JP4163560B2 - Paper sheet transport device - Google Patents

Description

[0001]
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to a paper sheet transport apparatus that transports paper sheets such as mail and banknotes by changing the direction.
[0002]
[Prior art]
This type of paper sheet transporting apparatus sandwiches a first transport mechanism that transports paper sheets in a first direction and a leading end side in the transport direction of the paper sheets transported from the first transport mechanism. A pair of conveying rollers for reversing the direction conveyed in the forward and reverse directions and a paper sheet conveyed in the opposite direction by the pair of conveying rollers are introduced and conveyed in a second direction opposite to the first direction. The second transport mechanism is provided on the carry-out side of the first transport mechanism and moves to the carry-in side of the second transport mechanism by hitting the rear end side in the carry-out direction of the paper sheets carried out from the first transport mechanism. There is a thing which has a hitting mechanism to let it go.
[0003]
In such a paper sheet transport device, when the paper sheet transported from the first transport mechanism is struck and moved to the carry-in side of the second transport mechanism, it is affected by the thickness and waist of the paper sheet. There is a demand for a device that can move reliably without any reference (see, for example, Patent Document 1).
[0004]
[Patent Document 1]
JP, 2002-128356, A [Problems to be solved by the invention]
However, the conventional hitting mechanism indirectly hits the paper sheet with a constant hit amount from the back side of the transport belt constituting the first transport mechanism, regardless of the thickness of the paper sheet or the strength of the waist. Therefore, thick paper sheets and stiff paper sheets carried out from the first transport mechanism can be moved to the second transport mechanism side, but thin paper sheets or weak paper sheets In such a case, the tapping force was absorbed and could not be reliably moved to the second transport mechanism side.
[0005]
For this reason, thin paper sheets and paper sheets without waist cannot be introduced into the second conveying mechanism even if they are fed backward by a pair of conveying rollers for direction reversal. Thus, there is a problem that a jam occurs or the paper is conveyed in a broken state.
[0006]
Therefore, the present invention stably controls the second sheet by variably controlling the hit amount of the sheet according to the thickness and waist strength of the sheet carried out from the first conveying means. It is an object of the present invention to provide a paper sheet conveying apparatus that can be moved to a conveying means.
[0007]
[Means for Solving the Problems]
In order to solve the above-described problem, the first aspect of the present invention provides a first transport unit that transports a paper sheet in a first direction, and a thickness of the paper sheet transported by the first transport unit. Detection means for detecting, a pair of transport rollers that rotate in the forward and reverse directions while sandwiching the paper sheet transported from the first transport means, and paper that is transported by rotating the transport roller pair in the reverse direction A second conveying means for introducing leaves and conveying in a second direction opposite to the first direction; and a carry-out side of the first conveying means, wherein the leaves are carried out from the first conveying means. By the hitting means for hitting the rear end side in the carry-out direction of the paper sheet to be moved to the carry-in side of the second transport means, and by the hitting means according to the thickness of the paper sheet detected by the detection means Control means for variably controlling the amount of hitting the paper sheet.
[0008]
According to a sixth aspect of the present invention, there is provided a first conveying unit that conveys a paper sheet in a first direction, and a detecting unit that detects the waist strength of the paper sheet conveyed by the first conveying unit. A pair of conveying rollers for reversing the direction in which the paper sheet unloaded from the first conveying means is nipped and conveyed in the forward and reverse directions, and the paper conveyed in the reverse direction by the pair of conveying rollers. A second transport unit that introduces leaves and transports the leaf in a second direction opposite to the first direction; and is provided on a carry-out side of the first transport unit, and is unloaded from the first transport unit. Tapping means for striking the rear end side of the paper sheet in the carry-out direction and moving it to the carry-in side of the second transport means, and the pushing means according to the waist strength of the paper sheet detected by the detection means And control means for variably controlling the amount of hitting the paper sheet.
[0009]
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
Hereinafter, the present invention will be described in detail with reference to embodiments shown in the drawings.
FIG. 1 is a plan view showing a paper sheet direction reversing device as a paper sheet conveying device according to an embodiment of the present invention.
[0010]
This direction reversing device detects in advance the position of a stamp affixed to the postal matter M in order to align the direction and front and back of the postal matter M as a paper sheet, and the postal matter M according to the detection result. It is used for the work of selectively distributing.
Although the mail M will be described as an example, the medium handled by this apparatus is not limited to the mail.
[0011]
The direction reversing device includes first and second transport belts 1 and 2 as first transport means for sandwiching and transporting the postal matter M in the arrow A direction in a standing state. A first transport path H1 for transporting the mail M in the direction of arrow A (first direction) is formed by the opposing surfaces of the first and second transport belts 1 and 2. The first transport belt 1 is stretched between the driving roller 3 and the driven rollers 4 and 5, and the second transport belt 2 is stretched on the idle roller 6.
[0012]
A third conveyor belt 8 is disposed in close contact with the surface of the second conveyor belt 2 that is turned back by the idle roller 6. The third conveying belt 8 is stretched around the driving roller 7 and rotated counterclockwise. The third conveyor belt 8 and the second conveyor belt 2 constitute a second conveyor means. Due to the opposing surfaces of the second transport belt 2 and the third transport belt 8, the postal matter M is taken in and transported in the direction of arrow B (second direction) which is opposite to the transport direction of the first transport path H1. A second transport path H2 is formed.
[0013]
The first transport path H1 is provided with a transmissive optical sensor array 11 for detecting the leading end and the trailing end of the mail M to be carried out. A transport roller 12 is disposed in the vicinity of the transmissive optical sensor array 11, and a pinch roller 13 is disposed facing the transport roller 12.
[0014]
A rotating shaft 13 a of the pinch roller 13 is supported by the portal frame 15 via a bearing, and is urged toward the conveying roller 12 by a spring 16. The portal frame 15 is moved up and down by a guide rail (not shown). A sensing element 18 is attached to the portal frame 15.
[0015]
In the vicinity of the sensing element 18, an MR element 19 and a magnet 20 as detection means are attached to a bracket (not shown). A change in the output of the MR element 19 is detected when the postal matter M passes between the transporting roller 12 and the pinch roller 13, and from this detection result, the postal matter M transported to the transport roller pair 21 for direction reversal described later is detected. The thickness is judged.
[0016]
A guide plate 22 is disposed on the downstream side in the carry-out direction of the first conveying belt 1, and a direction reversing roller 23 is provided on the back side of the guide plate 22. A part of the direction reversing roller 23 protrudes inward from the surface of the guide plate 22 and is rotatably supported. The rotating shaft of the direction reversing roller 23 is directly connected to the shaft of the drive motor 25 via a coupling. By switching the rotation direction of the drive motor 25, the direction of the mail M is reversed. A pinch roller 27 is disposed so as to face the direction reversing roller 23. The pinch roller 27 is attached to one end of an L-shaped lever 29 that rotates about a support shaft 28 and swings.
[0017]
The other end of the L-shaped lever 29 is biased by a spring 30, and the pinch roller 27 is pressed against the direction reversing roller 23 by this biasing. The direction reversing roller 23 and the pinch roller 27 constitute a conveying roller pair 21.
The pressing portion between the pinch roller 27 and the direction reversing roller 23 is located on an extension line in the carry-out direction of the first conveying belt 1, and the first conveying belt 1 and the second conveying belt 2 are separated from each other. The distance between the point to be pressed and the pressing point between the direction reversing roller 23 and the pinch roller 27 is shorter than the mail M having the minimum length handled by the apparatus.
[0018]
A transmissive optical sensor array 32 is provided in the vicinity of the pressing point between the direction reversing roller 23 and the pinch roller 27, and this transmissive optical sensor array 32 detects the presence or absence of the postal matter M in the pressing portion. In the space surrounded by the first conveyor belt 1 and the third conveyor belt 8, the mail M on the first conveyor belt 1 is directly struck to forcibly move to the third conveyor belt 8 side. A hitting mechanism 34 is provided as hitting means. The hitting mechanism 34 includes a hitting lever 37 and a stepping motor 35 that is directly connected to a rotating shaft 38 of the hitting lever 37.
[0019]
In order to detect the position of the hitting lever 37, a transmissive optical sensor array 40 is provided. After the hitting lever 37 hits the postal matter M, the hitting lever 37 repeats the operation of reversing and returning to the position detected by the transmissive optical sensor array 40.
[0020]
The hitting lever 37 is bent so as to be substantially L-shaped from the middle part, and one side of the hitting lever 37 as a boundary is behind the delivery direction of the postal matter M carried out from the first transport path H1. Used as a hitting portion 37a for hitting the end side, and used as a guide portion 37b for guiding the postal matter M transported in the reverse direction by the reverse rotation of the direction reversing roller 23 to the second transport path H1. It is like that. That is, when the hitting lever 37 stops at the position where the postal matter M is hit by the hitting portion 37a, the guide portion 37b faces the third conveying belt 8 and is conveyed by the reverse rotation of the direction reversing roller 23. The shape is such that the object M is guided so as to be guided between the second conveyor belt 2 and the third conveyor belt 8.
[0021]
FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing a drive control system of the hitting lever 37 described above.
The MR element 19 for detecting the thickness of the mail M is connected to a control device 55 as a control means via a transmission circuit, and the stepping motor 35 of the hitting lever 37 is connected to the control device 55 via the control circuit. Yes.
[0022]
The control device 55 rotationally drives the stepping motor 35 in accordance with the output value of the MR element 19 that changes as the postal matter M passes between the conveying roller 12 and the pinch roller 13, and the amount of rotation of the hitting lever 37 is variable. Control. That is, when the postal matter M is thick, the rotation amount of the hitting lever 37 is reduced to reduce the hitting width of the postal matter M. When the postal matter M is thin, the hitting lever 37 The amount of rotation of the mail M is increased by increasing the amount of rotation. As a result, in the case of a thin mail M, the space between the third conveying belt 8 and the hitting lever 37 is narrowed, and the position of the roller 6 and the hitting lever 37 overlaps so that the mail M is transferred to the conveying belt. 2 and the hitting lever 37 can be prevented from being pinched.
[0023]
Next, the operation of the paper sheet direction reversing device configured as described above will be described.
The postal matter M is sandwiched between the first transporting belt 1 and the second transporting belt 2 and transported in the direction of arrow A. After the front end of the postal matter M is detected by the transmission type optical sensor array 11, the rear end is detected. Measure the time to be done. Next, a change in the output of the MR element 19 when the mail M passes between the transport roller 12 and the pinch roller 13 is detected.
[0024]
Until the front end of the postal matter M reaches the position between the direction reversing roller 23 and the pinch roller 27, the outer peripheral speed of the direction reversing roller 23 is clockwise so as to be equal to the conveying speed of the postal matter M. The direction reversing roller 23 is rotated forward.
Based on the length of the postal matter M calculated from the result detected by the transmissive optical sensor array 11, when the tip of the postal matter M is sandwiched between the direction reversing roller 23 and the pinch roller 27, the direction reversing roller 23 is accelerated. When the rear end of the postal matter M comes out from between the first conveyor belt 1 and the second conveyor belt 2, the deceleration is stopped.
[0025]
At the same time that the rear end of the postal matter M has come out of the space between the first conveyor belt 1 and the conveyor belt 2, the operation of the hitting lever 37 is started, and is determined in advance based on the detection result of the output change amount of the MR element 19. Rotate by the angle and hit the rear end of the mail M to stop. That is, when the thickness of the mail piece M is large by an angle corresponding to the thickness of the mail piece M, for example, as shown in FIG. When the thickness of M is small, as shown in FIG. 4, the rotation angle of the hitting lever 37 is increased to hit the rear end portion of the postal matter M.
[0026]
Then, after the stop time of the direction reversing roller 23 corresponding to the length of the mail M has elapsed, the direction reversing roller 23 is counterclockwise so that the interval between the mails M being continuously conveyed becomes constant. Reverse around. At this time, since the hitting lever 37 is swung by an angle corresponding to the thickness of the postal matter M, even if it is a thin postal item or a postal item without a waist, it is surely moved to the third conveyor belt 8 side. Has been moved.
[0027]
At this time, the guide portion 37b of the hitting lever 37 fills the space between the first conveyor belt 1 and the second conveyor belt 2, and the postal matter M is transferred to the second conveyor belt 2 and the third conveyor belt. It serves as a guide that leads to 8. As a result, the postal matter M is fed between the second conveying belt 2 and the third conveying belt 8 and is nipped and conveyed in the direction of arrow B. When the time until the postal matter M is sandwiched between the second conveyance belt 2 and the third conveyance belt 3 after the direction reversal roller 23 starts to reverse is reversed, the tapping lever 37 rotates in the reverse direction. When the movement is started and detected by the transmissive optical sensor array 40, the rotation is stopped.
[0028]
When the rear end of the postal matter M sent out by the rotation of the direction reversing roller 23 (in this case, the right end of the postal matter M) is detected by the transmissive optical sensor array 32, the rotation of the direction reversing roller 23 is stopped. If the subsequent mail M is detected by the transmissive optical sensor array 11, the direction reversing roller 23 starts to rotate normally and repeats the above operation.
[0029]
As described above, according to this embodiment, the postal matter M is variably controlled in accordance with the thickness of the postal matter M sent out from the first transport path H1. Regardless of the thickness, it can be reliably moved to the second transport path H2.
[0030]
Further, when the postal matter M is reversely fed by the direction reversing roller 23, the postal matter M is guided by the guide portion 37 b of the hitting lever 37, so that the postal matter M can be reliably fed into the second transport path H <b> 2.
[0031]
FIG. 5 is a plan view showing a paper sheet direction reversing device according to the second embodiment of the present invention.
The same parts as those shown in the first embodiment are denoted by the same reference numerals and the description thereof is omitted.
[0032]
A transport roller mechanism 41 is provided in the vicinity of the transmissive optical sensor array 11 in the first transport path H1 in FIG. As shown in FIG. 6, the transport roller mechanism 41 includes a plurality of pairs of lower transport roller pairs 42 including roller portions 42 a and 42 b at a predetermined interval in a direction orthogonal to the transport direction of the postal matter M. ing.
[0033]
On the upper side of the lower conveyance roller pairs 42, upper conveyance roller pairs 44, each including roller portions 44a and 44b, are in rolling contact. Between the roller portions 44 a and 44 b of the upper conveying roller pair 44, a pressing roller 43 is disposed.
The lower conveyance roller pairs 42 are rotationally driven by a drive motor 48. The upper conveying roller pair 44 is supported by a frame 45, and the frame 45 is biased downward by a spring 44. By this urging, the upper transport roller pair 44 is pressed against the lower transport roller pair 42. The pressing roller 43 is supported by a support lever 46, and a strain gauge 47 is attached to the support lever 46. The frame 45 and the support lever 46 are fixed with screws.
Note that the upper and lower conveying roller pairs 42 and 44 and the pressing roller 43 are arranged at positions avoiding the conveying belt 1 and the conveying belt 2.
[0034]
Thus, the postal matter M sent out from the transport belt 49 is introduced and transported between the pair of transport rollers 42 and 44 at the upper and lower parts. At this time, the postal matter M is pressed by the pressing rollers 43. Deforms into a corrugated shape in the direction of movement, forming a waist. For this reason, a reaction force according to the rigidity of the postal matter M in the conveying direction acts on the pressing rollers 43... And the rigidity of the postal matter M in the conveying direction is measured by the strain gauge 47. As is well known, the strain gauge 47 uses the characteristic that the electrical resistance changes due to the strain of the object. If a bridge circuit is configured, a change in resistance value can be output as a change in voltage signal. This voltage signal becomes the measurement result. The waist strength of the postal matter M carried out to the direction reversing device is determined from the detection result. Based on the result of detecting the output of the strain gauge 47, the amount of rotation of the hitting lever 37 is variably controlled. That is, when the postal piece M has a large waist, the swinging angle of the hitting lever 37 is small, and when the postal matter M has a low waist, the swinging angle of the hitting lever 37 is large. .
[0035]
Also in this embodiment, the same operational effects as those of the first embodiment described above can be obtained.
Of course, the present invention can be variously modified within the scope of the gist thereof.
[0036]
【The invention's effect】
As described above, since the present invention variably controls the hit amount of the paper sheet according to the thickness and waist strength of the paper sheet transported from the first transport means, the transport from the first transport means. Regardless of the thickness or waist strength of the paper sheet, the paper sheet can be reliably moved to the second conveying means side.
[0037]
Therefore, it is possible to stably feed and transport the paper sheet to the second transport means without causing the paper sheet to jam or break.
[Brief description of the drawings]
FIG. 1 is a plan view schematically showing a paper sheet direction reversing device according to a first embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing a drive control system of a hitting lever according to the embodiment.
FIG. 3 is a view showing a state in which the hitting lever of the embodiment hits a thick mail piece;
FIG. 4 is a view showing a state in which the hitting lever of the embodiment hits a thin mail piece.
FIG. 5 is a plan view schematically showing a paper sheet direction reversing device according to a second embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 6 is a side view showing a measurement mechanism for measuring the waist strength of the mail according to the embodiment.
[Explanation of symbols]
M ... postal matter (paper sheets), 1 ... first transport belt (first transport means), 2 ... second transport belt (first transport means), 8 ... third transport belt (second transport belt) , 12 ... conveying roller, 13 ... pinch roller, 15 ... support frame, 18 ... sensing element, 19 ... MR element (detecting means), 20 ... magnet, 21 ... conveying roller pair, 23 ... roller for direction reversal 27 ... Pinch roller, 34 ... Tapping mechanism (striking means), 35 ... Stepping motor, 37 ... Tapping lever, 40 ... Tapping lever detection sensor, 42 ... Conveying roller pair, 43 ... Pressure roller, 46 ... Support lever, 47 ... strain gauge (detection means), 55 ... control device (control means).

Claims (7)

First conveying means for conveying paper sheets in a first direction;
Detecting means for detecting the thickness of the paper sheet conveyed by the first conveying means;
A pair of transport rollers that rotate in the forward and reverse directions while sandwiching the paper sheet transported from the first transport means;
A second conveying means for introducing a sheet conveyed by rotating the conveying roller pair in the opposite direction and conveying the sheet in a second direction opposite to the first direction;
A tapping means provided on the carry-out side of the first carrying means, and tapping the rear end side in the carry-out direction of the paper sheet carried out from the first carrying means and moving it to the carry-in side of the second carrying means; ,
And a control unit that variably controls a hit amount of the paper sheet by the hitting unit according to the thickness of the paper sheet detected by the detecting unit. The hitting means has a hitting lever that is bent so as to form a substantially L shape from a midway portion, and the paper that is carried out from the first conveying means on one side with the bent portion of the hitting lever as a boundary. The rear end side of the leaves in the carry-out direction is used as a hitting section, and the other side is used as a guide section for guiding the paper sheets conveyed in the reverse direction by the reverse rotation of the conveying roller pair to the second conveying means. The paper sheet conveying apparatus according to claim 1. The detecting means includes a fixed roller and a moving roller provided so as to be able to contact with and separate from the fixed roller. 2. The paper sheet transport apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the thickness of the paper sheet is detected based on a moving amount. 2. The paper sheet conveying apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the conveying roller pair includes a direction reversing roller and a pinch roller that is in rolling contact with the direction reversing roller. 2. The paper sheet transport apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the first and second transport means have a pair of transport belts, and the paper sheets are sandwiched and transported by the transport belt pairs. First conveying means for conveying paper sheets in a first direction;
Detecting means for detecting the waist strength of the paper sheet conveyed by the first conveying means;
A pair of conveyance rollers for reversing the direction for conveying in the forward and reverse directions while sandwiching the leading end side in the unloading direction of the paper sheets unloaded from the first conveying means;
A second conveying means for introducing a sheet conveyed in the opposite direction by the conveying roller pair and conveying the sheet in a second direction opposite to the first direction;
A tapping means provided on the carry-out side of the first carrying means, and tapping the rear end side in the carry-out direction of the paper sheet carried out from the first carrying means and moving it to the carry-in side of the second carrying means; ,
And a control means for variably controlling the amount of the paper sheet hit by the hitting means in accordance with the stiffness of the paper sheet detected by the detecting means. A plurality of the detection means are arranged in a direction orthogonal to the paper sheet conveyance direction, a plurality of support rollers for supporting the paper sheets, and the paper sheets supported by the support rollers are pushed between the support rollers. The paper sheet conveying apparatus according to claim 6, further comprising: a pressing roller that forms a waist and a strain gauge that measures a pressing amount of the pressing roller.

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