Conveying device

Abstract

To provide a highly reliable conveying device by controlling the amount of wear of rollers.SOLUTION: A conveying device according to the present invention comprises: a conveying mechanism which conveys an inserted ticket medium along a conveying path; a first roller and a second roller arranged facing each other across the conveying path; a pressing mechanism which presses the second roller against the first roller; a displacement detection unit which detects the amount of displacement from a first position of the second roller in an initial state in which the first roller and the second roller are in contact to a second position of the second roller in a state in which the second roller is pressed against the first roller by the pressing mechanism; and a controller having a wear detection unit which detects the amount of wear of the first roller and the second roller based on the amount of displacement detected by the displacement detection unit.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 12

Description

Technical Field

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

Background Art

[0002] An automatic ticket gate has a pair of rollers and a pressing mechanism that presses one of the pair of rollers toward the other roller, and includes a conveying device that conveys a ticket medium such as a magnetic ticket. When a plurality of ticket media are simultaneously inserted into the insertion port, the separating device as the conveying device separates them one by one with the pair of rollers. The pair of rollers face each other with a gap therebetween, and by adjusting the gap to a size through which only one ticket medium can pass, a plurality of ticket media can be separated one by one.

[0003] The gap is based on the position of one roller when the one roller is pressed against the other roller, and is adjusted to a desired size by separating the one roller from the other roller in consideration of the displacement amount of the one roller due to the pressing. When the pair of rollers are unevenly worn and the wear amount is larger than a predetermined value, when the one roller is pressed against the other roller, the gap between the pair of rollers cannot be completely eliminated, and a gap may remain at the location where the wear amount is large. Therefore, even if the other roller is separated in consideration of the displacement amount, the size of the gap between the pair of rollers becomes larger than the desired size. If the size of the gap cannot be adjusted to an appropriate range, separation failure may occur.

Prior Art Documents

Patent Documents

[0004]

Patent Document 1

Patent Document 2

Summary of the Invention

Problems to be Solved by the Invention

[0005] The objective of this embodiment is to provide a highly reliable conveying device by controlling the amount of roller wear. [Means for solving the problem]

[0006] A conveying device according to one embodiment includes a conveying mechanism for conveying a ticket medium that has been inserted along a conveying path, a first roller and a second roller provided opposite to each other on either side of the conveying path, a pressing mechanism for pressing the second roller against the first roller, a displacement detection unit for detecting the amount of displacement from a first position of the second roller in an initial state in which the first roller and the second roller are in contact, to a second position of the second roller in a state in which the pressing mechanism presses the second roller against the first roller, and a controller having a wear detection unit for detecting the amount of wear of the first roller and the second roller based on the amount of displacement detected by the displacement detection unit. [Brief explanation of the drawing]

[0007] [Figure 1] Figure 1 is a cross-sectional view showing an automatic ticket gate system according to one embodiment. [Figure 2] Figure 2 is a side view showing the separation device of the automatic ticket gate system according to the above embodiment. [Figure 3] Figure 3 is a perspective view showing a portion of the separation section shown in Figure 2. [Figure 4] Figure 4 is a side view taken from the direction indicated by arrow A in Figure 2. [Figure 5] Figure 5 is a block diagram showing the control configuration of the separation device of the automatic ticket gate system according to the above embodiment. [Figure 6] Figure 6 is a schematic diagram illustrating automatic gap adjustment. [Figure 7] Figure 7 is a schematic diagram illustrating automatic gap adjustment, following Figure 6. [Figure 8] Figure 8 is a schematic diagram illustrating automatic gap adjustment, following Figure 7. [Figure 9] Figure 9 is a schematic diagram illustrating automatic gap adjustment, following Figure 8. [Figure 10]Figure 10 is a side view showing new first and second rollers and worn first and second rollers. [Figure 11] Figure 11 is a graph showing the relationship between the operating time of the automatic ticket gate and the displacement of the second roller. [Figure 12] Figure 12 is a flowchart showing an example of a process for predicting replacement timing. [Modes for carrying out the invention]

[0008] Embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings. Note that the disclosure is merely an example, and modifications that can be easily conceived by those skilled in the art while maintaining the spirit of the invention are naturally included within the scope of the present invention. Furthermore, in order to clarify the drawings and descriptions, the width, thickness, shape, etc., of each part may be represented schematically compared to the actual appearance, but this is merely an example and does not limit the interpretation of the present invention. Also, in this specification and in each drawing, elements similar to those described above in previously shown drawings are denoted by the same reference numerals, and detailed descriptions may be omitted as appropriate. The following describes in detail a transport device according to one embodiment, using the separation device of an automatic ticket gate as an example, with reference to the drawings.

[0009] Figure 1 shows an example of an automatic ticket gate device 10 according to one embodiment. As shown in Figure 1, the automatic ticket gate 10 comprises an input slot EN, a separation device 20, an alignment device 100, a magnetic processing device 110, a punch / printing device 120, a dispensing / collection device 130, and a dispensing slot EX. The separation device 20, the alignment device 100, the magnetic processing device 110, the punch / printing device 120, and the dispensing / collection device 130 have a transport mechanism that transports the ticket medium P inserted from the input slot EN along a transport path. The ticket medium P is, for example, a magnetic train ticket.

[0010] The slot EN has dimensions (length, width, height) that allow multiple tickets, for example, four magnetic tickets stacked together, to be inserted. When a plurality of ticket media P are simultaneously (stacked) inserted into the insertion port EN, the separation device 20 separates the ticket media P one by one and conveys them one by one to the alignment device 100. The alignment device 100 aligns the conveyance direction and position of the ticket media P conveyed from the separation device 20 and conveys the ticket media P to the magnetic processing device 110. The magnetic processing device 110 performs magnetic processing on the ticket media P conveyed from the alignment device 100. As the above magnetic processing, for example, when using the automatic ticket gate 10 when entering the station premises, there is a process of recording information such as the entry station and the entry time on the ticket media P. The magnetic processing device 110 conveys the magnetically processed ticket media P to the punch-printing device 120.

[0011] The punch-printing device 120 forms a hole indicating that the ticket media P has passed through the automatic ticket gate 10 on the ticket media P conveyed from the magnetic processing device 110 by punching, and prints the necessary information on the ticket media P. The punch-printing device 120 conveys the ticket media P that has undergone the punching process and the printing process to the discharge-collecting device 130. The discharge-collecting device 130 discharges the ticket media P conveyed from the punch-printing device 120 from the discharge port EX. At this time, when a plurality of ticket media P, for example, two sheets are simultaneously inserted into the insertion port EN, separated by the separation device 20, and sequentially conveyed to the alignment device 100, the magnetic processing device 110, and the punch-printing device 120, the two ticket media P are collected by the discharge-collecting device 130 and discharged simultaneously from the discharge port EX.

[0012] The configuration of the separation device 20 will be described with reference to FIGS. 2 to 4. FIG. 2 is a side view showing the separation device 20 of the automatic ticket gate 10 according to the above embodiment. FIG. 3 is a perspective view showing a part of the separation device 20 shown in FIG. 2. FIG. 4 is a side view seen from the arrow A in FIG. 2. In FIGS. 2 and 3, the frame Fr is omitted. The first direction X, the second direction Y, and the third direction Z shown in FIGS. 2 to 4 are defined. The first direction X corresponds to the length direction of the ticket media P. The second direction Y corresponds to the thickness direction of the ticket media P. The third direction Z corresponds to the width direction of the ticket media P. As shown in FIGS. 2 to 4, the separating device 20 includes a conveying mechanism 22, a thickness detection unit 24, a feed roller 26, a separating roller 28, a displacement detection unit 30, a pickup roller 32, a support mechanism 34, and a frame Fr.

[0013] First, the basic configuration of the conveying mechanism 22 will be described. The conveying mechanism 22 has a conveying path 36 through which the ticket medium P is conveyed, a first motor 38, and a second motor 40. Further, in addition to the first motor 38 and the second motor 40, the conveying mechanism 22 has various motors for driving the conveying path 36. The conveying path 36 is defined by various rollers, belts, etc. shown in FIG. 2. The conveying path 36 is between the conveying belt B1 and the conveying roller Ra1, between the conveying belt B1 and the thickness detection unit 24, between the conveying belt B1 and the conveying belt B2, between the conveying belt B1 and the separating roller 28, and between the pickup roller 32 and the rotating body 42. In one example, the conveying path 36 extends in the first direction X. The ticket medium P inserted from the insertion port EN is conveyed along the conveying path 36.

[0014] The conveying belt B1 is an endless belt. Inside the conveying belt B1, there are located conveying rollers Ra2, Ra3, Ra4, driven rollers Rb1, Rb2, and a feed roller 26 (more specifically, a conveying roller Ra5). The conveying belt B1 is provided by being wound around the conveying roller Ra5 and the driven rollers Rb1, Rb2. The conveying belt B1 rotates synchronously with the conveying roller Ra5 and the driven rollers Rb1, Rb2. The conveying belt B1 is urged from the outside by the driven roller Rb3.

[0015] Conveyor belt B2 is located above conveyor belt B1. Conveyor belt B2 is an endless belt that is shorter than conveyor belt B1. Inside conveyor belt B2 are the drive roller Rc1, conveyor rollers Ra6 and Ra7, and driven roller Rb4. Conveyor belt B2 is wrapped around the drive roller Rc1 and driven roller Rb4. Conveyor belt B2 rotates in sync with the drive roller Rc1 and driven roller Rb4. Conveyor roller Ra6 faces conveyor roller Ra3 in the second direction Y. Conveyor roller Ra7 faces conveyor roller Ra4 in the second direction Y.

[0016] Next, we will describe each component of the separation device 20. The thickness detection unit 24 detects the thickness and number of ticket media P inserted from the input slot EN. The thickness detection unit 24 has a contact element 25 at one end in the second direction Y. The contact element 25 is biased downward. The thickness detection unit 24 is a contact-type sensor that detects the thickness and number of ticket media P based on the displacement (movement) of the contact element 25. Note that the thickness detection unit 24 is not limited to a contact-type sensor; for example, it may be a non-contact type sensor that utilizes light reflection.

[0017] The feed roller 26 has a first roller R1, a first rotating shaft 44, and two conveying rollers Ra5. The first roller R1 is located between the two conveying rollers Ra5. The first roller R1 and the conveying rollers Ra5 are fixed to the first rotating shaft 44 and are rotatable about the first rotating shaft 44. The first rotating shaft 44 is connected to a first motor 38. The feed roller 26 is driven by the first motor 38. The first roller R1 is made of rubber. As described above, since the conveyor belt B1 is wrapped around the conveyor roller Ra5, the conveyor belt B1 can be moved by driving the feed roller 26. In one example, the ticket medium P is conveyed in the first direction X by rotating the feed roller 26 counterclockwise.

[0018] The separation roller 28 is located downstream of the thickness detection unit 24 and has a second roller R2 and a second rotation shaft 46. The separation roller 28 faces the feed roller 26 with a gap G1 in the second direction Y. More specifically, the second roller R2 faces the first roller R1 with a gap G1. The size of the gap G1 is preset according to the thickness of the ticket medium P processed by the automatic ticket gate device 10. Specifically, it is a value slightly larger than the thickness of the ticket medium P. For example, if the thickness of the ticket medium P is 0.2 mm, the size of the gap G1 is set to 0.25 to 0.3 mm. The second roller R2 is made of rubber.

[0019] The second roller R2 is rotatable about the second rotation axis 46. The second rotation axis 46 is connected to the second motor 40. The separation roller 28 is driven by the second motor 40. The separation roller 28 performs a separation operation when multiple ticket media P are stacked and fed into the input opening EN. The separation operation is performed by rotating the separation roller 28 in a direction that prevents the ticket media P from being sent in the transport direction when the value detected by the thickness detection unit 24 is greater than or equal to a predetermined size. In one example, the separation device 20 separates multiple ticket media P by rotating the separation roller 28 counterclockwise.

[0020] The displacement detection unit 30 is provided to detect the amount of displacement (movement) of the separation roller 28 in the second direction Y. The displacement detection unit 30 has a contact element 31 at one end in the second direction Y. The contact element 31 is biased downward. The displacement detection unit 30 is a contact-type sensor that detects the amount of displacement of the separation roller 28 (second roller R2) based on the amount of displacement of the contact element 31. Note that the displacement detection unit 30 is not limited to a contact-type sensor, and may be a non-contact type sensor that utilizes light reflection, for example.

[0021] The pickup roller 32 is located downstream of the feed roller 26 and the separation roller 28. The pickup roller 32 is pressed against a rotating body 42, which is, for example, a bearing. The pickup roller 32 receives the ticket media P fed out from the feed roller 26 and the separation roller 28 and transports the ticket media P to the alignment device 100.

[0022] The support mechanism 34 includes a connecting member 48, a support member 50, a first arm 52, a second arm 54, and a gap adjustment mechanism 56. The connecting member 48 has a main body portion 48a extending in the third direction Z, an extension portion 48b formed extending from one end of the main body portion 48a toward the first direction X, and an extension portion 48c formed extending from the other end of the main body portion 48a toward the first direction X. The connecting member 48 rotatably supports both ends of the second rotation axis 46 with the pair of extension portions 48b and 48c. The support member 50 extends in the third direction Z and is formed in a columnar shape, and is fixed to the main body portion 48a of the connecting member 48.

[0023] The first arm 52 comprises an arm body 58, a bracket 60, and a rotating body 62. The arm body 58 is formed in a substantially L-shape in a side view and is fixed to one end of the support member 50 in the third direction Z. The bracket 60 is formed as a plate extending in a first direction X and is fixed to the arm body 58 with screws. The bracket 60 has a support portion 64 formed at one end in the first direction X, extending in a third direction Z. A rotating body 62 is fixed to the support portion 64. The rotating body 62 is, for example, a bearing that can rotate around the support portion 64. The rotating body 62 is in contact with the contact element 31 of the displacement detection unit 30.

[0024] The second arm 54 is formed extending in the first direction X and has a connecting portion 66 and an adjustment portion 68. The connecting portion 66 is fixed to the other end of the support member 50 in the third direction Z. The adjustment section 68 has a first adjustment surface Sa, a second adjustment surface Sb located on the opposite side of the first adjustment surface Sa, and a mounting hole H located between the first adjustment surface Sa and the second adjustment surface Sb. The first adjustment surface Sa is a plane parallel to the second adjustment surface Sb. A spring 70 is mounted in the mounting hole H. The spring 70 is longer than its natural length and pulls the adjustment section 68 downwards.

[0025] The gap adjustment mechanism 56 includes a third motor 72, a mounting member 74, and a pressing mechanism 76. The third motor 72 is located below the adjustment section 68 and has a motor shaft 78. The upper end 78a of the motor shaft 78 faces the first adjustment surface Sa. When the third motor 72 is driven, the motor shaft 78 moves up and down along the second direction Y. When the motor shaft 78 is pressed against the first adjustment surface Sa, a force acts on the second arm 54 that displaces the second roller R2 in a direction away from the first roller R1. From the above, it can be seen that the third motor 72 is an actuator that displaces the second roller R2 in a direction away from the first roller R1.

[0026] The mounting member 74 has a mounting portion 80 located at one end in the second direction Y, and a stopper ST located at the other end in the second direction. The mounting portion 80 is fixed to the frame Fr (frame Fr2) and fixes the third motor 72. The stopper ST is fixed to the frame Fr (frame Fr2) and faces the lower end 78b of the motor shaft 78. The stopper ST defines the range of movement (lower limit) of the motor shaft 78.

[0027] The pressing mechanism 76 includes a solenoid 82, a solenoid lever 84, and a solenoid link 86. The solenoid 82 has a housing portion 82a and a movable portion 82b extending from the housing portion 82a in a first direction X. The housing portion 82a is fixed to the frame Fr (frame Fr2) and is located below the second arm 54 and the support member 50. The solenoid 82 can be switched between ON and OFF, with the ON state being when it is energized. When the solenoid 82 is ON, the movable part 82b is retracted into the housing part 82a.

[0028] The solenoid lever 84 is formed in a plate shape and extends in a first direction X, and one end 84a of the solenoid lever 84 is connected to the movable part 82b of the solenoid 82. The solenoid link 86 is formed in a plate shape and extends in the second direction Y. One end 86a of the solenoid link 86 is rotatably connected to the other end 84b of the solenoid lever 84. A pivot 88 and a pressure pin 90 are provided at the other end 86b of the solenoid link 86.

[0029] The pivot 88 is formed in a columnar shape extending in a third direction Z and is rotatably supported on the frame Fr (frame Fr2). The pressure pin 90 is formed in a columnar shape extending in the opposite direction to the pivot 88 and has an outer circumferential surface facing the second adjustment surface Sb. In the first direction X, the pressure pin 90 is located away from the pivot 88. As the pressing mechanism 76 is configured as described above, when the solenoid 82 is turned ON, the solenoid link 86 rotates around the pivot 88, applying a predetermined load from the outer surface of the pressing pin 90 to the second adjustment surface Sb, and pressing the second roller R2 against the first roller R1.

[0030] A pair of frames Fr are formed extending in a first direction X and a second direction Y. One frame Fr1 is located between the connecting member 48 and the first arm 52 in a third direction Z. The other frame Fr2 is located between the connecting member 48 and the second arm 54 in a third direction Z. A first rotation shaft 44 and a support member 50 are mounted on the pair of frames Fr. The pair of frames Fr rotatably support the first rotation shaft 44 and the support member 50.

[0031] Because the support mechanism 34 and frame Fr are configured as described above, when a force in the second direction Y is applied to the second arm 54, the separation roller 28, connecting member 48, first arm 52, and second arm 54 rotate integrally around the support member 50. At this time, the contact element 31 of the displacement detection unit 30 maintains contact with the first arm 52, so the displacement detection unit 30 can detect the displacement of the separation roller 28 (second roller R2) based on the displacement of the rotating body 62.

[0032] Next, the control configuration of the separation device 20 will be described. Figure 5 is a block diagram showing the control configuration of the separation device 20 of the automatic ticket gate device 10 according to the above embodiment. As shown in Figure 5, the separation device 20 further comprises a controller 92, a notification unit 96, and an operation unit 98. The controller 92 is connected to a transport mechanism 22 including a first motor 38 and a second motor 40, a thickness detection unit 24, a displacement detection unit 30, a third motor 72, a solenoid 82, a notification unit 96, and an operation unit 98.

[0033] The controller 92 has a wear detection unit 93 and a memory 94. The wear detection unit 93 detects the amount of wear of the first roller R1 and the second roller R2 based on the information detected by the displacement detection unit 30. Memory 94 stores information detected by the thickness detection unit 24 and the displacement detection unit 30. For example, memory 94 stores information detected by the displacement detection unit 30 in association with the date and time. Memory 94 is formed from a commonly known medium such as an HDD (Hard Disk Drive) or SSD (Solid State Drive). Th thresholds Th related to the first roller R1 and the second roller R2 are stored in memory 94.

[0034] The controller 92 is configured as a computer equipped with a CPU (Central Processing Unit), ROM (Read-Only Memory), RAM (Random-Access Memory), etc., and controls the overall operation of the separation device 20, including the operation of the transport mechanism 22, thickness detection unit 24, displacement detection unit 30, third motor 72, solenoid 82, and notification unit 96, by executing a program stored in ROM. For example, the controller 92 can drive the first motor 38, the second motor 40, etc., to transport the ticket medium P along the transport path 36.

[0035] The controller 92 can determine whether or not to perform a separation operation based on the information detected by the thickness detection unit 24, and can control the rotation direction of the second motor 40. The controller 92 can perform automatic gap adjustment by driving the third motor 72, solenoid 82, etc., at predetermined timings of the automatic ticket gate device 10, such as when it is started or stopped, to automatically adjust the size of the gap between the first roller R1 and the second roller R2.

[0036] The controller 92 drives the third motor 72 to set the gap adjustment mechanism 56 to the initial state described later, turns on the solenoid 82 to press the second roller R2 against the first roller R1 with the pressing mechanism 76, the displacement detection unit 30 detects the amount of displacement of the second roller R2 from the first position of the second roller R2 in the initial state to the second position of the second roller R2 in the pressed state, and the wear detection unit 93 can detect the amount of wear of the first roller R1 and the second roller R2 based on the detected displacement. The controller 92 can detect the wear amount of the first roller R1 and the second roller R2 multiple times at any given time interval (for example, one day, one week, one month).

[0037] The controller 92 can sequentially store the wear amounts acquired multiple times in the memory 94. The controller 92 can predict the future wear trends of the first roller R1 and the second roller R2 based on the wear amount detected multiple times. The controller 92 can calculate the replacement timing for the first roller R1 and the second roller R2 based on the threshold values ​​stored in the memory 94 and the future wear trends. The controller 92 can notify external parties of the future wear rate trend via the notification unit 96. The notification unit 96 is, for example, a transmitter capable of transmitting information to an external receiver, and can notify station staff or the manufacturer of the automatic ticket gate 10 of the future wear rate trend and replacement timing. The controller 92 can start and stop the automatic ticket gate 10 based on the operator's input via the control unit 98.

[0038] Next, automatic gap adjustment will be explained in detail with reference to Figures 6 to 9. Figure 6 is a schematic diagram illustrating automatic gap adjustment. Figure 6 shows the initial state of automatic gap adjustment. Figure 6 is a side view showing the second arm 54, spring 70, third motor 72, mounting member 74, and pressing mechanism 76, with the first roller R1, second roller R2, and connecting member 48 indicated by dashed lines.

[0039] As shown in Figure 6, in the initial state of automatic gap adjustment, the upper end 78a of the motor shaft 78 faces the first adjustment surface S with a gap, and the lower end 78b of the motor shaft 78 is in contact with the stopper ST. The spring 70 pulls the adjustment portion 68 of the second arm 54 downward with a load F1, thereby biasing the second roller R2 toward the first roller R1. In other words, the second roller R2 is in contact with the first roller R1 due to the weight of the second roller R2 and the member connected to the second roller R2, and the load F1 from the spring 70. The position of the second roller R2 at this time is defined as the first position. The solenoid 82 is in the OFF position. At this time, when the upper end 78a of the motor shaft 78 is pressed against the first adjustment surface Sa, the second arm 54 rotates counterclockwise. Therefore, in the initial state, the position (0 point) of the upper end 78a of the motor shaft 78 when the first roller R1 and the second roller R2 are in contact cannot be determined.

[0040] Figure 7 is a schematic diagram illustrating automatic gap adjustment, following Figure 6. Figure 7 shows the state when solenoid 82 is turned ON. As shown in Figure 7, when the solenoid 82 is turned ON, the solenoid link 86 rotates around the pivot 88, and the pressing pin 90 applies a load F2 to the second adjustment surface Sb of the second arm 54. In other words, the second roller R2 is pressed against the first roller R1 by the pressing pin 90. At this time, since the first roller R1 and the second roller R2 are made of rubber, the shapes of the first roller R1 and the second roller R2 are deformed, and the position of the second roller R2 is displaced to a second position lower than the first position. The amount of displacement d1 from the first position to the second position of the second roller R2 corresponds to the amount of deformation (bend) of the first roller R1 and the second roller R2. In one example, the contact surface of the first roller R1 with the second roller R2, and the contact surface of the second roller R2 with the first roller R1, were curved surfaces before being pressed by the pressing mechanism 76, but they are deformed into a planar shape parallel to the first direction X and the third direction Z.

[0041] Figure 8 is a schematic diagram illustrating automatic gap adjustment, following Figure 7. As shown in Figure 8, the solenoid 82 is in the ON state, and the upper end 78a of the motor shaft 78 is pressed against the first adjustment surface Sa of the second arm 54. The second arm 54 is pressed downward by the pressing mechanism 76 and therefore does not rotate even when subjected to force from the motor shaft 78. Therefore, the amount of movement of the motor shaft 78 from the state in which the lower end 78b of the motor shaft 78 is in contact with the stopper ST to the state in which the upper end 78a of the motor shaft 78 is in contact with the first adjustment surface Sa can be determined, and by determining this amount of movement, the zero point setting of the motor shaft 78 is completed.

[0042] Figure 9 is a schematic diagram illustrating automatic gap adjustment, following Figure 8. Figure 9 shows the state after the solenoid 82 has been turned OFF and the motor shaft 78 has been moved upward, completing the automatic gap adjustment. As shown in Figure 9, the solenoid 82 is in the OFF state, and no load F2 is acting on the second arm 54 from the pressing mechanism 76. At this time, when the motor shaft 78 is moved upward, the connecting member 48 and the second arm 54 rotate counterclockwise around the support member 50 in one example, and the second roller R2 moves away from the first roller R1. Therefore, by determining the amount of movement of the motor shaft 78 according to the displacement amount d1, the gap G1 can be set to a desired size. More specifically, the gap G1 can be set to a desired size by moving the motor shaft 78 upward from the 0 point such that the second roller R2 is displaced away from the first roller R1 by a distance equal to the sum of the displacement amount d1 and the desired size of the gap G1 from the second position. Even in its initial state, the first roller R1 and the second roller R2 are slightly deflected by the load F1 and their own weight. The displacement d2 of the second roller R2 due to this deflection can be calculated in advance, and the gap G1 can be set to the desired size taking this displacement d2 into consideration. In other words, the gap G1 can be set to the desired size taking into consideration the displacements d1 and d2.

[0043] Next, we will explain the case where the first roller R1 and the second roller R2 are used repeatedly. Figure 10 is a side view showing a new and worn first roller R1 and second roller R2. As shown in Figure 10, the shape of new first roller R1 and second roller R2 is cylindrical. On the other hand, the shape of the first roller R1 and second roller R2 after repeated use is roughly drum-shaped, with wear in the central parts C1 and C2. In other words, the outer surfaces of the first roller R1 and second roller R2 wear unevenly as the ticket medium P repeatedly passes through the gap G1.

[0044] The following explains the reason why the central parts C1 and C2 wear down. As shown in Figure 4, in the third direction Z, there is a gap between the first roller R1 and the pair of conveying rollers Ra5. Also, in the third direction Z, there is a gap between the second roller R2 and the connecting member 48 (specifically, the extensions 48b and 48c). In other words, both ends of the first roller R1 and both ends of the second roller R2 in the third direction Z have degrees of freedom. Furthermore, as described above, since the first roller R1 and the second roller R2 are made of rubber, when a ticket medium P is inserted into the gap G1 and a load is applied to the outer surfaces of the first roller R1 and the second roller R2, both ends of the first roller R1 and the second roller R2 can move outward. On the other hand, the central parts C1 and C2 of the first roller R1 and the second roller R2 have no degree of freedom and cannot move outwards. As a result, the central parts C1 and C2 of the first roller R1 and the second roller R2 wear down in proportion to the number of ticket media P passing through the gap G1.

[0045] Next, we will explain how to detect the wear amount of the first roller R1 and the second roller R2. As described above, the first roller R1 and the second roller R2 are made of rubber and have degrees of freedom at both ends. Therefore, when the first roller R1 and the second roller R2 are worn, the displacement d1 from the first position to the second position becomes larger compared to when the first roller R1 and the second roller R2 are new. In other words, the greater the wear of the first roller R1 and the second roller R2, the greater the displacement d1 becomes.

[0046] Based on the above, the amount of wear on the first roller R1 and the second roller R2 can be detected by comparing the initial displacement of the second roller R2 from the first position to the second position when the first roller R1 and the second roller R2 are new with the displacement amount d1 detected after using the automatic ticket gate device 10. Specifically, the amount of wear can be detected by calculating the difference between the initial displacement amount and the displacement amount d1. The conveying device according to this embodiment can detect the amount of wear multiple times and predict the future trend of wear based on the detected amount of wear.

[0047] Next, we will explain the prediction of future wear trends. Figure 11 is a graph showing the relationship between the operating time of the automatic ticket gate 10 and the displacement d1 of the second roller R2. In Figure 11, the detected value D is shown as a solid line, and the function F created based on the detected value D is shown as a dashed line. As shown in Figure 11, the detected value D is the displacement amount d1 actually detected by the displacement detection unit 30 from when the first roller R1 and the second roller R2 were new until 20 months had passed since the start of use. The detected value D increases from the initial displacement amount id as the operating time progresses. The rate of increase of the detected value D varies depending on the time of year, for example, it is smaller during periods when student use decreases, such as during summer vacation and winter vacation.

[0048] Function F is a curve created by approximating the detected value D, and it increases with the passage of operating time. Function F exists even during periods when the detected value D is not present, and in one example, it exists even in the prediction period after 20 months have elapsed. Function F in the prediction period corresponds to the future change in displacement amount d1. As described above, since the automatic ticket gate device 10 of this embodiment can detect the amount of wear based on the amount of wear d1, it can predict the future change in the amount of wear based on function F.

[0049] The threshold Th corresponds to the displacement d1 of the second roller R2 at which the wear amount of the first roller R1 and the second roller R2 reaches a value that warrants replacing the first roller R1 and the second roller R2 with new ones. In one example, it is set to 100 μm. The replacement time T1 is the time when the function F reaches the threshold Th. The replacement period T2 is the period from before the predetermined period before replacement period T1 until after the predetermined period before replacement period T1 has elapsed. From the above, the automatic ticket gate device 10 of this embodiment can calculate replacement times T1 and T2 from the future changes in displacement amount d1 and a threshold Th. Alternatively, replacement times T1 and T2 may be calculated from the future changes in wear amount and a threshold obtained by converting the threshold Th into wear amount.

[0050] Next, we will explain the process for predicting replacement times T1 and T2. Figure 12 is a flowchart showing an example of a process for predicting replacement times T1 and T2. As shown in Figure 12, when processing begins, first the controller 92 activates the automatic ticket gate 10 based on the operator's instructions via the operation unit 98 (S1). Next, the controller 92 starts automatic gap adjustment, sets the gap adjustment mechanism 56 to its initial state, and turns on the solenoid 82 to press the second roller R2 against the first roller R1 with the pressing mechanism 76 (S2).

[0051] Next, the controller 92 detects the wear amount of the first roller R1 and the second roller R2 based on the initial displacement amount id and the displacement amount d1 detected by the displacement detection unit 30 (S3), and stores the detected wear amount in the memory 94 (S4). After that, the controller 92 drives the third motor 72 to set the zero point, then turns off the solenoid 82 to release the pressure of the second roller R2 on the first roller R1 by the pressing mechanism 76 (S5), and adjusts the gap G1 to the desired size by moving the motor shaft 78 of the third motor 72 upward, taking into account the displacement amount d1 (and displacement amount d2), and ends the automatic gap adjustment (S6).

[0052] Next, the controller 92 determines whether the number of times the wear amount has been detected exceeds a predetermined number (S7). If the number of times the wear amount has been detected does not exceed the predetermined number, it performs the processes from step S1 to step S7. More specifically, the processes from step S1 to step S7 are performed when the power to the automatic ticket gate 10 is turned off and then turned on again. If the number of times the wear amount has been detected exceeds the predetermined number (S7), the controller 92 creates a function F based on the detected displacement amount d1, which is the detected value D, and predicts the future trend of the wear amount based on the function F (S8).

[0053] Next, the controller 92 calculates the replacement times T1 and T2 for the first roller R1 and the second roller R2 based on threshold values ​​and future wear trends pre-stored in the memory 94 (S9), notifies the external system of the future wear trends and replacement times T1 and T2 via the notification unit 96 (S10), and then terminates the process of predicting the replacement times T1 and T2. The predetermined number of times in step S7 may be one or two, but it is preferable to have more times in order to accurately predict the change in the amount of wear. Step 7 may also be a process to determine whether the number of times the amount of wear has been detected at any given time has exceeded the predetermined number. Furthermore, step S10 may be a process that notifies only one of the future wear rate trends and replacement timings T1 and T2.

[0054] The effects of this embodiment will be described below. According to the conveying device of this embodiment, the conveying device comprises a first roller R1 and a second roller R2, a pressing mechanism 76 that presses the second roller R2 against the first roller R1, a controller 92 having a displacement detection unit 30 that detects the amount of displacement d1 of the second roller R2 from a first position to a second position, and a wear detection unit 93 that detects the amount of wear based on the amount of displacement d1. The wear detection unit 93 detects the amount of wear based on the difference between the initial displacement amount id and the detected displacement amount d1. This allows for the management of the wear amounts of the first roller R1 and the second roller R2, resulting in a highly reliable conveying device.

[0055] The conveying device further includes a third motor 72 as an actuator that moves the second roller R2 away from the first roller. The controller 92 adjusts the size of the gap G1 according to the displacement d1. The controller 92 detects the amount of wear multiple times, stores the detected amount of wear in the memory 94, and predicts the future trend of wear based on the stored amount of wear. The controller 92 calculates the replacement times T1 and T2 for the first roller R1 and the second roller R2 based on the projected future wear rate and threshold values ​​stored in memory. The controller 92 notifies external parties via the notification unit 96 of future wear trends and replacement timings T1, T2, etc. This allows the first roller R1 and the second roller R2 to be replaced with new ones before malfunctions such as ticket jams occur due to wear and tear on the first roller R1 and the second roller R2, thereby improving the operating rate of the automatic ticket gate device 10.

[0056] The controller 92 adjusts the size of the gap G1 after detecting the amount of wear. This makes it possible to suppress a decrease in operating efficiency caused by detecting the amount of wear while the automatic ticket gate 10 is in operation, when the automatic gap adjustment is performed during periods when no ticket medium P is inserted, such as when the automatic ticket gate 10 is started. The pressing mechanism 76 has a solenoid 82 that can be switched between ON and OFF, and when the solenoid 82 is ON, it presses the second roller R2 against the first roller R1.

[0057] While embodiments of the present invention have been described, these embodiments are presented as examples only and are not intended to limit the scope of the invention. The novel embodiments described above can be implemented in various other forms, and various omissions, substitutions, and modifications can be made without departing from the spirit of the invention. The above embodiments and their variations are included in the scope and spirit of the invention, as well as in the claims of the invention and its equivalents. For example, we have described an example in which the amount of wear is detected based on the displacement of the second roller when the second roller R2 is pressed against the first roller R1, but the amount of wear may also be detected based on the displacement when the first roller R1 is pressed against the second roller R2. [Explanation of symbols]

[0058] 10...Automatic ticket gate device, 20...Separation device, 22...Conveying mechanism, 26...Feed roller, 28...Separation roller, 30...Displacement detection unit, 36...Conveying path, 56...Gap adjustment mechanism, 72...Third motor, 76...Pressing mechanism, 78...Motor shaft, 82...Solenoid, 92...Controller, 93...Wear detection unit, 94...Memory, 96...Notification unit, G1...Gap, P...Ticket medium, R1...First roller, R2...Second roller, T1, T2...Replacement timing, Th...Threshold, d1...Displacement amount, id...Initial displacement amount.

Claims

1. A transport mechanism that transports the inserted ticket medium along a transport path, A first roller and a second roller are provided facing each other across the aforementioned transport path, A pressing mechanism for pressing the second roller against the first roller, A displacement detection unit that detects the amount of displacement from the first position of the second roller in the initial state in which the first roller and the second roller are in contact, to the second position of the second roller in the state in which the pressing mechanism presses the second roller against the first roller, The controller includes a wear detection unit that detects the amount of wear on the first roller and the second roller based on the amount of displacement detected by the displacement detection unit. Conveying device.

2. The wear detection unit detects the amount of wear based on the difference between the initial displacement and the displacement detected by the displacement detection unit. The conveying device according to claim 1.

3. The system further includes an actuator that moves the second roller away from the first roller, After detecting the amount of wear with the wear detection unit, the controller adjusts the size of the gap between the first roller and the second roller according to the amount of displacement using the actuator. The conveying device according to claim 1 or 2.

4. The controller has a memory, detects the amount of wear multiple times at arbitrary intervals, sequentially stores the detected wear amounts in the memory, and predicts the future trend of wear based on the stored wear amounts. The conveying device according to claim 1 or 2.

5. The controller stores a threshold value indicating the amount of wear that necessitates the replacement of the first and second rollers, and calculates the replacement timing for the first and second rollers based on the threshold value and the projected future wear amount. The conveying device according to claim 4.

6. It is equipped with a notification unit that can send information to the outside, The controller notifies the external party of the replacement time. The conveying device according to claim 5.

7. The pressing mechanism has a solenoid that presses the second roller. The conveying device according to claim 1 or 2.

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