JPH0426749B2 - - Google Patents

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION [Field of Industrial Application] The present invention relates to a suction-type paper sheet counter having a function of separating counted sheets from uncounted sheets.

[Conventional technology]

Generally, as a means of counting the number of paper sheets, negative pressure is applied to multiple suction heads installed on a rotating cylinder, and the paper sheets are separated from a group of paper sheets one by one by suction and counted. A suction type paper sheet counting machine is widely known. In this type of paper sheet counting machine, when taking a predetermined number of sheets by batch counting processing, a stack of paper sheets is loaded into a holder, the target number of sheets is counted from the stack of paper sheets, and after counting, The sheets (already counted) are taken out separately from the uncounted sheets.

In addition, when the counting stop mechanism is activated, the holder is
Normally, it is automatically reset and returned to the loading position, and at the same time, the rotating barrel and the suction head that follows the rotating barrel are also reversed, and the suction head is returned to a predetermined initial position (home position) before making a final stop. is configured to do so.

Conventionally, various techniques for returning the suction head to its home position have been proposed, but all of them use mechanical means. For example, Jikko 46-
The reverse rotation stop device disclosed in Publication No. 33596 is provided with a notch corresponding to each suction head and a clearance slope located in front of the notch on the circumferential surface of the rotating cylinder, and a relief slope located in front of the notch, and a relief slope located in front of the notch. An elastically supported stopper is provided, and when counting of paper sheets is completed, the rotary cylinder is temporarily stopped, and then the rotary cylinder is reversely operated. As a result, the tip of the stopper slides along the relief slope and fits into the notch, and the suction port of the suction head finally stops at the normal home position facing the surface of the sheet.

By the way, when the batch counting process is completed, the rotary cylinder is usually stopped suddenly using a brake, etc. However, due to inertia, etc., a certain amount of operation delay occurs, so the stopping position of the rotary cylinder (suction head) is It is not constant. Therefore, when the suction head is returned to the home position, the last sheet that was turned over just before the counting stop mechanism is activated will be placed in the middle position between the counted and uncounted sheets (between the suction heads). may remain. However, it is usually difficult for the operator to determine whether the accumulated sheets are uncounted sheets due to reversing operation or already counted sheets.
As a result, the reliability of counting deteriorates, and furthermore, the counting operation has to be redone.

Therefore, it is necessary to prevent sheets from accumulating between the suction heads and to reliably distinguish counted sheets from uncounted sheets.

Various techniques have been proposed in the past to clearly distinguish between uncounted paper sheets and counted paper sheets.
Both are based on mechanical addition configurations. For example, the sheet counting machine disclosed in Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 49-82374 utilizes a lever that is operated by a solenoid and a spring and is arranged near a rotary cylinder so that it can move toward and away from the sheet. A stop drive device is separately provided, and during batch operation, a solenoid is excited by a counting stop signal, the lever is moved, and the lever is brought into contact with the forefront of the uncounted sheet group, so that the uncounted sheet is stopped at the same time as the stop signal is generated. It stops movement. In addition, similar technology was developed in 1983-
It is also disclosed in Publication No. 28300, Japanese Utility Model Publication No. 55-52515, etc.

[Problem that the invention seeks to solve]

However, the conventional technique for returning the suction head to the home position uses a mechanical stopping means such as a notch and a stopper, as shown in the above-mentioned Japanese Utility Model Publication No. 46-33596, so the mechanism is complicated.
Moreover, because the metal stopper collides with the notch,
In addition to producing large impact noises, this system suffered from significant wear and had the disadvantage that positional accuracy, smooth operation, and reliability could not be maintained over a long period of time.

On the other hand, a conventional technique for clearly distinguishing between uncounted paper sheets and counted paper sheets is disclosed in the above-mentioned Japanese Unexamined Patent Publication No. 49-82374 (and Japanese Utility Model Publication No. 58-28300, Japanese Utility Model Publication No. 55-52515).
As disclosed in the publication), solenoids, levers,
Since mechanical additional components such as springs are used, the structure is complicated and expensive, and the operating position where the lever contacts the paper sheet and the position where it leaves the paper sheet are set by the mounting position of the solenoid and the tension force of the spring. However, it is difficult to set it at a constant position, and variations occur due to machine differences, so it has been necessary to arrange an adjustment member near the lever and solenoid for adjustment. Furthermore, when the batch operation is performed, the lever comes into contact with the paper sheets being counted, so that the paper sheets may be damaged or bent.

As described above, all of the conventional techniques require mechanical additional configurations, such as a notch for determining the home position of the suction head, mechanical stopping means such as a stopper, and furthermore, Using mechanical separation means such as solenoids, springs and levers to clearly distinguish between
Since each independent mechanism is installed around the rotary tube whose installation space is limited, various problems associated with the mechanical structure have arisen.

The present invention solves these problems existing in the conventional techniques, and uses electrical detection means to directly control the operation of the head motor to accurately return the suction head to its home position, while at the same time The object of the present invention is to provide a paper sheet counting machine that can clearly distinguish between paper sheets that have already been counted and paper sheets that have already been counted.

[Means for solving problems]

In order to achieve the above object, the present invention provides a number setting function section 24 having a digital switch 56 and a function of setting the number of sheets input from the switch 56, for example, for presetting a set value Y of the number of sheets to be counted.
and a counting means F that uses, for example, a counting sensor 12 and a counting function section 23 for detecting the count value X of the paper sheets that are attracted and separated by the suction head 6.
, a comparison means G using a comparison function section 21 that compares the set value Y and the count value X and outputs a coincidence signal S when they match, and a detection object 13 corresponding to each suction head 6 in the rotary cylinder 10. and a counting sensor 12 for detecting the object 13 to be detected, and based on the coincidence signal S, the rotation of the rotary cylinder 10 supporting the suction head 6 is temporarily stopped, and then the rotary cylinder 10 is reversed by a predetermined angle. , return the uncounted sheets 18 to the home position determined by the detected object 13, which is an electrical positioning means, and the counting sensor 12, and remove the uncounted sheets 18 remaining between the suction heads 6 to the uncounted sheet group 17. It is characterized in that it is equipped with a control means H using, for example, a control function section 22 and a head motor drive circuit 20, which causes the head to finally stop after being returned to the side.
It should be noted that each functional unit in each means E to H uses, for example, a microprocessor unit 50 and functions based on a software program.

[Effect]

Next, the operation of the present invention will be explained.

In the leaf counting machine A according to the present invention, first, the number of sheets to be counted is set as a set value Y by the setting means E in advance. On the other hand, when the counting machine is operating, the counting means F
At the same time, the actual count value A match signal S is output. Since the coincidence signal S is a signal corresponding to the end of counting,
The rotating cylinder 10 is stopped, preferably suddenly stopped, depending on the timing at which the coincidence signal S is generated. By the way, in this case, since one uncounted sheet 18 remains between the suction heads 6, the control means H continues to move the rotary tube 10 at a predetermined angle, that is, with respect to a predetermined detected object 13. The counting sensor 12 is reversed to the corresponding regular position (the home position of the suction head 6), and at the same time, the sheet 18 is moved to a group of uncounted sheets by the movement of the suction head 6 linked to the reversal operation of the rotary tube 10. After that, the rotary cylinder 10 is finally stopped. Therefore, the counted sheet group and the uncounted sheet group 17 are completely separated.

〔Example〕

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS An embodiment of the paper sheet counter A of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings.

First, the mechanical configuration of the main parts of the paper sheet counter will be explained with reference to FIGS. 1 and 2.
Figure 1 is a perspective view showing the configuration of the main parts of this machine.
FIG. 2 is a plan view of the aircraft to explain its operating state.

In FIG. 1, 3 is a paper holder, and one end of an arm 31 is fixed to the lower part of the holder. This arm 3
1 is fixed to a holder operating member 33 via a block 32, and the holder operating member 33 is further fixed to a shaft member 34. This shaft member 34 is rotatably attached to the support shaft 7. Holder operating member 33
A pin 35 is installed in the holder 35, and this pin 35 is connected via a lever 36 to an eccentric shaft 37c on a rotating plate 37b attached to a rotating shaft 37a of a holder motor 57, which will be described later. The lever 36 is connected to the pin 35 through a long hole 38, and the pin 35 is connected to the long hole 3 by a spring 39 wound around the shaft member 34.
8 is biased toward the tip side.

On the other hand, a protrusion 47 is formed on the periphery of the rotating plate 37b over a predetermined angular range. Further, the rotating shaft 37a is positioned at approximately 180° intervals facing the periphery of the rotating plate 37b and on the moving path of the protrusion 47.
A holder open position detection switch 49 and a holder closed position detection switch 48 are provided for switching and controlling the rotation of a holder motor 57 (FIG. 3) coupled to the holder motor 57 (FIG. 3) in forward and reverse directions. As a result, the lever 36 performs a crank operation to rotationally displace the holder actuating member 33, that is, the holder 3, clockwise or counterclockwise in plan view in accordance with the rotation of the rotary plate 37b.

Further, an arm member 40 having a crank pin 4 planted at its tip is pivotally attached to the upper end of the shaft member 34. This crank pin 4 is a hole 4 bored in the sheet placement plate 14.
1 and extends upward. The arm member 40 is rotatably attached to the support shaft 7 and receives a biasing force from the spring 39 in a clockwise direction in a plan view. Here, 42 is a fixing pin that locks the spring 39. Thereby, the crank pin 4 is restricted from rotating clockwise with respect to the holder 3.

On the other hand, the arm member 40 is integrally provided with a protruding piece 43 extending in a direction substantially opposite to the fixing pin 42 from near the pivot point thereof. This protruding piece 43 comes into contact with the tip of an adjusting screw 45 that is screwed into a screw hole provided in the upper part of the support column 44, and adjusts the rotation restriction position of the arm member 40 in the counterclockwise direction. In this way, the spring 39 provides a biasing force that causes the holder 3 and the crank pin 4 to approach each other. The spring 46 has the function of rotating the holder actuating member 33 clockwise, and also has the function of rotating the arm member 40 via the pin 35.

On the other hand, 1 is a switch lever. This switch lever 1 is arranged so that it can be rotated by a shaft 26 attached to a mounting plate 25 to turn the start switch 2 on and off. The tip of the switch lever 1 is arranged so as to protrude slightly toward the holder 3 side than the sheet guide plate 27.

Reference numeral 6 denotes a suction head mounted on the rotary cylinder 10 of the sheet counting mechanism. This suction head 6 rotates at a corresponding speed due to the revolution of the rotary cylinder 10. Incidentally, the rotary cylinder 10 is rotated by a head motor 9 (FIG. 2) via a belt 11. On the other hand, on the outer peripheral surface of the rotary cylinder 10, a detection object 13 using an iron piece or the like is fixed at a position corresponding to each suction head 6 (home position), and a proximity switch etc. for detecting the detection object 13 is fixed. A counting sensor 12 using the rotary cylinder 10 is disposed facing the outer circumferential surface of the rotary cylinder 10.

Next, the configuration of the counting processing system in the machine A will be explained with reference to FIG. This figure is a schematic block diagram of the counting processing system in the same machine. In the figure, each block is commonly connected to a microprocessor unit (hereinafter referred to as MPU) 50 via a bus line, and a series of counting processing operations to be described later are performed via the MPU 50.

In this case, the MPU 50 consists of a CPU, ROM, RAM, etc., and the CPU operates according to a predetermined program stored in the ROM, receives signals from each detection section, and gives control signals to each operation section. It has the function of controlling the operation and storage of various data in the RAM.

The holder drive device 51 also includes the holder open position detection switch 49 that detects that the holder 3 is at the sheet loading position, and the holder closed position detection switch 48 that detects that the holder 3 is at the sheet counting position. In addition, each of these detection switches 49, 4
Based on the output signal of 8, starting and stopping of the holder motor 57 is regulated, and the operation of the holder 3 is regulated.

Next, the counting processing operation of this machine A is shown in Figure 2~
This will be explained with reference to FIG. Note that FIG. 4 is a block system diagram showing the main parts of the counting processing section, and FIG. 5 is a flowchart showing the operation for counting processing.

First, by turning on the power, the rotary cylinder 10 and the suction head 6 are initially reset to the home position. After that, when the paper bundle 5 is positioned on the holder 3 side and vertically placed on the paper stack plate 14 while being pressed against the paper guide plate 27, the switch lever 1 is pushed and the start switch 2 is pressed. is turned on, and the holder motor 5 is activated based on the output signal.
7 is driven. By the operation of the holder motor 57, the eccentric shaft 37c attached to the rotating shaft 37a displaces the lever 36, thereby moving the holder 3 clockwise in plan view. When the holder 3 moves, the sheet bundle 5 is displaced from the sheet loading position to the sheet counting position. When the bundle of paper sheets 5 comes into contact with the crank pin 4, the frontmost surface of the bundle of paper sheets 5 comes into contact with the suction head 6 almost simultaneously with this timing. As a result, the frontmost surface of the paper bundle 5 closes the suction port 8, and at the same time, the protrusion 47 of the rotary plate 37b pushes the contact of the holder closed position detection switch 48 to turn it on. Therefore, the holder motor 57 is stopped based on the output signal of the holder closed position detection switch 48.
On the other hand, the vacuum pump 52 starts operating. Thereafter, as the paper bundle 5 comes into contact with the suction head 6, the vacuum pressure in the internal pipe line of the head 6 decreases and when it reaches a predetermined value, the vacuum switch 54 is turned on. When the vacuum switch 54 is turned on within a certain period of time, the head motor 9 is operated based on the output signal, and its rotational output is transmitted to the rotating barrel 10 and the suction head 6 via the belt 11.
The suction head 6 and the suction head 6 each rotate in the direction of the arrow in FIG.

Then, the suction head 6 rotates as the rotary cylinder 10 revolves, and the suction ports 8 of each suction head 6 contact the surface of the paper bundle 5 one after another, and the paper bundle 5 is pulled sheet by sheet from the surface side. Adsorption separation, that is, rolling it apart. Further, at this time, the counting sensor 12 detects the passage of the detected object 13 on the outer circumferential surface of the rotary cylinder 10, and the counting sensor 12 outputs one counting pulse every time the detected object 13 passes. Then, the MPU 50 counts the counting pulses to obtain a counted value of the number of paper sheets.

On the other hand, batch processing is performed as follows.

First, digital switch 5 for setting the number of batches.
6 to set the predetermined number of sheets to be counted. This set number of sheets is stored in the number setting function section 24 in the CPU of the MPU 50, and is also inputted to the comparison function section 21 for comparing the number of sheets as a reference value Y for setting comparison. The digital switch 56 and the sheet number setting function section 24 constitute a setting means E, and the comparison function section 21 constitutes a comparison means G. In addition, the output of the counting function section 23 that counts the paper sheets detected by the counting sensor 12 is input as the count value X to the other input side of the comparison function section 21, and a comparison with the reference value Y is performed. At this time, the count value X is displayed on the display section 53. This counting function section 23 constitutes a counting means F.

Then, the number of paper sheets is counted, and when the output of the digital switch 56 and the output of the counting function section 23 match, that is, when X=Y, the comparison function section 21
A coincidence signal S is outputted from the control function section 22 and inputted to the control function section 22. The control function section 22 controls the head motor drive circuit 20 according to the program built into the ROM.
is controlled, and the head motor 9 is suddenly stopped. At the same time, counting is stopped and the vacuum pump 52 is stopped. The control function section 22 and the head motor drive circuit 20 constitute a control means H.

By the way, due to the sudden stop of the head motor 9, one uncounted sheet 18 remains between the two suction heads 6 where the sheet 5 contacts. However, the operator may be confused as to whether the sheet 18 is one of the sheets in the counted sheet group 16 or the uncounted sheet group 17. Therefore, when the head motor 9 stops, a command is issued again from the control function section 22 to cause the head motor 9 to operate in reverse, and to rotate the rotary cylinder 10 in reverse for a predetermined period of time, that is, over a predetermined angle range, to return to the normal home position. Return to Shion. As a result, the sheets 18 that have been staying between the suction heads 6 are carried away toward the uncounted sheet group 17 as the suction heads 6 move in the return direction. In this case, the required angle is the angle at which the accumulated sheets 18 can be returned to the uncounted sheet group 17 and also returned to the normal home position by the above-mentioned initial reset. Note that the control for positioning the rotary cylinder 10 to the home position is performed in advance by controlling the suction head 6 (rotary cylinder 1
Detected object 13 arranged corresponding to the position of
can be controlled by detecting it with the counting sensor 12. Specifically, the MPU 50 (described later) monitors the rotational state of the detected object 13 detected by the counting sensor 12, and when the head motor 9 is suddenly stopped, the control function unit 22 continues to issue commands to control the head motor 9. drive again to return to the home position. In this way, all home position positioning control is handled by electrical means. Therefore, the counted paper leaf group 16 and the uncounted paper leaf group 17 are completely separated.

Next, when the reset switch 55 is turned on, the holder motor 57 is driven in reverse based on the output signal. Then, by the operation of the holder motor 57, the lever 36 moves the holder 3 counterclockwise in plan view and returns it to the original sheet loading position. At this time, the protrusion 47 of the rotary plate 37b presses the contact of the holder open position detection switch 49 to turn it on, and the holder motor 57 is stopped based on the output signal.

As a result, the counted sheet group 16 is transferred to the suction head 6.
Since the uncounted sheet group 17 remains between the crank pin 4 and the holder 3, the operator can
7 can be taken out without making a mistake. That is, by setting an arbitrary number of sheets to be counted using the digital switch 56, the number of sheets can be reliably counted and taken out.

Note that when the holder 3 is moved and the sheet bundle 5 is set at the sheet counting position, the holder closed position detection switch 48 is turned on, the vacuum pump 52 also starts operating, and the vacuum switch 54 is also turned on. If the vacuum switch 54 is not turned on within a certain period of time, the control function section 22 stops driving the vacuum pump 52 based on a detection signal corresponding to the state.
Then, in this state, turn on the reset switch 55.
Then, the holder motor 57 is reversed in the same manner as described above.
The holder 3 is operated to return to the original sheet loading position, and the uncounted sheet bundle 5 can be subjected to the counting operation again.

Although the embodiments have been described in detail above, the present invention is not limited to these embodiments. For example, although a proximity switch is illustrated as the counting sensor 12, various other sensors such as an optical sensor and a magnetic sensor can be used. In addition, the input setting for the number of sheets to be counted can be performed using, for example, a rotary-operated digital switch 56.
However, a push button switch operated by a numeric keypad may also be used, or any type of setting switch may be used. Furthermore, although the case where an MPU is used has been shown, the present invention can be similarly implemented using hardware formed by a combination of electric circuits. Other details such as configuration, arrangement, shape, quantity, etc. can be arbitrarily changed without departing from the gist of the present invention.

〔Effect of the invention〕

As described above, according to the present invention, the rotation of the rotary cylinder is temporarily stopped based on the output signal when the set value number of sheets and the counted value match, and the rotation of the rotary cylinder is subsequently reversed by a predetermined angle. Since the final stop is made after returning to the home position determined by the body and the counting sensor, the uncounted paper sheets that have accumulated between the suction heads when the rotating cylinder stops are removed by the movement of the rotating cylinder to return to the home position. Due to the accompanying movement of the suction head, the suction head can be easily pulled back toward the uncounted sheet group, and an arbitrary number of sheets can be reliably taken without making any mistakes. In addition, there is no need for complicated mechanisms such as solenoids, springs, and separators as in conventional machines, and there is no need for various adjustment operations, resulting in a significant cost reduction. Furthermore, since the separator in the conventional machine does not come into contact with the paper sheets during the batch operation, the paper sheets are not damaged or bent, and the paper sheets can be reliably protected.

[Brief explanation of drawings]

Figure 1: A perspective view showing the configuration of the main parts of the paper sheet counting machine, Figure 2: A plan view of the machine explaining the operating state,
FIG. 3: A schematic block diagram of the counting processing system in the same machine; FIG. 4: A block system diagram showing the main parts of the counting processing section in the same machine; FIG. 5: A flowchart showing operations for counting processing. In the drawings, A... Paper sheet counter, 6... Suction head, 10... Rotating cylinder, 17... Uncounted paper sheet group,
18... Uncounted paper sheets, E... Setting means, F... Counting means, G... Comparison means, H... Control means, S...
...Concordance signal, X...Count value, Y...Setting value.

Claims (1)

[Claims] 1. In a paper sheet counting machine that applies negative pressure to the suction head 6 provided on the rotary tube 10 to suck and separate paper sheets 5 one by one from a group of paper sheets and count them, the set value Y of the number of sheets to be counted is set. A setting means E for presetting the number of paper sheets 5, and a counting means F for detecting the count value X of the paper sheets 5 that have been attracted and separated by the suction head 6, compare the set value Y and the count value X, and when they match, a coincidence signal S is generated. The comparison means G for outputting, the detected object 13 provided at a position corresponding to each suction head 6 in the rotary tube 10, and the detected object 1
3, and a counting sensor 12 that detects the coincidence signal S.
The rotation of the rotary cylinder 10 is temporarily stopped based on this, and then the rotary cylinder 10 is reversed by a predetermined angle to return it to the home position determined by the detected object 13 and the counting sensor 12, and to return the suction head 6 to its home position. Uncounted paper sheets 1 remaining between each other
8 to the uncounted paper sheet group 17 side.