Switchback mechanism, switchback apparatus, and switchback method

Abstract

A switchback mechanism for reversing a mail item conveying direction has a switchback roller which holds the mail item in a nip and rotates in both forward and backward directions. When there is a remaining mail item deviated from the nip of the switchback roller and remaining in the switchback unit, a pressure roller is pressed to an output roller always rotating in the direction of R1, the remaining mail item is held and fed out to the nip. At this time, a control unit takes out the remaining mail item at timing not to interfere with other mail items.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE SEVERAL VIEWS OF THE DRAWING

The accompanying drawings, which are incorporated in and constitute a part of the specification, illustrate embodiments of the invention, and together with the general description given above and the detailed description of the embodiments given below, serve to explain the principles of the invention.

FIG. 1 is a block diagram of a stamping apparatus having a switchback apparatus according to an embodiment of the invention;

FIG. 2 shows an example of changing the posture of a mail item in the stamping apparatus of FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a block diagram showing primary components of the stamping apparatus of FIG. 1;

FIG. 4 is a plan view showing a basic structure of a switchback apparatus incorporated in the stamping apparatus of FIG. 1;

FIG. 5 is a view showing a main conveying path of the switchback apparatus of FIG. 4 indicated by a thick line;

FIG. 6 is a view showing a straight path of the switchback apparatus of FIG. 4 indicated by a thick line;

FIG. 7 is a view showing a first switchback conveying path of the switchback apparatus of FIG. 4 indicated by a thick line;

FIG. 8 is a view showing a second switchback conveying path of the switchback apparatus of FIG. 4 indicated by a thick line;

FIG. 9 is a schematic diagram of one switchback mechanism of the switchback apparatus of FIG. 4;

FIG. 10 is a block diagram of a control system to control the operation of a switchback apparatus including the switchback mechanism of FIG. 9;

FIG. 11 is a flowchart for explaining the operation of the switchback mechanism of FIG. 9;

FIG. 12 is a plan view of a switchback mechanism according to another embodiment of the invention;

FIG. 13 is a plan view of a modification of the switchback mechanism of FIG. 12; and

FIG. 14 is a perspective view of an example of a conventional switchback mechanism.

Claims

1. A switchback mechanism comprising: a switchback roller which accepts in a nip a paper sheet conveyed in a first direction toward a switchback unit, rotates in the first direction, stops the paper sheet in the switchback unit while holding the paper sheet in the nip, rotates in a second direction reverse to the first direction, reverses the paper sheet conveying direction, and takes out the paper sheet from the switchback unit to the second direction;a remaining paper sheet sensor which detects a remaining paper sheet deviated from the nip in the downstream of the nip along the first direction and remaining in the switchback unit;an output mechanism which outputs the remaining paper sheet from the switchback unit; anda control unit which takes out the remaining paper sheet from the switchback unit by operating the output mechanism, when the remaining paper sheet is detected through the remaining paper sheet sensor, after the switchback roller finishes the switchback operation.

2. The switchback mechanism according to claim 1, wherein the control unit rotates the switchback roller in the second direction, when outputting the remaining paper sheet; and the output mechanism outputs the remaining paper sheet in the second direction toward the nip.

3. The switchback mechanism according to claim 2, wherein the control unit obtains timing of conveying other paper sheets, and takes out the remaining paper sheet meet this conveying timing, when operating the output mechanism for outputting the remaining paper sheet in the second direction.

4. The switchback mechanism according to claim 3, wherein the control unit takes out the remaining paper sheet at timing not to interfere with the other paper sheets.

5. The switchback mechanism according to claim 3, wherein the control unit fees out the remaining paper sheet at timing of overlapping the remaining paper sheet with one of the other paper sheets, and conveys the overlapped paper sheets to a rejection unit.

6. The switchback mechanism according to claim 1, further comprising a rejection unit which is placed in the downstream of the switchback unit along the first direction, wherein when outputting the remaining paper sheet, the control unit operates the output mechanism, feeds the remaining paper sheet in the first direction, and rejects the remaining paper sheet from the switchback unit to the rejection unit.

7. The switchback mechanism according to claim 1, wherein the output mechanism has an output roller which is provided rotatably in the second direction one side of the remaining paper sheet; a pressure roller which is provided movably between an operating position to hold the remaining paper sheet by cooperating with the output roller and a retreat position separated from the output roller, and rotatably in the second direction;a moving mechanism which moves the pressure roller between the operating position and retreat position; anda driving mechanism which rotates at least one of the output roller and pressure roller in the second direction.

8. The switchback mechanism according to claim 7, wherein the output roller is placed partially exposed in the switchback unit not to interfere with a paper sheet being switched back by the switchback roller, and the pressure roller is retreated to the outside of the switchback unit in the state that moved to the retreat position by the moving mechanism.

9. A switchback apparatus comprising: at least one switchback mechanism which accepts a paper sheet conveyed in a first direction in a switchback unit, reverses the paper sheet conveying direction, and takes out the paper sheet in a second direction; anda bypass conveying path which conveys a paper sheet bypassing the switchback mechanism,wherein the switchback mechanism has a switchback roller which accepts in a nip a paper sheet conveyed in the first direction toward the switchback unit, rotates in the first direction, stops the paper sheet in the switchback unit while holding the paper sheet in the nip, rotates in a second direction reverse to the first direction, reverses the paper sheet conveying direction, and takes out the paper sheet from the switchback unit to the second direction;a remaining paper sheet sensor which detects a remaining paper sheet deviated from the nip in the downstream of the nip along the first direction and remaining in the switchback unit;an output mechanism which takes out the remaining paper sheet from the switchback unit; anda control unit which takes out the remaining paper sheet from the switchback unit by operating the output mechanism, when the remaining paper sheet is detected through the remaining paper sheet sensor, after the switchback roller finishes the switchback operation.

10. The switchback apparatus according to claim 9, wherein when outputting the remaining paper sheet, the control unit rotates the switchback roller in the second direction, operates the output mechanism meet timing of conveying a paper sheet handled in another switchback mechanism and a paper sheet conveyed along the bypass conveying path, and takes out the remaining paper sheet in the second direction toward the nip.

11. The switchback apparatus according to claim 10, wherein the control unit operates the output mechanism to output the remaining paper sheet from the switchback unit at timing not to interfere with a paper sheet handled in said another switchback mechanism and a paper sheet conveyed along the bypass conveying path.

12. The switchback apparatus according to claim 10, wherein the control unit operates the output mechanism to output the remaining paper sheet from the switchback unit at timing of overlapping the remaining paper sheet with a paper sheet handled in said another switchback mechanism and a paper sheet conveyed along the bypass conveying path, and conveys the overlapped paper sheets to the rejection unit.

13. The switchback apparatus according to claim 9, wherein the switchback mechanism has a rejection unit placed in the downstream of the switchback unit along the first direction, and the control unit rotates the switchback roller in the first direction, operates the output mechanism, and takes out the remaining paper sheet in the first direction from the switchback unit to the ejection unit, when outputting the remaining paper sheet.

14. A switchback method comprising: a switchback step of accepting a paper sheet conveyed in a first direction in a nip of a switchback roller rotating in the first direction, taking the paper sheet into a switchback unit, rotating the switchback roller in a second direction reverse to the first direction, reversing the paper sheet conveying direction, and outputting the paper sheet from the switchback unit to the second direction;a detection step of detecting existence of a remaining paper sheet deviated from a nip in the downstream of the nip along the first direction and remaining in the switchback unit, after the switchback step is finished; anda rejection step of rejecting the remaining paper sheet from the switchback unit, when the remaining paper sheet is detected in the detection step.

15. The switchback method according to claim 14, wherein the ejection step rotates the switchback roller in the second direction, and takes out the remaining paper sheet remaining in the switchback unit in the second direction toward the nip.

16. The switchback method according to claim 15, wherein the ejection step takes out the remaining paper sheet from the switchback unit at timing not to interfere with other paper sheets conveyed in the downstream of the switchback unit along the second direction.

17. The switchback method according to claim 15, wherein the rejection step takes out the remaining paper sheet from the switchback unit at timing of overlapping the remaining paper sheet with other paper sheets conveyed in the downstream of the switchback unit along the second direction.

18. The switchback method according to claim 14, wherein the rejection step takes out the remaining paper sheet in the first direction to the ejection unit placed in the downstream of the switchback unit along the first direction.