Multiple sheets feeding detection apparatus, sorter, and method of detecting multiple sheets feeding

• US 7,307,532 B2
• Filed: 06/01/2005
• Issued: 12/11/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 06/14/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: NEC Corporation
• Original Assignee: NEC Corporation
• Inventors: Ikeda, Kenichi, Hasegawa, Yasuhiko
• Primary Examiner(s): TRIEU, VAN THANH
• Application Number:
  US11/141,397
• Publication Number:
  US 20050274791A1
• Time in Patent Office: 923 Days
• Field of Search: 340/572.1, 340/572.4, 340/573.1, 340/568.1, 340/539.1, 340/539.13, 340/505, 340/825.69, 235/382, 235/384, 235/385, 235/492, 396/578, 399/8
• US Class Current: 340/572.1
• CPC Class Codes: B65H 2220/01 indicating an entity as a function of which control, adjustment or change is performed, i.e. input
• CPC Class Codes: B65H 2220/03 indicating an entity which is measured, estimated, evaluated, calculated or determined but which does not constitute an entity which is adjusted or changed by the control process per se
• CPC Class Codes: B65H 2511/40 Identification
• CPC Class Codes: B65H 2511/51 Presence
• CPC Class Codes: B65H 2511/512 Marks, e.g. invisible to the human eye; Patterns
• CPC Class Codes: B65H 2511/524 Multiple articles, e.g. double feed
• CPC Class Codes: B65H 2553/52 RFID sensor
• CPC Class Codes: B65H 2701/1244 RFID [Radio Frequency Identification Data] transponder
• CPC Class Codes: B65H 2701/1912 Banknotes, bills and cheques or the like
• CPC Class Codes: B65H 7/12 responsive to double feed or separation

Abstract

A multiple sheets feeding detection apparatus, sorter, and method of detecting multiple sheets feeding are provided which can ensure reliable detection of multiple sheets feeding without causing any damage to target objects and can increase the processing capability by high-speed detecting operations.

The multiple sheets feeding detection apparatus comprises a passage detector that detects passage of a target object, a management code detector that receives management code information wirelessly sent from an RFID tag of the target object, a controller that determines a carrier state of the target object on the basis of passage information and the management code information, and outputs a multiple feed signal when multiple sheets feeding occurs, and removal portion for removing the target object from carrier portion upon receipt of the multiple feed signal.

Claims

1. A multiple sheets feeding detection apparatus comprising:

a passage detector that detects passage of a target object and outputs passage information, the target object being carried by carrier means and having an RFID tag attached thereto;

a management code detector that receives management code information wirelessly sent from the RFID tag and outputs the management code information; and

a controller that receives inputs of the passage information and the management code information, determines a carrier state of the target object in accordance with the passage information and the management code information, and outputs a multiple feed generation signal when multiple sheets feeding occurs.

2. The multiple sheets feeding detection apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising:

removal means for removing the target object from the carrier means upon receipt of the multiple feed signal.

3. The multiple sheets feeding detection apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the target object is a paper sheet.

4. The multiple sheets feeding detection apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the RFID tag is attached indirectly to the target object.

5. The multiple sheets feeding detection apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the controller sends and writes predetermined information corresponding to the carrier state of the target object to the RFID tag by way of the management code detector.

6. A sorter sorting target object to be sorted, comprising:

a feeder that feeds the target objects;

a drop unit that drops the target objects;

carrier means for carrying the target objects from the feeder to the drop unit; and

the multiple sheets feeding detection apparatus of claim 1, the multiple sheets feeding detection apparatus being disposed along the carrier means.

7. A method of detecting multiple sheets feeding, comprising:

a passage detecting step of detecting passage of a target object and outputting passage information, the target object being carried by carrier means and having an RFID tag attached thereto;

a management code detecting step of receiving management code information wirelessly sent from the RFID tag and outputting the management code information; and

a controlling step of receiving inputs of the passage information and the management code information, determining a carrier state of the target object in accordance with the passage information and the management code information, and outputting a multiple feed signal when multiple sheets feeding occurs.

8. The method of detecting multiple sheets feeding according to claim 7, further comprising:

a removing step of removing the target object from the carrier means upon receipt of the multiple feed signal.

9. The method of detecting multiple sheets feeding according to claim 7, wherein the target object is a paper sheet.

10. The method of detecting multiple sheets feeding according to claim 7, wherein the RFID tag is attached indirectly to the target object.

11. The method of detecting multiple sheets feeding according to claim 7, wherein the controlling step includes sending and writing predetermined information corresponding to the carrier state of the target object to the RFID tag through the management code detecting step.