JP2001261222A - Sheet feeder - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a sheet feeder capable of preventing an operator's hands from being cut or causing a sheet jam even if the sorting operation is switched from a first group of sheet feed tables to a second group of paper feed tables. SOLUTION: This sheet feeder is provided with a sheet feeding part for feeding sheet loaded on each of plurality of sheet feed tables 3a-3j sheet by sheet in a designated timing, and a control means 68 for controlling the transport of the sheet from the respective sheet feed tables 3a-3j. The control means 68 divides the sheet feed tables 3a-3j into a first group (sheet feed tables 3a-3e) and a second group (sheet feed tables 3f-3j) (A), a receives a signal of loading the sheet feed tables 3a-3j with sheet 1 or not from sheet detecting sensor S1-a-S1-j (B), starts to transport the sheet 1 from the first group (sheet feed tables 3a-3e), all sheet feeds of which are loaded with sheet (C), stops transporting the sheet from the sheet feed tables 3a-3e when the sheet is out in one of the sheet feed tables 3a-3e (D), and conducts the transport switching control to start transporting the sheet from the sheet feed tables 3f-3j in the lapse of designated wait time (E).

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

TECHNICAL FIELD The present invention relates to a plurality of types (contents)
The present invention relates to a collating device for stacking sheets of paper one by one in a predetermined order and discharging the collated material or a paper feeding device used in a printing press.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art FIG. 9 is an overall perspective view of a conventional collating apparatus. As shown in FIG. 9, the conventional collating apparatus has a plurality of paper feed trays 70a to 70j arranged in the vertical direction, and a predetermined number of sheets 72 stacked on each of the paper feed trays 70a to 70j. A sheet feeding unit 71 that conveys one sheet at a time and a plurality of sheets 72 conveyed from each of the sheet feeding tables 70a to 70j of the sheet feeding unit 71 are collated to form a collated product, and the collated product is discharged. A collet transport unit (not shown) that transports the collet to the unit 74, a discharge unit 74 that discharges the collate unit transported from the collet transport unit to the stacker unit 75, and a stack unit that discharges the collet unit discharged from the discharge unit 74. And a stacking unit counting means (not shown) for counting the number of sets of the obtained collections.

In the above-described configuration, for example, a large number of sheets 72 classified by type (content) are stacked from the uppermost sheet feeding tray 70a to the lowermost sheet feeding tray 70j, respectively.
A description will be given of a case in which a collated product is formed by stacking the sheet feeding tables 70a to 70j in the vertical order. First, when a start switch (not shown) is turned on, the respective sheets 72 from the uppermost sheet feeding tray 70a to the lowermost sheet feeding tray 70j are sequentially conveyed from the upper stage with a predetermined timing delay.
2 are collated by the collating transport unit to be a collated product. The collated material is discharged to the stacker unit 75 via the discharge unit 74. Then, a large number of sheets 72 are stacked on the stacker unit 75 by performing this series of operations continuously.

[0004] Each of the paper feed trays 70a to 70j is divided into a first group of paper feed trays 70a to 70e and paper feed trays 70f to 70f.
j, the first group is firstly operated, and sheets are loaded on the second group of paper feed trays 70f to 70j during the first group operation, and the first group of paper feed trays 70a to 70j are loaded. When any of the sheets 70e is exhausted, the operation of the second group of paper feed trays 70f to 70j is started, and during the operation of the second group, the first group of paper feed trays 70a to 70j is started.
By repeating the operation of replenishing the sheet with 0e, the collating operation can be always performed by any group.

[0005]

However, in the above-mentioned conventional collating apparatus, when the collating operation is switched from the first group to the second group, 1) the paper transport starts suddenly during the paper loading operation. 2) There is a problem that the operator's hand hits the sheet at the start of conveyance, the sheet is skewed and conveyed, and a paper jam occurs.

Accordingly, the present invention has been made to solve the above-mentioned problem, and even if the collating operation is switched from the first group to the second group, an operator cuts his hand or paper jam occurs. It is an object of the present invention to provide a sheet feeding device that does not perform any operation.

[0007]

According to a first aspect of the present invention, there are provided a plurality of paper feed trays, and a paper feed unit for feeding paper loaded on each of the paper feed trays one by one at a predetermined timing. A sheet presence detection sensor for detecting whether or not the sheets are stacked on each of the sheet feeding tables, and control means for controlling the conveyance of the sheets from each of the sheet feeding tables. The control means (A) divides the plurality of paper trays into a plurality of groups, and (B) receives a signal from the paper presence / absence detection sensor regarding whether or not paper is loaded on each paper tray. (C) starting the conveyance of the paper from the first group in which the paper is loaded on all the paper feed trays in the plurality of groups, and (D) feeding any of the papers belonging to the first group during the conveyance of the paper. When there is no more paper on the platform, transport of paper from the first group It stops, and performs conveyance switching control to start conveyance of the sheet from (E) after a predetermined wait time has elapsed, the other second group.

[0008] The number of paper feed trays belonging to the first group and the second
The number of paper feed tables belonging to the group may be the same or different. Specifically, when the number of paper feed trays is 12, the first to sixth paper feed trays from the top are set as a first group, and
The second to twelfth paper trays may be the second group, and the first to third paper trays from the top may be the first group.
Set the 4th to 12th paper trays as the second group
Good as a group.

In this paper feeder, when a group to be transported is switched from the first group to the second group, a predetermined waiting time is set, so that the operator loads sheets on the paper feed stand in standby. Even if the paper feed table being conveyed is stopped while the paper feeding is being performed, the paper feed table to which the operator is to load paper does not start conveying until the waiting time has elapsed. Therefore, during this time, the worker recognizes that the paper feed tray to be transported is switched, and can secure his / her own safety.In addition, the worker's hand may suddenly touch the paper that has started to move, causing the paper to skew. Can be avoided.

According to a second aspect of the present invention, there is provided the sheet feeding apparatus according to the first aspect, wherein the control unit is configured to switch the conveyance of the sheet from the second group after a predetermined waiting time has elapsed. Receiving signals from the paper presence / absence detection sensors of all paper feed tables belonging to the second group, and restarting conveyance only when all signals indicate that paper is stacked. I do.

In this paper feeding device, when the conveyance is switched,
Since it is checked whether or not paper is loaded on all the paper feed trays belonging to the group to start the new transport, the paper tray or paper that has no paper loaded in the group to start the new transport If there is a paper tray being loaded, switching is not performed. Therefore, even if there is a paper feed tray on which paper is not loaded, conveyance is started from a new group, which prevents improper collation and printing from being performed. However, even if the user does not notice that the paper feeding table being transported has stopped, the safety of the worker can be ensured.

[0012] The invention of claim 3 is claim 1 or claim 2.
The sheet feeding device according to claim 1, further comprising a notifying unit, wherein the control unit notifies the notification from the notifying unit when the conveyance is switched to start conveying the sheet from the second group. Features.

The notification means includes a sound generation means and the like. In this paper feeder, when the conveyance is switched, a notice is given to the worker by notifying, thereby ensuring the safety of the worker and the like.

[0014]

Embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings.

1 to 9 show a first embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 1 is an overall perspective view of a collating apparatus, and FIG. 2 is a structural diagram of a paper feeding section, a collating transport section, a discharge section, and a stacker section. FIG. 3 is a side view showing a paper feed unit and a drive transmission system to a collating and conveying unit and a discharge unit, and FIG. 4 is a perspective view showing drive force distribution to each paper feed unit.

As shown in FIGS. 1 to 4, a collating apparatus includes a paper feeding section A for conveying a plurality of types of sheets 1 to be collated one by one at a predetermined timing, and a conveying section from the paper feeding section A. A plurality of sheets 1 to be collated and transported to a discharge section C as a collated article 2; and a discharge section C for discharging the collated articles 2 from the collated transport section B to a stacker section D. And a stacker section D on which the collection 2 discharged from the discharge section C is loaded.

The paper feeding section A is provided with 1
It has zero paper feed tables 3a to 3j. Each of the paper feed tables 3a to
3j, as shown in FIG. 2, is provided with a fixed paper feed table 4, a support shaft 5, and a movable paper feed table 6. The movable paper feed table unit 6 moves up and down on the transport front end side with the support shaft 5 as a fulcrum. The movable paper feed unit 6 is provided with a paper presence / absence detection sensor S1 with a lever 7, and the paper presence / absence detection sensor S1 causes
It is detected whether or not sheets 1 are stacked on a to 3j.
A paper feed roller 9 supported by a rotating shaft 8 is disposed above the movable paper feed table 6 on the side of the transport front end. The uppermost sheet 1 loaded when the movable sheet supply unit 6 is located above the sheet supply roller 9 is pressed against the sheet supply roller 9.

When the paper feed roller 9 is rotated, only the uppermost sheet 1 stacked is conveyed due to a synergistic effect with a not shown stand. An upper guide plate 10 and a lower guide plate 11 for guiding the sheet 1 to be conveyed are provided at a position downstream of the sheet feeding roller 9 to convey the sheet 1 to be conveyed.
It is supplied to the collating transport section B while being guided by 0 and 11.

The double feed detection sensor S2 has a light-emitting portion 12 and a light-receiving portion 13 arranged so as to sandwich the passage between the upper and lower guide plates 10 and 11, and one sheet 1 conveyed from the sensor output level. It is detected whether or not it is a sheet. Further, the presence / absence of an empty feed or a paper jam is also detected based on whether or not a sensor output is present within a predetermined time from the start of rotation of the paper feed roller 9.

The paper feed rollers 9 corresponding to the paper feed tables 3a to 3j are provided with electromagnetic clutches 82a to 82j (to be described later) (FIG. 5).
), The rotation timing is controlled, and the sheet 1 is conveyed to the collating and conveying section B from each of the paper feed tables 3a to 3j at a predetermined timing. The drive transmission system of each paper feed roller 9 and this timing will be described later.

As shown in FIG. 2, the collating and conveying section B includes upper and lower guide plates 10 corresponding to the respective paper feed tables 3a to 3j.
Transport rollers 15 respectively provided on the discharge side of 11;
A pressing roller 16 is provided to face each of the transport rollers 15. Each of the pressing rollers 16 arranged in the vertical direction is transported by a spring (not shown).
And the pressing rollers 16,
A transport belt 17 is hung between the rollers 16..., And each pressing roller 16 is pressed against the transport roller 15 via the transport belt 17. The drive transmission system of the transport roller 15 will be described later.

Each transport roller 15 and each press roller 1
Vertical guide plates 18 and 19 are provided on both sides of the portion of the conveyor belt 17 which is in pressure contact with the transfer belt 6, respectively.
0 is configured. One of the vertical guide plates 18 is constituted by one plate, while the other vertical guide plate 19 is formed by the upper and lower guide plates 1 of the sheet feeding section A.
It is composed of a plurality of plates integrally with 0 and 11.

When each transport roller 15 rotates,
The rotatable transport belt 17 is moved by the pressing roller 16 under the frictional force of the transport roller 15, and the paper 1 transported from the paper feeding unit A is rotated by the rotating transport roller 15 and the moving transport belt 17. And is transported downward along the vertical transport path 20. Here, the lower sheet 1 is conveyed to the collating conveying section B at the timing when the sheet 1 conveyed from above passes the lower conveying roller 15 so that the lower sheet 1 is The sheet is conveyed downward while overlapping the sheet 1. The conveyance of the paper 1 and the operation of superimposing the paper 1 are repeated to form a desired collation 2 and the collation 2 is further conveyed to the discharge section C below.

As shown in FIG. 2, the discharge section C has a conveyance path changing guide plate 21. The conveyance path change guide plate 21 is provided with a stacker position indicated by a solid line in FIG.
It is rotatably provided between the position for the post-processing device indicated by a virtual line in FIG. The transport path change guide plate 21
It is urged toward the stacker position by a spring (not shown) and is driven by an electromagnetic solenoid 81 (shown in FIG. 5). When the electromagnetic solenoid 81 is off, the stacker is at the stacker position, and when the electromagnetic solenoid 81 is on, it is at the post-processing machine position. In the stacker position, the upper end of the transport path changing guide plate 21 is positioned along one of the vertical guide plates 18 of the collating transport section B, and the collated articles 2 transported from the collating transport section B are stacked in the stacker section D. Guided to the side. In the post-processing machine position, the upper end of the transport path changing guide plate 21 is positioned along the other vertical guide plate 19 of the collating transport section B. It is guided to the side opposite to the D side.

A stacker side guide plate 22 and a post-processing machine side guide plate 23 are provided below the transport path changing guide plate 21, and the union 2 passes over the guide plates 22, 23. Conveyed selectively.

The sheet discharge detection sensor S3 has a light emitting section 24 and a light receiving section 25 disposed so as to sandwich the guide plate 22 on the stacker section side, and detects the discharge timing of the bundle 2 from the sensor output. That is, when the collation 2 starts passing,
The light from the light emitting section 24 is cut off and the output of the light receiving section 25 becomes H
The output from the light receiving unit 25 returns to the L level because the light from the light emitting unit 24 is not blocked again at the end of the passage, and the discharge timing of the collection 2 is detected. Further, the paper ejection detection sensor S3 detects a paper jam at the paper ejection unit C, for example, when the H level of the sensor output continues for a predetermined time or more.

A pair of discharge rollers 26 and 27 arranged vertically are provided at the most downstream side of the stacker section side guide plate 22 and at a position facing the stacker section D. The pair of discharge rollers 26 and 27 are arranged in a substantially pressure-contact state, and the upper end of the lower discharge roller 27 protrudes slightly above the stacker section side guide plate 22. The upper discharge roller 26 is on the drive side, and the drive transmission system will be described later. When the upper discharge roller 26 rotates, the lower discharge roller 27 rotates following the rotation. The collated article 2 conveyed from the collating transport section B is inserted between the pair of discharge rollers 26 and 27, and is discharged to the stacker section D by the rotation of the pair of discharge rollers 26 and 27.

Next, a drive transmission system for the paper feed roller 9, the transport roller 15, and the upper discharge roller 26 will be described. As shown in FIG. 3, a driving pulley 31, a discharge pulley 32, and a transport pulley 33 are provided on the output shaft 30a of the main motor 30, the rotary shaft 26a of the discharge roller 26, and the rotary shaft 15a of the lowermost transport roller 15, respectively. Has been fixed. A first drive belt 35 is hung between each of the pulleys 31, 32, 33 and the auxiliary pulley.

A relay pulley 37 supported by a rotating shaft 36 is provided between the vertically adjacent paper feed rollers 9. A transport pulley 33 is fixed to the rotating shaft 15a of each transport roller 15. These relay pulleys 3
A second drive belt 39 is hung between the pulley 7 and the transport pulley 33 and the auxiliary pulley 38. As shown in FIG. 4, a relay gear 40 is fixed to the rotating shaft 36 of the relay pulley 37, and a paper feed gear 41 arranged at an upper and lower position is engaged with the relay gear 40. Each paper feed gear 41 is connected to the rotating shaft 8 of the paper feed roller 9 via electromagnetic clutches 82a to 82j (shown in FIG. 5).

When the main motor 30 is driven, the first drive belt 35 moves and the upper discharge roller 26 is rotated in the direction of arrow a in FIG. In addition, the movement of the first drive belt 35 moves the second drive belt 39 to rotate each transport roller 15 in the direction of the arrow b in FIG. 41 is rotated. Then, only the paper feed roller 9 for which the electromagnetic clutches 82a to 82j (shown in FIG. 5) are turned on is rotated in the direction of the arrow c in FIG.

The stacker section D includes a paper discharge table 42 provided at a position where the collated product 2 discharged from the discharge section C is dropped, and two outer sides of the collated material 2 discharged onto the paper discharge table 42. Position to,
It has a pair of side fences 43 and 44 for regulating the direction orthogonal to the discharge direction of the collation 2. One of the pair of side fences 43 and 44 is provided movably in the left-right direction, and the other is fixed to the paper discharge tray 42. By moving one side fence 43, the width between the pair of side fences 43 and 44 can be changed according to the width of the sheet 2 to be collated. A front fence 45 (shown in FIG. 1) that regulates the front of the collection 2 in the discharge direction is disposed on the paper output table 42, and the front fence 45 is movable in an oblique direction in the discharge direction of the collection 2. It is provided in.

FIG. 5 is a circuit block diagram of a control system of the collating apparatus, and FIG. 6 is a flowchart of a collating process of the collating apparatus. In FIG. 5, the outputs of the sheet presence / absence detection sensor S1 and the sheet ejection detection sensor S3 are output to the control unit 68. A command signal or the like from an operation panel (not shown) is output to the control unit 68, and the control unit 68 controls the main motor 30, the electromagnetic solenoid 81, and the electromagnetic clutches 82a to 82j according to a predetermined program.

Next, the operation of the above configuration will be described with reference to FIGS. First, a collating operation in the case where sheets are stacked on all of the sheet feeding tables 3a to 3e will be described. FIG. 6 is a flowchart of the collating process, and FIG. 7 is a sheet feeding table 3a to 3e.
FIG. 8 is a timing chart of each unit in the case where the sheet feeding is continued, and FIG. 8 is a timing chart of each unit in the case where the feeding is switched from the sheet feeding tables 3a to 3e to the sheet feeding tables 3f to 3j.

For example, five sheets 1 of different types (contents)
When it is desired to collate the sheets, the sheets 1 of the first to fifth pages are stacked in the collating order from the sheet feeding tables 3a to 3e, and the first pages are similarly accumulated in the sheet feeding tables 3f to 3j. To the fifth page are stacked in the collating order. In FIG.
When started, the main motor 30 starts driving (step S1), and the paper presence / absence detection sensor S1 detects whether or not the paper 1 is loaded on each of the paper feed tables 3a to 3e (step S2). Paper 1 on all paper feed tables 3a to 3e
Are loaded, the paper feed rollers 9 of the paper feed table 3a to the paper feed rollers 9 of the paper feed table 3e are sequentially rotated from the top by the control of the electromagnetic clutches 82a to 82e to rotate each paper feed table 3a. 3e are sequentially conveyed one by one to the collating and conveying section B (step S3). FIG. 7 shows the timing of driving each of the electromagnetic clutches 82a to 82e at this time. The electromagnetic clutch 82a is turned on after detecting that sheets are stacked on the sheet feeding tables 3a to 3e,
It turns off after a predetermined time t1 has elapsed. Electromagnetic clutch 82a
Is turned on, the sheet feeding roller 9 of the sheet feeding table 3a rotates, and the sheet 1 is conveyed from the sheet feeding table 3a and supplied to the collating conveyance section B. Paper 1 transported from paper feed table 3a
Is transported downward along the vertical transport path 20 while being sandwiched between the transport roller 15 and the transport belt 17. On the other hand, when the electromagnetic clutch 82a is turned on and the electromagnetic clutch 82b is turned on after a lapse of a predetermined time t2, and the sheet feeding roller 9 of the sheet feeding table 3b rotates, the sheet 1 is conveyed from the sheet feeding table 3b, and the collating conveyance section B Supplied to The sheet 1 conveyed from the sheet feeding table 3a is conveyed to the collating conveyance section B at the timing when the sheet 1 conveyed from the sheet feeding table 3b passes through the conveying rollers 15 of the sheet feeding table 3b. Paper 1 on table 3b is paper feed table 3a
And is conveyed downward. Similarly, a predetermined time 2 * t after the electromagnetic clutch 82a is turned on.
After a lapse of 2, 3 * t2 and 4 * t2, the electromagnetic clutch 82c,
82d and 82e are sequentially turned on, and the conveyance of the sheet 1 and the superposition operation are repeated, and a desired collation 2 is created. The collated product 2 enters the discharge section C, and travels on the stacker side as a transport path by the transport path changing guide plate 21.
The sheet is discharged to the stacker D by the rotation of the pair of discharge rollers 26 and 27. When the discharge detection sensor S3 detects that the discharge is completed, the electromagnetic clutches 82a to 82a are again activated.
e are sequentially turned on, and the paper 1 is supplied to all of the paper feed trays 3a to 3e.
As long as is loaded, steps S2 to S3 are repeated.

Next, a case where any one of the sheets 1 in the sheet feeding tables 3a to 3e is used up will be described. When the paper presence / absence detection sensor S1 detects that any of the papers in the paper feed tables 3a to 3e has run out ("NO" in step S2), the buzzer 100 sounds to alert the operator (step S2). S4) It is monitored for one second whether or not there is paper on the paper feed trays 3f to 3j (steps S5 and S6). If any of the paper feed trays 3f to 3j is momentarily out of paper, the paper It is determined that there is no paper or the paper stacking operation is being performed, and the collating operation ends (in the case of “NO” in step S5). When there is a sheet in the sheet feeding tables 3f to 3j for one second, it is determined that the sheet is present and the sheet stacking operation is completed, and the operation shifts to the collating operation by the sheet feeding tables 3f to 3j ("YES" in step S6). ).

When sheets are stacked on all of the sheet feeding tables 3f to 3j ("YES" in step S7), collation processing is performed on the sheets 1 on the sheet feeding tables 3f to 3j.
That is, the sheet feeding table 3j is sequentially arranged from the sheet feeding roller 9 of the sheet feeding table 3f.
Are sequentially rotated from the top under the control of the electromagnetic clutches 82f to 82j, and the sheets 1 stacked on each sheet supply table are sequentially conveyed one by one to the collating conveyance section B (step S8). ). At this time, each of the electromagnetic clutches 82f to 82f-8
FIG. 8 shows the drive timing of 2j. Electromagnetic clutch 8
2f is (1 + 5) after the discharge sensor S3 detects discharge.
* T2) Turns on after seconds and turns off after a predetermined time t1. After a predetermined time t2, 2 * t2, 3 * t2, 4 * t2 has elapsed since the electromagnetic clutch 82f was turned on, the electromagnetic clutches 82g, 82h, 82i, and 82j are sequentially turned on, and the paper feeders 3f to 3j are fed. The rollers 9 rotate to convey the paper 1. Each of the conveyed sheets 1 is collected by a collating conveyance section B.
Is conveyed downward while being collated at the location of the transport roller 15, and is finally collated at the location of the transport roller 15 corresponding to the paper feed table 3 j to be a desired collated product 2, and the discharge unit C
And is discharged to the stacker section D via. Then, steps S7 to S8 are repeated as long as the sheets are stacked on all of the sheet feeding tables 3f to 3j. While the steps S7 to S8 are repeated, the operator sets the sheet feeder 3a that is not feeding a sheet.
To 3e.

The paper presence / absence detection sensor S1 is connected to the paper feed tables 3f to 3j.
If it is detected that any of the sheets is not loaded (in the case of “NO” in step S7), the buzzer 100 sounds to call attention to the operator (step S9), and is sent to the paper feed tables 3a to 3e. It is monitored for one second whether or not there is a sheet (steps S10 and S11). If there is no sheet in any of the sheet feed trays 3a to 3e even for a moment, it is determined that there is no sheet or the sheet is being loaded. The collation operation ends (in the case of “NO” in step S10). If there is a sheet in the sheet feeding tables 3a to 3e for one second, it is determined that the sheet is present and the sheet stacking operation is completed, and the collation operation by the sheet feeding tables 3a to 3e is returned (in the case of "YES" in step S11). .

That is, in the present embodiment, the paper feed tables 3a to 3a
e, while the sheets are stacked,
The sheet is transported to the collating transport section B from e. Paper feed table 3a ~
Sheets can be stacked on the paper feed tables 3f to 3j during the collating process by 3e. If any of the paper feed trays 3a to 3e runs out of paper, the paper feed trays 3a to 3j must be loaded with paper.
The processing is switched from the collation processing by e to the collation processing by the paper feed tables 3f to 3j. During collation processing by the paper feed tables 3f to 3j,
Paper can be stacked on the paper feed tables 3a to 3e. At the time of switching the processing, 1) providing a one-second waiting time to provide a time allowance for avoiding danger; 2) if there is no paper even for a moment during the waiting time, there is no paper Alternatively, it is determined that the sheet stacking operation is being performed, and the collating operation is terminated, thereby reliably preventing the occurrence of an accident. 3) By sounding a buzzer during the waiting time, the operator is notified of the switching timing. As a result, 1) conveyance of paper is suddenly started during the paper stacking operation, and the operator cuts his hand. 2) At the start of conveyance, the hand of the operator hits the paper, and the paper is skewed and conveyed. Problems such as occurrence can be avoided.

In this embodiment, a plurality of paper feed trays are divided into two groups (sheet feed trays 3a to 3e and paper feed trays 3f to 3f).
Although an example in which control is performed separately in 3j) has been described, control may be performed in three or more groups.

[0040]

As described above, according to the first aspect of the present invention, there are provided a plurality of paper feed trays, and a paper feed unit for feeding paper loaded on each of these paper feed trays one by one at a predetermined timing. In a paper feeder comprising: a paper presence / absence detection sensor that detects whether or not the paper is stacked on each of the paper feed tables;
Control means for controlling the conveyance of the paper from each of the paper feed trays, wherein the control means divides the plurality of paper feed trays into a plurality of groups; A signal is received from the sensor as to whether or not paper is loaded on each paper feed tray, and (C) transport of paper from the first group in which paper is loaded on all paper feed trays in the plurality of groups is performed. (D) When the paper is exhausted from any of the paper feed trays belonging to the first group during the paper conveyance, the conveyance of the paper from the first group is stopped, and (E) a predetermined waiting time elapses. Later, conveyance switching control for starting conveyance of a sheet from another second group is performed.

Thus, even if the paper feed tray being transported is stopped while the operator is loading paper on the paper feed tray which is in standby, the operator can keep the paper feed until the waiting time elapses. The paper feed tray targeted for loading does not start transporting, so the operator recognizes that the paper feeding tray to be transported will be switched during this time, and can secure his or her own safety, and the worker's hand It is possible to avoid a situation where the paper suddenly starts to move and the paper is skewed.

According to a second aspect of the present invention, after a predetermined waiting time elapses, when the transport is switched to start the transport of the sheet from the new second group, all the feeds belonging to the second group which starts the transport of the sheet are switched. A signal is received from the paper presence / absence detection sensor of the paper board, and conveyance is resumed only when all signals indicate that paper is stacked.

Thus, when the transport is switched, if there is a paper feed tray on which no paper is loaded or a paper feed tray on which paper is loaded in the group from which transport is newly started, the switching is not performed. Therefore, even if there is a paper feed tray on which paper is not loaded, conveyance is started from a new group, which prevents improper collation and printing from being performed. However, even if the user does not notice that the paper feeding table being transported has stopped, the safety of the worker can be ensured.

Further, according to a third aspect of the present invention, there is provided a notifying means, wherein the control means notifies the notification from the notifying means when the conveyance is switched to start conveying the paper from a new second group. It is characterized by.

Thus, when the conveyance is switched, a notice is given to the worker by notifying, thereby ensuring the safety of the worker and the like.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 shows the first embodiment of the present invention and is an overall perspective view of a collating apparatus.

FIG. 2 shows the first embodiment of the present invention, and is a configuration diagram of a sheet feeding unit, a collating and conveying unit, a discharging unit, and a stacker unit.

FIG. 3 is a side view illustrating the first embodiment of the present invention and illustrating a drive transmission system to a sheet feeding unit, a collating and conveying unit, and a discharging unit;

FIG. 4 is a perspective view showing the first embodiment of the present invention and showing distribution of driving force to each sheet feeding unit.

FIG. 5 is a circuit block diagram of a control system of the collating apparatus according to the first embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 6 is a flowchart of a collating process according to the first embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 7 shows the first embodiment of the present invention, in which paper feed trays 3a to 3
6 is a timing chart of each unit when a sheet is conveyed from FIG.

FIG. 8 shows the first embodiment of the present invention, in which paper feed trays 3f to 3f are provided.
6 is a timing chart of each unit when a sheet is conveyed from j.

FIG. 9 is an overall perspective view of a conventional collating device.

[Explanation of symbols]

 Reference Signs List A paper feeding section B collating transport section C discharging section D stacker section 1 paper 3a to 3j paper feeding table 30 main motor 68 control section 81 electromagnetic solenoids 82a to 82j electromagnetic clutch 100 buzzer S1-a to S1-j paper presence / absence detection sensor S3 Discharge detection sensor

 ────────────────────────────────────────────────── ─── Continued on the front page (72) Inventor Shinya Okada 2-20-15 Shimbashi, Minato-ku, Tokyo F-term in Riso Kagaku Kogyo Co., Ltd. 3F048 AA10 AB01 BA02 BB05 CB03 EA01 EB02 EB12 3F050 BB03 BE12 CB08 CE06 LB01 3F343 FA01 GA01 GB02 HA37 HB01 JA01 JD08 KB03 KB12 MA23 MC21 MC23 MC26

Claims (3)

[Claims] 1. A paper feeder comprising: a plurality of paper feed trays; and a paper feed unit that feeds sheets stacked on each of the paper feed trays one at a time at a predetermined timing. A paper presence / absence detection sensor for detecting whether or not the paper is stacked on the paper feeder; and control means for controlling the conveyance of the paper from each of the paper supply tables. Is divided into a plurality of groups, and (B) a signal is received from the paper presence / absence detection sensor as to whether or not sheets are loaded on each of the paper supply tables. (D) When the paper is started from the first group in which the papers are stacked on the paper feed tray of (D), and the paper is exhausted from any of the paper feed trays belonging to the first group during the paper transport, (E) at a predetermined waiting time when the conveyance of the sheet from the first group is stopped. A sheet feeding device for performing conveyance switching control for starting conveyance of a sheet from another second group after a lapse of time. 2. The paper feeding device according to claim 1, wherein the control unit switches the conveyance of the sheet from the second group after a predetermined waiting time elapses. A sheet receiving device which receives signals from the paper presence / absence detection sensors of all the sheet feeding tables belonging to the group, and restarts the conveyance only when all the signals indicate that the sheets are stacked. 3. The sheet feeding device according to claim 1, further comprising: a notifying unit, wherein the control unit is configured to switch the conveyance of the sheet from the second group. And a notification unit that notifies the notification from the notification unit.