JPS5811806Y2 - Paper sheet front and back alignment device - Google Patents

Description

[Detailed Description of the Invention] The present invention relates to a front-to-back alignment device used in an automatic mail sorting and stamping machine that sorts and stamps envelopes and letters (hereinafter referred to as paper sheets).

Normally, an automatic mail sorting and stamping machine is mainly composed of a sheet top/bottom sorting section 1, a front and back sorting section 2, and a stamping section 3, as shown in FIG.

Now, regarding these arrangements, connecting them in a straight line increases the overall size of the device, so usually the first
As shown in the figure, the main conveyance path is shaped like a flat S-shape or a flat inverted S-shape.

As is clear from this arrangement, there is a sheet reversing belt 4, usually called a twist held, a linearly advancing belt 5, and a first pair of detectors 5a- for detecting the detected portion of the sheet.
6b-, in the filter paper sheet alignment section 1, which is composed of the first branch section 7 and the first merging section 8, the paper sheet upside down conveyance path and the paper sheet upside down non-inverted conveyance path are almost parallel, so that the conveyance distance is In terms of arrangement, it is easy to make the transport time approximately the same.

Therefore, the conveyance path 10 is fed one by one from the supply section 9 at a constant pitch.
It is possible to make the paper sheets introduced into the conveyance path hardly disturbed even when passing through the confluence point 8 without changing the conveyance speeds of both conveyance paths.

However, the first conveyance path 11 that allows the paper sheet to advance as it is, the second conveyance path 12 that includes a portion that reverses the traveling direction of the paper sheet, and the second detector that detects the detected part of the paper sheet. 1
3a, 13b, second branch part 14 and second merging part 1
5, the distance between the branching part 14 and the merging part 15 of the first conveyance path and the second conveyance path is different for the purpose of making the apparatus more compact. Usually, the conveyance path 12 of No. 2 is shortened.

Therefore, at the merging section 15, the conveyance pitch of the paper industry changes irregularly, so when the paper sheets are branched at the third branch section 16 and stacked at the stacking section 17, the stacked paper sheets are not stacked properly, such as with uneven tips. There is a phenomenon of disturbance.

Therefore, when connecting to the next stage of equipment, such as a postal code reading and sorting machine, there is a drawback that a temporary stacking and sending unit (connecting machine - not shown) must be provided.

In addition, as a conventional front and back alignment device,
There is a technique disclosed in Japanese Patent No. 35378, which includes a branch part, a reversing mechanism, a delivery device, and a transfer path for rejoining the main transfer path on the side of the main transfer path.

In particular, in this example, the transfer time from the dividing section of the main transfer path to the confluence section is equal to the transfer time of the inverted paper sheet from the reversing mechanism section to the confluence section, but the paper sheets in the reversing mechanism section are , the paper is sent to the merging section only when there is a sheet heading from the branching section to the reversing mechanism section, so in the flow of sheets after merging, there may be some slippage, or there may be paper that is being transferred. The order of the leaves may change.

In addition, operations such as stopping and retransferring the delivery device are required, and a considerably complicated control means is required.

Particularly, when a sheet processing device that does not allow a change in the order is subsequently connected, the change in the order has been a major drawback.

Therefore, the purpose of the present invention is to reduce the conveyance pitch fluctuation of paper sheets.
It is an object of the present invention to provide a device for aligning the front and back sides of paper sheets, which can align the front and back sides of paper sheets without causing omissions or changes in the conveyance order.

First, the principle of the present invention will be explained with reference to FIG.

In FIG. 2, reference numeral 19 denotes a first conveyance path for conveying paper sheets introduced into the inlet 20 in the direction of arrow A. 1
The second conveyance path is the second conveyance path.

This second conveyance path includes a reversing section 24 that reverses the traveling direction of the sheet, and furthermore, since the second conveyance path is shorter than the first conveyance path, a second conveyance path is provided in the middle of the second conveyance path. 1 conveyance path and 2nd conveyance path
In order to equalize the transport time from the branching part of the transport path to the convergence part, the paper sheet is provided with a delay section 25 that delays the transport time of the sheet.

Note that 23 indicates a branch path included in the second conveyance path, and 26
indicates a discharge path from the reversing section to the merging section, which is also included in the second conveyance path.

Under such a configuration, the paper sheets that have been vertically aligned are aligned one by one with the detected part facing down, that is, in the state shown in a and b in Fig. 3. Introduced on the pitch.

A detector (not shown) determines whether these paper sheets are a or b, and if, for example, a is made to take the first conveyance path and b is made to take the second conveyance path, they will be arranged as shown in a at the confluence section 22. Furthermore, if the paper sheets that are conveyed through the second conveyance path by the delay unit 25 are delayed so that the conveyance time on both conveyance paths is equal, then the paper sheets can be conveyed at a constant pitch for each passage. Even after the paper sheets introduced into the introduction section 20 pass through the confluence section 22, they are conveyed again at a constant pitch.

Therefore, the stacking condition in the stacking section, which has been a problem in the past, is cleaned up and operability is improved, and since the conveyance order does not change, there is no need for a coupling device when directly coupled to a postal code reading and sorting machine. Useful for downsizing equipment.

Next, the present invention will be explained in detail with reference to FIG. 4, which shows a first embodiment of the present invention.

In FIG. 4, the thick line 28 indicates the belt 2 that is applied to the roller group.
9.30°31.32 The thick line 33 indicates the belt 31.34.35.36.37, stopper 38, photoelectric detector 39, belt extrusion roller 4
A second conveyance path including 0 is shown.

Among the second conveyance path 33, especially the belt 35 and the belt 36
, a stopper 38, a photoelectric detector 39, and a belt pushing roller 40 constitute a paper industry reversing section that reverses the traveling direction of paper sheets.

To explain the operation of the sheet reversing section, the sheet that has been conveyed between the bells) 31 and 34 moves in the opposite direction to the conveyance direction of the sheets, and the sheets that are facing each other are moved between the bells) 35 and 36. The movement of the belt is stopped by the friction between the belt 35 and the stopper 38, and at the same time, the belt pushing roller 40 is driven in response to the output of a paper sheet detector (not shown), and the belt is moved. 36 is then sent out in the opposite direction in order to press it against the belt 35, and further conveyed between the belts 36 and 37, and sent to the junction with the first conveyance path 28.

The operation of this reversing section is shown in Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 49-59700.

Further, in the second conveyance path 33, bells 31 and 34 constitute an introduction section to the reversing section, and bells 36 and 37 constitute a discharging section from the reversing section, respectively.

The direction of belt travel within these components is clearly indicated by an arrow on the solid line representing the belt.

Further, the belt extrusion row 241 located at the tip of the introduction section is a detector not shown in this figure.

detects the detected part of the paper sheet and selects whether the paper sheet introduced into the transport path 28 should proceed along the transport path 28 or the transport path 33 according to the detection signal. roller, belt 29.30.31
．． Together with 34, it constitutes a branch part.

On the other hand, belt 29 and belt 32 constitute a confluence section.

Under such a configuration belt 35 and belt 36.3
By slowing down the conveyance speed of 7, if the conveyance speed of the sheet from the reversing section to the discharge section is slowed down and the conveyance time of both conveyance paths from the branching section to the convergence section is equalized, one sheet is delivered from the supply section (not shown). After the sheets are fed at a constant pitch, the paper sheets are detected by a second detector after the top and bottom have been aligned, and are branched into the first conveyance path 28 or the second conveyance path 33 according to the detection signal.

Those branched into the conveyance path 28 are conveyed at the same conveyance speed to the merging point in a conveyance time T.

On the other hand, since the paper sheet branched to the conveyance path 33 is conveyed at the same conveyance speed as the previous conveyance speed until it reaches the reversal section, phenomena such as temporary stagnation or jamming do not occur at the divergence section.

Next, since both the sending speed and the conveying speed are reduced from the reversing section, the sheet is conveyed to the merging section at a conveying speed lower than the previous conveying speed.

Now, if we consider the case where only one of the several sheets of paper that have been conveyed to the branching point at a constant speed and a constant pitch is conveyed to the conveyance path 33, in this case, only one sheet is conveyed to the conveyance path 33. So no problem will occur.

It is clear that if the conveyance time is adjusted to the above-mentioned T, the conveyance will be accelerated again at the merging point and the original conveyance state will be restored.

Next, consider a case where a plurality of sheets successively pass through the conveyance path 33.

The conveyance speed from the reversing section to the merging section, that is, the discharge speed is determined by the difference between the length of the first conveyance path 28 and the length of the second conveyance path 33, and for example, when the second conveyance path is short, it is slow. However, depending on the discharge speed and the length of the sheet, the conveyance state between the reversing section and the merging section may be as shown in FIGS. 5a and 5b.

Incidentally, FIG. 5C shows a normal conveyance state.

In the case of FIG. 5a, there is no problem because other sheets have not caught up before and after the sheet.

On the other hand, even in the case of FIG. 5, there is no problem as long as the position of the roller 42 that guides the introduction belt 37 to the discharge section is appropriately determined.

In other words, when the belt pushing roller 40 of the reversing section is driven to reverse the sheet, the sheet that overlaps with the sheet of paper and is located in front of the sheet is already at the position of the roller 42).
If a part of the paper is sandwiched between the paper sheets, the conveyance state will not be disturbed during the reversing operation.

Therefore, the conveyance time of the leading edge of the paper sheet after passing through the branching part and then passing through the confluence part becomes equal without any problems, and the paper conveyed through the conveyance path 33 is decelerated once but returns to the confluence part. After being accelerated and returning to the original conveying speed, after merging, the conveying pitches are conveyed one by one without overlapping in a state close to the original conveying pitch.

Therefore, when stacking at the next stage, there is no need to disturb the stacking state, or when connecting a postal code reader and sorter to the next stage, there is no need to use a connecting device, resulting in highly efficient operation and a reduction in floor space. It will be helpful.

Next, a second embodiment of the present invention is shown in FIG. 6. In FIG. Represents the conveyance path.

The presence or absence of paper sheets conveyed through the conveyance path 43 is detected by a photoelectric detector 45, and the time is determined from the difference in distance between the conveyance paths 51 and 43, the speed difference between both conveyance paths, and the mounting position of the photoelectric detector 45. After the sheet is temporarily stopped in the reversing section 44 for T', it is sent out again.

To explain the reversing mechanism in the second embodiment, a perforated suction belt 47 that moves in the opposite direction is attached to the end portion of the belt 52 that has conveyed the sheet, and is placed opposite the belt 52 and moved in the opposite direction.
6, and a vacuum chamber 48 having a suction port in contact with the belt 47 is arranged inside the belt 47.

Furthermore, an auxiliary vacuum chamber 49 is installed at the end to improve supply accuracy.
, a stopper 50 is provided.

To explain the operation, the sheet conveyed to the reversing section 44 via the conveyance path 43 is reliably stopped by the auxiliary vacuum chamber 49, the stopper 50, etc., and then the belt 47 is rotated via the clutch etc. , the paper sheet is attracted to the belt 47 and discharged.

All of the filter paper sheets conveyed through the conveyance path 43 in this way are stopped at the reversing section for a certain period of time, and sent out one by one from the reversing section again, and the paper sheets are conveyed through the conveyance path 42 or the conveyance path 43 for the stopping time T'. 2 from the branch to the confluence
If the transport times between points are made equal, the same effect as in the first embodiment can be obtained.

In the two examples described above, since the delay section 25 is provided in the conveyance path, there is an advantage that the conventional functions can be improved without changing the size of the apparatus while keeping the apparatus configuration almost the same as before.

As described above, according to the present invention, it is possible to provide a means that is extremely effective in practice in aligning the front and back sides of paper sheets.

In other words, conventionally, when aligning the front and back sides, fluctuations in the conveying pitch, especially dropouts and disturbances in the conveying order, occurred, but this invention eliminates the conventional drawbacks, improves the operability of paper sheets, and When connecting to a postal code reading and sorting machine, it is possible to omit the connecting device that was conventionally required, making it possible to downsize the device.

[Brief explanation of drawings]

Figure 1 is a simplified configuration diagram of a conventional front and back alignment device, Figure 2
The figure is a configuration diagram for explaining the principle of the device of the present invention, Figures 3a and 3b are front and back views of a postcard, Figures 4 and 6 are simplified configuration diagrams of different embodiments of the invention, and Figure 5 is FIG. 3 is a diagram for explaining the operation of the present invention.

Claims (1)

[Scope of utility model registration request] It is composed of a first conveyance path for conveying paper sheets, and a second conveyance path that branches off from the middle of the first conveyance path Q and joins the first conveyance path again, and the second conveyance path is means for reversing the conveyance direction of the paper sheet, and means for making the time for the sheet to pass through the second conveyance path equal to the time for the sheet to pass from the branching point to the confluence of the first conveyance path; A device for aligning the front and back sides of paper sheets, comprising: