Microsystem Technologies

https://doi.org/10.1007/s00542-019-04556-3 (0123456789().,-volV)(0123456789().
,- volV)

TECHNICAL PAPER

Theoretical study on features of overlap-type and pressure-type sheet

separation mechanisms
Kazushi Yoshida1

Received: 26 February 2019 / Accepted: 18 July 2019

Ó Springer-Verlag GmbH Germany, part of Springer Nature 2019

Abstract
To clarify that the performance of an overlap-type sheet separation mechanism is superior to that of the pressure-type and
to determine the factor that makes the overlap-type version a multi feed mechanism, we examined the behavior of paper
sheets in both mechanisms. First, we introduced models that could calculate the resistance force and feed force acting on
the paper sheets in both sheet separation mechanisms. Based on the calculated resistance force and friction force between
the paper sheets, we studied the behavior of the paper sheets in each separation mechanism. We found that (1) in the
overlap-type sheet separation mechanism, slippage between piled paper sheets theoretically occurs proportionally to the
number of the piled paper sheets, and (2) in the pressure-type sheet separation mechanism, slippage between piled paper
sheets theoretically occurs only once, regardless of the number of piled paper sheets. Thus, when there are more than three
pieces of paper in the separation mechanism, multi feed is more difficult in the overlap-type one, and the overlap-type
mechanism is superior to the pressure-type sheet separation mechanism. Furthermore, we found that (3) the overlap-type
sheet separation mechanism has a set range for the thickness of paper sheets, which allows it to feed paper sheets one by
one, and the performance of multi feed is easily influenced by the feed force caused by the pickup rollers. Finally, (4) the
pressure-type sheet separation mechanism is robust with regard to the thickness of the paper sheets and the feed force
caused by the pickup rollers.

1 Introduction
Apparatus that handle paper sheets, such as copy machines,
printers, and automated teller machines (ATMs), are
widely used in our daily lives. Such apparatus are equipped
with sheet separation mechanisms to feed paper sheets one
by one. Although various sheet separation mechanisms
have ever been developed, mechanisms that separate paper
sheets one by one using friction force (called the ‘‘friction
type’’) have been widely used in copy machines, printers,
and ATMs from the point of view of cost and volume.
Friction-type sheet separation mechanisms are classified
roughly into two groups: pressure-type and overlap-type.
The pressure-type sheet separation mechanism is used in
copy machines and printers because its mechanism of
action is simple and low cost. However, its reliability is
& Kazushi Yoshida
kazushi.yoshida@rs.socu.ac.jp
1
Department of Mechanical Engineering, Sanyo-Onoda City
University, 1-1-1 Daigaku-Dori, Sanyo-Onoda,
Yamaguchi 756-0884, Japan
lower than that of the overlap-type one because multi feed
(or double-feed) occurs easily. On the other hand, although
the overlap-type sheet separation mechanism is complex
and high cost, it is used in apparatus in which high relia-
bility is required, such as ATMs and bill counters, because
it is difficult for a multi feed to occur. However, the
mechanism is not fail-safe, and when feeding a thin paper
sheet or when the pressure of a pickup roller is high, multi
feed occurs easily.
Although there are numerous patents for sheet separa-
tion mechanisms, including mechanism elements and
control methods, there have been few cases in which the
principle and the mechanism of the separation mechanism
have been studied academically. As an example of research
on sheet separation mechanisms, especially with regard to
overlap-type sheet separation mechanisms, a performance
evaluation by measuring the force acting on a paper sheet
entering an overlap portion composed of a feed roller and a
gate roller and an optimization of the gate roller shape
using finite element method analysis have been carried out
(Okayama et al. 1996; Suzuki et al. 1995; Kobayashi et al.
1996). Furthermore, the resistance force acting on a paper

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sheet entering an overlap portion (Mitsuyama et al. 2005)
and the separation performance based on an analysis of a
deformed paper sheet in an overlap portion have been
studied (Cheng et al. 2010). However, neither clarification
that the overlap-type sheet separation performance is
superior to the pressure-type one nor a detailed limit of
performance of the overlap-type sheet separation mecha-
nism has been studied. Therefore, we studied the theory of
sheet separation for both mechanisms to clarify that the
separation performance of the overlap-type sheet separa-
tion mechanism is superior to that of the pressure-type one.
We also examined the limit of performance of the overlap-
type sheet separation mechanism.
2 Sheet separation mechanisms and multi
feed
Figure 1 shows the structure of the overlap-type sheet
separation mechanism. The mechanism consists of pickup
rollers, feed rollers, gate rollers, and a push plate on which
paper sheets are piled. In this mechanism, the feed rollers
and gate rollers are arranged with a shift in the shaft
direction and with an overlap in the radial direction to
make the paper sheet deform into a wavy form, as shown in
Fig. 1. Figure 2 shows the structure of the pressure-type
sheet separation mechanism for paper sheets. The mecha-
nism consists of pickup rollers, feed rollers, gate rollers or
a friction pad, and a push plate on which paper sheets are
piled. In this mechanism, the feed rollers and gate rollers or
friction pad make contact with each other by a spring.
In these sheet separation mechanisms, the coefficients of
friction between the feed roller and the paper sheet (lfp ),
between the gate roller and the paper sheet (lgp ), and
between paper sheets next to each other (lpp ) are designed
to have the relationship shown by Eq. (1) to prevent double
feeding.
lfp  lgp  lpp ð1Þ
Fig. 1 Overlap-type sheet Feed roller Pickup roller
separation mechanism
Paper sheets
Gate roller
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In an overlap-type sheet separation mechanism, the
friction forces between the feed rollers and paper sheet,
between the gate rollers and paper sheet, and between the
paper sheets are generated by an elastic restoring force
caused by wavy deformation of the sheets. On the other
hand, in a pressure-type sheet separation mechanism, these
friction forces are generated by a spring force.
Figure 3 shows the forces that act on two pieces of paper
sheet in the sheet separation mechanism. On the first paper
sheet, the friction force from the feed roller and the pickup
roller acts as a feed force F, and the friction force lp P from
the second paper sheet acts as a resistance force. On the
second paper sheet, the friction force lp P from the first
paper sheet acts as a feed force, and the friction force from
the gate roller or the friction pad acts as a resistance force
R. Here, P is the pressure that acts on the paper sheets by
the feed roller, pickup roller, and the gate roller or the
friction pad. As the coefficients lfp , lgp , and lpp have the
relationship shown by Eq. (1), the first paper sheet can
move, but the second paper sheet cannot move. Thus, the
slippage that is necessary to separate the paper sheets one
by one occurs between the first and second paper sheets. If
the friction force lp P that acts on the first paper sheet is
greater than the feed force F from the feed rollers, then the
first paper sheet will not be fed (i.e., a miss-feed); and if the
friction force lp P that acts on the second paper sheet is
greater than the resistance force R from the gate roller or
the friction pad, the second paper sheet will be fed together
with the first paper sheet at the same time (i.e., a multi feed
or double-feed). This decreases the reliability of the sheet
separation mechanism. This is a basic principle of a sheet
separation mechanism.
What is strange is that although the basic principles of
both the overlap-type and the pressure-type separation
mechanism are the same as the principle described above,
there are differences in the occurrence of multi feed as
mentioned in Sect. 1. Therefore, to determine the cause, we
Feed rollers
Paper sheet
Push plate Gate rollers
Microsystem Technologies

Fig. 2 Pressure-type sheet Feed roller Pickup roller Feed roller

separation mechanism

Spring Paper sheets

Paper sheets means

Gate roller
Push plate Friction pad Push plate
(Reverse roller)

Fig. 3 Forces that act on two Pressure

paper sheets in sheet separation
mechanism
Feed force owing to Resistance force owing to friction
friction with feed roller P
F between paper sheets
and pickup roller

μp P

R
P Resistance force owing to friction
Feed force owing to friction
with gate means
between paper sheets Pressure

consider the case where there are three sheets of paper in
the paper separation mechanism.
Figure 4 shows forces that act on three pieces of paper
in a separation mechanism. On the first paper sheet, the
friction force from the feed roller and the pickup roller acts
as a feed force F, and the friction force lp12 P from the
second paper sheet acts as a resistance force. On the last
paper sheet, the friction force lp23 P from the second paper
sheet acts as a feed force, and the friction force from the
gate roller or the friction pad acts as a resistance force R.
Here, lp12 and lp23 are the coefficients of friction between
the first and the second paper sheets, and between the
second and last paper sheets, respectively.
As the second paper sheet, which is between the first and
the last paper sheets, does not contact the feed roller and
the gate roller or the friction pad, the feed force and
resistance forces are friction forces between paper sheets
that are next to each other. Thus, the friction force lp12 P
from the first paper sheet acts as the feed force, and the
friction force lp23 P from the last paper sheet acts as the
resistance force. For the second paper sheet, if lp12 is
smaller than lp23 , then the second paper sheet cannot
move. If lp12 is greater than lp23 , the second paper sheet is

Fig. 4 Forces that act on three Pressure

paper sheets in sheet separation
mechanism
Feed force owing to friction Resistance force owing to friction
with feed roller and P
F between paper sheets
pickup roller

μ p12 P

μ p23 P

R
Feed force owing to friction P Resistance force owing to friction
between paper sheets with gate means
Pressure

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fed with the first paper sheet, and a multi feed occurs.
However, in practice, it cannot be guaranteed that lp12 is
smaller than lp23 , so there is a possibility that a multi feed
will occur.
We thought that the difference in performance between
the overlap-type and pressure-type sheet separation mech-
anisms may be the behavior of the second and subsequent
paper sheets affected by the coefficient of friction. In order
to feed three or more paper sheets one by one, the sheet
separation mechanism must have a function that generates
slippage between the first and the second paper sheets. This
is accomplished by making the resistance force acting on
the second and subsequent paper sheets increase so that it is
greater than the friction force that acts as a feed force.
Therefore, we examined the behavior of the second and
subsequent paper sheets in the overlap-type and the pres-
sure-type sheet separation mechanisms in consideration of
the magnitude relation between the feed force and the
resistance force that act on the second and subsequent
paper sheets.
3 Models and formulations
3.1 Overlap-type sheet separation mechanism
Figure 5 shows a deformation area of the deformed paper
sheet between the feed rollers and the gate roller in the
overlap-type sheet separation mechanism. In this figure, A
is the deformed area of the paper sheet, and b is the width
of the deformed area. We confirmed that b is almost con-
stant even if the paper sheet moves between the feed roller
and the gate rollers. x ¼ 0 is the origin where the amount of
Deformed
b
area A
s
x l ¼ c3 b
x=0
Leading edge of
Deformed paper Paper sheet Gate roller Feed roller
δ0 t
δr
Gate roller
Elastic restoring force W
Fig. 5 Deformation area of deformed paper sheet between feed roller
and gate rollers
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Microsystem Technologies
overlap between the feed roller and the gate roller is the
maximum, x is the position of the leading edge of the paper
sheet, and s is the position from the origin where the
leading edge of the paper sheet begins to contact the feed
roller and the gate roller. Furthermore, d0 is the maximum
overlap amount between the feed roller and the gate roller,
dr is the real amount of deflection of the paper sheet, and t
is the thickness of the paper sheet. In the overlap-type sheet
separation mechanism, since the paper sheet deforms to a
wavy form, an elastic restoring force W is generated
between the rollers and the paper.
From Fig. 5, we can see that the deflection of a section
of the paper sheet is similar to a deflection of the simple
support beam shown in Fig. 6. The maximum value of the
deflection of the simple support beam shown in Fig. 6 is
obtained by the following Eq. (2) from the beam theory:
W 0 að3l2  4a2 Þ
ymax ¼ ð2Þ
24EI
where ymax is the maximum value of deflection, W 0 is the
load acting on the beam, l is the length of the beam, E is
Young’s modulus of the beam, I is the moment of inertia of
the area of the beam, and a is the distance from the support
end of the beam to the load point. Here, a is a value in the
range of 0\a\l=2. From Eq. (2), the load W 0 is obtained
by Eq. (3) as below:
24EI 24EI
W0 ¼  ymax ¼  ymax ð3Þ
að3l2  4a2 Þ kð3  4k2 Þ  l3
where k is the ratio of the distance a to the length of the
beam l.
Comparing Figs. 5 and 6, the overlap amount corre-
sponds to the maximum deflection amount of the simple
support beam, and the values of ðs  xÞ and b relate to the
moment of inertia of the area of the beam and the beam
length, respectively. Thus, ymax , I, and b can be represented
by the following equations, respectively:
ymax ¼ c1 dr ð4Þ
I ¼ c2 ðs  xÞ ð5Þ
ð6Þ
where c1 , c2 , and c3 are correction factors. Therefore, it is
considered that the elastic restoring force W that acts on the
a a
W’ W’
W’ W’
l
Fig. 6 Analytical model of simple support beam
Microsystem Technologies

paper sheet shown in Fig. 5 can be expressed by the fol-
lowing Eq. (7) obtained by substituting Eqs. (4), (5), and
(6) into Eq. (3):
24E
W¼  c 2 ð s  x Þ  c 1 dr ¼ a  dr  ð s  x Þ
kð3  4k2 Þ  ðc3 bÞ3
ð7Þ
From Eq. (7), a is the coefficient concerning the elas-
ticity of the paper sheet, the positions of the feed roller and
gate roller in the axial direction, and the configurations of
the feed roller and gate roller.
Figure 7 shows the geometric relationship between the
feed roller and gate roller. From Fig. 7, the overlap quan-
tity at position x is given by
   
d ¼ d0  rf 1  cos hf  rg 1  cos hg ð8Þ
where rf is the radius of the feed roller, rf is the radius of
the gate roller, and hf hg are the angles between the z axis
and the segments that link the origin to the points in the
periphery at position x of the feed roller and gate roller,
respectively. The equation shown below can be obtained
from Fig. 7:
x ¼ rf sin hf ¼ rg sin hg : ð9Þ
From Eqs. (8) and (9), we can calculate the overlap
quantity d. The real amount of deflection dr expressed in
Eq. (7) is obtained by the equation shown below with
consideration of the thickness of the paper sheet:
dr ¼ d þ t ð10Þ
As mentioned previously, the force W is an elastic
restoring force, and if the value of x is set, the value of W at
that position can be calculated by using Eqs. (7), (8), (9),
and (10).
The validity of Eq. (7) is verified by measuring the
torque acting on the gate roller of the overlap-type
separation mechanism described below. Figure 8 shows the
feed force Ff by the feed roller acting on the paper sheet in
the overlap sheet separation mechanism and the resistance
force Rg by the gate roller. We can calculate the feed force
Ff and resistance force Rg from the equations below:
F f ¼ lf  W ð11Þ
 
Rg ¼ lg  W þ lg  Ff  sin hf þ hg ð12Þ
where lf is the coefficient of friction between the feed
roller and the paper sheet, and lg is the coefficient of
friction between the gate roller and paper sheet. From
Fig. 8, we can see that the pressure caused by a component
of feed force Ff acts on the gate roller. Thus, the resistance
force owing to the pressure expressed by the second term
on the right side of Eq. (12) is added to the resistance force
from the gate roller expressed by the first term.
Figure 9 shows the experimental apparatus, which
consists of two feed rollers, one gate roller, one pickup
roller, a push plate, torque transducer, and stepping motor.
The torque transducer is connected to the shaft of the gate
rollers. The feed rollers and pickup rollers are driven by the
stepping motor. We calculate the resistance force Fr from
the measured resistance torque of the gate roller. Further-
more, we calculate the value of x using the number of
pulses input to the stepping motor and the value of s
determined geometrically.
Figure 10 shows a comparison between the calculated
and experimental results of resistance force Fr. In this
figure, Fr is the value normalized with the experimental
value at x = 0.1 being 1. We can see that there is clearly
good agreement between both results. Thus, we find that
the elastic restoring force W of a paper sheet in the overlap-
type sheet separation mechanism can be calculated using
Eq. (7) by considering Eqs. (8), (9), and (10).
3.2 Pressure-type sheet separation mechanism

z Figure 11 shows a pressure-type sheet separation mecha-

Of nism composed of the same feed roller and gate roller as
the overlap-type separation mechanism shown in Fig. 1.
Arc of gate roller Here, Fp is the feed force acting on the paper sheet from the
θf rf
pickup roller, Rg is the resistance force acting on the paper
sheet from the gate roller, Nf is the contact force between
O x the paper sheet and the feed roller, and Ng is the contact
force between the paper sheet and the gate roller. hpf is the
x angle between the point on the feed roller where the feed
Arc of feed roller roller contacts with the paper sheet and point O, where the
θg rg
feed roller and the gate contact with each other. hpg is the
angle between the point on the gate roller where the gate
Og roller contacts with the paper sheet and point O. The angles
hpf 0 and hpg0 where the feed roller and gate roller begin to
Fig. 7 Geometric relationship between feed roller and gate roller

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Fig. 8 Feed force and resistance

force acting on paper sheet in Of Of
overlap-type sheet separation Outer circumference
θf Outer circumference
mechanism
of feed roller θf
of feed roller
Rg W
Paper sheet Paper sheet
− Ff

θ f + θg Ff Ff
θg θg Outer circumference
Outer circumference
of gate roller of gate roller
Og Og

Torque transducer Feed roller Gate roller Feed roller Pickup roller
rf

Feed roller
Nf

θ pf
Pickup roller Gate roller
t

Gate roller
Ff Rg
tN
θ pg
Push plate Stepping motor rg Ng
Ps Paper sheet
Fig. 9 Experimental apparatus to measure torque acting on gate roller Spring

1.4 Fig. 11 Pressure-type sheet separation mechanism composed of feed

roller and gate roller
1.2 Experiment
Normalized resistance force

1.0 Ps ¼ Ng cos hpg þ Rg sin hpg : ð15Þ

Calculation
0.8 where Ps is the pressure applied to the gate roller by the
0.6 spring.
Now, we consider that angles hpf and hpg are small
0.4
because the thickness of the paper sheet is thin. We can
0.2 obtain the following relationship after the paper sheets
enter the nip between the feed roller and the gate roller:
0.0
-1.0 -0.5 0 0.5 1.0 1.5 2.0 2.5
Nf ¼ Ng ffi Ps : ð16Þ
Distance from origin x (mm)
Therefore, the maximum values of the feed force and
Fig. 10 Calculation and experimental results of resistance force resistance force acting on the paper sheets are, respectively,

contact with paper sheets of thickness tN are obtained by F f ¼ lf P s ð17Þ

the following expressions: Rg ¼ lg Ps ð18Þ
qffiffiffiffiffiffiffiffiffiffiffiffiffiffiffiffiffiffiffiffiffiffiffiffiffiffiffiffiffiffiffiffiffiffi
  
hpf 0 ¼ 2rg tN rf rf þ rg ð13Þ where lf is the coefficient of friction between the feed
qffiffiffiffiffiffiffiffiffiffiffiffiffiffiffiffiffiffiffiffiffiffiffiffiffiffiffiffiffiffiffiffiffiffi
   roller and the paper sheet, and lg is the coefficient of
hpg0 ¼ 2rf tN rg rf þ rg ð14Þ friction between the gate roller and the paper sheet. Fur-
thermore, the pressure owing to the spring is obtained by
where rf and rg are the radii of the feed roller and the gate the following equation:
roller, respectively.   
In addition, the equilibrium equation of the gate roller in Ps ¼ ks xs0 þ rf cos hpf  cos hpf 0 ð19Þ
the vertical direction is as follows:

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Microsystem Technologies
where ks is a spring constant, and xs0 is the initial dis-
placement of the spring.
4 Theoretical study on behavior of paper
sheets
4.1 Behavior of paper sheets in overlap-type
sheet separation mechanism
We consider the behavior of paper sheets in the overlap-
type sheet separation mechanism. First, we calculate the
elastic restoring force that acts on the paper sheets when
multiple paper sheets enter between the feed roller and gate
rollers at the same time. In this case, we calculate the
elastic restoring force under the following hypothetical
conditions:
1. When the number of peaks of wavy deformation of the
paper sheet in the overlap-type sheet separation
mechanism is M, then the elastic restoring force that
acts on the paper sheets is M times the value calculated
in Eq. (7).
2. When N sheets of paper move into the overlap-type
separation mechanism at the same time, the elastic
restoring force that acts on the paper sheets is N times
the value calculated in Eq. (7).
3. When N sheets of paper move into the overlap-type
sheet separation mechanism at the same time, the
position of the x direction where the paper sheets begin
to contact with the feed roller and the gate roller is the
same position where a paper sheet of thickness tN ¼
t  N begins to contact with the feed roller and gate
roller.
From the preconditions of (1) to (3), when multiple
paper sheets enter between the feed roller and gate rollers
at the same time, we can calculate the elastic restoring
 that acts on the paper sheets by using the following
force W
equation:
 ¼N MW
W ð20Þ
In addition, the maximum value of the resistance force
that acts on the paper sheet can be obtained by the fol-
lowing equation:
Rg ¼ lg W ð21Þ
Next, we consider the feed force that acts on the paper
sheets between the first and last paper sheets. Since the
paper sheets between the first and the last paper sheets do
not contact with the feed roller and the pickup roller, the
feed force acting on them is the friction force between the
preceding paper sheets, and the resistance force acting on
them is the friction force between the following sheets. The
value of the feed force is the sum of the friction force
caused by the elastic restoring force W  and the friction
force caused by the pressure of the pickup roller Pp . Since
the feed velocities of any portion of the first paper sheet are
the same, the maximum value of the feed force that acts on
a paper sheet between the first and last paper sheets is
obtained by the following equation:
 
Ff ¼ lpp W þ Pp ð22Þ
Figure 12 shows the calculated results for the maximum
values of the resistance force and of the feed force that acts
on the paper sheets between the first and last paper sheets
using Eqs. (20), (21), and (22). In this case, we assume that
the overlap mechanism is the same structure as in Fig. 9,
and the value of M is 2. The values of the resistance and
feed forces also are normalized as shown in case of Fig. 10.
From Fig. 12, we can see that as the number of paper
sheets increases, the resistance force increases with the
advance of the paper sheets and increases almost in pro-
portion to the number of sheets. The reason that the
resistance force increases more than the proportional ratio
with the number of sheets is that the elastic force increases
because the overlap amount also increases as the number of
sheets increases. In addition, the difference in the resis-
tance force owing to the difference in the number of paper
sheets is also relatively large. The friction force acting
between the paper sheets also increases with the advance of
the paper sheets and increases almost in proportion to the
number of paper sheets. However, as the coefficient of
friction between the paper sheets is smaller than that
between the gate roller and the paper sheets, its rate of
increase is slower than that of the resistance force.
Now, using Fig. 13, we will explain the behavior of
paper sheets entering an overlap-type sheet separation
Normalized resistance force and friction force
16
resistance force
14 friction force between
paper sheets
12
N=5
10
N=4
8
Maximum value of friction
N=3 force between paper sheets
6
owing to pressure of pickup
N=2 roller
4
2
0
-0.5 0 0.5 1.0 1.5 2.0 2.5 3.0 3.5
Distance from origin x (mm)
Fig. 12 Calculated results of maximum values of resistance force and
maximum values of friction force acting as feed force on subsequent
paper sheets in overlap-type sheet separation mechanism
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Normalized resistance force and friction force
16
N=4 N=5
14
(D)
12
(C)
10
N=3
8 (B)
6 Resistance force
N=2
4
2 and fourth sheets of paper. Such slippage between the
N=1
0 paper sheets also occurs at points (C) and (D), and finally,
-0.5 0 0.5 1.0 1.5
Distance from origin
Fig. 13 Behavior of paper sheets entering overlap-type sheet sepa-
ration mechanism
mechanism with considering the magnitude relation
between the resistance force and the value of the friction
force acting as the feed force on the paper sheets. In order
for a plurality of piled paper sheets to simultaneously
advance in an overlap-type sheet separation mechanism, it
is necessary that the maximum value of the feed force
acting on all of the paper sheets after the second paper
sheet is greater than the maximum value of the resistance
force acting on them. Therefore, the presence or absence of
slippage between the paper sheets that is needed to separate
the paper sheets one by one depends on the magnitude
relationship between the maximum value of the resistance
force acting on the paper sheets and the maximum value of
the friction force acting as a feed force between the paper
sheets.
When five sheets of paper have been conveyed by the
feed force with the pickup roller, the leading edge of the
paper sheet begins to contact the feed roller and gate roller
at a position of about x = 3 mm. As the five sheets of paper
move between the feed rollers and gate rollers, the resis-
tance force begins to act on the paper sheets. However, the
five sheets of paper move together between the feed rollers
and gate rollers without slippage because the value of the
resistance force is smaller than the friction force between
the paper sheets at first. However, when the leading edge
arrives at point (A), the value of the resistance force
becomes larger than the friction force between the paper
sheets. Therefore, the five sheets of paper cannot move
together, and then a shearing force occurs in a layer of the
paper sheets. Owing to the shearing force, slippage occurs
in a layer of the piled paper sheets.
Here, we assume that the coefficient of friction is lowest
between the sheet in contact with the gate roller and the
sheet immediately above it, and gradually increases toward
the first sheet that contacts with the feed roller. In this
condition, slippage occurs between the last paper sheet in
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Microsystem Technologies
contact with the gate roller and the paper sheet immedi-
ately above it. In this case, as shown in Fig. 13, slippage
occurs first between the fourth and fifth sheets of paper,
Maximum value of four sheets of paper can again move together between the
friction force
feed rollers and gate rollers together after point (A) because
between paper
sheets the resistance force becomes low. However, when the
leading edge arrives at point (B), the value of the resistance
force again becomes larger than the friction force between
(A)
the paper sheets. Therefore, the four sheets of paper cannot
move together, and then slippage occurs between the third
2.0 2.5 3.0 3.5
the five sheets of paper become one piece. Thus, we can see
x (mm)
that the overlap-type sheet separation mechanism causes
slippage between the paper sheets depending on the num-
ber of paper sheets that enter between the feed roller and
the gate roller. This function is characteristic of the over-
lap-type sheet separation mechanism.
4.2 Behavior of paper sheets in pressure-type
sheet separation mechanism
In the pressure-type sheet separation mechanism shown in
Fig. 11, the maximum value of the resistance force acting
on N sheets of paper that enter the nip between the feed
roller and the gate roller is obtained from Eqs. (13), (14),
(18), and (19). The feed force from the feed roller acting on
the first paper sheet can also be obtained from Eqs. (13),
(14), (17), and (19). As in the case of the overlap-type sheet
separation mechanism, since the paper sheets between the
first and last paper sheets do not contact the pickup roller or
feed roller, the feed force acting on them is the friction
force between the preceding paper sheets. The resistance
force acting on them is the friction force between the fol-
lowing sheets. In the presser-type sheet separating mech-
anism, the friction force acting on the paper sheets in the
nip is the spring pressure calculated from Eq. (19) multi-
plied by the friction coefficient between the paper sheets.
Figure 14 shows the maximum value of the resistance
force acting on the paper sheet in the pressure-type sheet
separation mechanism. From this figure, we can see that the
maximum value of the resistance force in the pressure-type
sheet separation mechanism increases somewhat because
the deformation amount of the spring increases as the
number of paper sheets increases. However, as a paper
sheet advances through the nip, its value does not signifi-
cantly change and is almost determined by the friction
force between the gate roller and the paper sheet caused by
the pressure of the spring.
Figure 15 shows the maximum value of the resistance
force acting on the paper sheet shown in Fig. 14, indicated
by a broken line, and the calculated value of the maximum
value of the friction force acting between the paper sheets
Microsystem Technologies
16
14
Normalized resistance force
N=1
12
10
8
6 where they are piled with the friction force owing to the
4
2 sheets enter the nip portion, a feed force owing to the
0 friction force between the paper sheet and the resistance
-0.5 0 0.5
Distance from origin
Fig. 14 Calculated maximum values of resistance force acting on
paper sheet in pressure-type sheet separation mechanism
Normalized resistance force and friction force
16
14
12
10
8 N=5
6 force between paper sheets
4
2
0 fourth paper sheet and the last paper sheet in contact with
-0.5 0 0.5
Distance from origin
Fig. 15 Calculated results of maximum values of resistance force and
maximum values of friction force acting as feed force on subsequent
paper sheets in presser-type sheet separation mechanism
in the nip, indicated by a solid line. Although the maximum
value of the feed force owing to the friction force between
paper sheets also increases because the deformation
amount of the spring increases as the number of paper
sheets increases, its value does not change significantly
even if the paper sheet advances through the nip, and is
almost determined by the friction force caused by the
pressure of the spring. The value of the feed force acting
between the paper sheets is the sum of the friction force
generated by the pressure of the spring at the nip portion
and the friction force owing to the pressure of the pickup
roller that feeds the paper sheet to the nip portion.
Next, as in the case of the overlap-type sheet separation
mechanism, we study the behavior of a paper sheet
advancing through the nip portion considering the magni-
tude relation between the resistance force and the friction
force acting as a feed force on the paper sheet. As shown in
Fig. 15, when five sheets of paper are conveyed by the feed
force of the pickup roller, the leading edges of the paper
sheets enter the nip portion at a position of about 2.5 mm
from the origin. Since no resistance force acts on the paper
N=2 N=3 N=4 N=5
sheets until they enter the nip portion, the maximum value
Resistance force
owing to increased
deformation
of the friction force between the paper sheets acting as a
of spring feed force is larger than the resistance force. Therefore, in
this section, the five sheets of paper progress in a state
Resistance force
owing to initial pressure of the pickup roller.
deformation
of spring At the same time that the leading edges of the paper
1.0 1.5 2.0 2.5 3.0 3.5
force by the friction with the gate roller act on the paper
x (mm) sheets owing to the pressure of the spring. At this time,
since the resistance force acting on the paper sheet is
greater than the maximum value of the friction force acting
on the paper sheets in the nip, it is impossible for the piled
five sheets of paper to proceed together. Then, a shearing
force of the same magnitude as the resistance force is
resistance force
generated between the paper sheets. Owing to this shearing
friction force between
paper sheets
force, a separating behavior in which the paper sheets slip
from one another occurs in the piled paper sheets. As also
N=4 described in the section about the overlap-type sheet sep-
aration mechanism, we assume that the coefficient of
Maximum value of friction
friction is lowest between the sheet in contact with the gate
owing to pressure of pickup roller and the sheet immediately above it, and gradually
roller
N=2 N=3 increases toward the first sheet that contacts with the feed
roller. In this condition, slippage occurs only between the
1.0 1.5 2.0 2.5 3.0 3.5
the gate roller because only the resistance force acting on
x (mm)
the last paper sheet is greater than the maximum value of
the feed force acting on it.
Owing to the slippage mentioned above, the number of
paper sheets that advance in the nip becomes four. How-
ever, in the pressure-type sheet separation mechanism,
after the paper sheets enter the nip, though the number of
paper sheets decrease, the maximum value of the resistance
force that acts on the paper sheets does not become small as
with the overlap-type sheet separation mechanism. Rather,
this value is almost constant, as shown in Fig. 16. This is
because, as described above, the friction force with the
paper sheet is almost determined by the pressure of the
spring. For the same reason, the maximum value of the
friction force acting on the paper sheets is also almost
constant. Furthermore, the fourth paper sheet does not
contact with the gate roller because the gate roller is cov-
ered with the last paper sheet, and the friction force
between the fourth and last paper sheet becomes the
resistance force that acts on four sheets of paper. Therefore,
after the number of paper sheets has become four, the
resistance force acting on the paper sheets and the friction
force acting on the paper sheet as the conveying force
theoretically become equal. This means that in the presser-
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 Microsystem Technologies

Normalized resistance force and friction force

Normalized resistance force and friction force

16 16

14 (A’’) 14 (B’) (A’)

12 12
Maximum value of friction Maximum value of
10 10 force between 1st and 2 nd friction force
paper sheets between 2 nd and 3 rd
8 8 paper sheets
N=5
6 6
Resistance force
N=4 Resistance force N=5
4 4
Maximum value of friction (broken line) N=2
force between paper sheet 2
2 (solid line)
0
0 -0.5 0 0.5 1.0 1.5 2.0 2.5 3.0 3.5
-0.5 0 0.5 1.0 1.5 2.0 2.5 3.0 3.5
Distance from origin x (mm)
Distance from origin x (mm)
Fig. 17 Behavior of paper sheets entering overlap-type sheet sepa-
Fig. 16 Behavior of paper sheets entering presser-type sheet separa-
ration mechanism when friction coefficient value between second
tion mechanism
paper sheet becomes 25% lower

type sheet separating mechanism, a clear opportunity for acting on the paper sheet or the friction force between the
the slippage necessary to separate piled paper sheets the- paper sheets is greatly reduced, multi feed of a plurality of
oretically occurs only once at the layer where the coeffi- paper sheets that are simultaneously fed occurs.
cient of friction is the smallest when the paper sheets enter Figure 18 shows the calculated results for the case
the nip portion (A00 ). where the elastic force W owing to the wavy deformation
In practice, when the paper sheets enter the nip and are of the paper sheets becomes halved and the friction force
conveyed between the feed roller and the gate roller, a between the paper sheets is also halved owing to a reduc-
shearing action is caused by difference of coefficient of tion in W. As shown in Fig. 18, even when the resistance
friction between paper sheets, and the paper sheets can be force or the friction force is halved, the paper sheets are
separated to some extent. However, there is no theoretical separated into two sheets until the leading edge of the paper
guarantee that more than three paper sheets can be reliably sheets reaches the origin position where the overlap
separated into single sheets. This is the mechanism of amount is the maximum. However, since the value of the
separation in the presser-type sheet separation mechanism. resistance force from the gate roller is smaller than the
maximum value of the friction force acting between the
first and second paper sheets, a multi feed occurs. As
5 Discussion of features described above, in the overlap-type sheet separation
mechanism, the resistance force is generated by the elastic
First, based on the theory of the separation mechanism
described above, the features of the overlap-type sheet
Normalized resistance force and friction force

separation mechanism in several conditions will be 16

described. Now, we assume that the second paper sheet has 14

a friction coefficient value with the other paper sheets and
12
the gate roller that is 25% lower. In this case, as shown in (C)
N=5 Maximum value of
Fig. 17, slippage occurs between the second and third 10 friction force
paper sheets at point (A0 ), and only the first and second 8 N=4 (B) between
paper sheets
paper sheets enter the overlap portion. This is earlier than
6 Resistance force
in the case shown in Fig. 13. When the leading end of the N=3 (A)
paper sheets reaches point (B0 ), the resistance force acting 4
on the paper sheets becomes greater than the friction force 2 N=2
acting between the first sheet and the second sheet, so that N=1
0
the paper sheets are separated one by one. Thus, we found -0.5 0 0.5 1.0 1.5 2.0 2.5 3.0 3.5
that the overlap-type sheet separation mechanism can cope Distance from origin x (mm)
with the dispersion of the friction coefficient of the paper
sheets to a certain extent. However, even in the overlap- Fig. 18 Behavior of paper sheets entering overlap-type sheet sepa-
ration mechanism when elastic force owing to wavy deformation of
type sheet separation mechanism, when the resistance force
paper sheet is halved

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Microsystem Technologies

force of the paper sheet. Therefore, halving the resistance sheet separation mechanism; and if the pressure is too low,
force and friction force means that not only the friction the paper sheets cannot be fed out.
coefficient of the paper sheet is reduced by half but also the Next, the performance of the pressure-type sheet sepa-
elastic force of the paper sheet is halved. That is, the ration mechanism when the presser of the pickup roller is
bending rigidity of the paper sheet is halved. Thus, multi doubled will be described. Figure 20 shows the behavior of
feed occurs when not only the modulus of elasticity of the paper sheets that enter pressure-type sheet separation
paper medium is reduced by half but also when the bending mechanisms when the friction force owing to the pressure
rigidity is halved owing to a 20% decrease in thickness. of the pickup roller is doubled. In this case, as mentioned
Conversely, if the flexural rigidity of the paper sheets above, a multi feed occurs in the overlap-type sheet sepa-
increases, the resisting force acting on the paper sheets ration mechanism. However, as we can see from Fig. 20, in
becomes larger than the feed force even if there is only one the pressure-type sheet separating mechanism, since the
paper sheet, and the paper sheet may not be fed out. That is, friction force between the paper sheets is smaller than the
in the overlap-type sheet separation mechanism, there is a residence force even if the friction force owing to the
range of flexural rigidity of the paper sheets that can pressure of the pickup roller is doubled, the performance of
accomplish a normal separation operation. Therefore, when the separation mechanism does not change. Further, in the
designing an overlap-type sheet separation mechanism, it is pressure-type sheet separation mechanism, the friction
necessary to consider all parameters that relate to the force acting on the paper sheet is almost determined by the
bending deformation of the paper sheets, including the pressure of the spring. Thus, even if the paper becomes
overlap amount between the feed roller and the gate roller, thick, the separation performance also does not change.
the arrangement position in the axial direction of the feed Therefore, the pressure-type sheet separation mechanism
roller and the gate roller, the width of the rollers, the sec- has a robustness for the pressure of the pickup roller and
tional shapes of the rollers, and the rigidity and the thick- the thickness of the paper sheet.
ness of the paper sheets to be handled by the separation Finally, we summarize the differences between the sheet
mechanism. Further, from Figs. 13 and 18, we find that the separation performances. As described above, in the
friction force owing to the pressure of the pickup roller also overlap-type sheet separation mechanism, if the friction
influences the separation performance. force between the paper sheets caused by the pressure of
Figure 19 shows the behavior of paper sheets that enter the pickup roller is an appropriate value, then slippage
overlap-type sheet separation mechanisms when the fric- according to the number of piled paper sheets occurs the-
tion force owing to the pressure of the pickup roller is oretically. Therefore, the overlap-type sheet separation
doubled. As we can see from Fig. 19, a multi feed occurs mechanism can separate piled paper sheets into single
because the friction force between the paper sheets is sheet. On the other hand, in the pressure-type sheet sepa-
greater than the resistance force at origin O. Therefore, in ration mechanism, as described above, the opportunity for
the overlap-type sheet separation mechanism, the pressure slippage between paper sheets exists only once theoreti-
of the pickup roller also greatly affects the separation cally after the paper sheets enter the nip, regardless of the
performance. That is, if the pressure of the pickup roller is number of piled paper sheets. In addition, the values of the
too high, then multi feed occurs even with the overlap-type
Normalized resistance force and friction force

16
Normalized resistance force and friction force

16
N=5 14 (A’’)
14 N = 4
(C) 12
Maximum value of
12 friction force
(B) between 10
10 N=5
paper sheets
N=3 8
8 (A) Resistance force
N=4 (broken line)
6 6
N=2 4 Maximum value of friction
4 force between paper sheets
Friction force between Friction force between
(solid line)
2 Resistance force paper sheets owing to 2 paper sheets owing to
N=1 pressure of pickup roller pressure of pickup roller
0 0
-0.5 0 0.5 1.0 1.5 2.0 2.5 3.0 3.5 -0.5 0 0.5 1.0 1.5 2.0 2.5 3.0 3.5
Distance from origin x (mm) Distance from origin x (mm)

Fig. 19 Behavior of paper sheets entering overlap-type sheet sepa- Fig. 20 Behavior of paper sheets entering pressure-type sheet sepa-
ration mechanism when friction force owing to pressure of pickup ration mechanism when friction force owing to pressure of pickup
roller is doubled roller is doubled

123

friction force that act as a feed force and resistance force
between the paper sheets are theoretically equal after the
paper sheets enter the nip. Therefore, the paper sheets can
be separated into single sheet theoretically only when two
piled paper sheets enter the nip. However, when three or
more paper sheets enter the nip, there is no guarantee that
the piled paper sheets can be separated into single sheet
because the pressure-type sheet separation mechanism has
only one opportunity to clear a slippage between paper
sheets. The difference in the frequencies of this slippage
opportunity is the most significant factor that causes a
difference in separation performance between the overlap-
type sheet separation mechanism and the pressure-type
sheet separation mechanism.
6 Conclusions
To clarify that the separation performance of an overlap-
type sheet separation mechanism is superior to that of the
pressure-type one and to determine the factor that makes
both sheet separation mechanisms occur a multi feed, we
examined the behavior of slippage between paper sheets in
both sheet separation mechanisms. As a result, we found
that there are differences between the sheet separation
mechanisms as follows:
1. In an overlap-type sheet separation mechanism, when
the piled paper sheets move between the feed roller and
gate roller, slippage between piled paper sheets occurs
theoretically proportionally to the number of piled
paper sheets. On the other hand, in a pressure-type
sheet separation mechanism, slippage between piled
paper sheets theoretically occurs only once, regardless
of the number of piled paper sheets. Therefore, in the
pressure-type sheet separation mechanism, multi feed
occurs more easily than in the overlap-type one when
more than three pieces of paper sheet enter the sheet
separation mechanism.
2. The overlap-type sheet separation mechanism has a
range of a thickness of the paper sheet that allows it to
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Microsystem Technologies
feed paper sheets one by one, and the performance of
multi feed is easily influenced by the feeding force
caused by the pickup rollers. On the other hand, the
pressure-type sheet separation mechanism is robust for
the thickness of the paper sheet and the feeding force
caused by the pickup rollers.
3. In general, we consider separation mechanisms with
fewer double feeds to be better sheet separation
mechanisms. Copy machines, printers, and ATMs are
apparatus that process paper sheets and bills of similar
thickness, and the pressure of the pickup roller does not
change significantly. Therefore, we found that the
difference (1) described above indicates that the
performance of the overlap-type sheet separation
mechanism is superior to that of the pressing-type
one. However, we also recognized that the overlap-
type sheet separation mechanism has the limitations
described in (2).
References
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