Dinghe device

Abstract

To provide a binding device that temporarily stops at a reading position during sheet feeding, reads control information attached to the sheet, performs sheet feeding control based on the control information, and can quickly restart even if a feeding abnormality occurs in a binding device.SOLUTION: When a feeding mechanism capable of reading control information receives a predetermined feeding command, it determines whether a sheet is present at the reading position. If it is determined that there is no sheet at the reading position, a forward feeding drive is performed from when the uppermost sheet is sent out to when it is stopped at the reading position. If it is determined that there is a sheet at the reading position, the forward feeding drive is omitted.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 4

Description

[Technical Field]

[0001] The present invention relates to a collating device. [Background technology]

[0002] In a conventional collating device that creates a collated set by stacking sheets fed from a plurality of sheet feeding mechanisms, a collating device equipped with a reading and feeding mechanism that reads identification information attached to the sheets using a reading mechanism while separating and feeding the sheets stacked in a stacking section one by one is disclosed in, for example, Patent Document 1. In the device described in Patent Document 1, the identification information includes distribution destination data for specifying the collated set to be distributed to the distribution destination, and a control means selectively drives a feeding mechanism that feeds sheets out of the feeding mechanisms other than the reading and feeding mechanism based on this distribution destination data.

[0003] The sheet fed from the reading and feeding mechanism is folded in half, and a sheet selectively fed from above and stacked on top of it is sandwiched inside to form a collated set. The reading and feeding mechanism has a retention section that retains and holds one of the fed sheets between the position where the sheet is separated and fed and where it is folded in half, and the reading mechanism reads the identification information while the sheet is retained in this retention section and sends it to the control means. Therefore, the collation device repeats a cycle of feeding a sheet from the reading and feeding mechanism, retaining it in the retention section and reading the identification information, feeding a sheet from another feeding mechanism selected based on the read identification information, folding the sheet fed from the reading and feeding mechanism in half, and sandwiching the sheet fed from the other feeding mechanism inside it to create a collated set.By reading in the retention section, the cycle for the next sheet can begin before the cycle for the previous sheet is completed, making the collation work more efficient. [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0004] [Patent Document 1] Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2014-159318 Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0005] In the collating device, feeding errors such as double feeding, empty feeding, paper jams, and out-of-paper situations can occur in each sheet feeding mechanism. If a feeding error occurs, the collating device is stopped. In this case, collating based on the distribution destination data, which is based on the identification information, becomes impossible, and the device stops with the sheets remaining in the retention section of the reading and feeding mechanism. When the collating device is then restarted, the cycle described above must be restarted from the beginning, starting with the feeding of the topmost sheet in the reading and feeding mechanism. Therefore, the sheets that were stuck in the retention section must be removed. However, because the stuck sheets have identification information attached to them, they cannot be discarded and must be manually returned to the stacking section of the reading and feeding mechanism, which is a time-consuming process. [Means for solving the problem]

[0006] In order to solve the above-mentioned problems, the present invention provides a system including a plurality of first feeding units that separate and feed out a topmost first sheet from a stack of stacked sheets, at least one second feeding unit that separates and feeds out a topmost second sheet from the stack of stacked sheets and has a reading means that is capable of reading control information attached to the fed second sheet and specifying the first feeding unit that will feed out the first sheet to be overlapped on the second sheet from the second sheet stopped at a reading position during feeding, a collation conveying path that conveys and overlaps the first and second sheets fed out from the first feeding unit and the second feeding unit to form a collated set, and a storage unit that stores the control information read by the reading means. In a collation device having a control unit that controls the second feeding unit to feed a first sheet identified based on stored control information and stack it together with a second sheet to which control information is attached to form a collated set, when the control unit receives a predetermined feeding command, the control unit determines whether a second sheet is present at the reading position, and if it determines that no sheet is present at the reading position, it executes a first feeding operation that performs a forward feed drive from feeding the top second sheet in the second feeding unit to stopping it at the reading position, and if it determines that the second sheet is present at the reading position, it executes a second feeding operation that omits the forward feed drive. [Effects of the Invention]

[0007] According to the present invention, it is possible to obtain a collating device that can be quickly restarted even if a feeding abnormality occurs. [Brief explanation of the drawings]

[0008] [Figure 1] 1 is a schematic front view showing a collating device 1 according to the present invention. [Figure 2] 1 is an external view showing a collated set S produced by the collation device 1. FIG. [Figure 3] FIG. 2 is an enlarged front view of the reading and feeding mechanism 3. [Figure 4] FIG. 4 is a top view seen from above in FIG. 3. [Figure 5]FIG. 2 is a control block diagram of the collation device 1 of the present invention. [Figure 6] 10 is a flowchart showing one cycle of operation of the collating device 1. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0009] Hereinafter, identical or equivalent components, members, and processes shown in each drawing will be assigned the same reference numerals, and duplicate explanations will be omitted where appropriate. The dimensions of the members in each drawing will be enlarged or reduced as appropriate to facilitate understanding. Some members that are not important for explaining the embodiment will be omitted from the drawings. In the present invention, "feeding" refers to driving and sending out a sheet.

[0010] An embodiment of the collating device according to the present invention will be described. Fig. 1 is a schematic front view showing a collating device 1 according to the present invention, and Fig. 2 is an external view showing a collated set S produced by this collating device 1. As shown in Fig. 2, this collated set S has a configuration in which a stack of multiple sheets is sandwiched inside a single folded sheet.

[0011] In the collating device 1, ten feeding mechanisms 2a-2j are arranged on the left side of the device shown in Fig. 1, and ten feeding mechanisms 2k-2t are arranged on the right side of the device, stacked vertically (first feeding section). The feeding mechanisms 2a-2j and the feeding mechanisms 2k-2t have the same structure but are installed in the opposite direction. A reading and feeding mechanism 3 (second feeding section) is arranged below the feeding mechanisms 2k-2t on the right side.

[0012] The topmost sheet of the stack of sheets stacked in the feeding mechanism 2 is separated from the stack and sent out to the horizontal conveying path 6. A vertical conveying path 7 is provided in the center of the collating device 1 in the vertical direction, and the horizontal conveying paths 6 extending from each feeding mechanism 2 all converge into the vertical conveying path 7. Each feeding mechanism 2 sends out sheets at a timing such that the leading edges of the sheets are aligned when they converge at the vertical conveying path 7. The sheets sent out one by one from each feeding mechanism 2 are stacked on top of each other as they move from top to bottom along the vertical conveying path 7.

[0013] The top sheet P1 of the sheet stack P stacked on the reading and feeding mechanism 3 is separated from the sheet stack P by the separation and feeding mechanism 4, and then stopped at the reading position to read a two-dimensional code as identification information printed on the sheet P1 (details of which will be described later). The identification information may be any of various matrix codes such as QR Code (registered trademark), or PDF417 or CODE49, which are stacked barcodes, but is not limited to these, and may also be any of various one-dimensional barcodes, or letters, symbols, or a combination thereof.

[0014] Thereafter, conveyance of sheet P1 resumes, and sheet P1 is conveyed along folding conveying path 8 to the right in the figure, until its leading edge abuts against folding stopper 9. The lower end of vertical conveying path 7 faces above folding conveying path 8, and sheet P1 abutting against folding stopper 9 stops so as to block the lower end of vertical conveying path 7. Then, folding knife 10 is driven, and sheet P1, which has stopped in abutment against folding stopper 9, is rolled into folding rollers 11 and folded in half, and the sheets (stack) that have descended vertical conveying path 7 enter the inside of the folded half, thereby creating a collated set S. Collated set S is then discharged from sheet discharge outlet 13 via discharge conveying path 12 to the outside of the apparatus, and is accumulated in stacker 14.

[0015] FIG. 3 is an enlarged front view of the reading and feeding mechanism 3, and FIG. 4 is a top view seen from above in FIG.

[0016] The reading and feeding mechanism 3 has a plate-shaped stacking plate 21. A stack of sheets P is stacked on the stacking plate 21 in a diagonally separated state, with the uppermost sheets facing forward. In FIG. 3, as an example, A4-sized sheets are stacked with their long sides aligned left to right in FIG. 3, but this is not limited to A4 size, and their short sides may be aligned left to right in FIG. 3. The rear and front ends of the stacked sheet stack P in FIG. 3 are abutted by side guides 40 that rise vertically upward from the stacking plate 21 and have guide surfaces parallel to the feeding direction. In FIG. 3, only the rear side side guide 40 is shown, and the front side side guide is omitted. In FIG. 4, both side guides and the sheet stack P are omitted.

[0017] A separation and feeding mechanism 4 is provided near the downstream end of the sheet stack P in the feeding direction, and separates the uppermost sheet P1 from the sheet stack P and feeds it to a horizontal conveyance path 6 on the downstream side.

[0018] The separation and feeding mechanism 4 includes a feeding roller 22 that feeds out the uppermost sheet P1, a separation plate 23 that presses against the feeding roller 22 from below, and an auxiliary feeding roller 24 provided upstream in the feeding direction of the feeding roller 22. The feeding roller 22 and auxiliary rollers 33 are provided on a feeding shaft 27 supported by fixed frames 25 and 26 on both sides. A known adjustment mechanism 29 is provided below the separation plate 23 to adjust the pressure of the separation plate 23 against the feeding roller 22 (hereinafter referred to as separation pressure).

[0019] The guide plate 30 supports the leading edge of the stacked sheet stack P and guides the underside of the uppermost sheet P1 separated by the separation feeding mechanism 4. A sheet presence / absence detection sensor D1 is provided upstream of the separation plate 23. This sheet presence / absence detection sensor D1 detects whether or not a sheet is stacked on the reading and feeding mechanism 3. The sheet presence / absence detection sensor D1 is a reflective optical sensor that detects whether or not a sheet is present on the guide plate 30.

[0020] A rotational drive force is intermittently applied to the feed shaft 27 from the motor M, and the feed roller 22 is rotated intermittently by this feed shaft 27 to feed out the uppermost sheet P1. The motor M detects its own rotation amount as pulses and provides feedback, making it possible to rotate by any number of pulses. The auxiliary feed roller 24 is supported by an auxiliary feed roller shaft 32 supported by a roller support member 31. The roller support member 31 is also supported by the feed shaft 27. A timing belt (not shown) is looped between the feed shaft 27 and the auxiliary feed roller shaft 32 inside the roller support member 31, and drive is transmitted between them so that they rotate in the sheet feeding direction.

[0021] The auxiliary feed roller 24 presses against the top surface of the stack of sheets P and sends the topmost sheet P1 toward the feed roller 22. Then, the sheet P1 passes between the feed roller 22 and the separation plate 23 and is carried out to the horizontal conveyance path 6. If two or more sheets are stacked, the second and subsequent sheets are blocked by the separation plate 23, so only the topmost sheet is carried out to the horizontal conveyance path 6.

[0022] A reader R is provided downstream of the feed roller 22 in the feeding direction. An opening 30a is provided in the guide plate 30 corresponding to the reader R, and the reader R can read the two-dimensional code printed on the underside of the sheet P1. The readers R are provided in three locations in a direction perpendicular to the feeding direction. The two-dimensional code printed on the sheet is printed so that it can be read by any of the three readers R. If only one or two of the three locations are used, it is not necessary to install a reader R in the unused location.

[0023] A sheet conveyance detection sensor D2 is provided downstream in the feeding direction of the reader R. The sheet conveyance detection sensor D2 is an optical sensor that detects the arrival of the leading edge of the sheet P1 passing over the guide plate 30.

[0024] Lines 41, 42, and 43 extending vertically upward from the surface of the stacking plate are marked at intervals in the feeding direction on the side guide 40. "A4" is marked adjacent to line 41, "B4" is marked adjacent to line 42, and "A3" is marked adjacent to line 43, and each mark indicates the position of the rear end of a sheet of that size when it stops at the reading position.

[0025] FIG. 5 is a control block diagram of the collation device 1 of the present invention. The collation device 1 has a central control unit 50 that controls the driving of each unit of the device, including each feeding mechanism. The central control unit 50 has a memory unit 50A, which can input read information from the reader R of the reading and feeding mechanism 3 and can store the input read information. The reading and feeding mechanism 3 has a feeding control unit 51 connected to the central control unit 50 by a communication line. The feeding control unit 51 receives detection information from the sheet presence detection sensor D1, the sheet transport detection sensor D2, and the double feed detection sensor (not shown), and controls the driving of the motor M that drives the feed roller 22. Each feeding mechanism 2 (2a-2t) also has a feeding control unit 52 (52a-52t), which receives detection results from sensors that detect feeding abnormalities such as double feed, jam, and no paper, and controls the driving of the motor m (ma-mt), which is the driving source for feeding each sheet. The central control unit 50, the feeding control unit 51, and the feeding control unit 52 cooperate to form a control unit of the collating device 1.

[0026] The collating device 1 has an operation panel 60 that accepts user operations. The operation panel 60 has at least a start switch 61 and a stop switch 62. When the user operates the start switch 61, the collating device 1 starts up. When the user operates the stop switch 62, the collating device 1 stops. The operation panel 60 is, for example, a touch panel provided on the side of the main body of the collating device 1. This touch panel may be installed on the collating device 1, or may be a detachable tablet or the like. When detached, it may be capable of wired or wireless communication with the main body of the collating device 1.

[0027] Furthermore, the operation panel 60 may be provided separately from the collating device 1 and may be an external terminal such as a PC or smartphone that can communicate with the collating device 1 via wired or wireless communication, and the start switch 61 and stop switch 62 may be operated by clicking a mouse or using a PC keyboard, etc. This external terminal does not necessarily need to be provided close to the collating device 1, and may be remotely operable via an internet line.

[0028] Next, the operation of the collating device 1 will be described. When the user operates the start switch 61, the collating device 1 starts up and repeats a predetermined operation cycle. Figure 6 is a flowchart showing one cycle of operation of the collating device 1. Below, the operation of this one cycle will be described with reference to Figure 6.

[0029] When the collation device 1 is started, the central control unit 50 first sends a feed command to the feed control unit 51 of the reading and feeding mechanism 3. In response to this, the feed control unit 51 determines whether or not a sheet is present at the reading position. Specifically, it refers to the signal of the sheet transport detection sensor D2 (step S1). If the sheet transport detection sensor D2 detects a sheet, it determines that the sheet P1 is present at the reading position. If the sheet transport detection sensor D2 does not detect a sheet, it determines that the sheet P1 is not present at the reading position.

[0030] If it is determined that sheet P1 is not present at the reading position (NO in step S1), the feeding control unit 51 issues a rotation command to the motor M, and the motor M starts to rotate (step S2). The feeding roller 22 starts to rotate as the motor M is driven, and the topmost sheet P1 is separated and moves from the right to the left in FIG. 3.

[0031] As sheet P1 advances, when sheet conveyance detection sensor D2 detects the arrival of the leading edge of sheet P1 (step S3), the number of pulses PA is set to zero from that point on (step S5). The number of pulses PA is acquired by an index sensor or the like attached to the rotation shaft of motor M. Alternatively, pulses proportional to the amount of rotation output by motor M itself may be used. Thereafter, the number of pulses PA is incremented by one each time a pulse is received (step S5), and when the number of pulses PA reaches a predetermined value N1 (step S6), driving of motor M is stopped (step S7). As a result, sheet P1 stops at the reading position. Steps S2 to S7 are the forward feed drive from when the topmost sheet P1 stacked in reading and feeding mechanism 3 is fed out until it stops at the reading position.

[0032] Figure 3 shows a state in which sheet P1 is stopped at the reading position. The leading edge of sheet P1 is at a position transported a distance L1 after passing the detection position of sheet transport detection sensor D2. In the example of Figure 3, sheet P1 is A4 size, so its trailing edge coincides with the position of line 41.

[0033] Next, the two-dimensional code on the sheet P1 stopped at the reading position is read by the reader R (step S8). That is, the reading position is a position where the position of the two-dimensional code printed on the sheet P1 coincides with the opening 30a and the two-dimensional code can be read by the reader R. The trigger for reading by the reader R may be the timing when the motor M stops, or a sensor (not shown) that detects that the sheet P1 has reached the reading position may be provided downstream in the feeding direction from the sheet conveyance detection sensor D2, and the detection signal from this sensor may be used as the trigger.

[0034] If the code cannot be read (NO in step S9), an error signal is generated and the collation device 1 is stopped. The reason for the code not being read may be that the two-dimensional code is not printed on the sheet P1, or that the print is dirty or some other abnormality. If a two-dimensional code is printed on the sheet P1, the sheet P1 may have stopped at a position shifted from the intended reading position, and the position of the two-dimensional code printed on the sheet P1 may not match the position of the opening 30a. In this case, the user can fine-tune the value N1. This fine-tuning will be described later.

[0035] The read two-dimensional code includes feeding unit identification information that identifies the feeding mechanism 2 (first feeding unit) on which the sheet to be superimposed on this sheet P1 is stacked. The central control unit 50 acquires this feeding unit identification information via the reader R and selectively drives the corresponding feeding mechanism 2 (step S10). For example, if the feeding unit identification information identifies six feeding mechanisms 2a, 2c, 2d, 2j, 2m, and 2t, the central control unit 50 drives the six feeding mechanisms to separate and feed the topmost sheet from the multiple sheets stacked in each. The feeding mechanisms 2 are driven sequentially from top to bottom so that the fed sheets are superimposed on each other with their leading edges aligned on the vertical conveying path 7.

[0036] After reading, sheet P1 is resumed in the reading and feeding mechanism 3 (step S10), and is sent out from the reading and feeding mechanism 3, where it abuts against the fold stopper 9 and stops (step S11). In this state, sheet P1 waits for the sheets (stack) from the feeding mechanism 2 descending along the vertical conveying path 7. When the sheets (stack) from the feeding mechanism 2 descend, sheet P1 is folded to sandwich the sheets inside, forming a collated set S (step S12). The formed collated set S is discharged to the stacker 14 (step S13). After reading, sheet P1 is sent out from the reading and feeding mechanism 3, and the rearward feed drive (steps S10, S11) until it abuts against the fold stopper 9 is started by restarting the drive of motor M. However, when the leading edge of sheet P1 enters the downstream roller pair, the drive of motor M is stopped, and sheet P1 is then conveyed by the downstream roller pair. The feed roller 22 is provided with a one-way clutch (not shown), so that it continues to rotate following the sheet P1 being fed even after the motor M has stopped driving, but stops rotating when the sheet P1 has passed through, so that the next sheet is not fed along with it.

[0037] The collating device 1 repeats this cycle of steps S1 to S13 to create multiple collated sets S. This cycle is repeated with overlapping. That is, the next cycle starts before the current cycle is completed. As a result, in the feeding mechanism 2, while the current cycle is proceeding downward, the next cycle starts from above.

[0038] Specifically, while sheet P1 of the current cycle abuts against folding stopper 9 (step S11) and waits for the sheets (stack) of the current cycle from feeding mechanism 2, reading and feeding mechanism 3 feeds sheet P1(2) of the next cycle to the reading position and reads the two-dimensional code (step S8), and starts driving feeding mechanism 2 for the next cycle specified by the two-dimensional code. Then, sheet P1 of the current cycle is folded in half and overlapped with the sheets (stack) of the current cycle from feeding mechanism 2, and sheet P1(2) of the next cycle advances to folding stopper 9 and waits for the sheets (stack) of the next cycle from feeding mechanism 2. Therefore, before collating of the current cycle is completed, feeding unit specifying information for collating of the next cycle is obtained and driving of upper feeding mechanism 2 can start, thereby increasing processing speed.

[0039] Incidentally, each feeding mechanism 2 has a double feed detection sensor, a jam sensor, and an out-of-paper sensor (not shown) to detect feeding abnormalities such as double feed, jam, out-of-paper, etc. When a feeding abnormality is detected, the sheet that has already been fed from the feeding mechanism 2 continues to descend the vertical conveying path 7, but is discharged to the stacker 14 without being sandwiched between sheets P1, and the collating device 1 displays an error and stops.

[0040] At this time, the reading and feeding mechanism 3 may have already sent the next sheet P1(2) to the reading position in preparation for the next cycle of collating. Therefore, when the operation of the collating device 1 is subsequently resumed by a predetermined start operation, the sheet P1(2) will be present at the reading position of the reading and feeding mechanism 3 when a feeding command is sent to the reading and feeding mechanism 3.

[0041] Therefore, in this case, in step S1, the sheet conveyance detection sensor D2 detects sheet P1(2), so the result is YES. That is, it is determined that sheet P1(2) is present at the reading position. In that case, steps S2 to S7 are skipped. That is, forward feed drive is omitted. Then, the two-dimensional code on sheet P1(2), which has already stopped at the reading position, is read by reader R (step S8). After that, steps S9 to S13 are the same as those described above.

[0042] Therefore, even after the operation is interrupted due to an error or the like while the sheet P1(2) remains stopped at the reading position, the feeding mechanism 2 to be driven can be identified and the collating operation can be started based on the information read from the sheet P1(2) stopped at the reading position, without returning the sheet P1(2) to the stacking plate 21 of the reading and feeding mechanism 3. Therefore, even if a feeding abnormality occurs, a quick restart is possible.

[0043] In this embodiment, if it is determined that sheet P1(2) is not present at the reading position, the forward feed drive is omitted and reading is performed by reader R. However, if the control information for sheet P1(2) has already been read by reader R immediately before the collation device 1 is temporarily stopped due to a feeding abnormality or the like and has already been stored in memory unit 50A, it is possible to omit re-reading by reader R, i.e., omit step S8, and drive the feeding mechanism 2 by referring to the stored control information.

[0044] If sheet P1(2) is returned to the stacking plate 21 after the processing of the collating device 1 is interrupted, when the processing is restarted, sheet P1(2) will not be detected by the sheet conveyance detection sensor D2 in step S1. Therefore, it is determined that sheet P1(2) is not present at the reading position. Therefore, the processing then proceeds to steps S2 to S7, that is, forward feeding is performed, so sheet P1(2) is separated and fed and sent to the reading position again.

[0045] After the processing of the collating device 1 is interrupted, the position of sheet P1(2) is shifted, and although it is detected by the sheet conveyance detection sensor D2, if the two-dimensional code no longer matches the position of the opening 30a, when restarting, it is determined that sheet P1(2) is present at the reading position, and after skipping steps S2 to S7, normal reading is not possible in step S8, so step S9 becomes No, an error is displayed, and the collating device 1 stops. In that case, the user can return sheet P1(2) to the stacking plate 21 and restart.

[0046] In the reading and feeding mechanism 3, the sheet P1 is pressed against the feeding roller 22 and conveyed to the reading position while rubbing against the separating plate 23, causing slippage between the feeding roller 22 and the sheet P1. Therefore, the linear speed of the feeding roller 22 and the forward speed of the sheet P1 do not necessarily match, and are particularly susceptible to the influence of separating pressure. Therefore, the distance L1 varies depending on the strength of the separating pressure.

[0047] In the collation device 1, before starting the collation work, it is possible to perform a test operation of only the reading and feeding mechanism 3 by operating a predetermined button. When a predetermined first button is pressed, the top sheet P1 is fed out. When the leading edge of sheet P1 is detected by the sheet conveyance detection sensor D2, motor M rotates further until pulses equal to the number N1 are counted, and then stops, and sheet P1 stops at a predetermined position.

[0048] The user adjusts the value N1 so that this predetermined position coincides with the reading position. When the user presses the predetermined second button once, the value N1 decreases by a predetermined amount. When the user presses the predetermined third button, the value N1 increases by a predetermined amount.

[0049] Although the first to third buttons are not shown, they may be provided on the operation panel 60 or may be provided near the reading and feeding mechanism 3 separately from the operation panel 60.

[0050] The user checks the positional relationship between the trailing edge of the sheet P1 stopped at a predetermined position and the line 41 corresponding to the size of the sheet P1, i.e., A4 size. If the trailing edge of the sheet P1 at the reading position is downstream of the line 41, the user presses the predetermined second button. This decreases the value N1, and the distance L1 is shortened accordingly in the next feeding, bringing the trailing edge closer to the line 41. If the trailing edge of the sheet P1 at the reading position is upstream of the line 41, the user presses the predetermined third button. This increases the value N1, and the distance L1 is lengthened accordingly in the next feeding, bringing the trailing edge closer to the line 41. The second or third button is pressed multiple times as necessary depending on the distance between the trailing edge of the sheet P1 at the predetermined position and the line 41.

[0051] When the first button is then pressed, conveyance of sheet P1 resumes and sheet P1 is discharged to stacker 14. The user can perform this test operation multiple times if necessary until the predetermined position coincides with the reading position. The position of the rear end of the sheet that has stopped at the reading position according to the sheet size is displayed in advance, so it is possible to determine at a glance whether the button that should be pressed in this test operation is the second or third button, or whether there is no need to press the button at all.

[0052] If sheet P1 is B4 size, the positional relationship with line 42 is checked, and if it is A3 size, the positional relationship with line 43 is checked. The number of lines to be displayed may be increased as needed, and lines corresponding to the case where sheets are loaded with the short side in the conveying direction may be displayed. During the test operation, if the number N1 is increased on a specified display unit, a positive number indicating the degree of increase may be displayed, and if it is decreased, a negative number indicating the degree of decrease may be displayed, or the number N1 itself may be displayed as a numerical value.

[0053] This test operation adjusts the value N1 to a value corresponding to the separating pressure, so that the sheet P1 stops at the reading position, at which point the reader R can read the two-dimensional code printed on the sheet P1.

[0054] This test operation can be performed not only before the start of the collating operation, but also after the start of the collating operation by temporarily interrupting the collating operation. Therefore, if the position of the two-dimensional code on sheet P1 stopped in step S7 during the collating operation is not aligned with opening 30a and the two-dimensional code cannot be read, this test operation can be performed to fine-tune the reading position.

[0055] The present invention has been described above based on an embodiment. This embodiment is merely an example, and it will be understood by those skilled in the art that various modifications are possible in the combination of the components and treatment processes, and that such modifications are also within the scope of the present invention.

[0056] For example, in the embodiment, the determination of the presence or absence of sheet P1 in step S1 and the timing of stopping sheet P1 at the reading position in step S7 are both based on the detection results of sheet conveying detection sensor D2, but each may be based on the detection results of different sensors.

[0057] Also, for example, in the embodiment, the sheet transport detection sensor D2 is disposed downstream of the reader R, but it may be disposed upstream of the reader R. The positional relationship between the sheet transport detection sensor D2 and the reader R may be designed so that the position of the two-dimensional code on the sheet P1 after the motor M has stopped can be aligned with the position of the reader R by setting an appropriate value N1 in consideration of the amount of transport of the sheet P1 due to inertia after the motor M has stopped. [Explanation of symbols]

[0058] 1: Collation device 2: Feeding mechanism (first feeding section) 3: Reading and feeding mechanism (second feeding section) 30: Guide plate 30a: opening 50: Central control unit 50A: Storage section D2: Sheet transport detection sensor M: Motor P1: Top sheet R: Leader

Claims

1. a plurality of first feeding units that separate and feed a topmost first sheet from a stack of stacked sheets; at least one second feeding unit that separates and feeds out a topmost second sheet from a stack of stacked sheets, and has a reading means that is attached to the fed second sheet and is capable of reading control information that identifies the first feeding unit that will feed out the first sheet to be superimposed on the second sheet from the second sheet that is temporarily stopped at a reading position during feeding; a collation conveyance path that conveys and stacks the first and second sheets fed from the first and second feeding sections into a collated set; a control unit that stores the control information read by the reading means in a storage unit, and controls the first sheet to be fed from the first feeding unit specified based on the stored control information, and to be superimposed on the second sheet to which the control information is attached to form the collated set; In a collating device having The control unit When the second feeding unit receives a predetermined feeding command, it determines whether the second sheet is present at the reading position; When it is determined that the second sheet is not present at the reading position in the determination, a first feeding operation is performed to feed the uppermost second sheet in the second feeding unit and then to stop the second sheet at the reading position, When it is determined that a sheet is present at the reading position, a second feeding operation is executed in which the forward feeding drive is omitted. Collating device.

2. 2. The collating device according to claim 1, wherein the determination is made when a predetermined collating start signal is received.

3. The control unit In the first feeding operation, after the forward feeding drive, a rearward feeding drive is performed to further feed the second sheet downstream and send it out from the second feeding unit; In the second feeding operation, 3. The collating device according to claim 1, wherein the rearward feed drive is started without performing the forward feed drive.

4. The control unit 4. The collating apparatus according to claim 3, wherein in the first feeding operation, the control information is read between the forward feed drive and the rearward feed drive.

5. The control unit The collation device according to claim 3 or 4, characterized in that in the second feeding operation, the control information is read before the rear feed drive, and the first feeding section to perform feeding is identified based on the read control information.

6. The control unit A collating device as described in claim 3 or 4, characterized in that in the second feeding operation, the control information is not read, and the first feeding unit to perform feeding is identified by control information already stored in the memory unit.

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