Nec Corporation

Toshiharu Kubota

Yasuo Nishijima

Hiroyuki Nagatani

Masahiko Noguchi

Tsutomu Sasage

Kunio Hiromori

Information indicating whether or not the current sorting operation is the final one is preset in a control section. Then, a bar code reader recognizes sorting information of paper objects by reading respective bar codes printed on the paper objects that are supplied one by one from a paper object supply section. A bar code erasing section erases the bar codes after the bar codes have been read, if the information indicating the current sorting operation is the final one is preset in the control section. If the current sorting operation is not the final one, the bar codes are not erased. The paper objects are sorted based on the sorting information recognized by the bar code reader, and stacked in stores. Being capable of erasing the bar codes printed on the paper objects before they are distributed to users, a paper object sorting apparatus of the present invention has an advantage that it is free from a possibility of giving the users uncomfortable feeling. Further, since the bar codes can be printed on the paper objects with a substance that can be checked by the naked eye, it is possible to check the printing quality of the bar codes.

Paper object sorting apparatus having means for erasing bar codes

An apparatus applicable to a sheet article processing system for temporarily accumulating sheet articles which come in arbitrarily one by one or in a bunch and sending them out one by one at predetermined intervals. The apparatus includes a drive mechanism capable of starting and stopping the movement of a suction belt instantaneously, a sensor responsive to the leading edge of a sheet article which has been nipped by a downstream transport path, and a sensor responsive to the presence/absence of an interval between successive sheet articles which occurs between the downstream transport path and a reverse belt. Other sensors are provided for determining an interval between successive articles. A pick-up roller pair is driven at a controllable speed in matching relation to the interval between successive articles determined.

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Tokyo, Japan

Toshiharu Kubota