JP3308161B2 - Media separation mechanism - Google Patents

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION The present invention is an integrated medium
The present invention relates to a medium separation mechanism that separates and feeds out one sheet at a time by passing through a gate section .

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art A conventional medium separation mechanism is disclosed in JP-B-46-2.
As disclosed in Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 6245, a medium passage gap wider than the thickness of one medium to be separated and narrower than the thickness of two sheets to be separated is set, and a smooth slope is formed at the front end on the side of the medium accumulation surface. Media separation gate having

[0003]

In the conventional medium separation mechanism, the medium passage gap formed by the medium separation gate is fixed. For this reason, when a passbook is handled as a medium, if a passbook with a different number of pages is handled, the thickness of the passbook is different, so that the medium passing gap needs to be changed, and there is a problem that an adjustment operation is required, which is troublesome.

[0004]

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION In order to achieve the above-mentioned object, the present invention comprises a gate section for preventing the feeding of a medium other than the medium to be fed, and by passing an integrated medium through the gate section. In the medium separation mechanism that separates and feeds out one sheet at a time, the gate portion is used when feeding out the medium.
The surface in contact with the medium is smooth and has a restoring force against deformation.
Sheets and multiple sheets with resilience against deformation
Rubber plates are alternately stacked, and the length of each plate member is formed such that a medium passage gap in which the interval in the medium thickness direction is gradually reduced from the medium inlet side to the medium outlet side is formed.
In addition to the above, each plate member and the rubber plate are supported so as to be retractable in the medium feeding direction, and a portion of each plate material contacting the medium has an inclined surface bent in the medium feeding direction. And

[0005]

FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing an example of an embodiment of a medium separating mechanism according to the present invention. Medium stacker 1
The feed roller 2 is provided in the opening at the bottom of the feed roller 2. The feed roller 2 rotates by receiving a driving force from driving means such as a motor (not shown). In the medium stacker 1, a gate portion 1G is provided on the side of the medium discharge direction indicated by the arrow i so that a medium passage gap g is formed.

The gate portion 1G includes a fixed gate 3, a first hard resin plate 4, a first rubber plate 5, a second hard resin plate 6, and a second rubber plate, as viewed from the inside of the medium stacker 1. 7
Are arranged in this order. And
The medium passage gap g is different between a portion formed by the fixed gate 3 and a portion formed by the first hard resin plate 4.
The portion formed by the first hard resin plate 4 is made narrower, and the first hard resin plate 4 is formed between the portion formed by the first hard resin plate 4 and the portion formed by the first rubber plate 5.
And at the place formed by the fixed gate 3 and the place formed by the first rubber plate 5, the place formed by the first rubber plate 5 is narrowed. . In addition, in the portion formed by the first rubber plate 5 and the portion formed by the second hard resin plate 6, the portion formed by the second hard resin plate 6 is narrowed, and In the place formed by the hard resin plate 4 and the place formed by the second hard resin plate 6,
The portion formed by the second hard resin plate 6 is made narrower. Further, in the portion formed by the second hard resin plate 6 and the portion formed by the second rubber plate 7, the portion formed by the second hard resin plate 6 is made narrower and the first portion is formed. In the portion formed by the rubber plate 5 and the portion formed by the second rubber plate 7, the portion formed by the second rubber plate 7 is made narrower.

As described above, by making the medium passage gap g formed between each of the above elements and the bottom of the medium stacker 1 different in accordance with the thickness of the medium, it is possible to cope with a plurality of types of media having different thicknesses. The gate unit 1G is configured. FIG. 2 is a main part configuration diagram of the gate section of the medium separation mechanism of the present embodiment described above. The fixed gate 3 has a smooth slope on the side of the medium collecting surface 3a, and the medium passage gap g1 formed at the fixed gate 3 is assumed to be the thickest medium among the media used by the medium 8. In this case, the thickness is set to be wider than the thickness t of the medium 8 and narrower than the thickness 2t of two sheets of the medium 8 (2t>g1> t).

The first hard resin plate 4 and the second hard resin plate 6 have a hard property, and are made of a material having a smooth surface similarly to the fixed gate 3. It is supported so that it can be retracted in a direction that does not hinder the passage of the medium (the direction of arrow i). In addition, the first rubber plate 5 and the second rubber plate 7 have a sufficiently large restoring force due to deformation against the force Fm generated on the medium surface due to the close contact between the media, and always have the same force before and after the medium separating operation. It is made of a material that can maintain the medium passage gap, and is supported so that it can be retracted in a direction that does not hinder medium passage (the direction of arrow i) when the medium is transported in the direction of arrow i.

Here, the first and second hard resin plates 4,
6 and the first and second rubber plates 5 and 7 need to be supported such that the medium passage gap side can be retracted in the direction of the arrow i as described above. The first and second hard resin plates 4 and 6 and the first and second rubber plates 5 and 7 are independent from each other on the medium passage gap side with an adhesive. In addition, you may use the coupling means which does not use an adhesive.

As shown in FIG. 2, the hard resin plate and the rubber plate are provided alternately in the direction of arrow i in the order of the hard resin plate and the rubber plate. The medium contact surface is smooth and hard, and functions as one gate having a restoring force necessary for separating the medium. This combination is provided so that the medium passage gap g is narrower at the medium outlet side than at the medium inlet side, and the outermost hard resin plate, the second hard resin plate 6 in FIG. Is set to an interval at which the thinnest medium can be separated.

FIGS. 3 and 4 are explanatory views showing the operation of the present embodiment, and show the operation of separating the thickest medium. Here, FIG. 3 shows a state immediately before separation, and FIG. 4 shows a state after separation. When the feed roller 2 is rotated in the direction of the arrow, the maximum thickness medium 8 in contact with the feed roller 2 and the medium 9 above the maximum thickness medium 8 are transported in the direction of the arrow i. The thickest medium 8 in contact with the feed roller 2 can pass through the medium passage gap at the fixed gate 3, but the medium 9 above it hits the fixed gate 3 and is conveyed beyond the fixed gate 3. Never.

The leading end of the maximum thickness medium 8 abuts on the first hard resin plate 4 when passing through the fixed gate 3. At this time, the force for transporting the maximum thickness medium 8, that is, the force Fi generated by the friction between the feed roller 2 and the maximum thickness medium 8.
As a result, the first hard resin plate 4, the first rubber plate 5, the second hard resin plate 6, and the second rubber plate 7 are deformed in the direction of the arrow i, and the first hard resin plate 4 and the medium stacker 1 are deformed. A gap is formed between the first hard resin plate 4 and the bottom of the first hard resin plate 4 so as to allow the maximum thickness medium 8 to pass therethrough. When the maximum thickness medium 8 is further conveyed, the second
, And further deforms the second hard resin plate 6 and the second rubber plate 7 so that the maximum thickness medium 8
Is formed such that only the maximum thickness medium 8 in contact with the feed roller 2 passes through the gate portion 1G and is discharged from the medium stacker 1 as shown in FIG.

FIGS. 5 and 6 are explanatory views showing the operation of the present embodiment, and show the separation operation of the intermediate thick medium. Here, FIG. 5 shows a state immediately before separation, and FIG. 6 shows a state after separation. When the feed roller 2 is rotated in the direction of the arrow, a conveying force Fi is generated in the intermediate thick medium 10 in contact with the feed roller 2, and the medium is conveyed in the direction of the arrow i. The medium 9 above the intermediate thick medium 10 is also conveyed in the direction of arrow i by the force Fm generated on the surface of the medium due to the close contact between the media. The medium-thick medium 10 in contact with the feed roller 2 and the medium 9 immediately above the medium can pass through the medium passage gap at the fixed gate 3, but the medium 9 above it abuts the fixed gate 3 and the fixed gate 3 It will not be transported beyond.

Here, the medium passage gap at the location of the first hard resin plate 4 is set to an interval at which one medium thick medium 10 can pass but two sheets cannot pass. For this reason, the medium 9 immediately above the medium thick medium 10 hits the first hard resin plate 4 when passing through the location of the fixed gate 3. At this time, the restoring force Fr due to the deformation of the first rubber plate 5 and the second rubber plate 7 is stronger than the force conveying the medium 9, that is, the force Fm generated on the medium surface due to the close contact between the media. Therefore, the medium 9 immediately above the intermediate thick medium 10 stops at the contact surface 4 a with the first hard resin plate 4. And the first
Only the lowermost medium-thick medium 10 matching the medium passage gap at the location of the hard resin plate 4 passes through the first hard resin plate 4.

The lowermost medium thick medium 10 strikes the second hard resin plate 6 when passing through the first hard resin plate 4. At this time, the force conveying the intermediate thick medium 10, that is, the force Fi generated by the friction between the feed roller 2 and the intermediate thick medium 10 is larger than the restoring force Fr due to the deformation of the second rubber plate 7. As shown in FIG. 6, the second hard resin plate 6 and the second rubber plate 7 are pushed by the intermediate thick medium 10 and deform in the direction of the arrow i, as shown in FIG. A gap is formed between the second hard resin plate 6 and the bottom of the second hard resin plate 6 so as to allow the intermediate thick medium 10 to pass therethrough. In this way, only the lowermost medium-thick medium 10 in contact with the feed roller 2 passes through the gate portion 1G, and the medium stacker 1
Is more exhausted.

FIG. 7 is an explanatory diagram showing the operation of the present embodiment, and shows the operation of separating the minimum thickness medium. here,
The minimum thickness of the medium is such that three media can pass through the medium passage gap at the fixed gate 3 and the first hard resin plate 4
In the medium passage gap at the point of, two sheets can pass,
In the medium passage gap at the location of the second hard resin plate 6, one sheet can pass.

When the feed roller 2 is rotated in the direction of the arrow, a transport force Fi is generated on the minimum thickness medium 11 in contact with the feed roller 2, and the medium is transported in the direction of the arrow i. Also,
The medium 9 above the minimum thickness medium 11 is also conveyed in the direction of arrow i by the force Fm generated on the medium surface due to the close contact between the media. The minimum thickness medium 11 in contact with the feed roller 2 and the two media 9 thereon can pass through the medium passage gap at the position of the fixed gate 3, but the medium 9 above that strikes the fixed gate 3, It is not transported beyond the fixed gate 3.

The third medium 9 counted from the lowest-thickest medium 11 in contact with the feed roller 2 collides with the first hard resin plate 4 when passing through the fixed gate 3. At this time, the restoring force due to the deformation of the first rubber plate 5 and the second rubber plate 7 is stronger than the force conveying the medium 9, that is, the force generated on the medium surface due to the close contact between the media. The third medium 9 counted from the lowermost layer stops at the contact surface with the first hard resin plate 4. Then, the lowest-thickness minimum medium 11 corresponding to the medium passage gap at the location of the first hard resin plate 4 and the medium 9 immediately above the lowest thickness medium 11 pass through the first hard resin plate 4.

The medium 9 immediately above the lowest-layer minimum thickness medium 11
Passes through the location of the first hard resin plate 4 and hits the second hard resin plate 6. At this time, the restoring force Fr due to the deformation of the second rubber plate 7 is determined from the force of conveying the medium 9, that is, the force Fm generated on the medium surface due to the close contact between the media.
Is higher, the medium 9 immediately above the lowest-layer minimum thickness medium 11 stops at the contact surface 6 a with the second hard resin plate 6.
Then, only the lowest-thickness minimum medium 11 that matches the medium passage gap at the location of the second hard resin plate 6 passes through the second hard resin plate 6 as shown in FIG. As described above, only the lowest-thickness medium 11 in the lowermost layer in contact with the feed roller 2 passes through the gate portion 1G, and the medium stacker 1
Is more exhausted.

The above-described medium separation mechanism of the present embodiment can be applied to a passbook handling apparatus as disclosed in Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 7-32690. That is, in a passbook handling apparatus having a plurality of passbook stackers, if the gate unit of the present embodiment is applied, it is possible to use the same gate unit for all passbook stackers and handle passbooks having different thicknesses for each stacker. .

In addition to the passbook, the present invention is also applicable to a vending machine for issuing cards and bonds, a vending machine for postcards, envelopes, and tickets. As described above, according to the present embodiment, a hard resin plate and a rubber plate are overlapped to form a set of gates, a plurality of these gates are used, and a medium passage formed by the hard resin plate is used. In accordance with the thickness of the medium to be used, the medium passage gap formed by the hard resin plate located on the outlet side is narrower than the medium passage gap formed by the hard resin plate located on the medium entrance side. By doing so, even when media having different thicknesses are handled, separation is performed smoothly and reliably, which contributes to avoiding system stoppage due to poor feeding of the media, and improves the reliability of the apparatus.

Further, a flexible material such as a resin plate and a rubber plate having a smooth and hard surface is used as a gate, and a force for transporting a medium to be separated is applied by the flexible rubber plate. Since the receiving medium is in contact with the hard resin plate having a smooth surface, it is possible to prevent the medium from being damaged and to improve the quality of the medium fed out. Here, when the thickness of the medium to be handled is limited to one type, the gate portion may be configured using only one set of a gate combining a hard resin plate and a rubber plate. Also in this case, the damage of the medium can be prevented by using the gate portion having the above configuration.

[0023] Incidentally, the gate portion as described above as a material has been decided to a combination of a hard resin plate and the rubber plate, the same effect can be obtained in the present embodiment, the gate
Use a thin metal plate such as a metal leaf spring instead of a hard resin plate, and combine this thin metal plate with a rubber plate to form the gate.
With this configuration, the restoring force required for separating the medium may be obtained by the restoring force of the metal sheet and the restoring force of the rubber plate.
No.

Further, if a mechanism for moving the gate portion in the thickness direction of the medium and fixing it at an arbitrary position is added, the flexibility with respect to the medium thickness can be further widened.

[0025]

As described above, in the medium separation mechanism of the present invention, the gate portion for preventing the feeding of a medium other than the medium to be fed is provided with the surface which comes into contact with the medium when the medium is fed.
Is smooth and has multiple restoring force against deformation.
Alternately stack multiple rubber plates with resilience to shape
And while changing the length of each of the plate members so as to form a medium passage gap in which the interval in the medium thickness direction is gradually narrowed from the medium inlet side to the medium outlet side ,
Each of the plate members and the rubber plate is supported so as to be able to retract in the medium feeding direction, and the portion of each plate member that contacts the medium has an inclined surface bent in the medium feeding direction. However, it is possible to cope with only one kind of gate portion, and separation of media of any thickness is performed smoothly and reliably, which contributes to avoiding system stoppage due to defective feeding of the media, and improves the reliability of the apparatus.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing an example of an embodiment of a medium separation mechanism of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a configuration diagram of a main part of a gate unit of the medium separation mechanism according to the embodiment;

FIG. 3 is an explanatory diagram showing the operation of the present embodiment.

FIG. 4 is an explanatory diagram showing the operation of the present embodiment.

FIG. 5 is an explanatory diagram showing the operation of the present embodiment.

FIG. 6 is an explanatory diagram showing the operation of the present embodiment.

FIG. 7 is an explanatory diagram showing the operation of the present embodiment.

[Explanation of symbols]

 1G Gate part 2 Feed roller 3 Fixed gate 4 First hard resin plate 5 First rubber plate 6 Second hard resin plate 7 Second rubber plate g Medium passage gap

──────────────────────────────────────────────────続 き Continuing on the front page (72) Inventor Shigeru Takeda 1-7-12 Toranomon, Minato-ku, Tokyo Oki Electric Industry Co., Ltd. (72) Inventor Yasuo Okazaki 1-7-12 Toranomon, Minato-ku, Tokyo Oki Electric Industry Co., Ltd. (56) References: Japanese Utility Model 1975-11273 (JP, U) (58) Fields investigated (Int. Cl. ⁷ , DB name) B65H 3/56 330 B65H 3/06

Claims (3)

(57) [Claims] 1. A medium separation mechanism, comprising: a gate portion for preventing a medium other than a medium to be fed out from being fed out; and separating and feeding out an integrated medium one by one by passing the gate portion. , The surface that comes in contact with the medium when feeding the medium
Is smooth and has multiple restoring force against deformation.
Alternately stack multiple rubber plates with resilience to shape
And while changing the length of each of the plate members so as to form a medium passage gap in which the interval in the medium thickness direction is gradually narrowed from the medium inlet side to the medium outlet side ,
A medium separation mechanism, wherein each plate member and the rubber plate are supported so as to be retractable in a medium feeding direction, and a portion of each plate member contacting the medium is an inclined surface bent in the medium feeding direction. . 2. A medium separating mechanism according to claim 1, wherein a surface contacting the medium at the time of feeding the medium is smooth and deformed.
The plurality of plate members having a restoring force against
Medium separating mechanism, characterized in that that. 3. The medium separation mechanism according to claim 1 , wherein a surface contacting the medium at the time of feeding the medium is smooth and deformed.
Wherein the plurality of plate members having a restoring force are thin metal plates .