JP4628989B2 - Paper separator - Google Patents

Description

  The present invention relates to a sheet separating apparatus that separates sheets, and more particularly, to a sheet separating apparatus that separates overlapping sheets by pressing a separation roller and a separating member.

When images are recorded on paper by the offset printing method, electrophotographic method, ink jet method, etc., or when post-processing such as collation is performed on paper on which images are recorded by these methods, the paper is removed from the stacked paper bundle. It becomes necessary to transport part by part. 2. Description of the Related Art As a sheet separating apparatus that separates a sheet from a stack of sheets stacked in this way, one having a separation roller and a separation member is known. In this type of paper separating apparatus, paper is separated from an overlapped paper bundle by rotating the separating roller while the paper is sandwiched between the separating roller and the separating member. In order to reliably separate and feed sheets of various thicknesses in such an apparatus, for example, Patent Document 1 proposes a feeding apparatus in which a separating member is wound around a feeding roller during separation.
JP 2005-170571 A

  There are a wide variety of types of paper for recording images and paper for post-processing. For this reason, there is a constant demand for the development of a paper separating apparatus that can handle a wider variety of paper types. The present invention has been made in view of such circumstances, and an object of the present invention is to improve paper separation.

  In order to solve the above problems, a sheet separating apparatus according to an aspect of the present invention includes a separation member formed of an elastic material, a first support member, and a first member disposed between the separation member and the first support member. 2 formed of an elastic material softer than the supporting member and the separating member, and separated on the upstream side in the sheet conveying direction from the second supporting member so as to form a space with the separating member, the first supporting member, and the second supporting member. A third support member disposed between the member and the first support member; and a separation roller that presses against the separation member toward the space and curves the separation member. According to this aspect, the sheet can be appropriately separated when the sheet enters the nip portion where the separation roller and the separation member sandwich the sheet. For this reason, the sheet separation performance can be improved, and the occurrence of double feeding can be suppressed.

  The second support member may be fixed to the separation member and slidably contact the first support member. According to this aspect, the second support member slides with the first support member in accordance with the separation pressure, which is the pressure with which the separation roller and the separation member pinch the paper, so that the separation member is suitable for paper separation. It can be transformed into a shape.

  A guide member may be further provided that is disposed upstream of the separation roller in the sheet conveyance direction and guides the sheet conveyed so that the leading edge of the conveyed sheet contacts the separation roller before contacting the separation member. According to this aspect, the conveyed paper can be appropriately guided to the nip portion.

  Another embodiment of the present invention is also a paper separating apparatus. The apparatus is formed of a separation member formed of an elastic material, a first support member, a second support member disposed between the separation member and the first support member, and an elastic material softer than the separation member. A third support member disposed between the separation member and the first support member upstream of the second support member in the paper conveyance direction, and a separation member formed of an elastic material softer than the third support member. A fourth support member disposed in a region surrounded by the first support member, the second support member, and the third support member, and a separation roller that presses against the separation member toward the fourth support member and curves the separation member And comprising. According to this aspect as well, the sheet can be appropriately separated when the sheet enters the nip portion. For this reason, the sheet separation performance can be improved, and the occurrence of double feeding can be suppressed.

  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 according to the first embodiment, and FIG. 2 is an enlarged view of a region P in FIG. In FIG. 2, the shaft fixing member 16 and the first frame 30 are omitted. The paper transport device 300 includes a paper tray 10, a first frame 30, a pickup roller 12, a paper separation device 200, a transport roller 22, a driven roller 26, and the like.

  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. On the downstream side of the paper tray 10 in the paper conveyance direction, a first frame 30 made of metal or resin that forms a paper conveyance surface 30a is disposed, 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.

  The sheet separating device 200 includes a separation roller 18, a separation pad unit 39, a guide member 37, and a separation pressure adjusting device described later. The separation roller 18 is formed in a cylindrical shape whose axial cross section has a donut shape. The length of the separation roller 18 in the axial direction is shorter than the width of the sheet to be conveyed. Hereinafter, the axial direction of the separation roller 18 will be described as the paper width direction. A separation roller shaft 20 is inserted into a hole provided at the center of the separation roller 18 and is fixed to the separation roller 18.

  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 a separation pad 32 described later is narrowed, and the number of sheets 100 conveyed between the separation roller 18 and the separation pad 32 is minimized. Can be suppressed. However, the outer diameter of the separation roller 18 is limited by the size of the apparatus on which the sheet separating apparatus 200 is mounted and the components 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.

  The separation pad unit 39 includes a separation pad 32, a first support member 34, a second support member 35, and a third support member 36. The separation pad unit 39 is disposed below the separation roller 18, and the position in the paper width direction is disposed at a substantially central position of the separation roller 18.

The separation pad 32 as a separation member is generally formed into a plate shape by urethane rubber, which is an elastic body having a high coefficient of friction with paper, or artificial leather such as Clarino, etc., and H _B (Vickers hardness) 60 to H _B Hardness of about 80. The separation pad 32 according to the present embodiment is that of H _B 70. The width of the separation pad 32 in the paper width direction is equal to or longer than that of the separation roller 18. The surface of the separation pad 32 has a lower coefficient of friction on the upstream side than on the downstream side, with the position slightly upstream from the center of the sheet conveyance direction of the nip portion as a boundary.

  The length of the first support member 34 in the paper conveyance direction is about twice that of the separation pad 32, and the length in the paper width direction is formed in a plate shape similar to that of the separation pad 32. The first support member 34 is formed of a material having a hardness higher than that of the separation roller 18 and the separation pad 32, for example, a resin having a high hardness, in order to apply a separation pressure that is a pressure with which the separation roller 18 and the separation pad 32 sandwich the sheet. The

  Near the end of the first support member 34 on the upstream side in the paper conveyance direction, a shaft hole 34b is formed in which the paper width direction is the axial direction. With the first support member 34 disposed below the separation roller 18, the support shaft 38 is inserted into the shaft hole 34 b, and the support shaft 38 is fixed to the first frame 30 upstream of the separation roller 18 in the sheet conveyance direction. Is done. As a result, the first support member 34 can rotate about the support shaft 38.

  The second support member 35 has a length in the paper transport direction that is about a quarter to a fifth of the separation pad 32, a length in the paper width direction that is the same as that of the separation pad 32, and a thickness of the second support member 35. It is formed in a plate shape equivalent to or slightly thicker than the separation pad 32. The second support member 35 is formed of a resin having a hardness higher than that of the separation pad 32.

The third support member 36 has a length in the paper transport direction that is approximately one-half that of the separation pad 32, a length in the paper width direction that is the same as that of the separation pad 32, and a thickness that is the same as that of the separation pad 32. Or a slightly thicker plate. The third support member 36 is formed of a soft resin having a hardness lower than that of the separation pad 32, for example, a synthetic rubber such as nitrile rubber (NBR). The third support member 36 is made of a material that is about H _B 50 to H _B 70 and has a Vickers hardness of about 5 to 15 lower than that of the separation pad 32. As the third support member 36 according to the present embodiment, an H _B 60 member having a Vickers hardness 10 lower than that of the separation pad 32 is employed.

  The separation pad 32 is disposed between the separation roller 18 and the first support member 34, that is, above the separation pad 32 and below the separation roller 18. Further, the separation pad 32 is arranged such that the second support member 35 and the downstream end portion in the paper transport direction are in the same position.

  The second support member 35 is disposed between the separation pad 32 and the first support member 34, that is, above the first support member 34 and below the separation pad 32. The second support member 35 is disposed at the downstream end of the separation pad 32 and the sheet conveyance direction. The separation pad 32 is fixed to the surface on the first support member 34 side so that the position is the same.

  The third support member 36 is disposed between the separation pad 32 and the first support member 34, that is, above the first support member 34 and below the separation pad 32. The separation pad 32 is fixed to the surface facing the first support member 34 and the surface facing the separation pad 32 of the first support member 34 so that the positions are the same.

  The portion of the first support member 34 that faces the second support member 35 is thicker than the other portions. Therefore, the separation pad 32 is curved so that the downstream end portion in the sheet conveyance direction is warped toward the separation roller 18. The second support member 35 is slidably abutted on a support surface 34a that is a surface of the first support member 34 that faces the second support member 35 on the upstream side in the sheet conveyance direction. In this way, the second support member 35 is slidably brought into contact with the first support member 34, and the second support member 35 and the third support member 36 are appropriately slid by adjusting the separation pressure. The separation pad 32 can be well curved into a shape suitable for paper separation. Thereby, the separation property of the paper can be improved, and the double feeding of the paper can be suppressed.

  A space 40 is formed in a region surrounded by the separation pad 32, the first support member 34, the second support member 35, and the third support member 36. When the separation pad unit 39 is rotated about the support shaft 38 so that the separation pad 32 and the separation roller 18 are pressed against each other, the separation roller 18 is pressed against the separation pad 32 toward the space 40. The relative positions of 18 and separation pad unit 39 are determined. Accordingly, when the separation roller 18 and the separation pad 32 are pressed against each other, the separation pad 32 can be appropriately curved.

  Even when the third support member 36 is not provided and the first support member 34 instead occupies the portion occupied by the third support member 36, it is possible to separate the sheets to some extent. However, in the paper separating apparatus having such a configuration, for example, when separating paper of a type having a large frictional force between papers such as coated paper and art paper, it is necessary to apply a large separation pressure to the paper. For this reason, the load on the separation roller 18, the separation pad unit 39, the separation pressure adjustment device 250, and the like may increase, and the reliability of the paper separation device 200 may be reduced.

  In view of such a situation, the present inventor came to pay attention to the separation property of the paper on the upstream side of the center of the nip portion in the paper conveyance direction. By disposing the third support member 36 formed of an elastic material softer than the separation pad 32 between the separation pad 32 and the first support member 34 and upstream of the space portion 40 in the sheet conveyance direction. When the separation roller 18 comes into pressure contact with the separation pad 32, the separation pad 32 can be deformed into the same shape as the outer shape of the separation roller 18 on the upstream side of the nip portion in the sheet conveyance direction. As a result, the contact length between the separation roller 18 and the separation pad 32, that is, the nip width can be increased, and the paper separation property can be improved. Further, by selecting an appropriate material for the third support member 36, the separation pressure between the separation roller 18 and the separation pad 32 at the top of the third support member 36 can be set to an appropriate pressure.

  The guide member 37 is formed in a flat plate shape. The guide member 37 is disposed above the separation pad unit 39 and upstream of the separation roller 18 in the paper transport direction so as to be substantially parallel to the first support member 34. The guide member 37 guides the conveyed paper so that the leading edge of the conveyed paper contacts the separation roller 18 before contacting the separation pad 32. The guide member 37 is fixed to the separation pad unit 39 so as to rotate around the support shaft 38 together with the separation pad unit 39.

  If the leading edge of the conveyed paper comes into contact with the separation pad 32 before the separation roller 18, there may be a case where the paper cannot be favorably conveyed to the nip portion due to the frictional force between the paper and the surface of the separation pad 32. On the other hand, since the separation roller 18 is rotating, the surface of the separation roller 18 advances toward the nip portion on the upstream side in the sheet conveyance direction from the nip portion. For this reason, it is possible to satisfactorily guide the paper to the nip portion by contacting the separation roller 18 before the leading edge of the conveyed paper contacts the separation pad 32. Further, by providing the third support member 36, even if the separation pad 32 is deformed on the upstream side of the nip portion in the paper conveyance direction, the paper can be smoothly introduced into the nip portion.

  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. 3A shows a sheet separating apparatus in which a small separation pressure is applied between the separation roller 18 and the separation pad 32 and the separation roller 18 and the separation pad 32 do not sandwich the sheet. (B) is a diagram showing a sheet separating apparatus in which a small separation pressure is applied between the separation roller 18 and the separation pad 32 and the sheet is sandwiched between the separation roller 18 and the separation pad 32. is there. Since the sheet 100 is actually very thin, 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 first support member 34 is pressed against the separation roller 18 by pressing the first support member 34 that can be rotated about the support shaft 38 from below to be separated. 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 first support member 34 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 second support member 35 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 in the paper conveyance direction. 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 by locking a side 35a which is one side of the second support member 35 fixed to the lower surface of the separation pad 32 to a support surface 34a which is the upper surface of the first support member 34. The 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 a first separation angle α with respect to the entry direction of the paper 100, and the first separation surface 32a on the downstream side in the paper conveyance direction of the first separation surface 32a. Since the second separation surface 32b formed with the second separation angle 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 the surface 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 in the paper conveyance direction.

  By forming the space portion 40, the separation pad 32 can be elastically deformed toward the space portion 40 when a separation pressure is applied between the separation roller 18 and the separation pad 32. The separation angle β can be increased. 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. Note that an elastic member having a hardness lower than that of the separation pad 32, the second support member 35, and the third support member 36, for example, a sponge member formed of urethane or the like may be disposed in the space 40. In this case, the elastic member provided in the space 40 is a fourth support member disposed in a region surrounded by the separation pad 32, the first support member 34, the second support member 35, and the third support member 36. Function. Further, in this case, the separation roller 18 is pressed against the separation pad 32 toward the fourth support member to bend the separation pad 32.

  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. The sheet 100 is given a separation pressure by the separation roller 18 and the separation pad 32 over the downstream side in the sheet conveyance direction of the third separation surface 32c and the upstream side of the second separation surface 32b in the sheet conveyance direction. 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. 4A is a diagram showing a state in which a large separation pressure is applied between the separation roller 18 and the separation pad 32 and the separation roller 18 and the separation pad 32 do not sandwich the sheet. (B) is the figure which showed the state from which the big separation pressure was given between the separation roller 18 and the separation pad 32, and the separation roller 18 and the separation pad 32 pinched | interposed the paper.

  In the sheet separating apparatus 200 shown in the figure, the first support member 34 is pressed and supported from below to support the separation roller 18 and the separation pad 32 as compared with the state shown in FIG. The pressure is given greatly. Thereby, the separation pad 32 is greatly elastically deformed toward the space portion 40, and the second separation angle β can be increased. Also, the side 35a where the second support member 35 abuts on the support surface 34a slides downstream in the paper transport direction, and the second separation surface 32b rotates around the slid side 35a as a fulcrum, so the second separation angle. β increases. Further, since the second support member 35 is formed of an elastic member, the upstream side of the second support member 35 in the sheet conveyance direction 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 second support member 35 and the support surface 34a 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 has a nip width W across the downstream side of the third separation surface 32c in the paper transportation direction and the upstream side of the second separation surface 32b in the paper transportation direction. Is formed. 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.

  5A is a left side view of the sheet separating apparatus in which a small separating pressure is applied between the separating roller 18 and the separating pad 32 by the separating pressure adjusting apparatus 250, and FIG. 5B is a separating pressure adjusting process. 6 is a left side view of the sheet separating apparatus in which a large separation pressure is applied between the separation roller and the separation pad 32 by the apparatus 250. FIG.

  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 first support member 34 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 first support member 34, 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. The spherical member 42 is slidably locked to the inclined portion 44a, and the inclined portion 44a supports the spherical member 42 by pressing it 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 first support member 34 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.

  6A is a front view of the sheet separating apparatus in which a small separation pressure is applied between the separation roller 18 and the separation pad 32 by the separation pressure adjusting apparatus 250, and FIG. FIG. 6 is a front view of a sheet separating apparatus in which a large separation pressure is applied between the separation roller 18 and the separation pad 32 by the apparatus 250.

  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 first support member 34 is moved via the trapezoidal member 46. A short distance is turned upward about the support shaft 38. As a result, the first support member 34 and the separation pad 32 move a short distance in the direction in which the separation roller 18 and the separation pad 32 sandwich the sheet 100, and a small separation pressure is applied between the separation roller 18 and the separation pad 32. be able to.

  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 first support member 34 and the separation pad 32 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 is applied between the separation roller 18 and the separation pad 32. be able to. 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.

  7A is a view showing the separation pressure adjusting device 250 when a small separation pressure is applied between the separation roller 18 and the separation pad 32, and FIG. 7B is a view showing the separation roller 18 and the separation pad. FIG. 3 is a diagram showing a separation pressure adjusting device 250 when a large separation pressure is applied between the first and second members.

  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. 8 is a front view of the 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. 9 is a left side view of 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 device according to a first embodiment. It is an enlarged view of the area | region P of FIG. (A) is a diagram showing a sheet separating apparatus in a state where a small separation pressure is applied between the separation roller and the separation pad, and the separation roller and the separation pad do not sandwich the sheet, (b) FIG. 3 is a diagram illustrating a sheet separating apparatus in a state where a small separation pressure is applied between the separation roller and the separation pad and the separation roller and the separation pad sandwich the sheet. (A) is a diagram showing a state in which a large separation pressure is applied between the separation roller and the separation pad, and the separation roller and the separation pad do not sandwich the paper, and (b) is a diagram showing the separation roller. 5 is a diagram showing a state where a large separation pressure is applied between the separation roller and the separation pad, and the separation roller and the separation pad sandwich the sheet. (A) is a left side view of the sheet separating device in which a small separation pressure is applied between the separation roller and the separation pad by the separation pressure adjusting device, and (b) is a separation roller and the separation pad by the separation pressure adjusting device. 2 is a left side view of the sheet separating apparatus to which a large separation pressure is applied. (A) is a front view of a sheet separating device in which a small separation pressure is applied between the separation roller and the separation pad by the separation pressure adjusting device, and (b) is a separation roller and a separation pad by the separation pressure adjusting device. FIG. 2 is a front view of the sheet separating apparatus to which a large separation pressure is applied. (A) is a view showing a separation pressure adjusting device when a small separation pressure is applied between the separation roller and the separation pad, and (b) is a diagram showing a large separation pressure between the separation roller and the separation pad. It is a figure which shows the separation pressure adjusting device when given. It is a front view of the separation pressure adjusting device concerning a 2nd embodiment. It is a left view of the separation pressure adjustment apparatus which concerns on 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 34, first support member, 35 second support member, 38 support 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 part, 100 sheets, 200 sheet separating device, 250 separation pressure adjusting device, 300 sheet conveying device.

Claims (4)

A separating member formed of an elastic material;
A first support member;
A second support member disposed between the separation member and the first support member;
The elastic member is made of an elastic material softer than the separation member, and forms a space together with the separation member, the first support member, and the second support member, on the upstream side in the sheet conveyance direction from the second support member. A third support member disposed between the separation member and the first support member;
A separation roller that presses against the separation member toward the space and curves the separation member;
A sheet separating apparatus comprising:   The sheet separating apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the second support member is fixed to the separation member and slidably contacts the first support member.   A guide member that is disposed upstream of the separation roller in the sheet conveyance direction and guides the sheet to be conveyed so as to contact the separation roller before the leading edge of the conveyed sheet contacts the separation member; The sheet separating apparatus according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that: A separating member formed of an elastic material;
A first support member;
A second support member disposed between the separation member and the first support member;
A third support member formed of an elastic material softer than the separation member and disposed between the separation member and the first support member on the upstream side in the paper transport direction from the second support member;
A fourth support member formed of an elastic material softer than the third support member and disposed in a region surrounded by the separation member, the first support member, the second support member, and the third support member; ,
A separation roller that presses against the separation member toward the fourth support member and curves the separation member;
A sheet separating apparatus comprising:

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