Sheet feeding device, method and program, and learning model

Abstract

To provide a sheet feeding device, a method, and a program and a learning model for preventing idle feeding and double feeding by performing more optimal adjustment of a control parameter.SOLUTION: A sheet feeding device comprises: a loading base 10 for loading a plurality of sheets; a main floating air supply part 71 for floating the sheet by supplying air toward an end surface of the plurality of sheets loaded on the loading base 10; a suction conveying part 20 for sucking and conveying an uppermost sheet out of the plurality of sheets floated by air supply; a photographing part 40 for photographing a floating state of the plurality of sheets by air supply; a control parameter adjustment part 70 for adjusting a control parameter of the main floating air supply part 71 on the basis of information of the floating state acquired from a photographed image photographed by the photographing part 40; and a control part 61 for controlling the main floating air supply part 71 on the basis of the control parameter adjusted by the control parameter adjustment part 70.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 2

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present invention relates to a sheet feeding device, method, program, and learning model that lift a sheet by supplying air, adsorb and convey the uppermost sheet, and supply it.

Background Art

[0002] Conventionally, as a sheet feeding device for supplying sheets to a printing device or the like, there is known a sheet feeding device that supplies air to a plurality of sheets stacked on a stacking table to lift them, and adsorbs and conveys the uppermost sheet among the lifted sheets for supply.

[0003] And, for example, in Patent Document 1, a method of determining control parameters in a sheet feeding device based on sheet physical property information has been proposed as described above.

Prior Art Documents

Patent Documents

[0004]

Patent Document 1

Summary of the Invention

Problems to be Solved by the Invention

[0005] However, in Patent Document 1, although sheet physical property information is used to adjust control parameters, since the actual floating state of the sheet is not considered, there is a possibility that optimal control parameters are not necessarily set, and there is a risk of occurrence of air feeding or double feeding.

[0006] In view of the above circumstances, an object of the present invention is to provide a sheet feeding device, method, program, and learning model that can adjust more optimal control parameters and prevent the occurrence of air feeding and double feeding.

Means for Solving the Problems

[0007] The sheet feeding device of the present invention includes a stacking table on which a plurality of sheets are stacked, a floating air supply unit that floats the sheets by supplying air toward the end faces of the plurality of sheets stacked on the stacking table, a suction conveyance unit that sucks and conveys the uppermost sheet among the plurality of sheets floated by the supply of air, an imaging unit that images the floating state of the plurality of sheets by the supply of air, a control parameter adjustment unit that adjusts the control parameters of the floating air supply unit based on the information on the floating state obtained from the captured image captured by the imaging unit, and a control unit that controls the floating air supply unit based on the control parameters adjusted by the control parameter adjustment unit.

Effect of the Invention

[0008] According to the sheet feeding device of the present invention, the floating state of a plurality of sheets due to the supply of air is imaged, and the control parameters of the floating air supply unit are adjusted based on the information on the floating state of the sheets obtained from the captured image. Therefore, it is possible to perform more optimal adjustment of the control parameters in consideration of the actual floating state of the sheets, and it is possible to prevent the occurrence of air feeding and double feeding.

Brief Description of the Drawings

[0009]

Figure 1

Figure 2

Figure 3

Figure 4

Figure 5

Figure 6

Figure 7

Figure 8

Figure 9

Figure 10

Embodiment for Carrying Out the Invention

[0010] Hereinafter, with reference to the drawings, an air sheet feeding system using an embodiment of the sheet feeding device of the present invention will be described in detail. The air sheet feeding system of this embodiment is characterized by adjusting control parameters used for air sheet feeding. First, the configuration of the entire air sheet feeding system will be described. FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing the schematic configuration of the air sheet feeding system 100 of this embodiment. FIGS. 2 and 3 are diagrams showing the specific configuration of the sheet feeding device 1 in the air sheet feeding system 100 shown in FIG. 1. Further, FIG. 4 is a block diagram showing the control system of the sheet feeding device 1. Note that the up-down, left-right, front-back directions shown in FIGS. 2 and 3 are the up-down, left-right, front-back directions of the sheet feeding device 1.

[0011] As shown in FIG. 1, the air sheet feeding system 100 of this embodiment includes a sheet feeding device 1 and a control device 2. The sheet feeding device 1 corresponds to the configuration other than the control parameter adjustment unit of the sheet feeding device of the present invention.

[0012] As shown in FIGS. 2 and 3, the sheet feeding device 1 includes a stacking table 10, a suction conveyance unit 20, a suction mechanism 30, a photographing unit 40, a conveyance mechanism 50, a conveyance sensor 51, a paper detection sensor 64, a main floating air supply unit 71, a main separation air supply unit 72, two side floating air supply units 81, and two side separation air supply units 82.

[0013] Also, as shown in FIG. 4, the sheet feeding device 1 includes a control unit 61, a storage unit 62, an interface unit 63, a stacking table lifting drive unit 91, a suction conveyance drive unit 92, a conveyance drive unit 93, and a shutter drive unit 94.

[0014] The stacking table 10 stacks a plurality of sheets P. The stacking table 10 moves up and down in the vertical direction by the drive of the stacking table lifting drive unit 91 shown in FIG. 4.

[0015] The suction conveyance unit 20 includes a conveyance belt 21 and pulleys 22 and 23 around which the conveyance belt 21 is wound. One of the pulleys 22 and 23 is a drive pulley, and the other is a driven pulley. The drive pulley rotates by the drive of the suction conveyance drive unit 92 shown in FIG. 4, and rotates the conveyance belt 21. Thereby, the suction conveyance unit 20 conveys the uppermost sheet P1 in the conveyance direction D (front side in FIG. 2).

[0016] The conveyance belt 21 is provided with a plurality of through-holes for passing the suction air A1 sucked by the suction mechanism 30 described later.

[0017] The suction conveyance units 20 are arranged in two side-by-side in the width direction of the sheet P (left-right direction in FIG. 2) at the center of the range in the width direction orthogonal to the conveyance direction D of the sheet P. In this case, it is preferable that one suction mechanism 30 is arranged for each suction conveyance unit 20, but only one may be arranged.

[0018] The suction mechanism 30 sucks the suction air A1 upward through the plurality of through-holes of the conveyance belt 21 from the area surrounded by the conveyance belt 21 of the suction conveyance unit 20. Thereby, the suction mechanism 30 sucks the uppermost sheet P1 among the plurality of sheets P stacked on the stacking table 10 to the suction conveyance unit 20.

[0019] The conveyance mechanism 50 has a pair of rollers. This pair of rollers may have one drive roller and the other driven roller, or both may be driven rollers. The drive roller of the conveyance mechanism 50 conveys the sheet P in the conveyance direction D1 by the conveyance drive unit 93 rotating the drive roller, and supplies it to the sheet conveyance path of a printing apparatus (not shown).

[0020] Near the downstream side of the transport mechanism 50, a transport sensor 51 is provided. The transport sensor 51 detects the sheet P transported by the transport mechanism 50. The transport sensor 51 detects whether the sheet P has reached at the normal timing.

[0021] The main lift air supply unit 71 is disposed on the downstream side in the transport direction D of the plurality of sheets P stacked on the stacking table 10, and blows out the main lift air A3 obliquely upward to lift about 10 sheets P including, for example, the uppermost sheet P1.

[0022] The main lift air supply unit 71 includes a fan 71a and a shutter 31. The fan 71a generates the main lift air A3 by rotational drive. The shutter 31 switches between blocking and supplying the main lift air A3. FIGS. 5A and 5B are plan views showing the shutter 31. As shown in FIG. 5A, the shutter 31 has a shutter body 31a, an opening member 31b, and a rotating shaft member 31c.

[0023] The shutter body 31a swings (rotates) in both the clockwise and counterclockwise directions within a range of, for example, 45 degrees with the rotating shaft member 31c as the rotation center axis by the drive of the shutter drive unit 94 shown in FIG. 4.

[0024] The shutter body 31a has, for example, four blade portions 31a-1. These four blade portions 31a-1 are provided at equal intervals (for example, 90-degree intervals) in the rotation direction of the shutter body 31a.

[0025] The opening member 31b is, for example, a disk-shaped plate material. The opening member 31b has, for example, four through holes 31b-1 to allow the main lift air A3 to pass through. These four through holes 31b-1 are provided at equal intervals (for example, 90-degree intervals) in the rotation direction of the shutter body 31a, similar to the blade portions 31a-1.

[0026] As shown in FIG. 5B, the shutter body 31a swings (moves) between a blocking position where the blade portion 31a-1 blocks the main floating air A3 shown in FIG. 5B by covering the through hole 31b-1, and a retracted position where the main floating air A3 is supplied as the blade portion 31a-1 does not cover the through hole 31b-1 as shown in FIG. 5A.

[0027] The main separation air supply unit 72 is disposed downstream of the plurality of sheets P stacked on the stacking table 10 in the conveyance direction D, and blows out main separation air A4 obliquely upward to separate the uppermost sheet P1 and the second sheet P2.

[0028] The main separation air supply unit 72 includes a fan 72a. The fan 72a generates the main separation air A4 by being rotationally driven.

[0029] The side floating air supply units 81 are respectively provided on the right and left sides in the width direction of the plurality of sheets P stacked on the stacking table 10 (only the right side is shown in FIG. 2), and blow out side floating air A5 for lifting about 10 sheets P including the uppermost sheet P1, similar to the main floating air supply unit 71.

[0030] The side floating air supply unit 81 includes a fan 81a and a shutter 81b. The fan 81a generates the side floating air A5 by being rotationally driven. The shutter 81b has the same configuration as the shutter 31 and is driven by a shutter driving unit 94 to switch between blocking and supplying the side floating air A5.

[0031] The side separation air supply units 82 are respectively provided on the right and left sides in the width direction of the plurality of sheets P stacked on the stacking table 10, and blow out side separation air A6 for separating the uppermost sheet P1 and the second sheet P2.

[0032] The side separation air supply unit 82 includes a fan 82a and a flow path 82b for the side separation air A6 supplied by the fan 82a.

[0033] The paper detection sensor 64 is a sensor that detects the passage of the paper P, and has, for example, a transmissive optical sensor. The paper detection sensor 64 detects the arrival of the paper P conveyed by the adsorption conveyance unit 20, and detects double feeding of the paper P by detecting the thickness of the conveyed paper P.

[0034] The imaging unit 40 images the end face on the downstream side (front side) in the conveyance direction of the paper P loaded on the loading table 10, and thereby images the floating state of the loaded paper P. The imaging unit 40 has an imaging element such as a CMOS (Complementary Metal Oxide Semiconductor) image sensor or a CCD (Charge-Coupled Device) image sensor and an imaging optical system. The imaging unit 40 is installed at a height capable of imaging the floating state of the loaded paper P and capable of imaging the downstream end of the adsorption conveyance unit 20, and has an angle of view.

[0035] The imaging unit 40 of the present embodiment performs imaging at 60 fps, for example, while adsorbing and conveying one sheet of paper P from the loading table 10 until it is detected by the conveyance sensor 51, and outputs the captured image to the control device 2.

[0036] The control unit 61 controls the operation of the entire paper feeding device 1. The control unit 61 includes a semiconductor memory such as a CPU (Central Processing Unit), a ROM (Read Only Memory), and a RAM (Random access memory), a storage such as a hard disk, and a communication I / F.

[0037] The control unit 61 controls the operations of each part shown in FIG. 4 based on the control signal output from the control device 2. Further, the control unit 61 acquires the detection signals of the paper detection sensor 64 and the conveyance sensor 51 and outputs them to the control device 2. In particular, the control unit 61 of the present embodiment acquires the control parameters of the main levitation air supply unit 71 adjusted in the control device 2, and controls the rotational speed of the fan 71a of the main levitation air supply unit 71 based on the acquired control parameters. In the present embodiment, the duty ratio of the drive voltage of the fan 71a is acquired as the control parameter.

[0038] The loading table elevating drive unit 91 includes an actuator such as a motor that raises and lowers the loading table 10.

[0039] The suction conveyance drive unit 92 includes an actuator such as a motor that rotates a drive pulley which is one of the pulleys 22, 23 of the suction conveyance unit 20.

[0040] The conveyance drive unit 93 includes an actuator such as a motor that rotates the drive roller of the conveyance mechanism 50.

[0041] The shutter drive unit 94 includes an actuator such as a motor that rotates the shutters 31 and 81b.

[0042] Next, the operation of the paper feeding device 1 will be described.

[0043] When starting paper feeding, the control unit 61 opens the shutter 31 to enable the supply of the main levitation air A3. Further, the control unit 61 starts the driving of the suction mechanism 30, the main levitation air supply unit 71, the main separation air supply unit 72, the side levitation air supply unit 81, and the side separation air supply unit 82.

[0044] As a result, main floating air A3 and side floating air A5 are blown out from the main floating air supply unit 71 and the side floating air supply unit 81, and main separation air A4 and side separation air A6 are blown out from the main separation air supply unit 72 and the side separation air supply unit 82. Also, an adsorption force is generated in the through holes of the conveyor belt 21.

[0045] Due to the floating air currents of the main floating air A3 and the side floating air A5, a plurality of sheets P at the top of the stack of sheets float from the stack of sheets, and the topmost sheet P among them is adsorbed and held on the conveying surface of the conveyor belt 21.

[0046] On the other hand, the main separation air A4 and the side separation air A6 are fed between the topmost sheet P and the second sheet P from the top and flow toward the upstream side.

[0047] In this state, the control unit 61 closes the shutter 31. As a result, the blowing of the floating air current of the main floating air A3 is stopped. As a result, the topmost sheet P and the second and lower sheets P are separated by the main separation air A4 and the side separation air A6, and the second and lower sheets P fall.

[0048] Next, the control unit 61 drives the adsorption conveyance driving unit 92 to convey the sheet P by the adsorption conveyance unit 20.

[0049] Next, the control unit 61 opens the shutter 31 to float the sheet P for feeding the next sheet P.

[0050] By repeating the above operations, the sheets P are sequentially fed from the paper feeding device 1 to the printing device.

[0051] And during this paper feeding operation, the control unit 61 performs control to raise the stacking table 10 in response to the decrease in the sheets P on the stacking table 10 due to paper feeding.

[0052] Next, the control device 2 will be described.

[0053] The control device 2 acquires the captured image captured by the imaging unit 40 of the paper feeding device 1, and based on the captured image, adjusts the control parameter of the main levitation air supply unit 71 (in this embodiment, the duty ratio of the drive voltage of the fan 71a), and outputs the control parameter to the control unit 61 of the paper feeding device 1. The control unit 61 of the paper feeding device 1 controls the main levitation air supply unit 71 based on the control parameter output from the control device 2.

[0054] Specifically, the control device 2 includes an image recognition unit 80 and a control parameter adjustment unit 83.

[0055] The image recognition unit 80 acquires the captured image captured by the imaging unit 40 of the paper feeding device 1, and based on the captured image, acquires information on the levitation state of the sheet P in the paper feeding device 1. The image recognition unit 80 of this embodiment acquires, as the information on the levitation state, the position of the levitated sheet P, the number of levitated sheets P, the adsorption state to the adsorption and conveyance unit 20, the occurrence state of double-sheet levitation / triple-sheet levitation, the vibration state of the sheet P, and the dispersion state of the sheet P. Note that it is not necessary to acquire all of this information on the levitation state, and at least one of them may be acquired.

[0056] The image recognition unit 80 detects the end face of the sheet P from the captured image.

[0057] As the position of the levitated sheet P, the image recognition unit 80 acquires information on the position of the second sheet P next to the uppermost sheet P adsorbed by the adsorption and conveyance unit 20.

[0058] Specifically, the position of the second sheet P described above is detected from a plurality of captured images captured while one sheet P is being fed, and the average value of the positions is acquired as the information on the position of the levitated sheet P.

[0059] As the information on the number of levitated sheets P, the average value of the number of levitated sheets P detected from the plurality of captured images described above is acquired.

[0060] As the suction state of the suction conveyance unit 20, information indicating whether or not the uppermost sheet P is adsorbed to the suction conveyance unit 20 is acquired. In the present embodiment, it is detected whether or not the sheet P is adsorbed to the suction conveyance unit 20 by detecting the through holes of the conveyance belt 21 from the captured image of the downstream end portion of the suction conveyance unit 20. Specifically, when the through holes of the conveyance belt 21 are detected from the captured image, information indicating that the sheet P is not adsorbed to the suction conveyance unit 20 is acquired. When the through holes of the conveyance belt 21 are not detected from the captured image, that is, when the through holes are blocked by the sheet P, information indicating that the sheet P is adsorbed to the suction conveyance unit 20 is acquired.

[0061] The occurrence states of double-sheet floating and triple-sheet floating are acquired from the captured image. Specifically, the total number of detected locations where double-sheet floating occurs and the number of detected locations where double-sheet floating occurs are acquired.

[0062] The state of vibration of the sheet P refers to the fluttering state of the plurality of sheets P stacked on the stacking unit 10. The fluttering of the sheet P is the fluttering of each sheet P lifted by the floating air. If the fluttering is large, the captured image blurs and it becomes impossible to detect the end faces of the respective sheets P.

[0063] The image recognition unit 80 acquires, as information on the state of vibration of the sheet P, the presence or absence of a captured image in which vibration occurs as described above and the end faces of the respective sheets P cannot be detected.

[0064] The state of dispersion of the sheets P indicates the degree of dispersion of the plurality of sheets P lifted by the floating air. Specifically, as the state of dispersion of the sheets P, the average sheet interval and the variation in the sheet intervals are acquired.

[0065] The control parameter adjustment unit 83 adjusts the control parameters of the main floating air supply unit 71 based on the above-described floating state information acquired from the captured image by the image recognition unit 80, the information on double-feed detection by the paper detection sensor 64, the arrival information of the paper P at the conveyance sensor 51, and the paper quality information of the paper P. In this embodiment, as described above, the control parameter is the duty ratio of the drive voltage for driving the fan 71a of the main floating air supply unit 71.

[0066] As the information on double-feed detection, information on whether double-feed has been detected is acquired. As the arrival information of the paper P, information on whether the timing at which the paper P is detected by the conveyance sensor 51 is faster (too early) or slower (not reached) than the normal timing is acquired. As the paper quality information of the paper P, information on the size of the paper P and the paper type of the paper P is acquired. The paper quality information of the paper P is acquired, for example, as information set and input by the user. Alternatively, the paper quality information of the paper P may be acquired from the print job.

[0067] The control parameter adjustment unit 83 stores a learning model obtained by pre-performing reinforcement learning on the relationship between a predetermined control parameter of the main floating air supply unit 71, the floating state information, double-feed information, and the arrival information of the paper P included in the paper conveyance result acquired from the captured image when paper conveyance is performed using the control parameter, and the paper quality information of the paper P. Note that the floating state information, paper conveyance result, and paper quality information of the paper P acquired from the captured image are environmental parameters of reinforcement learning, and are collectively shown in FIG. 6.

[0068] When performing reinforcement learning, a reward is given to the learning model. The reward determines whether the environmental parameters shown in FIG. 7 satisfy the reward plus conditions. If all the reward plus conditions are satisfied, a positive reward (for example, +10) is given to the learning model. If any of the reward plus conditions is not satisfied, a negative reward (for example, -1) is given to the learning model. Note that the non-detection of the presence or absence of the adsorption state shown in FIG. 7 means that the non-adsorption state has not been detected (the abnormal state is not detected). When a negative reward is given, the learning model outputs a control parameter taking into account the adjustment amount as shown in FIG. 8. When a positive reward is given, the learning model outputs the same control parameter as the input control parameter. Then, the control parameter taking into account the adjustment amount is used for the next sheet feeding, and the same processing as above is repeated to advance the reinforcement learning and generate the learning model.

[0069] Next, a method for adjusting the control parameters of the sheet feeding device 1 using the above-described learning model will be described with reference to the flowchart shown in FIG. 9.

[0070] First, when a print start instruction is set and input by the user, the sheet feeding device 1 operates as described above, and the sheet P floats and sheet feeding starts (S10). At this time, an initial value set in advance is used as the control parameter.

[0071] Then, the floating state of the sheet P is photographed by the photographing unit 40 of the sheet feeding device 1 (S12), and the photographed image is input to the image recognition unit 80 of the control device 2, and the image recognition unit 80 acquires information on the floating state from the photographed image. After the sheet feeding is performed, the information on the floating state, the paper quality information of the sheet P, and the information on the sheet feeding result are input to the control parameter adjustment unit 83 as environmental parameters (S14).

[0072] The control parameter adjustment unit 83 inputs the input environmental parameters to the learning model, obtains the adjustment amount of the control parameter (S16), and outputs the control parameter taking into account the adjustment amount to the sheet feeding device 1.

[0073] Further, the control parameter adjustment unit 83 obtains a reward based on the environmental parameter (S18). At this time, when the reward is negative (S20, YES) and when the reward is positive but it is the first time to obtain a positive reward (S22, NO), the control parameter adjustment unit 83 continues to repeat the processes of S12 to S18 after the next sheet feeding and continues to adjust the control parameter.

[0074] On the other hand, when positive rewards are continuously obtained twice (S20, NO, S22, YES), the control parameter adjustment unit 83 ends the control parameter adjustment process (S24), and the sheet feeding device 1 continues to perform sheet feeding using the same control parameter.

[0075] In this embodiment, as described above, the control parameter adjustment process ends when positive rewards are continuously obtained twice. However, for example, if positive rewards cannot be continuously obtained twice even after performing the adjustment process 10 times, the adjustment process may end after 10 times.

[0076] Also, in this embodiment, the drive voltage of the main floating air supply unit 71 is adjusted as the control parameter. However, the present invention is not limited to this, and for example, other elements that affect the floating state of the sheet P such as the opening and closing timing of the shutter 31 may be included in the control parameter.

[0077] The control device 2 includes a semiconductor memory such as a CPU, a ROM, and a RAM, a storage such as a hard disk, and a communication I / F. An embodiment of the sheet feeding program of the present invention is installed in the semiconductor memory or the hard disk of the control device 2, and when this sheet feeding program is executed by the CPU, the above-described control parameter adjustment process is performed.

[0078] Note that in this embodiment, the adjustment process of the control parameters is realized by the sheet feeding program. However, the present invention is not limited to this, and part or all of the functions or controls may be realized by hardware such as an ASIC (Application Specific Integrated Circuit), an FPGA (Field-Programmable Gate Array), or other electric circuits.

[0079] FIG. 10 is a diagram showing an example of the air sheet feeding system 100 of the above embodiment. In the example shown in FIG. 10, the vertical axis represents the duty ratio of the drive voltage supplied to the main floating air supply unit 71, and the horizontal axis represents the number of times of the adjustment process described above. Further, FIG. 10 shows the results of adjusting the control parameters (duty ratio of the drive voltage) for four types of sheets P. In addition, the range of the dotted line shown in FIG. 10 indicates the range of the optimum control parameters, and the vertical axis indicates the deviation amount from the range of the optimum control parameters. As shown in FIG. 10, it can be seen that the control parameters converge to the optimum range as the number of times of the adjustment process using the learning model increases.

[0080] According to the air sheet feeding system 100 of the above embodiment, the floating states of a plurality of sheets due to the supply of air are photographed, and based on the information on the floating states obtained from the photographed images, the control parameters of the main floating air supply unit 71 are adjusted. Therefore, it is possible to perform more optimum adjustment of the control parameters in consideration of the actual floating state of the sheet P, and it is possible to prevent the occurrence of air feeding and double feeding.

[0081] In addition, as the information on the floating state, at least one of the position of the floating sheet P, the number of floating sheets, the adsorption state to the adsorption conveyance unit, the vibration state of the sheet P, and the dispersion state of the sheets is acquired. Therefore, the adjustment of the control parameters can be performed with higher accuracy.

[0082] In addition, based on the information on the floating state obtained from the photographed image and the sheet feeding result, the control parameters are adjusted. Therefore, it is possible to adjust the control parameters reflecting the sheet feeding result.

[0083] In addition, since the control parameters are adjusted based on the information on the floating state obtained from the captured image, the paper quality information of the paper P, and the paper passage result, it is possible to adjust the control parameters according to the paper quality information of the paper P.

[0084] In addition, since the control parameters are adjusted using a learning model obtained by pre-training the relationship between a predetermined control parameter and the information on the floating state obtained from the captured image when paper passage is performed using the control parameter, the adjustment of the control parameters is automatically performed, eliminating the need for special skills in the adjustment.

[0085] In addition, since the learning model is trained by a reward determined based on at least one of the information on the floating state and the paper passage result, the time required for adjusting the control parameters can be shortened, and the downtime of the apparatus can be shortened.

[0086] In addition, when a positive reward is continuously obtained with the same control parameter, the adjustment of the control parameter is terminated, so that the adjustment of the control parameter can be performed more efficiently.

[0087] In addition, the present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiments, and the components can be modified and embodied without departing from the gist thereof at the implementation stage. Also, various inventions can be formed by appropriately combining a plurality of components disclosed in the above-described embodiments. For example, all the components shown in the embodiments may be appropriately combined. Needless to say, various modifications and applications are possible within the scope not departing from the gist of the invention.

[0088] Regarding the present invention, the following supplementary notes are further disclosed.

[0089] (Supplementary Note 1) The sheet feeding device of the present invention includes a stacking table on which a plurality of sheets are stacked, a floating air supply unit that floats the sheets by supplying air toward the end faces of the plurality of sheets stacked on the stacking table, a suction conveyance unit that sucks and conveys the uppermost sheet among the plurality of sheets floated by the supply of air, a photographing unit that photographs the floating state of the plurality of sheets by the supply of air, a control parameter adjustment unit that adjusts the control parameters of the floating air supply unit based on the information on the floating state obtained from the photographed image photographed by the photographing unit, and a control unit that controls the floating air supply unit based on the control parameters adjusted by the control parameter adjustment unit.

[0090] (Appendix 2) In the sheet feeding device according to Appendix 1, the control parameter adjustment unit can acquire at least one of the position of the floated sheet, the number of floated sheets, the suction state to the suction conveyance unit, the vibration state of the sheet, and the dispersion state of the sheets as the information on the floating state.

[0091] (Appendix 3) In the sheet feeding device according to Appendix 1 or Appendix 2, the control parameter adjustment unit can adjust the control parameters based on the information on the floating state obtained from the photographed image and the paper feeding result.

[0092] (Appendix 4) In the sheet feeding device according to any one of Appendices 1 to 3, the control parameter adjustment unit can adjust the control parameters based on the information on the floating state obtained from the photographed image, the paper quality information of the sheet, and the paper feeding result.

[0093] (Appendix 5) In the sheet feeding device according to any one of Appendices 1 to 4, the control parameter adjustment unit can adjust the control parameters using a learning model obtained by previously performing reinforcement learning on the relationship between a predetermined control parameter and the information on the floating state obtained from the photographed image when paper feeding is performed using the control parameter.

[0094] (Appendix 6) In the sheet feeding device described in Supplementary Note 5, the learning model is preferably trained with a reward determined based on at least one of the floating state and the paper passing result.

[0095] (Supplementary Note 7) In the sheet feeding device described in Supplementary Note 6, when a positive reward is continuously obtained with the same control parameter, the control parameter adjustment unit preferably ends the adjustment of the control parameter.

[0096] (Supplementary Note 8) In the sheet feeding method of the present invention, in a sheet feeding method in which air is supplied toward the end faces of a plurality of sheets stacked on a stacking table to float the sheets, and the uppermost sheet among the floated plurality of sheets is adsorbed and conveyed, an image of the floating state of the plurality of sheets due to the supply of air is taken, and based on the information on the floating state obtained from the taken image, the control parameter of the floating air supply unit that supplies air is adjusted, and the floating air supply unit is controlled based on the adjusted control parameter.

[0097] (Supplementary Note 9) When the sheet feeding program of the present invention floats a sheet by supplying air toward the end faces of a plurality of sheets stacked on a stacking table, and adsorbs and conveys the uppermost sheet among the floated plurality of sheets, the computer is made to execute a step of taking an image of the floating state of the plurality of sheets due to the supply of air, a step of adjusting the control parameter of the floating air supply unit that supplies air based on the information on the floating state obtained from the taken image, and a step of controlling the floating air supply unit based on the adjusted control parameter.

[0098] (Supplementary Note 10) The learning model of the present invention is a learning model used when adjusting the control parameter of the floating air supply unit of the sheet feeding device described in Supplementary Note 1, and is obtained by pre-training the relationship between a predetermined control parameter and the information on the floating state obtained from the captured image captured by the imaging unit of the sheet feeding device when paper passing is performed using the control parameter.

Description of Symbols

[0099] 1 Paper Feeding Device 2 Control Device 10 Loading Table 20 Suction Conveying Unit 21 Conveyor Belt 22, 23 Pulleys 30 Suction Mechanism 31 Shutter 31a Shutter Body 31a-1 Blade Portion 31b Opening Member 31b-1 Through-Hole 31c Rotating Shaft Member 40 Photographing Unit 50 Conveying Mechanism 51 Conveying Sensor 61 Control Unit 62 Storage Unit 63 Interface Unit 64 Paper Detection Sensor 70 Control Parameter Adjusting Unit 71 Main Levitation Air Supply Unit 71a Fan 72 Main Separation Air Supply Unit 72a Fan 80 Image Recognition Unit 81 Side Levitation Air Supply Unit 81a Fan 81b Shutter 82 Side Separation Air Supply Unit 82a Fan 82b Flow Path 83 Control Parameter Adjusting Unit 91 Loading Table Lifting Drive Unit 92 Suction Conveying Drive Unit 93 Conveying Drive Unit 94 Shutter Drive Unit 100 Air Paper Feeding System

Claims

1. A loading table on which a plurality of sheets are loaded, a floating air supply unit that floats the sheets by supplying air toward the end faces of the plurality of sheets loaded on the loading table, a suction conveyance unit that sucks and conveys the uppermost sheet among the plurality of sheets floated by the supply of the air, a photographing unit that photographs the floating state of the plurality of sheets by the supply of the air, a control parameter adjustment unit that adjusts control parameters of the floating air supply unit based on information on the floating state obtained from a photographed image photographed by the photographing unit, A sheet supply device comprising a control unit that controls the floating air supply unit based on the control parameters adjusted by the control parameter adjustment unit.

2. The sheet supply device according to claim 1, wherein the control parameter adjustment unit acquires at least one of the position of the floated sheet, the number of floated sheets, the suction state to the suction conveyance unit, the vibration state of the sheet, and the dispersion state of the sheets as the information on the floating state.

3. The sheet supply device according to claim 1, wherein the control parameter adjustment unit adjusts the control parameters based on the information on the floating state obtained from the photographed image and the paper feeding result.

4. The sheet supply device according to claim 3, wherein the control parameter adjustment unit adjusts the control parameters based on the information on the floating state obtained from the photographed image, the paper quality information of the sheet, and the paper feeding result.

5. The sheet supply device according to claim 1, wherein the control parameter adjustment unit uses a learning model obtained by previously performing reinforcement learning on the relationship between a predetermined control parameter and the information on the floating state obtained from the photographed image when paper feeding is performed using the control parameter, and adjusts the control parameter.

6. The sheet supply device according to claim 5, wherein the learning model is trained by a reward determined based on at least one of the information on the floating state and the paper feeding result.

7. The sheet supply device according to claim 6, wherein the control parameter adjustment unit ends the adjustment of the control parameter when a positive reward is continuously obtained by the same control parameter.

8. In a sheet supply method in which sheets are floated by supplying air toward the end faces of a plurality of sheets loaded on a loading table, and the uppermost sheet among the floated sheets is sucked and conveyed, A sheet supply method that captures the floating state of the plurality of sheets by supplying air, adjusts control parameters of a floating air supply unit that supplies the air based on the information on the floating state obtained from the captured image, and controls the floating air supply unit based on the adjusted control parameters.

9. A sheet supply program that causes a computer to execute: a step of floating the sheets by supplying air toward end faces of the plurality of sheets stacked on a loading table, and capturing the floating state of the plurality of sheets by the supply of the air when sucking and conveying the uppermost sheet among the floated plurality of sheets; a step of adjusting control parameters of a floating air supply unit that supplies the air based on the information on the floating state obtained from the captured image; and a step of controlling the floating air supply unit based on the adjusted control parameters.

10. A learning model used when adjusting control parameters of a floating air supply unit of the sheet feeding device according to claim 1, The learning model is obtained by pre-training the relationship between the predetermined control parameters and the information on the floating state obtained from the captured image captured by the imaging unit of the sheet feeding device when passing paper using the control parameters by reinforcement learning.

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