.

The operation of the above configuration will be described.
When the medium cassette 1 containing the medium P is mounted on the apparatus main body, a connector portion (not shown) of the power cable of the drive motor 7 and the signal line of the medium detection sensor 33 provided on the medium cassette 1 attaches the medium cassette 1 to the apparatus main body. The push rod 25 provided on the apparatus main body pushes up the other arm 24b of the stopper release lever 24 to release the lock of the protective cover 15 by the stopper 23.

At this time, the medium cassette 1 is in the state shown in FIG. 1, that is, the shutter portion 17 of the protective cover 15 and the detection portion 31 of the feeding detection lever 30 intersect with each other by the urging force of the return spring 28 and the spring 35, respectively. It is in a covered state.
When the feeding operation of the medium P from the medium cassette 1 is started, electric power is supplied from the apparatus main body to the driving motor 7, and the driving motor 7 rotates forward and the feeding roller 5 is rotated through the gear train 6. Rotate in the direction. Along with this, the feed roller 9 connected by the drive belt 10 rotates in the same direction, and the lowest-order medium P pressed by the weight 8 or the like by the feed roller 5 and the feed roller 9 is fed in the feed direction. The leading edge of the medium P separated into one sheet by the separation gap G comes into contact with the intersection of the shutter portion 17 of the protective cover 15 covering the medium feeding opening 13 and the detecting portion 31 of the feeding detection lever 30.

  At this time, since the protective cover 15 and the feeding detection lever 30 are urged by the return spring 28 and the spring 35 having relatively weak elasticity, the shutters as shown in FIG. The intersection of the portion 17 and the detection portion 31 is expanded against the urging force of the return spring 28 and the spring 35, and the medium P is fed from the medium feed opening 13. As a result, the shutter unit 17 functions as a guide plate for the conveyance path 41 of the medium P, and the feeding detection lever 30 rotates in the direction of the storage unit 3 so that the shielding unit 32 is connected to the sensor unit 34 of the medium detection sensor 33. The optical axis is blocked, and the signal is transmitted to a control unit (not shown) of the apparatus main body so that the control unit recognizes the feeding of the medium.

  The medium P fed out from the medium feed opening 13 is guided to the transported roller 40 by being guided by the expanded shutter portion 17, and is sandwiched between the pair of rollers and transported along the transport path 41 to the inside of the apparatus main body. When the passage detection sensor 42 detects the medium P and no longer detects the medium P, the passage is recognized by a control unit (not shown) of the apparatus main body, and the next medium P enters the transport path 41 in the same manner as described above. It is paid out sequentially.

  In this way, when a feeding abnormality such as double feeding or continuous feeding occurs during normal conveyance, the passage detection sensor 42 detects the medium as shown in FIG. Regardless, when the medium detection sensor 33 detects the feeding of the medium P, that is, when both the passage detection sensor 42 and the medium detection sensor 33 detect the medium P, the control unit determines that the feeding is abnormal. A message to that effect is displayed on a display unit (not shown) of the apparatus main body, and maintenance personnel are encouraged to take subsequent measures.

When a new medium P is stored in the storage unit 3 of the medium cassette 1, a maintenance person opens a door (not shown) of the apparatus main body and removes the medium cassette 1 from the apparatus main body.
If normal conveyance is performed at this time, the shutter 17 of the protective cover 15 is stopped in contact with the support shaft 14 by the urging force of the return spring 28, so that the other arm of the stopper release lever 24 is stopped. When the pressing by the push rod 25 that has pushed up 24 b is released, the stopper release lever 24 rotates around the stopper shaft 22 by the urging force of the spring 26, and the stopper 23 pushes the tip of the pressing portion 18 of the protective cover 15. It stops in a state where it is meshed with the step portion 21.

  As a result, the medium feed opening 13 which is the opening of the medium cassette 1 is covered by the shutter portion 17, and the stopper shaft 22 and the stopper shaft 22 to which the protective cover 15 constituting the lock mechanism is attached and the center of the feed roller shaft 11. Since the distance L is set to satisfy the above relationship L <M + N, even if the shutter portion 17 is rotated in the feeding rotation direction and the medium feeding port 13 is opened, the tip of the stopper 23 and the step portion 21 are separated. The meshing cannot be removed and the medium P cannot be taken out illegally.

Further, since the feed roller 9 is covered by the roller cover portion 16 of the protective cover 15 and the drive motor 7, the gear train 6, the feeding roller 5, and the drive belt 10 are covered by the case 2, these parts can be handled by hand or the like. It is impossible to rotate and take out the medium P.
Thereafter, a qualified maintenance person or the like unlocks it with a key having a locking mechanism (not shown), takes out the weight 8, accumulates a plurality of media P on the accumulation plate 4, and then places the weight on the uppermost medium P. 8 is placed to lock the locking mechanism with a key.

When the medium cassette 1 is taken out from the apparatus main body in a state where the feeding abnormality has occurred, the control unit of the apparatus main body (not shown) detects the medium P when the door is opened, and the medium detection sensor 33 detects the medium P. Is taken out, and the history is recorded in a storage unit (not shown).
Thereafter, the medium cassette 1 is removed by a maintenance staff or the like, and normal maintenance work is performed, for example, by removing the medium P that is stopped with the leading end protruding.

In this case, even if a third party removes the medium cassette 1 for an illegal purpose, after the single medium P is removed, the shutter portion 17 covers the medium feeding port 13 by the stopper 23 in the same manner as described above. Since the feed roller 9 and the feeding roller 5 are covered with the protective cover 15 and the case 2, the other media P cannot be taken out.
And since the history of taking out the media cassette 1 at the time of abnormal feeding is recorded in the apparatus main body, it is possible to immediately detect the illegal act, and this deterrent can prevent the illegal act beforehand.

  As described above, in this embodiment, the protective cover having the roller cover portion that covers the outside of the feed roller and the shutter portion that covers the downstream side in the feeding direction of the separation gap is rotatably supported on the feed roller shaft, By providing a lock mechanism that prevents the protective cover from rotating when the cassette is removed, the shutter that covers the opening of the medium cassette can function as a guide plate that guides the medium to the transport path when the medium is fed. It is possible to simplify the configuration of the medium cassette having the above, and it is possible to reduce the weight of the medium cassette and increase its portability.

In addition, by providing a feeding detection lever having a detection portion that is loosely fitted in the cutout portion of the shutter portion of the protective cover and intersects the shutter portion, it is possible to record the history of taking out the media cassette at the time of feeding abnormality. Therefore, it is possible to immediately detect the illegal act and to prevent the illegal act by this deterrent.
In addition to the above, a presser portion having a stepped portion is provided on the opposite side of the shutter portion of the roller cover portion of the protective cover that is rotatably supported by the feed roller shaft, and a stopper whose tip engages with the stepped portion is rotated. The distance between the center of the feed roller shaft and the stopper shaft is L, the distance between the center of the stopper shaft and the tip of the stopper is M, and the distance between the center of the feed roller shaft and the step portion is provided. When N is set, the stopper shaft is arranged in a relationship of L <M + N and the lock mechanism is configured, so that the medium feeding opening which is the opening of the medium cassette is covered by the shutter section without using any special power. In this state, the stopper can automatically prevent the protective cover 15 from rotating, and even if the shutter portion is rotated in the feeding rotation direction to open the medium feeding opening, the stopper tip and the stepped portion are engaged. It is possible to state that can not be Succoth can constitute a locking mechanism by a mechanical structure, it is possible to improve the reliability of the locking mechanism.

FIG. 5 is an explanatory view illustrating a side surface of the lock mechanism according to the second embodiment.
In addition, the same part as the said Example 1 attaches | subjects the same code | symbol, and abbreviate | omits the description.
In FIG. 5, reference numeral 50 denotes a solenoid, which includes a plunger 51 and a compression coil spring 52 that urges the plunger 51 in a direction in which the plunger 51 protrudes outward. The plunger 51 resists the urging force of the compression coil spring 52 when energized. It is a solenoid that sucks in.

A lock plate 53 is connected to the plunger 51 of the solenoid 50 and driven by the solenoid 50, and is supported so as to slide in the axial direction of the solenoid 50 as the plunger 51 reciprocates. When 50 is not energized, its tip is positioned above the presser portion 18 of the protective cover 15.
The protective cover 15 of this embodiment is provided with a return spring 28 similar to that of the first embodiment, and the shutter cover 17 is normally rotated by rotating the protective cover 15 in the counter-feeding rotation direction by its urging force. It abuts on the support shaft 14.

Further, since the outer shape of the pressing portion 18 of the protective cover 15 does not require a wide plane as in the first embodiment, the outer shape of the roller cover portion 16 is formed in an arc shape.
The lock mechanism of this embodiment is constituted by the solenoid 50 and the lock plate 53 described above, and the lock is released by energizing the solenoid 50.
The operation of the above configuration will be described.

When the medium cassette 1 containing the medium P is mounted in the apparatus main body, the connector portion (not shown) of the drive motor 7, the power cable of the solenoid 50 and the signal line of the medium detection sensor 33 provided in the medium cassette 1 is the medium cassette 1. Is connected to the apparatus main body.
At this time, the medium feeding opening 13 of the medium cassette 1 is in a state in which the shutter 17 of the protective cover 15 and the detection section 31 of the feeding detection lever 30 intersect to cover the medium feeding opening 13 as in the first embodiment. ing.

Further, the solenoid 50 is not energized, and as shown in FIG. 5, the plunger 51 protrudes by the urging force of the compression coil spring 52, and the tip of the lock plate 53 is positioned on the presser portion 18 of the protective cover 15, that is, the protection. The cover 15 is located at a position that prevents the cover 15 from rotating in the extending rotation direction.
When the feeding operation of the medium P from the medium cassette 1 is started, electric power is supplied from the apparatus main body to the solenoid 50 and the drive motor 7, the solenoid 50 is energized to suck the plunger 51, and the lock plate 53. Is retracted from the presser 18 of the protective cover 15 and the drive motor 7 is rotated forward so that the lowest-order medium P is fed out in the feeding direction by the feeding roller 5 and the feed roller 9 as in the first embodiment. Then, the medium P separated into one sheet by the separation gap G is fed out from the medium feed opening 13 while expanding the intersection of the shutter section 17 and the detection section 31 as shown in FIG.

Since the subsequent operations in the case of normal conveyance and feeding abnormality are the same as those in the first embodiment, description thereof will be omitted.
At the end of a series of feeding operations in the case of normal conveyance and at the time of detection of feeding abnormality in the case of feeding abnormality, a control unit (not shown) of the apparatus main body stands by with the solenoid 50 not energized.
When a new medium P is stored in the storage unit 3 of the medium cassette 1, a maintenance person opens a door (not shown) of the apparatus main body and removes the medium cassette 1 from the apparatus main body.

  If normal conveyance is performed at this time, the shutter 17 of the protective cover 15 stops in contact with the support shaft 14 by the urging force of the return spring 28, and the solenoid 50 is deenergized and the lock plate 53 is deenergized. Since the leading end of the medium cassette 13 is stopped by being positioned on the pressing portion 18 of the protective cover 15, the medium feeding port 13, which is the opening of the medium cassette 1, is locked in a state covered with the shutter portion 17, and the shutter portion 17 is Even if an attempt is made to open the medium feeding opening 13 by rotating in the feeding rotation direction, the tip of the lock plate 53 cannot be removed from the pressing portion 18 and the medium P cannot be taken out illegally.

Further, since the feed roller 9, the feeding roller 5, the gear train 6 and the like are covered with the roller cover portion 16 and the case 2 as in the first embodiment, the medium P is taken out by turning these components by hand or the like. It is impossible.
Subsequent operations of accumulation of the media P by qualified persons are the same as those in the first embodiment, and a description thereof will be omitted.

When the medium cassette 1 is taken out from the apparatus main body in a state where the feeding abnormality has occurred, the control unit of the apparatus main body (not shown) records the taking-out history at the time of the feeding abnormality, as in the first embodiment, and is performed by maintenance personnel or the like. Normal maintenance work is performed.
In this case, even if a third party removes the medium cassette 1 for an illegal purpose, after the single medium P is removed, the solenoid 50 is deenergized and the tip of the lock plate 53 comes into contact. Since the outer shape of the pressing portion 18 of the protective cover 15 is formed in the same circular arc shape as the roller cover portion 16, the protective cover 15 is rotated in the feeding rotation direction by the urging force of the return spring 28, and the lock plate 53 Since the front end is positioned on the presser portion 18 and the shutter portion 17 covers the medium feeding port 13, it is automatically locked, and the feed roller 9, the feeding roller 5, etc. are covered with the protective cover 15 and the case 2. The other medium P cannot be taken out.

And since the history of taking out the media cassette 1 at the time of abnormal feeding is recorded in the apparatus main body, it is possible to immediately detect the illegal act, and this deterrent can prevent the illegal act beforehand.
As described above, in the present embodiment, in addition to the same effects as in the first embodiment, the lock mechanism is configured by the solenoid from which the plunger protrudes when not energized and the lock plate driven thereby, The protective cover can be automatically prevented from rotating by the lock plate in a state where the medium feeding opening, which is the opening of the medium cassette, is covered by the shutter, regardless of the motive power, and the shutter can be rotated in the feeding rotation direction. Even if it is attempted to open the medium feeding port, the tip of the lock plate cannot be removed from the presser part, and the lock mechanism can be configured with a mechanical structure, and the reliability of the lock mechanism Can increase the sex.

In the present embodiment it has been described a lock plate as is a solenoid slide, can be constituted by a motor and a rack mechanism obtain the same effect.
In addition, in the present embodiment and the above-described first embodiment, the control unit has been described as urging maintenance personnel to take measures for subsequent recovery when it is determined that the supply is abnormal, but the control unit determines that the supply is abnormal. Then, the feeding roller and the Ford roller may be reversed until the medium detection sensor no longer detects the medium, and the medium may be returned to the storage unit. This enables automatic recovery of the media cassette.

FIG. 7 is an explanatory view showing a side surface of the locking mechanism of the third embodiment, and FIG. 8 is an explanatory view showing an upper surface of the feeding mechanism of the third embodiment.
In addition, the same part as the said Example 1 attaches | subjects the same code | symbol, and abbreviate | omits the description.
7 and 8, reference numeral 60 denotes a drive motor, which is a motor that rotates at high speed in a forward / reverse manner compared to the drive motor 7 of the first embodiment.

A worm 61 is attached to the rotation shaft of the drive motor 60 and meshes with the worm gear 62 to transmit the power of the drive motor 60 to the feeding roller 5 at a high reduction ratio.
The gear train 6 of the present embodiment is a gear train having a high reduction ratio that includes the worm 61 and the worm gear 62 described above.
A one-way clutch 63 is mounted between the feed roller shaft 11 and the protective cover 15 with its outer peripheral surface fixed to a hub portion 65a provided at one end of the protective cover 15, and the protective cover 15 is attached to the hub 65a. The feed roller shaft 11 is supported so as to be rotatable only in the counter-feeding rotation direction (counterclockwise in FIG. 7).

Therefore, when the feed roller shaft 11 is stopped, the protective cover 15 of this embodiment is rotated in the counter-feeding rotation direction by the return spring 28 so that the shutter portion 17 comes into contact with the support shaft 14 and the shutter is in that state. When the protective cover 15 is rotated in the feeding rotation direction by the portion 17, it is rotated integrally with the feed roller shaft 11.
Further, during the feeding operation in which the feed roller shaft 11 rotates in the feeding rotation direction, the radial position where the medium P abuts against the shutter portion 17 is larger than the radius of the feed roller 9, so the feed roller shaft 11 of the one-way clutch 63. The peripheral speed of the inner diameter portion of the one-way clutch 63 is slower than the peripheral speed of the outer peripheral surface of the feed roller shaft 11 at the contact portion with the outer peripheral surface of the one-way clutch 63 , so Therefore, the protective cover 15 can be turned in the feeding direction when viewed from the absolute system.

A hub portion 65b provided at the other end of the protective cover 15 is provided with a through hole 66 into which the feed roller shaft 11 is loosely fitted. The rotation of the feed roller shaft 11 causes the protective cover 15 to be rotated. It is preventing.
The lock mechanism of the present embodiment includes the one-way clutch 63, the gear train 6 including the worm 61 and the worm gear 62 and having a high reduction ratio, and the drive motor 60.

In this embodiment, the lock mechanism release mechanism is not required.
The operation of the above configuration will be described.
When the medium cassette 1 containing the medium P is mounted on the apparatus main body, a connector portion (not shown) of the power cable of the drive motor 60 and the signal line of the medium detection sensor 33 provided on the medium cassette 1 attaches the medium cassette 1 to the apparatus main body. Is attached to the main body of the apparatus.

  When the feeding operation of the medium P from the medium cassette 1 is started, power is supplied from the apparatus main body to the drive motor 60, and the drive motor 60 rotates forward at high speed via the gear train 6 having a high reduction ratio. The feeding roller 5 is rotated in the feeding rotation direction. Along with this, the feed roller shaft 11 and the feed roller 9 connected by the drive belt 10 rotate in the same direction, and the lowest-order medium P is fed by the feed roller 5 and the feed roller 9 in the same manner as in the first embodiment. The leading end of the medium P that is fed in the direction and separated into one sheet by the separation gap G abuts on the intersection of the shutter portion 17 and the detection portion 31 of the feed detection lever 30.

  At this time, since the feed roller shaft 11 rotates in the feeding rotation direction, the protective cover 15 attached to the feed roller shaft 11 via the one-way clutch 63 can rotate in the feeding rotation direction, and has relatively weak elasticity. The intersection of the shutter 17 of the protective cover 15 urged by the spring 35 and the detecting portion 31 of the feeding detection lever 30 is connected to the return spring 28 by the feeding force of the feeding roller 5 and the feed roller 9. The medium P is pushed and spread against the urging force with the spring 35, and the medium P is conveyed along the conveyance path 41 in the same manner as in the first embodiment. The passage detection sensor 42 passes the passage to a control unit (not shown) of the apparatus main body. Recognized and the next medium P is fed out sequentially.

Since the operation in the case of the feeding abnormality is the same as that in the first embodiment, the description thereof is omitted.
When a new medium P is stored in the storage unit 3 of the medium cassette 1, a maintenance person opens a door (not shown) of the apparatus main body and removes the medium cassette 1 from the apparatus main body.
At this time, if the normal conveyance is performed, the medium feeding port which is an opening of the medium cassette 1 is stopped with the shutter 17 of the protective cover 15 in contact with the support shaft 14 by the urging force of the return spring 28. 13 is covered by the shutter portion 17.

When the shutter 17 is rotated in the feeding rotation direction to open the medium feeding port 13, the feed roller shaft 11 is stopped. Therefore, the protective cover 15 is connected to the feed roller shaft 11 via the one-way clutch 63. It tries to rotate together in the feeding rotation direction.
At this time, the feed roller shaft 11 includes the worm 61 and the worm gear 62 via the drive belt 10, and the gear train 6 and the drive motor 60 having a high reduction ratio, that is, a high speed increase ratio as viewed from the feed roller shaft 11 side. Since it is connected and it is difficult to rotate the worm 61 from the worm gear 62 side, it becomes very difficult to overcome the friction torque of the drive motor 60 and rotate the protective cover 15, and the protective cover 15 is locked. Thus, the medium P cannot be taken out illegally.

Further, since the feed roller 9, the feeding roller 5, the gear train 6 and the like are covered with the roller cover portion 16 and the case 2 as in the first embodiment, the medium P is taken out by turning these components by hand or the like. It is impossible.
Subsequent operations of accumulation of the media P by qualified persons are the same as those in the first embodiment, and a description thereof will be omitted.

When the medium cassette 1 is taken out from the apparatus main body in a state where the feeding abnormality has occurred, the control unit of the apparatus main body (not shown) records the taking-out history at the time of the feeding abnormality, as in the first embodiment, and is performed by maintenance personnel or the like. Normal maintenance work is performed.
In this case, even if the third party removes the medium cassette 1 for an illegal purpose, the protective cover 15 is rotated in the counter-feeding rotation direction by the urging force of the return spring 28 after the single medium P is removed. Then, the shutter portion 17 is in a state of covering the medium feeding opening 13, and the protective cover 15 is automatically locked in the same manner as described above, so that the other medium P cannot be taken out.

And since the history of taking out the media cassette 1 at the time of abnormal feeding is recorded in the apparatus main body, it is possible to immediately detect the illegal act, and this deterrent can prevent the illegal act beforehand.
As described above, in this embodiment, in addition to the same effects as in the first embodiment, the feed roller shaft is attached via the one-way clutch that rotates the protective cover only in the anti-retraction rotation direction. By providing a lock mechanism that connects the drive motor with a gear train with a high reduction ratio, the medium feeding port, which is the opening of the medium cassette, is automatically covered in a state where it is covered by the shutter, without any special power. It can be locked, and even if the shutter part is rotated in the feeding rotation direction to open the medium feeding port, the rotation of the protective cover can be made extremely difficult, and the tip of the lock plate is pressed. The lock mechanism can be made in a state in which it cannot be removed from the part, and the lock mechanism can be configured with a mechanical configuration without providing a special link mechanism or the like. It can be increased.

In this embodiment, the gear train having a high reduction ratio of the lock mechanism is described as being constituted by a worm and a worm gear. However, the same can be said if a gear train having a high reduction ratio is constituted by a spur gear or the like.
Further, when the gear train using the normal drive motor and the spur gear described in the first embodiment and the second embodiment is used in this embodiment, it is preferable to provide a ratchet mechanism that allows the gear train to rotate only in the feeding direction. Also by this, the same locking mechanism as in the present embodiment can be obtained, and the same effect can be obtained.

9 is an explanatory view showing a side surface of the medium cassette of the fourth embodiment, FIG. 10 is an explanatory view showing the front of the medium cassette of the fourth embodiment, and FIG. 11 is a perspective view showing the medium cassette of the fourth embodiment. FIG. 10 is an explanatory diagram viewed from the direction C in FIG.
9, 10, and 11, reference numeral 101 denotes a medium cassette.
Reference numeral 102 denotes a box of the medium cassette 101, which is a hexahedron covering the lower part of the medium cassette 101. The upper surface side is opened as shown in FIG. 10, and the front plate 102a and the back plate 102b are generally abbreviated from above to below. A slope 103a that is diagonally cut out along a diagonal line is formed.

  Reference numeral 104 denotes a cover, which is a hexahedron that covers the top of the box 102 of the medium cassette 101. The lower surface is opened, and the front plate 104a and the back plate 104b have a front plate 102a of the box 102 and a slope 103a of the back plate 102b. A slope 103b is formed so as to extend along the sway, and as shown in FIG. 10, a rotation fulcrum shaft 105 provided at one corner of the start portion of the slope 103a above the front plate 102a and the back plate 102b of the box 102 is provided. Rotate to the center.

  The box 102 and the cover 104 form a substantially hexahedron case that separates the inside and the outside of the medium cassette 101, and the cover 104 and the box 102 are rotatably supported on the box 102 by the rotation fulcrum shaft 105. In the meantime, a locking mechanism (not shown) for locking the cover 104 is provided, and is configured to be unlockable by a key possessed by a qualified person for loading and collecting the medium P.

Reference numeral 106 denotes a stacker serving as a storage unit, which is inclined in a feeding direction indicated by an arrow A in FIG. Collected and stored on the collected plate 106a.
Further, the stacker 106 is provided with a front alignment plate 108a for aligning the medium P by preventing the displacement of the medium P accumulated on the accumulation plate 106a in the inclination direction, and aligning the medium P while aligning the medium P. Guide the downward movement of P.

Two stackers 106 of this embodiment are juxtaposed in the feeding direction, and the back wall plate of the stacker 106 in the front of the feeding direction functions as the front alignment plate 108b of the rear stacker 106. The number of stackers 106 may be one, or may be three or more.
A feeding roller 109 is provided at the bottom of each stacker 106, and a friction member having a large friction coefficient such as rubber is attached to a part or all of the outer peripheral surface thereof so that the medium P can be easily conveyed. The lowest medium that is driven to rotate in the forward and reverse directions by a drive motor (not shown) via a power transmission mechanism (not shown), and is normally rotated in the feeding rotation direction (clockwise in FIG. 9) and pressed by the weight of the medium P. P is conveyed in the feeding direction.

Reference numeral 110 denotes a feed roller, and a friction member having a large friction coefficient such as rubber is attached to a part or all of the outer peripheral surface of the feed roller so that the medium P can be easily transported, and is arranged downstream of each feeding roller 109 in the feeding direction. It is configured to rotate in synchronism with the feeding roller 109 in the same direction by a driving belt (not shown) stretched between the feeding roller 109.
Reference numeral 111 denotes a hard gate, which is disposed below the front alignment plates 108a and 108b of the medium feeding port 112, which is an opening of the medium cassette 101, facing the feed roller 110, and is fed from the stacker 106 to and from the feed roller 110. A separation gap G is formed for separating the medium P to be separated one by one.

Reference numeral 113 denotes a guide plate, which is a plate member that is disposed downstream of the feed roller 110 in the feeding direction and is inclined in the feeding direction, and a main body device (not shown) that conveys the medium P separated and conveyed one by one by the separation gap G To the transport path.
In FIG. 10, reference numeral 114 denotes a partition plate provided on the upper surface plate 104 c of the cover 104, and a slope 103 a of the front plate 102 a of the box 102 provided on the front alignment plate 108 b which is the back wall plate of the front stacker 106. It is a trapezoidal plate member having an inclined surface 103d formed along the similarly provided inclined surface 103c, and is arranged in the same row as the front alignment plate 108b.

Reference numeral 120 denotes an alignment guide, which is a relatively thick rectangular parallelepiped columnar member provided for each stacker 106 inside the side plate 104d of the cover 104, and is arranged at a substantially central portion in the feeding direction of the stacker 106. The distance between the opposing stacker 106 and the one side wall plate 106b is arranged to be approximately equal to the width in the direction perpendicular to the transport direction of the medium P that houses the distance.
The length of the alignment guide 120 in the longitudinal direction is formed to be substantially the same as the length of one side wall plate 106b of the opposing stacker 106, and the lower end of the alignment guide 120 is loosely fitted into a notch 121 provided in the other side wall plate 106c. is doing.

In FIG. 11, reference numeral 122 denotes a viewing window, which is a through hole formed as a long hole in the side plate 104 b of the cover 104, which is arranged on the side of the alignment guide 120 and aligns the medium P stored in the cassette 106. Used for status confirmation.
The operation of the above configuration will be described.
When the medium P is loaded to replenish the medium P in the medium cassette 101, a qualified maintenance person or the like unlocks the cover 104 with a key having a locking mechanism (not shown), and the cover 104 is centered around the rotation fulcrum shaft 105. The cover 104 is opened, a plurality of media P are loaded on the stacking plate 106a, the cover 104 is closed, and the locking mechanism is locked with a key.

  At this time, when the stacking of the media P is disturbed, as shown in FIG. 12, the cover 104 is rotated about the rotation fulcrum shaft 105 in the direction of arrow D, and the alignment guide 120 is disturbed in the process of the closing operation. When the side of the stacked media P is pushed in the state to move the media P in the direction of arrow E and the cover 104 is closed and locked, the distance between one side wall plate 106b of the opposite stacker 106 is determined as the media P. The sheet is stored in a state of being correctly aligned by the alignment guide 120 arranged substantially equal to the width in the direction perpendicular to the transport direction.

In addition, the partition plate 114 provided on the upper surface plate 104c of the cover 104 interrupts between the media P on which the two stackers 106 are stacked in the process of the closing operation, and the rotational deviation along the surface of the media P is prevented. Align.
Such an alignment state of the media P can be easily confirmed by the viewing window 122.
As described above, in this embodiment, the medium cassette is constituted by a box and a cover, and the alignment guide is provided on the side plate of the cover, so that even when the medium is loaded without being aligned, the cover is loaded after the medium is loaded. The media can be easily aligned by simply closing.

  Further, by providing a viewing window on the side plate of the cover, it is possible to easily check the alignment state and remaining amount of the medium after the cover is closed.

FIG. 13 is an explanatory diagram illustrating the front of the medium cassette according to the fifth embodiment.
The same parts as those in the fourth embodiment are denoted by the same reference numerals, and the description thereof is omitted.
In FIG. 13, reference numeral 125 denotes a spring member such as a compression coil spring, which is disposed between the side plate 104 d of the cover 104 and the alignment guide 120, and moves the alignment guide 120 toward the side wall plate 106 b of the stacker 106. The biasing force in the direction in which the medium P is pressed in the direction orthogonal to the feeding direction is exhibited.

Other configurations are the same as those of the fourth embodiment.
The operation of the above configuration will be described.
When the medium P is loaded into the medium cassette 101, a qualified maintenance person or the like opens the cover 104 and loads a plurality of mediums P in the same manner as in the fourth embodiment, and then closes the cover 104 and locks the locking mechanism. Lock with.

  At this time, if the stacking of the media P is disturbed, the side of the stacked media P is pushed in the state where the alignment guide 120 is disturbed in the process of closing the cover 104 in the same manner as the fourth embodiment shown in FIG. When the cover P is moved and the cover 104 is closed and locked, the medium P is placed between the side plate 104d of the cover 104 and the alignment guide 120 between the alignment guide 120 and the side wall plate 106b of the stacker 106 which are opposed to each other. Even when handling a plurality of types of media P that are pressed by the arranged spring members 125 and whose width in the direction perpendicular to the feeding direction is arbitrarily set, the media P are stored in a correctly aligned state.

  As described above, in this embodiment, in addition to the same effects as those of the above-described embodiment 4, a spring member that presses the medium in the direction perpendicular to the feeding direction is provided between the side plate of the cover and the alignment guide. Even when a medium whose width in the direction perpendicular to the feeding direction is arbitrarily set is loaded without being aligned, the medium can be easily aligned by simply closing the cover after loading the medium. This is particularly effective for a media cassette that handles a plurality of types of media in which the width in the feeding direction and the direction perpendicular to the feeding direction is arbitrarily set.

FIG. 14 is an explanatory view showing the front of the stacker according to the sixth embodiment, FIG. 15 is an explanatory view showing the upper surface of the stacker according to the sixth embodiment, and FIG. 16 is an enlarged view showing the attachment portion of the weight arm of the sixth embodiment.
The same parts as those in the fourth embodiment are denoted by the same reference numerals, and the description thereof is omitted.
14 and 15, reference numeral 130 denotes a weight plate, which is a weight member that presses the medium P accumulated on the accumulation plate 106a, and is placed on the uppermost medium P accumulated on the accumulation plate 106a. Placed.

Reference numeral 131 denotes a rail, which is an L-shaped plate member provided on the front side of the stacker 106. The L-shaped rail 131 is formed by digging while leaving the front side of the side wall plate 106b in an L shape. Joined by welding or the like. The rail 131 is provided with a notch 132, and a weight arm 133 to which the weight plate 130 is fixed is inserted.
At the end of the weight arm 133 on the rail 131 side, as shown in FIG. 16, idle rollers 134 and 135 sandwiching the side plate 131a of the rail 131 with a predetermined interval H in the vertical direction are respectively attached to the support shafts 134a and 135a. A weight arm 133 to which the weight plate 130 is fixed is supported so as to be movable up and down. In addition, a protrusion 136 is provided on the upper portion of the weight arm 133 and abuts against the upper surface 131b of the rail 131 when the medium P is loaded to stop the rotation of the weight plate 130.

Other configurations are the same as those of the fourth embodiment.
The operation of the above configuration will be described.
When the medium P is loaded into the medium cassette 101, a qualified maintenance person opens the cover 104 in the same manner as in the fourth embodiment, lifts the weight plate 130 with the weight arm 133, and moves in the direction of arrow F shown in FIG. The projection 136 of the weight arm 133 is brought into contact with the upper surface 131b of the rail 131 and locked, and then a plurality of media P are loaded onto the stacking plate 106a of the stacker 106.

  When a maintenance person or the like closes the cover 104, the upper surface plate 104c of the cover 104 comes into contact with the weight arm 133, releases the locking of the projection 136 of the weight arm 133, and rotates the weight plate 130 in the direction opposite to the arrow F. The medium P is automatically placed on the uppermost medium P loaded with the weight plate 130 and pressed to the feeding roller 109. This prevents the weight plate 130 from being forgotten to be lowered.

Subsequent locking operations and media P alignment operations are the same as those in the fourth embodiment, and a description thereof will be omitted.
When the feeding operation of the medium P stored in this way is started, the feeding roller 109 and the feed roller 110 rotate in the feeding rotation direction, and the lowest medium P is separated one by one by the separation gap G. Sequentially fed out to the conveyance path of the main unit (not shown).

At this time, as the number of media P stacked in the stacker 106 decreases, the height of the media P stacked while the weight plate 130 is guided by the rail 131 between which the idle rollers 134 and 135 are sandwiched by its own weight. , And the pressing force between the medium P and the feeding roller 109 is always properly maintained to keep the feeding operation well.
As described above, in this embodiment, the side plate of the L-shaped rail that guides the lifting and lowering of the weight plate provided on the side wall plate of the stacker is provided with the two pieces provided on the end of the weight arm to which the weight plate is fixed. The weight plate is stacked on the stacker just by closing the cover by sandwiching it with the idle roller and providing a projection on the weight arm that contacts the upper surface of the rail when the weight plate is opened and stops the rotation of the weight plate. Can be automatically placed on the uppermost medium, and the weight plate can be reliably placed on the uppermost medium and the feeding operation can be continued well while maintaining an appropriate pressing force at all times. In addition, it is possible to improve workability when loading the medium.

Explanatory drawing which shows the side surface of the media cassette of Example 1. FIG. Explanatory drawing which shows the upper surface of the feeding mechanism of Example 1. Explanatory drawing which shows the side of the locking mechanism of Example 1. Explanatory drawing which shows the feeding abnormal state of the medium of Example 1. Explanatory drawing which shows the side of the locking mechanism of Example 2. Explanatory drawing which shows the supply state of the medium of Example 2. FIG. Explanatory drawing which shows the side of the locking mechanism of Example 3. Explanatory drawing which shows the upper surface of the feeding mechanism of Example 3. Explanatory drawing which shows the side surface of the media cassette of Example 4. FIG. Explanatory drawing which shows the front of the media cassette of Example 4. The perspective view which shows the medium cassette of Example 4. FIG. Explanatory drawing which shows closing operation of the cover of Example 4. Explanatory drawing which shows the front of the medium cassette of Example 5. Explanatory drawing which shows the front of the stacker of Example 6. Explanatory drawing which shows the upper surface of the stacker of Example 6. The enlarged view which shows the attachment part of the weight arm of Example 6. Explanatory drawing which shows opening operation of the weight board of Example 6.

Explanation of symbols

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1,101 Medium cassette 2 Case 3 Storage part 3a, 108a, 108b Front alignment plate 4, 106a Stacking plate 5, 109 Feeding roller 6 Gear train 7, 60 Drive motor 8 Weight 9, 110 Feed roller 10 Drive belt 11 Feed roller shaft 12, 111 Hard gate 13, 112 Medium outlet 14 Support shaft 15 Protective cover 16 Roller cover part 17 Shutter part 17a Notch part 18 Presser part 19 Claw part 20 Clip 21 Step part 22 Stopper shaft 23 Stopper 24 Stopper release lever 24a, 24b Arm 25 Push rod 26, 35 Spring 28 Return spring 30 Feeding detection lever 31 Detection part 32 Shielding part 33 Medium detection sensor 34 Sensor part 36 Abutting part 40 Conveyance roller 41 Conveyance path 42 Passing detection sensor 50 Solenoid 51 Plunger 52 Compression coil spring 53 Lock plate 61 Worm 62 Worm gear 63 One-way clutch 65a, 65b Hub portion 66 Through hole 102 Box 102a, 104a Front plate 102b, 104b Back plate 103a, 103b, 103c, 103d Slope 104 Cover 104c Top plate 104d Side plate 105 Rotating fulcrum shaft 106 Stacker 106b, 106c Side wall plate 113 Guide plate 114 Partition plate 120 Alignment guide 121 Notch portion 122 Viewing window 125 Spring member 130 Weight plate 131 Rail 131a Side plate 131b Upper surface 132 Notch portion 133 Weight arm 134, 135 Idle roller 134a, 135a Support shaft 136 Protrusion

Claims (4)

A storage section for storing the medium;
A hard gate separating the medium stored in the storage unit one by one,
A feed roller provided in the vicinity of the medium discharge port of the storage unit and facing the hard gate via a separation gap;
A protective cover having a shutter portion which covers the feeding direction downstream of the separation gap between the roller cover portion covering the outside of the feed roller,
A media cassette provided with a feed roller shaft for rotating the feed roller and rotatably supporting the protective cover ;
A presser portion having a stepped portion is provided on the opposite side of the roller cover portion of the protective cover with respect to the feed roller shaft, and a stopper whose tip engages with the stepped portion and the stopper is rotated. A locking mechanism having a stopper shaft to be
A medium cassette characterized in that , when the medium cassette is removed , the stopper end of the locking mechanism is engaged with the stepped portion, and the medium discharge port is covered with the shutter portion of the protective cover. In claim 1,
Forming a notch in the shutter portion of the protective cover;
Medium cassette, characterized in that a feeding detection lever having a detecting portion that intersects the shutter portion loosely fitted in the notch. In claim 1 or claim 2 ,
Before Symbol feed roller shaft and a center distance between the stopper shaft is L, the distance between the tip of the centering of the stopper shaft stopper is M, the distance between the center and the stepped portion of the feed roller shaft N In this case, the lock mechanism is configured by arranging the feed roller shaft and the stopper shaft in a relationship of L <M + N. In any one of Claims 1 to 3,
A return spring that urges the protective cover in a direction to rotate in the counter-feeding rotation direction around the feed roller shaft;
A medium cassette characterized in that when the medium is fed, the protective cover is rotated in the feeding rotation direction against the biasing force of the return spring by the fed medium.