Valve device and paper sheet pickup apparatus

A valve device comprising:

• a first shielding plate rotatable across a first fluid passage for passing a fluid therethrough, and across a second fluid passage separate from the first fluid passage, the first shielding plate including a plurality of first fluid passing holes which overlap with the first and second fluid passages when the first shielding plate is rotating;
• a second shielding plate adjacent to the first shielding plate, rotatable across the first and second fluid passages and including a plurality of second fluid passing holes which overlap with the first and second fluid passages when the second shielding plate is rotating;
• and
• a driving unit comprising a first motor and a second motor, the first motor configured to rotate the first shielding plate in a first rotational direction such that the first air passing holes cross the first and second fluid passages, the second motor configured to rotate the second shielding plate in a second rotational direction opposite to the first rotational direction, and the driving unit configured to make the first and second shielding plates cooperate with each other to close and open the first and second fluid passages.

A paper sheet pickup apparatus comprising:

• an input unit configured to receive a plurality of paper sheets accumulated;
• a pickup member including a suction hole and configured to run along one of accumulated paper sheets, the one paper sheet being positioned at a most downstream side with respect to a direction of accumulation;
• a negative-pressure generating unit configured to draw air through the suction hole from a reverse side of the pickup member, thereby generating negative pressure on a surface of the pickup member to attach thereon the one paper sheet;
• a suction unit connected to the negative-pressure generating unit via a fluid passage;
• and
• a valve device provided across the fluid passage,
• wherein the valve device comprises:
• a first shielding plate movable across the fluid passage, and including a first fluid passing hole which overlaps with the fluid passage when the first shielding plate is moving;
• a second shielding plate adjacent to the first shielding plate, movable across the fluid passage, and including a second fluid passing hole which overlaps with the fluid passage when the second shielding plate is moving;
• and
• a driving unit comprising a first motor and a second motor, the first motor configured to rotate the first shielding plate in a first rotational direction such that the first air passing holes cross the fluid passage, the second motor configured to rotate the second shielding plate in a second rotational direction opposite to the first rotational direction, and the driving unit configured to make the first and second shielding plates cooperate with each other to close and open the fluid passage.

A paper sheet pickup apparatus comprising:

• an input unit configured to receive a plurality of paper sheets accumulated;
• a pickup member including a suction hole and configured to run along one of accumulated paper sheets, the one paper sheet being positioned at a most downstream side with respect to a direction of accumulation;
• a negative-pressure generating unit configured to draw air through the suction hole from a reverse side of the pickup member, thereby generating negative pressure on a surface of the pickup member to attach thereon the one paper sheet;
• a suction unit connected to the negative-pressure generating unit via a first fluid passage;
• and
• a valve device provided across the first fluid passage and across a second fluid passage,
• wherein the valve device comprises:
• a first shielding plate rotatable across the first and second fluid passages, and including a plurality of first fluid passing holes which overlap with the first and second fluid passages when the first shielding plate is rotating;
• a second shielding plate adjacent to the first shielding plate, rotatable across the first and second fluid passages and including a plurality of second fluid passing holes which overlap with the first and second fluid passages when the second shielding plate is rotating;
• and
• a driving unit comprising a first motor and a second motor, the first motor configured to rotate the first shielding plate in a first rotational direction such that the first air passing holes cross the first and second fluid passages, the second motor configured to rotate the second shielding plate in a second rotational direction opposite to the first rotational direction, and the driving unit configured to make the first and second shielding plates cooperate with each other to close and open the first and second fluid passages.