Sheet feeding method, sheet feeding apparatus, sheet feeding program, and learning model

Abstract

A sheet feeding apparatus, includes: a loading table on which a plurality of sheets are loaded; a flotation air supply unit that causes the sheets to float by supplying air toward the edge surfaces of the plurality of sheets which are loaded on the loading table; a suction conveying unit that suctions and conveys the topmost sheet among the plurality of sheets which are caused to float by the supply of air; an image capturing unit that captures an image of a flotation state of the plurality of sheets which are caused to float by the supply of air; a control parameter adjusting unit that adjusts control parameters of the flotation air supply unit based on information on the flotation state obtained from the image captured by the image capturing unit; and a control unit that controls the flotation air supply unit based on the control parameters.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A sheet feeding apparatus, comprising:
 a loading table on which a plurality of sheets are loaded;   a flotation air supply unit that causes the sheets to float by supplying air toward the edge surfaces of the plurality of sheets which are loaded on the loading table;   a suction conveying unit that suctions and conveys the topmost sheet among the plurality of sheets which are caused to float by the supply of air;   an image capturing unit that captures an image of a flotation state of the plurality of sheets which are caused to float by the supply of air;   a control parameter adjusting unit that adjusts control parameters of the flotation air supply unit based on information on the flotation state obtained from the image captured by the image capturing unit; and   a control unit that controls the flotation air supply unit based on the control parameters adjusted by the control parameter adjusting unit.   
     
     
         2 . The sheet feeding apparatus as defined in  claim 1 , wherein:
 the control parameter adjusting unit obtains at least one of a position of the floating sheets, a number of floating sheets, a state of suction to the suction conveying unit, a shifted state of the sheets, and a scattered state of the sheets as information on the flotation state.   
     
     
         3 . The sheet feeding apparatus as defined in  claim 1 , wherein:
 the control parameter adjusting unit adjusts the control parameters based on the information on the flotation state obtained from the captured image and the results of sheet feeding.   
     
     
         4 . The sheet feeding apparatus of any of  claim 1 , wherein:
 the control parameter adjusting unit adjusts the control parameters based on the information on the flotation state obtained from the captured image, sheet quality information, and the results of sheet feeding.   
     
     
         5 . The sheet feeding apparatus as defined in  claim 1 , wherein:
 the control parameter adjusting unit adjusts the control parameters using a learning model obtained by prior reinforcement learning of the relationship between predetermined control parameters and the flotation state information obtained from the captured image when sheet feeding was performed using the predetermined control parameters.   
     
     
         6 . The sheet feeding apparatus as defined in  claim 5 , wherein:
 the learning model is trained by rewards which are determined based on at least one of the flotation state and the result of sheet feeding.   
     
     
         7 . The sheet feeding apparatus as defined in  claim 6 , wherein:
 the control parameter adjusting unit terminates adjustment of the control parameters when positive rewards are obtained consecutively by the same control parameters.   
     
     
         8 . A sheet supply method, comprising:
 causing a plurality of sheets of paper which loaded on a loading table to float by supplying air toward edge surfaces of the sheets;   suctioning and conveying the topmost sheet of the plurality of floating sheets;   capturing an image of a flotation state of the plurality of sheets of paper by supplying the air;   adjusting control parameters of a flotation air supply unit that supplies the air based on information on the flotation state obtained from the captured image; and   controlling the flotation air supply unit based on the adjusted control parameters.   
     
     
         9 . A non-transitory computer-readable recording medium containing a sheet supply program that causes a computer to execute the steps of:
 causing a plurality of sheets of paper which loaded on a loading table to float by supplying air toward edge surfaces of the sheets;   suctioning and conveying the topmost sheet of the plurality of floating sheets;   capturing an image of a flotation state of the plurality of sheets of paper by supplying the air;   adjusting control parameters of a flotation air supply unit that supplies the air based on information on the flotation state obtained from the captured image and:   controlling the flotation air supply unit based on the adjusted control parameters.   
     
     
         10 . A learning model which is employed when adjusting control parameters of a flotation air supply unit of the sheet feeding apparatus of  claim 1 , which is obtained by:
 reinforcement learning a relationship between predetermined control parameters and information on a flotation state obtained from a captured image captured by an image capturing unit of the sheet feeding apparatus when a sheet is fed employing the predetermined parameters.