JPH0213530A - Paper feed device - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To feed plural paper sheets always one by one in sequence to a paper feed goal by providing a separator roller freely rotatable only in the opposite direction to the rotation of a paper feed roller in the paper feed direction. CONSTITUTION:When paper sheets 12 are fed in piles, a signal which shows this status is inputted into a control part 31 through a sensor 25. When this signal is inputted, a hopper 11 is brought down through a motor 10 and paper feed rollers 13, 14 and a conveyer roller 22 are reversely rotated through motors 18, 24 by the control part 31. Thus, the paper sheet 12 passes between the paper feed roller 14 and a separator roller 15 and is reversely conveyed to the hopper 11 side. In this case, the separator roller 15 brought in press-contact with the paper feed roller 14 does not obstruct the return back of the paper sheet 12 to the hopper side 11 because the separator roller 15 can be rotated freely only in the opposite direction to the rotation in the paper feed direction of the paper feed roller 14. Also meantime, the paper sheet 12 reversely conveyed to the hopper 11 side does not accept the conveying force of the paper feed roller 13 reversely rotated because the hopper 11 is brought down.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION [Object of the Invention] (Industrial Application Field) The present invention relates to a paper feeding device adapted to, for example, a character reading device.

(Prior Art) For example, a character reading device feeds sheets of paper (forms) stacked in a hopper one by one and reads characters written on the sheets using an image sensor. Paper feeding devices used in such character reading devices generally transport paper stacked in a hopper to a paper feeding roller by means of a transporting means consisting of, for example, rollers, and then rotate the paper to a predetermined position. The paper is fed to a paper feeding destination, for example, to a reading unit in a character reading device.

A paper feeding device having such a configuration is required to sequentially feed a plurality of sheets stacked in a hopper one sheet at a time. However, when a plurality of sheets are stacked in the hopper, other sheets may be fed in succession with the sheet to be fed due to friction between the sheets. Therefore, in the past, a separator was provided opposite the paper feed roller, and the separator was pressed against the paper feed roller. According to this, by passing the paper between the paper feed roller and the separator, it is possible to feed only one sheet of paper.

However, if the separator does not work effectively, for example because the pressure of the separator against the paper feed roller is weak, then the paper will only be fed in duplicate. In conventional paper feeding devices, paper feeding continues even when overlapping paper feeding occurs. For this reason, there is a drawback that overlapping sheets are fed to the paper feeding destination. Further, in this case, there is a drawback that it is necessary to set the paper again after the paper feeding process.

(Problems to be Solved by the Invention) As described above, in the past, paper feeding continued regardless of the occurrence of overlapping paper feeding, which had the disadvantage of feeding overlapping sheets to the paper feeding destination. Further, in this case, there is a drawback that it is necessary to set the paper again after the paper feeding process.

The present invention has been made in view of the above points, and provides a paper feeding device that can always feed a plurality of sheets of paper one by one to a paper feeding destination without having to reset the paper again after the paper feeding process. The purpose is to share the following.

[Structure of the Invention] (Means for Solving the Problems) In other words, the paper feeding device according to the present invention includes a separator roller that comes into pressure contact with the paper feeding roller and prevents the paper feeding roller from feeding sheets in an overlapping manner. A separator roller configured to have a function of being able to freely rotate only in the direction opposite to the rotation of the paper feed roller in the paper feeding direction is provided, and the paper feed roller is rotated in the paper feeding direction during paper feeding, The paper sheet is configured to be rotated in the opposite direction when overlapping feeding of sheets is detected by the overlapping feeding detection means.

The paper feed roller rotates and feeds the paper transported by the transport means to a predetermined paper feeding destination. Further, the conveying means conveys the paper stacked in the hopper.

(Function) According to the above configuration, the paper feed roller rotates in the opposite direction when overlapping paper feed occurs, and returns the paper to the hopper side. In this case, the separator roller that is in pressure contact with the paper feed roller can rotate freely only in the direction opposite to the paper feed direction of the paper feed roller, so it will not interfere with returning the paper to the hopper side. do not have. Therefore, it is possible to always feed a plurality of sheets one by one to the sheet feeding destination without having to set the sheets again after the sheet feeding process.

(Embodiment) Hereinafter, a paper feeding device according to an embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings.

FIG. 1 is a side view showing its configuration, in which a plurality of sheets 12 are stacked on a hopper 11 that is shifted up and down by the drive of a motor 10, with the topmost sheet 12a in contact with a sheet feed roller 13. The sheet is taken out from the hopper 11 by the same roller 13 and conveyed between the sheet feed roller 14 and the separator roller 15.

The paper feed rollers 13, 14 are connected by a transmission belt 16 and are rotated in the direction of arrow a by a motor 18 connected to a drive shaft 7 of the paper feed roller 14.

= 5 - Further, the separator roller 15 has a high friction surface 15a made of, for example, a foamed member, and is pressed against the paper feed roller 14 by a mechanism not shown in the drawings to prevent the paper feed roller 14 from overlapping feed. This separator roller 15 is configured to be able to freely rotate only in the direction opposite to the rotation of the paper feed roller 14 in the paper feeding direction (arrow a direction) (in the direction indicated by the arrow) by a one-way clutch L5b.

A conveying roller 22 and a tension roller 23 are provided at the paper feeding destination of the paper feeding roller 14 . The conveyance roller 22 is
The paper feed roller 14 is rotated by the motor 24 in the direction of arrow C.
The paper 12 fed by is conveyed to a reading unit in a character reading device, for example. Further, a sensor 25 is provided between the conveyance roller 22 and the paper feed roller 14.

This sensor 25 is, for example, an optical sensor consisting of a light emitting element and a light receiving element, and based on the amount of light passing through the paper 12,
Overlapping feeding of sheets 12 by sheet feeding roller 14 is detected.

Note that the paper feed rollers 13.14 each have high friction surfaces 13a, 1.4a, which are, for example, rubber-lined, continuously formed on the outer peripheral surface, and low-friction surfaces 13b, which are, for example, a metal surface.
i4b. This ζ is a configuration for increasing the effect of preventing overlapping feed by the separator roller 15, but since it is not directly related to the present invention, its explanation will be omitted.

FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing the configuration of the control circuit of the same embodiment. This control circuit includes a control section 31 consisting of, for example, a microprocessor. The control unit 31 controls the sensor 2
Based on the signal 5, the motor 18.24 is controlled.

Next, the operation of the paper feeding device configured as described above will be explained.

The sheets 12 stacked in the hopper 11 are in a state in which the topmost sheet 12a is in contact with the sheet feed roller 13.

In this state, the control unit 31 drives the motor 18.24 to rotate the paper feed roller 13.14 in the direction of arrow a and the conveyance roller 22 in the direction of arrow C. By rotationally driving the paper feed roller 13 in the direction of the arrow a, the uppermost paper 12a loaded on the e-7/11 is taken out from the hopper 1 and conveyed between the paper feed roller 14 and the separator roller 15. Ru.

Here, the uppermost paper 1.2a is fed by the paper feed roller 13.
When the sheets are taken out from the hopper 11, due to friction between the sheets, the sheets 1 and 2a below are connected to the top sheet 2a, and the sheet 1 below is
2 will also be taken out, or the separator roller that is in pressure contact with the paper feed roller 14 and can freely rotate only in the direction indicated by the arrow] 5
As a result, only the uppermost sheet 12a that should be fed is fed into the sheet feeding light by the rotational drive of the sheet feeding roller 14 in the direction of arrow a. Paper 12a fed by paper feed roller 14
passes between the conveyance roller 22 and the tension roller 23, and is conveyed to, for example, a reading section of a character reading device by the rotational drive of the conveyance roller 22 in the direction of arrow C.

On the other hand, if the separator roller 15 does not work effectively, for example, if the pressing force of the separator roller 15 against the paper feed roller 14 is weak, the sheets 12 will be fed in duplicate. That is, the other sheets 12 are also fed by the sheet feeding roller 14 in succession to the topmost sheet 12a to be fed.

When the sheets 12 are fed in an overlapping manner, a signal indicating this is input to the control section 31 through the sensor 25.

When the control unit 31 receives this signal, it lowers the hopper 11 via the motor 10, and the motors 18, 24, . The feed rollers 13, 14 and the transport rollers 22 are rotated in the opposite direction via the . As a result, the paper 12 passes between the paper feed roller 14 and the seventh cutter roller 15, and is reversely conveyed to the bottom <11 side.

In this case, the seventh/clector roller 15 that is in pressure contact with the paper feed roller 14 can freely rotate only in the direction opposite to the paper feed direction of the paper feed roller 14, so the paper 12 is returned to the hopper 11 side. 80 Also, at this time, since the hopper 11 is lowered, the paper 12 being reversely conveyed to the hopper 11 side is transported by the paper feed roller 1 which is rotating in the opposite direction.
It does not receive the conveying force of 3. For this reason, the paper 1 that was transported in the reverse direction
2 fits inside the hopper 11 without passing through the hopper mouth. When the paper 12 is returned to the hopper 11 in this manner, the control unit 31 raises the hosick 11 and resumes paper feeding by the same operation as described above.

In this way, when paper overlap occurs, the paper 12
After being returned to the hopper 11, the paper is fed again. Therefore, a plurality of sheets 12 can always be fed one by one into the sheet feeding light without having to set the sheets 12 again after the sheet feeding process.

[Effects of the Invention] As described above, according to the present invention, there is provided a separator roller that comes into pressure contact with the paper feed roller and prevents the paper feed roller from overlapping feeding of sheets, and the separator roller is configured to rotate the paper feed roller in the paper feeding direction. A separator roller configured to have a function of being able to freely rotate only in the opposite direction is provided, and when feeding paper, the paper feed roller is rotated in the paper feeding direction, and an overlap feed detection means detects whether the paper is overlapped. Since the structure is such that the paper is rotated in the opposite direction when the paper is fed, a plurality of papers can always be fed one by one to the paper feeding light without having to change the paper back to the cellar L-L again after the paper feeding process.

[Brief explanation of the drawing]

FIG. 1 is a side view showing the structure of a paper feeding device according to an embodiment of the present invention, and FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing the structure of a control circuit in the same embodiment. 1 hopper, 12...Paper, 13.14...Paper feed roller, 15...Separator roller, L5b...One-way clutch, 16...Transmission belt, 17...Drive shaft, l0118.24 Motor, 22...conveyance roller, 2
3... Tension roller, 25... Sensor, 31...
...Control unit. Applicant's agent Patent attorney Takehiko Suzue O) ＼↑

Claims (1)

[Scope of Claims] A conveying means for conveying the paper loaded in the hopper, a paper feed roller that feeds the paper conveyed by the conveyance means to a predetermined paper feed destination by rotation, and a pressure contact with the paper feed roller. and a separator roller that prevents the paper feed roller from overlapping sheets of paper, the separator roller having a function of being able to freely rotate only in the direction opposite to the paper feed direction of the paper feed roller. and an overlapping feed detection means for detecting overlapping feeding of paper by the paper feeding roller, and when the said paper feeding roller is rotated in the paper feeding direction during paper feeding and overlapping feeding of paper is detected by the overlapping feeding detection means. A paper feeding device characterized by comprising a drive control means for rotating the paper in the opposite direction.