JP6334327B2 - Paper sheet stacking device - Google Patents

Description

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

  Conventionally, it is set to a gate that sorts the transport of paper sheets toward the stacking unit for stacking paper sheets, a sensor that detects the passage of paper sheets upstream of the gate, and a paper sheet that is detected by the sensors. There is a paper sheet stacking apparatus including a control unit that drives a gate in accordance with classification information. However, when the paper sheet is misaligned such as skew, the gate drive timing may not be appropriate, and a conveyance failure such as a jam may occur.

JP 11-292350 A

  The problem to be solved by the present invention is to provide a paper sheet stacking apparatus capable of preventing the occurrence of a conveyance failure when sorting and stacking paper sheets.

The paper sheet stacking apparatus according to the embodiment includes a stacking unit, a switching unit, a first sensor, a second sensor, and a control unit. The stacking unit stacks paper sheets. The switching unit switches the paper sheet transport path toward the stacking unit. The first sensor detects the arrival of the paper sheet at a position upstream of the switching unit in the paper sheet conveyance direction. The second sensor detects the misalignment state of the paper sheet at a position upstream of the first sensor in the paper sheet conveyance direction. The control unit switches the switching unit according to the classification information set in the paper sheet triggered by the detection of the paper sheet by the first sensor when the misalignment state of the paper sheet is not detected by the second sensor. A first control mode for controlling the driving of the first is executed. The control unit prohibits the driving of the switching unit triggered by the detection of the paper sheet by the first sensor and the conveyance of the paper sheet when the second sensor detects the misalignment state of the paper sheet. A second control mode is executed in which the state of the switching unit set for the preceding paper sheet preceding the paper sheet in the direction is maintained for the paper sheet. Further, the control unit is set to the paper sheet earlier than when triggered by the detection of the paper sheet by the first sensor when the second sensor detects the misalignment state of the paper sheet. When selecting and executing either the third control mode or the second control mode for controlling the driving of the switching unit according to the classified information, the preceding paper sheet has passed through the switching unit. It is determined whether or not a period from when the paper reaches the switching unit is equal to or longer than a predetermined time, and when the period is equal to or longer than the predetermined time, the third control mode is executed. In some cases, the second control mode is executed.

The figure which shows the structure of the paper sheet processing apparatus of embodiment. The figure which shows the structure of the paper sheet stacking apparatus of embodiment. The side view which shows typically the trigger sensor and switching part of the paper sheet stacking apparatus of embodiment. The side view which shows typically the skew sensor of the paper sheet stacking apparatus of embodiment. 1A is a side view schematically illustrating a skew sensor of a paper sheet stacking apparatus according to an embodiment, and FIG. 2A illustrates a state in which a paper sheet in a misalignment state and a paper sheet in a normal posture pass through each other; FIG. 5B is a diagram illustrating a state in which a misaligned paper sheet passes. The figure which shows the change of operation | movement of the switching part in the 1st control mode of the paper sheet stacking apparatus of embodiment. The figure which shows the change of operation | movement of the switching part in the 2nd control mode of the paper sheet stacking apparatus of embodiment. The figure which shows the change of operation | movement of the switching part in the 3rd control mode of the paper sheet stacking apparatus of embodiment. The figure which shows the change of operation | movement of the switching part in the 2nd control mode of the paper sheet stacking apparatus which concerns on the modification of embodiment.

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

The paper sheet stacking apparatus 10 of the embodiment sorts and stacks paper sheets such as mail. The paper sheet stacking apparatus 10 according to the embodiment is provided in, for example, the paper sheet processing apparatus 1 shown in FIG.
As shown in FIG. 1, the sheet processing apparatus 1 according to the embodiment includes a supply unit 2, a take-out unit 3, a preprocessing unit 4, an exclusion stacking unit 5, a reading recognition unit 6, and a printing unit 7. , A sorting and accumulating unit 8 and a control unit 9.
The supply unit 2 stacks and holds a plurality of paper sheets such as letters collected by the operator in a standing state almost vertically with respect to the horizontal plane, and moves the stack in the stacking direction. It supplies to the extraction part 3 which exists in the direction front end side.
The take-out unit 3 sequentially takes out the most advanced paper sheets in the stacking direction from among the plurality of paper sheets supplied by the supply unit 2 and sends them out to a conveyance path (not shown) toward the pre-processing unit 4.
The pre-processing unit 4 detects a paper sheet to be excluded from a plurality of paper sheets taken out by the take-out unit 3, sends it to a conveyance path (not shown) toward the rejection stacking unit 5, and removes the paper other than the object to be excluded Are sent to a conveyance path (not shown) toward the reading recognition unit 6.
The exclusion stacking unit 5 stacks paper sheets to be excluded that are detected by the preprocessing unit 4.
The reading recognition unit 6 acquires the classification information given to the paper sheets other than the exclusion target detected by the preprocessing unit 4, and outputs the classification information to the printing unit 7 and the classification stacking unit 8.
The printing unit 7 prints predetermined information on a sheet other than the exclusion target according to the classification information output from the reading recognition unit 6.
The sorting and accumulating unit 8 sorts and accumulates paper sheets other than those to be excluded according to the sorting information output from the reading recognition unit 6.

The paper sheet stacking apparatus 10 according to the embodiment includes a sorting stacking unit 8 and a control unit 9.
The sorting / stacking unit 8 includes, for example, a transport path 21 for paper sheets P, a plurality of stacking units 22, a plurality of switching units 23, a plurality of trigger sensors 24, and a skew sensor 25.
The transport path 21 includes, for example, a pair of transport belts 21a that sandwich and transport the paper sheet P from both sides in the thickness direction.

  Each of the plurality of stacking units 22 includes, for example, a stacker 22a and a stacking / conveying path 22b that transports paper sheets from the transporting path 21 toward the stacker 22a. The plurality of stacking units 22 include, for example, a first stacking unit 221, a second stacking unit 222, and a third stacking unit 223.

The plurality of switching units 23 are arranged at a connection portion between the conveyance path 21 and the plurality of accumulation conveyance paths 22b. As shown in FIG. 3, each of the plurality of switching units 23 is a gate driven by the control unit 9, and collects the paper sheets P from the transport path 21 by contacting the paper sheets P of the transport path 21. Transfer to the conveyance path 22b. The plurality of switching units 23 include, for example, a first switching unit 231 that branches the transport of the paper sheet P from the transport path 21 toward the first stacking unit 221 and a second stack of the transport of the paper sheet P from the transport path 21. A second switching unit 232 for branching toward the unit 222.
Each of the plurality of switching units 23 is in an off state (that is, a state in which the conveyance of the paper sheet P is not branched from the conveyance path 21 toward each stacking unit 22) in the initial setting. Each of the plurality of switching units 23 is turned on in accordance with a switching signal output from the control unit 9 (that is, a state in which the conveyance of the paper sheet P is branched from the conveyance path 21 toward each stacking unit 22) and an off state. Switch.

  Each of the plurality of trigger sensors 24 is arranged at a position upstream of each switching unit 23 in the transport direction of the paper sheet P in the transport path 21. Each trigger sensor 24 includes a light emitting unit and a light receiving unit (not shown) arranged to face each other across the conveyance path 21. Irradiation light output from the light emitting unit is set so that it can be received by the light receiving unit without a shielding object and can be temporarily blocked by the paper sheet P conveyed through the conveyance path 21. As a result, each trigger sensor 24 indicates that the front end in the transport direction of the paper sheet P has passed on the optical axis of the irradiation light output from the light emitting unit when the reception of the irradiation light by the light receiving unit is interrupted. Output a signal. On the other hand, when the reception of the irradiation light by the light receiving unit is resumed, an OFF signal indicating that the rear end in the transport direction of the paper sheet P has passed through the optical axis of the irradiation light output from the light emitting unit.

  Each trigger sensor 24 is connected to the control unit 9. An ON signal and an OFF signal output from each trigger sensor 24 are input to the control unit 9. As a result, the control unit 9 detects the timing at which the paper sheet P arrives on the optical axis of each trigger sensor 24. The plurality of trigger sensors 24 include, for example, a first trigger sensor 241 disposed on the upstream side of the first switching unit 231 and a second trigger sensor 242 disposed on the upstream side of the second switching unit 232. Yes.

The skew sensor 25 is arranged at a position upstream of the plurality of trigger sensors 24 in the transport direction of the paper sheet P in the transport path 21. The skew sensor 25 includes a first sensor unit 25a and a second sensor unit 25b that are arranged at two different positions in the direction orthogonal to the transport direction (for example, two positions having different heights in the vertical direction). Each of the first sensor unit 25a and the second sensor unit 25b includes a pair of a light emitting unit and a light receiving unit (not shown) disposed to face each other so as to cross the conveyance path 21. As shown in FIG. 4, the first sensor unit 25 a is a first direction side in the width direction of the transport belt 21 a (that is, a first direction side in a direction orthogonal to the transport direction, for example, with respect to the transport belt 21 a. (Upward in the vertical direction). As shown in FIG. 4, the second sensor unit 25 b is on the second direction side in the width direction of the transport belt 21 a (that is, on the second direction side in the direction orthogonal to the transport direction, for example, with respect to the transport belt 21 a). (Lower side in the vertical direction).
In each pair of the light emitting unit and the light receiving unit provided in each of the first sensor unit 25a and the second sensor unit 25b, the irradiation light output from the light emitting unit is received by the light receiving unit in a state where there is no shielding object, and the conveyance path 21 Is temporarily shielded by the paper sheet P conveyed. As a result, each sensor unit 25a, 25b indicates that the leading end in the transport direction of the paper sheet P has passed on the optical axis of the irradiation light output from the light emitting unit when the reception of the irradiation light by the light receiving unit is interrupted. The ON signal shown is output. On the other hand, when the reception of the irradiation light by the light receiving unit is resumed, an OFF signal indicating that the rear end in the transport direction of the paper sheet P has passed through the optical axis of the irradiation light output from the light emitting unit.

  The first and second sensor units 25 a and 25 b are connected to the control unit 9. The ON signal and the OFF signal output from each sensor unit 25 a and 25 b are input to the control unit 9. Accordingly, the control unit 9 determines whether or not the paper sheet P is in a misalignment state based on the difference in timing when the paper sheet P passes through the optical axes of the first and second sensor units 25a and 25b. Is detected. If the difference in timing at which the paper sheet P passes through the optical axes of the first and second sensor units 25a and 25b is less than a predetermined time, the control unit 9 determines that the paper sheet P is in a normal posture. to decide. If the difference in the timing at which the paper sheet P passes through the optical axis of each of the first and second sensor units 25a and 25b is equal to or longer than a predetermined time, the control unit 9 is in a misaligned state. Judge. For example, as shown in FIG. 5A, the control unit 9 detects the presence of the misaligned paper sheet P2 that overlaps the normal position paper sheet P1 at a position deviated in the transport direction and the orthogonal direction of the transport direction. Is detected. For example, as illustrated in FIG. 5B, the control unit 9 detects the presence of a paper sheet P <b> 3 in a misaligned state inclined obliquely with respect to the direction orthogonal to the transport direction.

  The control unit 9 sorts and stacks the paper sheets P into the plurality of stacking units 22 according to the classification information set for the paper sheets P. The control unit 9 controls driving of the plurality of switching units 23 according to signals output from each of the plurality of trigger sensors 24 and the skew sensor 25 in addition to the classification information set in the paper sheet P. .

When the skew sensor 25 does not detect the misalignment state of the paper sheet P, the control unit 9 uses the trigger sensor 24 to detect the paper sheet P as a trigger and sets the classification information set in the paper sheet P. Accordingly, the first control mode for controlling the driving of each switching unit 23 is executed.
For example, as shown in FIG. 6, the skew sensor 25 detects the positional deviation state of the paper sheet P with respect to the paper sheet P indicated to be sorted and accumulated in the second stacking unit 222 by the sorting information. If not, the control unit 9 controls the second switching unit 232 according to the classification information. The control unit 9 moves the paper sheet P toward the second stacking unit 222 by turning on the second switching unit 232 in response to detection of the paper sheet P by the second trigger sensor 242.

  When the skew sensor 25 detects the misalignment state of the paper sheet P, the control unit 9 sets the preceding paper sheet P0 to the switching unit 23 that is driven according to the classification information of the paper sheet P. A period (arrival period) from the completion of the passage to the arrival of the paper sheet P is calculated. The control unit 9 determines whether or not the calculated arrival period is a predetermined time or more. The control unit 9 sets the predetermined time to be longer than the time required for driving the switching unit 23. The control unit 9 executes the second control mode when the calculated arrival period is less than the predetermined time, and executes the third control mode when the calculated arrival period is equal to or longer than the predetermined time. Note that the control unit 9 includes a case where the preceding paper sheet P0 does not exist as a case where the calculated arrival period is equal to or longer than a predetermined time.

  For example, as shown in FIG. 7, for the paper sheet P indicated to be sorted and accumulated in the second stacking unit 222 by the sorting information, the control unit 9 changes the paper sheet P in the second control mode. The division information is updated so that the third accumulation unit 223 performs division accumulation. Further, the control unit 9 prohibits the driving of each switching unit 23 according to the classification information set in the paper sheet P triggered by the detection of the paper sheet P by each trigger sensor 24. Further, the control unit 9 maintains the state of each switching unit 23 set for the preceding paper sheet P0 preceding the paper sheet P in the conveyance direction of the paper sheet P with respect to the paper sheet P. That is, the control unit 9 controls each switching unit 23 so that the paper sheet P follows the preceding paper sheet P0. Further, the control unit 9 prohibits the driving of each switching unit 23 according to the classification information set in the preceding paper sheet P0 triggered by the detection of the preceding paper sheet P0 by each trigger sensor 24. For example, for the preceding paper sheet P0 indicated to be classified and accumulated in the second stacking unit 222 by the classification information, the control unit 9 is triggered by the detection of the preceding paper sheet P0 by the second trigger sensor 242. The second switching unit 232 that is to be driven (drive to turn on) is prohibited. As a result, the control unit 9 sets the paper sheet P, the position of which has been misaligned by the skew sensor 25, and the preceding paper sheet P0 of the paper sheet P to the second information corresponding to the classification information of the preceding paper sheet P0. Instead of the stacking unit 222, the stacking is performed on the third stacking unit 223 corresponding to the updated classification information of the paper sheet P.

For example, as shown in FIG. 8, when the interval between the paper sheet P and the preceding paper sheet P0 of the paper sheet P is equal to or longer than a predetermined time in terms of the conveyance time, the control unit 9 performs the preceding paper sheet P0. The first control mode is executed for Thereby, for example, the control unit 9 detects the preceding paper sheet P0 by the second trigger sensor 242 with respect to the preceding paper sheet P0 indicated to be classified and accumulated in the second accumulating unit 222 by the classification information. The second switching unit 232 as a trigger is driven (driving to turn on).
For example, when the skew sensor 25 detects a misalignment state with respect to the paper sheet P indicated to be classified and accumulated in the second accumulation unit 222 by the classification information, the control unit 9 performs the third control mode. Then, the sorting information is updated so that the paper sheets P are sorted and accumulated in the third stacking unit 223. Further, the control unit 9 is earlier than the time when it reaches the switching unit 23 driven according to the classification information updated by the paper sheet P before the detection of the paper sheet P by each trigger sensor 24. The driving of each switching unit 23 is controlled so that the driving of the switching unit 23 is completed. For example, the control unit 9 drives the second switching unit 232 according to the classification information set in the paper sheet P earlier than triggered by the detection of the paper sheet P by the second trigger sensor 242 ( Control driving to turn off). As a result, the control unit 9 accumulates the paper sheets P whose position deviation state is detected by the skew sensor 25 in the third accumulation unit 223 corresponding to the updated classification information.

According to the embodiment described above, the second control mode or the third control mode is executed according to the arrival time until the misaligned paper sheet P reaches the switching unit 23 driven according to the classification information. By having the control unit 9 to perform, it is possible to prevent the occurrence of a conveyance failure.
Furthermore, when the second control mode is executed, the control unit 9 that prohibits the driving of each switching unit 23 triggered by the detection of the misaligned paper sheet P has a paper sheet P in each switching unit 23. Can be prevented from occurring. Further, when the second control mode is executed, the control unit 9 that maintains the state of each switching unit 23 set to the preceding paper sheet P0 in the misaligned paper sheet P has the control unit 9 so that the preceding paper sheet P0. Can be prevented from occurring in each switching unit 23 after passing through each switching unit 23. Further, when the second control mode is executed, the control unit 9 that prohibits the driving of each switching unit 23 according to the classification information of the preceding paper sheet P0 triggered by the detection of the preceding paper sheet P0 by each trigger sensor 24 is provided. By holding it, it is possible to sort and accumulate the paper sheets P in a misaligned state as desired.
Furthermore, when the third control mode is executed, the control unit 9 that controls the driving of each switching unit 23 is provided earlier than triggered by the detection of the misaligned paper sheet P by each trigger sensor 24. Thus, it is possible to prevent the paper sheet P from being jammed in each switching unit 23. Further, each of the misaligned paper sheet P and the preceding paper sheet P0 can be classified and accumulated as desired.

Hereinafter, modified examples will be described.
In the embodiment described above, in the second control mode, the control unit 9 includes the paper sheet P out of the classification information updated for the misaligned paper sheet P and the classification information of the preceding paper sheet P0. Each switching unit 23 is controlled so as to prioritize the category information. However, the present invention is not limited to this. That is, in the above-described embodiment, in order to stack the misaligned paper sheets P in the third stacking unit 223 in a state where the driving of the switching units 23 is prohibited, Although driving is prohibited, the present invention is not limited to this.
In the second control mode, the control unit 9 prioritizes the classification information of the preceding paper sheet P0 among the classification information updated for the misaligned paper sheet P and the classification information of the preceding paper sheet P0. You may control each switching part 23 so that it may carry out. That is, the control unit 9 may drive each switching unit 23 according to the classification information set in the preceding paper sheet P0 triggered by the detection of the preceding paper sheet P0 by each trigger sensor 24.

  For example, as illustrated in FIG. 9, the control unit 9 sets the paper sheet P in the second control mode to the paper sheet P that is classified and accumulated in the second stacking unit 222 by the classification information. The division information is updated so that the third accumulation unit 223 performs division accumulation. Further, the control unit 9 prohibits the driving of each switching unit 23 according to the classification information set in the paper sheet P triggered by the detection of the paper sheet P by each trigger sensor 24. Further, the control unit 9 maintains the state of each switching unit 23 set for the preceding paper sheet P0 preceding the paper sheet P in the conveyance direction of the paper sheet P with respect to the paper sheet P. That is, the control unit 9 controls each switching unit 23 so that the paper sheet P follows the preceding paper sheet P0. Furthermore, the control unit 9 drives each switching unit 23 according to the classification information set in the preceding paper sheet P0 triggered by the detection of the preceding paper sheet P0 by each trigger sensor 24. For example, for the preceding paper sheet P0 indicated to be classified and accumulated in the second stacking unit 222 by the classification information, the control unit 9 is triggered by the detection of the preceding paper sheet P0 by the second trigger sensor 242. The second switching unit 232 to be driven (drive to turn on) is executed. As a result, the control unit 9 sets the paper sheet P, whose position deviation state is detected by the skew sensor 25, and the preceding paper sheet P0 of the paper sheet P, in accordance with the updated classification information of the paper sheet P. Instead of the 3 stacking unit 223, the stacking is performed on the second stacking unit 222 according to the preceding paper sheet P0 classification information.

  According to the modification described above, when the second control mode is executed, each switching unit 23 is driven according to the classification information of the preceding paper sheet P0 triggered by the detection of the preceding paper sheet P0 by each trigger sensor 24. By having the control unit 9 that executes the above, it is possible to sort and accumulate the preceding paper sheets P0 as desired.

Hereinafter, other modified examples will be described.
In the embodiment described above, the control unit 9 calculates the arrival period when the skew sensor 25 detects the misalignment state of the paper sheet P, and determines whether the arrival period is equal to or longer than a predetermined time. Although the second control mode or the third control mode is executed, the present invention is not limited to this.
The control unit 9 may execute the second control mode without calculating the arrival period when the skew sensor 25 detects the misalignment state of the paper sheet P.

  According to the other modified example described above, by having the control unit 9 that executes the second control mode without calculating the arrival period, the calculation load can be reduced and the paper sheet in a misaligned state can be obtained. The class P can be quickly sorted and accumulated.

  According to at least one embodiment described above, the driving of each switching unit 23 triggered by the detection of the misaligned paper sheet P is prohibited, and the switching unit 23 set in the preceding paper sheet P0 is prohibited. By having the control unit 9 that maintains the state of the misaligned paper sheet P, it is possible to accurately prevent the occurrence of a conveyance failure.

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

  DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 ... Paper sheet processing apparatus, 8 ... Sorting and accumulating part, 9 ... Control part, 10 ... Paper sheet accumulating apparatus, 21 ... Conveyance path, 22 ... Accumulation part, 22b ... Accumulation conveyance path, 23 ... Switching part, 24 ... Trigger sensor, 25 ... Skew sensor

Claims (2)

An accumulating unit for accumulating paper sheets;
A switching unit that switches the transport path of the paper sheets toward the stacking unit;
A first sensor that detects arrival of the paper sheet at a position upstream of the switching unit in the transport direction of the paper sheet;
A second sensor for detecting a misalignment state of the paper sheet at a position upstream of the first sensor in the transport direction of the paper sheet;
When the positional deviation state of the paper sheet is not detected by the second sensor, the detection of the paper sheet by the first sensor is used as a trigger according to the classification information set for the paper sheet. A first control mode for controlling the driving of the switching unit;
When the misalignment state of the paper sheet is detected by the second sensor, the switching unit triggered by the detection of the paper sheet by the first sensor is prohibited, and the paper sheet A control unit that executes a second control mode for maintaining the state of the switching unit set for the preceding paper sheet preceding the paper sheet in the transport direction of the paper sheet;
Equipped with a,
The controller is
When the positional deviation state of the paper sheet is detected by the second sensor, the paper sheet is set earlier than triggered by the detection of the paper sheet by the first sensor. When selecting and executing either one of the third control mode for controlling the driving of the switching unit according to the classification information and the second control mode,
Determining whether a period from when the preceding paper sheet has passed through the switching unit to when the paper sheet reaches the switching unit is a predetermined time or more;
It said period of time to perform the third control mode when the at least a predetermined time, to run the second control mode when the period is less than said predetermined time,
Paper sheet stacking device. The controller is
When executing the second control mode, the driving of the switching unit with respect to the preceding paper sheet is prohibited when triggered by the detection of the preceding paper sheet by the first sensor.
The paper sheet stacking apparatus according to claim 1 .

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