JP2720973B2 - Sorter - Google Patents

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION [Industrial Application Field] The present invention is combined with a main body of an image generating apparatus such as a copying machine or a printer, and sorts discharged paper onto a movable bin tray. The present invention relates to a sorter including a reset system for moving a movable bin tray downward.

[Related Art] The present applicant has disclosed a conventional sorter 120 as shown in FIG.
(For example, U.S. Pat. No. 4,328,963 (JP-A-56-7877)
We applied for a new offline sorter that solved the problem of 0)) (Japanese Patent Application No. 62-300077).

This off-line sorter is as shown in FIGS. 14 and 15.

FIG. 14 is a partially cutaway perspective view of the off-line sorter, and FIG. 15 is a longitudinal sectional view of the sorter shown in FIG.

The copied paper is sent from the copying machine main body 148 between the pair of upper and lower guide plates 8 and 10. On the other hand, bin trays 56A and 56 for sorting and placing copied paper
B, 56C, 56D, and 56E are sequentially raised or lowered by the rotation of the ring-shaped cam 92 (see the two-dot chain line 56A in FIG. 15). Therefore, those bin trays 56A, 56B, 56C, 56D, 56
When E is moved up and down at an appropriate timing corresponding to the fed paper, the fed paper is
A, 56B, 56C, 56D, 56E are sorted and placed.

Then, for example, when the sorting operation is completed and the mode is switched to the non-sorting mode, the bin trays 56A, 56B, 56C, and 56D are used in order to place the sheets on the bin tray 5A at the uppermost position and to perform the next sorting operation normally. ,
56E are all transferred to a predetermined position below and are in a reset state.

[Problems to be Solved by the Invention] By the way, since the off-line type sorter is separated from the main body of the copying machine by a signal, the main body of the copying machine does not recognize the state of the sorter at all. The paper is ejected regardless of the state. As a result, while the bin trays are being lowered to reset the paper, the paper may be conveyed from the copier body and cause a paper jam.

In addition, the bin tray may not always be transferred to a target correct reset position (home position), and the next sorting operation or the like may not be performed normally.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION It is an object of the present invention to provide a sorter capable of avoiding such a paper jam as much as possible in consideration of the problem of the paper jam.

[Means and Actions for Solving the Problems] According to the present invention, a plurality of movable bin trays vertically arranged are sequentially raised and lowered by a bin tray driving means via a transfer mechanism, and a bottom sensor is used. Detecting the transfer operation of the transfer mechanism, detecting that all of the bin trays have been transferred downward based on the transfer operation, detecting the transfer operation of the transfer mechanism by a bin tray sensor, and based on the transfer operation, Position is detected, an instruction for transferring the plurality of bin trays to the home position is issued by reset instructing means, and it is determined that paper has been fed from the image generating apparatus to the sorter by the paper sensor. Detected and instructed by the reset instruction means by the home position determination means, the output of the bottom sensor and the output of the bin tray sensor It is determined whether or not each bin tray is transferred to the predetermined position below and whether the bin tray is at the predetermined regular position based on, for example, the stopping means, the bin tray is returned to the home position based on the determination of the home position determining means. If the bin tray is not present at the home position based on the judgment of the home position judging means by the paper input judging means, the input of the bin tray driving means is instructed to stop driving the bin tray driving means. It is determined whether or not the paper has been fed. For example, based on the determination by the paper input determining means, if there is no paper, the bin tray driving means is driven in the bin tray lowering direction, and the paper If the paper is inserted based on the judgment of the judgment, the bin is detected based on the output of the bin tray sensor. It is determined whether or not the tray is at the regular position.When the tray is at the regular position, the drive of the bin tray driving unit is stopped.When the tray is not at the regular position, the bin tray driving unit is moved in the bin tray descending direction or the ascending direction. Drive.

EXAMPLES Hereinafter, the present invention will be described based on the drawings showing the examples thereof.
explain.

FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing one embodiment of the present invention of claim 1. FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing an example of a sorter. 3 to 7 are drawings showing mechanical parts of the present invention, and FIGS. 8 to 10 are drawings showing electrical parts of the present invention.

 First, mechanical parts will be described.

FIG. 3 is a perspective view of the sorter 2 according to the present invention, FIG. 4 is a plan view of the sorter 2, FIG. 5 is a sectional view of the sorter 2 shown in FIG. FIG. 5 is a sectional view taken along line BB of the sorter 2 shown in FIG. The support frame 4 has a box-shaped part 6 whose upper surface is open. A pair of guide plates 8 and 10 are disposed and fixed at an upstream portion of the box-shaped portion 6 (based on a flow in which copied paper is conveyed). The main portion of the lower guide plate 8 extends substantially horizontally along the upper surface of the box-shaped portion 6, and its upstream portion protrudes upstream beyond the upstream end wall 12 of the box-shaped portion 6. The upstream portion of the upper guide plate 10 disposed above the lower guide plate 8 projects slightly upward in the upstream direction.

In the upstream portion of the box-shaped portion 6, support plates 30 and 32 are erected at both corner positions thereof. Between the support plates 30, 32,
A support shaft 34 is mounted rotatably horizontally. Four rollers 36 are fixed to the support shaft 34 at appropriate intervals in the left-right direction (here, the left-right direction is the left and right toward the upstream side). The upper end of this roller 36
It is exposed upward from a notch 38 provided in the lower guide plate 8. A cutout 40 is formed in the upper guide plate 10 located above the cutout 38. In the upper surface of the upper guide plate 10 having the notch 40, a roller
A support piece 42 made of a leaf spring material for supporting the 44 while urging it downward is fixed. The lower end of this roller 44
The roller 36 is exposed downward from the notch 40, and is pressed against the upper end of the roller 36 by the elastic force of the leaf spring to be driven to rotate.

A paper feed motor 46 is attached to the support plate 30,
The output shaft is rotated by the support shaft 34 via gears 48, 51, 50. Further, the lower guide plate 8 and the upper guide plate
A paper sensor 54, such as a microswitch, for detecting the input or output of copy paper conveyed between 10 and
It is set between the lower guide plate 8 and the upper guide plate 10.

The sorter 2 includes a plurality of bin trays 56A, 56B, 56C, 56D arranged in a vertical direction. The upstream end portions of the bin trays 56A to 56D can be accommodated in the box-shaped portion 6 of the support frame 4, but most of the bin trays 56A to 56D each have a downstream end wall 58 of the box-shaped portion 6. Through a large notch 60 formed at the lower end, it extends downstream. As illustrated, each of the bin trays 56A to 56D is inclined upward toward the downstream. Also, large trapezoidal notches 62A to 62D are formed from the center to the downstream end. A plurality of protruding pieces 64A to 64D that protrude upward are provided upright on the upstream end side of each of the bin trays 56A to 56D. Also,
At the left and right corners on the upstream end side of the bin trays 56A to 56D, substantially rectangular guided stacking blocks 66A to 66D are fixed. The thickness of such blocks 66A-66D is
It is set to a predetermined value which is considerably larger than the thickness of 56A to 56D. Each of these blocks 66A-66D has a bin tray 56A
5656D protrudes outward in the left and right directions, and at its protruding ends, substantially rectangular guided notches 68A to 68E are formed.

On the other hand, in the box-shaped portion 6, where the blocks 66A to 66D are present, the guide means 70 are erected. The guide means 70 has a U-shaped cross section. The notches 68A to 68D of the blocks 66A to 66D are engaged with one side 72 of the guide means 70. Thus, the block
66A to 66D are vertically movable along the guide means 70 while being vertically stacked on each other. Therefore,
Similarly, the upstream ends of the bin trays 56A to 56D can be moved in the vertical direction. In the illustrated embodiment, a receiving tray 76 for holding the bin trays 56A to 56D and the like is fixed on the downstream side of the box-shaped portion 6, but this receiving tray 76 functions as the lowermost bin tray. Also serves as. Therefore, in this embodiment, the fifth bin tray 56E is provided.

The receiving base 76 is a part of the support frame 4 as described above, is fixed to the downstream side of the box-shaped portion 6, and is inclined upward.
A holding frame 78 extending upward is provided at the downstream end of the receiving base 67. The holding frame 78 has a plurality of partitions 80A to 80D and a top wall 82 which are vertically spaced apart from each other and are substantially parallel to the receiving base 76.

On the other hand, at both corners of the downstream ends of the bin trays 56A to 56D, held portions 84A to 84D extend in the left-right direction. The held portions 84A to 84D of the bin trays 56A to 56D are inserted and held between the partition walls 80A to 80D and the upper wall 82 of the holding frame 78, respectively. This bin tray holder
When the upstream end of the bin tray moves upward as shown by the two-dot chain line in FIG. 6, 84A to 84D move slightly downstream and rotate slightly.

Further, the left and right sides of the upstream ends of the bin trays 56A to 56D, immediately downstream of the guided stacking blocks 66A to 66D, protrude in the left and right direction to form driven protrusions 86A to 86D. . The respective projecting amounts LA, LB, LC, and LD of the driven projecting portions 86A to 86D in the left-right direction are designed to gradually increase by a predetermined length X from the lower bin tray toward the upper bin tray. Have been. That is, LA = LB + X, LB = LC + X,
LC = LD + X is set.

Further, the transfer mechanism 87 is a mechanism that acts on the driven protrusions 86A to 86D of the bin trays 56A to 56D to sequentially raise and lower the bin trays 56A to 56D. This transport mechanism 87
Has left and right cam members 88 facing left and right driven protrusions 86A to 86D of the bin trays 56A to 56D. Each cam member 88
As shown in FIG. 7, an annular plate portion 90 and this annular plate portion
The ring-shaped cam 92 has a ring-shaped cam 92 formed at a front peripheral portion of the 90 and a cylindrical supported portion 94 formed at a rear portion of the annular plate portion 90. As shown in the figure, the amount of protrusion of the ring-shaped cam 92 gradually increases from zero in one round, and the maximum value L is:
It is substantially equal to the predetermined amount X. The pivoted support portion 94 is disposed concentrically with the ring-shaped cam 92. This pivoted support
A female screw thread 100 is formed on the inner peripheral surface of 94. Also,
A gear 102 is formed on the outer peripheral surface of the shaft support 94.

As shown in FIG. 4, upright support members 104 and 106 are provided in the box-shaped portion 6. This upright support member 10
4 and 106, the external thread rod 108 is fixed. Seventh
As shown in the figure, the male thread rod 108 has a connection flange 110 for coupling to the upright support members 104 and 106, and a main part 112 having a male thread formed on the outer peripheral surface. The main portion 112 protrudes inward through openings provided in the upright support members 104 and 106. The inner female thread 100 of the shaft-supported portion 94 of the cam member 88 is screwed with the male thread on the outer peripheral surface. The pitch of the threads is substantially the same as the distance L. Therefore, as described later, the cam member 88
Is rotated once, the cam member 88 moves in the left-right direction by the distance L. Since the left and right cam members 88, 88 and the thread of the rod 108 are reversed in the engraving direction, even if the left and right cam members 88 are rotated in the same direction, the left and right cam members 88 are not rotated. Goes in the opposite direction. In other words, the movement of approaching or moving away from each other simultaneously is determined by the left and right cam members 88.
Do.

Further, a bin tray driving means 122 such as an electric motor is provided in the box-shaped portion 6. A gear 124 is fixed to the output shaft of the bin tray driving means 122.
The gear 124 is connected to the gear 102 of the shaft support 94 of the cam member 88 via a gear 126 rotatably mounted on the upright support member 106. Further, the upright support member 104
A shaft 128 is rotatably mounted horizontally between and 106 below the bin tray 56D. The shaft 128 is connected via a gear 130 to the gear 102 of the left cam member 88 to which the gear 126 is connected. A gear 132 is fixed to the right end of the shaft 128, and the gear 132 is connected to the cam member 88 on the right. In this way, when the bin tray driving means 122 rotates the gear 124, the cam member 88 rotates via the gear 126, and at the same time, the gear 130, the shaft 1
Via the gear 28 and the gear 132, the right cam member 88 rotates synchronously.

Further, as shown in FIGS. 4 and 5, on the side surface of the gear 126, a circular detection cam 1260 partially cut away is fixed. Further, a bin tray sensor 1261 such as a limit switch for detecting the rotation state of the detection cam is provided beside the detection cam 1260. As shown in FIG. 5, the detection cam 1260 rotates and the cutout portion 1260a comes to the bin tray sensor 1261 side, and the bin tray sensor 1261
When the limit switch contact 1261a stops touching the detection cam 1260, the bin tray sensor 1261 is turned off. Furthermore,
In this off state, the bin tray 1261 is designed to be at a regular position. Here, the normal position of the bin tray refers to the position where one of the bin trays is lifted sufficiently upward, the bin tray below it is sufficiently low, and there is a sufficient gap between them, and the paper that has been carried out is smooth. In this case, it is placed on the bin tray below.

That is, the bin tray sensor 1261 is connected to the transfer mechanism 87.
Of the bin tray 56
It is to detect that A to 56D are present at predetermined regular positions.

Further, as shown in FIGS. 4 and 5, in the box-shaped portion 6 behind the ring-shaped cam 92 of the left cam member 88, the movement position of the ring-shaped cam 92 in the left-right direction is detected, and A bottom sensor 1262 such as a limit switch for detecting the state of the bin trays 56A to 56D is provided. The position of the bottom sensor 1262 moves to the left while the ring cam 92 of the left cam member 88 rotates, and the position of each of the bin trays 56A to 56
It is designed so that the limit switch of the bottom sensor 1262 is turned on when 6D is almost lowered.

That is, the bottom sensor 1262 is a sensor that detects the transfer operation of the transfer mechanism 87 and detects that all of the bin trays have been lowered substantially downward based on the transfer operation.

Next, an embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIG.

56A to 56D are the bin trays. Reference numeral 87 denotes the transfer mechanism for transferring the bin tray. Reference numeral 1261 denotes the bin tray sensor. Reference numeral 1262 denotes the bottom sensor. 122 is the bin tray driving means. 54 is the paper sensor.

The reset instructing means 1000 is provided with the plurality of bin trays 56.
This is a means for issuing an instruction to transfer A to 56D to the lower home position and reset them. For example, a switch for specifying a sort mode, a switch for specifying a non-sort mode, and the like are provided on the operation panel 400. That is, in FIG. 3, reference numeral 400 denotes an operation panel for selecting a sorting mode, a non-sorting mode, and the like. The reset instruction means 1000 issues a reset instruction by operating a sort / non-sort instruction switch 1000a. Note that 1000b is a display unit for the LED elements in the sort and non-sort modes. The reset instruction is also issued when the automatic reset function is activated or when the power is turned on. Here, the home position generally means a state in which each bin tray is lowered, and the paper may be transferred onto the top bin tray 56A.
In the present embodiment, it is assumed that the bottom sensor 1262 is turned on and the bin tray sensor 1261 is turned off.

The home position judging means 1001 is based on the instruction of the reset instructing means 1000, the output of the bottom sensor 1262, and the output of the bin tray sensor 1261.
6D is transferred to the lower predetermined position and the bin tray
This is means for determining whether or not 56A to 56D exist at the predetermined regular position.

The stopping means 1003 is provided with the home position determining means 1001.
Based on the judgment, the bin tray 56
When A to 56D is present, this is a means for instructing the bin tray driving means 122 to stop the transfer of the bin trays 56A to 56D.

The paper entry determining means 1002 is a home position determining means.
The bin tray at the home position based on the judgment of 1001
If there is no paper 56A-56D, it is means for determining whether or not paper has been input based on the output of the paper sensor 54.

The lowering unit 1004 is a unit for driving the bin tray driving unit 122 to execute the lowering of the bin trays 56A to 56D when there is no paper input based on the determination of the paper input determining unit 1002.

The normal control unit 1005, based on the determination of the paper input determination unit 1002, when paper is input, the bin tray sensor 12
It is determined whether or not the bin trays 56A to 56D are at the regular positions based on the output of the bin 61.If the bin trays 56A to 56D are at the regular positions, the drive of the bin tray driving means 122 is stopped. Is a means for driving the bin tray driving means 122 in the ascending direction.

 An example of the sorter will be described with reference to FIG.

Bin trays 56A to 56D, transfer mechanism 87, bin tray sensor
1261, the bottom sensor 1262, the bin tray driving means 122, and the reset instruction means 1000 are the same as those in FIG.

The home position stopping means 2000 is provided with the bottom sensor
Based on the output of 1262 and the output of bin tray sensor 1261,
When the bin trays 56A to 56D are transported to the lower predetermined positions and the bin trays 56A to 56D are at the predetermined regular positions, the bin tray driving means 122 is instructed to stop driving.

The ascending instruction means 2001 includes an instruction from the reset instruction means 1000, an output from the bottom sensor 1262, and a bin tray sensor.
Based on the output of 1261, each bin tray
If the bin trays 56A to 56D are not at the predetermined regular positions, but the bin trays 56A to 56D are not at the predetermined regular positions,
It is a means to instruct 56D to rise.

If the bin trays 56A to 56D are not transferred to the lower predetermined position based on the output of the bottom sensor 1262, the lowering command means 2002 outputs the bin tray driving means 122
Means to lower the bin trays 56A to 56D to the home position.

Next, an electric circuit of the sorter will be described with reference to FIGS. 9 and 10. FIG. Note that this electric circuit shows a case where the present invention is implemented by using a microcomputer, but it is needless to say that the electric circuit can be implemented by a hardware circuit that does not use a computer.

The primary side of a power transformer 1011 is connected to the power supply 1010, and the secondary side is connected to a 10V AC circuit and a 100V AC circuit.
A rectifier and a stabilizing circuit 1012 are connected to the AC 10 V circuit to obtain a DC voltage to the electronic circuit of the sorter 2. This DC voltage is supplied to the electronic circuit via the power cable 1077. On the other hand, the bin tray driving means 122 and the paper feeding motor 46 are connected in parallel to the AC 100 V circuit via semiconductor switches 1075 and 1076. These semiconductor switches 1075 and 1076 are
On / off control is performed by a drive command signal of the signal cable 1078 from the electronic circuit. This electronic circuit is provided in a control circuit 1080. In addition to the signal cables 1077 and 1078, the paper sensor 54, the bottom sensor 1262, and the bin tray sensor 1261 are connected to the control circuit 1080. , And also electrically connected to the operation panel 400.

The mode processing unit 1082 of the control circuit 1080 is connected to each mode switch of the operation panel 400 and a display circuit such as an LED related thereto. An output terminal of the mode processing unit 1082 is connected to a CPU (Central Processing Unit) 1084. The CPU 1084 includes a storage unit 1086, a counter 1088, a timer 1
092 etc. are connected. The CPU 1084 includes a mounting storage unit 1086
While using the home position determination means 10
01, stopping means 1003, paper entering determining means 1002, descending means 1004,
The function of each means such as the normal control means 1008 and the like, as well as the above-mentioned ascending command means 2001, descending command means 2002 and home position stopping means 2000 is implemented.

Next, the operation of the first embodiment of the present invention will be described. FIG. 12 is a flowchart showing the flow of the operation.

Now, a case where sorting is completed and the mode is switched to the non-sort mode will be described as an example.

When the switch on the operation panel 400 is operated to switch to the non-sort mode, the reset instructing means 1000 operates to lower the bin trays 56A to 56D (step S1). That is, the non-sort switch in FIG. 10 is turned on, and the signal is input to the CPU 1084. The CPU 1084 outputs a signal for turning on the bin tray driving means switch 1075 in FIG. 9, and the motor of the bin tray driving means 122 starts rotating in the bin tray lowering direction. Then, the gear 124 and the gear 126 rotate, and the left cam member 88 and the ring-shaped cam 92 rotate.
On the other hand, since the male thread rod 108 screwed to the female thread 100 on the inner surface of the cam member 88 is fixed to the box-shaped portion 6, the rotation of the cam member 88 causes the cam member 88 to rotate.
Moves to the left. Further, since the gear 130 is connected to the gear 102 of the cam member 88, the gear 130 also rotates, and accordingly, the shaft 128 also rotates.
Rotates, and the right cam member 88 also rotates and moves rightward.
Therefore, in the direction in which both cam members 88, 88 are separated from each other,
It moves while rotating the ring-shaped cams 92, 92. Therefore, these ring-shaped cams 92 that existed below the driven protrusions 86A to 86D on both left and right sides of the upstream ends of the bin trays 56A to 56D sequentially move away from the driven protrusions 86A to 86D. Therefore, the ring-shaped cam 92 projects spirally as shown in FIG. 7, so that the driven protrusions 86A to 86D are sequentially turned from the bottom (86D → 86C → 86B) in accordance with the rotation.
→ 86A) As shown by the solid line in FIG. 6, it descends.

In this way, the left ring-shaped cam 92 rotates backward while rotating, and when all the bin trays 56A to 56D are almost completely lowered, the rear of the ring-shaped cam 92 is detected by the bottom sensor 1262. Contact. Thus, the bottom sensor 1262 is turned on.

On the other hand, as described above, when the gear 126 rotates, the detection cam 1260 also rotates accordingly. Therefore, the bin tray sensor 1261 repeatedly turns on and off each time the detection cam 1260 makes one rotation.

In the process of lowering the bin trays 56A to 56D in this manner, the sorter of the present invention operates as follows.

The home position determining means 1001 shown in FIG.
Upon receiving the instruction from the reset instructing means 1000, it is determined whether or not each bin tray 56A-56D has been transferred to the predetermined lower position based on the output of the bottom sensor 1262 (step
S2) Also, based on the output of the bin tray sensor 1261, it is determined whether or not the bin trays 56A to 56D are at the predetermined regular positions (step S4).

The stopping means 1003 is provided with the home position determining means 1001.
Based on the judgment, the bin tray 56
When the bins A to 56D are present, the bin tray driving unit 122 is instructed to stop the transfer of the bin trays 56A to 56D (step S8).

The paper entry determining means 1002 is a home position determining means.
The bin tray at the home position based on the judgment of 1001
If there is no paper 56A-56D (steps S2, S4), it is determined whether or not paper has been input based on the output of the paper sensor 54 (step S6).

Based on the determination by the paper input determining means 1002, if there is no paper input (step S6), the lowering means 1004 drives the bin tray driving means 122 to execute the lowering of the bin trays 56A to 56D (step S11). ).

Based on the determination of the paper input determination means 1002, if a paper is input (step S6), the normal control unit 1008 determines whether or not the bin trays 56A to 56D are at the normal position based on the output of the bin tray sensor 1261. If it is determined that the paper tray is at the normal position (step S10), the paper tray is not jammed even if the paper is discharged. Therefore, the driving of the bin tray driving means 122 is stopped (step S12). When the bin tray is not at the proper position (step S10), the bin tray driving unit 122 is driven in the bin tray lowering direction or the upward direction (step S1).
1) Prevent paper jams as much as possible.

In this way, even if paper is ejected while each of the bin trays 56A to 56D is descending, each bin
56A to 56D reach the home position.

 Next, the operation of the sorter of the above example will be described.

As described above, when each of the bin trays 56A to 56D is lowered, the bin trays may not stop at the home position for various reasons. In other words, as shown in FIG. 11, when the bottom sensor 1262 is stopped in an off state substantially before the home position (I), the bottom sensor 1262 is in an on state slightly before the home position. There is a case where the bin tray sensor 1261 is stopped in the ON state (II), the case where the bin tray exceeds the home position, the bottom sensor 1262 is ON, and the bin tray sensor 1261 is also ON (III). Eleventh
FIG. 11A shows a state of each bin tray 56A to 56D.
FIG. 12B shows a bottom sensor 1262 corresponding to each state.
FIG. 11 (c) shows the three types of start states (I, II, III).
This shows a state in which the bin tray moves from.

When such a bin tray stopped in an abnormal state is reset again to perform sorting or the like, the sorter operates as shown in FIG.

First, the case where the operation is stopped in the state (I) will be described. The ascending command means 2001 receives the instruction from the reset instructing means 1000 (step S1, where the control flag is set to 0), and makes a determination based on the output of the bottom sensor 1262 and the output of the bin tray sensor 1261. However, in this case, since the bottom sensor is off (step S2), no ascending command is issued. The descending command means 2002 makes a determination based on the output of the bottom sensor 1262.
Since 56A to 56D are not transferred to the lower predetermined position (the bottom sensor is turned off (step S2), the flag is set to 1 here (step S3)), the bin tray driving means 122 sends the bin trays 56A to 56D. To lower to the home position (step S11). In this way, when the bin tray descends, the home position stopping means 2000 turns on the bottom sensor 1262 (step S2) and turns off the bin tray sensor 1261 (step S2).
4) is detected, and the bin tray driving means 122 is instructed to stop driving as it is lowered to the bomb position (step S8,
Here, the flag is reset to 0 (step S
9)). During the lowering, the bottom sensor 1262 is turned on and the bin tray sensor 1261 is also turned on. In this case, however, it is not at the start of resetting.
In the case of the embodiment shown in the drawing, it is determined that the flag is set to 1 (step S5), and the ascending command means 2001 does not command the ascending (step S7).

Next, the case where the motor is stopped in the state (II) will be described.

The ascending command means 2001 receives the instruction from the reset instructing means 1000 (step S1, the flag is reset to 0), and makes a determination based on the output of the bottom sensor 1262 and the output of the bin tray sensor 1261. In this case, Since the bottom sensor 1262 is turned on (step S2), the bin tray sensor 1261 is also turned on (step S4), and the reset is started (step S5, flag 0), the ascending command is sent to the bin tray driving means 122. Output (Step S7).
In response, the bin trays 56A to 56D rise, but eventually the bottom sensor 1262 is turned off (step S2). Then, the ascent command stops. And the descending command means 2002
Command the bin tray driving means 122 to lower the bin trays 56A to 56D to the home position (step S3, where the flag is set to 1). In this way, when the bin tray goes down, the home position stopping means 2000
ON of the bottom sensor 1262 and bin tray sensor 1261
Is detected, and the bin tray driving means 122 is instructed to stop driving because it is lowered to the home position (step S
2, S4, S8, S9). In this case, the bottom sensor 1262 is turned on and the bin tray sensor 1261 is also turned on during the lowering. In this case, however, the reset is not started (step S5, the flag is 1). Does not order a rise.

 Next, the case of the state (III) will be described.

The ascending command means 2001 receives the instruction from the reset instructing means 1000 and makes a determination based on the output of the bottom sensor 1262 and the output of the bin tray sensor 1261.In this case, the bottom sensor 1262 is on and the bin tray sensor 1261 is also on, and since the reset is started, an ascending command is output to the bin tray driving means 122 (steps S2 and S2).
S4, S5, S7). In response, the bin trays 56A to 56D rise, but eventually the bin tray sensor 1261 turns off. Therefore, the home position stopping means 2000 detects that the bottom sensor 1262 is turned on and the bin tray sensor 1261 is turned off, and instructs to stop driving (step S8).

In this way, even if the bin tray is stopped in any of the abnormal states, at the time of resetting, the position of the bin trays 56A to 56D is controlled to the normal home position. Therefore, the next sorting operation and the like are normally performed.

In the present invention, a "copying apparatus" is taken as an example, but the present invention is also applicable to an image generating apparatus such as a facsimile, a laser printer, and a printing machine.

According to the first aspect of the present invention, as described above, the bottom sensor,
When a sheet is discharged using a bin tray sensor, a paper sensor, or the like, the bin tray can be controlled to a normal position, so that the problem of paper jam can be solved.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a block diagram of an embodiment of a sorter according to the present invention of claim 1, FIG. 2 is a block diagram of an example of a sorter,
FIG. 3 is a perspective view of a sorter according to an embodiment of the present invention, FIG. 4 is a plan view of the sorter, FIG. 5 is a sectional view taken along line AA of FIG. 4, and FIG. FIG. 4 is a sectional view taken along line BB of FIG.
FIG. 8 is a front view of an operation plate of the sorter, FIG. 9 is a circuit diagram of the sorter, and FIG.
Another circuit diagram of the sorter, FIGS. 11 (a), (b), (c)
Is a configuration diagram for explaining the operation of the sorter, FIG. 12 is a flowchart showing the operation of the sorter, FIG.
FIG. 14 is a perspective view of a conventional sorter, FIG. 14 is a perspective view of the prior-art sorter, and FIG. 15 is a longitudinal sectional view of the sorter. 54 Paper sensors 56A to 56D Movable bin tray 87 Transfer mechanism 122 Bin tray drive unit 1000 Reset instruction unit 1001 Home position judgment unit 1002 Paper insertion judgment unit 1003 Stop unit 1004 … Lower means 1005… Regular control means 1261… Bin tray sensor 1262… Bottom sensor 2000… Home position stop means 2001… Up command means 2002… Down command means

Claims (1)

(57) [Claims] A plurality of movable bin trays arranged vertically, a bin tray driving means for driving the movable bin trays, a transfer mechanism for sequentially raising and lowering the bin trays by the bin tray driving means; And a reset instructing means for issuing an instruction for resetting by transferring the bin tray to the lower home position, wherein the transfer operation of the transfer mechanism is detected, and based on that, the entire bin tray is transferred downward. A bin sensor that detects the transfer operation of the transfer mechanism and detects that the bin tray is at a predetermined regular position based on the bottom sensor. A paper sensor for detecting that the printing has been performed, an output of the bottom sensor, and a bin tray sensor Home position determining means for determining whether each bin tray is transferred to the predetermined position below and based on the output of the bin position, and determining whether or not the bin tray is at the predetermined regular position. When the bin tray does not exist, the paper tray determining unit determines whether or not the paper has been received based on the output of the paper sensor. It is determined whether or not the bin tray is at the regular position based on the output of the above.If the bin tray is at the regular position, the drive of the bin tray driving means is stopped. A sorter comprising: regular control means for driving bin tray driving means.