PAPER SHEET TAKING-OUT AND SEPARATING DEVICE AND PAPER SHEET HANDLING APPARATUS

Abstract

A paper sheet taking-out and separating device according to an embodiment includes a first take-out part, a guide part, a second take-out part and a separation part. The first take-out part takes, by suction, a forefront paper sheet out of a plurality of stacked paper sheets and sends out the paper sheet toward a sending-out direction. The guide part guides the sending out of the paper sheet by the first take-out part. The second take-out part sucks the paper sheet sent out by the first take-out part and sends out the paper sheet toward the sending-out direction. The separation part separates a plurality of the paper sheets sent out in an overlapping manner by the first take-out part. The first take-out part and the second take-out part are positioned spaced apart from each other on opposite sides of the guide part with a predetermined distance therebetween in the sending-out direction.

Description

FIELD

An embodiment of the present invention relates to a paper sheet taking-out and separating device and a paper sheet handling apparatus.

BACKGROUND

A paper sheet taking-out and separating device has been known which includes a take-out part sucking and sending out a paper sheet by movement of a take-out belt having a suction hole and a separation part provided on the opposite side of a paper sheet to be sent out by the take-out part from the take-out part for separating two sheets sent out in an overlapping manner.

The paper sheet taking-out and separating device unfortunately causes conveyance problems such as jam if a paper sheet buckles between the take-out part and the separation part when, for example, the paper sheet is soft or the separating action of the separation part is strong. Accordingly, a paper sheet taking-out and separating device is desired to prevent buckling of a paper sheet and conveyance problems while appropriately preventing sending out two paper sheets in an overlapping manner.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing the configuration of a paper sheet handling apparatus according to an embodiment.

FIG. 2 is a plan view showing the configuration of a paper sheet taking-out and separating device according to the embodiment.

FIG. 3 is a perspective view showing a partial configuration of the paper sheet taking-out and separating device according to the embodiment.

FIG. 4 is a perspective view showing a plurality of paper sheets placed at a supply part of the paper sheet taking-out and separating device according to the embodiment.

FIG. 5 is a perspective view showing the configuration of a valve unit of the paper sheet taking-out and separating device according to the embodiment.

FIG. 6 is a perspective view showing the configuration of a body block of the valve unit of the paper sheet taking-out and separating device according to the embodiment.

FIG. 7 is a perspective view showing the configuration of a valve member of the valve unit of the paper sheet taking-out and separating device according to the embodiment.

FIG. 8 is a cutaway, cross-sectional view showing the body block in the valve unit of the paper sheet taking-out and separating device according to the embodiment.

FIG. 9 is a perspective view showing the configuration of a double feed prevention block of the paper sheet taking-out and separating device according to the embodiment.

FIG. 10 is a plan view showing an exemplary case where a first take-out part and a second take-out part of the paper sheet taking-out and separating device according to the embodiment switch from an on state to an off state.

FIG. 11 is a perspective view showing a partial configuration of a paper sheet taking-out and separating device according to a first modification of the embodiment.

FIG. 12 is a perspective view showing the configuration of a body block in a valve unit of the paper sheet taking-out and separating device according to the first modification of the embodiment.

DESCRIPTION OF EMBODIMENTS

A paper sheet taking-out and separating device according to an embodiment includes a first take-out part, a guide part, a second take-out part and a separation part. The first take-out part takes, by suction, a forefront paper sheet out of a plurality of stacked paper sheets and sends out the paper sheet toward a sending-out direction. The guide part is provided on a downstream side of the first take-out part in the sending-out direction and guides the sending out of the paper sheet by the first take-out part. The second take-out part is provided on the downstream side of the guide part in the sending-out direction and the second take-out part sucks the paper sheet sent out by the first take-out part and sends out the paper sheet toward the sending-out direction. The separation part is provided on the downstream side of the guide part in the sending-out direction and the separation part separates a plurality of the paper sheets sent out in an overlapping manner by the first take-out part. The first take-out part and the second take-out part are positioned spaced apart from each other on opposite sides of the guide part with a predetermined distance therebetween in the sending-out direction.

Hereinafter, a paper sheet taking-out and separating device and a paper sheet handling apparatus of an embodiment will be described with reference to the drawings.

As shown in FIG. 1, a paper sheet handling apparatus 1 of the embodiment includes a control part 1a, a supply part 2, a take-out and separation part 3, a main conveyance passage 4, an examination part 5, a conveyance sorting part 6, gap correction parts 7, and a classification box 8. The control part 1a totally controls the operation of the paper sheet handling apparatus 1. The supply part 2 holds a plurality of stacked paper sheets such as letters in an upright position where the sheets are erected substantially perpendicular to a horizontal plane and moves the sheets in the stacking direction. Thus, the supply part 2 supplies a plurality of paper sheets at the front end side in the stacking direction to the take-out and separation part 3. The take-out and separation part 3 sucks and takes a paper sheet at the forefront in the stacking direction out of the paper sheets supplied by the supply part 2 and sends out the taken out paper sheet to the main conveyance passage 4. The examination part 5 reads classification information provided on the paper sheet. The conveyance sorting part 6 sorts paper sheets into vertically provided four conveyance passages.

The gap correction parts 7 are each provided immediately after the take-out and separation part 3, on an upstream portion of the conveyance sorting part 6, and immediately after the conveyance sorting part 6. The gap correction parts 7 correct an interval (gap) between any two paper sheets adjacent one behind the other in the conveyance direction so that the interval falls within a predetermined interval. The classification box 8 has four levels in a vertical direction. The classification box 8 accumulates paper sheets conveyed by the main conveyance passage 4 and the conveyance sorting part 6 as the sheets are classified according to their classification information.

The paper sheet taking-out and separating device 10 includes the supply part 2, the take-out and separation part 3, and the main conveyance passage 4. FIG. 2 is a plan view from above of the paper sheet taking-out and separating device 10. FIG. 3 is a perspective view showing a portion of the paper sheet taking-out and separating device 10. As shown in FIGS. 2 and 3, the supply part 2 includes a flat bottom wall 21a, a guide wall 21b provided to rise substantially vertically from the bottom wall 21a. A plurality of stacked paper sheets are placed on the bottom wall 21a in the upright position at the supply part 2. Also, the supply part 2 holds the paper sheets stacked in a supply direction A toward the take-out and separation part 3. The supply part 2 guides the movement of the paper sheets moving toward the supply direction A with the guide wall 21b contacting each end of the paper sheets.

The supply part 2 includes a main belt 22a and a sub-belt 22b which are provided on the bottom wall 21a, and a back-up plate 23 which moves toward the supply direction A on the bottom wall 21a. The main belt 22a and the sub-belt 22b contact each end of the paper sheets placed on the bottom wall 21a and are separately driven toward the supply direction A. As a result, the main belt 22a moves the paper sheets placed on the bottom wall 21a toward the supply direction A and the sub-belt 22b adjusts the attitude of each of the paper sheets. The back-up plate 23 contacts a paper sheet at the rearmost in the supply direction A among the stacked paper sheets and moves synchronously with the driving of the main belt 22a, pushing the paper sheets toward the supply direction A. As a result, the back-up plate 23 moves the paper sheets placed on the bottom wall 21a toward the supply direction A.

As shown in FIG. 4, in the paper sheet taking-out and separating device 10 of the embodiment, the bottom wall 21a of the supply part 2 forms a horizontal plane and the guide wall 21b forms a vertical plane orthogonal to the horizontal plane. Each paper sheet with a rectangular surface is supported at a long side downward in the vertical direction by a surface of the bottom wall 21a forming the horizontal plane. Each paper sheet is placed with the long sides in parallel with a horizontal direction and with the short side toward a sending-out direction B of the take-out and separation part 3 to be described later abutting the guide wall 21b. As a result, the paper sheets are placed at the supply part 2 with their long sides downward in the vertical direction aligned by the bottom wall 21a and with their short sides toward the sending-out direction B (namely, ends in the sending-out direction B) aligned by the guide wall 21b.

The take-out and separation part 3 includes an auxiliary take-out part 31, a main take-out part 32, and a separation part 33. The auxiliary take-out part 31 is positioned on the upstream side of the main take-out part 32 in the sending-out direction B parallel with the horizontal direction. The auxiliary take-out part 31 includes a sub air chamber 31a connected to a negative pressure generator (not shown, the suction side of a blower, for example) and a suction belt 31b driven by a drive motor (not shown, a step motor, for example). The sub air chamber 31a is provided with an auxiliary guide plate 31d having a plurality of openings 31c facing the supply part 2. The auxiliary guide plate 31d is formed in a rectangular plate shape and allows the openings 31c to communicate with the inside of the sub air chamber 31a. As a result, a negative pressure (a pressure lower than atmospheric pressure) is applied to the openings 31c of the auxiliary guide plate 31d. The auxiliary guide plate 31d guides the movement of the suction belt 31b toward the sending-out direction B.

The suction belt 31b is an endless belt with a plurality of suction holes 31e and positioned such that at least a partial region of the belt 31b overlaps a portion of the auxiliary guide plate 31d. The suction holes 31e of the suction belt 31b communicate with at least portion of the openings 31c of the auxiliary guide plate 31d at the region where the suction belt 31b overlaps the auxiliary guide plate 31d. As a result, a negative pressure is applied to the suction holes 31e of the suction belt 31b by the sub air chamber 31a through the openings 31c. The suction belt 31b is opposed at the region overlapping the auxiliary guide plate 31d to the paper sheets held by the supply part 2 in the supply direction A and moves toward the sending-out direction B. Thus, when a negative pressure is applied to the suction holes 31e, the suction belt 31b takes, by suction, a paper sheet at the forefront in the supply direction A out of a plurality of paper sheets supplied by the supply part 2. Then, the suction belt 31b sends out the paper sheet taken out by suction toward the sending-out direction B at a predetermined speed.

It is to be noted that the predetermined speed of the suction belt 31b is made slower than the speed of a take-out belt 43 to be described later. As a result, the auxiliary take-out part 31 takes, by suction, a first paper sheet out of the supply part 2 and sends out the first paper sheet to the main take-out part 32. The auxiliary take-out part 31 takes out a second paper sheet by suction after the back end of the first sheet passes the sub air chamber 31a. Then, the auxiliary take-out part 31 sends out the second paper sheet to the main take-out part 32 at a speed slower than the speed at which the first paper sheet is sent by the main take-out part 32 toward the sending-out direction B. This provides an interval equal to or larger than the predetermined interval between the first paper sheet and the second paper sheet in the sending-out direction B, thereby eliminating the overlap between the first and second paper sheets.

The main take-out part 32 is positioned on the downstream side of the auxiliary take-out part 31 in the sending-out direction B. Referring to FIGS. 5, 6, and 8, the main take-out part 32 includes an air chamber 41, a valve unit 42 integrally provided with the air chamber 41, and the take-out belt 43 driven by a drive motor (not shown, a step motor, for example).

The valve unit 42 includes a body block 51 having an opposing face 51A which opposes a plurality of paper sheets held by the supply part 2 in the supply direction A, as shown in FIGS. 2 to 8. Referring to FIGS. 5, 6, and 8, the valve unit 42 includes the air chamber 41 formed by a recess 51a provided on the opposing face 51A. The body block 51 has a first air hole (negative pressure side air hole) 52 and a second air hole (positive pressure side air hole) 53 which independently penetrate the body block 51 at the recess 51a. First ends 52a and 53a of the first and second air holes 52 and 53 are connected to the recess 51a to be opened to the inside of the air chamber 41. Thus, the first and second air holes 52 and 53 communicate with the inside of the air chamber 41. Referring to FIG. 8, a second end 52b of the first air hole 52 is connected to a negative pressure port 55a of a vacuum pump 55 through a pipe fitting 54a. A second end 53b of the second air hole 53 is connected to a positive pressure port 55b of the vacuum pump 55 through a pipe fitting 54b.

Referring to FIG. 8, the body block 51 has a through hole 56 intersecting the first and second air holes 52 and 53 at the inside of the body block 51 and penetrating the center of the body block 51. The body block 51 includes a shaft-shaped valve member 58 inserted through the through hole 56 and rotatably supported by bearings 57a and 57b. Referring to FIGS. 7 and 8, the valve member 58 has first and second communication holes 58a and 58b respectively having the same size as the first and second air holes 52 and 53 and penetrating the valve member 58 in the direction orthogonal to the rotation axis of the valve member 58. The first and second communication holes 58a and 58b are provided at positions that allow connection to the first and second air holes 52 and 53. The penetration directions of the first and second communication holes 58a and 58b intersect with each other at a predetermined angle (90 degrees, for example). Referring to FIG. 7, the valve member 58 is connected to a drive motor 59b such as an AC servomotor through a coupling 59a and rotatably driven by the drive motor 59b. Thus, as the valve member 58 is rotatably driven by the drive motor 59b, the valve member 58 switches between a first state where the first air hole 52 communicates with the first communication hole 58a while the second air hole 53 is blocked and a second state where the first air hole 52 is blocked while the second air hole 53 communicates with the second communication hole 58b.

The valve member 58 is provided with a sensor 60 detecting a rotational position around the rotation axis. The sensor 60 includes a plate-shaped sensor dog 60a provided integrally with the valve member 58 and first and second photoelectric sensors 60b and 60c. The first photoelectric sensor 60b is positioned such that the sensor dog 60a in the first state blocks light from a light source. The second photoelectric sensor 60c is positioned such that the sensor dog 60a in the second state blocks light from the light source. Thus, the first and second photoelectric sensors 60b and 60c separately detect the first and second states switched by the valve member 58.

Referring to FIGS. 2, 3, 5, and 8, the valve unit 42 includes a rectangular plate-shaped main guide plate 61 attached to the opposing face 51A of the body block 51. The main guide plate 61 guides the movement of the take-out belt 43 toward the sending-out direction B. The main guide plate 61 has a plurality of first openings 62 and a plurality of second openings 63. The first openings 62 and the second openings 63 communicate with the air chamber 41. The first openings 62 and the second openings 63 are positioned with a predetermined interval in the sending-out direction B and also on opposite sides of the guide wall 21b of the supply part 2. Each of a negative pressure and a positive pressure is applied at substantially the same time to the first openings 62 and the second openings 63 through the air chamber 41 depending on the first state and the second state switched by the valve member 58. The negative pressure is lower than atmospheric pressure and the positive pressure is higher than atmospheric pressure. The above substantially the same time means the same time or within a predetermined time width from the same time.

Referring to FIG. 3, the take-out belt 43 is an endless belt having a plurality of suction holes 43a formed uniformly over the entire region and is wound around a plurality of pulleys (not shown) including two pulleys 64a and 64b positioned on opposite sides of the valve unit 42 in the sending-out direction B. The take-out belt 43 is positioned such that at least a partial region of the belt 31b overlaps the main guide plate 61. The suction holes 43a of the take-out belt 43 communicates with the first openings 62 and the second openings 63 of the main guide plate 61 at the region where the belt 43 overlaps the plate 61. As a result, the first openings 62 of the main guide plate 61 and the take-out belt 43 constitute the first take-out part 65, and the second openings 63 of the main guide plate 61 and the take-out belt 43 constitute the second take-out part 66.

In the first take-out part 65, the air chamber 41 applies a negative pressure or a positive pressure to the suction holes 43a of the take-out belt 43 through the first openings 62. Also, in the second take-out part 66, the air chamber 41 applies a negative pressure or a positive pressure to the suction hole 43a of the take-out belt 43 through the second openings 63. In each of the first take-out part 65 and the second take-out part 66, the region of the take-out belt 43 overlapping the main guide plate 61 moves toward the sending-out direction B. In the first take-out part 65, the region of the take-out belt 43 overlapping the main guide plate 61 is opposed to a plurality of paper sheets held by the supply part 2 in the supply direction A. Accordingly, when a negative pressure is applied to the suction holes 43a in the first take-out part 65, the take-out belt 43 takes out, by suction, a paper sheet supplied by the supply part 2 toward the supply direction A and sent out by the auxiliary take-out part 31 toward the sending-out direction B. Then, the take-out belt 43 sends out the paper sheet taken out by suction toward the sending-out direction B at a speed higher than the speed at the auxiliary take-out part 31. At that time, the guide wall 21b of the supply part 2 guides the sending out of the paper sheet by the take-out belt 43 of the first take-out part 65 toward the sending-out direction B.

Further, when a negative pressure is applied to the suction holes 43a of the take-out belt 43 in the second take-out part 66, the take-out belt 43 takes out, by suction, a paper sheet sent out by the first take-out part 65 toward the sending-out direction B beyond the guide wall 21b of the supply part 2. Then, the take-out belt 43 sends out the paper sheet taken out by suction toward the sending-out direction B to the separation part 33.

As shown in FIG. 2, the separation part 33 is positioned on the downstream side of the guide wall 21b of the supply part 2 in the sending-out direction B and on the opposite side of the main take-out part 32 regarding paper sheets sent out by the main take-out part 32 toward the sending-out direction B from the main take-out part 32. The separation part 33 includes a double feed prevention block 71 opposing the take-out belt 43 of the main take-out part 32 with a predetermined distance. The double feed prevention block 71 is made of an elastic material such as urethane rubber (rubber material). As shown in FIG. 9, the double feed prevention block 71 has an arc-shaped end surface 71A facing the main take-out part 32. The double feed prevention block 71 has a suction aperture 72 which is formed on the end surface 71A and to which a negative pressure is applied by a negative pressure generator (not shown, a vacuum pump, for example). In case where the take-out belt 43 of the first take-out part 65 takes out a plurality of sheets at a time, the double feed prevention block 71 stops, by suction, the paper sheet closest to the double feed prevention block 71, thereby preventing simultaneously sending a plurality of paper sheets to the gap correction part 7.

The suction aperture 72 of the separation part 33 is positioned on the downstream side of the upstream side ends of the second openings 63 of the second take-out part 66 in the sending-out direction B. As a result, a paper sheet is sent out from the guide wall 21b of the supply part 2 to the separation part 33 toward the sending-out direction B without overlapping another paper sheet and reaches the separation part 33 as the sheet is sucked by the take-out belt 43 of the second take-out part 66.

In the paper sheet handling apparatus 1 of the embodiment, the gap correction parts 7 together with various conveyance belts and rollers (not shown) partially constitute a conveyance mechanism 80 conveying paper sheets. As shown in FIG. 2, the gap correction part 7 is positioned on the downstream side of the separation part 33 in the sending-out direction B. As shown in FIGS. 2 and 3, the gap correction part 7 includes a sponge roller 81 and a drive roller 82 opposed to each other across the main conveyance passage 4. The sponge roller 81 is an elastic soft roller and is deformed according to a change in the thickness of a paper sheet being conveyed through the main conveyance passage 4. The drive roller 82 is rotatably driven by a drive motor (not shown, an AC servomotor, for example) and changes the speed to convey paper sheets by acceleration and deceleration of the rotation. Thus, when a paper sheet caught between the sponge roller 81 and the drive roller 82 and a paper sheet preceding in the conveyance direction have an interval (gap) smaller than a preset value, the gap correction part 7 decelerates the paper sheet conveying speed to widen the interval. On the other hand, when a paper sheet caught between the sponge roller 81 and the drive roller 82 and a paper sheet preceding in the conveyance direction have an interval (gap) larger than a preset value, the gap correction part 7 accelerates the paper sheet conveying speed to narrow the interval.

As shown in FIG. 10, the paper sheet taking-out and separating device 10 of the embodiment is provided with a plurality of, for example five, shift sensors of first to fifth shift sensors 91 to 95, in a region from the downstream side of the guide wall 21b of the supply part 2 to the gap correction part 7 in the paper sheet sending-out direction B. The first shift sensor 91 is positioned between the guide wall 21b of the supply part 2 and the separation part 33. The second to fourth shift sensors 92 to 94 are positioned in sequence between the separation part 33 and the gap correction part 7. The fifth shift sensor 95 is positioned on the downstream side of the gap correction part 7. Each of the first to fifth shift sensors 91 to 95 has a light-emitting part and a light-receiving part opposed to each other. The light-emitting part and the light-receiving part are positioned on opposite sides of the main conveyance passage 4 so that light from the light-emitting part crosses the main conveyance passage 4. Irradiation light from each light-emitting part is received by the corresponding light-receiving part without any obstruction and is made to be temporarily blocked by a paper sheet being conveyed through the main conveyance passage 4. With this, the first to fifth shift sensors 91 to 95 output an OFF signal indicating that a paper sheet is present on the axis of the irradiation light from the light-emitting part when the reception of the irradiation light by the light-receiving part is interrupted. On the other hand, the sensors 91 to 95 output an ON signal indicating that a paper sheet is not present on the axis of the irradiation light from the light-emitting part when the light-receiving part has received the irradiation light. The first to fifth shift sensors 91 to 95 are connected to the control part 1a. Accordingly, an ON signal and an OFF signal from each of the shift sensors 91 to 95 is input to the control part 1a.

Hereinafter, the operation of the paper sheet taking-out and separating device 10 of the embodiment will be described. The control part 1a controls the switching between the first state and the second state by the valve member 58 of the main take-out part 32 corresponding to the ON or OFF signal from the first to fifth shift sensors 91 to 95. When at least any one of the first to fifth shift sensors 91 to 95 has output an ON signal, the control part 1a determines that there is an interval (gap) equal to or larger than the predetermined interval between a paper sheet and a following sheet. For example, as shown in the upper view of FIG. 10, when the first shift sensor 91 has output an ON signal, the control part 1a determines that a first paper sheet P1 and a following second paper sheet P2 are spaced apart from each other between the guide wall 21b of the supply part 2 and the separation part 33. In response to this, the control part 1a switches from the second state to the first state through the valve member 58 and applies a negative pressure to the first openings 62 of the first take-out part 65 and the second openings 63 of the second take-out part 66 through the air chamber 41. As a result, the control part 1a turns the first take-out part 65 and the second take-out part 66 into the on state which enables the suction of a paper sheet. Then, the take-out belt 43 of the main take-out part 32 starts suctioning the second paper sheet P2 which is then sent out toward the sending-out direction B.

In addition, when the third shift sensor 93 positioned at the front of the conveyance mechanism 80 in the sending-out direction B has output an OFF signal, the control part 1a determines that a paper sheet has arrived at a point at which the sheet is passed from the main take-out part 32 to the conveyance mechanism 80. For example, as shown in the lower view of FIG. 10, when the second paper sheet P2 undergoing suctioning and sending out by the take-out belt 43 of the main take-out part 32 reaches a point on the optical axis of the third shift sensor 93, the control part 1a switches from the first state to the second state through the valve member 58. With this, the control part 1a applies a positive pressure to the first openings 62 of the first take-out part 65 and the second openings 63 of the second take-out part 66 through the air chamber 41, turning the first and second take-out parts 65 and 66 into the off state which disables the suction of a paper sheet. Accordingly, the take-out belt 43 of the main take-out part 32 releases the suction of the second paper sheet P2 and passes the second paper sheet P2 to the conveyance mechanism 80 on the downstream side. It is to be noted that, as shown in the lower view of FIG. 10, even if the second paper sheet P2 has been taken out with a third paper sheet P3 overlapping the second paper sheet P2 by the take-out belt 43 of the main take-out part 32, the sending out of the third paper sheet P3, which is closer to the separation part 33, is suspended by the separation part 33. The third paper sheet P3 will be sent out by the take-out belt 43 of the main take-out part 32 after the second paper sheet P2 is passed to the conveyance mechanism 80 and an interval equal to or larger than the predetermined interval is formed between the sheets P2 and P3.

According to the above described embodiment, because of the first and second take-out parts 65 and 66 positioned spaced apart from each other on opposite sides of the guide wall 21b with a predetermined distance therebetween in the paper sheet sending-out direction B, it is appropriately prevented that a plurality of paper sheets are sent out in an overlapping manner. That is, a paper sheet in the supply part 2 is taken out as it is sucked by the first take-out part 65 at a point on the upstream side of the guide wall 21b in the sending-out direction B. Accordingly, even if a plurality of paper sheets are stacked and placed as they are not aligned along the guide wall 21b and a forefront paper sheet is misaligned to the upstream side of the guide wall 21b, only the forefront paper sheet is appropriately sucked by the first take-out part 65. Further, because of the first and second take-out parts 65 and 66 positioned spaced apart from each other on opposite sides of the guide wall 21b with a predetermined distance therebetween in the paper sheet sending-out direction B, buckling of paper sheets and conveyance problems are prevented. That is, after a paper sheet is sent out by the first take-out part 65 to the downstream side of the guide wall 21b in the sending-out direction B, the sheet is sucked by the second take-out part 66 to be sent out toward the sending-out direction B. With this, even if a paper sheet is sucked by the separation part on the downstream side of the guide wall 21b in the sending-out direction B, the second take-out part 66 appropriately keeps sending out the paper sheet toward the sending-out direction B.

Further, because the second openings 63 of the second take-out part 66 has the ends positioned on the upstream side of the suction aperture 72 of the separation part 33 in the sending-out direction B, buckling of paper sheets and conveyance problems are prevented. That is, after a paper sheet is sent out toward the sending-out direction B from the guide wall 21b of the supply part 2 toward the separation part 33, the sheet reaches the separation part 33 as the sheet is sucked by the second take-out part 66, which appropriately keeps sending out the sheet toward the sending-out direction B. Further, because of the first and second take-out parts 65 and 66 turned, substantially at the same time, into the on state which enables the suction of a paper sheet, sending out paper sheets toward the sending-out direction B is appropriately kept, and buckling of paper sheets and conveyance problems are prevented. Further, because of the first and second take-out parts 65 and 66 switched from the on state to the off state substantially at the same time when a front end of a paper sheet in the sending-out direction B reaches the front of the conveyance mechanism 80, a paper sheet is smoothly passed from the main take-out part 32 to the conveyance mechanism 80. Further, because of the first and second take-out parts 65 and 66 switched from the off state to the on state substantially at the same time when any two paper sheets adjacent one behind the other in the sending-out direction B have an interval therebetween equal to or larger than the predetermined interval, a plurality of paper sheets are sent out toward the sending-out direction B successively at suitable time.

Further, because of the first to fifth shift sensors 91 to 95 detecting passage of a paper sheet on the main conveyance passage 4, the first and second take-out parts 65 and 66 are switched between the on state and the off state at suitable time. Further, because of the first and second take-out parts 65 and 66 communicating with the single common air chamber 41, it is possible to simplify the device configuration for switching the first and second take-out parts 65 and 66 between the on state and the off state substantially at the same time.

Hereinafter, a first modification will be described. In the above described embodiment, the plurality of suction holes 43a is uniformly formed on the entire take-out belt 43, but the take-out belt 43 is not limited to this. As shown in FIG. 11, a take-out belt 43 of the first modification has a plurality of suction holes 43a which are formed only on partial regions with predetermined distance in the length direction of the take-out belt 43. As shown in FIG. 12, a valve unit 42 of the first modification includes a main guide plate 61 having a plurality of third openings 99 communicating with the air chamber 41. Each of the third openings 99 has a shape formed by integrating the first opening 62 and the second opening 63 described above.

Hereinafter, a second modification will be described. In the above embodiment, the first openings 62 of the first take-out part 65 and the second openings 63 of the second take-out part 66 communicate with a single air chamber 41, but the present invention is not limited to this. The first openings 62 of the first take-out part 65 and the second openings 63 of the second take-out part 66 may communicate with different air chambers from each other. In this case, the control part 1a may control the switching between negative pressure and positive pressure to be applied to each of the different air chambers substantially at the same time. Thus, the control part 1a synchronize the operations of the first and second take-out parts 65 and 66, namely, to execute and stop sucking a paper sheet similarly to the foregoing embodiment.

Hereinafter, a third modification will be described. In the above embodiment, the first and second take-out parts 65 and 66 are switched between the on state and the off state substantially at the same time, but the present invention is not limited to this. For example, the first and second take-out parts 65 and 66 may be switched between the on state and the off state at different times in synchronization with each other.

According to at least one of the foregoing embodiment and modifications, because of the first and second take-out parts 65 and 66 positioned spaced apart from each other on opposite sides of the guide wall 21b with a predetermined distance therebetween in the paper sheet sending-out direction B, it is appropriately prevented that a plurality of paper sheets are sent out in an overlapping manner and buckling and conveyance problems are prevented. Further, because the second openings 63 of the second take-out part 66 have the ends positioned on the upstream side of the suction aperture 72 of the separation part 33 in the sending-out direction B, buckling of paper sheets and conveyance problems are prevented.

The embodiment and modifications of the present invention has been described, but they are provided for the purpose of example and are not intended to limit the scope of the invention. These embodiment and modifications may be embodied in various other forms, and various omissions, substitutions and changes in the form of the embodiment and modifications may be made without departing from the spirit of the invention. The accompanying claims and their equivalents are intended to cover such forms or modifications as would fall within the scope and spirit of the invention.

Claims

1. A paper sheet taking-out and separating device comprising: an auxiliary take-out part including a suction belt, the suction belt being configured to suck a paper sheet, facing the suction belt, out of a plurality of stacked paper sheets and send out the paper sheet sucked to a sending-out direction at a predetermined speed;a main take-out part provided on a downstream side of the auxiliary take-out part in the sending-out direction and including a take-out belt, the take-out belt being configured to suck a paper sheet, facing take-out belt, out of the plurality of stacked paper sheets and send out the paper sheet sucked to the sending-out direction at a speed faster than the predetermined speed;a supply part including a flat bottom wall, a guide wall provided to rise substantially vertically from the bottom wall and a back-up plate, wherein the plurality of stacked paper sheets are to be placed on the flat bottom wall so that a front paper sheet of the plurality of stacked paper sheets faces both the suction belt of the auxiliary take-out part and the take-out belt of the main take-out part and so that an edge, in the sending-out direction, of each paper sheet is in contact with the guide wall, wherein the back-up plate is configured to push a rear paper sheet of the plurality of stacked paper sheets to the suction belt of the auxiliary take-out part and the take-out belt of the main take-out part, wherein moving of the plurality of stacked paper sheets to the suction belt of the auxiliary take-out part and the take-out belt of the main take-out part is guided by the guide wall, and wherein the guide wall defines a first take-out part and a second take-out part on the downstream side of the first take-out part in the sending-out direction by dividing the main take-out part into two parts; anda separation part provided so as to face the second take-out part and including a suction aperture on a surface of the separation part facing the second take-out part, wherein the separation part is configured to separate two overlapping paper sheets which have been simultaneously taken out and sent out by the first take-out part by sucking one paper sheet closer to the separation part, out of the two overlapping paper sheets simultaneously sent out.

2. The paper sheet taking-out and separating device according to claim 1, wherein an end of the second take-out part on an upstream side in the sending-out direction is positioned on the upstream side of the separation part in the sending-out direction.

3. The paper sheet taking-out and separating device according to claim 1, wherein the first take-out part and the second take-out part are turned into an on state which enables suction of the paper sheet, substantially at the same time.

4. The paper sheet taking-out and separating device according to claim 3, further comprising a conveyance mechanism positioned on the downstream side of the separation part in the sending-out direction, the conveyance mechanism being configured to convey the paper sheet sent out by the second take-out part toward a conveyance direction, wherein the first take-out part and the second take-out part are switched from the on state to an off state which disables the suction of the paper sheet, substantially at a same time when a front end, in the sending-out direction, of the paper sheet which has been sent out by the second take-out part reaches a front of the conveyance mechanism.

5. The paper sheet taking-out and separating device according to claim 4, wherein the first take-out part and the second take-out part are switched from the off state to the on state substantially at a same time when any two of the paper sheets adjacent one behind the other in the sending-out direction between the guide wall and the conveyance mechanism have an interval equal to or larger than a predetermined value therebetween.

6. The paper sheet taking-out and separating device according to claim 4, further comprising a sensor which detects passage of the paper sheet through a predetermined point between the guide wall and the conveyance mechanism in the sending-out direction, wherein the first take-out part and the second take-out part are turned into one of the on state and the off state corresponding to the passage of the paper sheet detected by the sensor.

7. The paper sheet taking-out and separating device according to claim 1, wherein the first take-out part and the second take-out part are connected to a single chamber to which a negative pressure is applied by a pressure pump.

8. The paper sheet taking-out and separating device according to claim 1, wherein a width of the suction belt of the auxiliary take-out part is narrower than a width of the take-out belt of the main take-out part.

9. A paper sheet handling apparatus comprising: a paper sheet taking-out and separating device including: an auxiliary take-out part including a suction belt, the suction belt being configured to suck a paper sheet, facing the suction belt, out of a plurality of stacked paper sheets and send out the paper sheet sucked to a sending-out direction at a predetermined speed;a main take-out part provided on a downstream side of the auxiliary take-out part in the sending-out direction and including a take-out belt, the take-out belt being configured to suck a paper sheet, facing the take-out belt, out of the plurality of stacked paper sheets and send out the paper sheet sucked to the sending-out direction, at a speed faster than the predetermined speed;a supply part including a flat bottom wall, a guide wall provided to rise substantially vertically from the bottom wall and a back-up plate, wherein the plurality of stacked paper sheets are to be placed on the flat bottom wall so that a front paper sheet of the plurality of stacked paper sheets faces both the suction belt of the auxiliary take-out part and the take-out belt of the main take-out part and so that an edge, in the sending-out direction, of each paper sheet is in contact with the guide wall, wherein the back-up plate is configured to push a rear paper sheet of the plurality of stacked paper sheets to the suction belt of the auxiliary take-out part and the take-out belt of the main take-out part, wherein moving of the plurality of stacked paper sheets to the suction belt of the auxiliary take-out part and the take-out belt of the main take-out part is guided by the guide wall, and wherein the guide wall defines a first take-out part and a second take-out part on the downstream side of the first take-out part in the sending-out direction by dividing the main take-out part into two parts; and a separation part provided so as to face the second take-out part and including a suction aperture on a surface of the separation part facing the second take-out part, wherein the separation part separates two overlapping paper sheets which have been simultaneously taken out and sent out by the first take-out part by sucking one paper sheet closer to the separation part, out of the two overlapping paper sheets simultaneously sent out; anda classification unit provided on the downstream side of the separation part in the sending-out direction, the classification unit classifying the paper sheet.