Sheet media supply and use device

Abstract

To provide a feeding device or the like for sheet-like media capable of carrying out the sheet-like media while preventing occurrence of a carrying-out error or a carrying-out defect even when the right and left end parts of the sheet-like media loaded on a loading plate during the carry-out curve downward and the like.SOLUTION: A feeding device comprises: a vertically-moving loading plate; a carrying-out device carrying out an uppermost sheet-like medium loaded on the loading plate after making it adsorbed on a suction part to a conveyance part to feed it to a feed destination; right and left side end blowing parts blowing air to right and left side ends of a loaded sheet-like medium on an upper position side; and right and left detectors which are disposed at right and left positions across the suction part, the positions being the same positions in a carry-out direction and detect individually the amount of downward or upward curving on the right and left ends of the uppermost sheet-like medium. A first operation is executed in which the uppermost sheet-like medium is made in such a state that the vertical interval of the part in a width direction at the time of carrying out the sheet-like medium is shortened when the amount in which one or both of the right and left detectors curve downward is equal to or more than a certain amount.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 14

Description

[Technical field]

[0001] The present invention relates to a sheet media supply and usage device. [Background technology]

[0002] Patent document 1 describes a paper feeding device in which a stack of paper is loaded on a paper loading tray and air is sucked in through an air hole in a paper transport member to adsorb the paper of the paper stack to the paper transport member and transport it, in which an opening is formed between the paper transport member and a guide section positioned below the paper transport member, through which paper being transported by the paper transport member passes, and the guide section has a central section extending in a direction perpendicular to the paper transport direction and side sections on either side of the central section, and the side sections on the paper entrance side of the opening are lower than the central section.

[0003] Patent document 2 describes a paper feeding device that includes a paper stacking table on which multiple sheets of paper are placed in a stacked state and is supported so that they can move up and down, a leading edge air blowing section having nozzles that blow air in a direction slightly inclined upward from the downstream direction of the paper feed direction, side end air blowing sections having nozzles for blowing air horizontally toward the paper from the left and right sides of the topmost sheet of paper located at the regulated height, a belt mechanism and a suction duct arranged inside the belt, an adsorption and feeding section that adsorbs and feeds the topmost sheet of paper, a transport section consisting of an insertion guide and transport rollers that transport the paper fed by the adsorption and feeding section in the paper feed direction, and a curl detection sensor consisting of a center sensor and an end sensor. [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0004] [Patent Document 1] JP 2013-166642 A (Claim 1, Figures 10, 11, etc.) [Patent Document 2] JP 2020-15607 A (paragraphs 0020-0043, 0052, Figures 3, 4, 7, etc.) Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0005] This invention provides a sheet media supplying device and usage device that can transport sheet media loaded on a loading plate while reducing the occurrence of transport errors or failures, even when the left and right ends of the sheet media are bent downward or upward when the sheet media is being transported, compared to a case where the sheet media is simply adsorbed and transported when the left and right ends are not bent downward or upward. [Means for solving the problem]

[0006] This invention (1) is, A loading plate that loads sheet-like media and moves up and down; a conveying device that conveys the topmost sheet of media stacked on the stacking plate to a conveying section and then conveys the sheet of media to a conveying section and conveys the sheet of media to a destination; left and right side end blowing units for blowing air to the left and right side ends of the uppermost stacked sheet medium when viewed from the upstream side in the discharge direction; left and right detectors disposed at left and right positions sandwiching the suction unit and at the same position in the discharge direction, and configured to individually detect the amount of downward or upward bending at the left and right end sides of the top sheet medium; Equipped with When one or both of the left and right detectors detect that the amount of downward bending is equal to or greater than a certain amount, the top sheet of medium is removed. The uppermost sheet medium is moved in the width direction from the lowermost part of the suction unit to the part detected by the left and right detectors. The supply device performs a first operation to reduce the height difference.

[0007] This invention (2) is, A loading plate that loads sheet-like media and moves up and down; a conveying device that conveys the topmost sheet of media stacked on the stacking plate to a conveying section and then conveys the sheet of media to a conveying section and conveys the sheet of media to a destination; left and right side end blowing units for blowing air to the left and right side ends of the uppermost stacked sheet medium when viewed from the upstream side in the discharge direction; a part that is disposed on the left and right sides of the suction unit and that can come into contact with a part of an upper surface of the uppermost sheet of medium that is lifted by the air blown by the left and right side end air blowers; left and right detectors disposed at left and right positions sandwiching the suction unit and at the same position in the discharge direction, and configured to individually detect the amount of downward or upward bending at the left and right end sides of the top sheet medium; Equipped with When one or both of the left and right detectors detect that the amount of upward bending is equal to or greater than a certain amount, a second operation is executed to weaken the strength of contact between a portion of the top surface of the top sheet of media and the part it comes into contact with.

[0008] This invention (3) is a supply device according to the above invention (1), wherein the first operation is an operation of raising the loading plate from its current position when both the left and right detectors detect that the amount of downward bending is equal to or greater than a certain amount. This invention (4) is a supply device according to the above invention (1), wherein the first operation is an operation of strengthening the air blowing from the other of the left and right side end air blowing sections located on the same side as the other of the left and right detectors when one of the left and right detectors detects that the amount of downward bending is equal to or greater than a certain amount. The present invention (5) is the supply device according to the above-mentioned invention (4), wherein the first operation further includes an operation of raising the loading plate from a current position.

[0009] The present invention (6) is the supply device according to the above-mentioned invention (2), wherein the second operation is an operation of lowering the loading plate below its current position. The present invention (7) is a supply device according to the above-mentioned invention (2), wherein the second operation is an operation of weakening the airflow of the left and right side end air blowing sections when both the left and right detectors detect that the amount of upward bending is equal to or greater than a certain amount. This invention (8) is a supply device according to invention (2) above, wherein the second operation is an operation of weakening the airflow from one of the left or right side end air blowing sections located on the same side as one of the left or right detectors when one of the left or right detectors detects that the amount of upward bending is equal to or greater than a certain amount. This invention (9) is a supply device in which, in the supply device of invention (2) above, the second action is an action that prompts the user to reload the sheet-like media loaded on the loading plate in an upside-down state.

[0010] This invention (10) is the supply device of the above invention (1), wherein the first operation is stopped when, after being executed, both the left and right detectors no longer detect that the amount of downward bending is equal to or greater than a certain amount. This invention (11) is a supply device according to the above invention (1), in which the first operation is not performed when a narrow sheet medium is used at the time of discharge and cannot be detected by the left and right detectors, and when a specific type of sheet medium is used. This invention (12) is a supply device according to the above invention (2), in which the second operation is not performed when a narrow sheet medium is used at the time of discharge and cannot be detected by the left and right detectors, and when a specific type of sheet medium is used.

[0011] The present invention (13) is the supplying device according to the above invention (1) or (2), wherein the left and right detectors are disposed at symmetrical positions with respect to the suction part. This invention (14) is a supply device according to invention (1), (2) or (13) above, further comprising a leading edge wall arranged close to the downstream end of the loading plate in the discharge direction and aligning the leading edges of the loaded sheet-like media when they are discharged, and the left and right detectors are arranged at a position upstream of the leading edge wall in the discharge direction. The present invention (15) is a supply device according to the above-mentioned invention (2), wherein the parts are left and right limiting members which contact the upper surfaces of the left and right ends of the uppermost sheet medium floated by the air blown from the left and right side end air blowing sections to limit its height.

[0012] The present invention (16) is a sheet-medium using device comprising a sheet-medium supplying device that transports loaded sheet-medium to a supply destination and supplies it, and a processing device that processes the sheet-medium supplied from the supplying device, wherein the sheet-medium supplying device is configured as any one of the supplying devices of inventions (1) to (15) above. Effect of the Invention

[0013] According to the above invention (1), even if the left and right ends of the sheet medium loaded on the loading plate are bent downward when the sheet medium is being unloaded, the sheet medium can be unloaded with less occurrence of unsuccessful or incorrect unloading operations, compared to, for example, a case in which the sheet medium is simply adsorbed and unloaded when the left and right ends are not bent downward or upward. According to the above invention (2), even if the left and right ends of the sheet medium loaded on the loading plate are bent upward when the sheet medium is being unloaded, the sheet medium can be unloaded with reduced occurrence of unsuccessful or incorrect ejection, compared to a case in which an operation is performed to ensure that the strength of contact between a part of the top surface of the sheet medium and the contacting parts is not weakened.

[0014] According to the above invention (3), as a first operation, when both the left and right detectors detect that the amount of downward bending is constant, compared to when the loading plate is stopped in its current position, even when the sheet media has both the left and right ends bent downward at the time of ejection, ejection errors or failures can be suppressed. According to the above invention (4), as a first operation, when one of the left and right detectors detects that the amount of downward bending is equal to or greater than a certain amount, no operation is performed to strengthen the air blowing from the other of the left and right side end blowing sections, so that even when the sheet-like medium has one of the left and right ends bent downward at the time of ejection, the occurrence of ejection errors or failures can be suppressed and the medium can be ejected. According to the above invention (5), even when the sheet-like media has one of the left or right ends bent downward when being removed, the occurrence of removal errors or failures can be easily prevented and the media can be removed, compared to when the first operation does not include the operation of lifting the loading plate.

[0015] According to the above invention (6), as the second operation, even if the left and right ends of the sheet media are bent upward when being removed, the occurrence of removal errors or failures can be reduced and the sheet media can be removed, compared to when the loading plate is left in its current position. According to the above invention (7), as a second operation, when both the left and right detectors detect that the amount of upward bending is a certain amount or more, the operation of weakening the airflow from the left and right side end air blowing sections is not performed, so that even when the sheet-like medium has both the left and right ends bent upward at the time of ejection, the occurrence of ejection errors or failures can be suppressed and the medium can be ejected. According to the above invention (8), as a second operation, when one of the left and right detectors detects that the amount of downward bending is equal to or greater than a certain amount, the operation of weakening the air blowing from one of the side end air blowing sections on the same side as one of the left and right detectors is not performed, so that even when the sheet-like medium has one of the left and right ends bent downward during ejection, the occurrence of ejection errors or failures can be suppressed and the medium can be ejected. According to the above invention (9), as the second action, compared to the case where the action of encouraging the user to reload the sheet media loaded on the loading plate in an upside-down state is not performed, even if the left and right ends of the sheet media loaded on the loading plate are bent upward or downward when the sheet media is unloaded, the occurrence of errors or failures in unloading the sheet media can be prevented in advance.

[0016] According to the above aspect (10), it is possible to avoid the first action being performed more than necessary. According to the above aspect (11), it is possible to avoid the first action being performed at an unnecessary time. According to the above aspect (12), the second action is prevented from being performed at an unnecessary time.

[0017] According to the above invention (13), it becomes easier to detect the amount of upward or downward bending of the left and right ends of the sheet media loaded on the loading plate, compared to when the left and right detectors are not positioned symmetrically on either side of the suction portion. According to the above invention (14), the amount of upward or downward bending of the left and right ends of the sheet-like medium can be properly detected before it is transported to the transport section, compared to when the left and right detectors are not positioned upstream of the leading edge wall in the discharge direction. According to the above invention (15), even if the left and right edges of the top sheet medium are bent upward and the upper surfaces of the left and right edges come into contact with the left and right limiting members, the sheet medium can be discharged while preventing discharge errors or failures.

[0018] According to the above invention (16), even if the left and right ends of the sheet media loaded on the loading plate in the supply device are bent downward or upward when the sheet media is discharged, the sheet media can be discharged while suppressing the occurrence of discharge errors or discharge failures, and the sheet media can be supplied well from the supply device to the processing device while suppressing the occurrence of discharge errors or discharge failures. [Brief description of the drawings]

[0019] [Figure 1] 1 is a side view of a sheet-like medium using device according to a first embodiment. [Diagram 2] 1 is a side view of a sheet medium supplying device according to a first embodiment. FIG. [Diagram 3] FIG. 2 is a schematic diagram showing the inside of the supply device as viewed from the side. [Figure 4] FIG. 2 is a schematic diagram of the inside of the supply device as viewed from above. [Diagram 5] 3 is a schematic diagram of a suction unit, a transport unit, and the like of the supply device as viewed obliquely from below. FIG. [Figure 6] 3 is a schematic diagram of a suction unit, a transport unit, and the like of the supply device as viewed from the side. FIG. [Figure 7] 1 is a schematic diagram of a suction unit and the like of a supplying device as viewed from the upstream side in a conveying direction. FIG. [Figure 8] 4 is a schematic diagram showing the configuration of a drive system of the supply device as viewed from above. FIG. [Figure 9] FIG. 2 is a schematic diagram of a control system of the supply device. [Figure 10]13 is a schematic diagram of an example of a state of a normal supply operation of the supply device. FIG. [Figure 11] 13 is a schematic diagram of an example of a state of a feeding operation when a sheet medium having left and right end portions bent downward is used. FIG. [Figure 12] 4 is a schematic diagram of left and right detectors and other parts of the supply device. FIG. [Figure 13] 13 is a schematic diagram showing left and right detectors and other parts of the supply device as viewed from above. FIG. [Figure 14] FIG. 11 is a flowchart of a carry-out assist control for performing a first operation in the supply device. [Figure 15] FIG. 11 is a schematic diagram of an example state of a first operation. [Figure 16] 16A is a schematic diagram of an example of a state change in the first operation in FIG. 15, and FIG. 16B is a schematic diagram of an example of a state change in the sheet medium before and after the first operation is performed. [Figure 17] FIG. 11 is a schematic diagram of another example state of the first operation. [Figure 18] 18A is a schematic diagram of an example of a state before the first operation in FIG. 17 is performed, and FIG. 18B is a schematic diagram of an example of a state change after the first operation in FIG. 17 is performed. [Figure 19] FIG. 11 is a schematic diagram of yet another example state of the first operation. [Figure 20] 20(A) is a schematic diagram of an example of a state before the first operation in FIG. 19 is executed, and (B) is a schematic diagram of an example of a state change after the first operation in FIG. 19 is executed. [Figure 21] FIG. 11 is a flowchart of a carry-out assist control for performing a second operation in the supply device according to the second embodiment. [Figure 22] 13 is a schematic diagram of an example of a state of a feeding operation when a sheet medium having left and right end portions curved upward is used. FIG. [Figure 23] FIG. 13A is a schematic diagram of an example of a state change in a second operation, and FIG. 13B is a schematic diagram of another example of a state change in a second operation. [Figure 24] FIG. 13A is a schematic diagram of an example of a state of a paper feed operation that requires a further separate second operation, and FIG. 13B is a schematic diagram of an example of a state change after the second operation of FIG. [Diagram 25]FIG. 13A is a schematic diagram of an example state of a paper feed operation that requires a further second operation, and FIG. 13B is a schematic diagram of an example state change after the second operation of FIG. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

[0020] Hereinafter, an embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings.

[0021] First embodiment. Fig. 1 shows a sheet-like medium using device 100 according to the first embodiment. Fig. 2 shows a sheet-like medium supplying device 1 according to the first embodiment. In the following description, the direction indicated by the arrow X in the drawings is the width direction of the device, the direction indicated by the arrow Y is the height direction of the device, and the direction indicated by the arrow Z is the depth direction of the device perpendicular to the width and height directions. The circle at the intersection of the arrows X and Z in the drawings indicates that the depth direction of the device (arrow Z) faces downward perpendicular to the drawing.

[0022] <Devices using sheet media> As shown in FIG. 1, the sheet media usage device 100 includes a sheet media supply device 1 that carries out and supplies stacked sheet media 9, and a processing device 120 that processes the sheet media 9 supplied from the supply device 1. The sheet medium 9 is a medium in a sheet form that can be stored and discharged by the supply device 1 and transported and processed by the processing device 120. Reference numeral 200 shown in Fig. 1 denotes an installation surface where the image forming system 100A and the like are installed.

[0023] This sheet-like medium using device 100 employs an image forming device 120A that forms an image on a sheet-like medium 9 as a processing device 120, and is configured as an image forming system 100A in which it is connected to and combined with a supplying device 1. As the sheet-like medium 9, a medium on which an image can be formed, such as paper cut to a predetermined size, coated paper, film, foil, sheet-like cloth, envelope, or the like, is used.

[0024] As shown in FIG. 1, an image forming device 120A, which is an example of a processing device 120, has a housing 121 having a required external shape, and inside the housing 121, an image forming unit 123A, which is an example of a processing unit 123 that forms an image on a sheet-like medium 9, a transport path Rt that transports the sheet-like medium 9 within the housing 121, and the like are arranged.

[0025] Image forming unit 123A is a portion configured by an image forming method such as electrophotography, ink recording, etc. Image forming unit 123A is not particularly limited in terms of its image forming method, arrangement, number, and other configurations. 1 is an introduction conveyance path that conveys the sheet medium 9 supplied from the supply device 1 to the image forming unit 123A, and is composed of conveyance rolls 125, a conveyance guide, etc. Rt2 is an output conveyance path that conveys the sheet medium 9 that has passed through the image forming unit 123A to a storage unit or post-processing unit (not shown), and is composed of conveyance rolls, a conveyance guide, etc. (not shown).

[0026] In this image forming system 100A, when a sheet medium 9 is supplied from a supply device 1 to an image forming device 120A, which is an example of a processing device 120, an image is formed on the supplied sheet medium 9 in the image forming device 120A.

[0027] <Sheet media supply device> As shown in FIG. 1 and FIG. 2, the sheet medium supplying device 1 has a housing 10 which serves as a main body for accommodating and supplying a sheet medium 9.

[0028] The housing 10 is composed of a support frame that forms a required framework, exterior panels that form the exterior appearance, etc. The housing 10 is roughly divided into an upper portion 11, two upper and lower (upper and lower) supply units 12, 13 that exist below the upper portion 11, and an unloading unit 14 that exists at one end of the upper portion 11 and the supply units 12, 13, as shown in Figures 1 to 3.

[0029] As shown in Figures 1 to 4, both the upper supply section 12 and the lower supply section 13 are equipped with a container 17A, 17B such as a tray, loading sections 20A, 20B for loading sheet-like media 9, a lifting means 30 for raising and lowering the loading sections 20A, 20B up and down inside the containers 17A, 17B, and discharge means 40A, 40B for discharging the sheet-like media 9 loaded on the loading sections 20A, 20B respectively in the direction indicated by arrow D (discharging direction D) toward the discharge section 14.

[0030] First, the containers 17A and 17B are attached to the front side of the housing 10 (the upstream side in the device depth direction Z) so as to be removable. The containers 17A and 17B each have a side wall plate at an upstream end and a downstream end in the device depth direction Z, and are provided with a main body portion that is open in the device width direction X. A front wall portion 172 is attached to the side wall plate on the upstream side in the device depth direction Z, and an opening 175 for a handle is provided in an upper portion of the front wall portion 172.

[0031] Furthermore, the containers 17A and 17B are provided with a leading edge wall 173 that aligns and positions the leading edge 9s of the sheet-like media 9 loaded on the stackers 20A and 20B at one open end of the main body (downstream in the discharge direction D) that is downstream in the discharge direction D during discharge, and a moving device such as a slide rail or latch mechanism (not shown) that is provided between the left and right sides of the main body in the pull-out direction and the inner wall of the housing 10. A notched recess 173b is formed in the center of the upper end of the leading edge wall 173, as shown in Figures 4 and 7.

[0032] Next, the stacking sections 20A, 20B are composed of plate-like members (stack plates) on which a stacking surface 21 for stacking sheet-like media 9 is formed on the upper part, and are attached so as to be movable up and down inside the containers 17A, 17B.

[0033] Since the loading sections 20A and 20B have the same configuration, the loading section 20A will be described below as a representative unless otherwise necessary. 3, 4, etc., stacking unit 20A has hanging portions 22a, 22b, 22c, 22d protruding from left and right side ends that are the left and right sides when viewed from the downstream side in the discharge direction D of sheet-like media 9, and hanging portions 22a, 22b, 22c, 22d are guided along guide holes 174 provided in the side wall plates of the main body of container 17A, allowing stacking unit 20A to move up and down at least by the vertical length of guide hole 174.

[0034] 2 to 4, each loading surface 21 of the loading section 20A is provided with left and right side walls 25L, 25R and a rear end wall 26. Here, the left (L) and right (R) refer to the left and right sides when viewed from the upstream side in the discharge direction D as shown in FIG.

[0035] 4 and 5, the side walls 25L, 25R have contact surfaces 251 that come into contact with the left and right side edges of the sheet media 9, and the contact surfaces 251 align and position the left and right side edges of the sheet media 9 loaded on the loading surface 21 when the sheet media 9 is discharged, and guide the left and right side edges along the discharge direction D. The supply units 12, 13 employ a method in which the center position of the sheet media 9 in the feed width direction is used as the reference position during transport, a so-called center registration method. In this regard, the side walls 25L, 25R are provided so as to be entirely movable in the left and right directions L, R at the bottom of the containers 17A, 17B. On the other hand, rear end wall 26 has a contact surface that comes into contact with the rear end of sheet medium 9, and this contact surface aligns and positions the rear end of sheet medium 9 that is on the upstream side in the discharge direction D. For this reason, rear end wall 26 is provided so that its entirety can move relative to a slide groove formed in fixed surface portion 21A of stacking surface 21 along the discharge direction D.

[0036] As shown in Figures 3, 4, etc., the lifting means 30 includes four wires 31a, 31b, 31c, 31d, pulleys 32a, 32b, 32c, 32d and auxiliary pulleys 33a and 33b around which any of the wires 31a, 31b, 31c, 31d are passed, a left winding pulley 34L, a right winding pulley 34R, and a lifting drive device 37.

[0037] The four wires 31a, 31b, 31c, and 31d have their ends distributed and connected to hanging portions 22a, 22b, 22c, and 22d provided at four positions on the loading portion 20A, respectively. The hanging pulleys 32a, 32b, 32c, and 32d are rotatably provided on the left and right side walls of the housing body 17A, one above the upper end of each guide hole 174. The auxiliary pulleys 33a and 33b are rotatably provided on the side walls of the housing body 17A so as to route the wires 31a and 31b between the hanging pulleys 32a and 32b and the left winding pulley 34L to follow a required path. The left winding pulley 34L is disposed on the bottom of the housing 17A so as to wind up the wires 31a and 31b arranged on the left side, and the right winding pulley 34R is disposed on the bottom of the housing 17A so as to wind up the wires 31c and 31d arranged on the right side.

[0038] The lifting drive device 37 is a drive device composed of a motor, a gear mechanism, etc., and can switch between forward and reverse rotation. The lifting drive device 37 is disposed at the rear side of the housing 10. One end of a rotating shaft 35, which is rotatably provided on the bottom surface of the housing 17A and has a left winding pulley 34L and a right winding pulley 34R attached thereto, is connected to the lifting drive device 37 via a detachable coupling mechanism 36.

[0039] The lifting means 30 rotates the lifting drive device 37 by a required amount in one required direction to wind up the wires 31a, 31b, 31c, and 31d, thereby moving the loading unit 20A upward. The lifting means 30 rotates the lifting drive device 37 by a required amount in the opposite direction to pay out the wires 31a, 31b, 31c, and 31d, thereby moving the loading unit 20A downward.

[0040] The lifting drive device 37 is controlled to operate using information detected by a height position sensor 71 that detects the position of the top of the sheet media 9 loaded on the loading unit 20A. Specifically, the lifting drive device 37 is stopped when it receives information that the position of the top of the sheet media 9 detected by the height position sensor 71 has reached a predetermined height position. The height position sensor 71 is disposed so as to detect the position (height position) of the top of the sheet media 9 as seen from a notch 173b in the leading end wall 173 of the container 17A, for example, as shown in Figures 3, 6, etc.

[0041] In addition, in the stacking section 20A, as shown in Figures 3, 4, 6, etc., left and right air outlets 50 that constitute part of the left and right side end air blowing sections are provided on the contact surfaces 251 of the side walls 25L, 25R, which blow air onto the left and right side ends of the upper sheet-like media 9 stacked on the stacking sections 20A, 20B, respectively.

[0042] As shown in FIG. 4 and other figures, the air outlets 50 include two air outlets 50A, 50B provided at an interval in the discharge direction D on the left side wall 25L, and two air outlets 50C, 50D provided at an interval in the discharge direction D on the right side wall 25R. Of these, the air outlets 50A and 50D are arranged at positions facing each other in the discharge direction D. The left air outlets 50A, 50B have an opening shape in which the blowing portion from which the air is actually blown out is elongated in the horizontal direction, for example. The right air outlets 50C, 50D have an opening shape in which the blowing portion from which the air is actually blown out is elongated in the vertical direction, for example.

[0043] As shown in Fig. 8, the air outlets 50A and 50B are connected to a left side end blower 61L constituting the remaining part of the left side end blower section arranged inside the left side wall 25L via a blower duct (not shown). On the other hand, the air outlets 50C and 50D are connected to a right side end blower 61R constituting the remaining part of the right side end blower section arranged inside the right side wall 25R via a blower duct (not shown). Each of the side end blowers 61L and 61R is provided with an on-off valve (not shown) for opening and closing the flow path in each blower duct.

[0044] When the sheet-like media 9 is adsorbed by the suction section 41 described later in the discharge means 40A, 40B, the left and right side end blowing sections blow air from the blowing openings 50A, 50B, 50C, 50D respectively to the left and right side ends of the uppermost multiple sheet-like media 9 stacked on the stacking surface 21. As a result, the uppermost sheet media 9T are lifted up and separated in the vertical direction in the stacker 20A (see FIG. 8).

[0045] Furthermore, in the loading section 20A, as shown in Figures 3, 7, etc., a plurality of limiting means 55 are provided on the contact surfaces 251 of the side walls 25L, 25R to contact the upper surfaces of the left and right side ends of the sheet-like media 9 loaded on the loading sections 20A, 20B and limit them to the required height.

[0046] As shown in Figures 3, 4, etc., the restriction means 55 includes one restriction means 55A provided on the left side wall 25L at a position upstream of the air outlet 50A in the discharge direction D, and two restriction means 55B, 55C provided on both sides, downstream and upstream of the air outlet 50B in the discharge direction D. As shown in FIG. 4 and other figures, the restricting means 55 is a single restricting means 55 provided between the air outlets 50C and 50D on the right side wall 25R. D and two restriction means 55E, 55F provided at positions downstream of the air blowing port 50D in the discharge direction D.

[0047] As shown in Figure 4, etc., these limiting means 55A to 55F are configured, for example, using plate-shaped members that protrude a required length above each loading surface 21 of the loading sections 20A, 20B from a required height position of each contact surface 251 of the side walls 25L, 25R. 6 and 7, the contact surface 551 which is the lower surface of the limiting means 55A to 55F is at the same height as or higher than the height of the lowermost part 42d of the suction area VE which is the lowermost end of the frame body 42 in the suction unit 41 described later. The two-dot chain line VL in FIG. 6 etc. is an imaginary horizontal extension line passing through the lowermost part 42d of the frame body 42. Furthermore, the limiting means 55A to 55F are configured to be stored, for example, inside the side walls 25L, 25R and not to protrude from each contact surface 251 when sheet-like media 9 is being loaded onto each loading surface 21 of the loading sections 20A, 20B (when the loading section 20A, etc. is moved to the lowest position).

[0048] When air is blown from the air blowing ports 50 in the left and right side end blowing sections as described above, the upper side of the plurality of sheet-like media 9T is lifted up by the restricting means 55A to 55F. The left and right side edges of the uppermost plurality of floating sheets of media 9T (actually the uppermost sheet of media 9A) are pressed from above. As a result, in the stacking unit 20A, the floating sheet media 9T is stopped at a required height on the stacking surface 21 of the stacking unit 20A.

[0049] 4 to 6, two stopping members 176 are provided in the container 17A at a position downstream of the recess 173b of the leading edge wall 173 in the discharge direction D to stop the levitating sheet medium 9T from moving inadvertently in the discharge direction D. The stopping members 176 are, for example, made of a plate-like member, and are provided such that their upper ends are within the recess 173b of the leading edge wall 173 and protrude upward from the upper end of the leading edge wall 173 by a predetermined length.

[0050] As shown in Figures 2, 3, 5, etc., the above-mentioned discharge means 40A, 40B are equipped with a suction section 41 that adsorbs and transports the topmost sheet of media 9 among the sheet media 9 loaded on the stacking sections 20A, 20B, respectively, a transport section 45 that transports the sheet of media 9 adsorbed and transported by the suction section 41, a tip blowing section that blows air below the topmost sheet of media 9A adsorbed to the suction section 41, and a guide member (not shown) that constitutes the first discharge path Rh1 described later.

[0051] Of these, the suction section 41 is positioned facing each loading surface 21 of the loading sections 20A, 20B at an upper position inside the tip wall 173 at the downstream end of the containers 17A, 17B in the discharge direction D, as shown in Figures 3 to 8, etc. The suction section 41 is configured as a suction head including a cubic frame 42 that is hollow and has an open lower surface, a suction plate 43 that is provided at an inner position slightly shifted upward from the lower opening of the frame 42 and has a plurality of intake ports 43a arranged in a required pattern, and a plurality of branch intake pipes 44a that are branched and connected to the plurality of intake ports 43a. The suction head is connected to a suction duct or pipe 44 that is connected to the plurality of branch intake pipes 44a, and a suction drive device 63 that sucks air through the suction duct or pipe 44.

[0052] The suction unit 41 operates the suction drive device 63 to generate a suction force in the suction plate 43 of the suction head, thereby adsorbing the sheet medium 9 in contact with the lowermost portion 42a of the frame 42. 4 and 5, the suction unit 41 has a rectangular surface area surrounded by the lowermost part 42a of the frame 42 as an adsorption area VE. The adsorption area VE of the suction unit 41 in this embodiment is an area having an area facing a part near the end on the downstream side of the carrying-out direction D on each of the loading surfaces 21 of the loading units 20A and 20B and approximately the center in the left-right directions L and R intersecting with the carrying-out direction D.

[0053] In addition, as shown in Figures 5, 6, 7, etc., the suction section 41 is arranged to move forward and backward in the directions of the dashed double arrows J1 and J2 along the discharge direction D at a position upstream of the conveying section 45 in the discharge direction D.

[0054] First, the suction unit 41 is attached such that the support portion 42b at the upper portion of the frame body 42 is movably attached to two guide rails 415 arranged above the support portion 42b in a state parallel to the discharge direction D. The guide rails 415 are provided on a support frame 418 arranged and fixed to the internal frame 19, which is a part of the housing 10. In addition, in the suction unit 41, a connection part 42c at the upper part of the frame 42 is fixed to a part of a moving belt 417 which is looped around a pair of pulleys 416A, 416B arranged separately on the upstream side and downstream side of the conveying direction D above the guide rail 415 and driven a required distance in a required direction. One of the pulleys, 416B, receives rotational power in the forward and reverse directions from a forward and backward driving device 64 composed of a motor, a transmission mechanism, etc., as shown in Fig. 6, and is rotated in a required direction.

[0055] When suctioning the sheet medium 9, the suction unit 41 stops at a position (suction position) where the suction area VE faces the stacking surface 21 of the stacking unit 20A. Next, after the suction is completed, the suction unit 41 operates the forward / backward drive device 64 to move the moving belt 417, thereby moving forward to a position (transfer position) where the leading edge 9s of the uppermost sheet medium 9A that has approached and been adsorbed by the conveyance unit 45 is handed over to the conveyance unit 45. Next, after the handover is completed, the suction unit 41 operates the forward / backward drive device 64 to move the moving belt 417, thereby moving backward from the handover position back to the suction position.

[0056] Next, the transport unit 45 is disposed at a position downstream of the suction unit 41 in the unloading direction D and on the outer side downstream of the tip walls 173 of the containers 17A, 17B in the unloading direction D.

[0057] As shown in Figures 5 and 6, this conveying section 45 is composed of a pair of conveying rolls consisting of a driving conveying roll 46 having multiple roll portions attached to a rotating shaft 461 and a driven conveying roll 47 that contacts the lower part of the driving conveying roll 46 and rotates in response, and a conveying guide member (not shown) that forms a passage space of the first discharge path Rh1.

[0058] As shown in Figure 5, a pair of conveying rolls consisting of a driving conveying roll 46 and a driven conveying roll 47 are arranged so that each roll portion falls within the left-right range of the recess 173b in the tip wall 173 when viewed from the upstream side in the discharge direction D. As shown in FIG. 8, the drive conveying roll 46 is rotated in the direction indicated by the arrow (see FIG. 6) during the unloading operation by the rotational power transmitted to the rotating shaft 461 from the unloading drive device 66 composed of a motor, a gear transmission mechanism, etc. The symbol 452 in Figure 5 indicates an introduction guide member that guides the leading edge 9s of the sheet-like medium 9, which is adsorbed and transported by the suction section 41, between the rolls of the transport section 45 (the contact area between the drive transport roll 46 and the driven transport roll 47) when the sheet-like medium 9 is transported by the suction section 41.

[0059] The transport unit 45 starts rotating upon receiving detection information from a front stage position sensor 72A that detects the passage of the leading edge 9s of the sheet medium 9 when it is discharged while being sucked by the suction unit 41 and transported to the transport unit 45, and stops rotating upon receiving detection information from a rear stage position sensor 72B that detects the passage of the trailing edge of the sheet medium 9 when it is discharged after being sent out from the transport unit 45. However, the transport unit 45 can also be configured to continue driving while the supply operation of the sheet medium 9 is being performed. 6 and 8, the previous stage position sensor 72A is disposed in a position adjacent to the upstream side of a pair of transport rolls consisting of the driving transport roll 46 and the driven transport roll 47 in the discharge direction D. The subsequent stage position sensor 72B is disposed in a position adjacent to the downstream side of the pair of transport rolls consisting of the driving transport roll 46 and the driven transport roll 47 in the discharge direction D. For example, an optical non-contact sensor is used as both the previous stage position sensor 72A and the subsequent stage position sensor 72B.

[0060] Next, as shown in Figures 4 to 6 and 8, the tip blowing section is equipped with an air nozzle 48 having an outlet 48a for blowing out air, and an air guide plate 49 for guiding the air blown out from the outlet 48a in the required direction.

[0061] The air nozzle 48 is disposed at a position downstream in the discharge direction D of the leading edge 9As of the uppermost sheet medium 9A adsorbed to the suction unit 41 at the time of discharge and of the leading edge wall 173. The air nozzle 48 is disposed with the blowing outlet 48a facing upstream in the discharge direction D from the gap between the driving conveying roll 46 and the driven conveying roll 47, which are a pair of conveying rolls in the conveying unit 45, and is configured to blow air obliquely upward in the discharge direction D from the blowing outlet 48a. As shown in Figs. 6 and 8, air nozzle 48 is connected to tip air blower 65 which blows air through air passage 48b connected to outlet 48a via a blower duct (not shown).

[0062] As shown in Fig. 6, the air guide plate 49 is a plate-like member having a guide recess 49a with a curved surface that convex upwards on its underside. As shown by the curved arrow with a thick dashed line in Fig. 10, the guide recess 49a guides the air blown out from the outlet 48a of the air nozzle 48 so as to move downwardly toward the uppermost sheet medium 9A sucked by the suction unit 41. The air guide plate 49 is attached to the side portion downstream in the discharge direction D of the frame 42 of the suction unit 41. As a result, the air guide plate 49 moves in accordance with the forward and backward movement of the suction unit 41.

[0063] The air nozzle 48 of the tip blower starts and stops blowing air at the required timing when the tip blower device 65 starts upon receiving information that the suction operation of the suction unit 41 has started, for example.

[0064] As shown in Figures 2 and 3, the discharge section 14 has a first discharge path Rh1 for discharging to the outside the sheet medium 9 discharged from the upper supply section 12 by discharge means 40A, and a second discharge path Rh2 for discharging to the outside the sheet medium 9 discharged from the lower supply section 13 by discharge means 40B.

[0065] The first discharge path Rh1 and the second discharge path Rh2 are discharge transport paths that are arranged to merge along the way to ultimately reach the discharge roll 142 of the discharge outlet 18 provided on the other side 10B of the housing 10, and each of them is composed of a pair of transport rolls shown by dashed lines, a transport guide member not shown, etc.

[0066] 3 and 9, the supply device 1 is provided with a control device 15 that controls the supply device 1. The control device 15 is configured to include a central processing unit (CPU, etc.), a read-only memory (ROM), a read / write memory (RAM), an input / output device, etc. The control device 15 is not limited to being equipped in the supply device 1, but may be equipped in the image forming system 100A that uses the supply device 1 in combination, or may be configured as a part of the control device in the image forming system 100A.

[0067] The control device 15 is connected to an operation display device 16 consisting of a liquid crystal panel on which various information related to input of operational settings and operation status is displayed, operation keys, etc., a communication unit 17 which communicates with an external connection terminal used by connecting to the image forming system 100A, etc., and detectors including various sensors, etc., to acquire information necessary for control. Examples of the detectors include the height position sensor 71, the front stage position sensor 72A, the rear stage position sensor 72B, and the environmental sensor 73 which detects environmental conditions such as temperature, humidity, etc. in the housing 10 of the supply device 1. Furthermore, the control device 15 is connected to drive control circuits for the lifting drive device 37 in the lifting means 30, the left and right side end blowers 61L, 61R in the left and right side end blower sections, the suction drive device 63 and the advance / retract drive device 64 in the suction section 41, the tip blower 65 in the tip blower section, and the discharge drive device 66 in the conveying section 45, as objects to be controlled.

[0068] The control device 15 operates such that the central processing unit takes in the input setting information from the operation display device 16 and various detection information from the detectors, performs calculations according to various programs and data pre-stored in the read-only memory, and sends the required control signals to the controlled objects. The control device 15 is also configured to perform unloading assistance control, which will be described later.

[0069] <Sheet media supply operation> Next, the operation of feeding sheet medium 9 by this sheet medium feeding device 1 will be described.

[0070] In the supply device 1, when the control device 15 receives a supply operation command from an external connection terminal or the image forming system 100A, a series of supply operations are executed after it is confirmed that the required sheet media 9 are stored in the storage units 12, 13. Here, the supply operations will be described using the upper supply unit 12 as a representative.

[0071] First, in the upper supply unit 12, the lifting means 30A starts to move the stacking unit 20A upward. As a result, inside the container 17A, the stacking unit 20A is moved upward until the top of the sheet media 9 stacked on the stacking surface 21 of the stacking unit 20A reaches the required supply preparation height while referring to the detection information of the height position sensor 71, as illustrated in Fig. 10. At this time, the stacking surface 21 of the stacking unit 20A is raised to a height position h1 corresponding to the supply preparation height and stops.

[0072] Next, in the loading section 20A, when the upward movement of the loading section 20A to the supply preparation height is completed, the left and right side end blowers 61L, 61R in the left and right side end blowers on the left and right side walls 25L, 25R start to start the floating operation of the sheet-like medium 9, and the suction drive device 63 in the suction section 41 of the conveying means 40A starts to start the suction operation.

[0073] At this time, in the stacking section 20A, a required amount of air is blown out from the air outlets 50A, 50B, 50C, 50D in the left and right side walls 25L, 25R, respectively, and is blown onto the left and right side edges of the uppermost sheet media 9T among the sheet media 9 stacked on the stacking surface 21. As a result, the uppermost sheet media 9T are lifted upward by the inflow of air from the left and right side edges, and are separated from each other in the vertical direction, as shown in FIG.

[0074] At this time, the upper surfaces of the left and right ends of the uppermost sheet of media 9A contact the contact surfaces 551 of the limiting means 55A to 55F, preventing further upward movement of the multiple levitated sheet media 9T, and the height of the sheet of media 9T is restricted to approximately the same height as the height of the lowermost portion 42d in the adsorption area VE.

[0075] At this time, in the loading section 20A, a required suction force (indicated by a hollow arrow) is generated by the suction plate 43 of the suction section 41 which is stopped at a suction position where the suction work is performed. As a result, the sheet medium 9A that is at the top of the multiple levitated sheet media 9T is attracted to and adsorbed by the suction area VE, which is surrounded by the lower end of the frame 42 in the suction section 41 and is in a negative pressure state, as illustrated in Figure 10.

[0076] At this time, the topmost sheet of media 9A is slightly raised and adsorbed by the suction portion 41, so that a gap is created between it and the second-highest sheet of media 9B below it, as shown in FIG. In addition, since the leading edge 9As of the uppermost adsorbed sheet medium 9A during discharge does not face the adsorption area VE, it is left free in a position away from the adsorption area VE downstream in the discharge direction D and close to the base side of the lower surface of the air guide plate 49 attached to the frame 42.

[0077] Next, when the suction of the top sheet-like medium 9A to the suction section 41 is completed, the tip blowing device 65 in the tip blowing section starts to start the separation operation of the adsorbed top sheet-like medium 9A from the other sheet-like media 9, and the forward / backward drive device 64 in the suction section 41 starts to start the forward movement of the suction section 41 toward the conveying section 45.

[0078] At this time, in the tip blowing section, as illustrated by the thick dashed arrow in Figure 10, the required air is blown out from the outlet 48a of the air nozzle 48 diagonally upward upstream in the discharge direction D, and the air is guided by the guide recess 49a of the air guide plate 49 and sent toward the space below the uppermost sheet of media 9A adsorbed by the suction section 41. This causes the air to be blown into and move between the topmost sheet of media 9A and the second-highest sheet of media 9B, with the result that the second-highest sheet of media 9B is moved downward and away from the topmost sheet of media 9A, becoming separated therefrom.

[0079] At this time, in the discharge means 40A, the suction unit 41 moves forward from the suction position to the delivery position. As a result, the uppermost sheet medium 9A adsorbed by the suction unit 41 approaches the conveying unit 45 located downstream in the discharge direction D and is delivered to the conveying unit 45. In other words, the leading edge 9As of the sheet medium 9A adsorbed and conveyed by the suction unit 41 is introduced into the contact portion between the driving conveying roll 46 and the driven conveying roll 47, which is between a pair of rolls in the conveying unit 45.

[0080] Furthermore, at this time, when the previous stage position sensor 72A detects the passage of the leading edge 9As of the topmost sheet medium 9A to be delivered, the conveying section 45 of the discharge means 40A starts the discharge drive device 66 and the discharge operation of the sheet medium 9 is started.

[0081] As a result, the topmost sheet-like medium 9A handed over from the suction section 41 is clamped and transported between the driving transport roll 46 and the driven transport roll 47 in the transport section 45, and is transported out of the stacking section 20A and the container 17A and sent into the first transport path Rh1. At this time, the sheet-like medium 9A being conveyed moves in the conveying direction D while being guided by its left and right side ends contacting the contact surfaces 251 of the left and right side walls 25L, 25R, so that the sheet-like medium 9A is conveyed in a normal state without being inclined when being conveyed out. On the other hand, when the uppermost sheet medium 9A starts to be conveyed out, the suction drive device 63 in the suction unit 41 stops operating, and the suction operation is completed.

[0082] At this time, when the rear stage position sensor 72B detects the passage of the rear end of the top sheet medium 9A to be discharged, the discharge drive device 66 stops operating and the discharge operation ends. Also, when the rear stage position sensor 72B detects the passage of the rear end of the top sheet medium 9A to be discharged, the suction unit 41 moves backward and returns from the delivery position to the suction position.

[0083] As a result of the above, the topmost sheet medium 9A from the upper supply section 12 is discharged from the discharge outlet 18 via the first discharge path Rh1, and then supplied to the destination image forming device 120A (the first introduction conveying path Rt1).

[0084] In the supply device 1, the sheet-like medium 9 loaded in the stacking section 20B is also discharged from the discharge outlet 18 via the second discharge path Rh2 from the lower supply section 13 in a manner similar to the above-mentioned supply operation in the upper supply section 12, and then supplied to the destination. Furthermore, in the image forming system 100A, when a sheet medium 9 is supplied from the supply device 1 to an image forming device 120A, which is an example of a processing device 120, an image is formed on the sheet medium 9.

[0085] However, in this supply device 1, as illustrated in Figures 11, 17 and 19, if both or either of the left and right ends 9c, 9d of the sheet-like media 9 loaded on the loading surface 21 of the loading section 20A, etc., are shifted downward by more than a certain amount from the center when the sheet-like media 9 is unloaded, it becomes difficult to cause air to flow between the left and right side ends 9c, 9d of the upper multiple sheet-like media 9T when the sheet-like media 9T is lifted by air blown from the air blowing port 50 of the side end air blowing section. In other words, the downwardly curved left and / or right ends 9c, 9d of the sheet-like medium 9 become obstacles in the path of the air blown from the air outlet 50, and the air may not disperse and flow properly between the left and right ends of the multiple upper sheet-like media 9T as it normally does.

[0086] As a result, the top sheet medium 9A cannot be sufficiently separated from the second-highest sheet medium 9B, 9C, etc., and a poor ejection problem, typified by a double feed, may occur in which multiple sheet media 9, including the second-highest sheet medium 9B, etc., are ejected while overlapping on the top sheet medium 9A. In addition, the curved portion of the top sheet-like medium 9A may hit surrounding parts such as the introduction guide member 452 too hard, causing the corners to bend (dog ears) and resulting in poor ejection, or the medium may get stuck mid-ejection, making it impossible to eject (jam).

[0087] <Further configuration of the supply device> Therefore, as shown in Figures 5, 7, 12, 13, etc., the supply device 1 is provided with left and right detectors 74L, 74R which individually detect the amount of downward bending at the left and right L and R ends 9c, 9d of the uppermost sheet of medium 9A loaded on the loading surface 21 of the loading section 20A, etc., during transport, and is configured so that when one or both of the left and right detectors 74L, 74R detect that the amount of downward bending is a certain amount or more, a first operation is executed to bring the uppermost sheet of medium 9A into a state in which the height difference Δh of the widthwise portion when it is transported is reduced.

[0088] 7, 8, 12, etc., the left and right detectors 74L, 74R are disposed in the housing 10 at left and right positions sandwiching the suction unit 41 in a portion above the loading surface 21, and at positions that are the same in the unloading direction D. The detectors 74L and 74R are disposed so that the distances N between their respective detection surfaces (centers) and the end 21s on the downstream side of the loading surface 21 in the unloading direction D are approximately the same.

[0089] 12, 13, etc., the detectors 74L and 74R in this embodiment are also arranged at positions where their detection surfaces are symmetrical with respect to the adsorption area VE of the suction unit 41. Therefore, the detectors 74L and 74R are arranged so that the distance Ma between each detection surface and the left end of the adsorption area VE of the suction unit 41 and the distance Mb between each detection surface and the right end of the adsorption area VE are approximately the same. Also, the symbol VEc in FIG. 12 indicates the center of the adsorption area VE of the suction unit 41 in the left-right direction.

[0090] The left and right detectors 74L, 74R are configured as left and right bend amount detection sensors using, for example, optical distance sensors capable of measuring the distance K to the top surface of the sheet medium 9. The left detector 74L measures the distance K1 to the top surface of the left end of the sheet medium 9. The right detector 74R measures the distance K2 to the top surface of the right end of the sheet medium 9. In addition, it is preferable that the detectors 74L and 74R are configured so that a part or all of the regions KE1 and KE2 illustrated by the dashed lines in Fig. 13 can be made detectable. The regions KE1 and KE2 are the regions on the left and right of the suction region VE in the suction unit 41 that have a maximum width W at the time of unloading. W This is the region where it is possible to detect the bent state of the portions on the left and right end sides of the sheet-like medium 9 that are at max.

[0091] Furthermore, as shown in FIG. 9, the left and right detectors 74L, 74R are connected to the control device 15 so that detection information is transmitted thereto. Detection by detectors 74L and 74R is performed after the uppermost sheet of media 9A during the supply operation of sheet media 9 has been sucked by suction unit 41. At the time of this detection, air is being blown from air outlet 50 of the side end blower unit.

[0092] Furthermore, the detectors 74L and 74R measure the actual distances K1 and K2 from their detection surfaces to the left and right end portions of the uppermost sheet medium 9A, respectively. However, the detection information used for detectors 74L and 74R is the value (K1-kc, K2-kc) obtained by subtracting the distance kc (see FIG. 12) from each detection surface to a reference height (virtual line) VL based on the height of the lowest part 42a of the suction part 41 from the actually measured distances K1 and K2. In this case, the detection information obtained is the difference between the heights of the left and right end parts of the uppermost adsorbed sheet medium 9A and the height (height of the adsorbed part) of the center part (adsorbed part) of the sheet medium 9A (the amount of bending ΔK or the amount of deviation).

[0093] When the control device 15 obtains detection information from the detectors 74L, 74R, as one discrimination step of the unloading assistance control that performs the first operation, it discriminates whether the amount of bending ΔK, which is the detection information, is equal to or greater than a predetermined threshold value Kd. The threshold value Kd is appropriately set in consideration of the situation when the above-mentioned carry-out failure or carry-out impossibility is likely to occur in the supply operation. The threshold value Kd can be set to a value smaller than the height difference ks (see FIG. 12) between the reference height VL, which is the height of the lowermost part 42d of the suction part 41, and the upper end of the tip wall 173 (or the upper end of the stopping member 176). The threshold value Kd can be set, for example, within a range of 5 mm to 10 mm.

[0094] The first operation may be any operation that reduces the height difference Δh of the uppermost sheet medium 9A in the width direction (the direction indicated by the double arrows L, R) when it is transported out, as illustrated in Figure 16 (B). In this embodiment, however, the following operation is adopted.

[0095] That is, as the first operation, as shown in Fig. 12 and Fig. 14, when both the left and right detectors 74L, 74R detect that the amount of downward bending ΔK is equal to or greater than a certain threshold kd, an operation (first operation A) is adopted for raising the loading section 20A from its current position. Also, as the first operation, as shown in Fig. 14, Fig. 17, Fig. 19, etc., when one of the left and right detectors 74L, 74R detects that the amount of downward bending ΔK is equal to or greater than a certain threshold kd, an operation (first operation B) is adopted for strengthening the air blowing from the other air blowing port 50 of the left and right side end air blowing section located on the same side as the other of the left and right detectors 74L, 74R.

[0096] Here, the current position of the loading section 20A, which is an example of a loading plate, is the latest height position h1 (see FIG. 15) of the loading surface 21 when the loading section 20A etc. rises and stops at the suction preparation position when performing the suction work in the supply operation. The suction preparation position is gradually raised as the loaded sheet media 9 decreases due to supply, and is therefore changed according to the progress of the supply operation.

[0097] The degree to which the stacker 20A is raised from its current position is set to a value required to reduce both height differences Δh1 and Δh2 on the left and right sides of the curved portion of the top sheet of media 9A. This value of the rise can be set to, for example, a value equal to or greater than a threshold value kd.

[0098] The operation of lifting the loading section 20A etc. is performed by operating the lifting drive device 37 in the lifting means 30 so as to lift the loading plate by a required amount.

[0099] Next, the degree to which the airflow from the other of the left and right side end blowers 50 is to be strengthened is set to the value of the wind strength (level of air volume or wind speed) required to reduce the corresponding left and right height difference Δh1, Δh2 of the curved portion of the uppermost sheet of medium 9A. At this time, the airflow from one of the left and right side end blowers 50 corresponding to the curved portion of the uppermost sheet of medium 9A is kept at the normal level. The value for strengthening the airflow can be set to a value of strength necessary for the downwardly curved portion to be lifted by the wind force, but it goes without saying that the value is not set to such a degree that the strengthened airflow causes the uppermost sheet of media 9T, including the topmost sheet of media 9A, to move in a turbulent manner.

[0100] The operation of weakening the airflow of the side-end blowers is performed by decreasing the drive speed of the left and right side-end blowers 61L, 61R in the left and right side-end blowers and by decreasing the opening degree of the on-off valve.

[0101] Moreover, the unloading auxiliary control for carrying out the first operation is executed when the auxiliary control is necessary, and is not executed when the auxiliary control is not necessary. Examples of information that does not require discharge assist control include information for a case where a sheet medium having a relatively narrow width W at the time of discharge that cannot be detected by the left and right detectors 74L, 74R is used, information for a case where a specific type of sheet medium that is set in advance is used, etc. This information that does not require discharge assist control is stored in a storage means such as a ROM as part of the control data in the supply device 1 in advance, or it can be added and saved later as desired.

[0102] Incidentally, sheet-like media with a relatively narrow width W when discharged tend not to bend downward at the left and right end portions, so there is little need to subject them to discharge assistance control. In addition, the specific type of sheet-like media is, for example, a medium such as an envelope. In the case of an envelope, even though the left and right end portions are not bent when discharged, the envelope often becomes tilted to one side in the left and right direction when loaded on the loading surface 21, so there is little need to subject media with such characteristics to discharge assistance control.

[0103] In addition, the first operation may be terminated when a preset amount or operating time is reached, but the operation may also be configured to be stopped by confirming that after the first operation is executed, both the left and right detectors 74L, 74R no longer detect that the bending amount ΔK is equal to or greater than a certain threshold value Kd.

[0104] The unloading auxiliary control for carrying out the above-described first operation is configured to be executed as one of the control operations of the control device 15. The programs and data for executing this unloading assistance control are stored in advance in a read-only memory.

[0105] <Exit Assistance Control> In a supply device 1 capable of executing this discharge assist control, when the supply operation of the sheet media 9 is started, as shown in FIG. 14, the control device 15 first checks whether there is any information that makes the discharge assist control unnecessary.

[0106] In the supply device 1, if the control device 15 determines that there is information that makes the ejection assist control unnecessary, the ejection assist control will not be performed for the series of supply operations requested this time, but conversely, if it determines that there is no information that makes the ejection assist control unnecessary, the following information processing is performed.

[0107] Next, in the supply device 1, the control device 15 receives detection information of the amount of skew ΔK (=K1-kc, K2-kc) detected by the left and right detectors 74L, 74R, and checks whether the amount of skew ΔK is equal to or greater than the threshold value Kd. The detection by the detectors 74L, 74R is performed when the top sheet medium 9A is sucked by the suction unit 41 as described above.

[0108] At this time, if it is determined that the amount of bending ΔK is smaller than the threshold value Kd, the discharge assist control is deemed unnecessary for the supply operation at that time and is not executed. Also, if it is determined that the amount of bending ΔK is equal to or greater than the threshold value Kd, it is checked whether the detection information is from both the left and right detectors 74L and 74R. When the discharge auxiliary control is required, it is performed for each supply operation of one sheet medium 9.

[0109] In the supply device 1, when the control device 15 determines that both of the detection information from the left and right detectors 74L, 74R are equal to or greater than the threshold value Kd, the first operation A is executed until the suction operation is completed. The case where it is determined that both pieces of detection information are equal to or greater than the threshold value Kd corresponds to a state where at least both the left and right end portions of the uppermost sheet medium 9A are bent downward by a certain amount or more, as illustrated in Fig. 12. The cause of this bending is mainly, but not limited to, the occurrence of downward curl.

[0110] Since the first operation A is an operation to raise the loading section 20A etc. above the current position h1, the control device 15 executes the control to operate the lifting drive device 37 so as to move the loading surface 21 of the loading section 20A etc. upward to a predetermined height position ht (see Figure 15).

[0111] As a result, in the feeder 1, as shown in FIG. 15, with the uppermost sheet medium 9A being sucked by the suction unit 41, the stacker 20A moves upward to a predetermined height position ht and stops there. The height position ht at which the loader 20A stops may be a predetermined height position (amount of movement), but is the height position when the loader 20A is controlled to stop when the amount of bending ΔK detected by the left and right detectors 74L, 74R becomes smaller than the threshold value Kd. When the loader 20A is configured to stop the upward movement during the first operation A when the loader 20A moves a predetermined amount of movement, the amount of movement may be changeable by the user, etc.

[0112] As a result, in the supply device 1, as the loading section 20A approaches the suction section 41, the sheet media 9 loaded on the loading surface 21 also approaches the suction section 41, and the loaded sheet media 9 acts to push up the topmost sheet media 9A from the underside, with the upper sheet media being lifted by the air blown from the air blowing ports 50A to 50D of the side end air blowing section being interposed therebetween. At this time, the loaded sheet media 9 move upward as the stacking section 20A moves upward, and some of the upper sheet media are lifted and move upward by the air blown from the air outlets 50A, 50D of the side end air blowing section, etc., and this acts in cooperation with the already lifted sheet media 9T to push the left and right ends 9c, 9d of the topmost sheet media 9A upward from the underside.

[0113] As a result, as shown in Fig. 16(A), the uppermost sheet medium 9A is raised so that the downwardly curved portions on the left and right ends are lifted, and the height difference Δh in the width direction of the uppermost sheet medium 9A is reduced. Specifically, as shown in Fig. 16(B), the height differences Δh1 and Δh2 between the left and right sides of the uppermost sheet medium 9A before the first operation A is performed become smaller height differences Δh3 and Δh4. In addition, as the downwardly curved portions on the left and right end sides of the top sheet-like medium 9A are lifted, the height difference in the width direction Δh is reduced, and as illustrated by the dashed arrows in Figure 16 (A), air blown from the air outlets 50A, 50D, etc. of the side end air blowing section is more likely to flow between the top sheet-like medium 9A and the second-highest sheet-like medium 9B, and between the left and right end portions of the floating upper sheet-like medium 9T, and the air between them separates them from each other.

[0114] At this time, the first operation A is stopped when the control device 15 confirms that both of the amounts of bending ΔK detected by the left and right detectors 74L, 74R have become smaller than the threshold value Kd. In the supplying device 1, the first operation A is now considered to have ended. In addition, in the supply device 1, when the first operation A is completed, the loading section 20A and the like that have been stopped at the height position ht are lowered and returned to the original height position h1 under the control of the control device 15. Furthermore, when the first operation A is completed, the suction work is also completed.

[0115] Next, in the supply device 1, the suction unit 41 moves forward from the suction position to the delivery position, and air is blown from the air nozzle 48 in the tip blower.

[0116] At this time, the top sheet of media 9A being adsorbed by the suction portion 41 is in a state in which the second-highest sheet of media 9B has been separated, as shown in Figures 15 and 16(A), and the downwardly curved portions on the left and right end sides of the top sheet of media 9A are in a state in which they are lifted up. Therefore, the topmost sheet medium 9A at this time is separated from the second-highest sheet medium 9B by the air blown from the air nozzle 48, and there is no risk of the two being delivered to the conveying section 45 together with the second-highest sheet medium 9B and becoming double-fed. In addition, there is no risk of the left and right corners of the leading edge of the topmost sheet medium 9A accidentally colliding with the introduction guide member 452 (see FIG. 5) or the like and the corners being bent, or of the topmost sheet medium 9A becoming clogged before reaching the conveying section 45.

[0117] Therefore, in this supply device 1, even if the left and right ends of the sheet medium 9 (9A) loaded on the stacking section 20A, etc. are bent downward, the sheet medium 9 (9A) is discharged with reduced occurrence of discharge errors or failures compared to when the above-mentioned first operation A is not performed.

[0118] On the other hand, in this supply device 1, as shown in FIG. 14, if the control device 15 determines that the detection information of the left and right detectors 74L, 74R is not equal to or greater than the threshold value Kd on both the left and right sides, a confirmation is made as to whether it is the left or right side.

[0119] At this time, in the supply device 1, if the control device 15 determines that the detection information of the left detector 74L is equal to or greater than the threshold value Kd, an operation (first operation B1) of strengthening the airflow from the air outlets 50C, 50D constituting the right side end air blowing section is executed as the first operation B. This first operation B1 is also executed until the suction operation is completed, similar to the first operation A.

[0120] The case where it is determined that only the detection information of the left detector 74L is equal to or greater than the threshold value Kd corresponds to a state where at least the left end portion of the uppermost sheet of medium 9A is bent downward by a certain amount or more, as exemplified in Figures 17 and 18(A). In this case, as exemplified in Figure 18(A), the air (broken arrow) blown from the left ventilation port 50A etc. hits the upper surface of the downwardly bent portion of the left end portion of the uppermost sheet of medium 9A, and the bent air acts to push the left end 9c further downward.

[0121] The first operation B1 is an operation to strengthen the airflow from the air outlets 50C, 50D that constitute the right side end air blowing section, and is therefore executed by the control device 15 as a control to change so as to strengthen the wind force of the air blown from the right side end air blower 61R that constitutes the right side end air blowing section.

[0122] 18(B), in the supply device 1, stronger airflow (longer dashed arrow) from the air outlet 50D and other components of the right side airflow section is sent between the right ends of the uppermost sheet of media 9T, including the topmost sheet of media 9A, and flows in between them. This stronger air flows to reach the left end 9c of the topmost sheet of media 9A, and acts to push up the downwardly curved left end 9c from below. A similar effect occurs when the left end of the second-highest sheet of media 9B is curved downward.

[0123] As a result, as shown in FIG. 18(B), the top sheet medium 9A rises so that the downwardly curved portion on its left end side is lifted up, reducing the height difference Δh in the width direction (left height difference Δh1). In addition, as the downwardly curved portion on the left end side of the top sheet-like medium 9A is lifted, the height difference Δh in the width direction of the entire medium 9A is reduced, and as illustrated by the dashed arrows in Figure 18 (B), air blown from the air blowing port 50A and the like that constitutes the left side end blowing section also tends to flow between the top sheet-like medium 9A and the second highest sheet-like medium 9B, and between the left and right ends of the floating upper sheet-like medium 9T, causing them to be separated from each other due to the presence of this air.

[0124] At this time, the first operation B1 is stopped when the control device 15 confirms that both of the amounts of bending ΔK detected by the left and right detectors 74L, 74R have become smaller than the threshold value Kd. In the supplying device 1, the first operation B1 is considered to be completed by the above. In addition, in the supplying device 1, when the first operation B1 is completed, the wind force of the air blown from the right side end blower 61R is returned to normal strength under the control of the control device 15. Furthermore, the end of the first operation B1 also completes the suction operation.

[0125] Next, in the supply device 1, the suction unit 41 moves forward from the suction position to the delivery position, and air is blown from the air nozzle 48 in the tip blower.

[0126] At this time, the top sheet of media 9A being adsorbed by the suction portion 41 is in a state in which the second-highest sheet of media 9B has been separated, as shown in Figure 18 (B), and the downwardly curved portion on the left end side of the sheet of media 9A is in a lifted up state. Therefore, the topmost sheet medium 9A at this time is separated from the second-highest sheet medium 9B by the air blown from the air nozzle 48, and there is no risk of them being delivered to the conveying section 45 together with the second-highest sheet medium 9B and becoming double-fed. Furthermore, there is no risk of the left corner of the leading edge of the topmost sheet medium 9A accidentally hitting the introduction guide member 452 (see FIG. 5) or the like and bending the left corner, or of it becoming clogged before reaching the conveying section 45.

[0127] Therefore, in this supply device 1, even if the left end of the sheet medium 9 (9A) loaded on the stacking section 20A, etc. is bent downward, the sheet medium 9 (9A) is discharged with reduced occurrence of discharge errors or failures compared to when the above-mentioned first operation B1 is not performed.

[0128] In the supply device 1, when the control device 15 determines that the detection information of the right detector 74L is equal to or greater than the threshold value Kd, an operation (first operation B2) of strengthening the airflow from the air outlets 50A, 50B constituting the left side end air blowing section is executed as the first operation B, as shown in Fig. 14. This first operation B2 is also executed until the suction operation is completed, similar to the first operation A.

[0129] The case where it is determined that only the detection information of the right detector 74R is equal to or greater than the threshold value Kd corresponds to a state where at least the right end portion of the uppermost sheet of medium 9A is bent downward by a certain amount or more, as exemplified in Figures 19 and 20(A). In this case, as exemplified in Figure 20(A), the air (broken arrow) blown from the right ventilation port 50D etc. hits the upper surface of the downwardly bent portion on the right end side of the uppermost sheet of medium 9A, and the bent air acts to push the right end 9d further downward.

[0130] The first operation B2 is an operation to strengthen the airflow from the air outlets 50A, 50B that constitute the left side end air blowing section, and is therefore executed by the control device 15 as a control to change so as to strengthen the wind force of the air blown from the left side end air blowing device 61L that constitutes the left side end air blowing section.

[0131] As a result, in the supply device 1, as illustrated in Fig. 20(B), stronger airflow (longer dashed arrow) from the air outlet 50A and other components of the left side end air blowing section is sent and flows in between the left ends of the uppermost sheet of media 9T, including the uppermost sheet of media 9A. This stronger air flows to reach the right end 9d of the uppermost sheet of media 9A, and acts to push up the downwardly curved right end 9d from below. A similar effect occurs when the right end of the second-highest sheet of media 9B is curved downward.

[0132] As a result, as shown in FIG. 20(B), the uppermost sheet medium 9A rises so that the downwardly curved portion on its right end side is lifted up, and the height difference Δh in the width direction (right height difference Δh2) is reduced. In addition, as the downwardly curved portion on the right end side of the top sheet-like medium 9A is lifted, the height difference Δh in the width direction of the entire medium 9A is reduced, and as illustrated by the dashed arrows in Figure 20 (B), air blown from the air outlet 50D that constitutes the right side end air blowing section is more likely to flow between the top sheet-like medium 9A and the second highest sheet-like medium 9B, and between the left and right ends of the floating upper sheet-like medium 9T, causing them to be separated from each other due to the air intervening.

[0133] The first operation B2 at this time is also stopped when the control device 15 confirms that both of the amounts of bending ΔK detected by the left and right detectors 74L, 74R have become smaller than the threshold value Kd. With the above, the supplying device 1 determines that the first operation B2 has ended. Furthermore, in the supply device 1, when the first operation B2 is completed, the wind force of the air blown from the left side end blower 61L is returned to normal strength under the control of the control device 15. Furthermore, when the first operation B2 is completed, the suction operation is also completed.

[0134] Thereafter, the remaining operations in the supply operation are continued in the same manner as in the first operation B1. At this time, the top sheet of media 9A being adsorbed by the suction portion 41 is in a state in which the second-highest sheet of media 9B has been separated, as shown in Figure 20 (B), and the downwardly curved portion on the left end side of the sheet of media 9A is in a lifted state. Therefore, there is no risk that the topmost sheet medium 9A will be fed in a double-feed including the second-highest sheet medium 9B and delivered to the conveying section 45. In addition, there is no risk that the right corner of the leading edge of the topmost sheet medium 9A will inadvertently collide with the lead-in guide member 452 (see FIG. 5) or the like and bend, or that the topmost sheet medium 9A will become clogged before reaching the conveying section 45.

[0135] Therefore, in this supply device 1, even if the right end of the sheet medium 9 (9A) loaded on the stacking section 20A, etc. is bent downward, the sheet medium 9 (9A) is discharged with reduced occurrence of discharge errors or failures compared to when the first operation B2 is not performed.

[0136] In the first embodiment, the first operations B1 and B2 may be performed by adding an operation of raising the stacker 20A and the like from the current position as the first operation A. The height position ht when the loading section 20A is raised at this time may be the same as the height position ht during the first operation A, but from the viewpoint of obtaining a synergistic effect, it is preferable to set it at a lower position than the height position ht during the first operation A. When performing the first operations B1 and B2, if an operation of raising the loading section 20A or the like from its current position as the first operation A is also performed, the following is obtained compared to the case where the additional operation is not performed: Even with the topmost sheet of medium 9A, in which one of the left and right ends 9c, 9d is bent downward, the occurrence of delivery errors or delivery failures is easily prevented and the medium can be delivered.

[0137] Second embodiment. FIG. 21 shows a part of the sheet medium supplying device 1 according to the second embodiment (the configuration relating to the discharge assistance control). The supply device 1 according to the second embodiment differs from the supply device 1 according to the first embodiment in that the first operation in the carry-out assist control is changed to the second operation, but otherwise has the same configuration. Therefore, in the following explanation and drawings, the same components as those in the first embodiment are denoted by the same reference numerals, and their explanation will be omitted unless necessary.

[0138] The second operation in the second embodiment, as illustrated in Figures 22, 24(A), 25(A), etc., is an operation in which, when one or both of the left and right detectors 74L, 74R detect that the amount of upward bending is equal to or greater than a certain amount, the strength of contact between a part of the top surface of the top sheet of media 9A and a part 5 such as the limiting means 55 is weakened.

[0139] In the control device 15, as in the case of the control device 15 in the first embodiment, when detection information is obtained from the detectors 74L, 74R, as one discrimination step of the unloading assistance control that performs the second operation, it is determined whether the amount of bending ΔK, which is the detection information, is equal to or greater than a predetermined threshold value Ke.

[0140] The threshold value Ke is appropriately set in consideration of the situation when the conveying failure or conveying impossibility described in the first embodiment occurs even in the supply operation of the uppermost sheet medium 9A with both or one of the left and right ends curved upward. This threshold value Ke can also be set to a value smaller than the height difference ks (see FIG. 12) between the reference height VL, which is the height of the lowermost part 42a of the suction part 41, and the upper end of the tip wall 173 (or the upper end of the stopping member 176), for example.

[0141] The second operation may be any operation that weakens the strength of contact between the limiting means 55 and part of the upper surface of the topmost sheet-like medium 9A, which has both or one of the ends 9c, 9d on the left and right L and R bent downward by a certain amount or more, but in this embodiment, the following operation is adopted.

[0142] That is, as the second operation, as shown in Figures 21 to 23(A), an operation (second operation A) is adopted in which the loading section 20A is lowered from its current position when it is detected that the amount ΔK by which both or one of the left and right detectors 74L, 74R is upwardly protruding is equal to or greater than a certain threshold value ke. As for the second operation, instead of the second operation A, it is possible to adopt an operation (second operation B) of weakening the air blowing from each of the air blowing ports 50 constituting the left and right side end air blowing sections when the amount of upward bending ΔK of both the left and right detectors 74L, 74R is detected to be equal to or greater than a certain threshold value ke, as shown in Figures 21 and 23(B).

[0143] As a second operation, as shown in Figures 21, 24, 25, etc., when one of the left and right detectors 74L, 74R detects that the amount of downward bending ΔK is equal to or greater than a certain threshold value ke, an operation (second operation C) is adopted in which the airflow from one of the left and right side end air blowing sections on the same side as the detector 74L or 74R that detected the amount of bending that is equal to or greater than the threshold value ke is weakened.

[0144] Here, the degree to which stacker 20A is lowered from its current position is set to a distance value required to weaken the strength of contact between upwardly curved ends 9c, 9d of the topmost sheet medium 9A and limiting means 55. This lowering value can be set to, for example, a value equal to or greater than threshold value ke. The operation of lowering the loading section 20A etc. is performed by operating the lifting drive device 37 in the lifting means 30 so as to move the loading platform 20 etc. downward by a required amount.

[0145] In addition, the degree to which the airflow from each air outlet 50 constituting the left and right side end air blowing sections is weakened is set to the value of the reduced wind force (level of air volume or wind speed) required to weaken the strength of contact between the upwardly curved ends 9c, 9d of the top sheet of medium 9A and the restricting means 55 with which they are in contact. The operation of weakening the airflow of the side end blower section is performed by reducing the drive speed of both or one of the left and right side end blowers 61L, 61R in the left and right side end blower sections, or by reducing the opening degree of the above-mentioned opening / closing valve.

[0146] Other configurations relating to the unloading assist control that performs the second operation are substantially the same as those of the unloading assist control in the first embodiment.

[0147] <Exit Assistance Control> In a supply device 1 capable of executing this discharge assist control, when the supply operation of the sheet media 9 is started, as shown in FIG. 21, the control device 15 first checks whether there is any information that makes the discharge assist control unnecessary. At this time, if the control device 15 of the supply device 1 determines that there is information that makes the ejection assist control unnecessary, the ejection assist control will not be performed for the series of supply operations requested this time, but conversely, if it determines that there is no information that makes the ejection assist control unnecessary, the following information processing is performed.

[0148] Next, in the supplying device 1, the control device 15 takes in detection information of the amount of bending ΔK (=K1-kc, K2-kc) detected by the left and right detectors 74L, 74R, and checks whether the amount of bending ΔK is equal to or greater than a threshold value Ke. As described above, the detectors 74L and 74R detect the uppermost sheet medium 9A while it is being sucked into the suction unit 41. The amount of skew ΔK is a negative value because the height K2 actually measured is above the two-dot chain line VL, which is the reference line. Therefore, the amount of skew ΔK is treated as an absolute value in comparison with the threshold value Ke.

[0149] At this time, if it is determined that the amount of bending ΔK is smaller than the threshold Ke, the discharge assist control is deemed unnecessary for the supply operation at that time and is not executed. Also, if it is determined that the amount of bending ΔK is equal to or greater than the threshold Ke, it is checked whether the detection information is from both the left and right detectors 74L and 74R.

[0150] In the supply device 1, when the control device 15 determines that both of the detection information from the left and right detectors 74L, 74R are equal to or greater than the threshold value Kd, the second operation A is executed until the suction operation is completed. Since the second operation A is an operation to lower the loading section 20A etc. below the current position h1, the control device 15 executes the control to operate the lifting drive device 37 so as to move the loading surface 21 of the loading section 20A etc. downward to a predetermined height position hs (see Figure 23 (A)).

[0151] As a result, in feeder 1, with the uppermost sheet medium 9A being adsorbed by suction unit 41, stacker 20A moves down to a predetermined height position hs and stops there, as shown in FIG. 23(A). The height position hs at which the loader 20A stops may be a predetermined height position (amount of movement), but is the height position when the loader 20A is controlled to stop when the amount of bending ΔK detected by the left and right detectors 74L, 74R becomes smaller than the threshold value Ke. When the loader 20A is configured to stop the downward movement during the second operation A when the loader 20A moves a predetermined amount of movement, the amount of movement may be changeable by the user, etc.

[0152] As a result, in the supply device 1, the stacking section 20A moves away from the suction section 41, so that the sheet media 9 stacked on the stacking surface 21 also moves away from the suction section 41, and the stacked sheet media 9 and the levitating upper sheet media 9 move downward away from the uppermost sheet media 9A. This reduces (or weakens) the effect of the stacked sheet media 9, the levitating uppermost sheet media 9, and the air blown from the air outlet 50 pushing the uppermost sheet media 9A upward.

[0153] As a result, as shown in FIG. 23A, the uppermost sheet medium 9A is in a state where the portion other than the central portion that is attracted to the suction portion 41 is slightly lowered, and the left and right ends 9c and 9d are in contact with the limiting means 55A and 55B. D The strength of contact with the object weakens. In addition, as the second-highest sheet-like medium 9B and the like move downward, air blown from the air outlets 50A, 50D, etc. of the side end air blowing section can easily flow between the left and right side edges of the topmost sheet-like medium 9A and the left and right side edges of the second-highest sheet-like medium 9B, and the air between them separates them from each other.

[0154] At this time, the second operation A is stopped when the control device 15 confirms that both of the amounts of bending ΔK detected by the left and right detectors 74L, 74R have become smaller than the threshold value Kd. In the supplying device 1, the second operation A is now considered to have ended. In addition, in the supply device 1, when the second operation A is completed, the loading section 20A and the like that have been stopped at the height position hs are raised and returned to the original height position h1 under the control of the control device 15. Furthermore, when the second operation A is completed, the suction work is also completed.

[0155] Next, in the supply device 1, the suction unit 41 moves forward from the suction position to the delivery position, and air is blown from the air nozzle 48 in the tip blower. At this time, the topmost sheet medium 9A being sucked by the suction unit 41 is in a state in which the second topmost sheet medium 9B has been separated, as shown in FIG. 23(A). Therefore, the topmost sheet medium 9A at this time is separated from the second-highest sheet medium 9B by the air blown from the air nozzle 48, and there is no risk of the two being delivered to the conveying section 45 together with the second-highest sheet medium 9B and becoming double-fed. In addition, there is no risk of the left and right corners of the leading edge of the topmost sheet medium 9A accidentally colliding with the introduction guide member 452 (see FIG. 5) or the like and the corners being bent, or of the topmost sheet medium 9A becoming clogged before reaching the conveying section 45.

[0156] Therefore, in this supply device 1, even if both the left and right ends of the sheet medium 9 (9A) loaded on the stacking section 20A, etc. are bent upward, the sheet medium 9 (9A) is discharged with reduced occurrence of discharge errors or failures compared to when the second operation A is not performed.

[0157] In addition, in this supply device 1, instead of the above-mentioned second operation A, a second operation B may be performed to weaken the air blowing from each air blowing port 50 constituting the left and right side end air blowing sections, as shown in Figures 21 and 23(B). When the second action B is performed, substantially the same state changes and effects are obtained as when the second action A is performed.

[0158] On the other hand, in this supply device 1, as shown in FIG. 21, if the control device 15 determines that the detection information of the left and right detectors 74L, 74R is not equal to or greater than the threshold value Ke on both the left and right sides, a confirmation is made as to whether it is the left or right side.

[0159] At this time, in the supply device 1, if the control device 15 determines that the detection information of the left detector 74L is equal to or greater than the threshold Ke, an operation (second operation C1) of weakening the airflow from the air outlets 50C, 50D constituting the right side end air blowing section is executed as the second operation. This second operation C1 is also executed until the suction operation is completed, similar to the second operation A.

[0160] A case in which it is determined that only the detection information of the left detector 74L has exceeded the threshold value Kd occurs when, as illustrated in Figure 24(A), at least the upwardly curved portion of the left end side of the topmost sheet medium 9A is pressed from below against the limiting means 55A, and the portion that is away from the limiting means 55A inward is curved upward by a certain amount or more.

[0161] The second operation C1 is an operation to weaken the air blowing from the air blowing ports 50C, 50D that constitute the right side end air blowing section, and is therefore executed by the control device 15 as a control to change so as to weaken the wind force of the air blown from the right side end air blowing device 61R that constitutes the right side end air blowing section.

[0162] 24(B), in the supplying device 1, the weakened airflow (shortened dashed arrow) from the air outlet 50D and other components of the right side air blowing section causes the left end portions 9c of the levitating sheet media 9, including the uppermost sheet media 9A, to slightly drop downward. This reduces (or weakens) the effect of the left end portion of the uppermost levitating sheet media 9 pushing upward the left end portion 9c of the uppermost sheet media 9A.

[0163] As a result, as shown in FIG. 24(B), the left end 9c of the topmost sheet medium 9A is slightly lowered, and the strength of contact of the left end 9c with the restricting means 55A etc. is weakened. In addition, since the left ends of the topmost sheet of medium 9A and the second-highest sheet of medium 9B, etc., are lowered downward, air blown from the side end blowing section's air outlet 50A, etc., can easily flow between the left side end of the topmost sheet of medium 9A and the left side end of the second-highest sheet of medium 9B, and the left ends of the respective sheets of medium 9B are separated from each other due to the presence of this air.

[0164] At this time, the second operation C1 is stopped when the control device 15 confirms that both of the amounts of bending ΔK detected by the left and right detectors 74L, 74R have become smaller than the threshold value Ke. In the supply device 1, the second operation C1 is considered to be completed by the above. In addition, in the supply device 1, when the second operation C1 is completed, the wind force of the air blown from the left side end blower 61L is returned to normal strength under the control of the control device 15. Furthermore, the end of the second operation C1 also completes the suction operation.

[0165] Next, in the feeder 1, the suction unit 41 moves forward from the suction position to the delivery position, and air is blown from the air nozzle 48 of the leading end blower. The subsequent paper feed operation has substantially the same effect as when the second operation B is performed. Therefore, in this supply device 1, even if the left end of the sheet medium 9 (9A) loaded on the stacking section 20A, etc. is bent upward, the sheet medium 9 (9A) is discharged with reduced occurrence of discharge errors or failures compared to when the second operation C1 is not performed.

[0166] In addition, in the supply device 1, when the control device 15 determines that the detection information that is greater than or equal to the threshold value Ke is the detection information of the right detector 74R, as shown in FIG. 21, an operation (second operation C2) of weakening the air blowing from the air blowing port 50D that constitutes the right side end air blowing section is performed as a second operation.

[0167] A case where it is determined that only the detection information of the right detector 74R is equal to or greater than the threshold Ke is when, as illustrated in FIG. 25(A), at least the upwardly curved portion of the right end side of the uppermost sheet medium 9A is not within the range of the limiting means 55. D The restricting means 55 is pressed from below. D This applies when the part of the shaft that is separated from the inside of the shaft is bent upward by a certain amount or more.

[0168] The second operation C2 is an operation to weaken the air blowing from the air blowing ports 50A, 50B that constitute the left side end air blowing section, and is therefore executed by the control device 15 as a control to change so as to weaken the wind force of the air blown from the left side end air blowing device 61L that constitutes the left side end air blowing section. 25(B), in the supplying device 1, the weakened airflow (shortened dashed arrow) from the air outlet 50D constituting the left side end air blowing section slightly lowers the right end portions 9d of the levitating sheet media 9, including the uppermost sheet media 9A, causing the right end portions of the uppermost levitating sheet media 9 to push upward the right end portion 9d of the uppermost sheet media 9A, thereby reducing (or weakening).

[0169] As a result, as shown in FIG. 25B, the right end 9d of the topmost sheet medium 9A is slightly lowered, and the right end 9d is in contact with the limiting means 55. D The strength of contact with the object weakens. In addition, since the right ends of the topmost sheet of medium 9A and the second-highest sheet of medium 9B, etc., are lowered downward, air blown from the side end blowing section's air outlet 50D, etc., can easily flow between the right side end of the topmost sheet of medium 9A and the right side end of the second-highest sheet of medium 9B, and the left ends of the medium are separated from each other due to the presence of this air.

[0170] At this time, the second operation C2 is stopped when the control device 15 confirms that both of the amounts of bending ΔK detected by the left and right detectors 74L, 74R have become smaller than the threshold value Ke. In the supplying device 1, the second operation C2 is considered to be completed by the above. In addition, in the supplying device 1, when the second operation C2 is completed, the wind force of the air blown from the right side end blower 61R is returned to normal strength under the control of the control device 15. Furthermore, the end of the second operation C2 also completes the suction work.

[0171] Next, in the feeder 1, the suction unit 41 moves forward from the suction position to the delivery position, and air is blown from the air nozzle 48 of the leading end blower. The subsequent paper feed operation has substantially the same effect as when the second operation B is performed. Therefore, in this supply device 1, even if the right end of the sheet medium 9 (9A) loaded on the stacking section 20A, etc. is bent upward, the sheet medium 9 (9A) is discharged with reduced occurrence of discharge errors or failures compared to when the second operation C2 is not performed.

[0172] Variations. The present invention is not limited to the configuration examples exemplified in the above-described embodiments, but also includes, for example, the following modified examples.

[0173] In the first embodiment, when the first operation is executed, the second operation in the second embodiment may be executed in combination.

[0174] In the second embodiment, the component 5 with which the left and right ends 9c, 9d of the uppermost sheet medium 9A come into contact is not limited to the limiting means 55, and may be something other than the limiting means 55. Furthermore, as the second action, instead of or in addition to the second action example, an action may be adopted that prompts the user to reload the upwardly curved sheet-like media 9 loaded on the loading platform 20, etc., upside down. In this case, for example, a message prompting the user to reload the sheet-like media may be displayed on the operation display device 16 to notify the user.

[0175] In each of the above-described embodiments, the suction section 41 in the supply device 1 may be a suction section configured by a suction belt conveying mechanism that uses a suction conveying belt that rotates to adsorb the topmost sheet-like medium 9A to the underside of the belt by suction and conveys it to the conveying section 45 in the discharge direction D.

[0176] In addition, in each of the above-mentioned embodiments, the image forming system 100A in which the processing device 120 is the image forming device 120A is exemplified as the sheet-like medium using device 100, but the present invention is not limited to this. The using device 100 may be any device having a processing device 120 that performs required processing on the sheet-like medium 9 supplied from the supply device 1. Examples of the device 100 used include a printing system in which the processing device 120 is a printing device that applies ink to sheet-like medium 9 or the like, a coating system in which the processing device 120 is a coating device that applies liquid paint to sheet-like medium 9 or the like, and a drying system in which the processing device 120 is a drying device that dries sheet-like medium 9. [Explanation of symbols]

[0177] 1...Sheet media supply device 9...Sheet media 9s…Tip when transporting 9c...Left end 9d...Right end 9A…Top sheet media 9T: Upper sheet media 20...Loading section (an example of a loading plate) 40...Export means (export device) 41...Adsorption part 45...Transportation section 50...Ventilator (part of the side end ventilator) 74L…Left bend amount detection sensor (an example of a left detector) 74R…Right turn amount detection sensor (an example of a right detector) 100...Device for using sheet-like media 100A...Image forming system 120... Processing device 120A: Image forming device (an example of a processing device) 176…Tip wall D…Export direction L…Left R…Right h1...Height position (an example of the current position) ht…Height position when raised (an example of a position raised from the current position) hz…Height position when lowered (an example of a position lower than the current position)

Claims

1. A loading plate that loads sheet-like media and moves up and down; a conveying device that conveys the topmost sheet of media stacked on the stacking plate to a conveying section and then conveys the sheet of media to a conveying section and conveys the sheet of media to a destination; left and right side end blowing units for blowing air to the left and right side ends of the uppermost stacked sheet medium when viewed from the upstream side in the discharge direction; left and right detectors disposed at left and right positions sandwiching the suction unit and at the same position in the discharge direction, and configured to individually detect the amount of downward or upward bending at the left and right end sides of the top sheet medium; Equipped with A supply device which, when one or both of the left and right detectors detect that the amount of downward bending is equal to or greater than a certain amount, executes a first operation to bring the topmost sheet of media into a state in which the difference in height between the portion of the topmost sheet of media in the width direction that contacts the bottom of the suction portion and the portion detected by the left and right detectors is reduced.

2. A loading plate that loads sheet-like media and moves up and down; a conveying device that conveys the topmost sheet of media stacked on the stacking plate to a conveying section and then conveys the sheet of media to a conveying section and conveys the sheet of media to a destination; left and right side end blowing units for blowing air to the left and right side ends of the uppermost stacked sheet medium when viewed from the upstream side in the discharge direction; a part that is disposed on the left and right sides of the suction unit and that can come into contact with a part of an upper surface of the uppermost sheet of medium that is lifted by the air blown by the left and right side end air blowers; left and right detectors disposed at left and right positions sandwiching the suction unit and at the same position in the discharge direction, and configured to individually detect the amount of downward or upward bending at the left and right end sides of the top sheet medium; Equipped with A supply device in which, when one or both of the left and right detectors detect that the amount of upward bending is equal to or greater than a certain amount, a second operation is performed to weaken the strength of contact between a portion of the top surface of the topmost sheet medium and the part it comes into contact with.

3. 2. The supply device according to claim 1, wherein the first operation is an operation of raising the loading plate from its current position when both the left and right detectors detect that the downward bending amount is equal to or greater than a certain amount.

4. The supply device according to claim 1, wherein the first operation is an operation of increasing the airflow from the other of the left and right side end air blowing sections located on the same side as the other of the left and right detectors when one of the left and right detectors detects that the amount of downward bending is equal to or greater than a certain amount.

5. The supply device according to claim 4 , wherein the first operation further includes an operation of raising the loading plate from a current position.

6. The supply device according to claim 2 , wherein the second operation is an operation of lowering the loading plate from a current position.

7. The supply device according to claim 2 , wherein the second operation is an operation of weakening the airflow from the left and right side end air blowing sections when both the left and right detectors detect that the amount of upward bending is equal to or greater than a certain amount.

8. The supply device according to claim 2, wherein the second operation is an operation of weakening the airflow from one of the left and right side end air blowing sections located on the same side as one of the left and right detectors when one of the left and right detectors detects that the amount of upward bending is equal to or greater than a certain amount.

9. The feeding device according to claim 2 , wherein the second action is an action that prompts the user to reload the sheet media loaded on the loading plate in an upside-down state.

10. 2. The feeding device according to claim 1, wherein the first operation is stopped when, after being performed, both the left and right detectors no longer detect that the amount of downward bending is equal to or greater than a certain amount.

11. The feeding device according to claim 1 , wherein the first operation is not performed when a narrow sheet of media at the time of discharge that cannot be detected by the left and right detectors and a specific type of sheet of media are used.

12. The feeding device according to claim 2 , wherein the second operation is not performed when a narrow sheet of media at the time of discharge that cannot be detected by the left and right detectors and a specific type of sheet of media are used.

13. 3. The supplying device according to claim 1, wherein the left and right detectors are disposed at symmetrical positions with respect to the suction unit.

14. a leading edge wall disposed adjacent to an end portion of the stacking plate on a downstream side in the discharge direction and configured to align the leading edges of the stacked sheet-like media when the media is discharged; 14. The supply device according to claim 1, 2 or 13, wherein the left and right detectors are disposed at positions upstream of the tip wall in the discharge direction.

15. 3. The supply device according to claim 2, wherein the parts are left and right limiting members that contact upper surfaces of left and right ends of the uppermost sheet of media floated by the air blown from the left and right side end blowers to limit its height.

16. a sheet-like medium supplying device that conveys the loaded sheet-like medium to a supply destination and supplies the sheet-like medium; a processing device that processes the sheet medium supplied from the supply device; Equipped with A sheet-medium using device, comprising a sheet-medium supplying device according to any one of claims 1 to 15.

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