Paper feeding device

Abstract

To make it possible to supply paper sheets one by one even when the paper sheets are highly breathable or have a large surface friction.SOLUTION: A paper feeding device according to the present invention comprises: a rotating arm 12 provided rotatably and provided with a suction nozzle 15 and a paper presser 14 separated by a predetermined angle in the rotating direction; a spring member 13 for energizing the rotating arm in a clockwise direction A and rotating the rotating arm; and an elevating mechanism for elevating and lowering the rotating arm. The paper feeding device is configured such that: with reaction force imparted by lowering the rotating arm with the elevating mechanism and pressing a paper sheet 1 of the uppermost layer with the paper presser, the rotating arm is rotated in the counterclockwise direction and the suction nozzle is positioned perpendicularly to the paper sheet of the uppermost layer, and then the suction nozzle absorbs the paper sheet of the uppermost layer; and the rotating arm is raised by the lifting mechanism so as to eliminate the reaction force, and then the rotating arm is rotated in the clockwise direction so as to cause the suction nozzle to be tilted using the energizing force of the spring member, and paper sheets including the paper sheet of the uppermost layer absorbed by the suction nozzle is curved between the suction nozzle and the paper presser, thereby the paper sheets other than the paper sheet of the uppermost layer are dropped down.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 4

Description

Technical Field

[0001] Embodiments of the present invention relate to a paper feeding device.

Background Art

[0002] As a paper feeding device that supplies stacked sheets one by one, a device using friction rolls is known (Patent Document 1). Also, a paper feeding device that supplies sheets one by one by adsorbing the paper with a suction cup or an adsorption pad using negative pressure is disclosed (Patent Documents 2 and 3).

Prior Art Documents

Patent Documents

[0003]

Patent Document 1

Patent Document 2

Patent Document 3

Summary of the Invention

Problems to be Solved by the Invention

[0004] However, when attempting to supply paper with high surface friction using the paper feeding device described in Patent Document 1 above, the lower layer of paper adheres to the uppermost layer of the paper to be supplied, making it difficult to supply the paper one by one. Also, when attempting to supply highly breathable paper using the paper feeding devices described in Patent Documents 2 and 3, the adsorption force (suction force) of the suction cup or adsorption pad acts not only on the uppermost layer of paper but also on the lower layer of paper, making it difficult to supply the paper one by one.

[0005] Embodiments of the present invention have been made in consideration of the above circumstances, and an object thereof is to provide a paper feeding device that can supply such paper one by one, even if the paper has high breathability or high surface friction.

Means for Solving the Problems

[0006] The paper feeding device according to an embodiment of the present invention includes a suction nozzle capable of sucking the uppermost sheet in a stacked paper group, a paper presser capable of pressing the uppermost sheet, a rotating arm rotatably provided around a fulcrum, and the suction nozzle and the paper presser are installed at a predetermined angular interval in the rotation direction, a biasing member that biases and rotates the rotating arm in a first rotation direction in which the paper presser is perpendicular to the uppermost sheet, and positions the suction nozzle at an inclination with respect to the uppermost sheet, and a lifting mechanism that raises and lowers the rotating arm. By the reaction force applied when the paper presser presses the uppermost sheet due to the lowering of the rotating arm by the lifting mechanism, the rotating arm rotates in a second rotation direction opposite to the first rotation direction to position the suction nozzle perpendicular to the uppermost sheet, and the suction nozzle sucks the uppermost sheet. By canceling the reaction force due to the raising of the rotating arm by the lifting mechanism, the biasing force of the biasing member rotates the rotating arm in the first rotation direction to incline the suction nozzle, and the paper including the uppermost sheet sucked by the suction nozzle is curved between the suction nozzle and the paper presser to drop unnecessary paper excluding the uppermost sheet. It is characterized by being configured as such.

Effect of the Invention

[0007] According to an embodiment of the present invention, even for paper with high air permeability or large surface friction, this paper can be supplied one by one.

Brief Description of the Drawings

[0008]

Figure 1

Figure 2

Figure 3

Figure 4

Figure 5

Figure 6

Figure 7

Figure 8

Figure 9

Figure 10

Embodiments for Carrying out the Invention

[0009] Hereinafter, embodiments for carrying out the present invention will be described based on the drawings. Fig. 1 is a front view showing a paper feeding device according to an embodiment. The paper feeding device 10 shown in this Fig. 1 supplies the topmost sheet of paper 1 one by one from the stacked paper group 2 as shown in Figs. 1 to 4, and includes a lifting mechanism 11, a rotating arm 12, a spring member 13 as a biasing member, a paper presser 14, a suction nozzle 15, a feeding roller 16, and a paper storage cartridge 17 as a container. Here, the paper 1 is, for example, paper with high air permeability or paper with high surface friction. The paper group 2 of this paper 1 is stored in the paper storage cartridge 17 which will be described in detail after being detachably attached to the paper feeding device 10.

[0010] As shown in FIGS. 1 to 3, the elevating mechanism 11 includes a base frame 20, screw shafts 22A and 22B rotatably provided on two pillar frames 21 erected on the base frame 20 at a predetermined interval, nuts 23A and 23B screwed onto the screw shafts 22A and 22B respectively, an elevating plate 24 erected on these nuts 23A and 23B, and a drive system 25 for rotating the screw shafts 22A and 22B.

[0011] In the drive system 25, the driving force from the elevating motor 26 installed on the base frame 20 is transmitted to the driven pulley 29A via the driving pulley 27 and the driving belt 28 to rotate the screw shaft 22A, and further transmitted from the driven pulley 29A to the driven pulley 29B via the driving belt 30 to rotate the screw shaft 22B in synchronization with the screw shaft 22A. Due to the rotation of the screw shafts 22A and 22B, the nuts 23A and 23B move up and down, and the elevating plate 24 moves up and down in the vertical direction. Therefore, by this elevating mechanism 11, a rotating arm 12 provided on the elevating plate 24 as described below moves up and down.

[0012] In addition, a sensing plate 34 is provided on one of the nuts 23A, and an upper limit sensor 36 is installed on the pillar frame 21 near the nut 23A via a sensor mounting bracket 35. When the nut 23A reaches the upper end of the screw shaft 22A and the nut 23B reaches the upper end of the screw shaft 22B at the same time, the upper limit sensor 36 detects the sensing plate 34. Therefore, it is detected by this upper limit sensor 36 that the rotating arm 12 has reached the upper limit position.

[0013] As shown particularly in FIGS. 1 and 4, the rotary arm 12 is rotatably supported by a U-shaped arm support plate 31 fixed to the lower surface of the lifting plate 24 using a fulcrum shaft 32 (FIGS. 2 and 4). A paper presser 14 and a suction nozzle 15 are installed on the rotary arm 12 at a predetermined angle θ apart in the rotational direction of the rotary arm 12. A spring member 13 is disposed between the rotary arm 12 and the arm support plate 31. This spring member 13 biases the rotary arm 12 in a first rotational direction (i.e., clockwise direction A) in which the paper presser 14 becomes perpendicular to the uppermost sheet 1, and rotates the rotary arm 12 clockwise about the fulcrum shaft 32.

[0014] Here, the fulcrum shaft 32, which is the center of rotation of the rotary arm 12, is positioned in the side view of the paper feeding device 10 shown in FIG. 4 near the nozzle tip of the suction disk shape in the suction nozzle 15. The rotary arm 12 rotated by the biasing force of the spring member 13 abuts against a rotation stop pin 33 implanted in the arm support plate 31, and its rotation is restricted. In a state where the rotation of the rotary arm 12 is restricted by the rotation stop pin 33, the paper presser 14 is positioned perpendicular to the uppermost sheet 1 (the uppermost sheet 1 before being adsorbed by the suction nozzle 15) in the paper group 2 in the paper storage cartridge 17, and the suction nozzle 15 is inclined with its nozzle tip facing the feeding roller 16 side with respect to the uppermost sheet 1 (the uppermost sheet 1 before being adsorbed by the suction nozzle 15) in the paper group 2 in the paper storage cartridge 17, and is positioned toward the feeding roller 16 side.

[0015] Of the paper presser 14 and the suction nozzle 15 that are installed on the rotary arm 12 and rotated around the fulcrum shaft 32 together with the rotary arm 12, as shown in FIGS. 3 and 4, the paper presser 14 presses the uppermost sheet 1 in the paper stack 2 in the paper storage cartridge 17 in the vertical direction by the raising and lowering of the rotary arm 12 by the lifting mechanism 11. Further, as shown in FIGS. 1, 2, and 4, the suction nozzle 15 is installed at the central position in the longitudinal direction of the rotary arm 12 with the nozzle tip in the shape of a suction cup facing downward. Furthermore, the suction nozzle 15 is connected to a negative pressure pump 38 via a negative pressure pipe 37, and by driving this negative pressure pump 38, the uppermost sheet 1 in the paper stack 2 in the paper storage cartridge 17 is adsorbed at the nozzle tip thereof.

[0016] When the lifting mechanism 11 shown in FIG. 3 lowers the rotary arm 12 and the paper presser 14 presses the uppermost sheet 1 in the paper stack 2 in the paper storage cartridge 17 as shown in FIG. 8(B), a reaction force F is applied to the paper presser 14 from the uppermost sheet 1. Due to this reaction force F, the rotary arm 12 rotates around the fulcrum shaft 32 in the second rotation direction (that is, the counterclockwise direction B opposite to the clockwise direction A) as shown in FIG. 8(C), and as shown in FIG. 5, the suction nozzle 15 is positioned in a substantially perpendicular state with respect to the uppermost sheet 1 in the paper stack 2 in the paper storage cartridge 17.

[0017] As shown in FIGS. 1, 4, and 5, an inclination sensor 40 is installed on the top surface of the arm support plate 31, and a sensing plate 41 is fixed to one side surface of the paper presser 14. As described above, the rotary arm 12 is lowered by the elevating mechanism 11, and due to the reaction force F applied by the paper presser 14 pressing the uppermost sheet 1, the rotary arm 12 rotates counterclockwise about the fulcrum shaft 32 in the direction B. When the suction nozzle 15 becomes substantially perpendicular to the uppermost sheet 1 due to this rotation, the inclination sensor 40 detects the sensing plate 41. Therefore, it is detected by this inclination sensor 40 that the suction nozzle 15 is positioned substantially perpendicular to the uppermost sheet 1 in the stack of sheets 2 in the paper storage cartridge 17. Based on the detection signal from the inclination sensor 40 at this time, the negative pressure pump 38 is driven to suck the uppermost sheet 1 by the suction nozzle 15, and at the same time, the elevating mechanism 11 is rotationally driven to raise the rotary arm 12.

[0018] As shown in FIGS. 1, 2, and 4, the feed roller 16 is installed near the rotary arm 12 and feeds the paper 1 to the next process along the paper discharge direction C (FIG. 9(F)). This feed roller 16 includes a lower roller 42 driven by a roller drive motor 39 and an upper roller 43 that rotates subordinate to the lower roller 42 by contacting the lower roller 42. The lower roller 42 is provided integrally rotatably on the lower roller shaft 44, and the upper roller 43 is provided integrally rotatably on the upper roller shaft 45. These lower roller shaft 44 and upper roller shaft 45 are rotatably supported by a roller shaft support plate 46 erected on the base frame 20. The roller drive motor 39 is installed on the base frame 20, and its driving force is transmitted to the lower roller shaft 44 via a drive pulley 47, a drive belt 48, and a driven pulley 49, so that the lower roller 42 is rotationally driven and the upper roller 43 is driven to rotate. The paper 1 held between these rotating lower roller 42 and upper roller 43 is fed along the paper discharge direction C.

[0019] From the state shown in FIG. 5, the lifting mechanism 11 raises the rotary arm 12, and the reaction force F acting on the paper presser 14 is eliminated. As a result, as shown in FIG. 9(D), the rotary arm 12 rotates in the clockwise direction A about the fulcrum shaft 32 by the biasing force of the spring member 13. When the suction nozzle 15 abuts against the rotation stopper pin 33 and tilts toward the feed roller 16, the paper 1 including the uppermost paper 1 in the paper storage cartridge 17 adsorbed by the suction nozzle 15 is curved between the suction nozzle 15 and the paper presser 14, and a warp is applied. Due to the curvature of the paper 1 including the uppermost paper 1, the unnecessary paper 1 excluding the uppermost paper 1 falls off and is separated.

[0020] Here, the paper 1 including the uppermost paper 1 adsorbed by the suction nozzle 15 means that when the paper 1 is a highly breathable paper, the uppermost paper 1 adsorbed by the suction nozzle 15 and the single or plural papers 1 adsorbed by the suction nozzle 15 together with the uppermost paper 1; when the paper 1 is a paper with a large surface friction, the uppermost paper 1 adsorbed by the suction nozzle 15 and the single or plural papers 1 attached to the uppermost paper 1 or the plural papers 1 attached to each other.

[0021] If unnecessary paper is still adsorbed or attached to the uppermost paper 1 adsorbed by the suction nozzle 15 tilted toward the feed roller 16, when the lifting mechanism 11 further raises the rotary arm 12 with the uppermost paper 1 adsorbed by the suction nozzle 15 until immediately before (in the vicinity of) it is detected by the upper limit sensor 36 shown in FIGS. 1 and 3 that the rotary arm 12 has reached the upper limit position, as shown in FIG. 4, the tip of the paper 1 including the uppermost paper 1 contacts the lower roller 42. As a result, the paper 1 including the uppermost paper 1 is curved in a small arc between the lower roller 42 and the suction nozzle 15, and all the unnecessary paper 1 excluding the uppermost paper 1 falls off and is separated as shown in FIG. 9(E).

[0022] As shown in FIGS. 1 to 4, when the upper limit sensor 36 detects that the rotating arm 12 has reached the upper limit position, based on this detection signal, the raising of the rotating arm 12 by the lifting mechanism 11 is stopped, and the lower roller 42 of the feeding roller 16 is driven. Then, after a lapse of a corresponding time during which the topmost sheet 1 is drawn in and held between the lower roller 42 and the upper roller 43, the negative pressure pump 38 is stopped, and the adsorption of the topmost sheet 1 by the adsorption nozzle 15 is released, and the topmost sheet 1 is fed to the next process along the paper discharge direction C (FIG. 9(F)) by the feeding roller 16. The completion of the feeding of the topmost sheet 1 by the feeding roller 16 is detected by a paper discharge sensor (not shown). Based on the detection signal from this paper discharge sensor, the driving of the lower roller 42 of the feeding roller 16 is stopped, and the lifting mechanism 11 is driven to start the lowering of the rotating arm 12, and the supply operation for the next topmost sheet 1 by the paper feeding device 10 is performed.

[0023] As shown in FIGS. 1, 2, 4, and 7, the paper storage cartridge 17 is configured such that a pair of side plates 51, a top plate 52, and a front plate 53 are respectively attached to one side so as to cover one side of the bottom plate 50 as the bottom surface portion, and stores the stacked paper group 2. This paper storage cartridge 17 is detached from the base frame 20 of the paper feeding device 10, the paper 1 is stored in a stacked state, and then returned to and mounted on the base frame 20, which facilitates the replenishment of the paper 1.

[0024] When the paper storage cartridge 17 is mounted on the base frame 20, the front end of the bottom plate 50 abuts against the paper position guide 54 erected on the base frame 20. Thereby, the front edge 2M of the paper group 2 stored in the paper storage cartridge 17 contacts the paper position guide 54, and the rear edge 2N contacts the front plate 53 of the paper storage cartridge 17 and is positioned. Therefore, even when the paper presser 14 and the adsorption nozzle 15 contact the topmost sheet 1 in the paper storage cartridge 17, the position of the topmost sheet 1 in the front-rear direction of the paper group 2 in the paper storage cartridge 17 is regulated and stabilized.

[0025] Furthermore, as shown in FIGS. 7 and 10, a through hole 55 for introducing atmospheric pressure is formed in the bottom plate 50 of the paper storage cartridge 17 at a position corresponding to the suction nozzle 15 in a substantially vertical state. As shown in FIG. 6, when there are only a few sheets of paper 1 stored in the paper storage cartridge 17, for example, when there is only 1 sheet left, the rotary arm 12 is lowered to the lower limit position by the elevating mechanism 11. Also at this time, the paper presser 14 is given a reaction force F from the uppermost sheet of paper 1 (for example, the last remaining sheet of paper 1), and the rotary arm 12 rotates in the counterclockwise direction B, causing the suction nozzle 15 to become substantially perpendicular to the uppermost sheet of paper 1. In this state, since there is no gap for introducing atmospheric pressure around the tip of the nozzle of the suction nozzle 15, if the through hole 55 is not formed, it becomes impossible to suck the paper 1 by the suction nozzle 15. On the other hand, by forming the through hole 55 in the bottom plate 50, atmospheric pressure is introduced through this through hole 55, and even when there are only a few sheets of paper 1 stored in the paper storage cartridge 17, the uppermost sheet of paper 1 (for example, the last remaining sheet of paper 1) can be sucked by the suction nozzle 15.

[0026] Next, the operation of the paper feeding device 10 configured as described above will be mainly described with reference to FIGS. 8 to 10. As shown in FIG. 8(A), when the paper feeding device 10 is stopped or on standby, the rotary arm 12 is in a state of being raised by the elevating mechanism 11 to the upper limit position detected by the upper limit sensor 36. At this time, the rotary arm 12 rotates clockwise about the fulcrum shaft 32 by the biasing force of the spring member 13 and abuts against the rotation stop pin 33, and the paper presser 14 is perpendicular to the uppermost sheet of paper 1 in the paper storage cartridge 17. Also, when the paper feeding device 10 is stopped or on standby, the paper storage cartridge 17 is detached and attached, and the paper 1 is stored and replenished in a stacked state in the paper storage cartridge 17.

[0027] When the paper feeding device 10 is started, when the rotary arm 12 descends by the lifting mechanism 11 as shown in Fig. 8(B), the paper presser 14 reaches the uppermost sheet 1 in the stack of sheets 2 in the paper storage cartridge 17 and presses this uppermost sheet 1. Then, a reaction force F acts on the paper presser 14 from the uppermost sheet 1, and the rotary arm 12 rotates in the counterclockwise direction B about the fulcrum shaft 32 as shown in Fig. 8(C), and the suction nozzle 15 becomes substantially perpendicular to the uppermost sheet 1 in the paper storage cartridge 17. When the inclination sensor 40 detects this state, based on the detection signal from this inclination sensor 40, the suction nozzle 15 sucks the uppermost sheet 1 in the paper storage cartridge 17, and the lifting mechanism 11 reverses the rotary arm 12 from descending to ascending.

[0028] When rotating the rotary arm 12 in the counterclockwise direction B about the fulcrum shaft 32, it is designed such that the contact point of the paper presser 14 with the uppermost sheet 1 becomes the equivalent rotation center. For this reason, when the rotary arm 12 rotates in the above-mentioned counterclockwise direction B, the contact point between the paper presser 14 and the uppermost sheet 1 does not displace, and no unnecessary movement occurs in the uppermost sheet 1.

[0029] When the rotary arm 12 turns to ascending by the lifting mechanism 11, the reaction force F acting on the paper presser 14 is eliminated. Therefore, as shown in Fig. 9(D), the rotary arm 12 rotates in the clockwise direction A about the fulcrum shaft 32 by the biasing force of the spring member 13 and abuts against the rotation stop pin 33. At this time, the suction nozzle 15 inclines toward the feed roller 16 in a state where it sucks or adheres to the sheet 1 including the uppermost sheet 1. As a result, the sheet 1 including the uppermost sheet 1 is curved between the suction nozzle 15 and the paper presser 14 and warped, so that most of the unnecessary sheets 1 except the uppermost sheet 1 fall and are separated. Fig. 9(D) shows a state where the uppermost sheet 1 is sucked by the suction nozzle 15 and one other sheet 1 is sucked or adhered.

[0030] When the lifting mechanism 11 further raises the rotating arm 12 and reaches immediately before (in the vicinity of) the upper limit sensor 36 detecting the upper limit position of the rotating arm 12, as shown in Fig. 9(E), the tip of the paper 1 including the uppermost layer of paper 1 adsorbed by the suction nozzle 15 contacts the lower roller 42 of the feeding roller 16, and the paper 1 including the uppermost layer of paper 1 curves in a small arc between this lower roller 42 and the suction nozzle 15. As a result, all the unnecessary paper 1 except the uppermost layer of paper 1 falls off and is separated, and only the uppermost layer of paper 1 is adsorbed by the suction nozzle 15.

[0031] When the upper limit sensor 36 detects that the rotating arm 12 has reached the upper limit position by the lifting mechanism 11, based on this detection signal, the lower roller 42 of the feeding roller 16 is driven, and as shown in Fig. 9(F), the uppermost layer of paper 1 is drawn between the lower roller 42 and the upper roller 43. After a considerable time has elapsed during which the uppermost layer of paper 1 is drawn in and held between the lower roller 42 and the upper roller 43, the adsorption of the uppermost layer of paper 1 by the suction nozzle 15 is released, and it is fed to the next process along the paper discharge direction C by the feeding roller 16. When a paper discharge sensor (not shown) detects the completion of feeding, the driving of the lower roller 42 of the feeding roller 16 is stopped, the lowering of the rotating arm 12 is started by the lifting mechanism 11, and the paper feeding operation for the next uppermost layer of paper 1 by the paper feeding device 10 is executed.

[0032] When the number of sheets of paper 1 in the paper storage cartridge 17 remains a few (for example, 1 sheet remaining), as shown in Fig. 10, atmospheric pressure is introduced from the through hole 55 formed in the bottom plate 50 of the paper storage cartridge 17, enabling the paper 1 to be adsorbed by the suction nozzle 15 in a substantially vertical state. The paper 1 including the uppermost layer of paper 1 adsorbed by this suction nozzle 15, as shown in Figs. 9(D) and (E), has the paper 1 except the uppermost layer of paper 1 fall off and be separated, and as shown in Fig. 9(F), only the uppermost layer of paper 1 is fed to the next process along the paper discharge direction C.

[0033] Since it is configured as described above, according to this embodiment, the following effects (1) to (6) are achieved. (1) As shown in FIGS. 1 and 4, a paper presser 14 and a suction nozzle 15 are installed on a rotary arm 12 that can be moved up and down by a lifting mechanism 11. When the rotary arm 12 rotates around a fulcrum shaft 32, the suction nozzle 15 is configured to be perpendicular or inclined with respect to the uppermost sheet 1 in a stack of sheets 2 in a paper storage cartridge 17. Then, as shown in FIG. 8, when the rotary arm 12 descends, the paper presser 14 applies a reaction force F to the uppermost sheet 1, and when the rotary arm 12 rotates in the counterclockwise direction B, the suction nozzle 15 is positioned substantially perpendicular to the uppermost sheet 1, and sucks the uppermost sheet 1. Further, as shown in FIG. 9(D), when the rotary arm 12 ascends, the reaction force F is eliminated, and the rotary arm 12 rotates in the clockwise direction A by the biasing force of a spring member 13. When the suction nozzle 15 inclines toward the feed roller 16, the sheet 1 including the uppermost sheet 1 adsorbed by the suction nozzle 15 is curved and warped between the suction nozzle 15 and the paper presser 14. As a result, unnecessary sheets 1 except the uppermost sheet 1 fall off and are separated, and the uppermost sheet 1 is guided to the feed roller 16. As a result, even if the sheet 1 has high air permeability or a large surface friction, the sheets can be supplied one by one to the next process.

[0034] (2) As shown in FIGS. 4 and 9(E), when the rotary arm 12 reaches near the upper limit position, the tip of the sheet 1 including the uppermost sheet 1 adsorbed by the suction nozzle 15 is configured to contact the lower roller 42 of the feed roller 16. For this reason, the sheet 1 including the uppermost sheet 1 adsorbed by the suction nozzle 15 is given a small arc-like curvature between the lower roller 42 of the feed roller 16 and the suction nozzle 15, and all unnecessary sheets 1 except the uppermost sheet 1 fall off. As a result, even if the unnecessary sheets 1 cannot be made to fall by the curvature (FIG. 9(D)) generated between the suction nozzle 15 and the paper presser 14 at the initial stage of the ascent of the rotary arm 12, the unnecessary sheets 1 can be completely made to fall, and the sheets 1 can be reliably supplied one by one to the next process.

[0035] (3) As shown in Fig. 1, the rotary arm 12 equipped with the paper presser 14 and the suction nozzle 15 is lifted by the drive of the lifting motor 26 of the lifting mechanism 11. As shown in Fig. 8, when descending, the paper presser 14 rotates around the fulcrum shaft 32 by the reaction force F applied from the paper 1, so that the suction nozzle 15 can be in a substantially perpendicular state to the paper 1 and the paper 1 can be adsorbed. As shown in Fig. 9, when ascending, by rotating around the fulcrum shaft 32 by the biasing force of the spring member 13 due to the elimination of the reaction force F, the suction nozzle 15 that has adsorbed the paper 1 is tilted and guided to the feeding roller 16. Therefore, the power for making the suction nozzle 15 vertical or inclined is not required, and the power of the lifting motor 26 of the lifting mechanism 11 for lifting the rotary arm 12 is sufficient, so the structure of the paper feeding device 10 can be simplified.

[0036] (4) As shown in Figs. 7 and 10, a through hole 55 for introducing atmospheric pressure is formed in the bottom plate 50 of the paper storage cartridge 17 at a position corresponding to the suction nozzle 15 in a substantially vertical state. Thereby, even when the paper 1 stored in the paper storage cartridge 17 remains only a few sheets (for example, only 1 sheet remaining), the atmospheric pressure is introduced from the through hole 55, so that the uppermost layer of the paper 1 among the remaining few sheets (for example, the paper 1 of the only 1 sheet remaining) can be surely adsorbed by the suction nozzle 15.

[0037] (5) The paper storage cartridge 17 for storing the stacked paper group 2 is mounted in contact with a paper position guide 54 capable of positioning the front edge 2M of the paper group 2, and the rear edge 2N of the paper group 2 contacts the front plate 53 of the paper storage cartridge 17. For this reason, even when the paper presser 14 or the suction nozzle 15 contacts the uppermost layer of the paper 1 in the paper group 2 in the paper storage cartridge 17, the uppermost layer of the paper 1 does not move in the front-rear direction of the paper group 2, and the position of the uppermost layer of the paper 1 can be stabilized.

[0038] As shown in FIGS. 3 and 4, the rotary arm 12 equipped with the paper presser 14 and the suction nozzle 15 is lifted up and down in the height direction of the stacked paper group 2 stored in the paper storage cartridge 17 by the lifting mechanism 11. At each position of the lifting of the lifting mechanism 11, the paper presser 14 and the suction nozzle 15 rotate together with the rotary arm 12. Therefore, even if the amount of paper 1 in the paper storage cartridge 17 decreases, only the height (lifting position) of the rotary arm 12 changes, and the angle etc. of the paper presser 14 and the suction nozzle 15 with respect to the uppermost layer of paper 1 in the paper storage cartridge 17 is not affected. As a result, the paper presser 14 and the suction nozzle 15 can stably realize their operations.

[0039] As described above, the embodiments of the present invention have been explained. However, this embodiment is presented as an example and is not intended to limit the scope of the invention. This embodiment can be implemented in various other forms, and various omissions, replacements, changes, and combinations can be made without departing from the gist of the invention. Also, those replacements, changes, and combinations are included in the scope and gist of the invention and are included in the invention described in the claims and its equivalent scope.

Explanation of Reference Numerals

[0040] 1... paper, 2... paper group, 2M... leading edge, 10... paper feeding device, 11... lifting mechanism, 12... rotary arm, 13... spring member (biasing member), 14... paper presser, 15... suction nozzle, 16... feed roller, 17... paper storage cartridge (container), 32... fulcrum shaft, 33... rotation stop pin, 36... upper limit sensor, 40... tilt sensor, 42... lower roller, 50... bottom plate (bottom part), 54... paper position guide, 55... through hole, A... clockwise direction, B... counterclockwise direction, F... reaction force, θ... predetermined angle

Claims

1. An adsorption nozzle capable of adsorbing the top sheet in a stack of sheets, a sheet presser capable of pressing the top sheet, a rotating arm provided rotatably around a fulcrum, with the adsorption nozzle and the sheet presser installed at a predetermined angular interval in the rotational direction, a biasing member that biases and rotates the rotating arm in a first rotational direction in which the sheet presser becomes perpendicular to the top sheet, and positions the adsorption nozzle at an inclination with respect to the top sheet, a lifting mechanism for raising and lowering the rotating arm, and having, by the reaction force applied when the sheet presser presses the top sheet due to the lowering of the rotating arm by the lifting mechanism, the rotating arm rotates in a second rotational direction opposite to the first rotational direction to position the adsorption nozzle perpendicular to the top sheet, and the adsorption nozzle adsorbs the top sheet, when the reaction force is eliminated by the raising of the rotating arm by the lifting mechanism, the biasing force of the biasing member rotates the rotating arm in the first rotational direction to incline the adsorption nozzle, and the sheets including the top sheet adsorbed by the adsorption nozzle are curved between the adsorption nozzle and the sheet presser to drop the unnecessary sheets excluding the top sheet. A sheet feeding device characterized by being configured as such.

2. A feeding roller for feeding the sheets to the next process is installed near the rotating arm, By raising the rotating arm to near the upper limit position by the lifting mechanism with the top sheet adsorbed to the inclined adsorption nozzle, the leading edge of the sheets including the top sheet is brought into contact with the feeding roller, and the sheets including the top sheet are curved between the feeding roller and the adsorption nozzle to drop the unnecessary sheets excluding the top sheet. The sheet feeding device according to claim 1, characterized by being configured as such.

3. In the container for storing the stack of sheets, a through hole for introducing atmospheric pressure is formed in the bottom surface portion thereof. The sheet feeding device according to claim 1 or 2, characterized by this.

4. The container for storing the stack of sheets is a detachable cartridge-type container, and this cartridge-type container is configured to be mounted in contact with a sheet position guide capable of positioning the front edge of the sheet group. The sheet feeding device according to claim 1 or 2, characterized by this.

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