EP0622695B1 - Système de mise en boîte postale pour alimenter des feuilles depuis un dispositif de sortie jusque dans des casiers à courrier sélectionnés - Google Patents

Système de mise en boîte postale pour alimenter des feuilles depuis un dispositif de sortie jusque dans des casiers à courrier sélectionnés Download PDF

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Publication number
EP0622695B1
EP0622695B1 EP19940303031 EP94303031A EP0622695B1 EP 0622695 B1 EP0622695 B1 EP 0622695B1 EP 19940303031 EP19940303031 EP 19940303031 EP 94303031 A EP94303031 A EP 94303031A EP 0622695 B1 EP0622695 B1 EP 0622695B1
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EP
European Patent Office
Prior art keywords
bin
mailbox
user
bins
job
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Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
Expired - Lifetime
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EP19940303031
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German (de)
English (en)
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EP0622695A1 (fr
Inventor
Barry P. Mandel
David R. Kamprath
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Xerox Corp
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Xerox Corp
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Priority claimed from US08/054,502 external-priority patent/US5358238A/en
Application filed by Xerox Corp filed Critical Xerox Corp
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    • G—PHYSICS
    • G03—PHOTOGRAPHY; CINEMATOGRAPHY; ANALOGOUS TECHNIQUES USING WAVES OTHER THAN OPTICAL WAVES; ELECTROGRAPHY; HOLOGRAPHY
    • G03G—ELECTROGRAPHY; ELECTROPHOTOGRAPHY; MAGNETOGRAPHY
    • G03G15/00—Apparatus for electrographic processes using a charge pattern
    • G03G15/65—Apparatus which relate to the handling of copy material
    • G03G15/6538—Devices for collating sheet copy material, e.g. sorters, control, copies in staples form
    • G—PHYSICS
    • G03—PHOTOGRAPHY; CINEMATOGRAPHY; ANALOGOUS TECHNIQUES USING WAVES OTHER THAN OPTICAL WAVES; ELECTROGRAPHY; HOLOGRAPHY
    • G03G—ELECTROGRAPHY; ELECTROPHOTOGRAPHY; MAGNETOGRAPHY
    • G03G15/00—Apparatus for electrographic processes using a charge pattern
    • G03G15/50—Machine control of apparatus for electrographic processes using a charge pattern, e.g. regulating differents parts of the machine, multimode copiers, microprocessor control
    • G03G15/5016—User-machine interface; Display panels; Control console
    • G—PHYSICS
    • G03—PHOTOGRAPHY; CINEMATOGRAPHY; ANALOGOUS TECHNIQUES USING WAVES OTHER THAN OPTICAL WAVES; ELECTROGRAPHY; HOLOGRAPHY
    • G03G—ELECTROGRAPHY; ELECTROPHOTOGRAPHY; MAGNETOGRAPHY
    • G03G15/00—Apparatus for electrographic processes using a charge pattern
    • G03G15/50—Machine control of apparatus for electrographic processes using a charge pattern, e.g. regulating differents parts of the machine, multimode copiers, microprocessor control
    • G03G15/5075—Remote control machines, e.g. by a host
    • G03G15/5087—Remote control machines, e.g. by a host for receiving image data
    • G—PHYSICS
    • G03—PHOTOGRAPHY; CINEMATOGRAPHY; ANALOGOUS TECHNIQUES USING WAVES OTHER THAN OPTICAL WAVES; ELECTROGRAPHY; HOLOGRAPHY
    • G03G—ELECTROGRAPHY; ELECTROPHOTOGRAPHY; MAGNETOGRAPHY
    • G03G15/00—Apparatus for electrographic processes using a charge pattern
    • G03G15/50—Machine control of apparatus for electrographic processes using a charge pattern, e.g. regulating differents parts of the machine, multimode copiers, microprocessor control
    • G03G15/5075—Remote control machines, e.g. by a host
    • G03G15/5091—Remote control machines, e.g. by a host for user-identification or authorisation
    • G—PHYSICS
    • G03—PHOTOGRAPHY; CINEMATOGRAPHY; ANALOGOUS TECHNIQUES USING WAVES OTHER THAN OPTICAL WAVES; ELECTROGRAPHY; HOLOGRAPHY
    • G03G—ELECTROGRAPHY; ELECTROPHOTOGRAPHY; MAGNETOGRAPHY
    • G03G21/00—Arrangements not provided for by groups G03G13/00 - G03G19/00, e.g. cleaning, elimination of residual charge
    • G03G21/04—Preventing copies being made of an original
    • G—PHYSICS
    • G03—PHOTOGRAPHY; CINEMATOGRAPHY; ANALOGOUS TECHNIQUES USING WAVES OTHER THAN OPTICAL WAVES; ELECTROGRAPHY; HOLOGRAPHY
    • G03G—ELECTROGRAPHY; ELECTROPHOTOGRAPHY; MAGNETOGRAPHY
    • G03G2215/00—Apparatus for electrophotographic processes
    • G03G2215/00025—Machine control, e.g. regulating different parts of the machine
    • G03G2215/00109—Remote control of apparatus, e.g. by a host
    • G—PHYSICS
    • G03—PHOTOGRAPHY; CINEMATOGRAPHY; ANALOGOUS TECHNIQUES USING WAVES OTHER THAN OPTICAL WAVES; ELECTROGRAPHY; HOLOGRAPHY
    • G03G—ELECTROGRAPHY; ELECTROPHOTOGRAPHY; MAGNETOGRAPHY
    • G03G2215/00—Apparatus for electrophotographic processes
    • G03G2215/00362—Apparatus for electrophotographic processes relating to the copy medium handling
    • G03G2215/00789—Adding properties or qualities to the copy medium
    • G03G2215/00822—Binder, e.g. glueing device
    • G03G2215/00827—Stapler
    • G—PHYSICS
    • G03—PHOTOGRAPHY; CINEMATOGRAPHY; ANALOGOUS TECHNIQUES USING WAVES OTHER THAN OPTICAL WAVES; ELECTROGRAPHY; HOLOGRAPHY
    • G03G—ELECTROGRAPHY; ELECTROPHOTOGRAPHY; MAGNETOGRAPHY
    • G03G2215/00—Apparatus for electrophotographic processes
    • G03G2215/00362—Apparatus for electrophotographic processes relating to the copy medium handling
    • G03G2215/00886—Sorting or discharging
    • G03G2215/00907—Electronically addressable mailing bins
    • G—PHYSICS
    • G03—PHOTOGRAPHY; CINEMATOGRAPHY; ANALOGOUS TECHNIQUES USING WAVES OTHER THAN OPTICAL WAVES; ELECTROGRAPHY; HOLOGRAPHY
    • G03G—ELECTROGRAPHY; ELECTROPHOTOGRAPHY; MAGNETOGRAPHY
    • G03G2215/00—Apparatus for electrophotographic processes
    • G03G2215/00362—Apparatus for electrophotographic processes relating to the copy medium handling
    • G03G2215/00919—Special copy medium handling apparatus
    • G03G2215/00932—Security copies

Definitions

  • the present invention relates to a mailboxing system for feeding sheets from an output device, for example a printer, into selected mailbox bins. More particularly, the system feeds sheets into selected bins associated with respective users of the output device.
  • Mailbox sorter systems are known for feeding sheets from a printer into mailbox bins. Such systems are lacking however in the flexibility of their bin assignment methods when the printer has shared users. More particularly, the sheets or job sets associated with two or more users of the printer can often become commingled in the same mailbox bin. There is therefore a need for a mailboxing system allowing a plurality of users to share a printer or the like receiver, without disclosing, compromising or commingling their separate jobs and/or correspondence.
  • the present invention strives to meet the above need. Accordingly, the present invention provides a mailboxing system in accordance with any one of the appended claims.
  • a "mailbox" system for automatically discretely handling and segregating received copier, facsimile or other printer outputs, which can be used as a simple accessory for various existing such printers.
  • an output sheet sorting system capable of independently handling and separating different jobs for different users or addressees automatically and simply.
  • the disclosed "mailboxing" unit embodiment can desirably be a universal modular or stand-alone unit that may be attached to, or even simply moved next to, the output of almost any conventional printer, including facsimile machines or networked electronic mail printers.
  • a universal (flexible) job sorting or "mailboxing" sheet output system for a printer, copier or facsimile output (encompassed by the term “printer” herein), in which sets or jobs of plural physical sheets outputted by a printer are directed into a particular "mailbox" bin, or set of bins, and the "mailbox" bins of the particular customer or user are indicated for job retrieval.
  • This allows plural users of a printer to have a shared system which automatically puts different users outputs into different "mailboxes" or sorter bins. It can also automatically discretely notify the users of which bins their jobs are in.
  • the disclosed system is "universal" in the sense that the mailbox sorter unit or module is flexible as to where the outputted sheets it receives come from, and can be used with many different printers. Also disclosed in an example herein is an integral job set compiling and finishing (stapling) system.
  • the disclosed system of the embodiment herein provides "mailbox" units for the output of a system printer with various potential desirable functions, in particular, automatically directing [and optionally finishing] print jobs from shared user printers to then-available bins of the "mailbox" unit, which bins will then be variably designated for identification and ultimate display to the users whose jobs have been stacked therein, so that the user will be told which bins of the mailbox unit their job outputs are in. i.e., the mailbox unit and/or the system can then display that job bin location information, preferably restricted to the particular user.
  • another disclosed optional feature can be to provide convenient discrete locked bins security for received hard copies for several different job recipients of shared user printers. That is, also disclosed in the example hereinbelow is electronically controlled bin unlocking for private bins security. These are more accurately described herein as "privacy doors" for certain designated bins. This allows plural recipients to share the same printer or the like receiver, without disclosing, compromising or commingling their separate jobs and/or correspondence.
  • the disclosed embodiment provides a stand-alone "mailbox” or addressable sorter which can automatically sort and file various conventional output documents (conventional "hard copies", i.e., physical sheets) in discrete designated bins, which can optionally be secured.
  • these locked bins can be easily individually unlocked electrically to provide almost instant access to the secured hard copies.
  • users or recipients do not need to stand by printers awaiting outputs to avoid their being read, or even accidentally taken, by other users, or commingled together into one stacking tray.
  • emailboxing refers to handling or sorting physical, i.e., "hard copy” printed sheets. It does not refer to electronic documents or images, which are much easier to manipulate.
  • a "mailbox" in the example herein takes multiple print jobs from a printer (from user terminals, fax, networked purge images, scanned document jobs, or the like or combinations thereof) and separates jobs by users and stacks these hardcopy outputted print jobs into individual bins for individual users, by users.
  • users may also send print jobs to other users' mailbox bins if desired.
  • Mailbox bins can, in general, be either user assignable, or automatically assigned by the printer, print server, or mailbox unit.
  • jobs can be individually stapled if a stapler unit is provided.
  • Optional security doors can be added to any or all bins if desired.
  • An overflow bin or general, shared, stacking tray may also desirably be provided, not assigned to any one user.
  • Mailboxing may more specifically, as in the example herein, refer to temporarily or permanently assigning a unique and predetermined electronic address to respective ones of plural bins of sorter-like equipment for a copier, printer or facsimile machine output, and enabling a particular user's output of one or more jobs to be directed into one or more selected bins so assigned. It may or may not include means for locking the bins and unlocking access thereto, as indicated above and as in the example herein.
  • each bin has an associated LCD or other type of display with the appropriate user name or label displayed, and/or a common or central display, as in the example herein, and/or wherein jobs are placed in more than one available bin if needed, i.e, if the sheet stacking capacity of one assigned bin is exceeded.
  • a mailbox for a laser or other electronic page input printer may desirably print and feed plural precollated sets of sheets into a selected bin, rather than functioning as a normal collator or sorter, [although it may do so additionally or alternatively] since an electronic page printer can normally easily electronically reorder and recirculate the "original" pages being copied to "copy” and output them in precollated or serial page job set order, rather than making plural directly sequential copies of each page requiring post-collation and separate bins for each copy set in a sorter or collator.
  • a very desirable mailbox system feature is a "variable bin assignment" system in which many users can share one mailbox unit with only a limited number of bins by variable (dynamic) bin assignments and their electronic logging or tracking, with the bin assignment(s) for a particular user or group of users, depending on bin availability (the bins empty at any given time) rather than a fixed, permanent assignment of certain bins to certain users or customers. This greatly increases the effective capacity or the number of potential shared users.
  • a specific feature of the specific embodiment(s) disclosed herein is to provide in a sheet output mailboxing system for selectively collecting the sheets outputted by a shared users printer in an arrayed plurality of mailbox bins of a limited sheet capacity per bin, for collecting such output sheets therein in collated printer job sets of stacked plural said output sheets per job, and with sheet feeding means for sequentially feeding said output sheets from said printer to said mailbox bins so as to be segregated by bins by respective users of said shared user printer, the improvement wherein the mailbox bins are not permanently assigned to particular users, and are variably assigned, comprising a variable bin selector for selectably collecting plural said collated job sets of said shared printer output sheets in a selected bin of said array of mailbox bins; said variable bin selector providing for stacking a limited number of subsequent job sets from the same printer user on top of prior job sets in the same said selected mailbox bin; an electronic controller for controlling said variable bin selector for repeatedly variably selecting which ones of said plurality of mailbox bins will be temporarily assigned to particular said shared printer users; said controller collecting
  • Another very desirable and related "mailbox" feature is a "virtual bin” concept, in which the software in a programmed computer or controller controlling the mailbox sheet distributor puts the first job output of user A into an assigned bin X which is determined to be available. Then, if a subsequent job for user A will also fit into bin X, it is also put into bin X. If not, then the subsequent job for user A is automatically put into an assigned "overflow" bin Y, etc.. I.e., for each user, the number of assigned bins is automatically increased to meet the users need. Preferably, adjacent bins are used for the job overflow.
  • Art noted re bin overflow features in general includes Xerox Corporation US-A-3,871,643 issued March 18, 1975 to W.
  • Another very desirable feature is to use "mailbox" bins to store plural (more than one) bound (e.g. stapled) sets in a selected assigned one or more mailbox bins (i.e. so that any particular user-designated bin can store plural stapled sets from the same or different jobs).
  • "mailbox" bins to store plural (more than one) bound (e.g. stapled) sets in a selected assigned one or more mailbox bins (i.e. so that any particular user-designated bin can store plural stapled sets from the same or different jobs).
  • Another desirable "mailbox” feature is to provide a modular integral unit for improved handling and organizing the sequential sheets output of a wide variety of printers, copiers and/or facsimile machines or combinations or multifunction "combo" units thereof, especially shared user and/or electronically connected interoffice "system” printer units.
  • Other options can include providing enhanced job set finishing functions. For example, stapling and/or other binding, punching, folding, special sheet inserts or booklet making, and mailbox sorting of either the finished or unfinished sets.
  • a separate "gathering tray” may be provided for combining job outputs, in the order they were generated, from some or all of the assigned bins, removing the jobs from the bins and outputting them in a single stack.
  • the term “virtual bin” as used herein refers to one aspect of the "dynamic bin assignment” system taught herein, whereby assignment of additional bins for the same user can be automatically provided if the sheet capacity of one bin will be exceeded. This should not be confused with a different use of the term “virtual bin” to refer to systems in which jobs in various bins are automatically unloaded from the bins onto a common separate stack.
  • the present system is desirably usable for electronic mail hardcopy prints and/or other networked or shared user document prints in general.
  • the printer can electronically recognize the sender or user terminal sending the printing job from network or document electronic information already available in said job. (Such shared printers may also have alternate scanner or floppy disk document inputs.)
  • the designated printer or printers and addressees may be changed or forwarded by an intermediate terminal and/or programmed software, which here can be used to change the bin addresses.
  • the job or cover sheet may contain additional encoded information for other copy or distribution controls.
  • US-A-4,691,914 discloses a random plural bin access [with plural solenoids] sheet receiver. It discloses sheet input from both the right or left sides, indicated as from a copier and a printer respectively.
  • US-A-4,830,358 refers to "mailbox" sorters merely in citing a prior US-A-4,288,070 to Fred R. Lagner [which does not itself discuss that] in Col. 1, lines 29-31. Said US-A-4,830,358 also says in Col. 1 line 44 that it provides a sorter in which the trays may be "randomly accessed", and discusses that further re a printer connection in at least Col. 11. Col. 8 bottom to Col. 9 top, et al.. This US-A-4,830,358 patent further discloses printer/sorter command signals and controls.
  • a modular unit sorter is generally indicated in Col. 1 to be for sharing a printer with a plurality of users, sorting and compiling copies by user. It claims an output sorter having fixed trays and a pivotable sorter guide member for directing copy sheets to a sorter tray. Each tray may also have a gate mechanism for retaining sheets in the tray. It is suggested in Col. 6 that a mailbox can be assigned or dedicated to each user, and used as a "mailbox" by entering an ID code and printing data.
  • This reference is also of interest re detecting the fullness of a sorter bin and for delivering copy sheets to the next available sorter bin.
  • i.e., also disclosed in said US-A-5,141,222 reference Col. 8 are means for detecting the fullness [reaching of sheet stacking capacity] of a tray and incrementing this sorter tray copy sheet guide to another (empty) sorter tray.
  • Canon US-A-4,501,419 issued February 26, 1985 to Y. Takahashi, et al.
  • Printer products noted with integral open sorter bins include the Canon NP-9030 sold for several years with a sorter option; the Kyocera F-2010 and F-3010 laser printers with their 5 bin sorter option (since 1988?); and Océ van der Grinten Corporation's recently commercially displayed "6750" and "6800" printers configurable with either 20 or 40 bin optional programmable sorter/mailboxes.
  • Toshiba and its OEM Genicon recently announced a 10 bin "mailbox sorter" for their network printers, supported by a Windows driver. The Toshiba user selects a bin number from the driver menu (not the network). Thus, users all have to agree among themselves who gets what bins.
  • the Genicon system allows the network administrator to assign bins.
  • a desirable additional feature for mailboxing systems is to staple or otherwise bind, fasten or finish the sheets of each job together, so that plural finished sets are removable as such from the user's bin(s), maintained neatly stacked and separated from other jobs by being fastened. This can be done by pre-compiling and stapling sets before they are placed into mailbox bins, as in the above-cited US-A-5,098,074 to the same B. Mandel, et al..
  • US-A-4,437,660 entitled “Word Processor - Controlled Printer Output Scanner Mechanism”, also issued March 20, 1984 to Datapoint Corp., is if particular interest as disclosing a scanning mechanism for scanning individualized output bins collecting laser printer output for determining each bins availability, the degree of fullness, and whether or not a lockbox is positioned in the bin.
  • T102,102 entitled “Access Controlled Copier” Published August 3, 1982 by Albert Bolle, et. al. discloses sorter bins which can be locked to the user by means of a badge reader or the like. The user-entered identification data is entered and recorded on the first copy which is delivered to the locked sorter bin or bins.
  • IBM Corp. US-A-4,414,579 entitled “Information Transmitting and Receiving Station Utilizing a Copier-Printer” issued November 8, 1983 discloses a secured mailbox located at the bottom of the collator.
  • Xerox Corporation reportedly provided modified copier sorters with locked bins for at least the U.S. State Department many years ago.
  • art relating to sorter bin assignment schemes wherein the bins have an associated LCD or the like type of visual display includes US-A-3,905,594 to Davis; and the above-noted US-A-4,437,660 to Tomkins et al; US-A-4,501,419 to Takahashi, et al.; and U.S. Defensive Publication T102,102 to Bolle et al.. Also, Fuji Xerox Corp. FX-10475 Japanese Application No. S 59.55424 , filed April 17, 1984 and published on November 6, 1985 as Kokai No. 60.167054. A further dynamic bin assignment scheme is known from JP-A-2-120,068 to Fuji Xerox Corp.
  • the mailbox unit has an input which adapts or adjusts to various printer output levels, or an interface unit or interconnect transport may be provided in a known manner to sequentially feed the printer output sheets from the printer into the sheet input entrance of the mailbox unit.
  • the illustrated mailbox bins, compiler, stapler, etc. illustrated or described herein are exemplary, and may vary considerably.
  • the general reference number 10 will be utilized below for the mailbox unit or module, even though modifications thereof are variously shown herein. Likewise, the general reference number 11 will be used throughout for an individual mailbox (bin).
  • the disclosed systems provide for stacking the sheets sequentially outputted from the printer in separate job sets into one or more temporarily and variably assigned "mailboxes" of a "mailboxing" job sorting accessory unit having a number of variably assignable "mailbox” bins.
  • a dynamic "mailboxing" unit and system for dynamically separating into mailboxes by currently assigned users the sheet outputs of various users of a shared users printer (including facsimile receivers or combination units).
  • a variable display indicates the bins into which that particular user's jobs have been placed last and not yet removed. These may be plural pre-compiled and/or pre-stapled job sets all stacked in one bin.
  • the exemplary disclosed system may also provide a bypass for sequentially stacking unstapled user sheets directly in a mailbox without compiling and stapling. Also disclosed is automatic overflow assignments of additional temporarily designated bins for identified users, as needed, to provide effectively unlimited or "virtual bin” plural job stacking.
  • An integral moving sheet deflector, compiler and stapler unit is shown for collecting, compiling, and optionally stapling, and ejecting job sets of sheets for separate designated users into one or more of these discrete but variably assigned "mailboxes".
  • the disclosed "mailboxing" units may also have "privacy doors” locking for restricting access to at least some of the mailbox bins, with electrical door unlocking of selected bins in response to entry of a user access code, and other user features.
  • a shared user printer output job can be generated and get to a mailbox unit from various sources.
  • customers can send a job to a printer from their respective workstations, e.g., from a screen display menu or job ticket, as further discussed herein.
  • Another potential job source is a facsimile document or message addressed or directed to that printer, preferably with a designated recipient's mailbox or other user code number sent with the fax message.
  • a print job can also be sent to another person's mailbox bin directly, without going to their workstation. For example, someone might want to send hardcopies of a contract that needs to be signed to other system users. Rather than just electronically mailing each of them an electronic copy, a print order with their mailbox designators can also or alternatively be sent to the printer for printing so that hardcopy is immediately printed and placed in mailbox bins assigned to them, as described herein.
  • a stand-alone printer output "mailbox" job sorting unit 10 with plural bins 11, and an integrated job compiler finisher unit, such as 90, by way of examples thereof.
  • the conventionally sequentially received hard copy of plural page documents from a pre-collation output electronic printer or the like is fed into the mailbox unit 10 and automatically controlled for the particular bin 11 assignment destination of the job sheets.
  • the mailbox unit 10 directs all designated sheets of a users job to available bin or bins 11 temporarily assigned to that printer user based in availability.
  • the disclosed mailbox unit 10 can be a universal or dedicated stand-alone unit that is attached to, or even simply moved next to, the output of almost any conventional printer.
  • Plural units 10 may be ganged in series like plural sorters, if desired, for increased numbers of bins, using conventional sheet pass-through feeders and gates.
  • sorter bin units can be extended or serially connected in this manner to provide more available bins, if desired.
  • the job sorting unit 10 can take sheets inputted at one or more sheet inputs 20 from various printer outputs, including multi-functional units.
  • the input 20 may, if desired, be provided with a pivotal or otherwise vertically adjustable input ramp and/or feeder, which may be in an interface module, to align with various levels of printer outputs.
  • Left and right side sheet inputs may be adapted to operatively engage with the sheet output of the shared user printer at different levels on either of two opposing sides of the mailbox module so as to universally accept many different printer outputs and output levels.
  • the input 20 may include, for example, an input feeder 24 to first feed the incoming sheets to the top of the unit. As illustrated here, that may employ the outside flight or bight of the conventional vertical frictional sheet transport belts 26 feeder as shown in Figs. 4A, 4B and 9, for left-side sheet input, or an interface module 16 or other vertical feeder for right side input as in Figs. 1 or 4C.
  • the unit 10 input feeder 24 preferably has a conventional sheet input sensor actuated by sensing the entrance of a sheet lead edge into a sheet entrance path 20.
  • the internal sheet feeding in the mailbox unit 10 can utilize various known sorter sheet transports, many of which are shown in cited art herein.
  • the further feeding may be done conventionally by the illustrated rollers 25 engaging belts 26 to form feed nips feeding the sheet along the belts 26 until the sheet meets a bin selection and feeding means 30.
  • the inside flight or bight of the moving belts 26 carries the sheets thereon downwardly from the top of the unit past a series of gates or sheet deflectors 32, until the sheet is deflected into a selected bin 11 when the sheet reaches an opened gate 32 adjacent the selected bin or tray 11 entrance, as further described below.
  • Various components of the mailbox unit 10 can be conventional, even commercially available, except as controlled and modified as described herein.
  • Various feeding and gating arrangements whereby inputted sheets are fed to and gated into selected bins, by a moving gate or separate associated bin gates, as here, with a sheet deflector mechanism, from a sheet transport, are well known in the art. Shown here is a movable frictional belts 26 transport system and plural stationary but pivotal sheet deflectors 32 to selectably deflect sheets from the feed belts 26 into the selected bin 11.
  • the entire operation of the exemplary mailbox module unit 10 here may be controlled by an integral conventional low cost microprocessor chip controller 100, conventionally programmable with software for the operations described herein.
  • an integral conventional low cost microprocessor chip controller 100 conventionally programmable with software for the operations described herein.
  • Such a system has ample capability and flexibility for the functions described herein, and also for various other functions described herein, if desired, such as jam detection and jam clearance instructions.
  • a normally locked privacy door 52 openable on one side (or end) by a bin door unlocking system 50, as will be further described.
  • the top bin or tray 11a of the unit 10 may conventionally provide an open or "public" bin.
  • a top bin is preferably used for undesignated or unknown user's jobs, jam purges, etc. since it is not limited in stack height by any overlying tray.
  • the mailbox module unit 10 proposed here flexibly enables a wide variety of output configurations that can accommodate various requirements.
  • the numbers of relatively low capacity (e.g., 100 sheet) mailbox bins provided for a number of individual printer or fax shared users may be fabricated in modules of 4 or 5 bins each which can be easily added or removed from the unit 10 main frame.
  • one or more illustrated stacker tray 14 systems can also be mounted (vertically superposed) onto the same frame in place of one or more of these mailbox bin modules, to provide a large vertical free space for providing high capacity stacking.
  • the present system can desirably move the compiler/stapler unit 90, or the like, up as tray 14 fills.
  • This desirably allows a simple fixed tray 14 to be used, with no elevator mechanism for that tray 14, by using the same bin indexing elevator system as is also used here to direct jobs from the same compiler unit to selected mailbox bins 11.
  • conventional elevator-moved stacking trays can be used, like those described in US-A-5,098,074 [34] or US-A-5,137,265; 5,026,034; 4,541,763; or 4,880,350.
  • Another optional feature of the mailbox unit 10 is to provide optional additional on-line sheet treatment subsystems in the mailbox module input sheet path upstream of the bins; such as a sheet rotator, sheet inverter, sheet hole punch, signature folder, Z-folder, sheet inserter, purge tray, etc., or some combination thereof.
  • a sheet rotator, sheet inverter, sheet hole punch, signature folder, Z-folder, sheet inserter, purge tray, etc. or some combination thereof.
  • They may be located in, e.g., a removable and replaceable top (or bottom) sub-module 10a of the mailbox unit, so as to be able to easily meet various customer needs by easily substituting one such functional sub-unit for another.
  • a sheet rotator may be located in the mailbox sheet input path as shown at 17 in Fig. 1.
  • sheet rotators operate by moving one side of the sheet faster than the other, by holding or much more slowly feeding the sheet in one sheet feed nip on one side of the feed path than the other (as with a variable speed motor or drive) until the sheet rotates 90 degrees. This allows a choice of sideways or end-wise sheet bin 11 stacking, and/or selection of the side of the set to be stapled.
  • Examples of on-line sheet hole punching units include Xerox Corporation US-A-4,819,021; and US-A-4,998,030 and 4,763,167.
  • Examples of sheet inverter patents include Xerox Corporation U.S. 3,833,911; 3,917,257; 4,359,217; and 4,673,176. The first two show an optional inverter in association with a sorter, in the Xerox Corporation "4500" copier. Examples of cover or other sheet inserters, etc., are disclosed in the Xerox XDJ publication of November/December 1991, pages 381-383; and US-A-4,626,156; 4,924,265; 5,080,340; and 4,602,776.
  • Sheets may be fed from either of the illustrated Fig. 9 sheet trays and feeders at times selected by the printer or controller 100 to be interposed (interleaved) with job sheets from the printer going into the same sheet path to the same compiler/stapler.
  • a large e.g., 43cm (17 inch), sheet is signaled by the printer as being sent, or detected by the mailbox sheet entrance sensor, then such a sheet can be rotated by a sheet rotator such as 17 or the like in the sheet path as described above, so as to stack short-edge first in a bin.
  • a sheet rotator such as 17 or the like in the sheet path as described above, so as to stack short-edge first in a bin.
  • the large sheet can be folded before stacking.
  • the mailbox bins need not be oversized just to accommodate such abnormal large size sheets.
  • the sub-module 10a can also provide an alternate, gated, by-pass sheet feeder path 12 on through the mailbox unit into another mailbox unit, for increased bin capacity or further such sheet processing options in that further mailbox unit.
  • a unit 10 sheet feeding system in which inputted sheets are first fed up to the top of the unit 10 to submodule 10a (if any) in one sheet feeding path, before being fed down in another sheet feeding path to the bin selector system and/or compiler/finisher unit, as described [or, vice-versa for a bottom sub-module].
  • the mailbox module can have a superposed array of plural mailbox print job collection trays for collecting the sheet output of a shared user printer, and also have a replaceable upper or lower vertically modular sub-module.
  • the mailbox module can have both a right side and a left side for feeding sheets respectively from either left or right side sheet inputs vertically to the sub-module.
  • the replaceable sub-module may have one or more interchangeable sheet processing-modules in the mailbox module sheet path to sequentially operate on sheets in that path; such as a sheet rotator, a sheet inverter, a sheet hole punch, or a sheet inserter.
  • the mailbox module has a third generally vertical sheet transport path from this sub-module to the selected print job sheet collection tray.
  • the mailboxing module also desirably has a mounting frame on which a variety of sheet collection trays may be different removably mounted at variable positions.
  • plural sheet diverter gates 32 are commonly mounted in line on rotatable shafts 33 to define plural gate units 34.
  • the number and spacing of such gates/shaft units 34 equals the number and spacing of the bins 11. They are closely parallel to, and vertically spaced along, the plural belts 26 sheet transport.
  • the same shafts 33 may also support the sheet path idler rollers 25 forming the sheet feeding nips with that side of the belts 26 as shown.
  • the diverter gate units 34 instead of being conventionally directly adjacent the bins, the diverter gate units 34 here are horizontally separated from the bins by the space for (width of) the moving compiler/stapling unit 90.
  • the top surface 32a acts as sheet deflectors to deflect sheets off of the sheet transport belts 26 at that gate unit 34 location, and into (or through) the adjacent compiler unit 90 at that selected bin 11 location.
  • the selected single line of gates 32 (one gate unit 34) is pivoted on shaft 33 by direct mechanical engagement of a cam actuator 35 on the elevator/compiler unit 90 with a gate opening cam follower 36 on the pivotal gate unit 34 shaft 33. This pivots said end fingers 32b of that set of gates 32 out through spaces between the vertical sheet transport belts 26 so that these fingers 32b are positioned to catch the sheets on the top surface 32a and deflect them off of the belt transport and into the compiler unit 90.
  • pivotal gates 32 are all gravity-loaded into a closed (vertical) position, in which their rear or left sides 32c function as sheet guides or baffles to maintain sheets on the transport belts 26 vertical path passing thereby.
  • a sheet job set compiling and stapling and/or ejecting system 90 herein per se may be, for example, similar to that disclosed and described in Xerox Corporation Application Serial Number 07/888,091, filed May 26, 1992, by the same Barry P. Mandel, et al.; [Another such compiling and stapling system is disclosed in his above-cited US-A-5,098,074].
  • the sequentially incoming sheets from the sheet deflecting or bin gating system 30 here are fed into an input feeding nip 91 of unit 90 in all cases.
  • the sheets are either fed directly through the compiler/stapler unit 90 on into the adjacent bin 11 without compiling or stapling, as shown in the dotted line path in Fig. 1; or the sheets may first be compiled in a compiler tray 92 by dropping and being fed backwards and registered against the downhill stacking rear wall 92a of the compiling tray 92.
  • a compiled set discharge arm device 93 (with its driver roller 94) is in an up position out of contact with the discharge idler roller 95 (at the compiler tray 92 outlet), as represented by its illustrated solid line position.
  • this set discharge arm device 93 is in an up position not in contact with any of the sheets in the compiling tray 92.
  • rollers 94 are held down in engagement with rollers 95.
  • the top surface of the incoming sheet is then also contacted by a rotatable frictional flexible compiler belt 96, causing the sheet to be driven back and downhill until it is fully registered against the rear wall 92a of the tray 92.
  • the compiler tray 92 is only a partial sheet supporting shelf for most sizes of sheets, as in the above-cited Mandel US-A-5,098,074 or Canon US-A-5,137,265.
  • an elongated generally horizontal extension of the gates 32 as at least a part of the partial compiler tray 92, if desired. It can be constructed to pivot partially into the selected bin for compiling, if desired, as shown in Fig. 17.
  • the compiled stack may then be attached together, by means of a stapler 97, or stitcher, or other suitable set binding device, such as is shown in the art cited herein.
  • a stapler 97 or stitcher, or other suitable set binding device, such as is shown in the art cited herein.
  • stapling or other binding may be in one corner of the set, or along one edge, or along a central spline as a saddle stitch.
  • set stapling is not required here.
  • the discharge device 93 is then automatically lowered onto the top surface of the completed compiled set to form a nip gripping the set between its discharge roller 94 and eject idler rollers 95, as represented by the phantom line position of 93.
  • the compiled (and normally stapled) set is thus driven out of the compiling tray 92 and fully into the adjacent bin 11 to stack on tray bottom 13.
  • the set discharge device 93 here is exemplary. Set discharge could also be accomplished by a transport belt, mechanical pusher fingers [as in Fig. 9, shown moved out in 9B relative to 9A], or other suitable set transport device.
  • the sheet discharge nip 94, 95 opens as the device 93 lifts to return to its initial position, and the compiling apparatus 90 is ready to compile another subsequent set of copy sheets thereon after being moved to another bin.
  • the mailbox unit a single repositionable compact compiling/stapling unit 90 for stacking, registering and attaching sets of printing machine output.
  • the copy sheets may be discharged into an inclined compiling tray and each sheet assisted to be registered. Each sheet may also be laterally shifted by a tamping mechanism.
  • the compiling tray level and/or sheet input level can be adjustable, if desired.
  • the compiling/stapling unit 90 can increment up after set ejection by a vertical distance related to the set sheet count, so as to eject the next set into that same bin from a higher level, for stacking assistance, especially for a higher capacity bin or a stacking tray 14 as discussed further herein.
  • a conventional numerical keypad 102 and adjacent LCD or other operator display 104 are operatively connected with the mailbox unit 10 controller 100, as will be described.
  • the term "keypad” as used herein is intended to encompass any simple or low cost type of conventional numeric or alphanumeric keyboard, CRT touch-screen areas, or other keystroke capturing devices, or voice input alternatives. Also, the keyboard in the printer user interface (UI) may be used.
  • Simple programmed user interfaces (all with the same, single, simple keypad) which are also usable with the disclosed mailbox units.
  • Passwords can be changed at any time desired, except during receipt of a print job. Passwords are desirably required to be entered for unlocking any locked bin. Initially assigned four number or other passwords can be readily changed using conventional software techniques. In such control software, an old password can be replaced by a new password and the software can match the password entered by a user with the one saved in the memory for that user. Matching of a password prompts a locking mechanism to unlock the specific bin. Different passwords are normally needed for different user bins, but can be shared, and/or combined into "master key" passwords.
  • a bin privacy door locking system such as the one's described herein, can allow several bins to be automatically opened at once or one by one after entering the passwords. If desired, a separate key operator accessible mechanical unlocking system for all the bins (as by pivoting open the entire side of the unit), can also be provided in case of jams or power failures.
  • An alternative system of changing passwords is to send it via the system network, and/or use a printer encoded cover sheet, rather than a keypad entry.
  • a pre-arranged or specially printed code pattern on a cover sheet from the printer can be read by the optical sensors in the sheet input 20 connected to the controller 100 to tell it to read other subsequent marks on the same or a subsequent cover sheet so as to enter that information into memory as a new password, rather than read the marked or printed pattern as a job bin assignment cover sheet code.
  • the user pin or code number can be the users existing network entry or "log on" password, identifiers or addresses. As previously noted, systems user identifiers are already automatically associated with each print job from that user in existing systems.
  • This bin locking and unlocking system may preferably, but need not necessarily, require separate, individual solenoid or cam operated latches for each bin, as shown, for example, in Figs. 13 and 16. Movement of the compiler unit can also be used to provide bin unlocking by camming open bin door lock latches, for example. Another example of an electrical locking and bin unlocking system is described in the above-cited EPO published application No. 0 241 273.
  • the bin locking and unlocking system 50 may comprise simple solenoid bin door latches 54 with simple spring loading to pop each selected door 52 open, and conventional cam or door striker relatching when the door 52 is manually closed.
  • Sensors 55 may be used to tell if that door 52 is open or closed, such as conventional optical slot sensors which are blocked by the illustrated tab on the door being in the sensor slot when the door is closed.
  • this extra sensor and its connection to control 100 is not required, since a system of dual mode sharing of the "bin empty" sensor for this additional function is also disclosed herein.
  • Bins with doors which are open signal controller 100 to not feed further sheets therein until they are closed, for jam and safety reasons.
  • a function of locked or restricted access bins with normally closed access doors is to prevent users from putting their hands into a bin area where and when the compiler/stapler unit is operating there or in an adjacent area, or at all, if desired. i.e., an immediately subsequent print job for the user unloading their bin can be routed to another, newly assigned bin, or the printer can be directed by controller 100 to stop printing any jobs for that user, or the printer can be directed to stop any printing until all bin doors are closed.
  • separate safety switches can also be used.
  • the customer can additionally or alternatively look at the mailbox user interface (UI) liquid crystal (LCD) 104 or other display.
  • UI mailbox user interface
  • the UI 104 when actuated, may, if desired, scroll through all the various customer names and bin locations of customers currently having jobs in the mailbox unit. Or if anonymous security is desired or selected, the user can be required to enter their access number in order for the job bin(s) location to be displayed. As noted, if locked bin security was designated when sending the job to the printer, the customer can enter a pin (code) number, and the UI can then indicate the location of their job and also unlock those bin(s).
  • Another optional user signaling feature is for the mailbox unit to have a conventional beeper or other audio signaling device to tell the operator or user to unload bins when (as soon as) his or her print job is completed (fully stacked in the assigned mailbox bin or bins). This may be in addition to the visual display indicating which bins should be unloaded. This is particularly useful if the user is standing by the mailbox unit while that user's print job is running as in a "print on demand" mode, since the locked bin doors will preferably remain locked until the last sheet is in the last assigned bin.
  • the system can also automatically generate a network message back to the job senders terminal, if desired, as soon as a print job is completed and in a bin, so that the users screen displays a status message like "your job is in bin #3"; or "the printer is out of paper”; or the like. Or, as noted below, voice-mail may be used for this.
  • the controller 100 can auto-dial such voice mail trigger signals for sending a pre-stored mailbox job receipt voice mail message of the mailbox unit location and/or bin location.
  • the system may, if desired, further optionally include the lighting of indicator lamps on or adjacent the user's bin, to direct the user to the proper bin to be unloaded.
  • indicator lamps on or adjacent the user's bin, to direct the user to the proper bin to be unloaded.
  • those jobs may be electronically stored in the printer or print server buffer memory but not yet printed. That customer would enter their his or her security number, and their jobs would then automatically be placed next in the printer print queue (number one in priority), so as to start printing and sending those jobs to a mailbox.
  • the mailbox Ul could then also display the estimated time of arrival (ETA) of their job in the bin, as well as the bin number(s) where the job will be placed.
  • ETA estimated time of arrival
  • a bin empty sensor indicates to the system controller that those emptied bins are available for new job use and/or user re-assignments. Specifically, an in-bin sensor system determines "mailbox" availability.
  • a unique bin empty sensor system 110 is shown here, in Figs.14 - 16 in particular.
  • a single small infra-red or other optical sensor unit 112 is mounted in each tray bottom 13 in a single aperture 13a.
  • Each single unit 112 has its light beam transmitter 112a on one side and its light sensor (receiver) 112b on the other side. This is so that the light beam from one unit 112 in one bin floor 13 shines up [or down] to the light receiver 112b in the next unit 112 in the bottom of the next bin, and so on. If that bin 11 has any sheets in it, the sheets block the light beam, and the non-receipt of the light by receiving unit 112 so signals.
  • the "bin empty" sensor system 110 can reduce hardware and wiring.
  • a single sensor unit 112 in the bin floor 13 transmits one light beam 14 from a light transmitter 112a to the light receiving sensor 112b in the next adjacent bin in one direction, while that same sensor unit 112 also normally receives another light beam from the opposite direction from the sensor unit 112 in the oppositely adjacent bin, unless that other light beam was interrupted by sheets in the oppositely adjacent bin.
  • each emitter/detector unit 112 works in cooperation with the adjacent said units 112 in the bins above and below, not with itself, as in typical optical sensor units.
  • an optical emitter and detector which can be used are an Optek No. OP298 and an Optek No. OP555, mounted as shown in Fig. 14 in a plastic block with smoothly sloped ends or sides in the paper feeding direction so as not to catch sheet ends.
  • the top of each unit 112 is preferable level with or below the sheet stacking surface of the bin tray bottom 13, so as to not interfere with sheet movement into or out of the bins.
  • these sensor units 112 may each be offset from one another along the bin trays by a distance S which is equal to D sin(a), where "D” is the vertical distance between bin trays and "a” is their angle from the horizontal. Or, they may be mounted sideways, as in Fig. 16.
  • this bin empty sensor system 110 can additionally provide dual-mode functionality, by also sensing a drawer or bin opening, as well as unremoved sheet jobs, in individual bins, using the same sensor unit 112. That is, the same light beam blocked by sheets in the bin can also be blocked by the opening of the door to that same bin. [This is discussed further herein in connection with the disclosed bin privacy door systems.]
  • a visual interactive indicator for guiding user bin unloading may desirably be provided by automatically opening the privacy doors 52 of the users bins needing unloading when the user enters his or her access or unlocking code. Automatically unlocking and at least partially opening the locked bin doors is preferred, since the opened doors clearly help show or guide the user to the correct bin or bins. Also, the operator can remove the job sheets from inside the bin with one hand, rather them having to use another hand to hold the bin privacy door open.
  • This automatic bin door opening can be accomplished as shown in Fig. 13, for example, by a spring-loaded bin door which pops open by spring force when a simple solenoid escapement latch or the like is released by the solenoid receiving an electrical unlocking signal from the mailbox controller.
  • the bins themselves may open by sliding out like individual drawers. As shown in Fig. 16, after a user drawer has been released by a solenoid latch, it may pop open a short distance by spring force, and then be operator opened manually the rest of the way for job removal. Then, when it is pushed closed, it relatches like a conventional door.
  • the mailbox unit described herein is desirably preset in its controller software to use the above-described dynamic bin assignment for all bins as the automatic default.
  • customers can optionally partially override that by a simple software key entry option which pre-assigns one or more bins to a specific user, so that other users cannot use that bin [no other users' print jobs are sent to that bin] until that special override is deleted, or a re-assignment of that bin to another user is entered in the controller.
  • a user may similarly chose to have all of their print jobs sent to an open bin or common stacker rather than a separate locked or unlocked mailbox until further notice, e.g., if they will be away for a while, or elect to send all their all print jobs to someone elses mailboxes, such as a secretary.]
  • all remaining mailbox bins not so specially preassigned preferably remain free to be dynamically variably assigned.
  • the disclosed dynamic mailbox assignment system enables many more users to be able to share a printer than there are mailboxes, yet still have their jobs put into separate mailboxes, by automatically reassigning mailboxes, whenever they are free, to current printer users.
  • the number of available mailboxes, and/or the ratio of locked to unlocked mailboxes and/or stacking trays may be readily field retrofitably expanded or changed, if desired.
  • the stapler may also be a field retrofittable optional accessory.
  • Another user programmable option can be to select whether or not to have the printer generate the usual "banner" (cover) sheets for each print job for that user.
  • These job banner sheets may remain desirable, for example, for common stacking of unstapled intermixed jobs, but not necessarily for jobs already segregated by users into separate mailboxes, especially if the jobs are being stapled, as provided in the above-described mailbox unit. Eliminating banner sheets saves paper and improves productivity.
  • This banner sheet versus no banner sheet selection is also desirably an automatic system default selection which may be overridden.
  • a manual or automatic system default selection of an open common or general use tray in the initial paper path may be made when the user job selection information or printer controller signals that the job is being printed on paper wanting special handling, or more likely to jam in the mailbox bin selection paper path or compiler system, such as carbonless paper, transparencies or envelopes.
  • the control algorithm preferably always selects and fills first those available mailbox bins that are closest to the top of the mailbox bin array, since these higher bins are normally the easiest to unload. This is another advantage of this dynamic bin assignment system; all users can normally have an even chance to have an "upper" bin most of the time, except when there is heavy usage and many unremoved print jobs. However, a wheel chair bound or other disadvantaged user may want to have the algorithm programmed for him or her to always be assigned the lowermost available bin(s).
  • Figs. 10-13 Another optional feature, for job removal assistance, is disclosed here in Figs. 10-13.
  • Unlocking and opening any bin privacy door 52 here also automatically, with a simple, low cost mechanism 120, lifts the exposed front edge of the output sets therein for easy operator removal.
  • an integral conventional limited angle or stop hinge (Figs. 10 and 13) or connecting link (Figs. 12) also then begins to pivot up, with further door opening, an arm plate or flap 122 (which lifts up by a lesser total angle), from the tray bottom under that edge of the job set or sets in that bin. That allows the user to easily slide his or her hand under the job set to grasp and remove it from the bin as the bin door is fully opened.
  • this set lifter mechanism 120 also may serve to protectively cover, with lifter plate 122, when it is down, the usual bin or tray bottom 13 "cut outs" 13b for set removal assistance, which openings are not appropriate to have open in such a security or lockbox mailbox bin.
  • the set lifter 120 flap 122 enables the same bin trays (with cut-outs 13b) to be used for either secured (privacy door) and unsecured (open) bins, which is desirable for a "universal" or modular output device, especially to provide mixed functions and/or interchangeable output mailboxes.
  • an audio beeper (and a visual instructional display on the LCD display 104 or the like) is also desirably provided to remind the user to reclose (and thus re-lock) the opened bin door(s), so that they can be reassigned to other users and reused. If the bins are not cleared and/or the bins doors are not so closed after a suitable time delay, another such audio/visual indication can desirably be provided for that.
  • controller 100 displays (and may also indicate to the system, e.g., the printer U.I.) from the mailbox memory, jobs printed more than 24 hours earlier and not yet removed from their bins.
  • the systems administrator and/or key operator may be prompted by messages to remove those old jobs from mailboxes. He or she may be provided codes giving access to any or all bins for that, or other, purposes.
  • Exemplary embodiments above include details of providing both locked and unlocked (regular) mailbox bins, and providing for automatic electronic unlocking of selected mailbox bins with locked access or "privacy” bin doors for particular users by "keying in” users' access codes.
  • Other embodiments above indicate that "Workstations on the network with conversion software can interact with the print service,” and “The user can see the status of a print job and its place in the queue by making a request through the print server terminal or at the workstation”. "The system can also automatically generate a network message back to the job senders terminal, if desired, as soon as a print job is completed and in a bin, so that the users screen displays a status message like 'your job is in bin #3'; or 'the printer is out of paper'; or the like.
  • voice-mail may be used for this.
  • various of the control and software functions described herein may be done in the system printer server rather than in the mailbox unit or the printer unit per se.”
  • the subject exemplary embodiment disclosed features of an electronic printer and multibin mailbox system for an electronically networked system of plural users of an electronic printer, in which printer mailbox system the individual users print jobs of printer sheets printed by said printer are automatically variably directed into particular electronically assigned print job storage mailbox bins of said multibin mailbox system, at least some of which mailbox bins are nominally locked but electronically unlockable mailbox bins providing restricted public access privacy storage of confidential print jobs, further including an electronic access code inputting system for individual said users to respectively input a respective access code for unlocking their said electronically assigned electronically unlockable user mailbox bins, and a control system for reporting to said individual said user which said locked mailbox bins are occupied by print jobs, said control system also monitoring and electronically providing a job removal prompting indicator display signal when said uses leave their print jobs unremoved from said mailbox bins for took long a time, exceeding a preset time period; and/or the electronic printer and multibin mailbox system wherein said control system automatically provides a prompting message instructing an operator to remove all print jobs printer more than 24 hours earlier and not yet removed from said
  • System 210 includes an Ethernet local area network (LAN) 212, to which a number of user workstations 214, including workstations 214A and 214B, are connected.
  • Workstations 214 may be, for example, the Xerox 6085 professional workstation.
  • LAN 212 may also have other office-connected equipment, such as network file server 216, network file/mail/communication server 218, printer server 220 and printer 222.
  • a large capacity remote storage facility such as a UNIX mini computer 224, may be connected to LAN 212.
  • System 210 is a collaborative type system, meaning that it enables users at different workstations 214 to work together in real-time by processing and passing information along one another and storing and retrieving information from storage services 216 and 224 via network 212.
  • the collaborative functions of system 210 could also be centralised in a single main CPU, could be distributed among processors at the workstations, or could be provided in any combination of centralisation and distribution.
  • LAN 212 could take any appropriate configuration capable of providing the necessary communication to support collaboration.
  • System 210 includes display-based user interfaces, with each workstation 214 including a display device and a user input device
  • workstations 214A and 214B illustratively include respective CRT display screens 226 and 228 and keyboards 225, each with a display cursor mouse 230.
  • System 210 includes an object oriented display system that comprises iconic representations of different structured data objects positioned on a workspace of a display screen, eg., a display illustrating an office desktop metaphor employing various abstractions of a typical office environment, representative of real office objects. Examples of these abstractions in Fig. 1 are a desktop 232, inbasket 233, outbasket 234, documents 235 and 235A, file folder 236, file drawer 237 and printer 238.
  • Document icon 235A is shown "opened", in that an ⁇ OPEN> command has been invoked and opened window 235B has appeared displaying the document in full scale.
  • Printer 238 is an iconic representation of the shared printer 222 on LAN 212.
  • a document 235 is able to be moved, via a ⁇ COPY> command from keyboard 225, onto printer icon 238 and will be printed at printer 222.
  • Electronic mail is received and sent via a workstation inbasket 233 and outbasket 234, respectively, from and to other workstations on LAN 212 or to workstations on other networks via File/Mail/Com server 218.
  • the desktop 232 of workstations 214A and 214B also includes a shared structured data object 240, which is shown in larger details between workstations 214 and 214B.
  • This shared structured data object corresponds to a container of related structured data objects, and the data content of the related structured data objects enables users at different workstations to work together in real time.
  • the contained bodies of related structured data objects need not be mutually exclusive.

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Claims (39)

  1. Système de mise en boite à lettres pour délivrer des feuilles à partir d'un dispositif de sortie dans des casiers de boite à lettre sélectionnés (11) associé à des utilisateurs respectifs du dispositif de sortie, comprenant un moyen de sélecteur de casier (90) prévu pour collecter de manière sélectionnable un ou plusieurs ensembles de travaux dans un casier de boite à lettres sélectionné tout en procurant également l'empilage d'un nombre limité d'ensembles de travaux ultérieurs provenant du même utilisateur au-dessus des ensembles de travaux précédents dans le même casier de boite à lettres sélectionné (11), un moyen de commande (100) répondant à des déterminations répétées que les casiers de boite à lettres (11) sont actuellement disponibles pour empiler des ensembles de travaux dans ceux-ci pour commander ledit moyen de sélecteur de casier (90) afin de sélectionner lesquels desdits casiers de boîte à lettres (11) doivent être affectés à des utilisateurs particuliers et un moyen d'indication prévu pour identifier quel casier de boite à lettres sélectionné (11) contient des ensembles de travaux pour un utilisateur particulier, permettant de ce fait à des multiples utilisateurs de partager le dispositif de sortie et le système d'envoi de courrier même si le nombre d'utilisateurs partagé dépasse le nombre de casiers de boite à lettres (11), ledit moyen de commande (100) déterminant de plus si les ensembles de travaux qui doivent être imprimés par un utilisateur particulier dépasseront ladite capacité de feuilles de sortie limitée dudit casier sélectionné pour ledit utilisateur et commandant ledit sélecteur de casiers variables (90) afin de sélectionner un casier disponible supplémentaire qui doit être temporairement affecté à cet utilisateur particulier et dirige lesdits autres ensembles de travaux pour cet utilisateur particulier vers ledit casier disponible supplémentaire, et pour mémoriser de manière supplémentaire les informations que ledit casier de boite à lettres supplémentaire a également des ensembles de travaux empilés dans celui-ci pour ledit utilisateur particulier.
  2. Système de mise en boîte à lettres selon la revendication 1, dans lequel lesdits multiples casiers de boîte à lettres sont en une rangée fixe et dans lequel ledit sélecteur de casiers variables comprend une unité d'interclassement de feuilles de sortie (90) déplaçable de manière variable par rapport à ladite rangée de casiers de boite à lettres.
  3. Système de mise en boîte à lettres selon la revendication 1 ou la revendication 2, comprenant de plus un affichage d'utilisateur variable pour indiquer lesquels desdits casiers de boîte à lettres contiennent des feuilles de sortie pour un dit utilisateur particulier en réponse à l'entrée d'un code d'accès discriminable respectif pour chaque utilisateur.
  4. Système de mise en boîte à lettres selon l'une quelconque des revendications 1 à 3, dans lequel au moins certains desdists casiers de boite à lettres ont des portes particulières limitant l'accès avec des loquets, lesquels sont électroniquement déverrouillables par des codes d'accès d'utilisateur.
  5. Système de mise en boîte à lettres selon l'une quelconque des revendications 1 à 4, dans lequel ledit dispositif de sortie est une imprimante, ladite imprimante et ledit système de mise en boîte à lettres pour celle-ci étant partagé par de multiples utilisateurs ayant chacun des codes d'utilisateur discriminables, ladite imprimante comporte un serveur d'impression et ledit contrôleur est relié électroniquement audit serveur d'impression pour recevoir lesdits codes d'utilisateur comme identification des ensembles de travaux qui sont envoyés vers ledit système de mise en boite à lettres à partir de ladite imprimante et des informations de comptes de feuilles de travaux.
  6. Système de mise en boîte à lettres selon l'une quelconque des revendications 1 à 5, dans lequel ledit contrôleur électronique (100) commande de manière variable ladite sélection de casiers variables pour ladite sélection faisant que les travaux d'impression sont dirigés vers les casiers qui ne sont pas pleins et ne sont pas précédemment utilisés pour un autre travail utilisateur non enlevé au moment de ladite sélection, et dans lequel ledit contrôleur électronique (100) mémorise électroniquement lesdites informations d'affectation de casiers variables grâce auxquelles lesdits casiers contiennent des travaux d'impression pour des codes d'utilisateur particuliers, lesquelles dites informations d'affectation de casiers variables sont affichées sur ordre par un affichage d'identification de casier d'utilisateur.
  7. Système de mise en boîte à lettres selon l'une quelconque des revendications 1 à 6, dans lequel ledit contrôleur électronique (100) commande de manière variable ladite sélection de casiers variables afin de continuer à diriger les travaux d'impression ayant le même code d'utilisateur dans le même seul premier casier s'il ne dépassera pas la capacité de ce premier casier et dans le casier vide suivant le plus près, s'il dépasse la capacité dudit premier casier, afin de procurer un casier virtuel non limité à la capacité de feuilles de chaque casier particulier.
  8. Système de mise en boîte à lettres selon l'une quelconque des revendications 1 à 7, dans lequel lesdites informations de casier du contrôleur comprennent à la fois le nombre de pages et documents dans le travail de l'utilisateur et le nombre de copies du travail utilisateur qui doit être imprimé.
  9. Système de mise en boîte à lettres variable selon l'une quelconque des revendications 1 à 8, dans lequel lesdits casiers ne sont pas désignés à l'avance pour tout utilisateur particulier quelconque de ladite imprimante commune à de nombreux utilisateurs avant la commande de ladite imprimante pour imprimer les travaux pour ledit utilisateur particulier à moins qu'un travail d'impression précédent pour ce même utilisateur ait été placé dans ledit casier et n'ait pas été enlevé ; et/ou dans lequel lesdits casiers ne sont pas sélectionnés à l'avance pour chaque utilisateur particulier de ladite imprimante commune à de nombreux utilisateurs pour envoyer un travail d'impression de ladite imprimante audit système de boîte à lettres pour ledit utilisateur particulier à moins qu'un travail d'impression précédent pour ce même utilisateur ait déjà été placé dans ledit casier de boîte à lettres et n'ait pas été enlevé.
  10. Système de mise en boîte à lettres selon la revendication 1, dans lequel le dispositif de sortie est une imprimante et ledit système de mise en boîte à lettres comprend un module de boîte à lettres, et dans lequel ledit système de mise en boîte à lettres est partagé par de multiples utilisateurs ayant chacun des codes d'accès discriminables et comprend de plus un affichage d'utilisateur variable pour indiquer lesquels desdits casiers de boite à lettres contiennent des feuilles de sorties pour ledit utilisateur particulier en réponse à l'entrée dudit code d'accès discriminable, et dans lequel lesdites informations de casiers du contrôleur comprennent à la fois le nombre de pages et documents dans le travail utilisateur et le nombre de copies du travail utilisateur qui doit être imprimé, et dans lequel lesdits casiers ne sont pas désignés pour chaque utilisateur particulier de ladite imprimante commune à de nombreux utilisateurs avant la commande de ladite imprimante pour imprimer les travaux pour ledit utilisateur particulier à moins qu'un travail d'impression précédent pour ce même utilisateur ait été placé dans ledit casier et n'ait pas été enlevé, dans lequel ledit contrôleur électronique détermine de plus si les ensembles de travaux qui sont imprimés pour un utilisateur particulier dépasseront ladite capacité de feuilles de sortie limitée dudit casier sélectionné pour ledit utilisateur, et commande ledit sélecteur de casiers variables afin de sélectionner un casier disponible supplémentaire qui sera affecté temporairement à cet utilisateur particulier et dirige les autres dits ensembles de travaux pour cet utilisateur particulier vers ledit casier disponible supplémentaire et mémorise de plus les informations que ledit casier de boîte à lettres supplémentaire a également des ensembles de travaux supplémentaires empilés dans celui-ci pour ledit utilisateur particulier, et dans lequel ledit contrôleur électronique commande de manière variable ladite sélection de casiers variables pour ladite sélection des travaux d'impression qui sont dirigés dans les casiers qui ne sont pas pleins et ne sont pas précisément utilisés pour un autre travail utilisateur non enlevé au moment de ladite sélection, et dans lequel ledit contrôleur électronique commande de manière variable ladite sélection de casiers variables afin de continuer à diriger les travaux d'impression ayant le même code d'utilisateur dans le même seul premier casier s'il ne dépasse pas la capacité du premier casier et dans le casier vide suivant le plus près s'il dépasse la capacité dudit premier casier afin de procurer un casier virtuel non limité à la capacité de feuilles de chaque casier particulier, et dans lequel ledit contrôleur électronique mémorise électroniquement lesdites informations d'affectation de casiers variables qui contiennent des travaux d'impression pour les codes d'utilisateur particulier, lesquelles dites informations d'affectation de casiers sont affichées sur ordre par un affichage d'identification de casier d'utilisateur.
  11. Système de mise en boîte à lettres selon la revendication 1, comprenant un moyen de verrouillage (50, 54) pouvant être mis en oeuvre par ledit moyen de commande (100) pour limiter l'accès aux feuilles empilées dans le casier de boîte à lettres sélectionné et un moyen de déverrouillage pouvant être mis en oeuvre pour déverrouiller le moyen de verrouillage afin de procurer l'accès aux feuilles empilées dans le casier sélectionné.
  12. Système de mise en boîte à lettres selon la revendication 11, dans lequel le moyen de déverrouillage peut être mis en oeuvre pour déverrouiller le moyen de verrouillage (50, 54) pour le casier de boîte à lettres sélectionné (11) tandis qu'un ou plusieurs ou la totalité du restant des casiers de boîte à lettres reste verrouillé.
  13. Système de mise en boîte à lettres selon la revendication 11 ou 12, dans lequel les casiers de boîte à lettres sont disposés dans un logement et sont au moins supportés de manière coulissable dans celui-ci, les moyens de verrouillage servant à verrouiller les casiers de boîte à lettres dans le logement afin d'empêcher un déplacement coulissant et le moyen de déverrouillage servant à déverrouiller les casiers de boîte à lettres afin de permettre le déplacement coulissant et afin de permettre au moins un enlèvement partiel des casiers de boîte à lettres du logement.
  14. Système de mise en boîte à lettres selon l'une quelconque des revendications 11 à 12, dans lequel le moyen d'alimentation en feuilles comprend une pluralité de portes de déviation (32), chaque porte de déviation (32) étant associé à un casier de boîte à lettres respectif (11), chaque porte de déviation (32) étant individuellement déplaçable à partir d'une première position, permettant aux feuilles de passer devant son casier associé, à une seconde position pour diriger les feuilles dans son casier associé et comprenant un moyen d'actionnement (35) pour déplacer sélectivement une des portes de déviation (32) à la seconde position.
  15. Système de mise en boîte à lettres selon l'une quelconque des revendications 11 à 14, dans lequel au moins certains des casiers de boîte à lettres sont sollicités par ressort de façon à s'ouvrir automatiquement par coulissement comme des tiroirs du logement lorsque déverrouillés par un mécanisme de déverrouillage.
  16. Système de mise en boîte à lettres selon la revendication 15, dans lequel le mécanisme de verrouillage est déverrouillé de manière fonctionnelle par un moyen électromagnétique.
  17. Système de mise en boîte à lettres selon l'une quelconque des revendications 11 à 16, dans lequel le moyen d'alimentation en feuilles comprend un moyen de traitement de feuilles dans le trajet de feuilles d'entrée en amont des casiers pour permettre le choix d'empilage des feuilles dans le casier sur les côtés ou sur les extrémités et/ou la sélection du côté d'un ensemble de feuilles qui doit être agrafé.
  18. Système de mise en boîte à lettres selon l'une quelconque des revendications 11 à 17, dans lequel le moyen d'alimentation en feuilles comprend un moyen d'inverseur de feuilles pour inverser les feuilles avant d'entrer dans la boîte à lettres.
  19. Système de mise en boîte à lettres selon l'une quelconque des revendications 11 à 18, dans lequel les casiers de boîte à lettres sont déverrouillables électriquement par des codes d'accès d'utilisateur.
  20. Système de mise en boîte à lettres selon l'une quelconque des revendications 11 à 19, dans lequel le moyen de commande (100) commande de manière variable la sélection des casiers afin de continuer à diriger les feuilles pour un travail ou des travaux ayant un même code d'utilisateur dans le même premier casier si le travail ou les travaux ne dépassent pas la capacité de ce casier et dans un casier de débordement si le travail ou les travaux dépassent la capacité du premier casier.
  21. Système de mise en boîte à lettres selon l'une quelconque des revendications 11 à 20, dans lequel un moyen de notification est prévu pour avertir l'utilisateur qu'il doit décharger les feuilles d'un travail ou de travaux d'un casier.
  22. Système de boîte à lettres selon l'une quelconque des revendications 11 à 21, dans lequel une interface utilisateur est prévue grâce à laquelle l'utilisateur peut accéder aux feuilles dans leur casier sélectionné en entrant son code d'utilisateur dans l'interface utilisateur.
  23. Système de mise en boîte à lettres selon la revendication 22, dans lequel l'interface utilisateur comprend un pavé de touches par lequel l'utilisateur entre son code utilisateur.
  24. Système de mise en boîte à lettres selon l'une quelconque des revendications 11 à 23, dans lequel le moyen de notification est prévu pour délivrer une instruction d'enlèvement lorsqu'un travail a été laissé dans un casier de boîte à lettres au-delà d'une période préétablie.
  25. Système de mise en boîte à lettres selon l'une quelconque des revendications 11 à 24, dans lequel un moyen d'indicateur de casier d'utilisateur est prévu, le moyen d'indicateur étant mis à jour de manière répétée par le moyen de commande pour identifier les utilisateurs dont les casiers de boîte à lettres contiennent des ensembles de travaux pour un utilisateur particulier.
  26. Système de mise en boîte à lettres selon la revendication 25, dans lequel le moyen d'indicateur de casier d'utilisateur comprend un moyen d'affichage activé par l'entrée d'un code d'accès dans un dispositif d'entrée de code d'utilisateur destiné au moyen de commande.
  27. Système de mise en boîte à lettres selon l'une quelconque des revendications 11 à 26, dans lequel le dispositif de sortie est une imprimante.
  28. Système de mise en boîte à lettres selon l'une quelconque des revendications 11 à 27, dans lequel ledit moyen de commande (100) sélectionne lequel des casiers parmi lesdits casiers sera affecté à un utilisateur particulier en réponse à des déterminations répétées que des boîtes à lettres sont actuellement disponibles pour empiler des ensembles de travaux dans ceux-ci, un casier étant actuellement disponible pour un autre utilisateur seulement s'il est vide ou a été vidé dans l'intervalle par un utilisateur précédent, mais est actuellement disponible pour le même utilisateur précédemment affecté à ce casier même s'il n'a pas été vidé tant que ce casier n'a pas été rempli par l'ensemble de travaux suivant qui doit être imprimé.
  29. Système de mise en boîte à lettres selon la revendication 1, ledit système de boite à lettres comprenant un trajet d'entrée de feuilles à ladite sortie dudit dispositif de sortie commun à de nombreux utilisateurs pour recevoir séquentiellement lesdites feuilles des travaux de sortie de celui-ci, des casiers de collecte de feuilles de sortie de travaux discrets multiples procurant des boites à lettres d'utilisateur, le système de commande pour affecter électroniquement un certain nombre de casiers discrets aux casiers de collecte de feuilles de sortie respectifs, et pour affecter électroniquement ledit certain nombre de casiers discrets auxdits différents utilisateurs dudit dispositif de sortie de travaux commun à de nombreux utilisateurs, un système de sélection et d'alimentation de casiers de feuilles commandé par ledit système de commande pour délivrer sélectivement lesdites feuilles des travaux à partir dudit trajet d'entrée de feuille au casier de collecte de feuilles de sortie désigné correspondant audit certain nombre de casiers électroniquement affectés pour lesdits utilisateurs désignés, ledit système de boite à lettres de tri de sortie ayant également un système de verrouillage de casier pour limiter l'accès à une pluralité de casiers de boite à lettres d'utilisateur de collecte de feuilles de sortie individuelle, comprenant un système de déverrouillage de casier électrique se connectant de manière fonctionnelle audit système de commande pour déverrouiller automatiquement lesdits casiers discrets en réponse à des entrées utilisateur de codes d'accès de déverrouillage de casiers discrets affectées aux utilisateurs discrets dudit système de boite à lettres de tri de sortie.
  30. Système de mise en boîte à lettres selon la revendication 29, dans lequel la boite à lettres de tri de travaux de sortie est une unité modulaire avec un pavé de touches électronique se connectant audit système de commande par lequel lesdits codes d'accès de casiers sont entrables par l'utilisateur.
  31. Trieuse pour délivrer des feuilles provenant d'un dispositif de sortie dans un casier de boite à lettres, caractérisé en ce que la trieuse incorpore un système selon l'une quelconque des revendications 1 à 30.
  32. Trieuse selon la revendication 31, ladite trieuse étant destinée à être utilisée avec une machine à imprimer des feuilles comprenant un logement, une pluralité de bacs de trieuse disposés dans ledit logement s'étendant longitudinalement et espacés verticalement, un moyen d'alimentation en feuilles pour diriger les feuilles vers lesdits bacs afin de former des ensembles de feuilles, lesdits bacs étant sous la forme de tiroirs supportés de manière coulissable dans lesdits logements pour être partiellement enlevés dudit logement, un moyen verrouillant normalement lesdits tiroirs dans ledit logement contre un déplacement coulissant et un moyen pouvant être mis en oeuvre de manière sélective pour déverrouiller les moyens de verrou pour un desdits tiroirs tandis que le reste desdits tiroirs reste verrouillé par ledit moyen de verrouillage.
  33. Trieuse selon la revendication 32, dans laquelle ledit moyen d'alimentation en feuilles comprend un déviateur à chaque bac permettant normalement le passage d'une feuille devant les bacs, chaque dit déviateur étant individuellement déplaçable à une position pour diriger une feuille dans un bac sélectionné et comprenant un moyen d'actionnement pour déplacer sélectivement un desdits déviateurs à ladite position dirigeant une feuille dans un bac.
  34. Trieuse selon la revendication 33, dans laquelle la trieuse incorpore un système selon l'une quelconque des revendications 1 à 30.
  35. Imprimante électronique et système de boite à lettres à casiers multiples pour un système connecté en réseau électronique constitué de multiples utilisateurs d'une imprimante électronique, le système étant selon la revendication 1 et
    dans lequel système de boite à lettres de l'imprimante, les travaux d'impression des utilisateurs individuels des feuilles imprimées par ladite imprimante sont automatiquement et variablement dirigées dans des casiers particuliers de boite à lettres de stockage de travaux d'impression affectés électroniquement dudit système de boites à lettres multiples,
    au moins certains des casiers de boite à lettres nominalement verrouillés mais électroniquement déverrouillables procurant un stockage privé à accès public limité de travaux d'impression confidentiels,
    comprenant de plus un système d'entrée de codes d'accès électroniques pour lesdits utilisateurs individuels afin d'entrer respectivement un code d'accès respectif pour déverrouiller leurs casiers de boite à lettres d'utilisateur électroniquement déverrouillables,
    et un système de commande pour rendre compte audit utilisateur individuel que lesdits casiers de boite à lettres verrouillés sont occupés par des travaux d'impression,
    ledit système de commande surveillant également et délivrant électroniquement un signal d'affichage d'indicateur d'avertissement d'enlèvement de travail lorsque les utilisateurs laissent leurs travaux d'impression non enlevés dans les casiers de boite à lettres pendant un temps qui dépasse une durée prédéterminée.
  36. Imprimante électronique et système de boite à lettres à casiers multiples selon la revendication 35, dans lequel ledit système de commande délivre automatiquement un message d'avertissement ordonnant à l'opérateur d'enlever tous les travaux d'impression imprimés depuis plus de 24 heures et qui n'ont pas encore été enlevés des casiers de boite à lettres.
  37. Imprimante électronique et système de boite à lettres à casiers multiples selon la revendication 35 ou la revendication 36, dans lequel lesdits travaux d'impression d'utilisateur individuel peuvent être envoyés de manière alternative et sélectionnable dans un ou plusieurs casiers de stockage de travaux non confidentiels plutôt que dans les casiers de boite à lettres sélectionnés parmi lesdits casiers de boite à lettres verrouillés et les casiers de boite à lettres électroniquement déverrouillables.
  38. Imprimante électronique et système de boite à lettres à casiers multiples selon l'une quelconque des revendications 35 à 37, dans lequel ledit système de commande délivre automatiquement des instructions électroniques à un administrateur du système qui reçoit également un code d'accès pour ouvrir chaque casier desdits casiers de boite à lettres déverrouillables électroniquement afin d'enlever lesdits travaux non enlevés desdites boites à lettres verrouillées.
  39. Imprimante électronique et système de boite à lettres à casiers multiples selon l'une quelconque des revendication 35 à 38, dans lequel ledit système de commande, pour rendre compte que les casiers de boite à lettres verrouillés sont occupés par des travaux d'impression audit utilisateur individuel, comprend des capteurs de casiers vides pour lesdits casiers individuels afin d'indiquer que lesdits casiers sont vides ou contiennent des travaux d'impression dans ceux-ci.
EP19940303031 1993-04-27 1994-04-27 Système de mise en boîte postale pour alimenter des feuilles depuis un dispositif de sortie jusque dans des casiers à courrier sélectionnés Expired - Lifetime EP0622695B1 (fr)

Applications Claiming Priority (4)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
US08/054,502 US5358238A (en) 1993-04-27 1993-04-27 Shared user printer output dynamic "mailbox" system
US54502 1993-04-27
US197092 1994-02-16
US08/197,092 US5435544A (en) 1993-04-27 1994-02-16 Printer mailbox system signaling overdue removals of print jobs from mailbox bins

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EP0622695A1 EP0622695A1 (fr) 1994-11-02
EP0622695B1 true EP0622695B1 (fr) 1997-01-08

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EP19940303031 Expired - Lifetime EP0622695B1 (fr) 1993-04-27 1994-04-27 Système de mise en boîte postale pour alimenter des feuilles depuis un dispositif de sortie jusque dans des casiers à courrier sélectionnés

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Publication number Publication date
DE69401377T2 (de) 1997-07-10
EP0622694B1 (fr) 1997-10-15
DE69401377D1 (de) 1997-02-20
EP0622695A1 (fr) 1994-11-02
EP0622694A2 (fr) 1994-11-02
ES2098101T3 (es) 1997-04-16
ES2110697T3 (es) 1998-02-16
EP0622694A3 (fr) 1995-01-04

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