JP2566054B2 - Sorter - Google Patents

Description

The present invention relates to a sorter that is used by connecting to a copying machine main body.

<Prior Art> When copying is performed by a copying machine equipped with a conventional sorter, for example, when 11 copies of 11 originals are sorted, copying is performed in the following procedure.

First, a manuscript is set on a manuscript table, a key on the operation panel of the main body is operated to select a sort mode, and copy conditions such as the number of copies are set. Next, copying was started by pressing the copy start button, and 18 copies of 11 copy originals were sequentially copied. The copied copy sheets were sequentially discharged onto the sorter tray. Finally, one set of 18 sheets of copy paper, which has been copied, is accommodated in each of 18 sort trays.

As described above, the copy sheets that have been sorted and copied have their hands put on the sort trays to take out the bundle of copy sheets.

<Problems to be Solved by the Invention> In the conventional sorter, since it was necessary to insert the hand into each sort tray to take out the copy paper, it was difficult to take out the lower tray. In addition, the copy paper on the lower tray is hard to see, so I sometimes forget to remove it.

<Means for Solving the Problems> The present invention has been made in view of the above-described drawbacks, and a tray that is connected to the main body of a copying machine and that stores copy paper discharged from the main body can be vertically moved by stacking a plurality of trays. A tray unit, a tray shift means for moving the tray unit up and down, and a paper detection means for detecting the presence or absence of copy paper on each tray. Or an even number of sheets, and if the number is an odd number, the tray shift means is operated to move the tray unit to the home position, and first tray of the tray unit. When the copy papers are sequentially taken out from the tray, the presence or absence of the copy papers is detected by the paper detection unit for each tray, and if there is no copy paper, the number of sort copies and the copy papers stored in advance are stored. A second control means for comparing the number of trays taken out and activating the tray shift means to shift the tray unit upward by one tray when they do not match. It provides a characteristic sorter.

<Operation> According to the sorter as described above, when the copy paper is taken out after copying is completed, the tray is shifted upward one step from the home position, so that the copy paper can always be taken out from the same height position. . Further, since the copy paper can always be taken out from a high position above the tray, it is easy to visually recognize the copy paper.

<Example> An example of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings. FIG. 1 and FIG. 2 are explanatory views of paper extraction of a sorter according to the present invention, FIG. 3 is a control flowchart according to the present invention, and FIG.

In FIG. 1, reference numeral 1 denotes a sorter, which is fixed to a side surface portion of a copying machine main body (not shown) on the paper discharge side by screws or the like via a mounting plate or the like. The sorter shown here is a staple sorter capable of stapling. The sorter is composed of a paper transport mechanism unit that transports the copy paper discharged from the main body to a sort tray, a tray unit that stores the transported copy paper, and a drive unit.

The tray portion is provided with a fixed tray 2 that stores copy paper when the non-sort mode is selected and a sort tray 3 that stores copy paper when the sort mode is selected. The sort tray 3 is vertically stacked in 18 stages to form a unit 33, and the tray unit 33 is provided so as to be vertically shiftable. .. 4 for detecting whether or not there is copy paper on the tray is provided in each sort tray section.
In addition, a tray shift motor 11, a sorter circuit, etc. are also provided.

On the other hand, the paper transport mechanism section is provided with a paper feed transport roller 5, a gate switching claw 6, a paper guide 7, a transport roller 8 and the like. Since the sorter of this embodiment is a staple sorter,
In addition to the above, a paper pressing roller, a staple unit, a stapler guide bar, a stapler guide bar swing motor, etc. are provided.

Further, the control section 10 of the sorter determines whether the number of originals to be copied is an odd number or an even number after the copying is completed, and when the number is an odd number, the tray shift motor is operated to operate the tray unit 33. To move the car to the home position
The control means 10a is provided.

Further, when the copy paper is sequentially taken out from the first sort tray 3 of the tray unit 33, whether or not the copy paper is stored on the tray 3 by the paper detection sensor 4 for each tray 3 That is, when the presence or absence of paper is detected, and as a result, there is no copy paper on the tray 3, the number of sorts stored in advance in the storage means of the control unit 10 and the number of trays from which the copy paper is taken out are set. In comparison, when they do not match, the tray shift motor 11 is driven to shift the tray unit 33 upward by one tray.
The control means 106 is provided.

The operation of the sorter configured as above will be described. Here, a case will be described where 11 copies are made in the 18-copy sort mode.

First, the staple sort mode is selected by operating the keys on the operation panel, and the conditions such as the copy size and the number of copies are set. When using the document table or the automatic document feeder (ADF), place the copied document on the ADF tray. When the copy start button is pressed, copying is started, and the copy paper copied through the copying, charging, exposure, development, transfer and fixing steps is discharged from the copying machine main body and conveyed to the sorter 1. Since the sorting mode is selected here, the gate switching claw 6 provided on the entrance paper transport path of the sorter 1 is switched to the position where the paper is discharged to the sorting tray. Therefore, the copy paper is discharged to the first-stage sort tray 3 via the paper guide 7 and the conveying roller 8. After that, the sheets are sequentially ejected to the second, third, ... Tray 3, and the first original is first stored in the 18th tray 3. Since the tray unit 33 shifts up one step from the home position when the first original is copied and discharged, the sort tray unit 33 shifts up at the stage when all the copy sheets are sorted. Will stop.

Next, the second original is copied and sorted. At this time, contrary to the case of the first original, the paper is discharged from the 18th tray 3 while being sequentially shifted downward. After that, the tray unit 33 is repeatedly reciprocated up and down, and 18 copies of 11 originals are copied and stored on each sort tray 3.

The operation after completion of copying will be described with reference to the flowchart of FIG.

When copying is completed in step S101, step S1
In 02, it is determined whether the number of copied documents is an odd number or an even number. If the number of originals to be copied is an odd number, it means that the tray unit 33 is stopped in the state of being shifted upward, so that the control signal from the first control means of the control unit 10 is sent in step S103. The signal is sent to the sorter circuit 121, and the tray shift motor 11 is driven by the signal from the circuit to move the tray unit to the home position, and then the process proceeds to step S104. If the number of copied documents is an even number, it means that the tray unit 33 is stopped at the home position, and therefore step S103 is skipped and the process proceeds to step S104. In step S104, the number n of copies to be sorted is stored. Here, n = 18 is stored. The number of sorts may be stored at the time of setting copy conditions at the time of copying.

Next, when the copy paper stored in the first (top) sort tray 3 is taken out, the tray is detected by the paper detection sensor 4 provided in the first sort tray 3 section in step S105. The presence or absence of the paper on 3 is detected.
When it is detected that all the copy papers have been taken out and there is no paper on the first tray 3, the process proceeds to step S106, where the number of sorts n = 18 and the number of trays from which the copy papers are taken out = 1 To be done. As a result, when the two values do not match, the tray shift motor is driven based on the control signal from the second control means of the control section, and the sort tray unit 33 moves up by one tray. Is shifted to.
(See FIG. 2) In this state, the second tray 3 of the tray unit 33 is located at the position where the first tray 3 was originally located.

On the other hand, if it is detected in step S105 that there is a copy sheet on the first tray 3, the sheet detection is continued until the sheet is taken out from the tray 3 and the absence of the sheet is detected. In step S106, if the number of sorts is one and the number of trays is equal to the number of trays from which copy sheets are taken out, the process proceeds to step S112, and the taking out of copy sheets is completed.

When the tray unit 33 is shifted up by one step in step S107, the copy paper is taken out from the second sort tray 3 this time. When a copy sheet is taken out from the second tray 3, the presence or absence of paper on the tray 3 is detected by the paper detection sensor 4 provided in the second tray 3 section. When it is detected that all the copy papers are taken out and there is no paper on the first tray 3, the process proceeds to step S109 and the number of sorts n = 18 is compared with the tray number from which the copy papers are taken out = 2. To be done. As a result, if the two values do not match, the tray shift motor is driven as in the case of the first stage, and the sort tray unit 33 causes the tray 1 to move.
It is shifted up by one step. After that, the same operation as that of the first and second sort trays is repeated. Finally, 18
When the copy sheets on the sort tray 3 in the first row are taken out and it is detected that there is no paper on the tray 3 in step S111, that is, all the copy sheets on the sort trays in the first to 18th rows are taken out. Then, in step S112, the taking out of the copy paper ends. By shifting the tray unit as described above, it is possible to take out the copy paper at a high position and at the same position.

In the present embodiment, since the case where the sorter having the 18-stage sort tray unit performs the sorting process for 18 sets, the paper detection up to the 18th (lowermost) sort tray is performed. If, for example, it is 10 copies, the paper detection after the copy paper on the 10th sort tray is taken out will detect that there is no paper, and then compare the number of sorts with the number of trays Since they match, the process advances to step S112 at that point, and the taking out of the copy paper ends.

When the removal of the copy paper is completed, the process proceeds to step S113 to drive the tray shift motor to control the tray unit 33 to move to the home position.

<Effect> According to the sorter of the present invention, when the copy papers are taken out from a plurality of trays, they can always be taken out from the same height, so that the work can be taken out smoothly without lowering the waist. To be done. In addition, since the copy paper is always taken out from a high position above the tray, the copy paper is easily visually recognized and is not forgotten.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 and FIG. 2 are explanatory views of paper extraction of a sorter according to the present invention, FIG. 3 is a control flowchart according to the present invention, and FIG. 3: sort tray, 4: paper detection means, 10a: first control means, 10
b: second control means, 10c: third control means, 33: sort tray unit.

Claims (2)

(57) [Claims] 1. A tray unit which is connected to a main body of a copying machine and has a plurality of trays for accommodating copy paper discharged from the main body and which is vertically movable, and tray shift means for vertically moving the tray unit. In a sorter provided with a paper detection means for detecting the presence or absence of copy paper on each tray, it is judged whether the number of copy originals is an odd number or an even number after the completion of copying, and if it is an odd number, First control means for operating the tray shift means to move the tray unit to the home position, and the paper detection means for each tray when sequentially taking out copy paper from the first tray of the tray unit. The presence or absence of copy paper is detected by the method, and when there is no copy paper, the number of sorts stored in advance is compared with the number of trays from which the copy paper is taken out, and the two do not match. Sometimes it operates the tray shift means tray 1 the tray unit
A sorter comprising: a second control unit that shifts up by one step. 2. When the number of sorts and the number of trays from which the copy paper is taken out are compared and the two coincide with each other, it is judged that the taking out of the copy paper is completed, and the tray shift means is operated to operate the tray. The sorter according to claim 1, further comprising third control means for moving the unit to the home position.