JPH10175747A - Sheetlike matter feed device - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To increase the preventive effect of double feeding of multiple sheetlike matter. SOLUTION: Multiple cards 32 are stuck in the card storing chamber 30 of a card feed device. When a first card 32 is fed by a feed roller 36, the top end of the card 32 is brought in contact with the contact surface 134 of a retard pad 72, causing the retard pad 72 to rotate in normal direction. Therefore the card 32 can be moved forward continuously without slipping against the contact surface 134. Also, because the inclination angle of the contact surface 134 relative to a card guide surface 64 becomes small when the retard pad 72 arrives at a normal rotating limit position, the top end of the card 32 can push back the return pad 12 easily against the exciting force of a tensile coiled spring 140, increasing a clearance with the card guide surface 64 for passing. In addition, the forward movement of the second and subsequent cards 32 is prevented by an opposed surface 136. Thus, when small angular normal and reverse rotations are given to the feed roller 36 by a feed roller drive device, double feed can be prevented more satisfactorily.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to the delivery of a sheet material such as a card and a cut sheet, and more particularly, to a sheet material in which a plurality of sheets are housed in surface contact with each other. BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a sheet feeding apparatus and a sheet feeding method for feeding a sheet one by one by rotation of a feed roller which comes into contact with an object.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art It is necessary in various technical fields to sequentially supply sheets one by one. A card dispensing machine that pays out a card on which a manga character or a celebrity photograph is described as a prize of a game machine, a cut sheet supply device that supplies a cut sheet to a printing device, and the like are examples. In this type of sheet-like material sending device, a plurality of sheet-like materials are housed in a device main body in face-to-face contact with each other, and the end of the plurality of sheet-like materials, for example, a sheet The feed roller is brought into contact with the uppermost or lowermost one when the articles are stacked and accommodated one above the other, and the feed roller is rotated in a positive direction by a predetermined angle around the rotation axis to thereby form the outermost end. It is widely used to sequentially send out one sheet at a time from a sheet. Sheets are often sent out in a horizontal or near-horizontal position, but may also be sent out in a vertical or near-vertical position.In the latter case, a plurality of sheet-like objects are placed almost upright. It will be housed in the housing device body.

[0003] In any case, only one sheet in direct contact with the feed roller is sent out, and the second and subsequent sheets in surface contact with one of the sheets are not sent out. Therefore, a sheet separating apparatus is often provided downstream of the feed roller. A guide member having a guide surface for supporting and guiding a sheet-like material to be actually sent out to one type of the separation device;
And a retard pad disposed close to the guide surface. The retard pad is disposed on the side of the second and subsequent sheets to be transmitted next with respect to the first sheet to be actually transmitted, and the guide member is disposed on the opposite side. Both are fixedly arranged with a gap slightly larger than the thickness of the sheet to be sent out, and allow the passage of one sheet, but not the second and subsequent sheets. It is usually done.

On the other hand, the present applicant has filed a Japanese Patent Application No.
No. 4283, a retard pad is provided so as to be able to approach and separate from the guide surface, and is biased by a biasing means in a direction approaching the guide surface. Usually, the retard pad is in contact with the guide surface or at least one sheet. It has been suggested that only gaps smaller than the thickness of the object remain. In this separation device, the first sheet to be actually delivered, which is directly driven by the feed roller, moves the retard pad against the urging force of the urging means, and just moves between the retard pad and the guide surface. While a gap for one sheet is generated and passes through the gap, the second and subsequent sheets that are driven only by the frictional force between the sheets move the retard pad. And the passage is prevented. When the retard pad is fixedly provided, it is necessary to adjust the gap between the retard pad and the guide surface to the thickness of the sheet to be sent out. It is often necessary to be able to adjust the relative position between the retard pad and the guide surface, even if the thickness is one, as well as the different types. On the other hand, if the retard pad can be retracted against the urging force of the urging means as described above, the retard pad can be used not only when the thickness of the sheet material is one but also when it is different from a plurality of types. There is no need to adjust the relative position between the pad and the guide surface.

[0005]

Problems to be Solved by the Invention, Means for Solving Problems, Functions and Effects However, it is very difficult to reliably send out sheet-like objects one by one, and a perfect one has not yet been obtained. It is necessary to ensure that the first sheet can be sent out, and that the second and subsequent sheets are sent out of the first sheet (referred to as double feed). It is difficult to achieve both prevention and prevention. SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION In view of the above circumstances, an object of the present invention is to minimize the probability that a plurality of sheet-like objects are sent out together as much as possible.

An object of the present invention is to provide an apparatus body for accommodating a plurality of sheet-like objects in a state in which a plurality of sheet-like articles are brought into surface contact with each other, and a plurality of sheet-like objects accommodated in the apparatus body. A feed roller capable of contacting the outermost end and rotating about a rotation axis perpendicular to the feed direction, a roller driving device for rotating the feed roller, and a feed roller disposed downstream from the feed roller in the feed direction. A guide member that supports and guides the leading end of the sheet-like object fed by the guide surface, a retard pad disposed close to the guide surface of the guide member, and the retard pad approaches the guide surface. A retard pad holding device that holds the retard pad so as to be rotatable at a limited angle around a rotation axis that is separable and substantially parallel to the rotation axis of the feed roller; and It is solved by as including biasing means for biasing in a direction approaching the inner surface.

As described above, if the retard pad can not only be moved linearly but also can be rotated, a plurality of sheets can be sent out together as compared with the case where only the linear movement is possible. It becomes easy to lower the probability of the occurrence. For example, as will be described in detail later, it is easy to push back the retard pad by the first sheet-like material to be actually delivered, or the second and subsequent sheets to be delivered along with the first sheet-like material. This makes it possible to prevent the delivery of the sheet-like material more favorably.

[0008] The object is also to provide a sheet-like object delivery device,
(a) an apparatus body for accommodating a plurality of sheets in a state in which the plurality of sheets are in surface contact with each other; and (b) an end of a plurality of sheets accommodated in the apparatus main body, A feed roller rotatable about a rotation axis perpendicular to the feed direction; (c) a roller driving device for rotating the feed roller; and (d) a feed roller disposed downstream from the feed roller in the feed direction and fed by the feed roller. A guide member that supports and guides the leading end of the sheet-like material to be guided by the guide surface, (e) a retard pad disposed close to the guide surface of the guide member, and (f) the retard pad is provided with the guide surface. (G) urging means for urging the retard pad in a direction approaching the guide surface, and a guide member, a retard pad holding device, and a Means The relative position is based on the urging force of the urging means and the force acting directly between the guide surface and the retard pad or indirectly via a sheet-like material based on the urging force, and the sheet is applied to the retard pad. The problem is solved by setting the rotational moment to be generated in a direction opposite to the rotational moment based on the frictional force acting between the sheet-like object and the retard pad when the object is delivered.

As described above, based on the urging force of the urging means and the force acting between the guide surface and the retard pad based on the urging force, the sheet-like material is fed to the retard pad when the sheet-like material is sent out. If a rotational moment in a direction opposite to the forward rotational moment based on the frictional force acting between the object and the retard pad is generated, it is easy to push back the retard pad by the first sheet-like object. be able to. That is, at the time of feeding the sheet-like material, a frictional force between the retard-pad and the sheet-like material generates a positive rotational moment in the retard pad, and the rotational moment increases the frictional resistance between the retard pad and the retard pad holding device. As a result, the pushing back of the retard pad by the first sheet-like object becomes unstable, and the sheet-like object may not be satisfactorily sent out. If you do
The frictional resistance is reduced by that much, and the force required to push back the retard pad is stabilized. Stabilizing the force required for the push-back is important in allowing the passage of the first sheet and preventing the passage of the second and subsequent sheets.

If the above-mentioned means for generating a rotational moment in the opposite direction is employed together with the above-described retard pad holding device for rotatably holding the retard pad, both effects can be obtained, and a more favorable sheet-like material delivery is achieved. A device is obtained.

Further, in any of the above-described sheet feeding apparatuses, the feed roller driving device may further provide a feed roller with a separation rotation including a reverse rotation at a set angle, and then rotate the feed roller in a forward rotation. If the rotation control means for providing the rotation is included, the double feeding in which a plurality of sheet-like materials are sent out together can be more favorably prevented. In this way, even if a plurality of sheets are sandwiched between the retard pad and the guide surface, the plurality of sheets can be connected to the retard pad by the reverse rotation of the feed roller. It can be returned to a state where it is not sandwiched between the guide surface. In this state, the first sheet is sent again in the forward direction. At this time, the second and subsequent sheets are sent again together and sandwiched between the retard pad and the guide surface. The probability of getting it is not so high. Therefore, by giving the separation rotation to the feed roller,
The probability of double feed can be reduced. The separation rotation may include at least one reverse rotation, and may include a plurality of reverse rotations. Of course, a limited angle of forward rotation is provided between each reverse rotation.

Providing the feed roller with the separating rotation as described above is employed in combination with at least one of generating the reverse moment on the retard pad and making the retard pad rotatable. Although it is desirable to adopt this method, an effect of preventing double feed can be obtained even if employed separately. This embodiment can be implemented as an apparatus, but can also be implemented as a sheet-like object delivery method as follows. That is, a sheet-like material delivery method in which a plurality of sheet-like materials are sent from a device body accommodating a plurality of sheet-like materials in surface contact with each other by a feed roller that comes into contact with an end of the plurality of sheet-like materials. A preliminary step of providing at least one separation rotation;
After this step, this step of giving the feed roller a normal rotation for sending out is included.

[0013]

Supplementary Description of the Invention The present invention can be carried out in the following embodiments in addition to the embodiments described in the above claims. The embodiments are conveniently described as an embodiment of the same type as the claims. However, an embodiment that further depends on an embodiment that depends on a plurality of claims or embodiments cannot necessarily read all of the plurality of claims or embodiments, and logically contradicts it. It should be read only for sections that do not have them. (1) A state in which the retard pad is at a forward rotation limit position where the retard pad rotates in accordance with the delivery of the sheet-like material, at a tip portion which is an end portion on a side in contact with the sheet-like material. A facing surface facing the feeding direction of the sheet-like material,
The sheet feeding device according to any one of claims 1 to 3, further comprising a contact surface extending from a leading edge of the facing surface to a downstream side in the feeding direction. When the retard pad is rotated to the forward rotation limit position in accordance with the feeding of the sheet-like material, the contact surface contacts the first sheet-like material, and the gap between the guide surface and the retard pad becomes a sheet-like shape. A state in which the thickness is equal to or close to the thickness of the object, the facing surface surely faces the second and subsequent sheet-like objects, and the first sheet-like object can be prevented from passing through the retard pad. Becomes (2) In the state where the contact surface is in the reverse rotation limit position on the opposite side to the forward rotation limit position with respect to the guide pad, the upstream of the guide surface with respect to the guide surface, 2. The sheet-like object delivery device according to claim 1, wherein the first surface is a first plane inclined in a direction in which a distance from the guide surface increases. With such a configuration, the leading end of the sheet-like object that is guided by the guide surface of the guide member and advances comes into contact with the first plane, and the retard pad rotates in the forward direction. The forward movement can be continued even if no slip occurs between the retard pad and the first plane. Then, since the inclination angle of the first plane with respect to the guide surface becomes smaller as the retard pad rotates, after the retard pad rotates to the rotation limit position in the forward direction and stops, the leading end of the sheet-like object holds the retard pad. It can be easily pushed back against the urging force of the urging means, and can pass through while widening the gap between the guide surface and the retard pad. On the other hand, the second and subsequent sheets, which may advance with respect to the first sheet, abut on the opposing surface and are prevented from advancing, thereby preventing double feeding. The relative position between the first plane and the rotation axis of the retard pad and the guide surface of the guide member is determined as the relative position at which the first plane approaches the guide surface as the retard pad rotates in the forward direction around the rotation axis. Is set to, as the leading end of the sheet-shaped object comes into contact with the first plane and the retard pad is rotated, the gap between the first plane and the guide surface tends to decrease. Since the leading end of the sheet is sandwiched, the retard pad is pushed back against the urging force of the urging means. At this time, there is no need for a slip to occur between the leading end of the sheet-like material and the first plane of the retard pad as in the conventional separation device in which the retard pad does not rotate, and furthermore, the retard pad and the retard pad holding Since no prying occurs with the device, the retard pad can be easily pushed back. (3) An embodiment according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the opposing surface is a second plane inclined in such a direction that the distance from the guide surface increases toward the upstream side in the sending direction with respect to the first plane.
3. The sheet-like object sending device according to 1. From the viewpoint of reliably preventing the second and subsequent sheets from passing through the opposing surface, the opposing surface should be substantially perpendicular to the guide surface with the retard pad in the forward rotation limit position. It is desirable. In contrast, as in the present embodiment, if the facing surface is inclined so as to form an acute angle with the guide surface,
Even if the leading end of the first sheet-shaped object comes into contact with the opposing surface, first, the retard pad rotates to the forward rotation limit position, and the inclination angle of the second plane with respect to the guide surface decreases,
Thereafter, the leading end of the sheet-like object is guided between the contact surface (first plane) and the guide surface by the guide action of the opposite surface, as in the conventional non-rotating retard pad, so that there is no trouble between the two. pass. Further, the relative position between the second plane and the rotation axis of the retard pad and the guide surface of the guide member is such that the tip of the retard pad approaches the guide surface as the retard pad rotates in the forward direction around the rotation axis. When set at the position, the double feed prevention effect is improved. For example,
With the first sheet abutting on the first plane and the second sheet abutting on the second plane, the retard pad rotates in the forward direction as the two sheets advance. Then, the second
The plane approaches the guide surface, and the first and second sheets are elastically sandwiched between both surfaces. This increases the frictional force between the second plane and the second sheet, the second sheet and the first sheet, and the first sheet and the guide surface. However, since the coefficient of friction between the second plane and the second sheet is usually larger than the coefficient of friction between the sheets, the second plane and the second sheet
The difference between the frictional force between the second sheet-like object and the frictional force between the second sheet-like object and the first sheet-like object increases. This makes it difficult for the first sheet-like material to pass through the retard pad, thereby improving the double feed prevention effect. (4) The retard pad holding device includes a retard pad holding member that holds the retard pad in a state where both the linear movement for the approach and separation and the rotation are possible. Item 4. The sheet-like article sending device according to any one of Items 1 to 3. As will be described later in another embodiment, a first holding member for holding the retard pad so as to be rotatable about a rotation axis, and a direction in which the first holding member is moved toward and away from the guide surface. It is also possible to include a second holding member which holds the retard pad so that the retard pad can move linearly to and away from the guide surface as in the present embodiment. If the holding device is held in a state that allows both rotations, the number of components of the holding device is reduced, and the effect of cost reduction is obtained. (5) A posture in which the retard pad holding device extends in parallel with the pivot axis provided in one of the retard pad and the retard pad holding member in a posture extending in parallel with the pivot axis. And provided on the other of the retard pad and the retard pad holding member, including the pivot shaft and a guide groove which is substantially immovable in the sending direction and movably engaged in the approaching / separating direction. The sheet-like article sending device according to claim 4. If the combination of the rotating shaft and the guide groove is adopted, the configuration of the retard pad holding device can be particularly simplified. (6) The urging means includes a spring member disposed between the retard pad and the retard pad holding member.
4. The sheet-shaped article delivery device according to any one of the above. (7) A support shaft parallel to the rotation shaft is provided on the retard pad at a position farther from the guide surface than the rotation shaft, and the spring member is provided between the rotation shaft and the support shaft. 7. The sheet-shaped object delivery device according to item 6, wherein the tension coil spring is stretched. (8) On the basis of the urging force of the urging means and the force generated between the guide surface and the retard pad and between the rotation shaft and the side surface of the guide groove based on the urging force,
An embodiment according to any one of claims 5 to 7, wherein the retard pad generates a rotational moment for rotating the retard pad in a direction opposite to the forward direction in which the retard pad rotates in accordance with the delivery of the sheet-like material. Sheet sending device. According to this configuration, the retard pad once rotates to the forward rotation limit position as the sheet-like material is sent out, and then the sheet-like material is not sandwiched again between the retard pad and the guide surface. At this time, the retard pad returns to the rotation limit position in the reverse direction and easily returns to the standby state in preparation for sending out the next sheet-like material. (9) In any one of the embodiments (4) to (8), wherein the retard pad holding member is provided with a rotation range defining portion that engages with the retard pad and defines a pivotable range of the retard pad. The sheet-like article sending device according to the above. The rotation range of the retard pad can be defined with a simple configuration. (10) The sheet delivery device according to item 9, wherein the rotation range defining portion includes an engagement notch that engages with the support shaft and defines a rotation range of the retard pad. The rotation range of the retard pad can be defined with a particularly simple configuration. (11) A first device for holding the retard pad rotatably about the rotation axis by the retard pad holding device.
A holding member, and a second holding member that holds the first holding member so as to be linearly movable in the approaching / separating direction.
3. A sheet-like article sending apparatus according to any one of the above items 1 to 3. (12) The retard pad includes a retard pad main body, and a high friction material layer formed on a surface of the retard pad main body that is in contact with a sheet-like material with a material having a higher friction coefficient than a material of the retard pad main body. The sheet delivery device according to any one of claims 1 to 11, further comprising: The high friction material layer provides sufficient frictional resistance to the sheet-like material, and ensures that the second sheet-like material that may be sandwiched between the contact surface and the guide surface together with the first sheet-like material is passed. To prevent. (13) A plurality of sheet-like objects are housed in a state of being in surface contact with each other, and a feed roller that comes into contact with the end of the plurality of sheet-like objects in order from the end of the plurality of sheet-like objects.
A sheet feeding device for feeding a sheet through a gap between a guide member and a retard pad, wherein the retard pad is rotatable around a rotation axis parallel to a rotation axis of the feed roller, and A sheet-like article sending device comprising a rotation limit defining means for defining a rotation limit at least downstream. As aforementioned,
It is desirable that the retard pad be able to move linearly in the direction approaching and moving away from the guide surface. Not. For example,
When at least one of the guide member and the retard pad holding device has an elastic deformation capability that elastically allows the separation between them, or when the tip of the retard pad is made of a material having a small elastic coefficient such as rubber. For example, the same operation and effect can be achieved even if the retard pad is made to be able to move linearly and the urging means is not urged in a direction approaching the guide member.
The effect is obtained. This embodiment can be implemented in combination with at least one of the above-described claims and each embodiment. (14) A plurality of sheet-like objects are accommodated in a state of being in surface contact with each other, and, in order from the end of the plurality of sheet-like objects, a feed roller that comes into contact with the end sheet-like object is used.
A sheet feeding device for feeding a sheet through a gap between a guide member and a retard pad. A sheet feeding device, comprising: an urging means for urging in a direction of turning to an upstream side; and a stopper for defining a rotation limit by the urging means. This embodiment can be implemented in combination with at least one of the above-described claims and each embodiment. (15) The seat according to the above item (14), further comprising an urging means for allowing the retard pad to approach and separate from the guide member and urging the retard pad in a direction to approach the guide member. Object delivery device. The urging means for urging the retard pad in a direction to rotate to the upstream side and the urging means for urging the retard pad in a direction to approach the guide member may be constituted by a combined elastic member. . (16) The sheet delivery according to claim 5, wherein the separation rotation in the preliminary step includes at least one of a normal rotation at a predetermined first angle and a reverse rotation at a predetermined second angle. Method. Although the first angle and the second angle may be the same as each other, it may be better to make them different.

[0014]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS An embodiment in which the present invention is applied to a card sending device for sending a card on which a manga character or the like is described as a prize of a game machine will be described in detail with reference to the drawings. In FIG. 1, reference numeral 10 denotes an apparatus main body of the card sending apparatus. The apparatus main body 10 is mainly composed of a pair of side plates 12 (only one of them is shown by a two-dot chain line in FIG. 1).
And a plurality of plate members connecting the both side plates 12, and has a generally box shape. The apparatus main body 10 is open upward, and this opening is openably and closably covered by a cover (not shown).

A card regulating member 20 is provided on the inner side of the apparatus main body 10. The card regulating member 20 is a plate-shaped regulating portion 2 having a width equal to the interval between the pair of side plates 12.
2 and mounting portions 24 provided at right angles to both edges of the regulating portion 22 parallel to the pair of side plates 12. The card restricting member 20 has a card restricting surface 26 formed by a surface of the restricting portion 22 on the side facing the cover, and a posture in which the card restricting surface 26 is inclined with respect to a horizontal plane.
It is fixed to. A space surrounded by the side plate 12, the cover, and the card regulating member 20 is a card accommodating chamber 30, in which a plurality of types of cards 3 having different thicknesses are provided.
2 are stacked and accommodated in surface contact with each other. The card 32 is made of cardboard and has a rigidity capable of maintaining a flat shape by itself.

A feed roller 36 is attached to the lower part of the card accommodating chamber 30 so as to be rotatable around a rotation axis perpendicular to the card sending direction. A card support member 38 is attached to the member 20 side,
A guide member 40 is mounted on the downstream side.

The feed roller 36 includes a roller shaft 4 having a circular cross section.
2 and rubber roller portions 44 fixed at two locations separated from each other in the axial direction of the roller shaft 42. Both ends of the roller shaft 42 are rotatably supported by the pair of side plates 12 via bearings (not shown), respectively.
One end is projected from the side plate 12 to the outside and is connected to a feed roller driving device 46. The feed roller driving device 46 includes an electric motor 48 (see FIG. 5) as a drive source, and the rotation of the electric motor 48
And a rotation transmission mechanism for transmitting the rotation to the rotation transmission mechanism 6. The rotation transmission mechanism includes a pulley, a belt, a worm wheel, a worm gear, and the like.

As shown in FIG. 11, at one end of the roller shaft 42, a pair of engagement notches 43 opened at the end face are formed at two positions separated from each other in the diameter direction. The drive shaft 45 of the electric motor 48 is rotatably fitted inside the end of the roller shaft 42 on the side where the engagement notch 43 is formed. A pin 47 is pressed into the drive shaft 45 so as to penetrate in the diameter direction, and both ends of the pin 47 protruding from the drive shaft 45 are fitted into the engagement notches 43, respectively. Therefore, when the drive shaft 45 is rotated by the electric motor 48, the pin 47 engages with the inner surface of the engagement notch 43 to transmit the rotational force to the roller shaft 42, while the electric motor 48 stops feeding while the electric motor 48 is stopped. The roller 36 can be freely rotated within a limited angle range.

The card supporting member 38 includes the pair of side plates 1.
It has a plate-shaped support portion 50 having a width equal to the interval between the two, and mounting portions 52 provided at right angles to both edges of the support portion 50 parallel to the side plate 12. The surface of the support portion 50 on the card storage chamber 30 side constitutes a card support surface 56 for supporting the supported surface 54 of the card 32, and the card support member 38
In the mounting portion 52, the side plate 12 is tilted such that the end of the card support surface 56 on the feed roller 36 side is located above the end on the far side far from the feed roller 36.
Attached to. However, the end of the card support surface 56 on the side of the feed roller 36 is lower than a tangent plane between the end farther from the feed roller 36 and the feed roller 36, and the card 32 includes the feed roller 36 and the card support surface 5.
6 is supported at the end remote from the feed roller 36. Further, the card 32 is prevented from sliding down into the card accommodation room 30 by the card regulating member 20.

Similarly, the card guide member 40 has a plate-shaped guide portion 60 having a width equal to the interval between the pair of side plates 12,
A mounting portion 62 is provided at right angles on both edges of the guide portion 60 parallel to the side plate 12. The surface of the guide portion 60 on the card storage chamber 30 side constitutes a card guide surface 64, and the card guide member 40 is fixed to the side plate 12 at the mounting portion 62 with the card guide surface 64 positioned on the tangent plane. I have. The card guide surface 64 is inclined (45 ° in the present embodiment) with respect to the horizontal plane in such a position that the end on the side closer to the feed roller 36 is located below the end on the far side. Further, the feed roller 36 of the card guide surface 64
The end on the side is closer to the rotation axis side of the feed roller 36 toward the feed roller 36 (direction away from the tangent plane).
The inclined portion 66 is inclined. When the card 32 is fed out, the front end of the card 32 bends downward, and the front end edge abuts the end edge of the card guide member 40 on the side of the feed roller 36, so that the sending out becomes impossible. This is to avoid that. The pair of side plates 12 also has
A card urging device (not shown) is provided. The card urging device has a weight, and presses the card 32 against the feed roller 36 by an urging force based on the weight of the weight.

The card guide surface 6 of the card guide member 40
Reference numeral 4 extends to the outside of the card accommodating chamber 30, and a sheet separating device 70 (hereinafter, abbreviated as a separating device 70) is provided above the intermediate portion. FIG.
As shown in FIG. 3 and FIG. 3, the separation device 70 includes a retard pad 72 and a retard pad holding device 74 that holds the retard pad 72.

As shown most clearly in FIG. 4, the retard pad holding member 76 of the retard pad holding device 74 is formed by bending both ends of a generally long rectangular plate material into a U-shape. After each equidistant part from the center position of the plate is bent at right angles to the plate surface of the plate,
It is bent parallel to the plate surface, and again bent at right angles to the plate surface, in a direction opposite to the previously bent direction, so that the retard pad holding member 76 is positioned at the center of the retard pad holding member 76. And a pair of plate-shaped connecting portions 80 extending in the longitudinal direction, and a pair of plate-shaped connecting portions 80 that are parallel to the connecting portions 78 but have different positions in a direction perpendicular to the plate surface. ing.

The retard pad holding member 76 is formed by a part of a U-shaped bent portion formed at both ends in the longitudinal direction as described above, that is, a portion corresponding to one of a pair of U-shaped arms. The pair of mounting portions 82 are fixed to the pair of side plates 12. Engagement projections 84 formed by half-shearing are provided on the outer surfaces of the pair of attachment portions 82, respectively, and these engagement projections 84 engage with notches (not shown) formed on the pair of side plates 12. In this state, the bolt is screwed into the female screw hole 86 to be fixed to the side plate 12. Mounting part 82
Is formed with an inverted U-shaped notch 88 that opens downward. In addition, a pair of support portions 90 which are portions corresponding to the other of the pair of arms of the U-shape are provided between the connection portion 78 and each of the pair of connection portions 80. Connecting part 78
A female threaded hole is formed at the center of the bolt, and a bolt 92 is screwed into the bolt. The tip of the bolt 92 projects into a space surrounded by the connecting portion 78 and the pair of supporting portions 90.

Each of the support portions 90 is formed with an engagement notch 94 having a rectangular cross section which opens upward. The support portion 90 is also provided with a rotation shaft 96 at a lower end opposite to the side where the engagement notch 94 is formed. Rotating shaft 96
Penetrates a space surrounded by the support portion 90 and the connection portion 78, and both ends are respectively protruded from the support portions 90, and the retaining ring 97 is attached to the protruding portion, so that Retard pad holding member 7 so that it cannot move relatively in the axial direction.
6 attached. An annular engaging groove 98 is formed at the center in the axial direction of the rotating shaft 96. The retard pad holding member 76 is connected to the outlet of the card accommodating chamber 30 so that the connecting portion 80 is located on the upstream side in the card sending direction.
Are located on the downstream side, and the rotation shaft 96 is fixed to the side plate 12 in a posture extending in parallel with the rotation axis of the feed roller 36.

As shown in FIGS. 2 to 4, the retard pad main body 100 of the retard pad 72 has a U-shaped cross section, and the U-shaped portion of the retard pad holding member 76, that is, the connection. Part 78 and support part 90
And a U-shaped opening is fitted inside the portion formed by the above and in a posture facing the same direction as the opening of the retard pad holding member 76. An engagement shaft 108 is attached to a pair of arms 106 extending from the U-shaped back wall 104 of the retard pad main body 100. The engagement shaft 108 is provided in a state where it penetrates a space surrounded by the back wall 104 and the pair of arms 106 in parallel with the back wall 104, and
The axial movement is prevented by fitting the retaining ring 109 into the inner part of 06. The engagement shaft 108 is parallel to the rotation shaft 96 in a state where the retard pad holding member 76 and the retard pad 72 are assembled,
That is, it extends parallel to the rotation axis of the feed roller 36, and
The card guide surface 64 with respect to the rotation shaft 96 in the vertical direction
It is provided at a position on the opposite side to the above. An engaging groove 110 is formed in a circumferential direction at an axial center of the engaging shaft 108. An inverted U-shaped guide groove 112 that opens downward is formed in the arm portion 106. An elongated hole 114 extending in a direction parallel to the guide groove 112 is formed in the back wall portion 104 at a position corresponding to the bolt 92 projecting from the retard pad holding member 76.

The back wall 10 of the retard pad main body 100
The action part 120 is provided integrally with the lower end of 4.
The action portion 120 includes a first inclined portion 122 that is inclined with respect to the card guide surface 64 in a direction in which the distance from the card guide surface 64 increases toward the upstream side in the card sending direction, and an extension of the first inclined portion 122. A second inclined portion 124 inclined from the end in a direction in which the distance from the card guide surface 64 increases further toward the upstream side in the sending direction with respect to the first inclined portion 122;
And an extension 126 extending upward from the extension end of the inclined portion 124. In the present embodiment, the first
The inclined portion 122 is 15 ° with respect to the card guide surface 64,
The inclined portion 124 is inclined by 30 ° with respect to the first inclined portion 122, that is, 45 ° with respect to the card guide surface 64, and the extending portion 126 is extended vertically upward.

A friction pad 130 is provided on the outer surface of the action portion 120.
Are attached to form a high friction material layer. The friction pad 130 is formed of a material having a higher coefficient of friction than the material of the retard pad main body 100, and the outer surface of the friction pad 130 constitutes a working surface 132 for separating the card 32. The operation surface 132 is a contact surface 13 as a first plane formed at a portion corresponding to the first inclined portion 122.
4 and an opposing surface 136 as a second plane formed at a portion corresponding to the second inclined portion 124.

Between the retard pad main body 100 and the retard pad holding member 76, a tension coil spring 140, which is a kind of spring member as an urging means, extends. One end of the tension coil spring 140 is in the engagement groove 110 of the engagement shaft 108 of the retard pad main body 100, and the other end is the engagement groove 98 of the rotation shaft 96 of the retard pad holding member 76.
, Respectively.

When assembling the retard pad holding device 74 and the retard pad 72, the retard pad 72 is fitted to the retard pad holding member 76 to which the rotating shaft 96 is not attached. Arm 10 of engagement shaft 108
6 into the engagement notch 94 and the elongated hole 114
Are respectively engaged with the bolts 92, the rotation shaft 96 is inserted from the notch 88 formed in the retard pad holding member 76, and penetrates the support portion 90, and the retard pad body 10
The rotating shaft 96 is engaged with the pair of zero guide grooves 112. The guide groove 112 and the rotating shaft 96 are engaged so as to be linearly movable in the longitudinal direction of the guide groove 112 and substantially immovable in the width direction of the guide groove 112. That is, the retard pad 72 is held by the retard pad holding device 74 so as to be able to approach and separate from the card guide surface 64 and to be rotatable around the axis of the rotation shaft 96. The rotation limit of the retard pad 72 in both the forward and reverse directions is defined by the engagement of both engagement portions of the engagement shaft 108 with both side edges of the engagement notch 94, and the retard pad 72 rotates by a limited angle θ. It is movable. The engagement notch 94 constitutes a rotation range defining portion. In the present embodiment, the rotatable angle θ of the retard pad 72 is set to 10 °. In addition, retard pad 7
The contact between the opposite edges of the long hole 114 and the tip of the bolt 92 causes the retard pad holding device 7 of the retard pad 72 to abut.
4, a linear relative movement range is defined.

Further, a tension coil spring 140 is provided between the engagement shaft 108 and the rotation shaft 96, so that the retard pad 72 is biased in a direction to approach the card guide surface 64. . In the state where there is no card 32, the operation surface 1
The contact of the retard pad 72 with the card guide surface 64 limits the movement limit of the retard pad 72 in the biasing direction by the tension coil spring 140. In this state, the tension coil spring 140
And the reaction force applied from the card guide surface 64 to the operation surface 132 based on the urging force, the retard pad 72 is moved in the opposite direction, that is, the operation surface 132 is sent out of the card. A rotational moment is generated that rotates in a direction that moves in the opposite direction. However, whether or not the retard pad 72 actually rotates in the opposite direction depends on whether or not the operation surface 132 can slide on the card guide surface 64, that is, whether the rotation moment in the opposite direction is equal to the operation surface 132 and the card. It is determined whether or not the rotational moment in the forward direction based on the frictional force with the guide surface 64 is larger. In the present embodiment, the rotation is actually performed in the opposite direction. Thus, the coefficient of friction of the action surface 132, the inclination angle of the card guide surface 64 with respect to the retard pad 72, the action direction of the urging force of the extension coil spring 140 and the reaction force from the card guide face 64, and the relative position of the action point are set. It is being done.

The transmission-type photoelectric sensor 150 is located at a certain distance from the contact position between the action surface 132 and the card guide surface 64 on the downstream side and the upstream side in the card sending direction.
152 (see FIG. 5) are provided. Each of the photoelectric sensors 150 and 152 includes a light emitting unit and a light receiving unit. When light from the light emitting unit is received by the light receiving unit, the output signals of the photoelectric sensors 150 and 152 are turned off, and the light of the photoelectric sensors 150 and 152 is turned off. When the light is shielded by the card 32, the output signals of the photoelectric sensors 150 and 152 are turned on. This ON output signal is called a card detection signal.

This card sending device has a control device 160 shown in FIG. The control device 160 includes a PU (processing unit) having a counter, a ROM, and a RAM.
And the like. The computer mainly includes the electric motor 48 and the photoelectric sensors 150 and 152.
Is connected. This card sending device is a device for automatically sending out a card 32 as a prize of a game machine. The game machine 162, a send preparation command button 164 and a send command button 165 are also connected to the control device 160. The transmission preparation command button 164 and the transmission command button 165 are provided at positions where only the administrator of the game machine 162 can operate. If the player wins the game, a transmission instruction signal for instructing the card transmission device to transmit the card 32 is supplied from the game machine 162. Control device 162
Is also connected to an alarm 166, and the card 32
Is reduced to a state requiring replenishment, the out-of-stock card 32 is notified to the administrator of the game machine 162 based on the card reduction signal supplied from the microswitch 168 to the control device 162. The control device 160 controls the photoelectric sensor 15
The electric motor 48 is controlled based on signals such as 0 and 152, and the feed roller 36 is rotated to feed the card 32. For this purpose, the ROM of the computer stores various programs necessary for sending the card 32, including a sending routine and a sending preparation routine to be described later. The electric motor 48, the photoelectric sensors 150 and 152
The part of the control device 160 that controls the rotation of the feed roller 36 constitutes the feed roller driving device 46.

The sending of the card 32 in the card sending apparatus configured as described above will be described. In this card sending device, the one that is located at the bottom and should be sent first
The second card 32 is located at the sending preparation position when not sending. The sending preparation position is a position where the leading end of the card 32 in the sending direction passes through the photoelectric sensor 150 from between the separating device 70 and the card guide surface 64 and slightly comes out.

Therefore, the card 32 is stored in the card accommodating room 30.
Is stored, first, the first card 32 is sent to the sending preparation position. As shown in FIG. 6A, the feed roller 36 is rotated in the forward direction indicated by the arrow, and the card 32 is fed. The outer peripheral surface of the feed roller 36 is formed of rubber as described above, and the coefficient of friction between the feed roller 36 and the card 32 is lower than that of the card 3.
The friction coefficient between the second card 2 and the card support surface 56 and the friction coefficient between the cards 32 are sufficiently large. The first card 32 is surely moved toward the separating device 70.

At this time, in the separating device 70, the retard pad 72 is at the rotation limit position in the opposite direction, and the contact surface 134 is in contact with the card guide surface 64 of the card guide member 40. Moved towards
The leading end of the first card 32 which has been guided and advanced by the card guide surface 64 of the card guide member 40 is a retard pad 72.
Abuts on the contact surface 134 provided on the action portion 120 of the second member.
Thereafter, since the retard pad 72 is rotated in the forward direction around the rotation axis 96, the card 32 can continue to advance even if there is no slippage between the leading end thereof and the contact surface 134 of the retard pad 72. it can. At this time, as the retard pad 72 rotates, the contact surface 134 and the card guide surface 6
The gap between the retard pad 7 and the second pad 4 is reduced because the leading end of the card 32 is sandwiched between the two.
2 is pushed back against the urging force of the extension coil spring 140. The retard pad 72 is engaged with the engagement shaft 108 and the engagement notch 9.
4 rotates to the forward rotation limit position where it comes into contact with the side edge on the upstream side in the card sending direction and stops. In the present embodiment, when the retard pad 72 rotates to the forward rotation limit position, the contact surface 134 is
°, the tip of the card 32 is attached to the retard pad 72 by the tension coil spring 14.
It can be easily pushed back against the urging force of zero.

Moreover, as described above, the tension coil spring 1
An urging force applied to the retard pad 72 by the
Based on the urging force, the card guide surface 64 moves to the action surface 13.
2 (which is indirectly applied via the card 32 in this case), a rotational moment is generated in the retard pad 72 in the opposite direction, so that the retard pad 72 is more easily retarded. The pad 72 is pushed back. When sending the card 32, the card 32 and the working surface 13
A rotational moment in the positive direction is generated in the retard pad based on the frictional force with the guide groove 2, and this rotational moment is
The frictional force between the side surface of the second groove and the rotation shaft 96 and between the side surface of the engagement notch 94 and the engagement shaft 108 is increased, thereby providing resistance to pushing back of the retard pad 72.
If the rotational moment in the opposite direction is generated as described above, the frictional force between the groove side surface of the guide groove 112 and the rotating shaft 96 and the frictional force between the side surface of the engaging notch 94 and the engaging shaft 108 are correspondingly increased. Thus, the push-back of the retard pad 72 is facilitated. Therefore, the first card 32 easily widens the gap between the card guide surface 64 and the retard pad 72,
As shown in FIG. 6B, it protrudes to the delivery preparation position.

As described above, when the first card 32 is sent out, the cards 32 to be sent out after the second card are sent.
May come out along with the first card 32 due to the frictional force between the cards 32. However, in the present embodiment, as described below, the first cards 32 and 2
The probability of double feeding in which the second and subsequent cards 32 are sent out together can be reduced favorably.

As shown in FIG. 7, when the card 32 is sent out, the retard pad 72 is rotated to the forward rotation limit position and pushed back, so that the card guide surface 64 is moved.
After the first card 32 is allowed to pass between the two because the gap between the second card 32 and the retard pad 72 substantially matches the thickness of the card 32, the second and subsequent cards 32 contact the contact surface 134. In the case of contact with the facing surface 136 that is further inclined at an acute angle, the cards 32
Is reliably prevented by the facing surface 136.

As shown in FIG. 8, the first card 32 contacts the contact surface 134 and the second card 3
When the retard pad 72 is rotated with the advance of the two cards 32 in a state where the two are in contact with the opposing surface 136, the opposing surface 136 attempts to approach the card guide surface 64, and the retard pad 72 reacts as a reaction. Is a tension coil spring 14
It is pushed back against the urging force of zero, and the first and second cards 32 are elastically sandwiched between both surfaces. Thereby, the relative movement resistance between the opposing surface 136 and the second card 32 (the component of the reaction force from the opposing surface 136 in the direction parallel to the card sending direction and the component of the frictional force in the direction parallel to the card sending direction) ) And the frictional force between the first card 32 and the second card 32, respectively, and the former increase is larger (mainly due to the opposing surfaces 136 and 2). (This is because the coefficient of friction between the second card 32 and the first card 32 is larger than the coefficient of friction between the second card 32 and the first card 32.) Of the first card 32 is the retard pad 7
2 becomes more difficult.

The first card 32 is connected to the separating device 70.
If the front end of the first card 32 first abuts on the opposing surface 136 instead of the contact surface 134 for some reason such as warpage of the card 32 when being moved toward When the retard pad 72 rotates, the opposing surface 1
After the inclination angle of 36 with respect to the card guide surface 64 decreases and the retard pad 72 reaches the forward rotation limit position,
The card 32, as in a conventional separating device, which is configured so that the retard pad does not rotate and is simply pushed back.
Is the distance between the facing surface 136 and the card guide surface 64,
It spreads out against the urging force of the extension coil spring 140, enters between the contact surface 134 and the card guide surface 64, and then easily passes between them as described above.

In addition, in the present embodiment, the double feed can be more effectively prevented by performing the preliminary step in the transmission preparation routine shown in the flowchart of FIG. This preliminary step is a step of giving at least one reciprocating rotation for separation including reverse rotation to the feed roller 36 to separate the second and subsequent cards 32 from the first card 32. Thereafter, in this step, the feed roller 36 is given a forward rotation for a predetermined time to feed out the first card 32.

When the transmission preparation command button 164 is turned ON by the administrator of the game machine 162, the transmission preparation routine is called and executed in a main routine for calling various subroutines. First, in step S1 (hereinafter simply referred to as S1; the same applies to other steps), the count value n of the counter is set to 1. Subsequently, in S2, the feed roller 3 by the electric motor 48 is moved.
6 is started. Then, in S3, a card detection signal is output from both of the photoelectric sensors 150 and 152, that is, the leading end of the card 32 is advanced to the photoelectric sensor 150 through the separation device 70 by the forward rotation of the feed roller 36. I will wait. In addition,
When the leading end of the card 32 reaches the photoelectric sensor 150, the retard pad 72 is rotated to the forward rotation limit position by a frictional force with the card 32. When the photoelectric sensor 150 is turned on, the rotation of the feed roller 36 by the electric motor 48 is reversed in S4. Next, S5
, The output signals of the photoelectric sensors 150 and 152 are OF
F, that is, the backward rotation of the feed roller 36 causes the leading end of the card 32 to be retracted to the photoelectric sensor 152 on the upstream side in the card sending direction. By the time the photoelectric sensor 152 does not output the card detection signal and the determination result in S5 becomes YES, the retard pad 72 has been rotated to the reverse rotation limit position. If the determination in S5 is YES, it is determined in S6 whether the reciprocating rotation for separation has been performed a set number of times and the count value n has become equal to or greater than the set value N. If the set value N is equal to or greater than 2, the current value is the first time and the value of n is 1 and is not equal to or greater than N.
It becomes O, the value of n is increased by 1 in S7, and the execution of the program returns to S2. Then, if the count value n becomes N or more, the card 32 is sent out by the forward rotation of the feed roller 36 in S8, and the card 32 is sent to the sending preparation position in S9, and the photoelectric sensor is turned on. 150, 152
And waits for a card detection signal to be output from both of them, and the execution of the transmission preparation routine ends.

As described above, as the first card 32 is moved forward and backward by the forward rotation and reverse rotation of the feed roller 36, even if the second and subsequent cards 32 are moved forward and backward, As described above, the leading end of the second card 32 is preferably prevented from passing through the retard pad 72 during forward movement, and the leading end of the second card 32 is
Even if the card 32 is sandwiched between the retard pad 72 and the card guide member 40 together with the second card 32, the retard pad 72 is rotated in the opposite direction if a feeding force in the backward direction is applied to both the cards 32. Thus, the two cards 32 are helped to separate from the space between the card guide members 40. for that reason,
By performing the preliminary step, the probability of double feeding is reduced as compared with a case where the preliminary step is not performed.

When the transmission command button 165 is turned on by the administrator of the game machine 162, the transmission routine shown in the flowchart of FIG. 10 is called and executed in the main routine. First, in S101, the feed roller 36 applies a forward rotation for sending to the card 32. Subsequently, in S102, it is waited that a certain time has elapsed after the start of sending the card 32, and the leading end of the card 32 passes through the photoelectric sensor 150 and is sent to the sending completion position. Next, in step S103, the electric motor 48 is stopped.
At 104, it is determined based on the detection signals of the photoelectric sensors 150 and 152 whether or not the sent card 32 has been taken out by the player, and after the card 32 has been taken out, the next card 32 is prepared to be sent out at S105. The above-described transmission preparation routine is executed, and the process returns to the main routine. In the present embodiment, the part of the control device 160 that executes the sending routine and the sending preparation routine constitutes a rotation control means.

After the card 32 has been sent to the sending completion position, the player pulls the card 32 and removes the card 32. At this time, the upstream end of the card 32 in the card sending direction is still fed. Since it is sandwiched between the roller 36 and the next card 32, if the feed roller 36 does not rotate, it is necessary to draw it out against the frictional force with the feed roller 36. However, in the present embodiment, even when the electric motor 48 is stopped and the drive shaft 45 does not rotate, the roller shaft 42 can be rotated at a limited angle, so that when the card 32 is pulled, As shown by the two-dot chain line in FIG.
, And the card 32 can be pulled out lightly. The roller shaft 42 can relatively rotate by an angle corresponding to the difference between the circumferential dimension of the engagement notch 43 and the diameter of the pin 47 pressed into the drive shaft 45. Is the size of the feed roller 3
The size is set so that a relative rotation angle sufficient to completely separate from the space between 6 and the next card 32 can be obtained.

After the removal of the first card 32, the retard pad 72 is rotated to the rotation limit position in the reverse direction by the action of the rotational moment in the reverse direction, as described above, to prepare for sending out the next card 32. It is returned to the standby state. Then, the second card 32 is directly supported by the feed roller 36 and the card support surface 56 by taking out the first card 32, and the first card 32 is removed.
The second card 32 is sent to the sending preparation position in the same manner as described above.

In the above-described embodiment, the retard pad 72 is pressed to the card guide surface 64 by the urging force of the extension coil spring 140, and the retard pad 72 is moved to the reverse rotation limit position by the reverse rotational moment. It was made to be pivotable, but this is not essential. For example, when the friction coefficient of the contact surface 134 of the retard pad 72 is increased or the inclination angle of the card guide surface 64 is reduced, the retard pad 72 is returned to the reverse rotation limit position by the reverse rotational moment. It may be made to be hindered by frictional resistance. In this case, when the card 32 is moved toward the separation device 70, the retard pad 72 in the separation device 70 is not necessarily at the rotation limit position in the reverse direction. For example, the card 3 is stored in the card accommodation room 30.
If it is necessary to change the card 32 to another type when the card 2 is still left, the feed roller 36 is rotated in the reverse direction, and the lowermost card in the delivery preparation position is rotated. After the cards 32 are returned to the card storage room 30, all the cards 32 are taken out of the card storage room 30, and a new card 32 is stored in the card storage room 30 instead. When an object is sent to the delivery preparation position, the retard pad 72 is at the rotation limit position in the reverse direction. On the other hand, the card accommodation room 3 first
When a new card is stored in the card storage chamber 30 after all the cards 32 stored in the storage unit 0 have been sent out, the retard pad 72 is at the forward rotation limit position.

In this case, if the lowermost card 32 is moved toward the separation device 70,
Abuts on the opposing surface 136. Therefore, in this case, the leading end of the card 32 causes the distance between the facing surface 136 and the card guide surface 64 to be equal to that in the conventional separation device in which the retard pad does not rotate but is simply pushed back. It spreads out against the urging force of the extension coil spring 140, enters between the contact surface 134 and the card guide surface 64, and then easily passes between them as described above.
Next, when the card 32 is fed in the reverse direction, the retard pad 72 is rotated to the reverse rotation limit position by the frictional force between the retard pad 72 and the card 32. Will work.

In addition, even when the retard pad 72 is closest to the guide surface 64, the operation surface 13
It is also possible to form a gap between the card guide surface 64 and the card guide surface 64 that is smaller than the thickness of the thinnest one of the plurality of types of cards 32 to be sent. One example is shown in FIGS. In this embodiment,
A part of the retard pad holding member 76 and the retard pad 72 in the above-described embodiment is changed and the retard pad holding member 230 (for easier understanding,
Only the position is indicated by a two-dot chain line) and the retard pad 232
Since the other portions are the same, the same portions are denoted by the same reference numerals and description thereof is omitted, and only the portions that are changed will be described below. As is apparent from FIG. 12, a U-shaped guide groove 236 is provided at an upper portion of the support portion 90 of the retard pad holding member 230, and an engagement shaft 238 is provided at a lower portion, while a pivot shaft is provided at an upper portion of the retard pad 232. 2
40, a support shaft 242 at an intermediate portion, and an engagement notch 244 at a lower portion. Rotating shaft 240 and support shaft 242
Are both extended between the pair of arms 106 of the retard pad 232, but only the rotating shaft 240 has both ends protruding sideways from the pair of arms 106 to guide the retard pad holding member 230. It is engaged with the groove 236.
A tension coil spring 140 is disposed between the support shaft 242 of the retard pad 232 and the engagement shaft 238 of the retard pad holding member 230, and the direction in which the retard pad 232 approaches the card guide surface 64 of the card guide member 40. It is energizing.

Card guide member 40 and retard pad 23
In the state where the card 32 does not exist between the rotating shaft 2
When the lower end of the guide groove 236 receives the guide pad 40, the approach limit of the retard pad 232 to the card guide member 40 is defined, and the action portion 120 of the retard pad 232 is separated from the card guide surface 64. In this state, the biasing force of the extension coil spring 140 causes the axis of the support shaft 242 to be positioned on a straight line connecting the axis of the rotation shaft 240 and the axis of the engagement shaft 238, thereby causing the retard pad 2
32 is kept in its original position in FIG.

In the original position, the retard pad 2
Since the gap between the contact surface 134 of the card 32 and the card guide surface 64 is set to be smaller than the thickness of the thinnest card among all the cards 32 to be sent, the card 32
Is sent, the tip abuts against the contact surface 134,
The retard pad 232 is rotated. With this rotation, the retard pad 232 is pushed back, but the engagement notch 24
4 is pushed back by the parallel movement while being guided by the engagement shaft 238 and the rotation shaft 240 by the guide groove 236, respectively, as shown in FIG. As shown, the retard pad 232 and the card guide member 4
The gap between 0 and just widens to a size that just allows the card 32 to pass. Therefore, the operation of the separation device 250 when the card 32 is sent in the forward direction is substantially the same as that of the above-described embodiment, but the operation when the card 32 is sent in the reverse direction is different.

When the card 32 is fed in the opposite direction from the state in which the leading end of the card 32 is elastically sandwiched between the retard pad 232 and the card guide member 40 as described above, the retard pad 232 is accordingly moved. Is rotated in the opposite direction as in the case of the separating device 70. However, in the separation device 70, since the rotation of the retard pad 72 stops at the rotation limit position in the reverse direction, the card 32 thereafter slides against the contact surface 134 of the retard pad 72 toward the card storage chamber 30 side. In contrast to the necessity of moving the retard pad 232 in the present separating apparatus 250, the retard pad 232 can be further rotated in the reverse direction from the original position as shown in FIG. Is reached, the card 32 can be moved in the opposite direction by rotating the retard pad 232. However, if the gap between the retard pad 232 and the card guide member 40 becomes equal to the thickness of the card 32, the rotation of the retard pad 232 in the reverse direction stops, and thereafter, the card 32 must slide with respect to the retard pad 232. However, in this state, most of the urging force of the tension coil spring 140 is received by the lower end edge of the guide groove 236 via the rotation shaft 240, and the reason for acting on the retard pad 232 is that the tension coil Since there is only a positive rotational moment based on a part of the biasing force of the spring 140, the frictional force between the card 32 and the retard pad 232 is very small, and the card 32 can be easily sent in the opposite direction.

This operation is particularly effective in the event that the second card 32 is sandwiched between the retard pad 232 and the card guide member 40 together with the first card 32. The two cards 32 are both retard pads 23
2 and the card guide member 40, the two cards 3
This is because, when the second card 32 is moved in the reverse direction, it is desirable that the second card 32 be moved in the reverse direction as easily as possible and separated from the retard pad 232 and the card guide member 40.

In the above embodiment, the feed roller 36
Of the first cards 32 and 2 is controlled based on the card detection signals of the photoelectric sensors 150 and 152.
Although the second and subsequent cards 32 are separated, the separation rotation can be controlled based on the rotation angle of the feed roller 36. For example, a plurality of notches are formed at equal angular intervals on a rotating plate that is rotatably provided integrally with the feed roller, and a transmission-type photoelectric sensor is provided so as to detect the notches. Each time the notch passes through the photoelectric sensor, the light receiving unit receives light, and the output signal of the photoelectric sensor changes. The rotation angle of the delivery roller can be determined from the number of times of this change. In this case, the separation rotation is controlled so as to include at least one forward rotation at a predetermined first angle and at least one reverse rotation at a predetermined second angle. These first and second angles can each be set to appropriate values according to the situation.

Further, even if the separating rotation is performed at a small angle where the leading end of the card does not reach the separating device, it is effective in separating the cards 32 adhered to each other. further,
In the above-described embodiment, each card 32 has been sent, and each time the card 32 is removed, the separation rotation for the next card 32 is performed. First, a rotation for separation is performed,
Subsequently, the first card 32 can be sent out.

In the above-described embodiment, the retard pad holding device 74 holds the retard pad 72 in a state where both the linear movement and the rotation for approaching and separating from the card guide surface 64 are allowed. , Rotating shaft 96
And the guide groove 112, the number of parts of the holding device is reduced, and an effect of cost reduction is obtained.
This is not indispensable. For example, a first holding member for holding the retard pad holding device so as to be able to rotate the retard pad around the rotation axis of the feed roller, and moving the first holding member closer to and away from the card guide surface. It is also possible to adopt a configuration composed of a separate member from the second holding member that holds the linearly movable member in the direction.

As in the above-described embodiment, it is desirable that the retard pad can be moved linearly in the direction approaching or moving away from the card guide surface. However, in special cases such as when the thickness of the card to be sent out is constant, the retard pad can be moved straight. Being mobile is not essential. For example, the present invention can be implemented in the following forms. As schematically shown in FIG. 15A, the retard pad 200 is provided with a rotation shaft 202 extending parallel to a rotation axis of a feed roller (not shown).
The rotation shaft 202 is rotatably held by a retard pad holding member 204. Retard pad holding member 20
4 is provided with a defining portion 206 for defining the forward rotation limit of the retard pad 200 and a defining portion 208 for defining the reverse rotation limit of the retard pad 200. These defining portions 206 and 2 are provided.
08 constitutes the rotation limit defining means. A spring member 210 as an urging means is provided between the retard pad 200 and the retard pad holding member 204. One arm of the spring member 210 supported by the rotating shaft 202 is engaged with the retard pad 200, and the other arm is engaged with the retard pad holding member 204. The biasing force of the spring member 210 causes the retard pad 200
Is always urged to rotate to the upstream side in the card sending direction.

The retard pad 200 has a contact surface 212
And an opposing surface 214 are formed. These contact surfaces 21
2 and the opposing surface 214, the retard pad 200
In the state of the reverse rotation limit position shown in FIG. 5A, the card guide member 216 is inclined with respect to a plane parallel to the card guide surface 218 and a plane perpendicular to the card guide surface 218. As shown in FIG. 15B, the retard pad 200
Is rotated to the forward rotation limit position, the contact surface 2
12 becomes nearly parallel to the card guide surface 218, and the gap between the contact surface 212 and the card guide surface 218 becomes equal to the thickness of the card 220. The facing surface 214 is substantially perpendicular to the card guide surface 218. Thus, the respective inclination angles of the contact surface 212 and the opposing surface 214 and the rotation angle of the retard pad 200 are set respectively.

The first card 220 is sent out by rotation of a feed roller (not shown), and the leading end of the card 220 is brought into contact with the contact surface 21.
2, the retard pad 200 is brought into contact with the spring member 21.
It is turned around the axis of the turning shaft 202 against the urging force of 0, and stopped at the forward turning limit position. After the rotation is stopped, and before the rotation is stopped, the retard pad 200 and the card guide member 2 are elastically deformed by the retard pad holding member 204, the card guide member 216, and the like.
16 is allowed and the first card 220
Is allowed. However, the second and subsequent cards 22
Transmission of 0 is reliably prevented by the facing surface 214.

After the first card 220 has been sent out and taken out as described above, the retard pad 200 rotated to the forward rotation limit position is connected to the spring member 2.
The card is rotated to the reverse rotation limit position by the urging force of 10, and is returned to a state of waiting for the next card 220 to be sent out. In the present embodiment, by changing the relative position between the contact surface 212 and the rotation shaft 202, the contact surface 212 is separated from the card guide surface 218 as the retard pad 200 rotates in the forward direction.
It is also possible to omit the defining part 206 that defines the forward rotation limit of the retard pad 200 and allow the retard pad 200 to pass the first card 220 only by the rotation. Conversely, the retard pad holding member 204 can hold the retard pad 200 so as to be able to approach and separate from the card guide surface 218, and can also urge the retard pad 200 toward the card guide surface 218 by the urging means. This embodiment corresponds to the embodiment of FIG. 1 in which an urging means for urging the retard pad 72 in a direction to rotate in the forward direction is provided.

As in the above embodiment, the retard pad 7
2 can be turned, the feed roller 36 is provided with a rotation for separation, and the generation of a moment in the opposite direction on the retard pad 72 is adopted.
Particularly good card double feed prevention effect can be obtained,
A double feed prevention effect can be obtained by employing any two of these together, or employing only one of them.

For example, as in the above-described conventional device, the retard pad is attached to the retard pad held in the retard pad holding device so that the retard pad can approach only the card guide surface. By providing the biasing means for biasing at a position offset to the downstream side in the card sending direction, the biasing force of the biasing means and the reaction force applied to the retard pad from the card guide surface based on the biasing force are reduced. Based on this, a reverse rotational moment is generated in the retard pad. Traditionally,
Since the frictional resistance between the retard pad and the retard pad holding device is increased by the positive rotational moment generated in the retard pad when the card is sent out, pushing back of the retard pad by the first card becomes unstable,
In some cases, the card was not properly delivered. However, as described above, the relative positions of the card guide surface, the retard pad holding device, and the urging means are set so that a reverse rotational moment is generated in the retard pad. If this is the case, the frictional resistance is reduced by that much, the twisting between the two is reduced, and the force required for pushing back the retard pad is stabilized. It is important to stabilize the force required for this push-back in preventing double feed.

The present invention is made of sheet materials other than cards, for example, notebooks, business cards, medical records, cardboard, envelopes, polyester films, vinyl sheets, steel sheets, etc., and various materials such as paper, synthetic resin, wood, metal and the like. The present invention can be applied to a sheet-like material sending device that sends out a given sheet-like material. Also,
The present invention can also be implemented in a mode in which the combination of the components of each of the above embodiments is changed. In addition, without departing from the scope of the claims, the present invention can be implemented in various modified and improved forms based on the knowledge of those skilled in the art.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a front view showing a main part of a card sending device according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a front view showing a separating device of the card sending device.

FIG. 3 is a right side view of FIG. 2;

FIG. 4 is an exploded perspective view of the separation device.

FIG. 5 is a diagram showing an extracted portion of the control device of the card sending device that is relevant to the present invention.

FIG. 6 is a diagram illustrating the operation of the separation device when a card is sent out in the card sending device.

FIG. 7 is a diagram showing a state in which a card is sent out in the card sending device.

FIG. 8 is a diagram showing another state in which a card is sent out in the card sending device.

FIG. 9 is a flowchart illustrating a transmission preparation routine stored in a computer of the control device.

FIG. 10 is a flowchart showing a sending routine stored in a computer of the control device.

FIG. 11 is a diagram showing a state in which the sending of a card by a feed roller is completed in the card sending device.

FIG. 12 is a diagram showing a state in which a card is sent out in a card sending device according to another embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 13 is a diagram showing another state in which a card is sent out in the card sending device of FIG. 12;

14 is a diagram showing still another state in which a card is sent out in the card sending device of FIG.

FIG. 15 is a diagram showing a state in which a card is sent out in a card sending device according to still another embodiment of the present invention.

[Explanation of symbols]

 Reference Signs List 10 apparatus main body 32 card 36 feed roller 40 card guide member 46 feed roller drive device 48 electric motor 64 card guide surface 70 separating device 72 retard pad 74 retard pad holding device 76 retard pad holding member 140 tension coil spring 150, 152 photoelectric sensor 160 Control device 200 Retard pad 204 Retard pad holding member 210 Spring member 216 Card guide member 218 Card guide surface 220 Card 230 Retard pad holding member 232 Retard pad 250 Separation device

Claims (5)

[Claims] An apparatus body for accommodating a plurality of sheet-like objects in a state of being in surface contact with each other, and capable of contacting an endmost one of a plurality of sheet-like objects accommodated in the apparatus body and extending in a delivery direction. A feed roller rotatable about a right-angled rotation axis, a roller driving device for rotating the feed roller, and a guide roller disposed downstream of the feed roller in the feed direction to guide a leading end of a sheet-like material fed by the feed roller. A guide member supported and guided by a surface, a retard pad disposed close to the guide surface of the guide member, and the retard pad capable of approaching / separating from the guide surface and being substantially aligned with the rotation axis of the feed roller. A retard pad holding device for rotatably holding a limited angle around a parallel rotation axis, and an urging hand for urging the retard pad in a direction approaching the guide surface. A sheet-like object delivery device comprising a step. 2. An apparatus main body for accommodating a plurality of sheet-like objects in a state of being in surface contact with each other; A feed roller rotatable about a right-angled rotation axis, a roller driving device for rotating the feed roller, and a guide roller disposed downstream of the feed roller in the feed direction to guide a leading end of a sheet-like material fed by the feed roller. A guide member supported and guided by a surface, a retard pad disposed close to the guide surface of the guide member, a retard pad holding device for holding the retard pad so as to be able to approach and separate from the guide surface; Urging means for urging the retard pad in a direction approaching the guide surface, and the guide member, the retard pad holding device, and the urging means. The relative position is based on the biasing force of the biasing means and the force acting directly between the guide surface and the retard pad based on the biasing force or indirectly through the sheet-like material, based on the retard pad,
A sheet-feeding device, wherein a rotational moment is set to be opposite to a rotational moment based on a frictional force acting between the sheet-like object and the retard pad when the sheet-like object is delivered. 3. The retard pad holding device is characterized in that the retard pad holding device holds the retard pad so as to be rotatable at a limited angle around a rotation axis substantially parallel to a rotation axis of the feed roller. The sheet-like article sending device according to claim 2. 4. The feed roller driving device includes a rotation control unit that applies a separation rotation including a reverse rotation at a set angle to the feed roller, and then applies a forward rotation that is a normal rotation to the feed roller. The sheet delivery device according to any one of claims 1 to 3. 5. A sheet feeding method for feeding a plurality of sheets in a state of being in surface contact with each other by a feed roller which comes into contact with an end of the plurality of sheets in an apparatus body accommodating the plurality of sheets. A preparatory step of providing the feed roller with a separation rotation including at least one reverse rotation of a predetermined angle, and a main step of providing the feed roller with a normal rotation for delivery after the step. Sheet-like material delivery method.