Patent ID: 7717416

Claim:
A paper sheet separation and transfer apparatus comprising: a supply mechanism which moves a stack of a plurality of paper sheets in a stacking direction and supplies a first paper sheet placed at one end of the stack to a take-out position; a take-out roller which rotates and contacts the first paper sheet supplied to the take-out position by the supply mechanism to take out the first paper sheet onto a transfer path; a press mechanism which presses the take-out roller to the first paper sheet at one end of the stack; a feed roller which is brought into contact with the first paper sheet taken out onto the transfer path; a separation roller which is brought into contact with the feed roller, with the transfer path interposed therebetween, and is provided with a rotational force exerted in a direction opposite to a direction of rotation of the feed roller, the rotational force generating a separating force exerted in a direction opposite to a direction of transfer of the paper sheets on second and subsequent paper sheets taken out unintentionally and simultaneously with the first paper sheet, thereby separating the second and subsequent paper sheets from the first paper sheet; a rotational speed detection unit which detects a rotational speed of the separation roller; a state detection unit which detects a state in which the second and subsequent paper sheets are separated from the first paper sheet by the separation roller, based on a detection result of the rotational speed detection unit; and a control unit which decelerates the peripheral speed of the take-out roller and controls the pressing mechanism to reduce a pressing force of the take-out roller, when the state detection unit detects said state.