JP5563367B2 - Document feeder and document information reader - Google Patents

Description

  The present invention relates to a document feeding device and a document information reading device capable of efficiently aligning a bundle of documents such as sheets and stably feeding a document.

  An image reading device mounted on a copying machine, a facsimile, or the like includes a document feeding device for feeding a document to an image reading unit. As an example of such a document feeding device, a document is read from a document. There is an ADF (automatic document feeder) that feeds the document.

  In such a document feeding device, it is necessary to perform alignment work for aligning the end portions of the inconsistent document bundle when placing the document bundle on the mounting table.

  However, when setting with the leading edges aligned in this way, for example, if originals of different sizes are included in the original bundle, all the originals may not be set with the leading edges aligned. In such a case, there is a risk that a jam may occur when the originals are separated and conveyed one by one, or that the feeding order may be changed.

  In addition, when performing magnetic ink character recognition (MICR) from an original printed with magnetic ink characters such as checks, if the edge of the original is poorly aligned, There is a possibility that the positional relationship cannot be kept good and accurate reading (magnetic ink character recognition) cannot be performed.

  Therefore, in order to prevent such problems, it is necessary for the user to manually align the documents while checking the document size in the document bundle. However, this document alignment is troublesome and is performed every time the feeding operation is performed. Productivity is poor. In addition, the user may forget to perform document alignment.

  Therefore, Patent Document 1 proposes a paper sheet peeling device including an aligning device that aligns the ends of the original bundle by vibrating the original bundle placed on the placement table while urging the original bundle against the feeding roller by a pressing plate. (Related art 1).

JP 2004-131290 A

  In the document feeding apparatus as in the related art 1, the alignment operation is performed while pressing the bundle of documents against the feeding roller by the pressing plate, so the document on the feeding roller side comes into contact with the feeding roller. For this reason, for example, if the alignment operation is to be performed efficiently in a shorter time, the alignment efficiency of the document on the feeding roller side may be deteriorated due to contact with the feeding roller. Note that this is not limited to the related technique 1 and can be considered similarly in other document feeders having the same configuration.

  In view of the circumstances described above, it is an object of the present invention to realize a stable feeding operation in which document bundles can be efficiently aligned in a shorter time.

The document feeder of the present invention that achieves the above-described object is provided in the apparatus from a table on which a stack of a plurality of documents bundled vertically is placed and a document on one side of the document bundle. Document feeding means for feeding, pressing means for pressing the document bundle from the other side toward the document feeding means side, and alignment for moving the document bundle placed on the mounting table up and down to align And an alignment assisting member provided at a position facing the pressing means so as to be close to or retractable from the pressing means. When aligning the document bundle, the pressing means and the alignment assisting member The aligning means moves the document bundle up and down while the document bundle is sandwiched and the document feeding means is not in contact with one surface of the document bundle, and the pressing means is the document feeding means. The pressing force during document feeding by The alignment assisting member is urged toward the pressing means by the urging member, and the urging force of the urging member is The pressing force is weaker than the pressing force during the document feeding operation of the document feeding unit .

  The present invention can also achieve the above object by a document information reading device including the document feeding device described above.

  According to the present invention, it is possible to efficiently arrange a bundle of originals in a shorter time and to realize a stable feeding operation.

FIG. 3 is a top view of the document feeder according to the first embodiment. FIG. 3 is a side sectional view of the document feeder according to the first embodiment. FIG. 4 is an explanatory diagram of an alignment roller and an alignment operation provided in the document feeder according to the first embodiment. FIG. 3 is an enlarged perspective view of an alignment assisting member according to the first embodiment. FIG. 3 is an enlarged perspective view of an alignment assisting member according to the first embodiment. FIG. 3 is an enlarged perspective view of an alignment assisting member according to the first embodiment. FIG. 3 is an enlarged perspective view of an alignment assisting member according to the first embodiment. FIG. 3 is a control block diagram illustrating a control configuration example of the document feeding device according to the first embodiment. FIG. 5 is a block diagram illustrating a configuration of a system to which a document feeding device according to a second embodiment can be applied. FIG. 6 is a top view of a document feeding device according to a third embodiment. FIG. 9 is a perspective view illustrating an outline of a check scanner to which a document feeding device according to a fourth embodiment is applied.

The best mode for carrying out the present invention will be described below in detail with reference to the drawings. However, the dimensions, materials, shapes, relative arrangements, and the like of the components described in this embodiment are not intended to limit the scope of the present invention only to those unless otherwise specified. Absent.
(Embodiment 1)

  FIG. 1 is a top view of a document feeding device showing Embodiment 1 of the present invention. FIG. 2 is a schematic view as seen from the side of the document feeder showing Embodiment 1 of the present invention.

  1 and 2, reference numeral 1 denotes a document feeder. 2 is a state in which a plurality of originals (for example, checks, banknotes, securities, originals, recording paper, etc.) D fed by the original feeder 1 (hereinafter referred to as original bundles) Dx are set up (vertically placed state). That is, it is a document placing table that is placed in a standing posture. That is, the document placing table 2 is a placing table on which the document bundle Dx is placed with the overlapping direction of the documents D oriented in a substantially horizontal direction. The document placing table 2 is provided with a pressing plate 3 that holds the document bundle Dx in a standing posture and presses the document bundle Dx against the alignment wall 2A so as not to fall apart.

  Here, on the document placing table 2, as many documents D as possible can be placed in the document placing table 2 in order to feed as many documents D as possible in one document feeding operation. There are various usage situations in which an extremely small amount of document D is processed compared to the document placement capacity of the table 2.

  Therefore, in order to flexibly cope with these situations, the pressing plate 3 serving as a pressing member is urged in the direction of the alignment wall 2A of the document table 2 by a moving unit (not shown) and the document D is transferred to the document table. 1 is configured to be movable within the range from the solid line position (pressing position P1) to the dotted line position (non-pressing position P2) in FIG. Yes. In the present embodiment, for example, in the present embodiment, the pressing plate 3 moves the document D by moving means (not shown) when a document alignment operation described later is started (during the alignment operation) according to the thickness of the document bundle Dx. It moves from the pressing position to the dotted line position (a position that does not interfere with the alignment operation). By adopting such a configuration, for example, on the document table 2, as many documents D as possible are processed at the time of one document reading, the document table 2 is loaded up to the maximum number of documents that can be placed. In some cases, there may be a situation in which the document D, which is extremely smaller than the number of sheets that can be placed, is placed. However, any situation can be flexibly handled.

  As for the moving means for urging the pressing plate 3, various means such as those using elasticity such as a coil spring and those using power such as a motor can be considered. It is not limited.

  Further, the pressing plate 3 is provided with a convex portion 3b on the original contact surface (pressing surface) on the alignment wall 2A side of the apparatus main body, and this convex portion 3b is provided on the lower end portion on the original placing table 2 side. Yes. More specifically, the lower end of the pressing surface that presses the document D on the side of the document placing table 2 on the side opposite to the support portion 3a of the pressing plate 3 (above the document placing table 2 as shown in FIG. 2). And within the range of a region d1 below the lower end of the feed roller 5 described later), and at least within the range of the region facing the feed roller 5 (diameter of the feed roller) d2 when viewed from above. A convex portion 3b is provided that protrudes toward the alignment wall 2A facing the pressing plate 3. During the feeding operation of the document D, the convex portion 3b abuts on the outermost side of the document bundle Dx, that is, the lower portion of the document D on the pressing plate 3 side and pressurizes between the feeding roller 5 and the pressing force. Is granted.

  As a result, the lower side of the original bundle Dx is concentrated and pressed, so that a stress in a direction opposite to the direction of lifting relative to the original D, that is, a stress pressing on the upper surface side of the original placing table 2 is applied. In this state, the document D is fed and separated by the feeding roller 5 and the like, so that the feeding posture of the document D along the upper surface of the document placing table 2 can be well maintained even during the separation. That is, when the document D is fed by the feeding roller 5, it is possible to effectively suppress the document D from being inclined and lifted due to an impact received from the nip portion of the roller pair.

  Here, the relationship between the height positions of the feeding roller 5 and the convex portion 3b is preferably that the height positions from the upper surface of the document placing table 2 coincide with each other or the convex portion 3b is fed. It is good to be lower than the roller 5. In the present embodiment, the convex portion 3 b is provided on the lower side of the feeding roller 5. Thereby, it is possible to effectively prevent the document D on the feeding roller 5 side from being lifted. By preventing the document D from being lifted in this way, it is possible to prevent a decrease in reading accuracy by a check scanner, a document image reading device, or the like.

  In particular, in a check scanner, magnetic information recognition (MICR) is performed by comparing a magnetic waveform obtained by reading magnetic information on a document D immediately after separation with a reference waveform (such as a dictionary waveform prepared in advance for each magnetic ink character). Etc.). For this reason, when the document D is inclined and conveyed, the collation between the read magnetic waveform and the reference waveform is shifted, which may cause a misreading or a collation error. In this embodiment, as described above, the document D on the feeding roller 5 side can be prevented from being lifted, so that misreading and erroneous determination in magnetic information recognition can be performed satisfactorily.

  Reference numeral 5 denotes a feeding roller that feeds the document D placed on the document placing table 2, and 51 and 52 separate the documents D sent by the feeding roller 5 one by one to the downstream image reading unit. It is the feed roller and the retard roller which comprise the separation conveyance part conveyed toward. Here, as shown in FIG. 1, the feeding roller 5 is disposed in a state in which a part protrudes from the alignment wall 2A, and is supported so as to be movable up and down as shown in FIG. .

  Reference numeral 2B denotes a document abutting portion on which a document bundle Dx abuts during document alignment operation described later. Reference numeral 4 denotes a shutter that is provided so as to protrude in a document conveyance path between the feeding roller 5 and the separation conveyance unit. That is, the shutter 4 is a member that opens and closes the document conveyance path. The shutter 4 is a position where the leading end of the document bundle Dx abuts from the position indicated by the solid line below the document placement surface 2C of the document placement table 2 when aligning the document bundle Dx as will be described later by a driving unit (not shown). (Shutter means).

  As shown in FIG. 2, when the shutter 4 protrudes, the shutter 4 is configured to form substantially the same surface as the document abutting portion 2B with respect to the document bundle Dx. Further, by projecting the shutter 4 constituting a part of the shutter means in this way, the document D is prevented from entering the separating / conveying section during the document alignment operation. That is, the shutter 4 opens and closes one end of the document transport path in conjunction with the document D feeding operation and the document bundle Dx alignment operation. Specifically, when aligning the document bundle Dx, the document conveyance path is closed to prevent the document D from entering the separation conveyance unit, and when conveying the document D from the document bundle Dx one by one before feeding is started. It operates to open the document transport path.

  The shutter 4 moves from a position protruding near the entrance of the document conveyance path to a position retracted from the document conveyance path that does not prevent the document D from being fed when the document D is fed out after the document alignment operation is completed. It is supposed to be. Such a shutter 4 is not particularly limited as long as it can project in the vicinity of the entrance of the document transport path and can open and close the entrance of the document transport path. For example, the shutter may be able to protrude from the feeding roller 5 side or the apparatus main body (document placing table 2) side, or may be protruded from the end of the apparatus main body on the pressing plate 3 side.

  Here, an aligning unit for aligning the document bundle Dx is provided in the aligning region between the feed roller 5 and the pressing plate 3 on the side of the feed roller 5 with respect to the shutter 4. For example, in the present embodiment, the document placing table 2 is arranged at two locations so as to be separated from each other by a predetermined distance in the document transport direction (at least a distance shorter than the maximum sheet length that can be placed on the document placing table 2). A pair of alignment rollers 20 and 21 are provided as alignment means.

  Each of these alignment rollers 20 and 21 is an alignment member (rotary body in the present embodiment) that constitutes a part of alignment means for applying a physical impact to the lower end portion of the document bundle Dx. The rotary shafts 20a and 21a that are parallel and extend in a direction perpendicular to the document conveying direction are pivotally supported. A timing belt 22 is stretched around pulleys 20b and 21b provided at the ends of the rotary shafts 20a and 21a, one being a drive shaft (here, the shaft 21a) and the other being a driven shaft (here, the shaft 20a). As synchronized.

  A flange 23 is provided at the end of the rotating shaft 21 a of the upstream alignment roller 21. Three wing portions 23a to 23c (see FIG. 4) are radially formed on the flange 23, and a photo interrupter 24 is provided so that the tip portions of the wing portions 23a to 23c block the optical path. As will be described later, the position where any of the blade portions 23a to 23c of the flange 23 shields the optical path of the photo interrupter 24 when the alignment rollers 20 and 21 are rotated is set as the stop position of the alignment rollers 20 and 21. Is done.

  That is, when the blade portions 23a to 23c of the flange 23 block the optical path of the photo interrupter 24 at a constant rotation cycle, the photo interrupter 24 outputs an ON / OFF signal corresponding to this to the control unit described later, and the alignment roller 20 and 21 phases are detected. In the standby state in which the alignment process is not performed, the alignment rollers 20 and 21 do not protrude from the upper surface portion of the document table 2 as shown in FIG. doing. At this time, the blade portions 23a to 23c block the optical path of the photo interrupter 24, and the control unit described later determines that the alignment rollers 20 and 21 are in the standby position.

<Configuration and function of alignment roller>
Next, the configuration and function of the alignment rollers 20 and 21 will be described with reference to FIG. In FIG. 3, the alignment rollers 20 and 21 have an equilateral triangular shape in cross section in a direction parallel to the plane having the rotation axes 20 a and 21 a as normals, and the portions corresponding to the apexes of the triangle are curved. A curved surface notched in an arcuate shape of R is formed. Accordingly, the outer peripheral surfaces of the alignment rollers 20 and 21 correspond to the three curved surface portions 20r (21r) whose cross-sectional shape in the direction perpendicular to the rotation shafts 20a and 21a corresponds to the apex of the triangle, and to each side of the triangle. Three plane portions 20l (21l) are alternately arranged in a rice ball shape, and the curved surface portion 20r (21r) and the plane portion 20l (21l) extend in the direction along the rotation shafts 20a and 21a.

  Further, the curved surface portion 20r (21r) of the alignment rollers 20 and 21 has a height (distance R from the center of gravity of the triangle to the curved surface portion) protruding from the upper surface portion of the document placing table 2 toward the document D side. The flat surface portions 201 (21 l) of the alignment rollers 20 and 21 are formed to be lower than the upper surface portion of the document table 2. Each curved surface portion 20r (21r) is a portion that gives an impact to the document bundle, and is provided intermittently in the rotation direction.

  By rotating the alignment rollers 20 and 21 having the above-described shape, as shown in FIG. 3A, two curved surfaces 20r (21r) and two flat portions 20l (21l) formed adjacent thereto are formed. Of the boundary portion (ridge line portion), the first boundary portion 20c (21c) that first contacts the document D pushes up the lower end portion of the document D (then it falls by its own weight). Further, as shown in FIG. 3 (b), the curved surface portion 20r (21r) behind the first boundary portion 20c (21c) rotates while sliding in contact with the lower end portion of the raised document D. Advance D.

  Such a vertical push-up and sliding contact operation (jogger operation) is continuously applied three times for each rotation of the alignment rollers 20 and 21 at two positions on the front and rear of the document bundle Dx. . At this time, the document bundle Dx moves at least up and down due to a physical impact applied by the alignment rollers 20 and 21 along the vertical portion between the document placement surface 2C and the abutting portion 2B. Therefore, it is possible to efficiently align the uneven document bundle Dx in a shorter time.

  The two alignment rollers 20 and 21 are synchronously rotated by the timing belt 22 so that the curved surface portion 20r (21r) and the flat surface portion 20l (21l) have the same phase. Here, by forming the curved surface portion 20r (21r) in an arc shape, the length h in the front-rear direction can be increased, and the time during which the curved surface portion 20r (21r) and the document D are in contact can be lengthened. it can. Thus, for example, when the small-size original D is sandwiched between the large-size originals D, the front end and the lower end of each original D are accurately positioned in a state where the various sizes of originals D are bundled. And it can arrange quickly.

  By such a jogger operation of the alignment rollers 20 and 21, it is possible to accurately align a document D of the same size or type or a document D of a different size or type in a short time. The above-described separation and feeding operation of the document D can be started immediately. Further, as described above, since the convex portion 3b is provided at the lower end of the pressing plate 3, at the time of separating and feeding, the document D is separated and fed as the feeding posture as it is after being straightly aligned. It can be performed. In the present embodiment, the alignment rollers 20 and 21 have a substantially triangular prism shape. However, the present invention is not limited to this, and of course, for example, it may have a substantially rectangular prism shape.

  As described above, when alignment is performed by the alignment rollers 20 and 21, it is desirable to rotate the alignment rollers 20 and 21 described above at a high speed in order to complete the alignment operation in a shorter time and efficiently. On the other hand, if the alignment operation is performed in a state where the document bundle Dx is pressed against the feeding roller 5 by the pressing plate 3, the documents are difficult to move and the alignment efficiency may be reduced. For this reason, it is preferable to perform in the state where the pressing force from the pressing plate 3 is weaker than that during feeding during the alignment operation. However, if the pressing plate 3 is too far from the document bundle Dx, the document bundle Dx is tilted or tilted. Therefore, during the alignment operation of the document bundle Dx, the vertical position of the document bundle Dx (alignment possible) The position of the pressing plate 3 is controlled to such an extent that the correct posture is maintained.

  In the present embodiment, during such an alignment operation, the document D on the feed roller 5 side of the document bundle Dx receives a frictional force between the document bundle Dx and the feed roller 5 so that the alignment efficiency does not deteriorate. In addition, an alignment assisting member 100 is provided in the vicinity of the feeding roller 5.

  Here, the peripheral structure of the feeding roller 5 will be described more specifically with reference to FIGS. 1 and 2. The alignment assisting member 100 will be described in detail with reference to FIGS. 4 to 7 are enlarged perspective views of the alignment assisting member according to the present embodiment.

  As shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, the document feeding apparatus 1 according to the present embodiment is aligned in the vicinity of the feeding roller 5 and at a position facing the pressing plate 3 so as to approach or retract from the pressing plate 3. An auxiliary member 100 is provided. That is, such an alignment assisting member 100 is arranged on the upper side of the feeding roller 5 as shown in FIG. 2, and basically a part of the feeding roller 5 as shown in FIG. It protrudes to the pressing plate 5 side.

  Further, as shown in FIG. 4, the alignment assisting member 100 is detachably attached to a lower end portion 155 of a cover member 150 that covers the upper side of the feeding roller 5. Further, as shown in FIG. 5, an urging means 160 made of a metal plate member is mounted behind the alignment assisting member 100. For example, in the present embodiment, the biasing means 160 has a substantially U-shape, and the pair of protrusions 160a and 160b are on the back side of the alignment assisting member 100 (the side opposite to the side in contact with the document D). It engages with both end portions 100a and 100b. Then, as shown in FIG. 6, the alignment assisting member 100 to which the biasing means 160 is attached is slid into the lower end portion 155 of the cover member 150, and the engagement provided on the biasing means 160 as shown in FIG. The protrusion 165 and the engagement hole 155a of the cover member 150 enable the alignment auxiliary member 100 to be attached to and detached from the cover member 150. Although not shown, the alignment assisting member 100 is disposed in the vicinity of the feeding roller 5 by mounting the cover member 150 on the upper side of the feeding roller 5 in the apparatus main body. In addition, a pair of restricting protrusions 155b for restricting the operation of the urging means 160 in the pressing direction are provided at the lower end portion 155 of the cover member 150 so as to face the pair of projecting portions 160a and 160b. Thereby, it is possible to prevent the biasing means 160 from being pressed more than necessary, and to reduce excessive deformation of the biasing means 160.

  Such an alignment assisting member 100 is attached to the apparatus main body via a cover member, so that the alignment auxiliary member 100 is predetermined toward the apparatus main body side by elastic deformation of the urging means from a position protruding forward from the feeding roller 5. It is possible to push in a predetermined amount with the pressing force, specifically, until the projecting portions 160a and 160b of the urging means 160 abut against the pair of regulating projections 155a. That is, the alignment assisting member 100 corresponds to the alignment region corresponding to the space between the pressing plate 3 and the feeding roller 5 from the vicinity of the feeding roller 5, more specifically, the region where the document bundle Dx is placed and the alignment operation is performed. It becomes free to appear and disappear.

  Further, in the present embodiment, such an appearance operation of the alignment assisting member 100 is interlocked with a pressing operation by the pressing plate 3. That is, during the feeding operation of the document D, the alignment assisting member 100 is pushed from the document bundle Dx because the pressing plate 3 presses the document bundle Dx. On the other hand, during the alignment operation of the document bundle Dx, the pressing plate 3 is retracted in the direction away from the feeding roller 5 to weaken the pressing force, whereby the alignment assisting member 100 is closer to the pressing plate 3 than the feeding roller 5. The document bundle Dx is sandwiched between the alignment assisting member 100 and the pressing plate 3. At this time, the document bundle Dx and the feeding roller 5 are not in contact with each other.

  The leading end of the alignment assisting member 100 on the side of the feeding roller 5 serves as a document contact surface for sandwiching the document bundle Dx with the pressing plate 3. Further, the original contact surface of the alignment assisting member 100 is a surface where the frictional force generated with the original D is smaller than that of the feed roller 5. For example, in this embodiment, the original contact surface of the feed roller 5. The surface roughness is smaller than that. On the other hand, the document contact surface of the feeding roller 5 is provided with a surface roughness that generates a certain amount of frictional force with the document D in order to reliably feed the document D.

  In addition, the alignment assisting member 100 is provided in a tapered surface shape such that the distance between the pressing plate 3 and the alignment assisting member 100 gradually decreases toward the document placement table 2 when mounted on the apparatus main body. Yes. In other words, the leading end portion, which is the free end of the alignment assisting member 100 on the document placing table 2 side, protrudes toward the pressing plate 3 side from the base end portion A on the cover member 150 side. The end surface of the leading end portion B of the alignment assisting member 100 constitutes a document contact surface during the alignment operation. By configuring the alignment assisting member 100 in such a shape, the alignment assisting member 100 does not get in the way when the document bundle Dx is set, and is easy to set.

  Further, the urging force received by the alignment assisting member 100 from the urging means is adjusted to be weaker than the pressing force from the pressing plate 3 during the paper feeding operation. Thus, during the feeding operation of the document D, the document bundle Dx is pressed by the pressing plate, and one surface side of the document bundle Dx is brought into contact with the feeding roller 5. In this state, the originals on the side of the feeding roller 5 of the original bundle Dx are fed in order with the rotation of the feeding roller 5.

  On the other hand, during the alignment operation of the document bundle Dx, after the pressing plate 3 is retracted from the document bundle Dx to weaken the pressing force, the alignment of the document bundle Dx is performed by the rotation operation of the alignment rollers 20 and 21. At this time, since the pressing force from the pressing plate 3 is weakened against the document bundle Dx, the pushing force of the document bundle Dx on the alignment assisting member 100 is also weaker than that during the document feeding operation. At this time, in this embodiment, the alignment assisting member 100 is provided by the urging means so as to protrude from the feeding roller 5 toward the pressing plate 3.

  As a result, during the alignment operation of the document bundle Dx, the document bundle Dx is sandwiched between the pressing plate 3 and the alignment assisting member 100 to such an extent that the document bundle Dx can be aligned (the standing posture state in which the document bundle Dx is placed vertically without being tilted much At this time, the document bundle Dx is not in contact with the feeding roller 5. Therefore, the feeding roller 5 is not affected during the alignment operation of the document bundle Dx. That is, since no frictional force is generated between the feeding roller 5 and the document D, for example, the alignment operation can be efficiently performed in a shorter time by the high-speed rotation of the alignment rollers 20 and 21.

  Since the document contact surface of the alignment assisting member 100 is formed so that the frictional force with the document D is smaller than the document contact surface of the feeding roller 5, the alignment assisting member is used in the alignment operation of the document bundle Dx. 100 does not hinder the alignment operation of the original bundle Dx, and even if it contacts the original D during the original D feeding operation, the feeding operation is not hindered.

  As described above, in this embodiment, when aligning the document bundle Dx, the document bundle Dx is sandwiched between the pressing plate 3 and the alignment auxiliary member 100, and the feeding roller 5 is not in contact with one surface of the document bundle Dx. In this state, the alignment rollers 20 and 21 are rotated to apply a physical impact to the document bundle Dx. Therefore, the alignment rollers 20 and 21 can be moved without disturbing the alignment operation. The document bundle Dx can be aligned at high speed by rotating at high speed, that is, the document bundle Dx can be aligned in a shorter time and more efficiently, and a stable feeding operation can be realized.

  In the present embodiment, as shown in FIG. 2, by arranging the alignment assisting member 100 on the upper side of the feeding roller 5, the document bundle Dx is set from the upper opening to the document table 2. Since the original bundle Dx is guided downward by the alignment assisting member 100 and the original bundle Dx is prevented from coming into contact with the feeding roller 5, there is an advantage that it is easy to set. Moreover, since the convex part 3b was provided in the lower end part of the press plate 3, for example, alignment operation | movement is performed and a feeding attitude | position is adjusted, and even if it starts feeding after that, a feeding attitude | position is maintained by the convex part 3b. Can do. Therefore, the document feeding device 1 of the present embodiment is a device that is very easy for the user to use by arranging the alignment auxiliary member 100 on the upper side of the feeding roller 5 and has a stable feeding operation. It becomes an apparatus which can implement | achieve.

  Hereinafter, the control configuration of the document feeder 1 will be described with reference to FIG. FIG. 8 is a control block diagram illustrating an example of a control configuration of the document feeder 1.

  In FIG. 8, reference numeral 200 denotes an operation unit. A control unit 210 includes an internal CPU and controls the document feeder 1. Reference numeral 220 denotes a sensor including a photo interrupter 24 and a sensor (not shown) that detects the presence / absence of a document placed on the document placement table 2. Reference numeral 230 denotes motors for driving various movable members such as a pressing plate 3 and a shutter such as a feeding roller 5 described later. Reference numeral 240 denotes a motor driver for moving the motors 230, which receives a motor operation command from the control unit 210 and outputs an operation signal to the motor. Reference numeral 250 denotes a memory (ROM) for storing the entire control program. The controller 210 controls the document feeder 1 by reading and executing the program recorded in the ROM 250. Reference numeral 260 denotes a memory (RAM) for storing signals from the sensors 220. Reference numeral 270 denotes an encoder that outputs a rotation signal of the motors 230.

  By the way, the document feeder 1 having such a configuration first performs a document edge alignment operation (document alignment operation) when an operation switch (document alignment operation start switch not shown) of the operation unit 100 is pressed. Thereafter, the documents are separated and fed one by one to the document conveyance path while sequentially feeding a plurality of documents 13a aligned at the edges by the feeding roller 5.

  In the case of a document reading device to which the document feeding device 1 is applied, the document reading device (document scanner, check scanner, etc.) converts the document 13a separated and fed as described above into a reading unit (image reading unit) (not shown). Or a magnetic ink character recognition process, etc., and a reading process (image reading process, magnetic ink character recognition process, etc.) of the original 13a is performed. In the case of an image forming apparatus (printer, copier, etc.) to which the document feeding device 1 is applied, the document reading device transports the separately fed document 13a as described above to an image forming unit (not shown), An image forming process is performed on the document 13a.

  Next, the document aligning operation (document aligning operation) and control of the document feeding apparatus 1 and the subsequent document feeding operation will be described.

  When a user places a plurality of documents D on the document table 2 and presses an operation switch (document alignment operation start switch (jogger button) not shown) of the operation unit 200, first, the pressing plate 3 is the document bundle Dx. 1 is moved from the solid line position in FIG. 1 to the position indicated by the dotted line by a moving means (not shown) so as to weaken the pressing force to the head, that is, without disturbing the alignment operation by the alignment rollers 20 and 21. The shutter 4 protrudes so as to block the document transport path of the document D. Then, the pressing plate 3 retracts and the alignment rollers 20 and 21 start rotating. When the alignment rollers 20 and 21 rotate as described above, the alignment rollers 20 and 21 are rotated as shown in FIG. The curved surface portion 20r (21r), which is a part of the document, sequentially protrudes from the document placing surface 2C and pushes up the bottom surface of the document bundle Dx while applying a propulsive force in the feeding direction (shutter 4 side) and then retracts.

  As described above, as the alignment rollers 20 and 21 rotate, the document bundle Dx moves downstream in the conveyance path until the end of the document hits the document abutting portion 2B. It should be noted that the document D that has already been in contact with the document butting unit 2B and the shutter 4 is blocked by the document butting unit 2B and the shutter 4 and is moved upward with respect to the document placing surface 2C by the operation of the alignment rollers 20 and 21. After being lifted, the behavior of dropping again is repeated.

  The document bundle Dx is sufficiently aligned with the document placement surface 2C by repeating the vibration operation of lifting and dropping the document bundle Dx in this way. Further, since the document bundle Dx continuously abuts against the document abutting portion 2B and the shutter 4, even when the documents D of a plurality of sizes are mixed, the end portions including the leading ends of the respective documents D can be aligned. it can.

  Next, when the document edge aligning operation (document aligning operation) is completed, the pressing force of the pressing plate 3 toward the document bundle Dx is increased, and the alignment assisting member 100 is pushed backward via the document bundle Dx to supply the document. The document bundle Dx is brought into contact with the feeding roller 5. Then, the entrance of the document transport path is opened by the shutter 4, and the document bundle Dx is sent out by the feeding roller 5 as described above. Thereafter, the document is separated and transported one by one by the feed roller 51 and the retard roller 52. . Then, after all the originals D are conveyed from the original placing table 2, all the operations are finished.

  As described above, after placing the document bundle Dx on the document placement table 2, the document bundle Dx is preferentially sandwiched between the alignment assisting member 100 and the pressing plate 3, and the feeding roller 5 performs the document bundle. In a non-contact state with Dx, the alignment rollers 20 and 21 are continuously vibrated in the vertical direction for a predetermined time and moved in the document feeding direction so as to abut against the document abutting portion 2B and the shutter 4, whereby the document bundle Dx Can be performed with high speed and accuracy with a simple configuration, and the document feeder 1 can be reduced in size, weight and space, and the apparatus can be made inexpensive without causing an increase in cost. Can be configured.

  Further, in the description so far, the case where the document bundle Dx is moved in the feeding direction while vibrating in the vertical direction by the two alignment rollers 20 and 21 as alignment members has been described. The present invention is not limited to this, and the original bundle Dx may be moved in the original feeding direction by vibrating the original bundle Dx in one or a plurality of positions by an alignment member that can project from the original placement surface 2C of the original placement table 2. The bottom and side edges of Dx can be aligned. However, high-speed alignment can be performed by using a plurality of alignment rollers.

As described above, according to the present embodiment, after placing the document bundle Dx on the document placing table 2, the alignment rollers 20 and 21 protrude from the document placing surface 2 </ b> C of the document placing table 2. Then, the document bundle Dx is vibrated in the vertical direction at one or a plurality of positions on the document placing table 2 and moved in the document feeding direction so as to abut against the document abutting portion 2B (or the shutter 4). In the document feeder 1 in which the side edges are aligned, during the alignment operation, the document bundle Dx is preferentially sandwiched between the alignment assisting member 100 and the pressing plate 3, and the document bundle Dx (feed roller 5 side) is aligned. The original D) is brought into a non-contact state with the feeding roller 5, whereby the original bundle Dx can be aligned in a shorter time and efficiently, and a stable feeding operation of the original D can be performed.
(Embodiment 2)

  In the first embodiment, the configuration in which the controller 210 in the document feeder 1 controls the document feeder 1 has been described. In the present embodiment, a configuration in which a computer connected to the document feeder 1 controls the document feeder 1 will be described.

  FIG. 9 is a block diagram showing the configuration of a system to which the document feeder of the present invention can be applied. The same components as those in FIG.

  In FIG. 9, reference numeral 800 denotes a computer as an information processing apparatus, which is configured by a personal computer (PC) or the like.

  A computer 800 is communicably connected to the document feeder 1 via a communication medium (an interface such as a USB or a network) 900. That is, the document feeder 1 according to the present embodiment includes an interface unit (I / F unit) 280 that controls communication with the computer 800 via the communication medium 900. The computer 800 and the document feeder 1 can be connected by, for example, USB communication or the like, but may be connected by serial communication.

  In the computer 800, reference numeral 801 denotes a CPU that controls each device connected to the system bus 804 based on a program stored in a program ROM of the ROM 803, and performs overall control of the computer 800 as a whole. A RAM 802 functions as a main memory, work area, and the like for the CPU 801.

  A keyboard controller (KBC) 805 controls input from a keyboard (KB) 809 or a pointing device (not shown) such as a mouse. Reference numeral 806 denotes a display controller (DC) which controls display on the display 810. The display 810 may be a CRT or another type of display device such as an LCD.

  A memory controller (MC) 807 controls access to the external memory 811 (hard disk, flash memory, flexible disk (FD), CD-ROM, DVD, etc.). An interface unit (I / F unit) 808 controls communication with the document feeder 1 via a communication medium (an interface such as a USB or a network) 900.

  The CPU 801 of the computer 800 reads out a computer-readable program (a control program for controlling the document feeder 1 or a driver for communication control, software having a driver function, etc.) recorded in the external memory 811. By executing this, it operates as a document feeding control device that controls the document feeding device 1. That is, the CPU 801 of the computer 800 controls the document feeder 1 by outputting various control signals to the document feeder 1 connected to the computer 800 according to a control program recorded in the external memory 811. can do. Note that all control of the document feeder 1 may be instructed from the computer 800. For example, a user interface (UI), a control unit, or the like is provided on the document feeder 1 side. Based on the operation in the apparatus 1, the start of conveyance, the alignment process, the position adjustment of the alignment member, and the like may be controlled.

  In the present embodiment, the computer 800 acquires information about the detection result of the photo interrupter 24 from the document feeder 1 and executes various types of information processing exemplified in the first embodiment on the computer 800 to execute the interface 900. It is assumed that the document feeder 1 is controlled in accordance with an instruction from the computer 800.

In the present embodiment, the instruction that was configured from the operation unit 100 in the first embodiment may be configured to be performed from the computer 800. For example, when the document feeder 1 is a reading device, read information read by the document feeder 1 is transferred to the computer 800 and stored in an external storage device or the like. When the document feeder 1 is a printing device, a printing process based on print data transmitted from the computer 800 is performed on a document that is transported (sent) by the document feeder 1.
(Embodiment 3)

  FIG. 10 is a schematic diagram for explaining the document feeder according to the third embodiment of the present invention. The present embodiment is the same as the above-described first embodiment except that the shutter 4 that opens and closes the entrance of the document conveyance path and the alignment assisting member 100 are connected and interlocked by the connecting member 300. In addition, the same code | symbol is attached | subjected to the same structure as Embodiment 1, and the overlapping description is abbreviate | omitted.

  Specifically, as shown in FIG. 10, the shutter 4 is provided so as to be able to protrude and retract from the feed roller 51 side in the vicinity of the entrance of the document conveyance path, and is integrally connected by the shutter 4, the alignment auxiliary member 100, and the connection member 300. Has been. Then, the alignment assisting member 100 can be moved in and out of the alignment area of the document bundle Dx by the driving unit 400 at the same time as the driving unit 400 opens and closes the entrance of the document conveyance path by the shutter 4. That is, when the entrance of the document conveyance path is closed by the shutter 4, the alignment assisting member 100 protrudes further toward the pressing plate 3 than the feeding roller 5 and can be aligned. On the other hand, when the entrance of the document conveyance path is opened by the shutter 4, the alignment assisting member 100 is retracted to the same level as the document contact surface of the feeding roller 5 and can be fed.

  As described above, by integrally connecting and interlocking the shutter 4 and the alignment assisting member 100, it is possible to realize the alignment operation performed in a shorter time and more efficiently with a simple configuration and at a low cost.

In the present embodiment, the case where the shutter 4 and the alignment assisting member 100 are driven in the same direction has been described. Of course, the present invention is not limited to this. For example, the shutter and the alignment assisting member are connected by a link member. The alignment assisting member may be interlocked with the opening / closing operation so that the pressing plate 3 can approach or retreat.
(Embodiment 4)

  FIG. 11 is a perspective view of a check scanner 900 according to an application example of the invention. The check scanner 900 is a document processing apparatus that performs image reading on the front and back of a document 980 such as a check.

  The check scanner 900 includes a separation conveyance unit 910 (corresponding to the document feeding device 1 in FIG. 1) as a document separation conveyance device according to an embodiment of the present invention. The separating and conveying unit 910 includes a document placing unit (mounting table) 911 (corresponding to the document placing table 2 in FIG. 1) on which a bundle of documents 980 (corresponding to the document bundle Dx in FIG. 1) is placed upright. Then, the original 980 is stood up and conveyed one by one through the slit 912 to the processing unit 20.

  A rotating body (not shown) (corresponding to the alignment rollers 20 and 21 in FIG. 1) for aligning the document bundle described in the first embodiment is disposed below the document placement unit 911. As a result, the alignment process of the originals 980 (original bundle) placed on the original placement unit 911 can be performed before the separation and conveyance of the originals 980.

  One or a plurality of registration sensors (not shown) are provided in the document transport path. The registration sensor detects the arrival and passage of the document in order to determine various processing timings for the document.

  A processing unit 920 immediately after the separation mechanism unit that separates the documents D one by one is provided with a magnetic sensor that reads magnetic information of the document 980 and an imaging sensor that reads an image on one side of the document 980. In the processing unit 920 here, first, magnetic information contained in the original 980 immediately after separation is read by a magnetic sensor, and, for example, magnetic ink character recognition is performed. Then, after reading the magnetic information of the original 980, the image on the magnetic ink character imparting surface of the original 980 is read. Of course, the image of the magnetic ink character surface of the original 980 may be read before reading the magnetic ink character. The document 980 that has passed through the processing unit 920 is conveyed to the processing unit 940 by the curved conveyance unit 930 in a standing state. The arrows in the figure indicate the conveyance direction of the document 980. In such magnetic ink character recognition, if the reading posture of the document varies, it is difficult to read and collate information, resulting in misreading and the like. Therefore, such misreading can be avoided by aligning the document bundle Dx in advance.

  The processing unit 940 is provided with a print head that performs printing on the document 980 and an image sensor that reads an image on one side of the document 980. In the processing unit 940 here, first, a predetermined printing process is performed based on a reading result (such as a determination result of magnetic ink character recognition) in the processing unit 920 on the upstream side in the transport direction. In the image reading process, an image on the print processing surface of the document 980 is read. The document 980 that has passed through the processing unit 940 is discharged to the discharge unit 950, and one unit of processing is completed.

  The cover member 960 is detachably attached to the apparatus main body and covers a part of the mechanism of the apparatus main body. The cover member 960 has a cover part 961. The cover portion 961 covers the upper portion around the separation roller (not shown) (corresponding to the retard roller 52 in FIG. 1). The cover member 970 covers the upper part of the periphery of the conveyance roller (not shown).

  In the check scanner 900, a plurality of operation units (corresponding to the operation unit 100 in FIG. 8) are arranged on the upper surface of the cover member 970. When the user operates the operation unit, basic operations of the check scanner 900, for example, reading operation start, alignment processing start / stop, alignment member position adjustment, and the like can be performed.

  Although not shown, a display unit for displaying an error may be provided in the vicinity of such an operation unit so that the state of the check scanner 900 can be notified. In this case, when it is detected that a part of the alignment member protrudes from the upper surface of the document placement unit before separation and conveyance, this can be notified to the user from the display unit. Then, after the user adjusts the alignment member by appropriately operating the operation unit (for example, pressing down the document alignment operation start switch (jogger button) 991) (the above-described rotating body is moved from the document table 911). After adjustment to a state in which it does not protrude, alignment processing and reading start (that is, separation conveyance start) can be performed as necessary.

  A jogger button 991 and an alignment member position adjustment button (for example, 992) may be provided separately to be operable. However, for example, a button operation such as half-pressing or long-pressing one jogger button 991 One jogger button 991 may be used to distinguish between a normal alignment operation and an alignment member adjustment operation. In addition, when the start button 993 or jogger button 991 is pressed, the state of the alignment member is confirmed at that timing, and if adjustment of the alignment member position is necessary, adjustment processing of the alignment member is performed, and adjustment adjustment of the alignment member is unnecessary. In such a case, the conveyance of the document may be started as it is. In any case, it suffices if the position can be adjusted in accordance with the state of the alignment member before the start of document conveyance.

(Other embodiments)
As mentioned above, although this invention was demonstrated based on each Embodiment 1-4, this invention is not limited to each Embodiment 1-4 mentioned above. For example, the operation unit 100 or the computer 800 may be configured to include a setting function for setting at least one of the alignment operation time (time for vibrating the document bundle) and the number of times of vibrating the document bundle.

  Further, the feeding operation may be automatically performed after the alignment operation is completed. Further, a mode in which the feeding operation is automatically performed after the alignment operation is completed, and a mode in which the feeding operation is not automatically performed after the alignment operation is completed, and these may be set from the operation unit 100 or the computer 800.

  It should be noted that the configurations and contents of the various members included in the document feeder described above are not limited to this, and it is needless to say that the configurations and contents are configured according to the application and purpose.

  In addition, the present invention can take the form of, for example, a system, apparatus, method, program, storage medium, or the like. Specifically, the present invention may be applied to a system including a plurality of devices. In addition, the present invention may be applied to an apparatus composed of a single device.

  Further, the present invention may be applied to a system composed of a plurality of devices or an apparatus composed of a single device.

  The present invention is not limited to the above embodiment, and various modifications (including organic combinations of the embodiments) are possible based on the spirit of the present invention, and these are excluded from the scope of the present invention. is not. That is, all the configurations in which the above-described embodiments and modifications thereof are combined are also included in the present invention.

  The document feeder of the present invention can be applied to various devices that feed various documents such as banknotes, checks, securities, documents, and recording paper, such as scanners, printers, facsimiles, and copiers.

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Document feeder 2 Document placement table 2C Document placement surface 5 Feed roller 20, 21 Alignment roller 100 Alignment auxiliary member D Document Dx Document bundle

Claims (8)

A placement table for placing a stack of originals in a vertical orientation;
Document feeding means for feeding the document from one side of the document bundle into the apparatus;
A pressing unit that presses the document bundle from the other side toward the document feeding unit;
Alignment means for moving the document bundle placed on the mounting table up and down to align;
An alignment assisting member provided at a position facing the pressing means so as to be close to or retractable from the pressing means;
When aligning the original bundle, the aligning means is in a state in which the original bundle is sandwiched between the pressing means and the alignment auxiliary member and the original feeding means is not in contact with one surface of the original bundle. Move the stack of documents up and down ,
The pressing unit operates such that a pressing force during the document feeding operation by the document feeding unit is stronger than a pressing force during the alignment operation of the document bundle by the alignment unit;
The alignment assisting member is urged toward the pressing means by an urging member,
The document feeding device according to claim 1, wherein the biasing force of the biasing member is weaker than the pressing force during the document feeding operation of the document feeding unit by the pressing unit. A placement table for placing a stack of originals in a vertical orientation;
Document feeding means for feeding the document from one side of the document bundle into the apparatus;
A pressing unit that presses the document bundle from the other side toward the document feeding unit;
Alignment means for moving the document bundle placed on the mounting table up and down to align;
Shutter means for closing the document feeding port provided at the end of the mounting table in conjunction with the alignment operation by the alignment means;
An alignment assisting member provided at a position facing the pressing means so as to be close to or retractable from the pressing means;
The alignment assisting member is provided movably in a direction approaching the pressing unit in conjunction with an operation of closing the document feeding port of the shutter unit,
When aligning the original bundle, the original feeding port is closed by the shutter means, the original bundle is sandwiched between the pressing means and the alignment auxiliary member, and the original feeding means is placed on one side of the original bundle. In a non-contact state, the alignment means moves the bundle of documents up and down ,
The pressing unit operates such that a pressing force during the document feeding operation by the document feeding unit is stronger than a pressing force during the alignment operation of the document bundle by the alignment unit;
The alignment assisting member is urged toward the pressing means by an urging member,
The document feeding device according to claim 1, wherein the biasing force of the biasing member is weaker than the pressing force during the document feeding operation of the document feeding unit by the pressing unit. A placement table for placing a stack of originals in a vertical orientation;
Document feeding means for feeding the document from one side of the document bundle into the apparatus;
A pressing unit that presses the document bundle from the other side toward the document feeding unit;
Alignment means for moving the document bundle placed on the mounting table up and down to align;
Shutter means for closing the document feeding port provided at the end of the mounting table in conjunction with the alignment operation by the alignment means;
An alignment assisting member provided at a position facing the pressing means so as to be close to or retractable from the pressing means;
The alignment assisting member is provided so as to be movable in a direction of retracting from the pressing unit in conjunction with an operation of opening the document feeding port of the shutter unit.
When feeding the document by the document feeding unit, the document feeding port is opened by the shutter unit, and one side of the document bundle is brought into contact with the document feeding unit by the pressing unit. The document feeding means starts the document feeding operation,
The pressing unit operates such that a pressing force during the document feeding operation by the document feeding unit is stronger than a pressing force during the alignment operation of the document bundle by the alignment unit;
The alignment assisting member is urged toward the pressing means by an urging member,
The document feeding device according to claim 1, wherein the biasing force of the biasing member is weaker than the pressing force during the document feeding operation of the document feeding unit by the pressing unit. After the document bundle is sandwiched between the pressing means and the alignment assisting member, the alignment means performs an alignment operation to move the document bundle up and down, and then the pressing force of the document bundle by the pressing means is aligned. the document of any one of claims 1 to 3 one surface is brought into contact with the document feeding means is characterized in that so as to start the feeding operation of the document bundle by stronger than when The document feeder described in 1. The document feeder according to any one of claims 1 to 4 ,
A separation feeding unit provided on the downstream side in the document feeding direction of the document feeding unit in the document feeding device and feeding the document while separating the documents one by one from the document bundle;
An information reading unit that is provided downstream of the separation feeding unit in the document feeding direction and reads information on the document;
A document conveying means for conveying a document from the separation feeding means toward the information reading means;
A document information reading apparatus comprising: 6. The document information reading apparatus according to claim 5 , wherein the information reading means reads magnetic information contained in the document as document information. 6. The document information reading apparatus according to claim 5 , wherein the information reading unit reads a document image as document information. The information reading unit includes a magnetic information reading unit that reads magnetic information included in a document, and an image reading unit that is provided on the downstream side of the magnetic information reading unit and reads a document image.
6. The document information reading apparatus according to claim 5 , wherein the image reading unit reads an image of a document from which the magnetic information reading unit has normally read the magnetic information.

Images