JP4951374B2 - Paper counting device - Google Patents

Description

  The present invention relates to a paper counting device that counts the number of sheets stacked, and more particularly to a paper counting device that counts the number of sheets folded in a V-shape.

  Conventionally, the usage statement information of a credit card or a mobile phone is printed on a predetermined sheet of usage statement information and enclosed in an envelope and sent to the user. Most telephone companies enclose printed materials with advertisement information in an envelope together with a usage statement and send them to users.

  Also, in direct mail and business mail in which printed materials with advertisement information are enclosed in envelopes, multiple printed materials are enclosed in envelopes and sent in combinations according to the destination of direct mail or business mail. .

For example, such printed matter is fed one by one from the overlapped state and enclosed in an envelope. For matching with the envelope, the number of the printed matter is reduced before being enclosed in the envelope. It is necessary to count. As a counting method, for example, a method is considered in which the amount of heat is input from one side of a plurality of stacked sheets, the heat flow is detected on the other side, and the number of sheets is counted based on the detected heat flow level. (For example, refer to Patent Document 1).
JP 2006-18581 A

  However, as described above, in the case where heat is input from one side of a plurality of stacked sheets, the heat flow is detected on the other side, and the number of sheets is counted based on the detected heat flow level, There is a problem that the heat flow changes depending on the thickness per sheet, the material of the paper, and the like, and control such as correcting the number of sheets according to the change is required.

  The present invention has been made in view of the problems of the conventional technology as described above, and an object of the present invention is to provide a paper counting device that can count the number of stacked paper sheets with a simple configuration. And

In order to achieve the above object, the present invention provides:
A paper counting device that counts the number of sheets that are folded in a V shape and the folded portions face in the same direction,
Air blowing means provided on the folded portion side of the superimposed paper, and for blowing air to the superimposed paper;
A distance to the sheet in the state where air is blown from the air blowing means to the overlapped sheet while moving in the sheet stacking direction, provided on the folded sheet side of the stacked sheet Detecting means for continuously detecting
Measuring means for counting the number of sheets based on a change in the distance to the sheet detected by the detecting means.

  In the present invention configured as described above, the detection unit provided on the paper folding portion side overlaps the paper that is folded in a V shape and the folding portions are oriented in the same direction. The distance from the detecting means to the sheet is continuously detected while moving in the direction. Then, the distance from the detection means to the paper is short at the folded portion of the V-folded paper, and the distance from the detection means to the paper is long at the edge of the V-folded paper. The distance detected in this manner changes in one cycle for each sheet. For this reason, the number of sheets is counted in the measuring unit based on the change in the distance from the detecting unit to the sheet detected by the detecting unit.

  In this way, the detection means provided on the paper folding part side detects the number of paper sheets folded in a V-shape and stacked with the folding parts facing in the same direction while moving in the paper superimposing direction. Only by continuously detecting the distance from the means to the sheet, the number of sheets stacked is counted.

  As described above, according to the present invention, the detection unit provided on the side of the folded portion of the sheet overlaps the number of sheets that are folded in a V shape and the folded portions are oriented in the same direction. The distance from the detection means to the paper is continuously detected while moving in the direction, and the measurement means counts the number of papers based on the change in the distance from the detection means to the paper detected by the detection means; For this reason, the number of stacked sheets can be counted with a simple configuration.

  Embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings.

  1A and 1B are diagrams showing an embodiment of a paper counting device according to the present invention, in which FIG. 1A is an external perspective view, and FIG. 1B is a view seen from the direction of arrow A shown in FIG. 2 is a diagram showing a detailed structure of the air supply nozzle 62 shown in FIG. 1, and FIG. 3 is a diagram showing a configuration of the counter 70 shown in FIG.

  In this embodiment, as shown in FIG. 1, a mounting table 30 on which a plurality of stacked sheets are mounted, and two end surface support members 20 a and 20 b disposed opposite to each other on the mounting table 30, A plurality of pressing members 10a, 10b disposed on the mounting table 30 so as to face each other in a direction orthogonal to a line connecting the two end surface support members 20a, 20b on the mounting table 30. An air supply device 61 and an air supply nozzle 62 that constitute an air blowing means for blowing air to the paper, and a distance to a plurality of papers mounted on the mounting table 30 are detected. An optical sensor 65 that is a detecting means for detecting the number of sheets based on a change in distance from the optical sensor 65 detected by the optical sensor 65 to a plurality of sheets mounted on the mounting table 30. hand And a counter 70. It.

  The end surface support members 20a and 20b are superimposed on each other and support the end surfaces of a plurality of sheets placed in a region surrounded by the end surface support members 20a and 20b and the pressing members 10a and 10b of the mounting table 30. It has a U-shape, and one surface of the U-shape becomes contact surfaces 21a and 21b that contact a part of one exposed surface of a plurality of stacked sheets. Also, pressing springs 22a and 22b are attached to the surfaces facing the contact surfaces 21a and 21b to press the paper bundle that contacts the contact surfaces 21a and 21b against the contact surfaces 21a and 21b by elastic force. Yes. As the pressing member, air pressure, a motor, or the like may be used instead of the pressing springs 22a and 22b that press the paper bundle in contact with the contact surfaces 21a and 21b against the contact surfaces 21a and 21b by elastic force. Conceivable. The end surface support members 20a and 20b are configured to be movable so that the distance between them can be adjusted according to the size of the paper placed on the placement table 30.

  Each of the holding members 10a and 10b includes two flat plate portions 11a and 12a and 11b and 12b arranged in a direction connecting the two end surface support members 20a and 20b. The flat plate portion 11a and the flat plate portion 12a, and the flat plate portion 11b and the flat plate portion 12b are connected to each other, and the connecting portion has a V shape protruding in the direction in which the two pressing members 10a and 10b are separated. The angles of the flat plate portions 11a and 12a are adjusted by the angle adjusting portion 14a attached to the support plate 15a, and the angles of the flat plate portions 11b and 12b are adjusted by the angle adjusting portion 14b attached to the support plate 15b. It has been adjusted. By using the angle adjusting portions 14a and 14b, a flat plate portion according to the types of a plurality of sheets placed in the region surrounded by the end surface support members 20a and 20b and the pressing members 10a and 10b of the placement table 30. The angles of 11a, 12a and 11b, 12b can be adjusted. In addition, one of the two pressing members 10a and 10b can adjust the interval between the pressing member 10b by turning the adjusting handle 13 attached to the mounting table 30.

  The mounting table 30 is formed with a hole portion 31 penetrating front and back in a region where the two pressing members 10a and 10b face each other.

  The air supply nozzle 62 discharges the air supplied from the air supply unit 61 and is disposed in a region facing the hole 31 of the mounting table 30, thereby being supplied from the air supply unit 61. The air is blown against the region where the hole 31 of the mounting table 30 is formed. And it is configured to be movable while facing the hole 31 by the support shaft 63 in the overlapping direction of the paper placed in the region surrounded by the end surface support members 20a, 20b and the pressing members 10a, 10b of the placement table 30. ing. As shown in FIG. 2, the air supply nozzle 62 has a plurality of air outlets 64 at its tip, and the plurality of air outlets 64 include the end surface support members 20 a and 20 b and the holding member 10 a of the mounting table 30. 10b are arranged in a direction perpendicular to the overlapping direction of the sheets placed in the area surrounded by 10b.

  An optical sensor 65 is attached to the air supply nozzle 62 adjacent to the arrangement direction of the plurality of air outlets 64. The optical sensor 65 includes a light emitting unit (not shown) and a light receiving unit (not shown). The light sensor 65 receives light emitted from the light emitting unit and reflected by the reflecting material at the light receiving unit, and is reflected based on the amount of received light. The distance to is detected. Then, the air supply nozzle 62 moves while facing the hole 31 in the overlapping direction of the paper placed on the placement table 30, so that the optical sensor 65 overlaps the paper placed on the placement table 30. The distance to the paper is continuously detected while moving in the alignment direction.

  The counter 70 counts the number of sheets based on a change in the distance from the optical sensor 65 detected by the optical sensor 65 to a plurality of sheets placed on the placing table 30. FIG. As shown in FIG. 4, the sensor output acquisition unit 71, the high frequency component removal unit 72, the number counting unit 73, and the display output unit 74 are configured.

  The sensor output unit acquisition unit 71 acquires a sensor output indicating the distance from the optical sensor 65 detected by the optical sensor 65 to the sheet.

  The high frequency component removing unit 72 removes the high frequency component from the sensor output acquired by the sensor output unit acquiring unit 71.

  The number counting unit 73 is placed on the placing table 30 based on a change in sensor output from which the high frequency component has been removed by the high frequency component removing unit 72, that is, a change in the distance from the optical sensor 65 to the sheet. Count the number of sheets.

  The display output unit 74 displays and outputs the number of sheets counted by the number counting unit 73.

  The operation when counting the number of sheets of a plurality of sheets that are folded in a V shape and folded in the same direction by using the sheet counting apparatus 1 configured as described above will be described below.

  First, a description will be given of a state where a sheet whose number is to be counted is placed on the placing table 30 of the sheet counting apparatus 1 shown in FIG.

  FIG. 4 is a diagram showing an example of a state in which a leaflet serving as a sheet to be counted is placed on the placing table 30 of the sheet counting apparatus 1 shown in FIG. (B) is the figure seen from the end surface support member 20a side.

  As shown in FIG. 4, the end face support members 20 a of the sheet counting device 1 are arranged such that the V-folded leaflets 40-1 to 40-8 are stacked in the same direction and the folded portion comes into contact with the mounting table 30. 20b and the pressing members 10a and 10b are placed in a region surrounded by the pressing members 10a and 10b. At this time, by rotating the adjustment handle 13, the pressing member 10a composed of the two flat plate portions 11a and 12a is moved and surrounded by the end surface supporting members 20a and 20b and the pressing members 10a and 10b of the paper counting device 1. The leaflets 40-1 to 40-8 placed in the region are sandwiched from the front and back by the pair of pressing members 10a and 10b. The pressing members 10a and 10b have a V-shape in which the flat plate portion 11a and the flat plate portion 12a connected to each other, and the flat plate portion 11b and the flat plate portion 12b protrude in a direction in which the two pressing members 10a and 10b are separated from each other. Therefore, the flat plate portions 11a, 11b, 12a, and 12b are inclined with respect to the surfaces that contact the leaflets 40-1 and 40-8, and connect the two end surface support members 20a and 20b of the pressing members 10a and 10b. Direction, that is, a region outside the direction in which the flat plate portions 11a and 12a and the flat plate portions 11b and 12b are arranged is in contact with the leaflets 40-1 and 40-8, respectively, and the flat plate portions 11a and 12a and the flat plate portions 11b and 12b are arranged in a row. The inner region has a gap between the leaflets 40-1 and 40-8. Further, the leaflets 40-1 to 40-8 sandwiched from the front and back by the pressing members 10a and 10b are overlapped with a part of the leaflet 40-1 being in contact with the contact surfaces 21a and 21b of the end surface support members 20a and 20b. The leaflets 40-1 to 40-8 are pressed against the contact surfaces 21a and 21b by the pressing springs 22a and 22b. At this time, since the hole 31 is formed in the area surrounded by the end surface support members 20a, 20b and the pressing members 10a, 10b of the mounting table 30, the leaflets 40-1 to 40- placed in this area. Each part 8 is exposed from the hole 31. In this example, in order to simplify the explanation, a case where eight leaflets 40-1 to 40-8 are superimposed and placed on the placement table 30 of the paper counting apparatus 1 will be described as an example. However, actually, more leaflets than this are superimposed and placed on the placement table 30 of the paper counting device 1.

  Next, an operation when counting the number of leaflets 40-1 to 40-8 placed on the placement table 30 of the paper counting device 1 will be described.

  FIG. 5 is a diagram for explaining an operation when counting the number of leaflets 40-1 to 40-8 placed on the placement table 30 of the paper counting device 1 as shown in FIG. (A) is the figure seen from the end surface support member 20a side, (b) is a figure which shows the output waveform of the optical sensor 65, (c) is the X section enlarged view shown in (b), (d) is (c). It is a figure which shows the waveform which correct | amended the waveform shown in FIG.

  The eight leaflets 40-1 to 40-8 folded in a V-shape are stacked on the mounting table 30 of the sheet counting apparatus 1 so that the folded portion comes into contact with the mounting table 30 in a state where they are stacked in the same direction. When the air supply device 61 and the air supply nozzle 62 which are air blowing means are driven, air is sent from the air supply device 61 to the air supply nozzle 62 and air is supplied from the air outlet 64 of the air supply nozzle 62. Is discharged, and the air supply nozzle 62 starts to move from the pressing member 10b side to the pressing member 10a side by the support shaft 63. Further, the optical sensor 65 is driven, and light is emitted from the light emitting portion of the optical sensor 65.

  Since the air supply nozzle 62 is disposed in a region facing the hole 31 of the mounting table 30, the air supplied from the air supplier 61 blows against the region where the hole 31 of the mounting table 30 is formed. However, since the leaflets 40-1 to 40-8 placed on the placing table 30 are exposed in the hole portion 31, the air supplied from the air supply device 61 passes through the hole portion 31. 40-1 to 40-8. The air supply nozzle 62 is arranged on the holding member 10b side as an initial state, and a plurality of air outlets 64 constituting the air supply nozzle 62 are mounted on the mounting table 30. Since the air exhausted from the air supply nozzle 62 is arranged in a direction orthogonal to the overlapping direction of ˜40-8, the flyers 40-1 to 40-8 placed on the placement table 30 are: First, the leaflet 40-1 in contact with the pressing member 10b is blown, and then the leaflets 40-2 to 40-8 are blown one by one as the air supply nozzle 62 moves.

  When the air discharged from the air supply nozzle 62 is blown onto the leaflet 40-1 placed on the placement table 30, as shown in FIG. Therefore, the air blown by the air supply nozzle 62 passes through the front and back sides of the leaflet 40-1 and escapes to the opposite side of the mounting table 30. The leaflet 40-1 placed on the table 30 is once separated from the pressing member 10b and the adjacent leaflet 40-2 by the air blown from the air supply nozzle 62.

  At this time, light is emitted from the light emitting portion of the optical sensor 65, and the light is emitted to the leaflet 40 through the hole portion 31. Since the leaflet 40-1 is separated from the pressing member 10b and the adjacent leaflet 40-2, the distance from the optical sensor 65 becomes longer as the two paper pieces constituting the leaflet 40-1 move away from the folding portion. On both sides of the flyer 40-1, there is no reflection of the light emitted from the light emitting part of the sensor 65. In the optical sensor 65, since the light irradiated from the light emitting unit and reflected by the leaflet 40-1 is received, the amount of received light is increased in the folded portion of the leaflet 40-1, thereby forming the leaflet 40-1. In the two paper pieces, the amount of received light decreases as the distance from the folded portion increases, and the amount of received light decreases on both sides of the leaflet 40-1. As a result, the amount of received light is large at the folded portion of the leaflet 40-1, that is, the distance from the optical sensor 65 is short, and the amount of received light decreases as the two pieces of paper constituting the leaflet 40-1 move away from the folded portion. That is, a waveform indicating that the distance from the optical sensor 65 becomes longer is output. The same applies to the leaflets 40-2 to 40-8 superimposed on the leaflet 40-1, and the optical sensor 65 moves in the overlapping direction of the leaflets 40-1 to 40-8 together with the air supply nozzle 62. By continuously emitting light and receiving reflected light, as shown in FIG. 5 (b), the distance from the optical sensor 65 to the leaflets 40-1 to 40-8 is increased from the optical sensor 65. A waveform indicating that the leaflets 40-1 to 40-8 change in one cycle of long and short is output.

  The waveform output from the optical sensor 65 is acquired by the sensor output acquisition unit 71 of the counter 70.

  Here, as described above, when air is blown from the air supply nozzle 62 to the leaflets 40-1 to 40-8 placed on the placement table 30, the flyers 40-1 to 40-8 are blown by the air. Vibrates and high-frequency component noise is added to the waveform output from the optical sensor 65 as shown in FIG.

  Therefore, the high frequency component removing unit 72 of the counter 70 removes the high frequency component from the sensor output acquired by the sensor output unit acquiring unit 71. For example, a frequency serving as a reference for a waveform output from the optical sensor 65 is determined, a frequency component higher than that is cut, or a certain threshold is provided, and an output exceeding this threshold is 80% or more. In this case, the sensor output acquired by the sensor output unit acquiring unit 71 is corrected by determining that the threshold value is continuously exceeded. As a result, as shown in FIG. 5D, a waveform obtained by removing high-frequency components from the sensor output acquired by the sensor output unit acquiring unit 71 is obtained.

  Then, in the sheet number counting unit 73, the change in the sensor output from which the high frequency component is removed by the high frequency component removing unit 72, that is, the number in which the distance from the optical sensor 65 to the sheet changes in one cycle of long and short is the number of sheets. The number of sheets placed on the placing table 30 is counted. The air supply nozzle 62 is reciprocated by the support shaft 63, and the above operation is performed in each of the forward path and the return path, whereby the number of sheets can be accurately counted.

  Thereafter, the display output unit 74 displays and outputs the number of sheets counted by the number counting unit 73.

  Next, an operation in the case where there is a leaflet superimposed on the placement table 30 of the paper counting device 1 in the opposite direction to the other leaflets will be described.

  FIG. 6 is a diagram for explaining the operation in the case where there is a leaflet superimposed on the mounting table 30 of the paper counting apparatus 1 shown in FIG. The figure seen from the end surface supporting member 20a side, (b) is a figure which shows the output waveform of the optical sensor 65. FIG.

  Eight leaflets 40-1 to 40-8 folded in a V-shape, with these leaflets overlapped, leaflets 40-1 to 40-3 and 40-5 to 40-8 stacked in a predetermined direction When the air supply unit 61 and the air supply nozzle 62 which are air blowing means are driven by being placed on the placement table 30 of the sheet orientation detection device 1 so that the folding portion comes into contact with the placement table 30, the air supply unit 61 Air is sent to the air supply nozzle 62 and air is discharged from the air outlet 64 of the air supply nozzle 62, and the air supply nozzle 62 starts to move from the pressing member 10b side to the pressing member 10a side by the support shaft 63.

  When the air discharged from the air supply nozzle 62 is blown to the flyers 40-1 stacked in a predetermined direction among the flyers 40-1 to 40-8 mounted on the mounting table 30, the air supply nozzles Since the side to which air is blown by 62 is a folded portion, the air blown by the air supply nozzle 62 passes through the front and back of the leaflet 40-1 to the opposite side of the mounting table 30, thereby, The leaflet 40-1 placed on the placement table 30 is once separated from the pressing member 10b and the adjacent leaflet 40-2 by the air blown from the air supply nozzle 62. The same applies to the leaflets 40-2, 40-3, 40-5 to 40-8 that are superimposed in a predetermined direction. At this time, in the optical sensor 65, the distances from the optical sensor 65 to the leaflets 40-1 to 40-3 and 40-5 to 40-8 are detected in the same manner as described above.

  On the other hand, in the leaflet 40-4 superimposed in the direction opposite to the predetermined direction, the side to which air is blown by the air supply nozzle 62 is the side opposite to the folded portion, and therefore, shown in FIG. As described above, the air blown by the air supply nozzle 62 enters between the folded paper pieces and hits the folded portion, whereby the flyer 40-4 is lifted by the air blown from the air supply nozzle 62 and the air is Jump out to the side opposite to the side to be sprayed. Therefore, in the optical sensor 65, the amount of received light reflected by the leaflet 40-4 decreases, and the waveform does not change due to the leaflet 40-4 as shown in FIG. 6B. Therefore, among the leaflets 40-1 to 40-8 placed on the placement table 30, the leaflets 40-4 superimposed in the opposite direction will not be counted, but this leaflet 40-4 is subsequently removed. Therefore, it is only necessary to count the number of sheets 40-1 to 40-3 and 40-5 to 40-8 that remain mounted on the mounting table 30.

  In this embodiment, as a detection means for detecting the distance to the paper, the light irradiated from the light emitting unit and reflected by the reflecting material is received by the light receiving unit, and the distance to the reflecting material is determined based on the amount of the received light. However, the detecting means in the present invention is not limited to the optical sensor 65 as long as it can detect the distance to the paper.

  In the present embodiment, the air supply nozzle 62 that blows air to the leaflet placed on the placement table 30 through the hole 31 of the placement table 30 and the optical sensor 65 attached thereto are provided on the support shaft 63. However, the air supply nozzle 62 is fixed and the mounting table 30 is moved in the overlapping direction of the leaflet to fix the air supply nozzle 62 and the mounting table. It is also conceivable to change the position relative to 30 to change the leaflet to which the air discharged from the air supply nozzle 62 is blown and to count the number of leaflets.

It is a figure which shows one Embodiment of the paper counting apparatus of this invention, (a) is an external appearance perspective view, (b) is the figure seen from the arrow A direction shown to (a). It is a figure which shows the detailed structure of the air supply nozzle shown in FIG. It is a figure which shows the structure of the counter shown in FIG. It is a figure which shows an example of the state by which the leaflet used as the paper which counts the number was mounted on the mounting base of the paper counting apparatus shown in FIG. 1, (a) is an external view, (b) is an end surface support. It is the figure seen from the member side. It is a figure for demonstrating the operation | movement at the time of counting the number of the leaflets mounted on the mounting base of a paper counting device as shown in FIG. 4, (a) is the figure seen from the end surface support member side, (B) is a figure which shows the output waveform of an optical sensor, (c) is the X section enlarged view shown in (b), (d) is a figure which shows the waveform which corrected the waveform shown in (c) with the counter. is there. It is a figure for demonstrating operation | movement when the leaflet on which the other leaflet was piled up on the mounting stand of the paper counting apparatus shown in FIG. 1 exists, (a) is a view from the end surface supporting member side. (B) is a figure which shows the output waveform of an optical sensor.

Explanation of symbols

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Paper count device 10a, 10b Holding member 11a, 11b, 12a, 12b Flat plate part 13 Adjusting handle 14a, 14b Angle adjusting part 15a, 15b Support plate 20a, 20b End surface support member 21a, 21b Contact surface 22a, 22b Pressing spring DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 30 Mounting base 40-1-40-8 Flyer 61 Air supply device 62 Air supply nozzle 63 Support shaft 64 Air blower outlet 65 Optical sensor 70 Counter 71 Sensor output acquisition part 72 High frequency component removal part 73 Sheet count part 74 Display output part

Claims (1)

A paper counting device that counts the number of sheets that are folded in a V shape and the folded portions face in the same direction,
Air blowing means provided on the folded portion side of the superimposed paper, and for blowing air to the superimposed paper;
A distance to the sheet in the state where air is blown from the air blowing means to the overlapped sheet while moving in the sheet stacking direction, provided on the folded sheet side of the stacked sheet Detecting means for continuously detecting
A paper counting device comprising: a measuring unit that counts the number of sheets based on a change in a distance to the sheet detected by the detecting unit.

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