Sheet bundle conveying device and method for controlling sheet bundle conveying device

Abstract

To stably rotate a stack of paper sheets for sorting to a desired orientation.SOLUTION: There is provided a sheet bundle conveying device 100 including: a first conveying unit; a second conveying unit; an abutting unit 23 that switches between an abutting state in which a leading edge of a sheet bundle B abuts against an abutting member 23a at a predetermined position Xp in a conveying direction TD and a non-abutting state; a first pressing unit 21 that presses the sheet bundle toward the first conveying unit; a second pressing unit that presses the sheet bundle toward the second conveying unit; a pressure switching unit 24 that switches between a first pressing state in which the first pressing unit 21 and the second pressing unit press the sheet bundle B in a predetermined area Ap upstream of the predetermined position Xp in the conveying direction TD, and a second pressing state in which the first pressing unit 21 does not press the sheet bundle in the predetermined area Ap; and a control unit that controls the abutting member 23 and the pressure switching unit 24 to switch from the non-abutting state to the abutting state and from the first pressing state to the second pressing state so as to change an inclination of the predetermined sheet bundle B with respect to a width direction.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 6

Description

[Technical Field]

[0001] The present invention relates to a sheet stack transport device and a method for controlling the sheet transport device. [Background technology]

[0002] Conventionally, there is known a paper stack transport device that transports a half-stacked bundle of paper that has been bound or bound and folded by a bookbinding machine (see, for example, Patent Document 1). In Patent Document 1, a pin is protruded downward each time a preset number of paper stacks are transported, causing the end face of the paper stack to come into contact with the pin, thereby causing a delay in transport movement. As a result, the orientation of the paper stack becomes diagonal to the paper stack flow direction, making it possible to distinguish this paper stack from other paper stacks and sort the paper stacks. [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0003] [Patent Document 1] Japanese Patent Application Publication No. 9-278267 Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0004] In Patent Document 1, the stack of sheets that comes into contact with the pins and becomes tilted relative to the flow direction is not pressed against the conveyor belt from above. When the edge of the stack of sheets comes into contact with the pins, the stack of sheets may move to an arbitrary position depending on the conveying speed, size, etc. Therefore, when sorting the stack of sheets, it is not possible to stably rotate the stack of sheets to the desired direction, which may result in inappropriate sorting of the stack of sheets.

[0005] The present invention has been made in consideration of the above problems, and aims to provide a paper stack conveying device and a method for controlling a paper stack conveying device that, when sorting multiple paper stacks, can stably rotate the paper stacks to be sorted so that they are oriented as desired, thereby properly sorting the paper stacks. [Means for solving the problem]

[0006] A paper stack transport device according to one aspect of the present invention includes a first transport section formed to extend along a transport direction and transporting a plurality of paper stacks along the transport direction; a second transport section formed to extend along the transport direction and arranged at an interval in a width direction perpendicular to the transport direction from the first transport section and transporting the plurality of paper stacks along the transport direction; an abutment section arranged between the first transport section and the second transport section in the width direction and moving the abutment member up and down to switch between an abutment state in which a leading edge of the paper stack abuts against the abutment member at a predetermined position in the transport direction and a non-abutment state in which the leading edge of the paper stack does not abut against the abutment member at the predetermined position; and a first rotary member arranged above the first transport section with the paper stack sandwiched therebetween and rotating about a first rotary axis along the width direction to transport the paper stack to the first transport section. a first pressing unit that presses the paper stack toward the conveying unit; a second pressing unit that is arranged above the second conveying unit with the paper stack sandwiched therebetween and presses the paper stack toward the second conveying unit via a second rotating member that is rotatable around a second rotation axis along the width direction; a pressing switching unit that switches between a first pressing state in which the first pressing unit and the second pressing unit press the paper stack in a predetermined area upstream of the predetermined position in the conveying direction, and a second pressing state in which the first pressing unit does not press the paper stack in the predetermined area and the second pressing unit presses the paper stack in the predetermined area; and a control unit that controls the abutment unit and the pressing switching unit to switch from the non-butting state to the abutting state and from the first pressing state to the second pressing state so as to change the inclination of a predetermined paper stack with respect to the width direction of a plurality of paper stacks that are continuously conveyed.

[0007] According to one aspect of the paper stack transport device of the present invention, by setting the abutting section in the non-abutting state and the pressure switching section in the first pressing state, the first pressing section presses the paper stack toward the first transport section in a predetermined area and the second pressing section presses the paper stack toward the second transport section in a predetermined area when the paper stack is not abutted against the protruding member. As a result, each of the multiple paper stacks is imparted with a transport force in the transport direction from the first transport section and the second transport section, and is transported along the transport direction.

[0008] Furthermore, in a paper stack transport device according to one aspect of the present invention, by switching the abutting section from a non-abutting state to an abutting state and from a first pressing state to a second pressing state, the second pressing section presses the paper stack toward the second transport section in a predetermined area while the paper stack is in a state in which it abuts against the protruding member. Because the paper stack abutted against the abutting member is pressed toward the second transport section by the second pressing section, the paper stack rotates around the abutting member due to the transport force transmitted from the second transport section, and rotates stably in the desired direction.

[0009] In this way, according to one aspect of the paper stack conveying device of the present invention, when sorting multiple paper stacks being transported, the paper stack to be sorted can be stably rotated to the desired orientation, allowing the paper stack to be properly sorted.

[0010] In one embodiment of the paper stack conveying device of the present invention, the first pressure section may have a pair of first pressure rollers and a first pressure belt that is looped around the pair of first pressure rollers, and the second pressure section may have a pair of second pressure rollers and a second pressure belt that is looped around the pair of second pressure rollers.

[0011] According to the paper stack transport device of this configuration, the transport force of the first transport unit is transmitted to the first pressure belt via the paper stack pressed by the first pressure roller located downstream in the transport direction. The first pressure belt, which rotates due to the transport force of the first transport unit, can apply the transport force to the paper stack pressed by the first pressure roller located upstream in the transport direction.

[0012] Similarly, with the paper stack transport device of this configuration, the transport force of the second transport unit is transmitted to the second pressure belt via the paper stack pressed by the second pressure roller located downstream in the transport direction. The second pressure belt, which rotates due to the transport force of the second transport unit, can apply the transport force to the paper stack pressed by the second pressure roller located upstream in the transport direction.

[0013] In the paper stack transport device having the above configuration, the pressure switching unit may be configured such that in the first pressure state, both of the pair of first pressure rollers press the paper stack via the first pressure belt, and in the second pressure state, the first pressure roller located upstream in the transport direction does not press the paper stack, and the second pressure roller presses the paper stack upstream in the transport direction of the predetermined position where the abutment member is located via the second pressure belt.

[0014] According to the paper stack transport device of this aspect, in the first pressing state, by setting both of the pair of first pressure rollers to press the paper stack via the first pressure belt, it is possible to apply a transport force from the first transport unit to the multiple paper stacks in the entire area between the pair of first pressure rollers in the transport direction. Also, in the second pressing state, by setting the first pressure roller arranged upstream in the transport direction not to press the paper stack, and the second pressure roller to press the paper stack upstream in the transport direction from the predetermined position where the abutting member is arranged via the second pressure belt, it is possible to set the paper stack upstream in the transport direction from the predetermined position where the abutting member is arranged to rotate appropriately around the abutting member.

[0015] In one aspect of the paper stack transport device of the present invention, the device may be configured to include a moving mechanism that moves the abutment portion, the first pressing portion, and the second pressing portion along the transport direction while maintaining their relative positions in the transport direction.

[0016] According to the paper stack transport device of this configuration, the relative positions of the abutment portion, the first pressing portion, and the second pressing portion in the transport direction can be maintained, and these can be moved to any position in the transport direction depending on the size of the paper stack, etc.

[0017] In a method for controlling a paper stack transport device according to one aspect of the present invention, the paper stack transport device includes a first transport section formed to extend along a transport direction and transporting a plurality of paper stacks along the transport direction; a second transport section formed to extend along the transport direction and arranged at an interval in a width direction perpendicular to the transport direction from the first transport section and transporting the plurality of paper stacks along the transport direction; a stop section arranged between the first transport section and the second transport section in the width direction and moving the stop member up and down to switch between an abutment state in which a leading edge of the paper stack abuts against the abutment member at a predetermined position in the transport direction and a non-abutment state in which the leading edge of the paper stack does not abut against the abutment member at the predetermined position; a first pressing section arranged above the first transport section with the paper stack sandwiched therebetween and pressing the paper stack toward the first transport section via a first rotating member rotatable about a first rotation axis along the width direction; The sheet conveying device includes a second pressing unit that is arranged to sandwich the stack of paper and presses the stack of paper toward the second conveying unit via a second rotating member that is rotatable around a second rotation axis along the width direction, and a pressing switching unit that switches between a first pressing state in which the first pressing unit and the second pressing unit press the stack of paper in a predetermined area upstream of the predetermined position in the conveying direction, and a second pressing state in which the first pressing unit does not press the stack of paper in the predetermined area, but the second pressing unit presses the stack of paper in the predetermined area.The sheet conveying device includes a first switching process that controls the pressing unit and the pressing switching unit to switch from the non-abutting state to the abutting state and from the first pressing state to the second pressing state so as to change the inclination of a specific stack of paper among the multiple stacks of paper that are continuously conveyed with respect to the width direction, and a second switching process that controls the pressing unit and the pressing switching unit to switch from the abutting state to the non-abutting state and from the second pressing state to the first pressing state.

[0018] According to a control method for a paper stack transport device according to one aspect of the present invention, in a first switching step, the abutting section is switched from a non-abutting state to an abutting state and from a first pressing state to a second pressing state, so that while the paper stack is in a state in which it abuts against the protruding member, the second pressing section presses the paper stack toward the second transport section in a predetermined area. Because the paper stack abutted against the abutting member is pressed toward the second transport section by the second pressing section, the paper stack rotates around the abutting member due to the transport force transmitted from the second transport section, and rotates stably in a desired direction.

[0019] According to a control method for a paper stack transport device according to one aspect of the present invention, in the second switching step, the abutting portion is switched from the protruding state to the non-abutting state and from the second pressing state to the first pressing state, so that when the paper stack is not abutted against the protruding member, the first pressing portion presses the paper stack toward the first transport portion in a predetermined area, and the second pressing portion presses the paper stack toward the second transport portion in a predetermined area. As a result, each of the multiple paper stacks is imparted with a transport force in the transport direction from the first transport portion and the second transport portion, and is transported along the transport direction.

[0020] Thus, according to the control method for a paper stack conveying device of one aspect of the present invention, when sorting multiple paper stacks being transported, the paper stacks to be sorted can be stably rotated to the desired orientation, allowing the paper stacks to be properly sorted. [Brief explanation of the drawings]

[0021] [Figure 1] 1 is a plan view of a sheet bundle transport device according to an embodiment of the present invention, viewed from above; [Figure 2] 2 is a view of the sheet bundle transport device shown in FIG. 1 taken along the arrow AA. [Figure 3] 2 is a view of the sheet bundle transport device shown in FIG. 1 taken along the arrow BB. [Figure 4] FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the paper stack transport device shown in FIG. [Figure 5] 3 is a partial enlarged view of the sheet bundle transport device shown in FIG. 2, showing the state where the sheet bundle transport device is in a non-abutting state and a first pressing state. [Figure 6]3 is a partial enlarged view of the sheet bundle transport device shown in FIG. 2, showing the state in which the sheet bundle transport device is in the abutting state and the second pressing state. FIG. [Figure 7] 1 is a plan view of a sheet bundle transporting device according to an embodiment of the present invention, seen from above, showing a state in which the sheet bundle transporting device is in a non-abutting state and a first pressing state. [Figure 8] 1 is a plan view of a sheet bundle transporting device according to an embodiment of the present invention, seen from above, showing the device in abutting state and in a second pressing state. [Figure 9] 5 is a flowchart showing a control method for the paper stack transport device according to one embodiment of the present invention. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0022] A paper-sheet bundle transporting device 100 according to one embodiment of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings. Fig. 1 is a plan view of the paper-sheet bundle transporting device 100 according to one embodiment of the present invention as seen from above. Fig. 2 is a view taken along arrow AA of the paper-sheet bundle transporting device 100 shown in Fig. 1. Fig. 3 is a view taken along arrow BB of the paper-sheet bundle transporting device 100 shown in Fig. 1. Fig. 4 is a perspective view of the paper-sheet bundle transporting device 100 shown in Fig. 1.

[0023] The sheet bundle transport device 100 of this embodiment is a device that transports a plurality of sheet bundles B along the transport direction TD while they are partially overlapping along the transport direction TD. The sheet bundle transport device 100 receives a plurality of sheet bundles B transported from a sheet bundle transport device 200 arranged upstream in the transport direction TD, and discharges the sheet bundles B to a sheet bundle accumulation device 300 arranged downstream in the transport direction TD.

[0024] 1 to 3 show a state in which sheet bundles B1, B2, B3, B4, B5, B6, and B7 are transported in a partially overlapping state from sheet bundle input device 200 to sheet bundle transport device 100. Sheet bundle transport device 100 has a function of sorting the multiple sheet bundles B by rotating only a desired sheet bundle B among the multiple sheet bundles B so that it is inclined with respect to the width direction WD.

[0025] As shown in FIGS. 1 to 4, the paper-sheet bundle transport device 100 of this embodiment includes a transport mechanism 10, a pressing mechanism 20, a moving mechanism 30, a paper-sheet bundle support section 40, and a control section 50.

[0026] The transport mechanism 10 transports multiple sheet bundles B transported from the sheet bundle transport device 200 to the sheet bundle stacking device 300 located downstream in the transport direction TD. The transport mechanism 10 has a first transport section 11 and a second transport section 12. The first transport section 11 and the second transport section 12 are each formed to extend along the transport direction TD and transport multiple sheet bundles B in a partially overlapping state along the transport direction TD. As shown in FIGS. 1 and 4, the second transport section 12 is disposed at an interval from the first transport section 11 in the width direction WD perpendicular to the transport direction TD.

[0027] 1 and 2, the first conveying unit 11 includes a first driving roller 11a that generates a driving force to rotate around a first driving shaft 11a1, a first driven roller 11b, and a first conveying belt 11c that is wound around the first driving roller 11a and the first driven roller 11b. The first driving roller 11a generates a driving force by power transmitted from a driving motor (not shown) controlled by the control unit 50.

[0028] 1 and 3, the second conveying section 12 includes a second drive roller 12a that generates a driving force to rotate around a second drive shaft 12a1, a second driven roller 12b, and a second conveying belt 12c that is wound around the second drive roller 12a and the second driven roller 12b. The second drive roller 12a generates a driving force by power transmitted from a drive motor (not shown) controlled by the control section 50.

[0029] The pressing mechanism 20 is a mechanism that presses a plurality of sheet stacks B, which are conveyed by the conveying mechanism 10 along the conveying direction TD, from above the sheet stacks B toward the conveying mechanism 10. The pressing mechanism 20 has a first pressing unit 21, a second pressing unit 22, a contact unit 23, and a pressing switching unit 24.

[0030] 2, the first pressing unit 21 has a downstream pressure roller (first pressure roller) 21a, an upstream pressure roller (first pressure roller) 21b, and a first pressure belt 21c. The first pressure belt (first rotating member) 21c is looped around the downstream pressure roller 21a and the upstream pressure roller 21b. The first pressing unit 21 is disposed above the first conveying unit 11 in the height direction HD with a plurality of sheet stacks B sandwiched between them, and presses the sheet stacks B toward the first conveying belt 11c of the first conveying unit 11 via the first pressing belt 21c, which is rotatable about a first rotation shaft 21a1 along the width direction WD.

[0031] 3, the second pressing unit 22 has a downstream pressure roller (second pressure roller) 22a, an upstream pressure roller (second pressure roller) 22b, and a second pressure belt 22c. The second pressure belt (second rotating member) 22c is looped around the downstream pressure roller 22a and the upstream pressure roller 22b. The second pressing unit 22 is disposed above the second conveying unit 12 in the height direction HD with a plurality of sheet stacks B sandwiched between them, and presses the sheet stacks B toward the second conveying belt 12c of the second conveying unit 12 via the second pressing belt 22c, which is rotatable about a second rotation shaft 22a1 along the width direction WD.

[0032] The abutment unit 23 and the pressure switching unit 24 provided in the pressing mechanism 20 will now be described with reference to Figures 5 and 6. Figure 5 is a partial enlarged view of the paper-stack conveying device 100 shown in Figure 2, showing the case where it is in a non-abutting state and a first pressing state. Figure 6 is a partial enlarged view of the paper-stack conveying device 100 shown in Figure 2, showing the case where it is in abutting state and a second pressing state. The axis X shown in Figures 5 and 6 is an axis extending along the conveying direction TD.

[0033] 5 and 6, the abutting section 23 is a mechanism that moves the abutting member 23a up and down to switch between an abutting state (FIG. 6) in which the leading edge of the sheet stack B abuts against the abutting member 23a at a predetermined position in the conveying direction TD, and a non-abutting state (FIG. 5) in which the leading edge of the sheet stack B does not abut against the abutting member 23a at the predetermined position. As shown in FIG. 1, the abutting section 23 is disposed between the first conveying section 11 and the second conveying section 12 in the width direction WD.

[0034] 5 and 6, the abutting section 23 has an abutting member 23a formed in a shaft shape extending along the height direction HD, and a drive mechanism 23b that moves the abutting member 23a up and down along the height direction HD. The drive mechanism 23b is fixed to the movement mechanism 30 so that its position in the height direction HD relative to the first transport section 11 is constant.

[0035] 5, the drive mechanism 23b moves the abutting member 23a to a position where the lower end of the abutting member 23a does not contact the stack of paper-sheets B. In the abutting state shown in FIG. 6, the drive mechanism 23b moves the abutting member 23a to a position where the lower end of the abutting member 23a contacts the stack of paper-sheets B.

[0036] The pressure switching unit 24 is a mechanism that swings the upstream pressure roller 21b around the first rotation shaft 21a1 to switch between a first pressure state shown in Fig. 5 and a second pressure state shown in Fig. 6. The pressure switching unit 24 is fixed to the movement mechanism 30. As shown in Fig. 5, the first pressure state is a state in which the first pressure unit 21 and the second pressure unit 22 press the sheet stack B in a predetermined area Ap that is upstream in the conveying direction TD of a predetermined position Xp in the conveying direction TD where the abutting member 23a is disposed. As shown in Fig. 6, the second pressure state is a state in which the first pressure unit 21 does not press the sheet stack B in the predetermined area Ap, and the second pressure unit 22 presses the sheet stack B in the predetermined area Ap.

[0037] The specified area Ap is the area from a specified position Xp at the upstream end of the abutting member 23a in the conveying direction TD to a position X1 at the upstream end in the conveying direction TD of the area where the first pressing section 21 and the second pressing section 22 press the paper stack B.

[0038] The pressure switching unit 24 swings the upstream pressure roller 21b around the first rotation shaft 21a1 by an angle θ, thereby switching the first pressure state shown in Fig. 5 to the second pressure state shown in Fig. 6. As shown in Fig. 5, in the first pressure state, the pressure switching unit 24 sets the downstream pressure roller 21a and the upstream pressure roller 21b both to press the stack of paper sheets B via the first pressure belt 21c.

[0039] 6, in the second pressing state, the pressure switching unit 24 sets a state in which only the downstream pressure roller 21a arranged downstream in the conveying direction TD presses the sheet stack B via the first pressure belt 21c. In the second pressing state, the pressure switching unit 24 sets a state in which the upstream pressure roller 21b arranged upstream in the conveying direction TD does not press the sheet stack B, and the upstream pressure roller 22b presses the sheet stack B upstream in the conveying direction TD of the predetermined position Xp where the abutting member 23a is arranged via the second pressure belt 22c.

[0040] The operation of the pressure switching unit 24 to switch from the first pressing state to the second pressing state is executed by the control unit 50 in synchronization with the operation of the abutment unit 23 to switch from the non-abutment state to the abutment state. Note that the power generation source for the operation of the pressure switching unit 24 to switch from the first pressing state to the second pressing state and the power generation source for the operation of the abutment unit 23 to switch from the non-abutment state to the abutment state can be the same (for example, a single electric motor).

[0041] Here, the conveying state of sheet stack B will be described with reference to Figures 7 and 8. Figure 7 is a plan view from above of sheet stack conveying device 100 according to one embodiment of the present invention, showing the case where it is in a non-butting state and a first pressing state. Figure 8 is a plan view from above of sheet stack conveying device 100 according to one embodiment of the present invention, showing the case where it is in abutting state and a second pressing state. In Figures 7 and 8, the pressing mechanism 20 is not shown, and the area where first pressing unit 21 presses sheet stack B is referred to as a first pressing area P1, and the area where second pressing unit 22 presses sheet stack B is referred to as a second pressing area P2.

[0042] 7, in the first pressing state, the first pressing unit 21 presses the sheet stack B in a predetermined area Ap upstream of the predetermined position Xp in the conveying direction TD, and the second pressing unit 22 presses the sheet stack B in a predetermined area Ap upstream of the predetermined position Xp in the conveying direction TD. In Fig. 7, since the abutting unit 23 is in the non-abutting state, the sheet stack B upstream of the abutting unit 23 in the conveying direction TD passes through the abutting unit 23 without being abutted by the abutting member 23a.

[0043] 8, in the second pressing state, the first pressing unit 21 does not press the sheet stack B in a predetermined area Ap upstream of the predetermined position Xp in the conveying direction TD, and the second pressing unit 22 presses the sheet stack B in a predetermined area Ap upstream of the predetermined position Xp in the conveying direction TD. In FIG. 8, because the abutting unit 23 is in the abutting state, the sheet stack B upstream of the abutting unit 23 in the conveying direction TD is abutted against the abutting member 23a, and is given a conveying force in the conveying direction TD by the second pressing unit 22, causing the sheet stack B to rotate around the abutting unit 23.

[0044] The moving mechanism 30 is a mechanism that moves the pressing mechanism 20 to an arbitrary position along the conveying direction TD. After moving the pressing mechanism 20 to an arbitrary position along the conveying direction TD, the moving mechanism 30 can fix the position of the pressing mechanism 20 in the conveying direction TD. In the pressing mechanism 20, the relative positions of the abutting portion 23, the first pressing portion 21, and the second pressing portion 22 in the conveying direction TD are kept constant. Therefore, the moving mechanism 30 can move the abutting portion 23, the first pressing portion 21, and the second pressing portion 22 along the conveying direction TD while maintaining the relative positions in the conveying direction TD.

[0045] The paper stack support section 40 is a member arranged to form a support surface that coincides with the upper surfaces of the first transport section 11 and the second transport section 12 in the height direction HD. As shown in Fig. 1, the paper stack support section 40 is arranged in the region between the first transport section 11 and the second transport section 12 in the width direction WD, in a region on the side of the first transport section 11, and in a region on the side of the second transport section 12. The paper stack support section 40, together with the first transport section 11 and the second transport section 12, forms a transport surface for transporting multiple paper stacks B.

[0046] The control unit 50 is a device that controls each unit of the paper-sheet bundle transport device 100. The control unit 50 controls the abutting unit 23 and the pressure switching unit 24 to switch the abutting unit 23 from a non-abutting state to an abutting state and to switch the pressing mechanism 20 from a first pressing state to a second pressing state, so as to change the inclination of a predetermined paper-sheet bundle B among the multiple paper-sheet bundles B that are continuously transported with respect to the width direction WD.

[0047] Here, a control method executed by the control unit 50 of the paper-sheet bundle transporting device 100 will be described with reference to Fig. 9. Fig. 9 is a flowchart showing a control method for the paper-sheet bundle transporting device 100 according to one embodiment of the present invention. The processing of each step shown in Fig. 9 is executed by the control unit 50 in accordance with a control program stored in a storage unit (not shown).

[0048] In step S101, the control unit 50 starts the operation of the transport mechanism 10 to transport multiple sheet bundles B along the transport direction TD. The first transport unit 11 and the second transport unit 12 of the transport mechanism 10 accept the multiple sheet bundles B transported from the sheet bundle transport device 200, and start the operation of transporting them toward the sheet bundle accumulation device 300 located downstream in the transport direction TD.

[0049] In step S102, the control unit 50 determines whether the sorting timing has arrived, and if YES, proceeds to step S103, and if NO, repeats the determination of step S102. The control unit 50 determines YES when a predetermined number of paper stacks B have passed the predetermined position Xp, and proceeds to step S103.

[0050] In step S103, the control unit 50 controls the pressing mechanism 20 to switch from the first pressing state to the second pressing state. For example, the control unit 50 controls the pressing switching unit 24 to switch from the first pressing state to the second pressing state in response to three paper stacks B1, B2, and B3 shown in Fig. 7 passing through a predetermined position Xp. The pressing switching unit 24 switches from the first pressing state shown in Fig. 5 to the second pressing state shown in Fig. 6 by swinging the upstream pressing roller 21b around the first rotation shaft 21a1 by an angle θ.

[0051] In step S104, the control unit 50 controls the abutting unit 23 to switch from the non-abutting state to the abutting state. For example, the control unit 50 controls the abutting unit 23 to switch from the non-abutting state to the abutting state in response to three sheet bundles B1, B2, and B3 shown in FIG. 7 passing through a predetermined position Xp.

[0052] In step S105, the control unit 50 determines whether the condition for switching from the abutment state to the non-abutment state is met after switching from the first pressing state to the second pressing state and from the non-abutment state to the abutment state, and if the answer is YES, the process proceeds to step S106, and if the answer is NO, the process of step S105 is repeated. Here, the switching condition is set depending on the angle at which the sheet stack B, whose leading edge is abutted against the abutment member 23a, is inclined with respect to the width direction WD.

[0053] The switching condition is, for example, a condition as to whether the movement amount of first conveyor belt 11c of first conveyor unit 11 and second conveyor belt 12c of second conveyor unit 12 along conveying direction TD reaches a predetermined amount. Furthermore, the switching condition is a condition as to whether sheet stack B (sheet stack B5 in FIG. 8) conveyed following sheet stack B (sheet stack B4 in FIG. 8) whose leading edge abuts against abutting member 23a reaches a predetermined position upstream of abutting member 23a in conveying direction TD. Furthermore, the switching condition may be any other condition different from the above, as long as it is a condition for tilting sheet stack B whose leading edge abuts against abutting member 23a at a predetermined angle with respect to width direction WD.

[0054] In step S106, the control unit 50 controls the abutting unit 23 to switch from the abutting state to the non-abutting state. For example, the control unit 50 controls the abutting unit 23 to switch from the abutting state to the non-abutting state in response to the rotation of the paper-sheet stack B4 around the abutting member 23a as shown in FIG.

[0055] In step S107, the control unit 50 controls the pressing mechanism 20 to switch from the second pressing state to the first pressing state. For example, the control unit 50 controls the pressing mechanism 20 to switch from the second pressing state to the first pressing state in response to the rotation of the paper-sheet stack B4 around the abutting member 23a as shown in FIG.

[0056] In step S108, the control section 50 determines whether or not the conveying operation of the plurality of sheet bundles B is to be completed. If YES, the process proceeds to step S109, and if NO, the process from step S102 onwards is repeated.

[0057] In step S109, the control unit 50 stops the operation of the transport mechanism 10 so as to transport the plurality of sheet bundles B in the transport direction TD, and ends the processing of this flowchart.

[0058] The actions and effects achieved by the sheet bundle transport device 100 of the present embodiment described above will be described.

[0059] According to the paper stack transport device 100 of this embodiment, by setting the abutment unit 23 in the non-abutment state and the pressure switching unit 24 in the first pressing state, when the paper stack B is not abutted against the abutment member 23a, the first pressing unit 21 presses the paper stack B toward the first transport unit 11 in the predetermined area Ap, and the second pressing unit 22 presses the paper stack B toward the second transport unit 12 in the predetermined area Ap. Therefore, a transport force in the transport direction TD is applied to each of the multiple paper stacks B from the first transport unit 11 and the second transport unit 12, and the multiple paper stacks B are transported along the transport direction TD.

[0060] Furthermore, according to the paper stack transport device 100 of this embodiment, by switching the abutting portion 23 from the non-abutting state to the abutting state and also from the first pressing state to the second pressing state, the second pressing portion 22 presses the paper stack B in the predetermined area Ap toward the second transport section 12 while the paper stack B is abutted against the abutting member 23a. Because the paper stack B abutting against the abutting member 23a is pressed toward the second transport section 12 by the second pressing portion 22, the paper stack B rotates around the abutting member 23a by the transport force transmitted from the second transport section 12, and rotates stably in the desired direction.

[0061] In this way, according to the paper stack conveying device 100 of this embodiment, when sorting multiple paper stacks B that are being transported in a partially overlapping state, the paper stacks B to be sorted can be stably rotated to the desired orientation, allowing the paper stacks B to be properly sorted.

[0062] According to the paper-sheet bundle transport device 100 of this embodiment, the transport force of the first transport section 11 is transmitted to the first pressure belt 21c via the paper-sheet bundle B pressed by the downstream pressure roller 21a arranged downstream in the transport direction TD. The first pressure belt 21c, which rotates due to the transport force of the first transport section 11, can apply the transport force to the paper-sheet bundle B pressed by the upstream pressure roller 21b arranged upstream in the transport direction TD.

[0063] Similarly, according to the paper-sheet bundle transport device 100 of this embodiment, the transport force of the second transport section 12 is transmitted to the second pressure belt 22c via the paper-sheet bundle B pressed by the downstream pressure roller 22a arranged downstream in the transport direction TD. The second pressure belt 22c, which rotates due to the transport force of the second transport section 12, can apply the transport force to the paper-sheet bundle B pressed by the upstream pressure roller 22b arranged upstream in the transport direction TD.

[0064] According to the paper-sheet bundle conveying device 100 of this embodiment, in the first pressing state, both the downstream pressure roller 21a and the upstream pressure roller 21b press the paper-sheet bundle B via the first pressure belt 21c, so that a conveying force can be applied from the first conveying section 11 to the multiple paper-sheet bundles B in the entire region between the downstream pressure roller 21a and the upstream pressure roller 21b in the conveying direction TD. Also, in the second pressing state, by only the downstream pressure roller 21a arranged downstream in the conveying direction TD pressing the paper-sheet bundle B via the first pressure belt 21c, it is possible to make the paper-sheet bundle B upstream in the conveying direction TD of the predetermined position Xp where the abutting member 23a is arranged rotate appropriately around the abutting member 23a.

[0065] According to the paper stack conveying device 100 of this embodiment, the relative positions of the abutment portion 23, the first pressing portion 21, and the second pressing portion 22 in the conveying direction TD can be maintained, and these can be moved to any position in the conveying direction TD depending on the size of the paper stack B, etc.

[0066] According to the paper stack conveying device 100 of this embodiment, the driving force of the first drive roller 11a rotates the first conveying belt 11c to impart a conveying force to the paper stack B, and the driving force of the second drive roller 12a rotates the second conveying belt 12c to impart a conveying force to the paper stack B. [Explanation of symbols]

[0067] 10. Transport mechanism 11 First conveying section 11a First driving roller 11a1 First drive shaft 11b First driven roller 11c First conveyor belt 12 Second conveying section 12a Second driving roller 12a1 Second drive shaft 12b Second driven roller 12c Second conveyor belt 20 Pressing mechanism 21 First pressing part 21a downstream pressure roller (first pressure roller) 21a1 First rotation axis 21b Upstream pressure roller (first pressure roller) 21c First pressure belt 22 Second pressing portion 22a downstream pressure roller (second pressure roller) 22a1 Second rotation axis 22b Upstream pressure roller (second pressure roller) 22c Second pressure belt 23 End 23a Stop member 23b Drive mechanism 24 Press switch section 30 Moving mechanism 40 Paper stack support section 50 control section 100 Paper stack transport device 200 Paper stack loading device 300 Paper stack stacking device Ap specified area B,B1,B2,B3,B4,B5,B6,B7 Paper stack HD Height direction P1 First pressing area P2 Second pressing area TD transport direction WD Width direction X axis Xp in place θ angle

Claims

1. a first conveying section formed to extend along a conveying direction and configured to convey a plurality of sheet bundles along the conveying direction; a second conveying unit that is disposed at an interval in a width direction perpendicular to the conveying direction from the first conveying unit, that is formed to extend along the conveying direction, and that conveys the plurality of sheet bundles along the conveying direction; an abutment unit that is disposed between the first transport unit and the second transport unit in the width direction and moves the abutment member up and down to switch between an abutment state in which the leading edge of the paper stack abuts against the abutment member at a predetermined position in the transport direction and a non-abutment state in which the leading edge of the paper stack does not abut against the abutment member at the predetermined position; a first pressing unit that is disposed above the first transport unit with the paper stack sandwiched therebetween and presses the paper stack toward the first transport unit via a first rotating member that is rotatable about a first rotation axis along the width direction; a second pressing unit that is disposed above the second transport unit with the paper stack sandwiched therebetween and presses the paper stack toward the second transport unit via a second rotating member that is rotatable about a second rotation axis along the width direction; a pressure switching unit that switches between a first pressing state in which the first pressing unit and the second pressing unit press the sheet stack in a predetermined area upstream of the predetermined position in the transport direction, and a second pressing state in which the first pressing unit does not press the sheet stack in the predetermined area, but the second pressing unit presses the sheet stack in the predetermined area; a control unit that controls the abutment unit and the pressure switching unit to switch from the non-abutment state to the abutment state and from the first pressing state to the second pressing state, so as to change the inclination of a specific one of the multiple paper bundles being transported continuously with respect to the width direction.

2. the first pressing unit includes a pair of first pressing rollers and a first pressing belt wound around the pair of first pressing rollers, 2. The sheet bundle transport device according to claim 1, wherein the second pressing section includes a pair of second pressing rollers and a second pressing belt wound around the pair of second pressing rollers.

3. 3. The paper stack transport device according to claim 2, wherein the pressure switching unit, in the first pressure state, causes both of the pair of first pressure rollers to press the paper stack via the first pressure belt, and in the second pressure state, causes the first pressure roller located upstream in the transport direction not to press the paper stack, and the second pressure roller to press the paper stack upstream in the transport direction from the predetermined position where the abutment member is located via the second pressure belt.

4. The sheet bundle transport device according to claim 1 , further comprising a movement mechanism that moves the abutting portion, the first pressing portion, and the second pressing portion along the transport direction while maintaining their relative positions in the transport direction.

5. A method for controlling a paper stack transport device, comprising: The paper stack transport device a first conveying section formed to extend along a conveying direction and configured to convey a plurality of sheet bundles along the conveying direction; a second conveying unit that is disposed at an interval in a width direction perpendicular to the conveying direction from the first conveying unit, that is formed to extend along the conveying direction, and that conveys the plurality of sheet bundles along the conveying direction; an abutment unit that is disposed between the first transport unit and the second transport unit in the width direction and moves the abutment member up and down to switch between an abutment state in which the leading edge of the paper stack abuts against the abutment member at a predetermined position in the transport direction and a non-abutment state in which the leading edge of the paper stack does not abut against the abutment member at the predetermined position; a first pressing unit that is disposed above the first transport unit with the paper stack sandwiched therebetween and presses the paper stack toward the first transport unit via a first rotating member that is rotatable about a first rotation axis along the width direction; a second pressing unit that is disposed above the second transport unit with the paper stack sandwiched therebetween and presses the paper stack toward the second transport unit via a second rotating member that is rotatable about a second rotation axis along the width direction; a pressure switching unit that switches between a first pressing state in which the first pressing unit and the second pressing unit press the sheet stack in a predetermined area upstream of the predetermined position in the transport direction, and a second pressing state in which the first pressing unit does not press the sheet stack in the predetermined area, but the second pressing unit presses the sheet stack in the predetermined area, a first switching step of controlling the abutment unit and the pressure switching unit to switch from the non-abutment state to the abutment state and from the first pressing state to the second pressing state so as to change an inclination of a predetermined sheet bundle with respect to the width direction among the plurality of sheet bundles being continuously conveyed; a second switching step of controlling the abutment portion and the pressure switching portion to switch from the abutment state to the non-abutment state and from the second pressing state to the first pressing state.

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