Method for taking out paper sheets and paper sheet take-out processing system

Abstract

A method for taking out paper sheets that is capable of accurately taking out paper sheets (for example, separator cards) stored in a paper sheet storage container one-by-one at low cost. In this paper sheet taking-out method, air is blown from the side of or below the paper sheet while it is in a spread state, so that the upper surface of the paper sheet is raised. In this state, sucking the upper surface of the paper sheet by a suction mechanism allows for taking out the paper sheet with high accuracy.

1 - 7 . (canceled) 
     
     
         8 . A method for taking out paper sheets one-by-one from a paper sheet storage container, the method comprising:
 blowing air into the paper sheet storage container from the side of or below an uppermost paper sheet in a stack of paper sheets within the paper sheet storage container causing at least a portion of the uppermost paper sheet to spread away from an adjacent paper sheet therebelow; and   while the uppermost paper sheet is in a spread state, suctioning an upper surface of the uppermost paper sheet using a suction mechanism thereby capturing the uppermost paper sheet from the paper sheet storage container.   
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 8  further comprising blowing air into the the paper sheet storage container from the side of or below an uppermost paper sheet within the paper sheet storage container causing a center portion of the uppermost paper sheet to spread from an adjacent paper sheet therebelow. 
     
     
         10 . The method of  claim 8  further comprising lifting the suction mechanism to remove the captured uppermost paper sheet from the paper sheet storage container. 
     
     
         11 . The method of  claim 8  further comprising retaining one or more edges of the uppermost paper sheet to prevent, due to the blowing of the air into the paper sheet storage container, the uppermost paper sheet from exiting the paper sheet storage container before being captured by the suction mechanism. 
     
     
         12 . A method for taking out paper sheets one-by-one from a paper sheet storage container, the method comprising:
 (i) while holding at least an end portion of an uppermost paper sheet, blowing air from the side of or below an uppermost paper sheet creating a space between a raised portion of the uppermost paper sheet and a neighboring paper sheet; and   (ii) capturing the uppermost paper sheet by suctioning the raised portion of the upper surface of the paper sheet via a suction mechanism.   
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 12  further comprising lowering the suction mechanism from above to capture the uppermost paper sheet. 
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 13  further comprising lowering the suction mechanism from above to capture the uppermost paper sheet proximate the raised portion of the uppermost paper sheet. 
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 13  further comprising lifting the suction mechanism and captured uppermost paper sheet thereby removing the uppermost paper sheet from the paper sheet storage container. 
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 14  further comprising lifting the suction mechanism and captured uppermost paper sheet thereby removing the uppermost paper sheet from the paper sheet storage container. 
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 12  further comprising blowing air into the the paper sheet storage container from the side of or below an uppermost paper sheet within the paper sheet storage container creating a space between a center portion of the uppermost paper sheet and neighboring paper sheet. 
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 14  further comprising blowing air into the the paper sheet storage container from the side of or below an uppermost paper sheet within the paper sheet storage container creating a space between a center portion of the uppermost paper sheet and neighboring paper sheet. 
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 13  further comprising stopping the lowering of the suction mechanism and lifting the suction mechanism responsive to (i) a pressure in the suction mechanism becoming less than a predetermined value or (ii) an amount of decrease in the pressure in the suction mechanism becoming greater than a predetermined value. 
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 14  further comprising stopping the lowering of the suction mechanism and lifting the suction mechanism responsive to (i) a pressure in the suction mechanism becoming less than a predetermined value or (ii) an amount of decrease in the pressure in the suction mechanism becoming greater than a predetermined value. 
     
     
         21 . The method of  claim 13  further comprising lowering a tip of the suction mechanism no farther than a position above, and not in contact with, an upper surface of the uppermost paper sheet. 
     
     
         22 . The method of  claim 14  further comprising lowering a tip of the suction mechanism no farther than a position above, and not in contact with, an upper surface of the uppermost paper sheet. 
     
     
         23 . A system for removing paper sheets one-by-one from a paper sheet storage container, comprising:
 a paper sheet storage container configured to store a plurality of paper sheets;   a pump configured to cause air to flow into the paper sheet storage container; and   a suction mechanism;   wherein the paper sheet storage container includes:
 a bottom portion; 
 a paper sheet placing table configured to place paper sheets; 
 an elastic member, disposed between the bottom portion and the paper sheet placing table, for urging the paper sheet placing table upward; 
 a holding member configured to hold paper sheets placed on the paper sheet placing table together with the paper sheet placing table; and 
 a side wall portion arranged to surround the paper sheet placing table, the side wall portion provided with one or more holes for causing air from the pump to flow to a vicinity near an uppermost paper sheet when the plurality of paper sheets are placed on the paper sheet placing table to create a space between the uppermost paper sheet and adjacent paper sheet; and 
   wherein when air fom the pump is flowing into the paper sheet storage container, the suction mechanism is configured to move downward from above to capture the uppermost paper sheet near the space and then move upward with the captured uppermost paper sheet thereby removing the uppermost paper sheet from the paper sheet storage container.   
     
     
         24 . The system of  claim 23  wherein the suction mechanism is configured to stop lowering and move upward responsive to (i) a pressure in the suction mechanism becoming less than a predetermined value or (ii) an amount of decrease in the pressure in the suction mechanism becoming greater than a predetermined value. 
     
     
         25 . The system of  claim 23  wherein the paper sheet storage container is configured to retain one or more edges of the uppermost paper sheet. 
     
     
         26 . The system of  claim 23  wherein the space is created between a center portion of the uppermost paper sheet and the adjacent paper sheet. 
     
     
         27 . The system of  claim 23  wherein a tip of the suction mechanism is moved downward no farther than a position above, and not in contact with, an upper surface of the uppermost paper sheet.