JP4473098B2 - Paper separator - Google Patents

Description

  The present invention relates to a sheet separating apparatus that separates sheets, for example, a sheet separating apparatus that separates sheets stacked by a separation roller.

When an image is recorded on the paper by the offset printing method, electrophotographic method, ink jet method, etc., or when post-processing such as paper folding, stapling, punching is performed on the paper on which the image is recorded by these methods, it is normally loaded. One sheet of paper must be conveyed to the image recording unit or post-processing unit one by one. Therefore, in general, a separation roller and a separation pad that is pressed against the separation roller with a separation pressure are provided, and the friction coefficient between the separation roller and the paper and the friction coefficient between the separation pad and the paper are made higher than the friction coefficient between the paper and the paper. The stacked sheets are separated and the sheets are conveyed one by one. However, the conditions for separating the paper vary greatly depending on the paper quality such as the friction coefficient and basis weight of the paper, the external environment such as temperature and humidity, or when the image-formed paper is transported. End up. Even in these wide conditions, it is difficult only to adjust the material of the separation roller and the separation pad in order to separate the paper satisfactorily. For this reason, Patent Document 1 proposes a technique related to a sheet separation pad that supports the sheet separation pad so as to be urged toward the roller by a first spring and a second spring. For example, Patent Document 2 proposes a technique related to a sheet separating apparatus in which a separation surface of a friction pad is divided into an upstream surface and a downstream surface having different separation angles, and only the downstream surface is brought into contact with a sheet feeding roller. For example, Patent Document 3 proposes a technique related to a sheet feeding device including a friction pad having a plurality of planes arranged so as to surround a sheet feeding roller. Further, for example, Patent Document 4 proposes a technique related to a sheet feeding device including a friction pad configured from a plurality of different planes with an angle with respect to the sheet feeding direction. Further, for example, Patent Document 5 proposes a technique related to a sheet feeding device including a first wear member and a second wear member that are urged against and contacted by a sheet feed roller.
JP-A-63-112342 JP-A-9-267936 JP 2000-185836 A JP 2000-185837 A JP 2001-63854 A

  In order to satisfactorily separate the paper corresponding to a wide range of conditions, a technique of providing a plurality of surfaces on a separation pad for separating the paper has been proposed. However, since the posture of sandwiching the sheet is constant on the downstream surface that is in pressure contact with the sheet feeding roller among the plurality of surfaces of the separation pad, it is difficult to cope with a wider range of conditions of the sheet to be separated. .

  Accordingly, the present invention has been made in view of the above-described circumstances, and an object thereof is to improve paper separation.

  In order to solve the above-described problems, a sheet separating apparatus according to an aspect of the present invention includes a separation roller that rotates by applying a separation pressure to the sheet from above, and a first separation angle that is formed with a first separation angle with respect to the sheet entering direction. The second separation is formed with a second separation angle with respect to the first separation surface on the sheet conveyance downstream side of the first separation surface and the first separation surface, and a separation pressure is applied to the sheet from below to sandwich the separation roller and the sheet. A separation means having a surface, and a separation pressure adjusting means for adjusting a separation pressure applied to the paper by the separation roller and the separation means, and the second pressure is adjusted according to the separation pressure adjusted by the separation pressure adjusting means. The separation angle is adjusted. According to this aspect, since the adjustment of the separation pressure and the adjustment of the second separation angle can be performed at the same time, it is possible to improve the paper separation performance corresponding to a wide range of conditions.

  The sheet separating apparatus according to the present invention may have a supporting unit disposed below the separating unit, and a projecting portion formed to project downward from the separating unit so as to be locked to the supporting unit. By adjusting the separation pressure by the separation pressure adjusting means, the pressing contact state between the protrusion and the support means may be changed, and the second separation angle may be adjusted. According to this aspect, the second separation surface can be rotated with the portion locked by the support means of the protrusion as a fulcrum, and the second separation angle can be easily adjusted.

  The protrusion may be formed of an elastic member. According to this aspect, the protruding portion is compressed by increasing the separation pressure, and the second separation angle can be adjusted.

  The protruding portion may be a plate-like member, and one surface of the protruding portion may be fixed to the separating unit, and one side of the protruding portion may be locked to the supporting unit. According to this aspect, the second separation angle can be easily adjusted according to the separation pressure between the separation roller and the separation means.

  The first separation surface and the second separation surface are coupled, at least a part of the first separation surface is fixed to the support means, and the protruding portion is locked to the support means so as to be slidable in the paper transport direction. May be. According to this aspect, by increasing the separation pressure between the separation roller and the separation means, the protruding portion can slide in the paper transport direction to increase the second separation angle.

  The separation means has a third separation surface having a curved surface portion between the first separation surface and the second separation surface, and the first separation surface, the second separation surface, and the third separation surface form a continuous surface. May be combined. According to this aspect, it is possible to improve the slidability of the paper between the first separation surface and the second separation surface.

  By increasing the separation pressure by the separation pressure adjusting means, the length of the portion where the separation roller and the separation means sandwich the sheet may be increased. According to this aspect, it is possible to further improve the separability.

  The separation pressure adjusting unit may adjust the separation pressure by moving the separation unit in a direction in which the separation roller and the separation unit sandwich the sheet. According to this aspect, a separation pressure can be easily applied between the separation roller and the separation means.

  The support means can be rotated around a rotation shaft provided on the upstream side of the sheet conveyance of the support means, and the separation pressure adjusting means rotates the support means so that the separation roller and the separation means can remove the sheet. The separating means may be moved in the holding direction. According to this aspect, the support means can be easily moved in the direction in which the separation roller and the paper are sandwiched.

  The separation pressure adjusting means may have a movable inclined portion and a sliding portion fixed to the support means and slidably in contact with the inclined portion, and the inclined portion slides by moving the inclined portion. The separation means may be moved in a direction in which the sheet is slid between the separation roller and the separation means. According to this aspect, a separation pressure can be easily applied between the separation roller and the separation means.

  The separation pressure adjusting unit may adjust the separation pressure by moving the separation roller in a direction in which the separation roller and the separation unit sandwich the sheet. According to this aspect, a separation pressure can be easily applied between the separation roller and the separation means.

  The separation pressure adjusting means may have a movable inclined portion and a separation roller holding means for holding the separation roller having a sliding portion slidably contacting the inclined portion, and the separation pressure adjusting means moves the inclined portion. Accordingly, the inclined portion may slide with the sliding portion of the separation roller holding unit, and the separation roller may be moved in the direction in which the separation roller and the separation unit sandwich the sheet. According to this aspect, a separation pressure can be easily applied between the separation roller and the separation means.

  According to the present invention, paper separation can be improved.

  Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention (hereinafter referred to as embodiments) will be described with reference to the drawings.

(First embodiment)
FIG. 1 is an overall configuration diagram of a sheet conveying apparatus 300 having a sheet separating apparatus 200 according to the first embodiment. The paper tray 10 has a paper stacking surface 10a. In this figure, a plurality of sheets 100 are stacked, and the sheets 100 are conveyed from left to right. The paper tray 10 described in the present embodiment is configured to place the paper 100 in an obliquely stacked state in order to improve the separation of the paper 100. Note that the paper tray 10 may be one in which the paper 100 is placed in a vertically stacked state. A first frame 30 made of metal or resin, which forms a paper transport surface 30a, is disposed on the paper transport downstream side of the paper tray 10, and the paper tray 10 is fixed to the first frame.

  A shaft fixing member 16 is provided above the first frame 30. The shaft fixing member 16 rotatably supports the pickup roller shaft 14 and the separation roller shaft 20 by a bearing (not shown). A pickup roller 12 is fixed to the pickup roller shaft 14 to convey the paper 100 by rotating in pressure contact with the paper 100 stacked on the top of the paper 100 stacked on the paper tray 10. The shaft fixing member 16 is rotatable about the separation roller shaft 20, and the pickup roller shaft 14 side of the shaft fixing member 16 is in pressure contact with the paper 100 loaded on the paper tray 10. Further, it is biased downward by an elastic member (not shown) such as a spring. The pickup roller 12 rotates when the pickup roller shaft 14 is driven by a motor (not shown) provided behind the sheet conveying device 300.

  A separation roller 18 is fixed to the separation roller shaft 20. The separation roller 18 is generally formed of silicon rubber, natural rubber, ethylene propylene rubber (EPDM) or the like, which is an elastic body having a high coefficient of friction with paper. If the friction coefficient between the separation roller 18 and the paper 100 is μ1, the friction coefficient between the separation pad and the paper 100 described later is μ2, and the friction coefficient between the paper 100 and the paper 100 is μ3, then μ1> It is required that the relationship of μ2> μ3 holds. Therefore, it is preferable that the separation roller 18 is formed of a material having a higher friction coefficient than that of the separation pad, or the surface is subjected to processing for increasing the friction coefficient. The process for increasing the friction coefficient means, for example, a case where an uneven portion is provided on the surface of the separation roller 18. For example, the concavo-convex portion provided on the surface of the separation roller 18 may be provided with a concavo-convex portion parallel to the axial direction of the separation roller 18 or may be provided with a helical tooth-like concavo-convex portion.

  By increasing the outer diameter of the separation roller 18, the space between the separation roller 18 and the separation pad 32 is narrowed, and the number of sheets 100 conveyed between the separation roller 18 and the separation pad 32 is minimized. However, the outer diameter of the separation roller 18 is limited by the size of the apparatus to which the sheet separating apparatus 200 is mounted and the parts inside the apparatus. The size of the separation roller 18 is determined in consideration of these conditions.

  The separation roller 18 rotates when the separation roller shaft 20 is driven by a motor (not shown) provided at the rear of the sheet conveying device 300. In the present embodiment, the separation roller shaft 20 is rotatably fixed to a frame (not shown) of the paper transport apparatus 300 via a sliding member such as a bearing (not shown) so as not to move.

Below the separation roller 18, a holder 36, which is a support means for supporting the separation pad 32, is disposed. The separation pad 32 is generally made of urethane rubber, which is an elastic body having a high coefficient of friction with paper, or artificial leather such as Clarino (registered trademark) . The separation pad 32 is fixed to the holder 36 on the upstream side of the sheet conveyance of the separation pad 32, and is not fixed to the holder 36 on the downstream side of the sheet conveyance. Below the sheet conveyance downstream side of the separation pad 32, and the plate-like member 34 is fixed, the side 34a which is one side of the lower plate member 34 is in contact with the supporting surface 36a of the holder 36. The side 34a and the support surface 36a are not fixed, and the side 34a slidably contacts the support surface 36a. Thereby, the second separation angle can be adjusted according to the separation pressure between the separation roller and the separation means.

  The holder 36 has a shaft hole 36b on the downstream side of the paper conveyance, and a holder shaft 38 fixed to a frame (not shown) of the paper conveyance device 300 is inserted into the shaft hole 36b. The holder shaft 38 and the shaft hole 36b are rotatable, and thus the holder 36 is rotatable about the holder shaft 38. The holder 36 is pressed and supported from below, thereby applying a separation pressure to the paper 100 sandwiched between the separation roller 18 and the separation pad 32.

  The paper 100 separated and conveyed by the separation roller 18 and the separation pad 32 is conveyed by a conveyance roller 22 and a driven roller 26 to a post-processing unit (not shown) that performs post-processing. The conveyance roller 22 is fixed to the conveyance roller shaft 24, and the conveyance roller shaft 24 is fixed to a frame (not shown) of the paper conveyance device 300 so as to be rotatable by a bearing or the like. The transport roller 22 rotates when the transport roller shaft 24 is driven by a motor (not shown) provided behind the paper transport device 300. The driven roller 26 is fixed to a driven roller shaft 28, and the driven roller shaft 28 is fixed to a frame (not shown) of the paper transport apparatus 300 so as to be rotatable by a bearing or the like. The driven roller 26 is not connected to a driving source such as a motor, and is driven by the conveying roller 22.

  FIG. 2 is a view showing the sheet separating apparatus 200 according to the first embodiment, in which a small separation pressure is applied between the separation roller 18 and the separation pad 32, and (a) is a separation roller. 18 is a diagram illustrating a state in which the sheet 100 is not sandwiched between the separation roller 18 and the separation pad 32, and (b) is a diagram illustrating a state in which the sheet 100 is sandwiched between the separation roller 18 and the separation pad 32. FIG. Since the sheet 100 is actually very thin, it will be assumed that the length and angle of each part do not change between the state where the sheet 100 is not sandwiched between the separation roller 18 and the separation pad 32 and the state where the sheet 100 is sandwiched.

  As described above, the separation roller 18 is fixed to the separation roller shaft 20 and is rotatably fixed to a frame (not shown) of the paper transport apparatus 300. The separation pad 32 supported by the holder 36 is pressed against the separation roller 18 by pressing and supporting the holder 36, which is rotatable about the holder shaft 38, from below, and a separation pressure is applied.

  The separation pad 32 includes a first separation surface 32a that is a surface into which the paper 100 enters, a second separation surface 32b that presses against the separation roller 18 and sandwiches the paper 100, and a second separation surface 32b. A third separation surface 32c is formed between the first separation surface 32a and the second separation surface 32b. The first separation surface 32a, the second separation surface 32b, and the third separation surface 32c are configured by a single member having a uniform thickness in consideration of the slidability and cost of the paper 100, and the first separation surface 32a. The second separation surface 32b and the third separation surface 32c are formed by continuous surfaces. The first separation surface 32a, the second separation surface 32b, and the third separation surface 32c may be formed by separate members.

  The lower part of the first separation surface 32a of the separation pad 32 is fixed to the holder 36 by adhesion or welding, and is constituted by a plane. The first separation surface 32 a is formed at a position where it is not pressed against the separation roller 18. The first separation surface 32a is formed with a first separation angle α with respect to the direction in which the paper 100 enters. As a result, the paper 100 can be conveyed to the separation roller 18 in a state where the paper 100 overlaps as shown in the figure, and the separation of the paper 100 can be improved.

The second separation surface 32b is a substantially flat portion including a range where the plate-like member 34 of the separation pad 32 is fixed. The second separation surface 32b has a portion that applies separation pressure to the paper 100 by sandwiching the separation roller 18 and the paper 100 at the end of the second separation surface 32b on the upstream side of paper conveyance. The second separation surface 32b is formed with a second separation angle β with respect to the first separation surface 32a. The second separation angle β is formed when a side 34 a which is one side of the plate-like member 34 fixed to the lower surface of the separation pad 32 abuts on a support surface 36 a which is the upper surface of the holder 36. Further, the second separation angle β can be increased by applying a separation pressure by the separation roller 18 and the separation pad 32.

  In general, if the angle at which the paper 100 sandwiched between the separation roller 18 and the separation pad 32 is discharged with respect to the entry direction of the paper 100 is large, the adjacent paper can be transported while being shifted in stages. Separation of the paper 100 due to the paper 100 being sandwiched between 18 and the separation pad 32 is improved. However, if a surface such as the first separation surface 32a in this embodiment is not provided between the time when the paper 100 enters and the time when the paper 100 is sandwiched between the separation roller 18 and the separation pad 32, the separation is performed. If the angle at which the paper 100 sandwiched between the roller 18 and the separation pad 32 is discharged is large, the separation pad 32 is a flat surface, and therefore the angle on the side where the paper 100 enters between the separation roller 18 and the separation pad 32. Since the leading end of many sheets 100 tends to enter the clamping portion between the separation roller 18 and the separation pad 32, the sheet 100 may be conveyed between the separation roller 18 and the separation pad 32 while overlapping. On the contrary, the separability of the paper 100 may be lowered. In the present embodiment, the first separation surface 32a formed with the first separation angle α with respect to the entering direction of the paper 100, and the first separation surface 32a on the downstream side of the paper conveyance with respect to the first separation surface 32a. Since the second separation surface 32b formed with the two separation angles β is provided, the sheets 100 can be transported to the separation roller 18 in a state where the first separation surface 32a overlaps the first separation surface 32a. The separation property of the paper 100 can be improved by the second separation surface 32b formed with the second separation angle β with respect to 32a.

  The third separation surface 32c is formed so as to form a continuous surface between the first separation surface 32a and the second separation surface 32b, and forms a curved surface portion. Thereby, the slidability of the paper 100 between the first separation surface 32a and the second separation surface 32b can be improved. The third separation surface 32c has a portion that applies separation pressure to the paper 100 by sandwiching the separation roller 18 and the paper 100 on the downstream side of the third separation surface 32c.

  A gap 40 is formed between the separation pad 32 and the holder 36. Thereby, when a separation pressure is applied between the separation roller 18 and the separation pad 32, the separation pad 32 can be elastically deformed toward the gap portion 40, so that the second separation angle β is increased. Can do. Further, when the plurality of sheets 100 are conveyed to the third separation surface 32c in a state where they overlap each other, the lower sheet 100 comes into contact with the third separation surface 32c and the third separation surface swells downward and tends to advance. Since the paper 100 can be pressed, the paper separation property can be improved. The gap 40 may be formed of a member having a lower rigidity than the plate-like member 34, for example, a sponge member formed of urethane.

  When the paper 100 is conveyed between the separation roller 18 and the separation pad 32, the paper 100 is given a separation pressure by the separation roller 18 from above and by the separation pad 32 from below. When the separation pressure is applied, the sheet 100 is sandwiched by the separation roller 18 and the separation pad 32 across the downstream side of the third separation surface 32c and the upstream side of the second separation surface 32b. A range W (hereinafter referred to as “nip width W”) is formed. The paper 100 that has passed the nip width W is conveyed while sliding on the second separation surface 32b. Accordingly, the sheet 100 is discharged from the separation roller 18 and the separation pad 32 at a first separation angle α + second separation angle β with respect to the direction in which the sheet 100 enters.

  FIG. 3 is a diagram showing the sheet separating apparatus 200 according to the first embodiment, in which a large separation pressure is applied between the separation roller 18 and the separation pad 32. FIG. 18 is a diagram illustrating a state in which the sheet 100 is not sandwiched between the separation roller 18 and the separation pad 32, and (b) is a diagram illustrating a state in which the sheet 100 is sandwiched between the separation roller 18 and the separation pad 32. FIG.

  In the sheet separating apparatus 200 shown in this figure, the separation pressure between the separation roller 18 and the separation pad 32 is larger than that in the state shown in FIG. Is given. Thereby, the separation pad 32 is greatly elastically deformed toward the gap 40, and the second separation angle β can be increased. Further, the side 34a where the plate-like member 34 abuts on the support surface 36a slides on the downstream side of the sheet conveyance, and the second separation surface 32b rotates about the slid side 34a as a fulcrum. growing. Further, since the plate-like member 34 is formed of an elastic member, the upstream side of the plate-like member 34 with respect to the sheet conveyance is compressed by the separation pressure, and this also increases the second separation angle β. Thus, by adjusting the separation pressure between the separation roller 18 and the separation pad 32, the pressing state of the plate member 34 and the support surface 36a changes, and the second separation angle β is adjusted.

  When the paper 100 is transported between the separation roller 18 and the separation pad 32, the paper 100 forms a nip width W across the paper transport downstream side of the third separation surface 32c and the paper transport upstream side of the second separation surface 32b. Is done. In this case, since the separation pad 32 or the separation roller 18 is formed of an elastic body, the nip width W is larger when the separation pressure is larger than when the separation pressure is small. When the nip width W is large, the distance and time at which the separation pressure is applied to the paper 100 passing between the separation roller 18 and the separation pad 32 become longer, so that the separation performance of the paper 100 is improved. Further, since the frictional resistance is generally proportional to the force applied to the friction surface, the frictional resistance between the separation roller 18 and the paper 100, the frictional resistance between the separation pad 32 and the paper 100, and The frictional resistance between the sheets 100 increases in proportion to the separation pressure, and as a result, the difference between the frictional resistances increases. However, when the separation pressure is increased, the wear of the separation roller 18 and the separation pad 32 is also increased, and there is a possibility that reliability and maintainability may be lowered, such as a decrease in separation property due to generation of a large amount of paper dust. is there. Also, the conditions for separating the paper according to various conditions such as the paper quality such as the friction coefficient and basis weight of the paper, the external environment such as temperature and humidity, or the condition of the image formation when post-processing the imaged paper Will change greatly. According to these various conditions, the optimum separation pressure for satisfactorily separating the paper is given by adjustment.

  The paper 100 that has passed the nip width W is conveyed while sliding on the second separation surface 32b. Accordingly, the sheet 100 is discharged from the separation roller 18 and the separation pad 32 at an angle of the second separation angle β with respect to the first separation surface 32a. In this embodiment, since the second separation angle β is increased by increasing the separation pressure, it is possible to improve the sheet separation performance by both the separation pressure and the second separation angle β. Therefore, compared with the case where the separation property is adjusted according to various conditions only by adjusting the separation pressure, the separation property of the paper can be adjusted by applying a lower separation pressure, and the reliability of the paper separation device 200 is improved. And maintainability can be improved.

  FIG. 4 is a left side view showing the sheet separating apparatus 200 having the separation pressure adjusting apparatus 250 according to the first embodiment. FIG. 4A shows the separation roller 18 and the separation pad 32 by the separating pressure adjusting apparatus 250. FIG. 5B is a diagram illustrating a case where a small separation pressure is applied between the separation roller 18 and the separation pad 32 by the separation pressure adjusting device 250. It is.

The separation pad 32 is formed larger in the width direction than the separation roller 18 in order to contact the entire width of the separation roller 18. The holder 36 has the same width as the separation pad 32 so as to support the separation pad 32 over the entire axial direction of the separation roller 18. A trapezoidal member 46 is fixed below the holder 36, and a spherical member 42 is fixed to the trapezoidal member 46. Below the spherical member 42, an adjustment member 44 having an inclined portion 44 a and movable in the horizontal direction is placed on a frame (not shown) of the paper transport apparatus 300. Spherical member 42 is slidably in contact with the inclined portion 44a, the inclined portion 44a is supported by pressing the spherical member 42 upward.

  When the adjustment member 44 is moved horizontally in the right direction in the figure, the inclined portion 44a slides on the spherical member 42, and the spherical member 42 moves upward. As a result, the holder 36 and the separation pad 32 are pushed upward, and the separation pressure applied between the separation roller 18 and the separation pad 32 increases. The adjustment member 44 is held in the horizontal direction by the frictional force between the upper surface of the frame (not shown) of the paper transport device 300 and the lower surface of the adjustment member. Note that the adjustment member 44 may be fixed to a frame (not shown) of the paper transport apparatus 300 by using a post-separation pressure adjusting screw or the like.

  FIG. 5 is a front view showing the sheet separating apparatus 200 having the separation pressure adjusting apparatus 250 according to the first embodiment. FIG. 5A is a diagram showing the separation pressure adjusting apparatus 250 between the separation roller 18 and the separation pad 32. FIG. 5B is a diagram showing a case where a large separation pressure is applied between the separation roller 18 and the separation pad 32 by the separation pressure adjusting device 250. is there.

  When the adjustment member 44 is moved in the horizontal direction and the inclined portion 44a is slid on the spherical member 42 for a short distance, the spherical member 42 moves upward a short distance, and the holder 36 is moved to the holder shaft 38 via the trapezoidal member 46. Rotate upward a short distance around the center. As a result, the holder 36 and the separation pad 32 can move a short distance in the direction in which the separation roller 18 and the separation pad 32 sandwich the paper 100, and a small separation pressure can be applied between the separation roller 18 and the separation pad 32. .

  When the adjustment member 44 is further moved in the horizontal direction and the inclined portion 44a is slid on the spherical member 42 over a long distance, the spherical member 42 moves upward over a long distance. As a result, the holder 36 and the separation pad 32 can move a long distance in the direction in which the separation roller 18 and the separation pad 32 sandwich the paper 100, and a large separation pressure can be applied between the separation roller 18 and the separation pad 32. . Since the second separation angle β can be increased by applying a large separation pressure between the separation roller 18 and the separation pad 32, the adjustment of the separation pressure and the second separation angle by moving the adjustment member 44. β can be adjusted simultaneously.

  FIG. 6 is a diagram illustrating the separation pressure adjusting device 250 according to the first embodiment. FIG. 6A illustrates a case where a small separation pressure is applied between the separation roller 18 and the separation pad 32 by the separation pressure adjusting device 250. (B) is a diagram showing a case where a large separation pressure is applied between the separation roller 18 and the separation pad 32 by the separation pressure adjusting device 250.

  The adjustment member 44 is fixed to the transmission plate 50 via the connecting member 48 and the fastening member 52. A first gear 54 having a first gear portion 54 a that is a rack gear is fixed to the end portion of the transmission plate 50. The first gear portion 54 a meshes with the second gear portion 56 a of the second gear 56, and the second gear portion 56 a meshes with the third gear portion 58 a of the third gear 58. The shaft of the third gear 58 is fixed to an adjustment knob (not shown), and the adjustment member 44 can be moved in the horizontal direction by rotating the adjustment knob. Thereby, the inclined part 44a of the adjustment member 44 is slid on the spherical member 42, the distance by which the spherical member 42 is moved upward can be adjusted, and the separation pressure can be adjusted.

(Second Embodiment)
FIG. 7 is a front view showing a separation pressure adjusting device 250 according to the second embodiment. In the present embodiment, the same parts as those in the first embodiment are denoted by the same reference numerals, and detailed description thereof is omitted.

  The separation roller 18 is fixed to the separation roller shaft 20, and both end portions of the separation roller shaft 20 are fixed to a holding member 60 provided so as to be movable parallel to the direction in which the separation pressure is applied. The holding member 60 is provided with a long hole 66b that extends long in parallel with the direction in which the separation pressure is applied. A guide pin 66 is inserted into the long hole 66b, and the moving direction and moving distance of the holding member 60 are regulated. is doing. Two spring holes 60a, which are cylindrical and formed to a predetermined depth, are provided in the lower part of the holding member 60. The springs 64 are inserted into the respective spring holes 60a, and one end on the side where the spring 64 is inserted is The spring hole 60a is locked by the hole bottom. The other end of the spring 64 is fixed to a spring support member 62 that is fixed to a frame (not shown) of the sheet conveying device 300, whereby the separation roller shaft 20 and the separation roller 18 are urged upward through the holding member 60. The

  A trapezoidal member 68 is formed above the holding member 60, and a spherical member 70 is fixed to the trapezoidal member 68. Above the spherical member 70, an adjusting member 72 having an inclined portion 72a is disposed so as to be movable in the horizontal direction. The adjustment member 72 is configured to be movable in the horizontal direction by sandwiching the upper surface and the lower surface of the adjustment member 72 with a guide member (not shown) provided on a frame (not shown) of the paper transport apparatus 300. The adjustment member 72 is formed with a rack gear portion 72b, and the gear portion 74a of the gear 74 is engaged with the rack gear portion 72b. The shaft of the gear 74 is fixed to an adjustment knob (not shown), and the adjustment member 72 can be moved in the horizontal direction by rotating the adjustment knob. Therefore, by rotating this rotary knob, the force for pressing the separation roller 18 against the separation pad 32 can be adjusted, and the separation pressure applied between the separation roller 18 and the separation pad 32 can be adjusted.

  FIG. 8 is a left side view showing the separation pressure adjusting device 250 according to the second embodiment. The spring support member 62 is fixed to the frame 80 of the paper transport apparatus 300. Above the spring support member 62, a holding member 60 is disposed so as to be movable in the vertical direction while being restricted from moving in the right direction in the figure by a guide pin 66 having a locking portion formed at the tip. A cylindrical spring hole 60a having a predetermined length is formed below the holding member and in the center in the width direction, and a spring 64 is inserted into the spring hole 60a. One end on the side where the spring 64 is inserted is locked by the bottom of the spring hole 60 a, and the other end of the spring 64 is fixed to the spring support member 62.

  A trapezoidal member 68 is formed above the holding member 60, and a spherical member 70 is fixed to the trapezoidal member 68. The spherical member 70 is disposed at the center in the width direction of the holding member, similarly to the spring 64, and thereby applies a pressing force applied to the spherical member 70 in the movable direction of the holding member 60. be able to. An adjustment member 72 and a gear 74 are disposed above the spherical member 70. The shaft of the gear 74 is fixed to an adjustment knob (not shown), and by rotating the adjustment knob, the adjustment member 72 can be moved in the horizontal direction, whereby the spherical member 70, the holding member 60, the separation roller. The separation roller 18 can be adjusted in the direction of applying the separation pressure via the shaft 20, and the separation pressure applied between the separation roller 18 and the separation pad 32 can be adjusted.

  As described above, since the separation pressure can be adjusted by moving the separation roller 18 in the direction in which the separation roller 18 and the separation pad 32 sandwich the paper 100, the separation pressure between the separation roller 18 and the separation pad 32 can be easily adjusted. And the separability can be maintained for a long time against the abrasion of the separation roller 18 and the like.

  The present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiments, and an appropriate combination of the elements of each embodiment is also effective as an embodiment of the present invention. Various modifications such as design changes can be added to each embodiment based on the knowledge of those skilled in the art, and embodiments to which such modifications are added can also be included in the scope of the present invention. Here are some examples.

  The spherical member 42 and the spherical member 70 may be sliding members such as bearings. Thereby, the slidability with the inclined part 44a or the inclined part 72a can be improved, and the separation pressure can be easily adjusted.

  The separation pressure is adjusted by adjusting the distance that the separation pad 32 or the separation roller 18 is moved in the direction of applying the separation pressure by the eccentric cam instead of the inclined portion 44a and the spherical member 42, and the inclined portion 72a and the spherical member 70. It may be adjustable. Thereby, the number of parts can be reduced and the cost can be reduced.

1 is an overall configuration diagram of a sheet transport apparatus having a sheet separating apparatus according to a first embodiment. 1 is a diagram illustrating a sheet separating apparatus according to a first embodiment in which a small separation pressure is applied between a separation roller and a separation pad, and (a) illustrates a sheet between the separation roller and the separation pad. FIG. 5B is a diagram illustrating a state in which a sheet is sandwiched between a separation roller and a separation pad. FIG. 4 is a diagram illustrating a sheet separating apparatus according to the first embodiment, in which a large separation pressure is applied between the separation roller and the separation pad, and (a) is a sheet between the separation roller and the separation pad. FIG. 5B is a diagram illustrating a state in which a sheet is sandwiched between a separation roller and a separation pad. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIG. 1 is a left side view showing a sheet separating apparatus having a separating pressure adjusting device according to a first embodiment, wherein (a) shows a small separating pressure applied between a separating roller and a separating pad by the separating pressure adjusting device. (B) is a diagram showing a case where a large separation pressure is applied between the separation roller and the separation pad by the separation pressure adjusting device. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIG. 1 is a front view showing a sheet separating apparatus having a separating pressure adjusting apparatus according to a first embodiment, where (a) shows a case where a small separating pressure is applied between a separating roller and a separating pad by the separating pressure adjusting apparatus. (B) is a diagram showing a case where a large separation pressure is applied between the separation roller and the separation pad by the separation pressure adjusting device. It is the figure which showed the separation pressure adjustment apparatus concerning 1st Embodiment, (a) is the figure which showed the case where a small separation pressure was given between the separation roller and the separation pad by the separation pressure adjustment apparatus. (B) is the figure which showed the case where a big separation pressure was given between the separation roller and the separation pad by the separation pressure adjusting device. It is the front view which showed the separation pressure adjusting device concerning 2nd Embodiment. It is the left view which showed the separation pressure adjusting device concerning 2nd Embodiment.

Explanation of symbols

  10 paper tray, 12 pickup roller, 18 separation roller, 20 separation roller shaft, 22 transport roller, 26 driven roller, 30 first frame, 32 separation pad, 32a first separation surface, 32b second separation surface, 32c third separation Surface, 34 plate-like member, 36 holder, 38 holder shaft, 42 spherical member, 44 adjustment member, 44a inclined portion, 60 holding member, 62 spring support member, 64 spring, 70 spherical member, 72 adjustment member, 72a inclined portion, 100 paper, 200 paper separating device, 250 separation pressure adjusting device, 300 paper conveying device.

Claims (8)

A separation roller that rotates by applying a separation pressure to the paper from above;
A first separation surface formed with a first separation angle with respect to a paper entry direction, and a second separation angle with respect to the first separation surface at a downstream side of the first separation surface with respect to paper conveyance; A second separation surface that sandwiches the separation roller and the sheet by applying a separation pressure to the sheet, and the first separation surface and the second separation surface so as to be continuous with each of the first separation surface and the second separation surface. The separation roller and the third separation surface sandwiching the paper by applying a separation pressure to the paper from below at least at a part including the connection portion with the second separation surface are integrated by an elastic body. Separation pad formed automatically ,
Supporting means disposed below the separation pad;
The support is provided so as to protrude from the lower surface of the separation pad below the second separation surface, and a gap is formed between the lower surface of the separation pad and the support means below the third separation surface. The separation pad so that the third separation surface is elastically deformed and the second separation angle is increased to the gap as the separation pressure applied to the sheet by the separation roller and the separation pad increases. A protrusion that supports
By adjusting the separation pressure, the elastic deformation amount of the third separation surface to the gap is adjusted to change the second separation angle, and the separation pressure is applied to the sheet by the separation roller and the separation pad. A separation pressure adjusting means for adjusting a nip width as a range ;
A sheet separating apparatus comprising: The protrusion is formed by an elastic member and is disposed so as to abut on the support means at the upstream end in the paper transport direction until the nip width reaches the upstream in the paper transport direction of the second separation surface. 2. The sheet separating apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein when a separation pressure is applied to the separation pad, an end portion on the upstream side in the sheet conveyance direction is compressed to increase the second separation angle . Wherein at least a portion of the first separation surface is fixed to said support means, said protrusion to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that in contact with the slidably said supporting means in the sheet conveying direction The paper separating apparatus as described. The separation pressure adjusting means, the sheet separation device according to any one of claims 1 to 3, characterized in that adjusting the separation pressure by causing movement of the separation pad in the direction for holding the sheet. The support means is provided so as to be rotatable around a rotation shaft provided on the upstream side of the sheet conveyance of the support means ,
The separation pressure adjusting means, by causing rotation of the supporting means, sheet separating apparatus according to claim 4, characterized in that make moving the separating pad in a direction of sandwiching the paper. The separation pressure adjusting means includes an inclined portion inclined with respect to the horizontal direction is movable in the horizontal direction, a sliding portion fixed to said support means in slidable contact with the inclined portion,
By the inclined portion is moved, the inclined portion slides with the sliding portion, the paper separating according to claim 4 or 5, characterized in that make moving the separating pad in a direction of sandwiching the paper apparatus. The separation pressure adjusting means, the sheet separation device according to any one of claims 1 to 3, characterized in that adjusting the separation pressure by causing movement of the separation roller in a direction to sandwich the paper. The separation pressure adjusting means is provided with a separation roller holding that holds the separation roller, having an inclined portion that is movably provided in a horizontal direction and that is inclined with respect to the horizontal direction , and a sliding portion that is slidably in contact with the inclined portion. includes a means, a,
By the inclined portion is moved, in claim 7, wherein the inclined portion slides with the sliding portion of the separation roller holding means, characterized in that make moving said separation roller in a direction for holding the sheet The paper separating apparatus as described.

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