SHEET FEEDING APPARATUS

Abstract

A sheet feeding apparatus has: a sheet feeding unit configured to transport, in a feed direction, a sheet arranged at a sheet feeding position; a sheet bundle loading unit configured to load a sheet bundle including multiple sheets fed by the sheet feeding unit; a lift mechanism configured to move the sheet bundle loading unit vertically so that the uppermost sheet loaded on the sheet bundle loading unit is arranged at the sheet feeding position; and a transfer mechanism configured to hold and transfer the externally supplied sheet bundle onto the sheet bundle loading unit. The transfer mechanism has a sheet bundle holding unit configured to hold the externally supplied sheet bundle and a transfer unit configured to transfer the sheet bundle from the sheet bundle holding unit onto the sheet bundle loading unit to establish a state where the sheet bundle is loaded on the sheet bundle loading unit.

Claims

1. A sheet feeding apparatus comprising: a sheet feeding unit configured to transport, in a feed direction, a sheet arranged at a sheet feeding position; a sheet bundle loading unit configured to load a sheet bundle including a plurality of sheets fed by the sheet feeding unit; a lift mechanism configured to move the sheet bundle loading unit in a height direction so that the uppermost sheet loaded on the sheet bundle loading unit is arranged at the sheet feeding position; and a transfer mechanism configured to hold the sheet bundle supplied from outside and transfer the sheet bundle onto the sheet bundle loading unit, wherein the transfer mechanism has a sheet bundle holding unit configured to hold the sheet bundle supplied from outside, and a transfer unit configured to transfer the sheet bundle from the sheet bundle holding unit onto the sheet bundle loading unit so as to establish a state where the sheet bundle is loaded on the sheet bundle loading unit.

2. The sheet feeding apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the transfer mechanism has a position adjusting unit configured to adjust a position in the feed direction of the sheet bundle holding unit relative to the sheet bundle loading unit.

3. The sheet feeding apparatus according to claim 2 further comprising a detecting unit configured to detect that an end of the sheet bundle reached a predetermined position in the feed direction, wherein the position adjusting unit moves the sheet bundle holding unit in the feed direction based on a detection result from the detecting unit so that a position in the feed direction of the sheet bundle matches a target position.

4. The sheet feeding apparatus according to claim 2, wherein the transfer mechanism has a direction adjusting unit configured to rotate the sheet bundle holding unit about an axis running in the height direction to adjust a direction relative to the feed direction of the sheet bundle held by the sheet bundle holding unit.

5. The sheet feeding apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the sheet bundle loading unit has a plurality of loading members arranged with spacing in the feed direction, each extending in a width direction orthogonal to the feed direction, and configured to support the sheet bundle, wherein the sheet bundle holding unit has a plurality of holding members arranged with spacing in the feed direction, each extending in the width direction, and configured to support the sheet bundle, and wherein the transfer unit transfers the sheet bundle from the sheet bundle holding unit onto the sheet bundle loading unit by switching a first state to a second state, the first state being a state where the plurality of holding members are arranged spaced apart in the width direction from the plurality of loading members, and the second state being a state where the holding members and the loading members are arranged alternatingly in the feed direction and arranged overlapped with each other in the width direction.

6. The sheet feeding apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the sheet bundle loading unit has a loading member extending in a width direction orthogonal to the feed direction and configured to support the sheet bundle, wherein the sheet bundle holding unit holds a plate-like part at a predetermined height, the sheet bundle being placed on the plate-like part, and wherein the transfer unit transfers the sheet bundle onto the sheet bundle loading unit by switching a first state to a second state, the first state being a state where the sheet bundle holding unit is arranged spaced apart in the width direction from the loading member, and the second state being a state where the plate-like part and the loading member are arranged overlapped with each other in the width direction and the loading member is arranged below the plate-like part.

7. The sheet feeding apparatus according to claim 6, wherein the sheet bundle holding unit holds a pallet having the plate-like part and a plurality of leg parts, the plurality of leg parts being configured to hold the plate-like part at the predetermined height with respect to the sheet bundle holding unit.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0023] FIG. 1 is a perspective view illustrating a sheet processing system according to one embodiment of the present disclosure, which illustrates a first state where holding members of a transfer mechanism are spaced apart in the width direction from loading members of a sheet bundle loading unit.

[0024] FIG. 2 is a perspective view illustrating the sheet processing system according to one embodiment of the present disclosure, which illustrates a second state where the holding members of the transfer mechanism are arranged overlapped in the width direction with the loading members of the sheet bundle loading unit.

[0025] FIG. 3 is a perspective view illustrating the sheet processing system according to one embodiment of the present disclosure, which illustrates a state where the sheet bundle holding unit holds a sheet bundle in the first state.

[0026] FIG. 4 is a perspective view illustrating the sheet processing system according to one embodiment of the present disclosure, which illustrates a state where the sheet bundle is loaded on the sheet bundle loading unit in the second state.

[0027] FIG. 5 is a perspective view illustrating the sheet processing system according to one embodiment of the present disclosure, which illustrates a state where the uppermost sheet of the sheet bundle is arranged at a sheet feeding position.

[0028] FIG. 6 is a block diagram illustrating a control configuration of a sheet feeding apparatus according to one embodiment of the present disclosure.

[0029] FIG. 7 is a flowchart illustrating a process performed by the sheet feeding apparatus according to one embodiment of the present disclosure.

[0030] FIG. 8 is a plan view illustrating the sheet feeding apparatus in the first state where the holding members of the sheet bundle holding unit are spaced apart in the width direction from the loading members of the sheet bundle loading unit.

[0031] FIG. 9 is a plan view of the sheet feeding apparatus illustrating a state where an automatic transport vehicle has supplied a sheet bundle to the sheet bundle holding unit of the sheet feeding apparatus in the first state.

[0032] FIG. 10 is a plan view illustrating the sheet feeding apparatus in a state where the sheet detecting unit detects the end in the feed direction of a sheet bundle.

[0033] FIG. 11 is a plan view illustrating the sheet feeding apparatus in a state where the sheet detecting unit detects the end in the width direction of a sheet bundle.

[0034] FIG. 12 is a plan view illustrating a state where the end in the feed direction of a sheet bundle is arranged at the sheet feeding position in the sheet feeding apparatus in the first state.

[0035] FIG. 13 is a perspective view illustrating a modified example of a sheet processing system, which illustrates the first state where the sheet bundle holding unit of the transfer mechanism is spaced apart in the width direction from the loading members of the sheet bundle loading unit.

[0036] FIG. 14 is a perspective view illustrating the modified example of the sheet processing system, which illustrates the second state where the sheet bundle holding unit of the transfer mechanism is arranged overlapped in the width direction with the loading members of the sheet bundle loading unit.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0037] A sheet processing system 1 according to one embodiment of the present disclosure will be described below with reference to the drawings. FIG. 1 and FIG. 2 are perspective views illustrating the sheet processing system 1 according to one embodiment of the present disclosure. FIG. 1 illustrates a first state where holding members 41a of a transfer mechanism 40 are spaced apart in the width direction WD from loading members 21 of a sheet bundle loading unit 20. FIG. 2 illustrates a second state where the holding members 41a of the transfer mechanism 40 are arranged overlapped in the width direction WD with the loading members 21 of the sheet bundle loading unit 20.

[0038] As illustrated in FIG. 1 and FIG. 2, the sheet processing system 1 includes a sheet feeding apparatus 100 and a sheet processing apparatus 200. The sheet feeding apparatus 100 is an apparatus that transports sheets P (see FIG. 5) one by one in the feed direction FD that are arranged at the sheet feeding position. The sheet processing apparatus 200 is an apparatus that performs sheet processing, such as a folding process, on the sheet P transported from the sheet feeding apparatus 100.

[0039] As illustrated in FIG. 1 and FIG. 2, the sheet feeding apparatus 100 includes a sheet feeding unit 10, the sheet bundle loading unit 20, a lift mechanism 30, the transfer mechanism 40, and a sheet detecting unit 50. Although, in FIG. 1 and FIG. 2, the sheet detecting unit 50 is provided to only a single location, other forms may be employed. For example, sheet detecting units 50 may be provided to multiple locations.

[0040] The sheet feeding unit 10 is a device that is rotated about an axis Y1 running in the width direction WD, which is orthogonal to the feed direction FD and is the horizontal direction, and thereby transports the uppermost sheet P (see FIG. 5), which is loaded on the sheet bundle loading unit 20, one by one in the feed direction FD.

[0041] The sheet bundle loading unit 20 is a device that loads thereon the sheet bundle B including a plurality of sheets P fed by the sheet feeding unit 10. The sheet bundle loading unit 20 has a plurality of loading members 21 arranged with spacing in the feed direction FD, each extending in the width direction WD orthogonal to the feed direction FD, and configured to support the sheet bundle B.

[0042] The lift mechanism 30 is a mechanism that moves the sheet bundle loading unit 20 in the height direction HD so that the uppermost sheet P loaded on the sheet bundle loading unit 20 is arranged at the sheet feeding position.

[0043] The transfer mechanism 40 is a mechanism that holds the sheet bundle B supplied from outside and transfers the sheet bundle B onto the sheet bundle loading unit 20. For example, the transfer mechanism 40 is preferably structured to be detachably attached to a body 100a of the sheet feeding apparatus 100.

[0044] The outside as used herein represents, for example, an automatic transport vehicle that transports the sheet bundle B including a plurality of sheets P on which a printing process has been performed by a printing apparatus (not illustrated) to the sheet feeding apparatus 100 or a carriage that has a function of loading the sheet bundle B and is moved by an operator. The transfer mechanism 40 has a sheet bundle holding unit 41, a transfer unit 42, a position adjusting unit 43, and a direction adjusting unit 44.

[0045] The sheet bundle holding unit 41 is a device that holds the sheet bundle B supplied from outside and has a plurality of holding members 41a, which are arranged with spacing in the feed direction FD, each extend in the width direction WD, and support the sheet bundle B, and a plate-like member 41b to which the plurality of holding members 41a are attached. The sheet bundle holding unit 41 is attached via the direction adjusting unit 44 (see FIG. 6) to the transfer unit 42 rotatably about the axis Z1 running in the height direction HD.

[0046] The transfer unit 42 is a device that transfers the sheet bundle B from the sheet bundle holding unit 41 onto the sheet bundle loading unit 20 so as to establish a state where the sheet bundle B is loaded on the sheet bundle loading unit 20. The transfer unit 42 transfers the sheet bundle B from the sheet bundle holding unit 41 onto the sheet bundle loading unit 20 by switching the first state where the plurality of holding members 41a are arranged spaced apart in the width direction WD from the plurality of loading members 21 (see FIG. 1) to a second state where the holding members 41a and the loading members 21 are arranged alternatingly in the feed direction FD and arranged overlapped with each other in the width direction WD. The transfer unit 42 has a fixing part 42a fixed to the body 100a of the sheet feeding apparatus 100 and a motion part 42b movable in the width direction WD with respect to the fixing part 42a.

[0047] Now referring to FIG. 3 to FIG. 5, an operation of the transfer unit 42 transferring the sheet bundle B from the sheet bundle holding unit 41 onto the sheet bundle loading unit 20 will be described. FIG. 3 to FIG. 5 are perspective views illustrating the sheet processing system 1 according to one embodiment of the present disclosure. FIG. 3 illustrates a state where the sheet bundle holding unit 41 holds the sheet bundle B in the first state. FIG. 4 illustrates a state where the sheet bundle B is loaded on the sheet bundle loading unit 20 in the second state. FIG. 5 illustrates a state where the uppermost sheet P of the sheet bundle B is arranged at the sheet feeding position.

[0048] As illustrated in FIG. 3, the sheet bundle B supplied from outside is held by the sheet bundle holding unit 41 in the first state where the plurality of holding members 41a are arranged spaced apart in the width direction WD from the plurality of loading members 21. When the motion part 42b has been moved from the state illustrated in FIG. 3 in a direction approaching the fixing part 42a along the width direction WD, the second state illustrated in FIG. 4 is established. The sheet bundle loading unit 20 is moved upward in the height direction HD by the lift mechanism 30 in the second state illustrated in FIG. 4, and thereby the state illustrated in FIG. 5 is established.

[0049] The position adjusting unit 43 is a device that adjusts the position in the feed direction FD of the sheet bundle holding unit 41 relative to the sheet bundle loading unit 20. The position adjusting unit 43 moves the transfer unit 42 forward or backward in the feed direction FD and thereby adjusts the position in the feed direction FD of the sheet bundle holding unit 41 attached to the transfer unit 42. Although, in FIG. 3 to FIG. 5, the position adjusting unit 43 moves the entire transfer unit 42 forward or backward in the feed direction FD, other forms may be employed. For example, the position adjusting unit 43 may be arranged between the fixing part 42a and the motion part 42b of the transfer unit 42 to move the motion part 42b forward or backward in the feed direction FD with respect to the fixing part 42a.

[0050] The direction adjusting unit 44 is a device that rotates the sheet bundle holding unit 41 about the axis Z1 running in the height direction to adjust the direction relative to the feed direction FD of the sheet bundle B held by the sheet bundle holding unit 41. For example, when the orientation of the sheet P of the sheet bundle B with respect to the feed direction FD supplied from outside to the sheet bundle holding unit 41 is opposite to the direction intended for the process to be performed by the sheet processing apparatus 200, the direction adjusting unit 44 rotates the sheet bundle holding unit 41 by 180 degrees about the axis Z1 to reverse the orientation of the sheet P of the sheet bundle B with respect to the feed direction FD.

[0051] The sheet detecting unit 50 is a device that detects that the end in the feed direction FD of the sheet bundle B has reached a first predetermined position Px (see FIG. 10) in the feed direction FD and that the end in the width direction WD of the sheet bundle B has reached a second predetermined position Py (see FIG. 11) in the width direction WD.

[0052] The control unit 60 is a device that controls the sheet feeding apparatus 100. FIG. 6 is a block diagram illustrating the control configuration of the sheet feeding apparatus 100 according to one embodiment of the present disclosure. The control unit 60 transfers control signals to the sheet feeding unit 10, the lift mechanism 30, the motion part 42b, the position adjusting unit 43, and the direction adjusting unit 44 to control each of them. Further, a detection result about the end of the sheet bundle B is transferred to the control unit 60 from the sheet detecting unit 50.

[0053] Although, in the sheet feeding apparatus 100 illustrated in FIG. 3 to FIG. 5, the transfer unit 42 of the transfer mechanism 40 has the motion part 42b that is movable in the width direction WD with respect to the fixing part 42a, other forms may be employed. For example, the transfer unit 42 may have the motion part 42b that is movable in the feed direction FD with respect to the fixing part 42a. In such a case, the sheet bundle loading unit 20 has a plurality of loading members 21, which are arranged with spacing in the width direction WD, each extend in the feed direction FD orthogonal to the width direction WD, and support the sheet bundle B.

[0054] Next, the control method of the sheet feeding apparatus 100 of the present embodiment will be described with reference to FIG. 7. FIG. 7 is a flowchart illustrating the process performed by the sheet feeding apparatus according to one embodiment of the present disclosure. Each process illustrated in FIG. 7 is performed by a control program of the control unit 60.

[0055] In step S101, in response to accepting input from the operator, the control unit 60 sets sizes in the feed direction FD and the width direction WD of the sheet bundle B loaded on the sheet bundle loading unit 20.

[0056] In step S102, in response to accepting input from the operator, the control unit 60 sets whether or not to adjust, by 180 degrees, the direction relative to the feed direction FD of the sheet bundle B transferred from outside onto the transfer mechanism 40.

[0057] In step S103, in response to accepting input from the operator, the control unit 60 determines whether or not the sheet bundle B has been supplied to the transfer mechanism 40 from outside. If the determination is YES, the control unit 60 proceeds with the process to step S104, or if the determination is NO, the control unit 60 repeats the process of step S103.

[0058] FIG. 8 is a plan view illustrating the sheet feeding apparatus 100 in the first state where the holding members 41a of the sheet bundle holding unit 41 are spaced apart in the width direction WD from the loading members 21 of the sheet bundle loading unit 20. FIG. 9 is a plan view of the sheet feeding apparatus 100 illustrating a state where an automatic transport vehicle 400 has supplied the sheet bundle B to the sheet bundle holding unit 41 of the sheet feeding apparatus 100 in the first state.

[0059] When the sheet bundle B is supplied from the automatic transport vehicle 400 to the sheet bundle holding unit 41 of the sheet feeding apparatus 100 in the first state illustrated in FIG. 8, a plurality of forks 410 of the automatic transport vehicle 400 are inserted between the holding members 41a arranged with spacing in the feed direction FD, and thereby the state illustrated in FIG. 9 is established. When the plurality of forks 410 of the automatic transport vehicle 400 have been lowered in the state illustrated in FIG. 9, a state where the sheet bundle B is held by the plurality of holding members 41a of the sheet bundle holding unit 41 is established.

[0060] In step S104, the control unit 60 controls the direction adjusting unit 44 to perform a direction adjusting operation. If it is set in step S102 to adjust the direction relative to the feed direction FD of the sheet bundle B by 180 degrees, the control unit 60 rotates the sheet bundle holding unit 41 by 180 degrees about the axis Z1 to reverse the direction relative to the feed direction FD of the sheet bundle B and proceeds with the process to step S105. If it is set in step S102 not to adjust the direction relative to the feed direction FD of the sheet bundle B, the control unit 60 proceeds with the process to step S105 without rotating the sheet bundle holding unit 41 about the axis Z1.

[0061] In step S105, the control unit 60 controls the position adjusting unit 43 to start moving the sheet bundle holding unit 41 in the feed direction FD.

[0062] In step S106, based on the detection result transferred from the sheet detecting unit 50, the control unit 60 determines whether or not the end in the feed direction FD of the sheet bundle B is detected by the sheet detecting unit 50. If the determination is YES, the control unit 60 proceeds with the process to step S107, or if the determination is NO, the control unit 60 repeats the determination of step S106. FIG. 10 is a plan view illustrating the sheet feeding apparatus 100 in a state where the sheet detecting unit 50 detects the end Ba in the feed direction FD of the sheet bundle B. When the state illustrated in FIG. 10 where the end Ba matches the first predetermined position Px on the axis X parallel to the feed direction FD has been established, the control unit 60 determines YES and proceeds with the process to step S107.

[0063] In step S107, the control unit 60 determines a stop position in the feed direction FD of the sheet bundle B based on the size in the feed direction FD of the sheet bundle B set in step S101 and the timing of detection of the end Ba in the feed direction FD of the sheet bundle B detected in step S106 and controls the position adjusting unit 43 to stop the motion in the feed direction FD of the sheet bundle holding unit 41 at the determined stop position. The control unit 60 determines a stop position in the feed direction FD of the sheet bundle B so that the stop position is a position where the loading members 21 do not interfere with the holding members 41a.

[0064] In step S108, the control unit 60 controls the motion part 42b to start moving the sheet bundle holding unit 41 in the width direction WD.

[0065] In step S109, based on the detection result transferred from the sheet detecting unit 50, the control unit 60 determines whether or not the end in the width direction WD of the sheet bundle B is detected by the sheet detecting unit 50. If the determination is YES, the control unit 60 proceeds with the process to step S110, or if the determination is NO, the control unit 60 repeats the determination of step S109. FIG. 11 is a plan view illustrating the sheet feeding apparatus 100 in a state where the sheet detecting unit 50 detects the end Bb in the width direction WD of the sheet bundle B. When the state illustrated in FIG. 11 where the end Bb matches the second predetermined position Py on the axis Y parallel to the width direction WD has been established, the control unit 60 determines YES and proceeds with the process to step S110.

[0066] In step S110, the control unit 60 determines a stop position in the width direction WD of the sheet bundle B based on the size in the width direction WD of the sheet bundle B set in step S101 and the timing of detection of the end Bb in the width direction WD of the sheet bundle B detected in step S109. The control unit 60 determines a position where the center position Bc in the width direction WD of the sheet bundle B matches the axis X as a stop position.

[0067] In step S111, the control unit 60 determines whether or not the center position Bc in the width direction WD of the sheet bundle B has reached the stop position matching the axis X. If the determination is YES, the control unit 60 proceeds with the process to step S112, or if the determination is NO, the control unit 60 repeats the process of step S111. Based on the time elapsed from the state illustrated in FIG. 11 and the moving speed in the width direction WD of the sheet bundle holding unit 41 moved by the motion part 42b, the control unit 60 determines whether or not the center position Bc in the width direction WD of the sheet bundle B has reached the stop position matching the axis X.

[0068] In step S112, the control unit 60 controls the motion part 42b to stop the motion in the width direction WD of the sheet bundle holding unit 41.

[0069] In step S113, the control unit 60 controls the position adjusting unit 43 to move the sheet bundle holding unit 41 by a predetermined distance in the feed direction FD. The predetermined distance as used herein is the distance from the first predetermined position Px at which the end Ba in the feed direction FD of the sheet bundle B is arranged to an end face 100b in the feed direction FD of the body 100a of the sheet feeding apparatus 100. Based on the detection result from the sheet detecting unit 50, the control unit 60 moves the sheet bundle holding unit 41 in the feed direction FD so that the position in the feed direction FD of the sheet bundle B matches the target position. Although, in the example illustrated in FIG. 11 and FIG. 12, the first predetermined position Px matches the position at which the sheet detecting unit 50 detects the end Ba in the feed direction FD of the sheet bundle B, the first predetermined position Px may be a different position from the position at which the sheet detecting unit 50 detects the end Ba in the feed direction FD of the sheet bundle B.

[0070] The control unit 60 moves the sheet bundle holding unit 41 by a predetermined distance in the feed direction FD to obtain the state illustrated in FIG. 12 where the end Ba in the feed direction FD of the sheet bundle B abuts against the end face 100b in the feed direction FD of the body 100a. FIG. 12 is a plan view illustrating a state where the end Ba in the feed direction FD of the sheet bundle B is arranged at the sheet feeding position in the sheet feeding apparatus 100 in the first state. As illustrated in FIG. 12, the control unit 60 performs step S113 to obtain a state where the end Ba in the feed direction FD of the sheet bundle B is arranged at the sheet feeding position in the feed direction FD.

[0071] In step S114, the control unit 60 controls the lift mechanism 30 to raise the sheet bundle B in the height direction HD so as to be arranged at the sheet feeding position at which the uppermost sheet P of the sheet bundle B comes into contact with the sheet feeding unit 10.

[0072] In step S115, the control unit 60 controls the sheet feeding unit 10 to start a sheet feeding operation in a state where the position in the feed direction FD of the sheet bundle B is arranged at the sheet feeding position abutted against the end face 100b and also the position in the height direction HD of the sheet bundle B is arranged at the sheet feeding position at which the uppermost sheet P of the sheet bundle B comes into contact with the sheet feeding unit 10. The sheet feeding unit 10 transports the uppermost sheet P of the sheet bundle B one by one in the feed direction FD. As the number of sheets P of the sheet bundle B decreases, the control unit 60 raises the sheet bundle loading unit 20 by using the lift mechanism 30 to maintain the state where the uppermost sheet P of the sheet bundle B is arranged at the sheet feeding position.

OTHER EMBODIMENTS

[0073] Although, in the above description, the sheet bundle holding unit 41 of the transfer mechanism 40 has a plurality of holding members 41a each extending in the width direction WD and configured to support the sheet bundle B and the plate-like member 41b to which the plurality of holding members 41a are attached, other forms may be employed. For example, the sheet bundle holding unit 41 may be embodied as a modified example having only the plate-like member 41b without having the plurality of holding members 41a.

[0074] FIG. 13 is a perspective view illustrating a modified example of the sheet processing system 1, which illustrates the first state where the sheet bundle holding unit 41 of the transfer mechanism 40 is spaced apart in the width direction WD from the loading members 21 of the sheet bundle loading unit 20. FIG. 14 is a perspective view illustrating the modified example of the sheet processing system 1, which illustrates the second state where the sheet bundle holding unit 41 of the transfer mechanism 40 is arranged overlapped in the width direction WD with the loading members 21 of the sheet bundle loading unit 20.

[0075] As illustrated in FIG. 13 and FIG. 14, the sheet bundle holding unit 41 has only the plate-like member 41b and holds, on the plate-like member 41b, a pallet 300 configured to load the sheet bundle B thereon. The pallet 300 has a plate-like part 301 configured to place the sheet bundle B thereon, a plurality of leg parts 302 configured to hold the plate-like part 301 at a predetermined height relative to the plate-like member 41b of the sheet bundle holding unit 41, and a plate-like part 303 attached to the bottom end of the leg parts 302 and supported by the plate-like member 41b.

[0076] The transfer unit 42 transfers the sheet bundle B onto the sheet bundle loading unit 20 by switching the first state (see FIG. 13) where the sheet bundle holding unit 41 is arranged spaced apart in the width direction WD from the plurality of loading members 21 to the second state where the pallet 300 and the loading members 21 are arranged overlapped with each other in the width direction WD and the loading members 21 are arranged below the plate-like part 301. When moved upward in the height direction HD by the lift mechanism 30, the sheet bundle loading unit 20 holds the plate-like part 301 to move the pallet 300 and the sheet bundle B upward in the height direction HD.

[0077] As illustrated in FIG. 13, in the pallet 300, a space is formed by the leg parts 302 between the plate-like part 301 and the plate-like part 303. When the pallet 300 is loaded on the transfer unit 42 of the transfer mechanism 40 of the present modified example, the forks 410 of the automatic transport vehicle 400 can be inserted in the width direction WD into the space of the pallet 300, and the pallet 300 can be moved in the width direction WD and placed on the transfer unit 42. Further, when the pallet 300 is loaded on the transfer unit 42 of the transfer mechanism 40 of the present modified example, the forks 410 of the automatic transport vehicle 400 can be inserted in the feed direction FD into the space of the pallet 300, and the pallet 300 can be moved in the feed direction FD and placed on the transfer unit 42.

[0078] Further, although the sheet detecting unit 50 of the present embodiment is a single detecting unit configured to detect that the end in the feed direction FD of the sheet bundle B has reached the first predetermined position Px in the feed direction FD and that the end in the width direction WD of the sheet bundle B has reached the second predetermined position Py in the width direction WD, other forms may be employed. For example, the sheet detecting units 50 having a first detecting unit and a second detecting unit, respectively, may be employed in which the first detecting unit detects that the end in the feed direction FD of the sheet bundle B has reached the first predetermined position Px in the feed direction FD and the second detecting unit detects that the end in the width direction WD of the sheet bundle B has reached the second predetermined position Py in the width direction WD. In such a case, the first detecting unit and the second detecting unit may be arranged at different positions.

[0079] Further, although the sheet detecting unit 50 of the present embodiment is arranged by being fixed to a predefined position of the sheet feeding apparatus 100, other forms may be employed. For example, the sheet detecting unit 50 may be arranged movably with respect to the body 100a of the sheet feeding apparatus 100. In such a case, the sheet detecting unit 50 is moved in the width direction WD with respect to the body 100a of the sheet feeding apparatus 100, and a stop position in the width direction WD of the sheet bundle B is determined based on a timing that the sheet detecting unit 50 detects the end in the width direction WD of the sheet bundle B. Similarly, the sheet detecting unit 50 is moved in the feed direction FD with respect to the body 100a of the sheet feeding apparatus 100, and a stop position in the feed direction FD of the sheet bundle B is determined based on a timing that the sheet detecting unit 50 detects the end in the feed direction FD of the sheet bundle B.

[0080] The effects and advantages achieved by the sheet feeding apparatus 100 of the present embodiment described above will be described.

[0081] According to the sheet feeding apparatus 100 of the present embodiment, the sheet bundle B supplied from outside is held by the sheet bundle holding unit 41 of the transfer mechanism 40, and the sheet bundle B is transferred from the sheet bundle holding unit 41 onto the sheet bundle loading unit 20 by the transfer unit 42 of the transfer mechanism 40. The sheet bundle B transferred onto the sheet bundle loading unit 20 is moved in the height direction HD by the lift mechanism 30 so that the uppermost sheet P is arranged at the sheet feeding position. The uppermost sheet P of the sheet bundle B arranged at the sheet feeding position is transported one by one in the feed direction FD by the sheet feeding unit 10. According to the sheet feeding apparatus 100 of the present embodiment, the sheet bundle B supplied from outside can be suitably transferred onto the sheet bundle loading unit 20, and the uppermost sheet P of the sheet bundle B can be transported from the sheet feeding position.

[0082] According to the sheet feeding apparatus 100 of the present embodiment, the position in the feed direction FD of the sheet bundle B supplied from outside to the sheet bundle holding unit 41 is adjusted to a desired position suitable for the sheet bundle loading unit 20 by the position adjusting unit 43, and thereby the sheet bundle B can be suitably transferred from the sheet bundle holding unit 41 onto the sheet bundle loading unit 20.

[0083] According to the sheet feeding apparatus 100 of the present embodiment, it is detected by the sheet detecting unit 50 that the end Ba of the sheet bundle B has reached the first predetermined position Px in the feed direction FD, and based on the detection result therefrom, the position adjusting unit 43 moves the sheet bundle holding unit 41 in the feed direction FD so that the position in the feed direction FD of the sheet bundle B matches the target position. Accordingly, the sheet bundle B can be suitably transferred from the sheet bundle holding unit 41 onto the sheet bundle loading unit 20.

[0084] According to the sheet feeding apparatus 100 of the present embodiment, the sheet bundle holding unit 41 is rotated about the axis Z1 running in the height direction HD by the direction adjusting unit 44 to adjust the direction relative to the feed direction FD of the sheet bundle B held by the sheet bundle holding unit 41, and thereby the direction relative to the feed direction FD of the sheet bundle B supplied from outside to the sheet bundle holding unit 41 can be suitably adjusted.

[0085] According to the sheet feeding apparatus 100 of the present embodiment, the sheet bundle B supplied from outside is held by the plurality of holding members 41a extending in the width direction WD. The transfer unit 42 switches the first state where the plurality of holding members 41a of the sheet bundle holding unit 41 are arranged spaced apart in the width direction WD from the plurality of loading members 21 of the sheet bundle loading unit 20 to the second state where the holding members 41a and the loading members 21 are arranged alternatingly in the feed direction FD and arranged overlapped with each other in the width direction WD, and thereby a state where the sheet bundle B is arranged above the plurality of loading members 21 of the sheet bundle loading unit 20 is established. The second state is a state where the sheet bundle B has been transferred from the sheet bundle holding unit 41 onto the sheet bundle loading unit 20, the lift mechanism 30 is operated in this state, and thereby the sheet bundle B can be loaded on the sheet bundle loading unit 20 and moved to the sheet feeding position.

OTHER EMBODIMENTS

[0086] Although each sheet P loaded on the sheet bundle loading unit 20 is a flat sheet in the above description, other forms may be employed. For example, the sheet P may be a fold section with a plurality of flat sheets being stacked and folded. Further, the sheet P may be a book block with a plurality of flat sheets being bound with a glue or a wire. Further, the sheet P may be a bound book with a cover page being attached to a book block. When the sheet P is a material including a plurality of flat sheets, such as a fold section, a book block, or a bound book, the sheet feeding unit 10 of the sheet feeding apparatus 100 transports the sheet P including a plurality of flat sheets one by one in the feed direction FD.

[0087] Further, although the sheet feeding unit 10 illustrated in FIG. 1 to FIG. 5 is rotated about the axis Y1 running in the width direction WD orthogonal to the feed direction FD and thereby transports, in the feed direction FD, the uppermost sheet P loaded on the sheet bundle loading unit 20, other forms may be employed. For example, the sheet feeding unit 10 may be a unit configured to suck, from above, the uppermost sheet P loaded on the sheet bundle loading unit 20 by using one or a plurality of suction mechanisms (not illustrated) and transport the sucked sheet P in the feed direction FD. The sheet feeding unit 10 having such a suction mechanism is preferably used in particular when the sheet P is a book block or a bound book.