Abstract: A sheet transport apparatus including an upstream-side transport unit configured to hold a sheet and transport the sheet by rotating; a downstream-side transport unit configured to hold the sheet and further transport the sheet by rotating, the downstream-side transport unit being arranged at such a position that an unrestrained transport section is formed where the sheet is not held downstream in transport direction from the upstream-side transport unit; an upstream-side air-feed unit configured to form an air flow that flows downstream in transport direction on both sides of a transport plane of the sheet in the unrestrained transport section; and a controller configured to control the upstream-side air-feed unit to start forming an air flow before a leading edge of the sheet reaches the unrestrained transport section from the upstream-side transport unit, and to stop the air flow before a trailing edge of the sheet reaches the unrestrained transport section.

Abstract: In one embodiment, a supply mechanism is provided. The supply mechanism supplies accumulated paper sheets to a takeout position sequentially. A takeout belt having adsorption hole runs along a surface of the takeout position. An opening of a negative pressure chamber is arranged so as to face the takeout belt. A suction unit sucks air existing at the takeout position via the opening and the adsorption holes. The suction unit causes a negative pressure to act on each of the paper sheets so that each is adsorbed onto an adsorption surface of the takeout belt. The suction unit has an air supply port to supply air into the negative pressure chamber. The air supply port is arranged so that the air supplied via the air supply port is directed to a position and in a direction different from those of the opening.

Abstract: A sheet transport apparatus including an upstream-side transport unit configured to hold a sheet and transport the sheet by rotating; a downstream-side transport unit configured to hold the sheet and further transport the sheet by rotating, the downstream-side transport unit being arranged at such a position that an unrestrained transport section is formed where the sheet is not held downstream in transport direction from the upstream-side transport unit; an upstream-side air-feed unit configured to form an air flow that flows downstream in transport direction on both sides of a transport plane of the sheet in the unrestrained transport section; and a controller configured to control the upstream-side air-feed unit to start forming an air flow before a leading edge of the sheet reaches the unrestrained transport section from the upstream-side transport unit, and to stop the air flow before a trailing edge of the sheet reaches the unrestrained transport section.

Abstract: According to one embodiment, a sheet handling apparatus includes a conveying path to convey a sheet, a processing portion to perform a predetermined process on the sheet while conveying the sheet on the conveying path, a separable roller pair that is arranged at a certain distance from the processing portion on an upstream side or a downstream side in conveying direction, the separable roller pair being adapted to hand over the sheet between the conveying path and the processing portion by holding the sheet with a nip and rotating, a separating mechanism to separate the separable roller pair, and a controller that controls the separating mechanism such that the separable roller pair is separated before or after processing is started with the processing portion on a sheet that is conveyed on the conveying path.

Abstract: According to one embodiment, a sheet handling apparatus includes a conveying path to convey a sheet, a processing portion to perform a predetermined process on the sheet while conveying the sheet on the conveying path, a separable roller pair that is arranged at a certain distance from the processing portion on an upstream side or a downstream side in conveying direction, the separable roller pair being adapted to hand over the sheet between the conveying path and the processing portion by holding the sheet with a nip and rotating, a separating mechanism to separate the separable roller pair, and a controller that controls the separating mechanism such that the separable roller pair is separated before or after processing is started with the processing portion on a sheet that is conveyed on the conveying path.

Abstract: A paper sheet pickup device includes a pickup belt configured to run along one of accumulated paper sheets, which is positioned at the most downstream side with respect to a direction of accumulation, and a negative pressure chamber provided inside the pickup belt. The negative pressure chamber is connected to a pump, and a valve unit is interposed therebetween. Further, an air inlet tube is connected to the negative pressure chamber for supplying air therein.

Abstract: A valve unit which circulates and blocks air has a first block connected to upstream suction tubes, a second block facing this first block and connected to downstream suction tubes, a shield plate disposed in a space S between the first block and the second block, and a motor which rotates this shield plate. The shield plate is provided with a connection hole which connects the upstream suction tube to the downstream suction tube, and a connection hole which connects the upstream suction tube to the downstream suction tube.

Abstract: According to one embodiment, a weight detecting device includes a conveying portion to convey a sheet-like article, a vibration source causing the conveying portion to oscillate; a sensor to detect a weight of the sheet-like article while it is being conveyed by the conveying portion, an A/D converter portion to sample and digitize an output of the sensor at a predetermined period, and a calculating portion to calculate a weight of the sheet-like article by determining an average of a plurality of detection signal values digitized by the A/D converter portion after subjecting the detection signal values to statistical processing.

Abstract: A sheet take-out apparatus includes a supplying structure configured to move a plurality of sheets supplied in a stacking state in a stacking direction and supply a sheet at a leading edge thereof in a movement direction to a take-out position, a take-out structure configured to make contact with the sheet supplied to the take-out position and rotate, thereby taking out the sheet in a direction almost orthogonal to the stacking direction, and move the sheet to a conveying route, a suction structure configured to generate an air current to suck the sheet at the leading edge in the movement direction to the take-out position on an upstream side of a position where the take-out structure makes contact with the sheet in the sheet take-out direction by the take-out structure, and a controller configured to control an operation of the suction structure so as to decrease suction force by the suction structure when the sheet at the leading edge in the movement direction is not taken out by the take-out structure.

Abstract: A valve device is provided with a first block connected to an upstream-side suction tube that is connected to a negative-pressure chamber, a second block connected to a downstream-side suction tube that is connected to a pump, first and second shielding plates rotatably interposed between the first and second blocks, and servo motors for rotating the shielding plates. Each of the shielding plates has a plurality of air passing holes, and are rotated in opposite directions.

Abstract: A stiffness detector includes a bending portion configured to bend a paper sheet to be carried. The stiffness detector transmits acoustic waves to an incidence point on an inner surface of the paper sheet which is bent by the bending portion and is carried, thereby exciting Lamb waves. The stiffness detector receives leaky waves of the Lamb waves emitted from a detection point on the inner surface of the paper sheet. The stiffness detector specifies a maximum crest value based on the received signals, and judges whether the paper sheet is an unimpaired sheet based on the specified maximum crest value.

Abstract: A feeding device for feeding each of accumulated mail items P onto a conveyance path includes a pickup belt which runs along a pickup position, and a negative-pressure chamber opposing the pickup position with the pickup belt interposed therebetween. When each mail item is picked up from the pickup position and reaches a nip between conveyance belts, air is introduced into the negative-pressure chamber to eliminate negative pressure therein.

Abstract: A sheet handling apparatus is provided that includes a take-out member to take out a sheet from a take-out position by rotating the sheet in a state in which negative pressure is applied to the sheet and the sheet is adsorbed to the take-out member. A conveyor portion receives and conveys the taken out sheet by the take-out member and a control portion controls the take-out member such that, when the sheet at the take-out position is being adsorbed to the take-out member, the take-out member is rotated at a circumferential speed that is slower than a conveying speed of the sheet at the conveyor portion. In addition, when the sheet adsorbed to the take-out member is being transferred to the conveyor portion, the take-out member is rotated at a circumferential speed that is the same as a conveying speed of the conveyor portion at that time.

Abstract: According to one embodiment, a sheet handling apparatus includes a conveying path to convey a sheet, a processing portion to perform a predetermined process on the sheet while conveying the sheet on the conveying path, a separable roller pair that is arranged at a certain distance from the processing portion on an upstream side or a downstream side in conveying direction, the separable roller pair being adapted to hand over the sheet between the conveying path and the processing portion by holding the sheet with a nip and rotating, a separating mechanism to separate the separable roller pair, and a controller that controls the separating mechanism such that the separable roller pair is separated before or after processing is started with the processing portion on a sheet that is conveyed on the conveying path.

Abstract: A paper sheet pickup device includes a pickup belt configured to run along one of accumulated paper sheets, which is positioned at the most downstream side with respect to a direction of accumulation, and a negative pressure chamber provided inside the pickup belt. The negative pressure chamber is connected to a pump, and a valve unit is interposed therebetween. Further, an air inlet tube is connected to the negative pressure chamber for supplying air therein.

Abstract: A paper sheet pickup device includes a pickup belt configured to run along one of accumulated paper sheets, which is positioned at the most downstream side with respect to a direction of accumulation, and a negative pressure chamber provided inside the pickup belt. The negative pressure chamber is connected to a pump, and a valve unit is interposed therebetween. Further, an air inlet tube is connected to the negative pressure chamber for supplying air therein.

Abstract: According to one embodiment, a sheet handling apparatus includes a take-out member to take out a sheet from a take-out position by rotating in a state in which a negative pressure is applied to the sheet at the take-out position and the sheet is adsorbed to the take-out member; a conveyor portion to receive and convey the sheet taken out from the take-out position by the take-out member; and a control portion to control the take-out member such that, when the sheet at the take-out position is being adsorbed to the take-out member, the take-out member is rotated at a circumferential speed that is slower than a conveying speed of the sheet at the conveyor portion, and when the sheet adsorbed to the take-out member is being transferred to the conveyor portion, the take-out member is rotated at a circumferential speed that is the same as a conveying speed of the conveyor portion at that time.

Abstract: A weight measuring device for measuring the weight of a sheet-like article, comprising: a conveying unit that is arranged along a conveying route to convey the sheet-like article to be measured, the conveying unit being adapted to rotate while contacting the sheet-like article without being applied by a driving force from outside after receiving the sheet-like article from the conveying route, and transporting the sheet-like article in its rotation direction while supporting the weight of the sheet-like article; and a scale to measure the weight of the conveying unit in a state in which the conveying unit supports the weight of the sheet-like article and transports the sheet-like article.

Abstract: According to one embodiment, a pickup device includes a separation mechanism for applying, to a to-be-subsequently-fed mail item picked up from accumulated mail items, a separation force exerting in a direction opposite to a mail item pickup direction. The separation mechanism comprises an outer drum with suction holes that face the to-be-subsequently-fed mail item during rotation, an inner drum provided inside and concentric with the outer drum and having air holes that overlap with the suction holes during rotation, a pump for drawing air through the suction holes facing the to-be-subsequently-fed mail item and the air holes overlapping with them to attach the to-be-subsequently-fed mail item to the outer peripheral surface of the outer drum. A controller rotates the inner and outer drums in association with each other to apply a sufficient separation force to the to-be-subsequently-fed mail item.

Abstract: According to one embodiment, a sheet take out apparatus includes a supply table on which sheets are stacked; a detecting portion configured to detect a state of a top surface of the stacked sheets; a cylindrical take out rotor which is rotatably provided so as to face an end portion on a take out side of a top sheet and partially includes a suction hole to attract the sheet, the take out rotor taking out the sheets one by one by attracting the end portion on the take out side of the sheet with rotation; a suction portion which is provided inside the take out rotor and includes an air hole to attract the sheet through the suction hole, the suction portion provided so as to allow the air hole to rotationally move between a first opening position and a second opening position, the first opening position having a first distance away from the end portion on the take out side of the sheet, the second opening position having a second distance, which is longer than the first distance, away from the end portion on the