JPH0859025A - Detecting device for carrying medium - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE: To provide a detecting device which disuses a connection cord to connect a luminescent element and an optical receiving element, and is few in the number of parts and simple in structure. CONSTITUTION: A carrying path 4 for a carrier medium 1 is formed between an upper carrier guide 2 and a lower carrier guide 3, and optical pathes 5, 6 are formed in the carrier guide 2, and a reflecting plane 12 is formed at the end part of the optical path 5, and a reflecting plane 13 is formed in the optical path 6. A luminescent element 7 is attached to a base plate 9 so as to be opposite to the end of the optical path 5, and a luminescent element 8 is attached to a base plate 9 so as to be opposite to the end of the optical path 6, and an optical receiving element 19 is attached to the base plate 9. Light issued from the luminescent element 7 passes through the optical path 5, and is reflected on the reflecting plane 12 toward the carrying path 4 and the carrier guide 3. In addition, light issued from the luminescent element 8 passes through the optical path 6, and is reflected on the reflecting plane 13 toward the carrier path 4 and the carrier guide 3. A optical path is also formed in the lower carrier guide 3, and light reflected on the reflecting planes 12, 13 is led to the optical receiving element 19.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a media handling device for carrying and processing a plurality of types of standard media such as a bill depositing / dispensing device, an optical character reading device, a card / certificate issuing device and a copying machine. In particular, the present invention relates to a device for detecting a carrying state of a medium carried in the medium handling device.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, a medium handling device such as a bill depositing / dispensing device or a copying machine is provided with a transport path for transporting a medium such as bills or printing paper from one position to another position. . Accuracy is required for the transportation of the medium, and the position, outer shape or oblique state of the medium on the transportation path, and the transportation speed are monitored. As the monitoring means, a light emitting element and a light receiving element are arranged in the middle of the conveying path, and the conveyance state is detected by detecting the amount of light from the light receiving element due to the medium that conveys the light output from the light emitting element being blocked. I have a grasp.

[0003]

However, in the conventional detecting device using the light emitting element and the light receiving element, for example, in order to detect the oblique direction of the medium, a direction orthogonal to the medium conveying direction is detected. At least two pairs of light emitting element and light receiving element must be arranged in parallel. That is, when detecting the oblique direction of the medium, the leading end of the medium is detected at at least two places, and it is determined whether or not the oblique direction is due to the time difference between the detections. Therefore, at least two pairs of light emission,
A light receiving element is needed.

The light emitting element and the light receiving element are connected to a circuit for driving them by a connecting cord. When a plurality of pairs of light emitting and light receiving elements are arranged, the number of driving circuits and the connecting cords increases, resulting in the number of parts. However, there is a problem in that the structure of the device becomes complicated.

Further, since the number of light-emitting and light-receiving elements and the number of circuits and connection cords accompanied by the number of elements increase, the failure occurrence rate also increases, leading to lower maintainability and lower operating rate.

[0006]

Means for Solving the Problems The means taken by the present invention to solve the above-mentioned problems are, in a carrier medium detecting device for optically detecting a carrier state of a carrier medium carried on a carrier path, said carrier path. A light-emitting element disposed on one side with the light-emitting element interposed therebetween, one light-receiving element disposed on the other side with the transport path interposed, and light from the light-emitting element at a first position on the one side. From the light emitting element at a second position that is in a predetermined positional relationship from the first position and a first optical path that leads to the other side through the transport path from the first optical path to the light receiving element. A second optical path that guides light from the one side to the other side through the transport path and further to the light receiving element, and detects the transport state of the transport medium based on the amount of light received by the light receiving element. And a detection circuit for controlling the reception from the first optical path. Is that the light intensity and the second optical path of light entering the element so as to differ from the amount of light entering the light receiving element.

The first optical path is formed on one side of the first optical path and guides the light output from the light emitting element to the first position, and the first optical path is formed on the other side of the first optical path. And a second optical path that guides the light, which has been guided to the other side through the transport path from the position, to the light receiving element, the second optical path being formed on the one side. A third optical path for guiding the light output from the element to the second position,
And a fourth optical path that is formed on the other side and that guides the light that has passed through the transport path from the second position and is guided to the other side to the light receiving element. And the fourth optical path may have a common optical path, or the first optical path and the third optical path may also have a common optical path.

[0008]

According to the present invention having the above-described structure, when the transport medium transported through the transport path is transported, the light output from the light emitting element passes through the transport path at the first position and the second position. Passes through the transport path. The carrier medium blocks light at the first or second position, or both at the same time. When the light is blocked at the first position, the light does not enter the light receiving element from the first light passage, and only the light from the second light passage enters the light receiving element. On the contrary, when the light is blocked by the medium at the second position, only the light from the first optical path enters the light receiving element. Since the amount of light entering the light receiving element from the first optical path and the amount of light entering the light receiving element from the second optical path are made different, the detection circuit determines the first amount depending on the amount of light entering the light receiving element. Whether the light is blocked at the position or the light is blocked at the second position can be detected. This makes it possible to detect the conveyance state of the conveyance medium, for example, the oblique state. By providing the first optical path and the second optical path, it becomes possible to directly attach the light emitting element and the light receiving element to a control board or the like apart from the transport path, and a connection cord or the like becomes unnecessary.

The first optical path is composed of the first optical path and the second optical path, and the second optical path is the third optical path.
Optical path and the fourth optical path, the second optical path and the fourth optical path have a common optical path, and the first optical path and the third optical path also have a common optical path. With the above structure, the configuration of the first and second optical paths is simplified.

[0010]

Embodiments of the present invention will be described below in detail with reference to the drawings. The same reference numerals are given to elements common to each drawing. 1 is a perspective view showing a first embodiment of the present invention, FIG. 2 is a plan view of an essential part of the first embodiment, FIG. 3 is a sectional view taken along line XX of FIG. 1, and FIG. 4 is an essential part of the first embodiment. It is a bottom view.

1 to 4, the transport medium 1 is a bill, paper, or the like, and is transported by a transport means (not shown). The upper transport guide 2 and the lower transport guide 3 are supported in parallel with a predetermined gap between them to form a transport path 4 for transporting the transport medium 1. Both the transport guides 2 and 3 are formed of a member that allows light to pass through, for example, a transparent plastic resin material. An optical path 5 and an optical path 6 are formed in the upper transport guide 2. As shown in FIG. 2, the optical path 5 is formed in a linear shape, and the optical path 6 is formed in the linear portion 6
a, 6b and an inclined portion 6c in the middle thereof, and a straight portion 6b
And the optical path 5 are formed on the same straight line.

A light emitting element 7 is arranged facing the end of the optical path 5, and a light emitting element 8 is arranged facing the end of the optical path 6. Both the light emitting elements 7 and 8 are directly soldered to the control board 9 and output light when a current is applied. Since the light emitting elements 7 and 8 are directly soldered to the control board 9, the connection cord and the connector are unnecessary. The control board 9 is disposed on the side of the transport guides 2 and 3, and the circuits necessary for controlling the operation of the apparatus are mounted. The end of the optical path 5 facing the light emitting element 7 is a capturing unit 10 that captures the light from the light emitting element 7, and the end 11 of the optical path 6 that faces the light emitting element 8 captures the light from the light emitting element 8. It is a department. The end faces of the capturing section 10 and the capturing section 11 are formed in a rectangular flat surface which is perpendicular to the light emitting elements 7 and 8 and whose one side is equal to or slightly longer than the diameter of the light emitting elements 7 and 8. The end portion 12 of the optical path 5 on the side opposite to the capturing portion 10
Is a reflecting surface that reflects the light passing through the optical path 5 and guides it in the direction of the transport path 4, and also the optical path 6 on the side opposite to the capturing section 11.
The end portion 13 is a reflecting surface that reflects the light passing through the optical path 6 and guides it toward the transport path 4.

The lower transport guide 3 has a structure shown in FIGS.
As shown in, the optical path 14 and the optical path 15 are integrally formed. The optical path 14 and the optical path 15 are integrally formed, and the optical path 1
Reference numeral 4 denotes the reflection surface 16 to the end portion 17, and the optical path 15 forms the reflection surface 18 to the end portion 17. A light receiving element 19 is provided so as to face the optical path 14 (15). Light receiving element 1
Like the light emitting elements 7 and 8, 9 is directly soldered to the control board 9. The end portion 17 is a take-out portion that sends the light passing through one or both of the optical paths 14 and 15 to the light receiving element 19, and its end face is perpendicular to the light receiving element 19 and one side is the diameter of the light receiving element 19. It is formed by a rectangular flat surface that is equal or slightly longer.

The reflecting surface 16 receives the light reflected by the reflecting surface 12 of the optical path 5 and passing through the transport path 4, and guides this light toward the extracting portion 17. Further, the reflecting surface 18 receives the light reflected by the reflecting surface 13 of the optical path 6 and passing through the transport path 4, and guides this light toward the extraction portion 17.

As described above, in this embodiment, the light emitted from the light emitting element 7 passes through the optical path 5, is reflected by the reflecting surface 12, passes through the conveying path 4, reaches the reflecting surface 16 of the optical path 14, and further the optical path. An optical path (first optical path) 25 entering the light receiving element 19 through 14 and light emitted from the light emitting element 8 passes through the optical path 6, is reflected by the reflecting surface 13, passes through the transport path 4, and passes through the optical path 15. An optical path (second optical path) 26 that reaches the reflection surface 18 of the optical path and enters the light receiving element 19 through the optical path 15 is formed. At the position A where the light passes through the transport path 4 in the first optical path 25 and the position B where the light passes through the transport path 4 in the second optical path 26, the straight line connecting both positions A and B is the transport medium 1. It is set so as to be orthogonal to the transport direction C of. However, A, B
The positional relationship of is not necessarily set to be orthogonal to the transport direction C, and may be set so that, for example, a straight line connecting both is oblique depending on design convenience.

In this embodiment, the length of the first optical path 25 and the length of the second optical path 26 are different. Since the longer the light path is, the more light is attenuated, the second light path 2
The light passing through 6 is attenuated more than the light passing through the first light path 25. Therefore, the amount of light entering the light receiving element 19 is larger from the first light passage 25 than from the second light passage 26.

FIG. 5 is a circuit diagram showing the detection circuit of the first embodiment. In FIG. 5, the light emitting element 7 or 8 is formed of a light emitting diode and is connected to the power source V _CC through the load resistor R1 or R2, and the light receiving element 19 is formed of a light receiving transistor and is connected to the power source V _CC through the resistor R3. Has been done. The collector terminal of the light receiving element 19 is a comparator 20,
It is connected to each plus terminal of 21, 22, and 23. A resistor R4 is connected to the negative terminal of the comparator 20, and the value of the resistor R4 is set so that the reference voltage VS1 is between the output voltage V1 and the output voltage V2 of the light receiving element 19 described later. A resistor R5 is connected to the negative terminal of the comparator 21, and the value of the resistor R5 is the reference voltage VS2 similarly to the output voltages V2 and V2 of the light receiving element 19.
It is set to be in the range of 3. Comparator 22
A resistor R6 is connected to the negative terminal of
Similarly, the value of is set such that the reference voltage VS3 is between the output voltages V3 and V4 of the light receiving element 19. A resistor R7 is connected to the negative terminal of the comparator 23,
Similarly, the value of the resistor R7 is set so that the reference voltage VS4 becomes less than the output voltage V4 of the light receiving element 19. The comparators 20, 21, 22, and 23 are respectively
Output voltage V _CE of light receiving element 19 and each reference voltage VS1 to VS
4 compares sends a signal "1" when V _CE is high, a signal "0" when V _CE is small to CPU 24. CPU2
In 4, the carrying state of the carrying medium 1 is determined based on the signals sent from the comparators 20, 21, 22, and 23.

Next, the operation of detecting the carrying medium in the first embodiment will be described. Before explaining the operation, an example of the carrying state of the carrying medium will be described with reference to FIGS. 6 and 7. FIG. 6 is an explanatory view showing an example of the carrying state of the carrying medium, and FIG. 7 is a graph showing the relationship between the voltage and the current generated on the detection circuit. In FIG. 7, the horizontal axis represents the collector-emitter voltage of the light receiving element 19, that is, the output voltage V _CE , and the vertical axis represents the collector current I _C of the light receiving element 19.

In FIG. 6, the light beam 5a is reflected by the first light path 2
The light passing through 5 is a light beam when passing through the transport path 4, and the light beam 26a is a light beam when passing through the second light path 26 through the transport path 4. The transport state of the transport medium 1 has the following four states. That is, (1) the leading end of the carrier medium 1 blocks one light beam 25a,
The state where the other ray 26a is not blocked. (2) Contrary to (1), the leading end of the carrier medium 1 is the ray 2
6a is blocked and the light beam 25a is not blocked. (3) The state in which the carrier medium 1 does not block either of the light rays 25a and 26a. (4) A state in which the carrier medium 1 blocks both the light rays 25a and 26a.

The values of the voltage and current detected by the detection circuit differ depending on each of the above four states. That is, in the above state (1), only the light ray 25a is blocked, so that only the light output from the light emitting element 8 and passing through the second optical path 26 enters the light receiving element 19. In this embodiment, the amount of light passing through the first light path 25 is equal to that of the second light path 2.
Since the amount of light passing through 6 is larger and the larger amount of light is blocked, the third stage current shown in FIG. 7 flows to the light receiving element 19, and the output voltage V generated in the light receiving element 19 is increased. _CE
Becomes V2 shown in FIG.

In the above state (2), since only the light beam 26a is blocked, the current flowing through the light receiving element 19 is also the second stage current shown in FIG. 7, and the voltage V _CE is V3.
Becomes In the state of (3) above, which of the rays 25a, 2
Since 6a is not blocked, the most first-stage current flows to the light receiving element 19, and the voltage V _CE becomes V4. Further, in the state of (4), since both the light rays 25a and 26a are blocked, the fourth stage in which the current flowing to the light receiving element 19 is the smallest and the voltage V _CE becomes V1.

Next, the operation of detecting the carrier medium of this embodiment will be described with reference to FIG.
And it demonstrates according to FIG. FIG. 8 is an explanatory view showing the carrying state of the carrying medium, and FIG. 9 is a time chart showing changes in the output voltage of the light receiving element. In FIG. 9, VS
1 to VS4 are the reference voltages described in FIG. As mentioned above, VS1 is set between V1 and V2, and VS2
Is set between V2 and V3, VS3 is set between V3 and V4, and VS4 is set lower than V4.

It is assumed that the carrier medium 1 is sequentially carried from the state (a) shown in FIG. 8 to the state (e). In the state of (a), the carrier medium 1 has which light beam 2
Since 5a and 26a are not blocked, the voltage V _CE output from the light receiving element 19 becomes the voltage V4 at the first stage (section S ₁ ). At this time, the comparators 20 and 2 of the detection circuit
Signals “0” “0” “0” “1” are output from the CPUs 1, 22, 23 to the CPU 24. Based on this signal, the CPU 24 determines that the carrier medium 1 does not exist. When the medium 1 is conveyed from this state and the leading end thereof blocks the light beam 26a as in the state of (b), the voltage V _CE output from the light receiving element 19 is _generated.
Becomes the voltage V3 of the second stage (section S ₂ ). At this time, the signals “0”, “0”, “1”, and “1” are output from the comparators 20, 21, 22, and 23 of the detection circuit to the CPU 24. In the CPU 24, based on this signal, the light beam 2
It is determined that 6a is blocked, and it is detected that the transport medium 1 is obliquely oriented in the direction shown in FIG.

When the carrier medium 1 is further transported to the state of (c), both the light rays 25a and 26a are blocked, so that the voltage V _CE output from the light receiving element 19 becomes the voltage V1 of the fourth stage. . At this time, from the comparators 20, 21, 22, 23 of the detection circuit, "1""1""1""1"
Is output to the CPU 24. Based on this signal, the CPU 24 determines that both the light rays 25a and 26a are blocked. The time t until the output voltage V _CE of the light receiving element 19 changes from V3 to V1 is measured by the CPU 24, so that the skew amount (tilt angle) of the conveying medium 1 is measured.
Can be requested. Further, when the transport medium 1 is transported to the state of (d), only the light beam 25a is blocked, so the output voltage V _CE from the light receiving element 19 becomes the voltage V2 of the third stage (section S ₄ ). . At this time, the comparators 20, 21, 22, and 23 of the detection circuit output “0” and “1”.
The signals “1” and “1” are output to the CPU 24. CPU
At 24, it is determined based on this signal that the light ray 25a is blocked. Finally, in the state of (e), neither of the light rays 25a and 26a is blocked,
The output voltage of the light receiving element 19 becomes the first stage voltage V4 which is the same as the state of (a).

8 and 9 show the detection operation when the carrier medium 1 is tilted leftward in the carrying direction, but the carrier medium 1 is also tilted rightward in the carrying direction. Needless to say, it can be detected similarly. Figure 10
4A is a time chart showing changes in the output voltage V _CE of the light receiving element when the carrier medium 1 is inclined rightward in the carrying direction. As shown in the figure, in the section S ₂ , the third
The stepped voltage V2 is output. This voltage V2 in the section S ₂
Is detected, it is determined that the carrier medium 1 is tilted to the right, and the voltage V1 is output after the voltage V2 starts to be output.
The skew amount of the transport medium 1 is measured by measuring the time until is output.

As described above, according to the first embodiment,
The light emitting elements 7 and 8 and the light receiving element 19 can be directly attached to the control board 9 to detect the carrying state of the carrying medium 1. In particular, since the number of light receiving elements 19 is one, there is an effect that the number of light receiving elements can be reduced. Further, since the amount of light passing through the first optical path 25 and the amount of light passing through the second optical path 26 are made different by changing the length of the optical path, the number of light receiving elements can be reduced with a simple structure. realizable.

Next, a second embodiment according to the present invention will be described.
11 is a perspective view showing a second embodiment according to the present invention, FIG.
Is a plan view of an essential part showing the second embodiment, and FIG. 13 is a view of Z- in FIG.
It is a Z sectional view. The second embodiment of the present invention has a smaller number of light emitting elements than the first embodiment.

An upper transport guide 2 and a lower transport guide 3 which form a transport path 4 for the transport medium 1 are provided, and optical paths 31 and 32 are integrally formed in the upper transport guide 2. The optical path 31 extends from the common capturing section 33 to the reflecting surface 34, and the optical path 32 extends from the common capturing section 33 to the reflecting surface 35. That is, the entire optical path 31 is a common optical path. The depth of the reflecting surface 34 (shown by H in FIG. 13) is about one half of the height of the capturing section 33 (shown by L in FIG. 13), which is half of the light captured by the capturing section 33. Is reflected here in the direction of the transport path 4. The angle of the reflecting surface 34 is about 4 with respect to the transport surface of the medium 1.
It is 5 degrees. The angle of the reflecting surface 35 is similarly set to about 45 degrees, and the light that has passed through the optical path 32 is conveyed by the transport path 4
Reflects in the direction.

The light emitting element 36 is directly soldered to the control board 9 so as to face the common take-in portion 33. The end surface of the common capturing portion 33 is a rectangular flat surface which is perpendicular to the light emitting element 36 and whose one side is equal to or slightly longer than the diameter of the light emitting element 36. The light output from the light emitting element 36 is captured by the common capturing unit 33, and the light paths 31 and 3
It is transmitted to 2.

Optical paths 14 and 15 are formed in the lower transport guide 3 as in the first embodiment. That is, the optical path 14 and the optical path 15 are integrally formed, and the optical path 14 has the reflecting surface 1
6 to the take-out portion 17, and the optical path 15 is the reflecting surface 1
8 to the take-out part 17. The take-out section 17 is
It faces the light receiving element 19 soldered to the control board 9.

The light reflected by the reflecting surface 34 passes through the conveying path 4 and reaches the reflecting surface 16, where it is reflected toward the extraction portion 17 and enters the light receiving element 19. This light path 37 is called a first light path. In addition, the reflecting surface 35 passes through the optical path 32.
The light reflected by (1) passes through the transport path 4 and reaches the reflecting surface 18 of the optical path 15, where it is reflected toward the extraction portion 17 and enters the light receiving element 19. This light passage 38 is called a second light passage. The position where the light in the first optical path 37 passes through the transport path 4 is the position A as in the first embodiment, and the position where the light in the second optical path 38 passes through the transport path 4 is It is in position B. Other configurations of the second embodiment are similar to those of the first embodiment.

In the second embodiment, at the position of the reflecting surface 34 of the optical path 31, the amount of reflected light and the amount of light traveling straight are substantially the same. However, the first light path 37
The second light path 38 and the second light path 38 have different lengths from the common take-in portion 33 to the take-out portion 17. If the light path is long,
Since the light is attenuated, the light receiving element 19 passes through the second optical path 38.
The amount of light entering the light receiving element 19 is smaller than the amount of light entering the light receiving element 19 from the first optical path. Therefore, the output voltage of the light receiving element 19 is different when the carrier medium 1 blocks the light of the first optical path 37 and when the carrier medium 1 blocks the light of the second optical path. By detecting this difference, it is possible to detect the skewed state (which side is skewed) and the skew amount of the transport medium 1 as in the first embodiment.

As described above, in the second embodiment, since the transport state of the transport medium 1 can be detected by one light emitting element 36, it is expected that the number of light emitting elements can be reduced and the cost can be reduced.

Next, a third embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIG. FIG. 14 is a sectional view showing the third embodiment of the present invention. In the detection device of the third embodiment, the light emitting element is directly provided on the upper conveyance guide.

In FIG. 14, the transport path 4 for the transport medium 1
Is formed by the upper conveyance guide 41 and the lower conveyance guide 3. Insert holes 42 and 43 are formed in the upper conveyance guide 41, and the light emitting elements 44 and 45 are inserted into the insert holes 42 and 43.
Is inserted. The light emitting elements 44 and 45 are directly soldered to the substrate 46. The board 46 is fixed to the conveyance guide 46, and the control board 9 is connected via the connector 47.
Electrically connected to. The lower transport guide 3 has
Similar to the first and second embodiments, the optical path 14 and the optical path 1
6 is formed.

The light output from the light emitting element 44 passes through the conveying path 4 at the position A, reaches the reflecting surface 16 of the optical path 14,
Here, the light is reflected in the direction of the take-out portion 17. Further, the light output from the light emitting element 45 passes through the transport path 4 at the position B and reaches the reflecting surface 18 of the optical path 15, where the extraction section 1
It is reflected in 7 directions. The light reflected by the extraction portion 17 enters the light receiving element 19.

FIG. 15 is a circuit diagram showing the light emitting and light receiving elements of the third embodiment. In the figure, light emitting elements 44 and 4
5 is a light emitting diode L, as in the first embodiment.
It consists of ED1 and LED2, and load resistors R8 and R respectively.
9 is connected. Value of load resistance R8 and load resistance R9
By setting the values of 1 and 2 to different values, the current values flowing through the light emitting element 44 and the light emitting element 45 can be made different. When the current value is different, the light emitting element 44 and the light emitting element 45 have different light emission amounts. In this embodiment, the load resistors R8 and R9
The light emitting amount of the light emitting element 44 is set to be larger than that of the light emitting element 45. As a result, the amount of light entering the light receiving element 19 through the optical path 14 and the optical path 15
The amount of light passing through and entering the light receiving element 19 is different. As another method of varying the amount of light received by the light receiving element 19 depending on the optical path, for example, a method of providing a shield on one light emitting element side and attenuating the light on that element side may be adopted. The other structure is similar to that of the first embodiment.

Also in the third embodiment constructed as described above, the same effect as that of each of the above-mentioned embodiments can be obtained. Further, in the present embodiment, it is not necessary to form an optical path in the upper conveyance guide 41, so that the structure of the optical path is further simplified.

Next, a fourth embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIGS.
7, according to FIG. 16 is a plan view showing a fourth embodiment of the present invention, FIG. 17 is a front view showing the fourth embodiment, and FIG. 18 is a side view showing the fourth embodiment. In the detection device of the fourth embodiment, the optical path through which light passes is arranged in the direction along the transport direction of the transport medium, and the amount of light received by the light receiving element is changed according to the size of the reflecting surface.

16 to 18, a light emitting element 52 is soldered to the control board 51, and a light receiving element 54 is soldered to the control board 53. An optical path 55 and an optical path 56 are integrally provided to face the light emitting element 52, and
The light output from 2 passes through both optical paths 55 and 56 by substantially the same amount. Optical path 55 length and optical path 5
The lengths of 6 are almost the same. A reflecting surface 57 is formed at the end of the optical path 55, and the reflecting surface 57 reflects the light passing through the optical path 55 toward the transport path 59. Optical path 56
A reflection surface 58 is formed at the end of the reflection surface 58, and the reflection surface 58 reflects the light passing through the optical path 56 toward the transport path 59. The area of the reflecting surface 57 is smaller than the area of the reflecting surface 58, and therefore the amount of light reflected from the reflecting surface 57 is
It is less than the amount of light reflected from the reflecting surface 58.

An optical path 60 is provided below the optical path 55, and an optical path 61 is provided below the optical path 56. The optical path 60 has the same shape as the optical path 55, the optical path 61 has the same shape as the optical path 56, and the optical path 60 and the optical path 61 are integrated. That is, the reflecting surface 62 is formed at the end of the optical path 60,
The reflecting surface 63 is formed at the end of the reflecting surface 62, and the area of the reflecting surface 62 is smaller than the area of the reflecting surface 63. Light path 6
0 and 61 face the light receiving element 54, and the optical paths 60 and 6
The light passing through 1 is received by the light receiving element 54.

The optical path 55, the transport path 59, and the optical path 60 form a first optical path 64, and the optical path 56, the transport path 59, and the optical path 61 form a second optical path 65. First
The position where the light passing through the optical path 64 of
The position where the light passing through the second optical path 65 penetrates the transport path 59 is set such that the straight line connecting both positions is orthogonal to the transport direction of the transport medium 1. The amount of light that enters the light receiving element 54 through the first optical path 64 is smaller than the amount of light that enters the light receiving element 54 through the second optical path 65.

Also in the fourth embodiment configured as described above, the carrier medium 1 is blocked depending on whether the carrier medium 1 blocks the light passing through the first optical path 64 or the second optical path 65. The tilted state of can be detected. Particularly, in this embodiment, the number of the light emitting elements 52 is one, and the reflection area of the optical path is the first.
The light receiving amount to the light receiving element 54 is changed by making the optical path 64 and the second optical path 65 different from each other.
A detection device having a simple structure can be obtained.

Next, a fifth embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIGS.
0, a description will be given according to FIG. 19 is a plan view showing a fifth embodiment of the present invention, FIG. 20 is a front view showing the fifth embodiment, and FIG. 21 is a side view showing the fifth embodiment. In the detection device of the fifth embodiment, the optical path through which light passes is arranged in the direction along the transport direction of the transport medium, and the amount of light received by the light receiving element is changed by the reflectance of the reflecting surface.

19 to 21, a light emitting element 52 is soldered to the control board 51, and a light receiving element 54 is soldered to the control board 53. An optical path 71 and an optical path 72 are integrally provided so as to face the light emitting element 52, and
The light output from 2 passes through both optical paths 71 and 72 in substantially the same amount. Optical path 71 length and optical path 7
The lengths of 2 are almost the same. A reflecting surface 73 is formed at the end of the optical path 71, and the reflecting surface 73 reflects the light passing through the optical path 71 toward the transport path 59. Optical path 72
A reflection surface 74 is formed at the end of the reflection surface 74, and the reflection surface 74 reflects the light passing through the optical path 72 toward the transport path 59. The reflecting surface 73 has a surface roughness larger than that of the reflecting surface 74, and the reflectance of the reflecting surface 73 is smaller than that of the reflecting surface 74. Therefore, the amount of light reflected from the reflecting surface 73 is smaller than the amount of light reflected from the reflecting surface 74. As another means of changing the reflectance, there is a method of changing the reflectance by coating or plating the surface of one of the reflecting surfaces.

An optical path 75 is provided below the optical path 71, and an optical path 76 is provided below the optical path 72. The optical path 75 and the optical path 76 are integrated. A reflection surface 77 is formed at the end of the optical path 75, and a reflection surface 78 is formed at the end of the optical path 76. The reflectance of the reflection surface 77 is smaller than the reflectance of the reflection surface 78. Optical paths 75 and 76 are light receiving elements 5
The light that has passed through the optical paths 75 and 76 is received by the light receiving element 54.

The optical path 71, the conveying path 59 and the optical path 75 form a first optical path 79, and the optical path 72, the conveying path 59 and the optical path 76 form a second optical path 80. First
A position where the light passing through the optical path 79 of
The position where the light passing through the second optical path 80 passes through the transport path 59 is set such that the straight line connecting both positions is orthogonal to the transport direction of the transport medium 1, as in the fourth embodiment. ing. Further, the amount of light entering the light receiving element 54 through the first optical path 79 passes through the second optical path 80 because the reflectance of the reflecting surface 73 and the reflecting surface 77 is small.
Less than the amount of light entering.

Also in the fifth embodiment configured as described above, the carrier medium 1 is blocked depending on whether the carrier medium 1 blocks the light passing through the first optical passage 79 or the light passing through the second optical passage 80. The tilted state of can be detected. Further, in this embodiment, the number of the light emitting elements 52 is one, the size of the optical path is the same in the first optical path 79 and the second optical path 80, and the reflectance of the reflecting surface is different. Since the amount of light received by the light receiving element 54 is changed between the first light passage 79 and the second light passage 80, a detection device having a simpler structure can be obtained.

The present invention is not limited to the above embodiments, but various modifications can be made. For example, as a means for changing the amount of light received by the light receiving element between the first optical path and the second optical path, a notch is formed in the middle of the optical path on the side where more light is desired to be attenuated. A member having poor light transmittance may be arranged in the notch, and various modifications are possible.

[0050]

As described in detail above, according to the present invention, the first and second optical paths for guiding the light from the light emitting element to the light receiving element through the medium conveying path are provided. Therefore, the light emitting element is provided. Further, the light receiving element does not necessarily have to be provided so as to face the medium transport path, and it becomes possible to directly mount the light receiving element on the control board, and the connection cord or connector becomes unnecessary. As a result, the number of parts is reduced, the structure of the device is simplified, and the cost of the device can be reduced.

Furthermore, since the number of connecting cords and connectors is reduced, the failure rate is reduced, and maintenance and improvement of operation rate can be expected.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing a first embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a main part plan view showing a first embodiment.

FIG. 3 is a sectional view taken along line XX of FIG. 1;

FIG. 4 is a bottom view of an essential part showing the first embodiment.

FIG. 5 is a circuit diagram showing a detection circuit of the first embodiment.

FIG. 6 is an explanatory diagram showing a conveyance state of a conveyance medium.

FIG. 7 is a graph showing the relationship between voltage and current.

FIG. 8 is an explanatory diagram showing a conveyance state of a conveyance medium.

FIG. 9 is a time chart showing an output voltage of a light receiving element.

FIG. 10 is a time chart showing an output voltage of a light receiving element.

FIG. 11 is a perspective view showing a second embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 12 is a plan view of an essential part showing a second embodiment.

13 is a sectional view taken along line ZZ of FIG.

FIG. 14 is a sectional view showing a third embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 15 is a circuit diagram showing a light emitting and light receiving element of a third embodiment.

FIG. 16 is a plan view showing a fourth embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 17 is a front view showing a fourth embodiment.

FIG. 18 is a side view showing a fourth embodiment.

FIG. 19 is a plan view showing a fifth embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 20 is a front view showing a fifth embodiment.

FIG. 21 is a side view showing a fifth embodiment.

[Explanation of symbols]

 1 Transport Medium 2 Upper Transport Guide 3 Lower Transport Guide 4 Transport Paths 5, 6 Optical Paths 7, 8 Light Emitting Element 9 Control Board 12, 13 Reflective Surface 14, 15 Optical Path 16, 18 Reflective Surface 19 Photosensitive Element 25 First Optical Path 26 Second Optical Path A First Position B Second Position

Claims (10)

[Claims] 1. A device for detecting a carrying medium, which optically detects a carrying state of a carrying medium carried on a carrying path, wherein a light emitting element arranged on one side of the carrying path is sandwiched between the light emitting element and the light emitting element. And one light receiving element disposed on the other side, and guides light from the light emitting element from the one side to the other side through the transport path at the first position, and further receives the light receiving element. A first optical path leading to the first optical path and a second position having a predetermined positional relationship from the first position to allow the light from the light emitting element to pass from the one side through the transport path to the other side. A second optical path that guides the light to the light receiving element and a detection circuit that detects the transport state of the transport medium based on the amount of light received by the light receiving element are provided, and the light receiving element enters from the first optical path. The amount of light entering the light receiving element from the second light path. A detection device for a carrier medium, characterized in that the amount of light emitted is different. 2. The first optical path is a first optical path formed on the one side to guide light output from the light emitting element to the first position, and the first optical path is formed on the other side. First
And a second optical path that guides light that has passed through the transport path from the position of 1 to the light receiving element, the second optical path being formed on the one side, and outputting the light output from the light emitting element. The second optical path includes a third optical path that leads to the position 2 and a fourth optical path that is formed on the other side and that guides light that has passed through the transport path from the second position to the light receiving element. The carrier medium detection device according to claim 1, wherein the fourth optical path and the fourth optical path have a common optical path. 3. The one light emitting device is arranged, and the first light emitting device is provided.
3. The optical path of 3 and the third optical path have a common optical path.
The carrier medium detection device described. 4. The carrier medium detection device according to claim 1, 2 or 3, wherein the first optical path and the second optical path have different distances. 5. The detection circuit further conveys when the leading end of the conveyance medium conveyed on the conveyance path reaches the first position or the second position and the amount of light received by the light receiving element changes. 2. The carrier medium according to claim 1, wherein the skew amount of the carrier medium is detected based on a time difference between when the leading edge of the medium reaches the second position or the first position and when the amount of light received by the light receiving element further changes. Detection device. 6. The light emitting element faces the conveying path and
One light emitting element is opposed to the first position, the other light emitting element is opposed to the second position, and the first light path extends from the first position to the transport path. The optical path for guiding light passing therethrough to the light receiving element, wherein the second optical path includes an optical path for guiding light passing through the transport path from the second position to the light receiving element.
4. The detection device for a carrier medium according to 4 or 5. 7. A plurality of the light emitting elements are provided, and the amount of light entering the light receiving element from the first light path and the second light path from the second light path are changed by changing a current value for driving each element. 7. The carrier medium detection device according to claim 1, wherein the amount of light entering the light receiving element is different. 8. The first optical path has a first reflecting surface that guides light from a light emitting element toward the transport path at the first position, and the second optical path has light from the transport path. To a light receiving element, and the third optical path has a second reflecting surface that guides light from the light emitting element toward the transport path at the second position, Has a fourth reflecting surface that guides the light from the conveying path to the light receiving element, and the sum of the area of the first reflecting surface and the area of the second reflecting surface and the third reflecting surface. 7. The detection device for a carrier medium according to claim 2, 4, 5 or 6, wherein the sum of the area of the first reflection surface and the area of the fourth reflection surface is different. 9. The first optical path has a first reflecting surface that guides light from a light emitting element toward the transport path at the first position, and the second optical path has light from the transport path. To a light receiving element, and the third optical path has a third reflecting surface that guides light from the light emitting element toward the transport path at the second position, and The optical path of 4 has a fourth reflecting surface that guides the light from the conveying path to a light receiving element, and the reflectance of the first reflecting surface and the reflectance of the third reflecting surface are different from each other. 5. The carrier medium detection device according to 5 or 6. 10. The first optical path has a first reflecting surface that guides light from a light emitting element toward the transport path at the first position, and the second optical path has light from the transport path. Has a second reflecting surface that guides the light to the light receiving element, and the third optical path is a second optical path that guides the light from the light emitting element toward the transport path at the second position.
And the fourth optical path has a fourth reflective surface that guides the light from the transport path to the light receiving element, and the reflectance of the second reflective surface and the fourth reflective surface The carrier medium detection device according to claim 2, 4, 5, or 6, which has different reflectances.