EP0854106A2 - Drehbare Bogenweiche - Google Patents

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Publication number
EP0854106A2
EP0854106A2 EP97113269A EP97113269A EP0854106A2 EP 0854106 A2 EP0854106 A2 EP 0854106A2 EP 97113269 A EP97113269 A EP 97113269A EP 97113269 A EP97113269 A EP 97113269A EP 0854106 A2 EP0854106 A2 EP 0854106A2
Authority
EP
European Patent Office
Prior art keywords
sheet media
diverter
output
paper
printer
Prior art date
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.)
Withdrawn
Application number
EP97113269A
Other languages
English (en)
French (fr)
Other versions
EP0854106A3 (de
Inventor
Baldemar Fuentes
Current Assignee (The listed assignees may be inaccurate. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation or warranty as to the accuracy of the list.)
HP Inc
Original Assignee
Hewlett Packard Co
Priority date (The priority date 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 date listed.)
Filing date
Publication date
Application filed by Hewlett Packard Co filed Critical Hewlett Packard Co
Publication of EP0854106A2 publication Critical patent/EP0854106A2/de
Publication of EP0854106A3 publication Critical patent/EP0854106A3/de
Withdrawn legal-status Critical Current

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Classifications

    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B65—CONVEYING; PACKING; STORING; HANDLING THIN OR FILAMENTARY MATERIAL
    • B65H—HANDLING THIN OR FILAMENTARY MATERIAL, e.g. SHEETS, WEBS, CABLES
    • B65H39/00—Associating, collating, or gathering articles or webs
    • B65H39/10—Associating articles from a single source, to form, e.g. a writing-pad
    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B65—CONVEYING; PACKING; STORING; HANDLING THIN OR FILAMENTARY MATERIAL
    • B65H—HANDLING THIN OR FILAMENTARY MATERIAL, e.g. SHEETS, WEBS, CABLES
    • B65H2408/00—Specific machines
    • B65H2408/10—Specific machines for handling sheet(s)
    • B65H2408/11—Sorters or machines for sorting articles
    • B65H2408/112—Sorters or machines for sorting articles with stationary location in space of the bins and in-feed member movable from bin to bin
    • B65H2408/1121—Sorters or machines for sorting articles with stationary location in space of the bins and in-feed member movable from bin to bin pivoting in-feed member

Definitions

  • This invention relates to paper handling. More particularly, the invention relates to directing paper or other sheet media from a printer or other paper handler to multiple output stations.
  • This invention relates to paper sorting, where multiple sheets of sheet media such as paper are diverted along selected ones of different paper paths.
  • the multiple paper sheets are provided as a result of operation of a paper handling machine such as an electrophotographic printer.
  • the paper handling machine typically causes the paper to pass through a first process, such as printing, after which the paper is discharged to an output station.
  • a first process such as printing
  • output stations which have multiple bins which may be used for sorting purposes.
  • the printer of the preferred embodiment has a "mail boxing output device," which allows the printer's output to be sorted by categories.
  • the output sorter consists of either a movable tray set or a diverter mechanism for transporting sheets of paper along a vertical path to output bins.
  • Such equipment may be more complex than desired for table mounted printers.
  • Such mechanisms must be able to transport the paper to a desired output bin, despite variations in the physical nature of different types of paper or other sheet media. Such variations occur if an output sorter must be able to accommodate ordinary paper, as well as envelopes and heavy forms of sheet media such as card stock. It is desired to provide a mechanism which is relatively simple and yet can accommodate multiple types of sheet media. It is further desired to provide a mechanism which is readily adapted to the output of a paper-handling machine and which can easily transport sheet media from the paper-handling machine to a selected bin.
  • the printer is a "typeface up” printer, meaning that sheet media is discharged with the printed side up. If such sheets are printed in sequential order and discharged, then page one would be at the bottom of the stack. It is desired to provide a discharge mechanism which inverts the order of discharged paper so that page one appears on top of the stack.
  • a sheet media handling machine is provided with an output sorter, in which the sheet media is received by a receiver which directs the sheet media to a paper diverter drive system.
  • the drive system transports the sheet media along a paper path which is positionally controlled in order to direct the sheet media to a selected one of several output bins.
  • the drive system is pivoted so that the receiver remains in registration with the discharge location of the paper-handling machine. By pivoting, the paper diverter drive system receives the sheet media from the discharge location and, in turn, discharges the sheet media to selected ones of the output bins.
  • a paper diverter is provided with an input which has a curved funnel cross-section, wherein top and bottom guide walls start at a converging angle to a paper path and curve to a direction parallel to the paper path.
  • the inlet is able to be repositioned with respect to a discharge location, and yet maintain a preferred paper path direction to a transport mechanism.
  • This has the further advantage of permitting the diverter to be angularly displaced in order to select ones of a priority of output trays, while remaining in registration with the output location from the sheet media processing equipment.
  • a printer is provided with a diverter which pivots in order to direct sheet media to selected ones of a plurality of output bins.
  • a funnel-like receptor is provided at the input of the diverter in order that the diverter remains in an angular registration with the output of the printer throughout the output bin selection range of the diverter.
  • the pivoting output mechanism is able to remain in registration with an output location without further articulation of the input of the diverter beyond the pivoting movement.
  • the funnel converges in a vertical direction to a substantially horizontal paper path and therefore does not converge horizontally.
  • the direction of movement and of the stapler and relative positions of the several bins are considered to be “upward” and “downward.” It is understood, however, that these references of “upward,” “downward,” “horizontal” and “vertical,” may be at variance with a horizontal reference plane.
  • the invention is not directly dependent on the horizontal reference plane, so that the angle of variation can be up to 360°.
  • gravity is used to cause sheets to drop so that edges of the sheets are in registration with one another.
  • FIG. 1 shows a printer 11 and associated output section 15 constructed in accordance with the preferred embodiment.
  • the printer 11 is used as an example of sheet media handling equipment and may be, by way of example, a laser printer, such as one of the Assignee's HP LaserJetTM laser printers.
  • the printer 11 discharges sheet media, such as paper, at an output location, output station 17.
  • a plurality of output bins 19 are provided, so that different print jobs can be segregated.
  • a paper diverter 31 is provided.
  • the diverter 31 consists of a paper path 33 defined by guides 35, 36 in a diverter transport drive 39.
  • the diverter transport drive 39 functions as a transport mechanism for the diverter 31. Paper entering the diverter 31 along the paper path 33 is driven by the diverter transport drive 39 to whichever bin 19 the paper diverter 31 is aligned.
  • the diverter transport drive 39 is shown as a drive belt, although it is also possible to provide a drive roller system, for example, consisting of one or more shifts that drive rubber rollers (not shown).
  • the function of the diverter transport drive 39 is to move paper while in the diverter 31.
  • the sheet media may slide along an opposing plate 41, or an idler belt (not shown) may be provided.
  • the diverter transport drive 39 is biased to grip sheet media as the sheet media passes through the diverter 31.
  • This biasing is represented by spring 45.
  • the biasing is provide to prevent sheet media driven by the transport drive 39 from dropping away from the diverter 31. Since the diverter 31 is able to be positioned to cause the paper path 33 to be along different angles, it is advantageous to provide such biasing.
  • the diverter 31 In order to select which output bin 19 to which the paper is discharged, the diverter 31 is pivoted. This aligns the diverter 31 with a selected one of the output bins 19. By pivoting, the diverter can remain in registration with the output station 17, thereby continuing to accept paper from the printer 11, regardless of which output bin 19 is selected.
  • the diverter 31 is pivoted by a selector drive 47 which positions the diverter 31 into alignment the selected output bin 19.
  • the selector drive 47 can be any convenient positioning mechanism to cause a motor to move the diverter 31 until a desired position is reached, and then stopping the movement of the diverter 31.
  • the output bins 19 will have shaped mouth portions 49 so that each output bin 19 aligns with a paper path defined by the paper diverter 31.
  • some paper bins such as paper bin 19a, are below the level of the printer's output station 17.
  • Sheet media 15 entering paper bins below the level of the printer's output station 17 must shift direction as the sheet media 15 enters the mouth 49 of the paper bin 19a.
  • sheet media which are less amenable to manipulation, such as transparencies and card stock.
  • Avoiding the diverter 31 can be accomplished by either removing the diverter 31 from the printer 11 or by providing a straight through paper path which bypasses the printer's output station 17 in favor of another output station (not shown) on the printer 17. It is also possible to provide a paper path through the diverter 31 which directs sheet media along a path which acceptable for such sheet media. As an alternative, it is possible to continue to pivot the paper diverter 31 so that the paper diverter 31 is out of registration with the output station.
  • the paper diverter has a funneled inlet opening 51, as shown in detail in Figure 3.
  • Funneled inlet opening 51 includes upper and lower panels 53, 54, which converge in a vertical direction to a generally horizontal paper path.
  • the upper and lower panels 53, 54 do not converge horizontally in the preferred embodiment.
  • the funneled opening 51 remains in alignment with the output paper path at the printer's output station 17.
  • the panel 53 or 54 which is most closely aligned with the output paper path at the output station 17, represented by dashed line 57, is closest to the output paper path 57.
  • the sheet media 15, in order to be processed by the printer 11, must have a predetermined minimum length.
  • the spacing between the paper diverter drive system 39 and the output station 17 is such that paper of this minimum length reaches a drive system 39 prior to becoming completely discharged by the printer 11 at the output station 17. Therefore the diverter drive system 39 is positioned at a distance from a discharge mechanism (not shown) of the output station 17 which assures that a predetermined minimum length of sheet media 15 remains engaged at the discharge mechanism of the output station 17 at least until the diverter drive system 39 engages the sheet media 15.
  • Figure 3 shows a modified diverter 71, in which an inlet portion includes panels 75, 76 which do not exhibit the convex profile of the funnel opening 51 of Figure 2.
  • an inlet portion includes panels 75, 76 which do not exhibit the convex profile of the funnel opening 51 of Figure 2.
  • sheet media discharged along a paper path 57 is guided by the panels 75, 76 to the paper diverter drive system 39.
  • Figure 4 shows a further modification of the invention, in which an intermediate transporter 81 receives sheet media 15 from the output station 17.
  • the intermediate transporter has a downward bend 83 which causes the sheet media 15 to be transported vertically.
  • a plurality of output bins 89 are provided which are approximately vertically aligned but skewed so that sheet media 15 which drops into the output bins 89 falls to one side of the selected output bin 89.
  • a pivotal paper diverter 91 receives the sheet media 15 and selectively directs the sheet media 15 to output bins 89.
  • the intermediate transporter 81 may pivot along with paper diverter 91, provided that a paper path to the paper diverter 91 is maintained as necessary.
  • the alignment of the output bins 89 is considered to be approximately vertical because, in the preferred embodiment, the bins 89 are skewed from the vertical so that the sheet media 15 discharged into the bins 89 will lean to one side of the respective bins 89. This allows subsequent sheets of sheet media 15 to drop into the bins 89 with a minimum of interferance from sheets already in the bins 89.
  • the printer 11 is a "typeface up" printer, then it is possible to skew the output bins 89 so that the sheet media 15 drops face down into the bins 89. This results in successive sheets of sheet media 15 being stacked behind prior sheets. This results in inverting the order of the sheets in each bin, so that the sheets are in a forward sequential order. Thus the last page appears at the bottom of a stack.

Landscapes

  • Separation, Sorting, Adjustment, Or Bending Of Sheets To Be Conveyed (AREA)
  • Collation Of Sheets And Webs (AREA)
  • Paper Feeding For Electrophotography (AREA)
EP97113269A 1997-01-21 1997-07-31 Drehbare Bogenweiche Withdrawn EP0854106A3 (de)

Applications Claiming Priority (2)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
US79291297A 1997-01-21 1997-01-21
US792912 1997-01-21

Publications (2)

Publication Number Publication Date
EP0854106A2 true EP0854106A2 (de) 1998-07-22
EP0854106A3 EP0854106A3 (de) 1999-01-13

Family

ID=25158461

Family Applications (1)

Application Number Title Priority Date Filing Date
EP97113269A Withdrawn EP0854106A3 (de) 1997-01-21 1997-07-31 Drehbare Bogenweiche

Country Status (2)

Country Link
EP (1) EP0854106A3 (de)
JP (1) JPH10236722A (de)

Cited By (1)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US7637500B2 (en) 2006-03-28 2009-12-29 Hewlett-Packard Development Company, L.P. Advancing a media sheet along a media path

Citations (3)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
JPS55165855A (en) * 1979-06-11 1980-12-24 Matsushita Electric Ind Co Ltd Sheet distributor
FR2601936A1 (fr) * 1986-07-28 1988-01-29 Sindo Ricoh Co Ltd Dispositif pour trier des photocopies
EP0399565A2 (de) * 1989-05-26 1990-11-28 Seiko Epson Corporation Druckgerät

Patent Citations (3)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
JPS55165855A (en) * 1979-06-11 1980-12-24 Matsushita Electric Ind Co Ltd Sheet distributor
FR2601936A1 (fr) * 1986-07-28 1988-01-29 Sindo Ricoh Co Ltd Dispositif pour trier des photocopies
EP0399565A2 (de) * 1989-05-26 1990-11-28 Seiko Epson Corporation Druckgerät

Non-Patent Citations (4)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Title
J.EMMELOT: "FIXED BIN SORTER WITH RIGID FEEDER GUIDE" XEROX DISCLOSURE JOURNAL., vol. 10, no. 2, April 1985, pages 71-72, XP002083763 STAMFORD, CONN US *
J.M. BEVIL; J. FLORENCE: "REMOVABLE COLLATOR BINS" IBM TECHNICAL DISCLOSURE BULLETIN, vol. 19, no. 7, December 1976, pages 2442-2443, XP002083764 NEW YORK US *
LAP J: "PIVOTING GATE SORTER" XEROX DISCLOSURE JOURNAL, vol. 19, no. 6, 1 November 1994, page 501/502 XP000484377 *
PATENT ABSTRACTS OF JAPAN vol. 005, no. 043 (M-060), 23 March 1981 -& JP 55 165855 A (MATSUSHITA ELECTRIC IND CO LTD), 24 December 1980 *

Cited By (1)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US7637500B2 (en) 2006-03-28 2009-12-29 Hewlett-Packard Development Company, L.P. Advancing a media sheet along a media path

Also Published As

Publication number Publication date
JPH10236722A (ja) 1998-09-08
EP0854106A3 (de) 1999-01-13

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