JP3028832B2 - Paper handling equipment - Google Patents

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION [Industrial Application Field] The present invention is provided in an image processing apparatus such as a copying machine, a printing machine, and the like, and sorts, aligns paper, and binds discharged paper. The present invention relates to a post-processing apparatus that performs various processes such as stapling, punching, and stamping.

[Conventional technology]

A so-called sorter / stacker is known for sorting transfer paper on which an image is formed, paper (sheet) on which printing has been completed, or a document on which an image has been copied. That is, generally, in a sorter or a stacker, for example, a predetermined number of sheets ejected from a copying machine are stacked in each bin of the sorter or the stacker, and each piled pile is taken out from each bin and stapled. Binding, punching with a punch, binding with a fastener, or gluing and binding. However, it is inefficient and cumbersome for an operator to take out sheets from the bins and perform predetermined processing in order to bind sheets discharged onto the bins. For example, a post-processing apparatus, which is also called a sorter / stapler for performing a predetermined process, for example, stapling, has been widely used.

In this case, if the stapled sheets are not aligned, the sheets ejected to the bins may be stapled apart, and complete paper stapling cannot be performed. Generally, a paper aligning device called a “jiyoga” for aligning the discharged paper is provided. In a binding mode of a copying machine having such a sorter / stapler, an auto staple mode and a manual staple mode are often set. The auto staple mode uses the automatic document feeder (ADF) in combination with the ADF mode.
This mode is set so that the sheets are automatically stapled and the sheets are stapled after the final document copy is completed. In the manual staple mode, the documents are placed one by one on the contact glass using a pressure plate and copied. Or ADF
In this mode, the copied sheets are simply sorted by the sort mode, and the stapling operation is started by a key operation after the final document is completed.

On the other hand, in a conventional sorter / stapler, a bin is divided into a plurality of processing blocks and a plurality of processings are performed in the sort and staple modes. In this type of sorter / stapler, the processing block is selected so that the processing block having the lower number is given priority.The number of processing blocks is determined when the number of blocks is set, that is, when the number of copy repeats is input. It did not change.

[Problems to be solved by the invention]

By the way, as described above, in the conventional sorter / stapler, even in the auto staple mode in which staple processing is intended from the beginning, the processing block is selected in accordance with the block selection when only sorting is performed, and the unused blocks are not used. And the processing block with the lower number is selected with priority. Therefore, even if the selected processing block is not used, it may be impossible to swing due to lack of the needle, mismatch with the swingable size, or paper loaded from the outside. In such a case, there is a block that sorting can be performed but stapling cannot be performed.

In this way, in the selection of blocks with a lower priority given only to sorting, there is a case where, although copying is initially started with the intention of stapling, staples cannot be applied only by sorting. Was.

Also, in the conventional sorter stapler as described above,
In the sort or auto staple mode, the number of processing blocks to be used is determined by inputting the number of copies to be copied, and thereafter, the display contents of the number of processing blocks and the number of repeats are not changed. For this reason, in the auto staple mode, after inputting the number of repeats, the paper size is changed so that it does not match the swingable size on the sorter / stapler side, or the paper is loaded from the stapleless state or from outside as described above. In the state where the paper cannot be swung, the paper is discharged to the bin of the processing block where the paper cannot be stapled even in the auto stapling mode, and it can be understood that the stapling cannot be performed until the copying operation is completed. The inconvenience was caused. Further, in the conventional configuration, the sheets stored in the block bins that cannot be stapled cannot be stapled by the sorter stapler even by manual operation. Note that this is not limited to stapling, and the same applies to other processing such as punching.

The present invention has been made in view of such a situation of the related art, and an object of the present invention is to provide a paper processing apparatus capable of surely executing a copy intended to perform a process such as stapling. It is in. Another object is to perform unintended processing or to perform processing on ejected paper when the corresponding processing cannot be executed in any of the two storage units due to occurrence of an abnormality. It is an object of the present invention to provide a sheet processing apparatus capable of preventing a situation from occurring.

[Means for solving the problem]

In order to achieve the above object, a sheet processing apparatus according to a first means includes a first storing means for storing sheets, and a first processing for performing a predetermined process on the sheets stored in the first storing means. Means, a second storage means for storing paper,
A second processing unit that performs a predetermined process on the paper stored in the storage unit, a discharge unit that selectively discharges the conveyed paper to the first storage unit or the second main unit, A first abnormality detecting means for detecting an abnormality in the first processing means, a second abnormality detecting means for detecting an abnormality in the second processing means, and When the first abnormality detecting means detects an abnormality, the discharge means inhibits the discharge of the sheet to the first storage means, and discharges the sheet to the second storage means. And control means for causing the second processing means to perform the processing to be performed by the second processing means.

A paper processing apparatus according to a second means includes a first storage means for storing paper, a first processing means for performing predetermined processing on the paper stored in the first storage means, and a paper storage apparatus. A second storage unit, a second processing unit for performing a predetermined process on the sheets stored in the second storage unit, and a first storage unit or the second storage unit for transferring the conveyed sheets. Discharging means for selectively discharging the first processing means; first abnormality detecting means for detecting an abnormality in the first processing means;
A second abnormality detecting means for detecting an abnormality in the processing means, and when processing is performed on the conveyed paper, when both the first abnormality detecting means and the second abnormality detecting means detect an abnormality, It is characterized by comprising a control means for discharging sheets to at least one of the first storage means and the second storage means and for inhibiting processing on the discharged sheets.

The sheet processing apparatus according to the third means is characterized in that in the first or second means, the abnormality in the first and second processing means is a binding disabled state of the binding means for binding the paper.

A sheet processing apparatus according to a fourth means is characterized in that in the first or second means, the abnormality in the first and second processing means is in an unalignable state of the aligning means for aligning the paper.

A sheet processing apparatus according to a fifth aspect is characterized in that, in the first or second means, the first and second storage means are both sorters each including a plurality of bins.

A paper processing apparatus according to a sixth aspect is the paper processing apparatus according to the first aspect, further comprising an instruction unit for instructing the first processing unit to perform a predetermined process, wherein the control unit includes the first abnormality detection unit. When detecting the abnormality, if the instruction means does not instruct the first processing means to perform the predetermined processing, the discharging means causes the sheet to be discharged to the first storage means. It is characterized by permission.

[Action]

According to the means, when the corresponding process cannot be executed due to the occurrence of an abnormality, the sheet is discharged to the accommodation unit in which the abnormality has not occurred to be processed, and the intended process is surely executed. If the corresponding process cannot be executed in any of the two storage units due to the occurrence of an abnormality, the sheet is discharged to at least one of the storage units, and the process is prohibited for the sheet. Further, it is possible to prevent occurrence of an unexpected situation such that processing cannot be performed on a discharged sheet.

〔Example〕

Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings.

FIG. 2 is a schematic configuration diagram of a 20-bin sorter / stapler according to the embodiment.

As shown in the figure, a copy discharged from a copying machine as an image forming apparatus is inserted from entrance guide plates 104a, 104b, and guide plates 107, 109, 110, 111, transport rollers 106, 108, 11
It is transported upward by 2,113.

Now, assuming that the mode is the normal paper discharge mode (a mode in which paper is discharged to the paper discharge tray 119), the switching claw 115 is lowered, and copying is performed along the guide plate 114 by the paper discharge roller pair 117, 118. Is discharged.

Further, assuming that a sort mode (a mode in which pages are sorted in order) and a stack mode (a mode in which pages are sorted), the switching claw 115 is placed upward, and the copy is conveyed downward along the guide plate 120. The copy transported by the transport roller 162 and the driven roller 165 is discharged to the bin 300 where the deflecting claw 164 operates. The deflection claw 164 moves in accordance with the mode (sort or stack).

In the sort mode, the deflecting pawl 164 of the first bin operates to discharge to the first bin 300, and the second copy of the first page is operated by the deflecting pawl 164 of the second bin to operate the second bin 300. To be discharged. The first sheet of the second page is discharged to the first bin 300, and the second sheet is discharged to the second bin 300. In this way, in the sort mode, pages are discharged to one bin 300 in the order of pages 1, 2, 3,....

In the stack mode, the deflecting pawl 164 operates so that all copies of the first page are discharged to the first bin, and copies of the second page are discharged to the second bin. In this way,
In the stack mode, copies of the same page are ejected to one bin and sorted for each page.

The configuration required for stapling such sorted copies will be described below. To staple copies, multiple copies must be aligned. For this reason, the sorter of this embodiment is provided with a swinging device which will be described below with reference to FIGS. FIG. 3 is a perspective view schematically showing the swinging device, and FIG. 4 is a plan view showing the relationship between the swinging device and the bin 300.

Upon receiving the size signal sent from the copying machine, the swinging device (jiyoga) conveys the upper and lower timing belts 507, 508 by the size moving motor 515, whereby the pressing member 502 attached to the main shaft 501 is moved. The sheet is reciprocated toward one end face of the sheet bundle. Then, the swing unit is moved to a predetermined position by the size detection plate 530 and the size detection sensor 531.

Next, the swing motor 520 rotates forward by half a turn (180 °),
Thereafter, the swing arm 521 swings once by reversing and returning to the home position, and the swing power is transmitted to each pressing member 502 via the main shaft 501. This causes the pressing elastic member 502a to swing from the position shown by the solid line in FIG. 4 to the position shown by the dashed line. Then, the pressing elastic member 502a of the pressing member 502 abuts against one side end surface of the sheet bundle by the above-described swing, whereby the opposite end surface portion of the sheet bundle is pressed against the fluence 316 side. The position of one end of the sheet bundle is aligned, and the other end surface orthogonal to the one end of the sheet bundle is brought into contact with the bin rising portion 308 by the swinging force of the pressing member 502. Is pushed in the direction of arrow A, and as a result, the other end face of the sheet bundle is aligned.

The aligned sheet bundle is taken out in the direction of arrow X in FIG. 4 after various post-processing such as stapling is performed. Since there is no obstacle in the take-out direction in the take-out direction, the paper take-out operation is easily performed.

 Next, the stapler device 400 will be described.

A stapler device 400 as shown in FIG. 5 is arranged on the side of the paper stacking bin 300 provided in multiple stages. In this stapler device 400,
The stapler 401 and the sheet pulling device 402 are respectively fixed so as to hang down from the lower surface of the plate-like bracket 403. The stapler 401 drives a stapler into each of the sorted sheet bundles stacked on each bin 300 (not shown), and the sheet pulling device 402 grasps the sheet bundles on each bin 300. Then, it is transported in a substantially horizontal direction.

Both end portions 403a and 403b of the bracket 403 are bent upward and downward, respectively, and rollers 404a and 404b are rotatably attached to the both end portions 403a and 403b. The rollers 404a and 404b are
The guide rails 405a and 405b, which stand upright along the side of the bin 300, are rotatably mounted in the grooves of the two guide rails 405a and 405b. The bins 300 are integrally reciprocated in the vertical direction along the sides. In addition, two drive belts 406a, substantially parallel along the sides of the bin 300,
406b is stretched. These drive belts 406a, 406b
The opposite end portions 403a and 403b of the bracket 403 are fixed by screws. Each drive belt 406
a and 406b are respectively bridged between two pulleys 407a and 407c and 407b and 407d arranged at a predetermined interval in the vertical direction. The lower pulleys 407c and 407d are connected by a common support shaft 408 so as to rotate integrally.

The pulley 4 fixed to the output shaft of the drive motor 409
The driving force of the drive motor 409 is transmitted to the pulley 412 via the power transmission belt 411 and the power transmission belt 411, and the support shaft 408 is sequentially passed through a drive gear 413 fixed coaxially and a gear 414 meshed with the drive gear 413. The rotational driving force is transmitted to the driving pulley 414 fixed to one end of the driving pulley. The driving belts 406a and 406b are transported and driven by such a driving force transmission mechanism, whereby the stapler 401 and the sheet pulling device 402 are vertically moved.

Furthermore, one edge portion 4 of the bracket 403 is provided.
A position sensor 415 is attached to 03a, and a detection plate 416 is erected so as to be sandwiched by the position sensor 415. On the detection plate 416, projections 416a indicating positions are formed at predetermined intervals so as to correspond to the positions of the bins 300. By such a position detecting mechanism, the stapler 401 and the sheet pulling device 4 are provided.
02 is controlled to stop at the installation position of each bin.

The protrusion 403c and the sensor 403d in FIG.
403c is used to determine the upper limit position of 403.
When entering d, the ascent by the motor 409 is stopped.

FIG. 6 is an explanatory diagram for making it easy to understand the movement of the stapler device 400 described above. Based on the drawing, the movement of the paper 423c and the chuck portion 421 discharged onto the bin 300 and the stapler 4 are described.
The position of 01 will be described.

The sheet 423c discharged onto the bin 300 is discharged to a position indicated by 432d. Thereafter, it is aligned at a position where it comes into contact with the fence 316 by a swinging device described separately. Thereafter, when copying is completed and stapling is started, the check section 421
Moves from the position indicated by the solid line to the position indicated by the alternate long and short dash line.
Close 421, sandwich paper 423c, and return to the position indicated by the solid line.
By this operation, the sheet 423c moves to the position of 423f, and the number of sheets placed on the bin 300 by the stapler 401 is stapled. Thereafter, the check portion 421 is opened, and the sheet 423c is returned from the position of 423e to the position of 423d with a return plate described later. This completes the work for one bin 300, goes to the next bin 300, and repeats this operation.

The sorter of this embodiment is a 20-bin sorter, and as shown in FIG.
The upper block (first sorter means) 100 has bin sensors 176 and 179, the paper discharge sensors 177 and 178, and the lower block (second sorter means) 101. Are bin sensors 181 and 184 and paper ejection sensors 180 and 183. These sensors 176,177,178,180,1
81 and 184 are transmission-type optical detection sensors each including an LED and a phototransistor. The paper discharge sensors 177, 178, 180, and 183 detect whether or not a copy (= paper) has been discharged, and the bin sensors 176, 179, 181 and 184 determine whether or not the bin 300 has a copy. Such bin sensors 176, 179, 181 and 184 make it possible to use the lower block 101 if a copy is on the upper block 100.

FIG. 7 is a block diagram of the control system in the present embodiment. This control is performed mainly by the CPU
This is a micro computer control system including a RAM 602, I / O ports 603 and 606, a clock timer controller 603 (hereinafter abbreviated as CTC), a universal, asynchronous, and a receiver transceiver (hereinafter abbreviated as UART) 605. In this system, CPU 60 uses I / O port 6
06 from the sensor switch (SW) group input from the multiplexer 607 via the multiplexer 607, the I / O port 60
3, Various drivers 608, 611, 615, 6 according to the output signal of CTC604
16, 617, and the respective loads described later are controlled via the phase signal generator 614 and the SSR 609. Further, the status and instruction signals are exchanged with the copying machine by the UART 605 via the receiver 612 and the driver 613.

Specific members of the sensor switch group include: 176,179 above the bin sensor, 181,184 below the bin sensor, 177,178 above the entry sensor, 180,183 below the entry sensor, size home sensor 627, size detection sensor 531, swing home sensor 626, vertical home sensor 403d , Vertical position sensor 415, pre-check sensor 422j, post-check sensor 422k, staple home sensor 625, staple sensor 624, paper sensor 62
3. There is a cover switch 622, a door left switch 621, a door right switch 620, an entrance sensor 619, a paper ejection sensor 618, and the like.

The load (output system) includes a drive motor (AC motor) 200, a needleless display 717, a stapling operation display 655,
Deflection solenoid (SOL) 635, switching SOL 634, electromagnetic clutch (CL) 421c, staple motor (DC motor) 632, chuck motor (DC motor, forward / reverse rotation) 422f, vertical movement motor (stepping motor) 409, size movement motor ( There are a stepping motor 151, a swing motor (stepping motor) 520 and the like.

Among the signals exchanged with the copier, the signals sent from the copier to the sorter and the stapler include a sorter start signal, a copier discharge signal, a mode signal, a size signal, a staple start signal, a staple end signal, and a service. There is a call reset signal (SC reset), etc. The signals sent from the sorter and stapler to the copier include a discharge signal, each door cover open signal, a JAM signal, a bin count over signal,
There are an abnormal signal, a no-needle signal, a staple end signal, a staple permission signal, a sort permission signal, and the like.

Next, the above-described sorter / stapler 704 is connected to the relay unit 7.
A system in which two units are connected using 06 and can sort and staple up to 40 copies will be described with reference to FIG. 1 and FIG.

First, the operation of performing copy discharge and stapling to the first sorter / stapler 704, which is upstream in the paper transport direction, is as described above. The operation of performing copy discharge and stapling to the stapler 705 will be described in detail.

The copy paper discharged from the copy main body 709 enters the copy carry-in entrance 718 of the first sorter / stapler 704, and is detected by the entrance sensor 619.

When a copy sheet is detected by the entrance sensor 619, the destination of the copy is calculated and determined by the CPU 600 in the first sorter / stapler.

The discharging destination is bins 21-4 of the second sorter / stapler 705.
In the case of 0 bin, when it is detected by the entrance sensor 619, it is sent to the SSR 702 of the relay unit 706 in the first sorter / stapler 704.
An ON signal is output from the CPU 600, the output of the SSR 702 is turned ON, and the transport motor 701 in the relay unit 706 operates.

Also, UAR is sent from CPU 600 in the first sorter / stapler 704.
A signal for operating the second sorter / stapler is issued through T605 and the driver 613. This signal passes through the optical fiber 707 and the receiver 711 in the second sorter / stapler 705.
Enter CPU600.

The CPU 600 decodes this signal, sends an ON signal to the SSR in the second sorter / stapler 705, and operates the transport motor 200 connected to the SSR.

Next, the copy paper passes under the transport path switch 115, and enters the first block 713, which is the upper block of the first sorter / stapler 704, and the second block, which is the lower block of the first sorter / stapler 704. After passing through the introduction path of 714, it exits from the discharge port below the 20th bin of the sort bin 300, and enters the relay unit 706 from the paper entrance of the relay unit 706. In addition,
At this time, the sensors 180 and 183 used for detecting the discharge to the sort bin 300 in the 20-bin system are used for checking the copy paper conveyance.

The copy paper entering the relay unit 706 is transferred to the relay unit 706 while gradually lowering the transport speed so as to absorb the difference between the paper discharge transport speed from the first sorter / stapler 704 and the transport speed of the second sorter / stapler 705. Go to the outlet. Details of the absorption of the transport speed will be described later.

The copy paper directed to the discharge port is detected by a relay unit discharge sensor 700 provided near the discharge port. This sensor 7
In the step 00, the copy paper is checked, the distance between the discharge sensor of the copy main body 709 and the entrance sensor 619 of the first sorter / stapler 704, the discharge sensor of the relay unit 706, and the entrance sensor 619 of the second sorter / stapler 705. Is set at a position equivalent to the distance of
Input to CPU 600 of sorter / stapler 704, and U
It is sent to the second sorter stapler 705 through the ART 605, the driver 613, and the optical fiber 707.

The sent signal is sent to the second sorter / stapler 704 in the same manner as the body output signal is sent from the copy main body 709 to the first sorter / stapler 704 in the 20-bin system and processed and operated in the first sorter / stapler 704. The processing is performed in 705, and is used for transport path switching, staple start timing, transport check, and the like. In this case, since the position of the paper discharge sensor 700 of the relay unit 706 is the same as the position of the paper discharge sensor of the copy main body 709, the detection timing of the sensors is also the same, and the first sorter stapler 704 and the second sorter stapler 705 have the same detection timing. The same processing program can be used for this part.

The copy paper entering the second sorter / stapler 705 is subjected to the same transport control as in the above-described system using 20 bins using only the first sorter / stapler 704, and is subjected to the same sort and stapling processing as in the system using 20 bins. Done. The detailed operation is the same as the operation of the above-described 20-bin system. When stapling the first and second sorter staplers 704 and 705 in a single operation, the timing for starting the auto staple is determined by the last original copy paper entering the first bin of each sorter stapler and shaking. Immediately after the movement is performed. Therefore, since bins to be sorted usually precede bins to be stapled, stapling of the second sorter / stapler 705 is started before stapling of the first sorter / stapler 704 is completed, and both stapling are started. There is a time to work at the same time. Also, in the case where the stapling is started manually after sorting, both stapling processes are performed simultaneously.

The above operation is an example, but besides this, noise reduction,
When the stapling process in the first sorter / stapler 704 is completed to reduce power or the like, a stapling start signal is sent to the second sorter / stapler 705 through the optical fiber 707, and the second sorter / stapler 705 is sent in response to the signal. May be started so that the staple processing of the first and second sorter staplers 704 and 705 is not performed at the same time.

FIG. 1 shows the copy paper transport path of a 40-bin system using the first and second sorters and staplers connected to each other and the positions of sensors used for transport. FIG. 8 shows the first and second sorters. FIG. 3 shows connection of control elements of a 40-bin system using a sorter / stapler connected.

 Next, the operation of the other parts will be individually described.

 First, multi-system sorting and stapling will be described.

In the 20-bin system using one sorter / stapler described above, 1 to 10 and 11 to 20 bins are treated as one processing block, and stack sorting and stapling of up to two systems can be performed.

In a system of 40 bins in which two sorters / staplers are connected, up to four systems of stacking, sorting and stapling can be performed in the system shown in this embodiment.
The selection of each block is the same as the stack and 20 bin systems in the sort mode. However, when two or more blocks are used at the same time, a youngster's block is selected from blocks that are continuously vacant for the required number of blocks. For example, if the copy paper is placed only on the bin 300 of the second block 714, one block is used and sorting is performed. If the first block 713 is selected and two blocks are used for sorting, the second block 714 is sorted. Blocks 715 and 716 are selected.

In this case, after sorting, such as no needle,
Even in the case where the discharged copy paper has a block that cannot be subjected to the stabilization processing, the selection is made as described above regardless of whether the copy paper can be stabilized or not.

In manual stapling after sorting,
The stapling operation is performed only on the blocks that can be stapled on the copy paper discharged by sorting, and the stapling operation is not performed on the blocks that cannot be stapled.

In the automatic staple mode, in which the staple operation is automatically started near the end of the next sort in parallel with the sort operation, if all the vacant blocks can be stapled on the copy paper ejected after sorting, Select a block in the same way as selecting a block in the stack sort mode.

However, if there is a block that cannot be stapled, such as no staples or swinging of the output copy paper, the block that cannot be stapled is not selected even if it is an empty block, and the next empty block is not selected. Choose the youngest block that can be stapled.

Even if the number of blocks to be used is set to 2 blocks, for example, immediately after copying starts, the size of the copy paper to be ejected does not match the swingable size of the selected block. If it is determined that swinging is not possible, the designated number of blocks is automatically changed from 2 to 1, for example, to the number of blocks that can be stapled thereafter.

Specifically, the number of blocks is specified by the number of copy repeats. When the number of copy repeats is 1 to 10, the number of blocks is 1, 11 to 20, the number of blocks is 2, and when the number of blocks is 21 to 30, the number of blocks is At 3, 31 to 40, the number of blocks is 4.

These processing procedures will be described with reference to the flowchart of FIG.

First, as a block change at the time of sorting, it is determined whether or not the mode is the sort mode (step S9-1, hereinafter abbreviated as S-9). If the mode is not the sort mode, the block change flag and the mode change flag are reset (S9-2,
3), return. The mode change flag indicates that the mode change has been performed immediately before, and the block change flag indicates that the previous operation has been completed, but the details will be described later.

Then, it is determined whether at least one copy sheet in the current operation has been discharged in order to determine whether the current operation has been completed or whether it has already been started (S9-4). If at least one sheet has already been ejected, the block change flag and the mode change flag are reset to prohibit the block change in the current operation (S9).
-2,3) Return. If the copy paper has not been discharged yet, it is checked that the block change flag or the mode change flag has been set (S9-5, 6), and the flow proceeds to the block change flow.

The block selection method differs depending on whether or not the block is changed to the automatic (auto) staple mode (S9-7). If the mode is a sort-only mode instead of the auto-staple mode (S9-7
N), the bin sensors 170 and 179 of the first block 713 are checked (S9-8), and if it is OFF, it is empty and "from the first block" is selected (S9-9). If it is ON, the bin sensors 181 and 184 of the second block 714 are checked (S9-10),
If it is OFF, it is empty, so "from the second block" is selected (S9-11). If it is ON, it is determined whether the mode is the 20 bin mode or the 40 bin mode (S9-12).
In the case of the 40-bin mode, the third block 715 bin sensor is checked (S9-13), and if it is not OFF, "from the third block" is selected because it is empty (S9-14). If it is ON, check the bin sensor of the fourth block 716 (S9-15), and
If it is FF, it is empty, so "from the fourth block" is selected (S9-16). If ON, return.

In the auto stapling mode, it is determined whether or not the first sorter / stapler 704 is capable of stapling (S9-17) and whether or not the first sorter / stapler 704 is of a size capable of swinging (S9-18). If the size is not stapling or swingable, it is determined whether or not the second sorter / stapler 705 is stapleable (S9-19) and whether or not the second sorter / stapler 705 is swingable. (S9-2
0), if the size is stapling impossible or swing impossible, the same block change as in the sort only mode is performed (S9).
−8,19,10,11).

When the first sorter / stapler 704 is stapleable and swingable, the second sorter / stapler 705 is stapleable (S9-21) and whether it is swingable. (S9-22), and if the size is stapleable and swingable, the same block change as in the sort only mode is performed. If the size is not stapled or swingable, use the first sorter stapler.
The bin sensor of the first block 713 and the bin sensor of the second block 714 are checked to check whether there is an empty block in 704 (S9-23, 24). When both sensors are ON, the same block change is performed as in the sort only mode. When the bin sensor of the first block 713 is OFF, "from the first block" is selected (S9-25). And the second block 71
The bin sensor of No. 4 is checked (S9-26), and when it is ON, a signal is transmitted to the copy main body 709 so that the designated block number is set to 1 (S9-27). Then, the copy body 709 changes the display with the number of copy repeats as an upper limit of 10.

When the bin sensor of the second block 714 is OFF, the copy body 70
A signal is sent to 9 to reduce the designated block number to 2 (S9-2)
8). Then, the copy main body 709 changes the display with the number of copy repeats as an upper limit of 20. When the bin sensor of the first block 713 is ON and the bin sensor of the second block 714 is OFF (S9
(N at -24) sends a signal to copy main body 709 to reduce the designated block number to one (S9-27).

When the first sorter / stapler 704 has a stapling or non-swingable size and the second sorter / stapler 705 has a stapleable and swingable size, whether or not there is an empty block of the second sorter / stapler 7054 To check, the bin sensor at the third block 715 and the bin sensor at the fourth block 716 are checked. If both sensors are ON (S9-29, 30), the same number of blocks is performed as in the sort only mode. When the bin sensor of the third block 715 is OFF, "from the third block" is selected (S9-31). Then, the bin sensor of the fourth block 716 is checked (S9-3).
2) If it is ON, a signal is sent to the copy main body 709 so that the designated block number is set to 1 (S9-33). When the bin sensor 709 of the fourth block 716 is off (N in S9-32), a signal is sent to the copy main body to reduce the designated block number to two (S9-3).
Four).

Next, the processing procedure in the automatic change determination of the use block will be described with reference to the flowchart of FIG.

When the stapling is completed and the operation is completed, the program guides the user to change the block in preparation for the next operation.

First, it is determined whether the stapling of the current operation (job) is completed and the operation is completely completed (S10-1). If the stapling has not been completed, the routine returns.

When it is determined that stapling has been completed, the first block 71
The bin sensor of No. 3 and the bin sensor of the second block 714 are checked (S10-2, 3). When either sensor is OFF, the block change flag is set (S10-8), and the current operation (Job) is performed. The memory such as the counter and the flag used in the step is reset (S10-9). Both sensors are ON
If so, it is determined whether the mode is the 20-bin mode or the 40-bin mode (S10-4). If the mode is the 20-bin mode (N in S10-4), an overflow signal is transmitted to the copy main body 709 because there is no next available block (S10-
7) Inform that there is no available block. In the case of the 40-bin mode (Y in S10-4), the bin sensor of the third block 715 and the bin sensor of the fourth block 716 are checked (S10-5, 6), and if either sensor is OFF, the block change flag is set. Is set (S10-8), and the memory used in the current work is reset (S10-
9). If both sensors are ON, an overflow signal is sent to the copy body 709 because there is no next available block (S10-7), and it is notified that there is no available block, and a block change flag is set ( S10-8), reset the current working memory (S10
-9).

This flow operates not only in the 40-bin system but also in the 20-bin system using only one sorter / stapler.

Next, the processing procedure for turning on the stapleless cover lamp will be described with reference to the flowchart of FIG.

While the 20-bin system displays a staple-free display only on the display unit of the copy body, the 40-bin system uses the first sorter / stapler 704 and the second sorter / stapler 705.
The needleless indicator lamp 717 provided in the display also indicates that there is no needle.

In this process, first, the needleless sensor is checked (S11-
1) When the needle absence sensor is OFF, the needle absence display is turned off (S11
-2) and return. If the staple-free sensor is ON without the staple, it is determined whether or not the first sorter / stapler 704 of the 40-bin system is used (S11-3). In this step the first
When it is determined that the sorter / stapler is the sorter / stapler 704, the needleless indicator lamp 717 is turned on (S11-4).

If it is determined in S11-3 that it is not the first sorter / stapler 704, then it is determined whether or not it is the second sorter / stapler 705 (S11-5). When it is determined to be 705, the needleless indicator lamp 7
17 is turned on (S11-4), and the second sorter / stapler 705 is turned on.
When it is determined that the current time is not the same, the needleless display is turned off and the routine returns.

The processing means for the stapleless transmission determination for displaying the staplelessness in the copy body 709 will be described with reference to the flowchart of FIG.

In this process, first, it is determined whether the mode is the 40 bin mode or the 20 bin mode (S12-1). In 20 bin mode (S
At 12-1 N), when there is no staple, a no-needle signal is transmitted to the copy main body 709 (S12-3), and the copy main body 709 turns on the no-needle display. If the staple is not present, the staple presence signal is transmitted to the copy main body 709 (S12-4), and the copy main body 709 turns off the staple absence display.

First sorter / stapler 704 in 40-bin mode in S12-1
When it is determined that the sort mode is selected, it is next determined whether or not the sort mode is set (S12-5). When the sort mode is not set, the first sorter stapler 704 and the second sorter stapler 705 are checked (S12-5). 6,7), if either of them has no needle, a needleless signal is transmitted (S12-3), and if neither of them has no needle, a needle present signal is transmitted (S12-).
4).

In the sort mode, first, it is determined whether or not at least one copy sheet has been discharged in the current operation in order to determine whether or not the operation has started (S12-8). If the copy paper has not been ejected and the operation has not yet started, the first sorter / stapler 704 is checked for staple out (S12-9). If there is no staple, the second sorter / stapler 705 is next stapled. A check is made to see if the permission is acceptable or not (S12-10).

When the second sorter / stapler 705 cannot perform stapling, it transmits a stapler-less signal (S12-3), and when stapling is possible, it transmits a stapler signal (S12-4).

If the first sorter / stapler 704 is not out of staples in the judgment of S12-9, check that the second sorter / stapler 705 is out of staples (S12-11), and if the second sorter / stapler 705 is not out of staples, An existing signal is transmitted (S12-4). Second
When the sorter stapler 705 has no needle, the first sorter
Check whether stapling is possible or not for stapler 705 (S12
−12), and when stapling is possible, transmit a needle presence signal (S12−
4) When the stapling is not possible, a needleless signal is transmitted (S12).
-3).

If at least one copy sheet has been ejected in the current operation, that is, if Y is determined in S12-8, the copy sheet is placed in the first position.
It is checked whether the sheet has been discharged to the sorter stapler 704 or the second sorter stapler 705 (S12-13).

When the sheets are discharged to both the first and second sorter staplers 704 and 705 (Y in both steps S12-13 and S14), the same determination is made as in the case where no sheet is discharged in the current operation.

When only discharged to the first sorter / stapler 704 (S12
-13, Y, S12-14, N), 1st sorter stapler 704
Is checked (S12-15). If there is no needle, a needleless signal is transmitted (S12-3). If there is no needle, a needle present signal is transmitted (S12-4).

When only discharged to the second sorter stapler 705, (S
N at 12-13, Y at S12-16), 2nd sorter stapler 7
Check for no needle at 05 (S12-17), send a no-needle signal when there is no needle (S12-3), and send a no-needle signal when there is no needle (S12-4).

It is necessary to consider the door open state of the sorter / stapler in addition to the determination of the presence or absence of the needle. Therefore, the process of determining whether to open the door is also executed.

FIG. 13 is a flowchart showing a processing procedure for door open transmission determination. In this processing procedure, it is first determined whether or not the first sorter / stapler 704 in the 40-bin mode is used (S13-1). If it is determined in step S13-1 that the first sorter / stapler 704 in the 40-bin mode is not used, the system is a 20-bin system. First, it checks the open state of its own door (S13-7). A door open signal is transmitted (S13-10), and if not, a door close signal is transmitted (S13-8).

If the first sorter stapler 704 in the 40-bin mode is determined in S13-1, it is checked whether or not the stack mode is set (S13-2). In the stack mode, the doors of the second and first sorter / staplers 704 are checked (S13-9), and if either one is open, a door open signal is transmitted (S13-10) or both. When both are not open, a door close signal is transmitted (S13-8).

If it is determined in S13-2 that the current mode is not the stack mode, it is checked whether the current mode is the sort mode (S13-3). If it is not in the sort mode, only the door open state of the first sorter / stapler 704 is checked (S13-7),
If the door is open, a door open signal is transmitted (S13
-10) If the door is not open, a door close signal is transmitted (S13-8).

If the mode is the sort mode in S13-3, it is checked whether or not the mode is the auto staple mode (13-4). In the case of the auto staple mode, the door opening of the second and first sorter staplers 705 and 704 is checked (S13-9,
7) If one of the doors is open, a door open signal is transmitted (S13-10). When both are not door open, a door close signal is transmitted (S13-
8). If it is not the auto staple mode in S13-4,
Next, it is determined whether to use the second sorter / stapler side (S13-5, 6). Specifically, if either the third block 715 or the fourth block 716 is selected, the second sorter / stapler 705 is used, and at this time, the second sorter / stapler 705 is used.
Then, the door opening of the first sorter / staplers 705 and 704 is checked (S13-9, 7), and if either one is the door opening, the door opening signal is transmitted (S13-1).
0). If neither the third nor fourth block 715 or 716 is selected, the door open of the first sorter / stapler 704 is checked (S13-7). If the door is open, a door open signal is transmitted (S13-10). If the door is not open, a door close signal is transmitted (S13-8).

The abnormal transmission determination in the 40-bin system is processed according to the processing procedure as shown in FIG.

First, it is checked whether the first sorter / stapler 704 has an A abnormality described later (S14-1). If A is abnormal, an A abnormal signal is transmitted to the copy main body 709, and sorting and stapling are prohibited (S14-2). If it is not the A abnormality, it is checked whether it is the first sorter / stapler mode of 40 bins (S14-3), and if it is the 40 bin mode, the A abnormal signal sent from the sorter / stapler is checked (14-).
4). A if the second sorter / stapler 705 is A abnormal
An abnormal signal is transmitted to the copy main body 709, and sorting and stapling are prohibited (S14-2). If the mode is not the 40 bin mode in S14-3, the A abnormality check of the second sorter / stapler 705 passes.

Next, it is checked whether the first sorter / stapler 704 has a B abnormality described later (S14-5). If B is abnormal, a B abnormal signal is transmitted to the copy main body 709 to prohibit stapling (S14-6). If not abnormal, check if the first sorter stapler mode of 40 bins is set (S14−).
7) If the mode is the 40-bin mode, the B abnormal signal sent from the second sorter / stapler is checked (S14-).
8). B if the second sorter / stapler 705 is abnormal B
An abnormal signal is transmitted to the copy main body 709 to prohibit stapling (S14-6). If the mode is not the 40 bin mode, the B abnormality check (S14-8) of the second sorter / stapler 705 passes. If the second sorter / stapler 705 is not B-error, the A and B-error reset signals are sent to the copy body 70.
9 (S14-9).

Here, the A abnormality is an abnormality of the unit that moves the swinging unit, and the bin stops when the unit stops.
This prevents the paper from being discharged to the 300 and makes it impossible to sort and stack. Of course, it cannot swing, so it cannot be stapled. The B abnormality is an abnormality of the unit relating to the stapling process other than the A abnormality, and the stapling cannot be performed by stopping these units, but the sort staff can be performed without any trouble.

The connection determination of the second sorter / stapler 705 is performed according to the processing procedure shown in FIG.

Prior to the description of FIG. 15, the state of signal transfer at the time of power-on will be described.

First, the power switch of the copy main body 709 is turned on. Then, the power of the first sorter / stapler 704 receiving the AC power from the copy main body 709 is turned on. Note that the first sorter / stapler 704 receives not only AC power from the copy main body 709, but also has its own AC cord / plug set. In that case, copy body 70
A signal for driving the relay is output from 9 and the relay in the first sorter / stapler operates to turn on the power.

The relay unit 706 has a relay 713 inside, and when the power of the first sorter stapler 704 is turned on, the first sorter
A signal for driving the relay is output from the stapler 704, the relay 713 is activated, and the power is turned on. Since the second sorter / stapler 705 is supplied with AC power from the relay unit 706, the power is turned on almost simultaneously with the rise of the power of the relay unit 706, and the power of the entire system is turned on.

The copy body 709 sends a reset signal to the first sorter / stapler 704 through the optical fiber 708 after the power is turned on.
The reset signal enters the CPU 600 through the receiver 711, where it is decoded and when the reset signal is recognized, the first
The control program of the sorter / stapler 704 starts from address 0. Also, when you start moving from address 0,
A program for transmitting the entire status of the stapler is activated, and the entire status of the sorter / stapler is transmitted to the entire copy 709. At this time, the copy main body 709 receives this signal and the sorter / stapler is connected. Recognize that it is.

Next, at about the same time as when the first sorter / stapler 704 transmits the entire state to the copy main body 709, similarly to the case where the copy main body 709 transmits to the first sorter / stapler 704, the second sorter / stapler 705 is reset. Send a signal. The reset signal is sent from CPU600 in the first sorter / stapler to UART605,
The driver 613, the optical fiber 707, and the receiver 711 in the second sorter / stapler, enter the CPU 600, and are decrypted.
When the reset signal is recognized by the PU 600, the control program of the second sorter / stapler 705 starts from address 0,
The entire state of the second sorter / stapler 705 is transmitted to the first sorter / stapler 704. The first sorter / stapler 704 receives this signal, recognizes that the second sorter / stapler 705 is connected, and can use 40 bins.

In the flowchart of FIG. 15, first, the state of the SW for switching the first sorter / stapler 704 in the 40-bin mode between the 20-bin mode and the 40-bin mode is checked (S15-1). S
When W is OFF, the mode is the 20 bin mode, the second sorter stapler 705 or the flag of the 20 bin mode is set, and the apparatus operates in the 20 bin mode (S15-2).

1st sorter stapler in 40 bin mode when SW is ON
704, it is determined whether or not a connection signal is coming from the second sorter / stapler 705 (S15-3).
It operates in the 0 bin mode (S15-2).

If a connection signal is received from the second sorter / stapler 705, the flag of the 40-bin mode is set, and the apparatus operates as the first sorter / stapler 704 of the 40-bin mode (S15-).
4).

Next, the conveyance speed absorption will be described with reference to FIG.

The 40 bottles system connecting two identical sorter stapler, a discharge speed V ₄ from the first sorter stapler 704 relationship carrying velocity V ₂ of the second sorter stapler 705 V _4> V
₂ out. In order to absorb this speed difference, in this embodiment, the transfer speed is gradually reduced in the relay unit 706 and the transfer is performed to the second sorter / stapler 705.

Lowermost discharge roller 705 of the first sorter / stapler 704
More copy paper discharged excretion rate V ₄ relay Yunitsuto 70
6 enters the inlet roller 751, and the first transport rollers 752, 753, 754
Is conveyed to the conveying speed of the first stage in the roller of the X4 is decelerated to V _5. Then conveyed to the second conveying rollers 755,756 conveying speed V ₆ of the second stage, and is conveyed in the third stage to the third conveying roller 757,758,759 conveying speed V _7,
The copy paper is decelerated in three steps in the relay unit and is conveyed to the entrance roller of the second sorter / stapler 705.

Relationship conveying speed of each part becomes _{V 4> V 5> V 6} > V 7> V 2.

In this embodiment, from the copy main body 709 to the transport speed V ₇ of the third stage is as follows.

In the embodiment, the 20-bin system, the 40-bin system and the number of bins are limited to 20, 40.
Other numbers such as bins and 30 bins may be used, and the number of sorters / staplers is limited to two. For example, a second relay unit and a third sorter / stapler are connected after a second sorter / stapler. The number of units is not limited to two, and it is possible to add more units as necessary.
It goes without saying that the number of blocks can be increased accordingly.

As described above, according to the above-described embodiment, in the auto staple mode in which the staple process is first intended,
In order to be able to perform stapling on the copy paper that has been sorted and discharged, the blocks are not selected only from the unused young numbers first, but the stapling size of each block of the sorter / stapler, the presence or absence of the staple, and the swing A processing block capable of stapling is selected based on data such as whether or not the stapling is possible. As a result, it is possible to prevent a situation in which the stapling is not performed at the end even though the copying is performed for the purpose of the stapling.

Even after the number of processing blocks is set by inputting the number of copy repeats, if the number of blocks that can be stapled becomes smaller than the set number, the number of processing blocks is reduced to the number of blocks that can be stapled. Change it, and at the same time, output a signal to that effect to the copy body,
The display value of the number of copy repeats is also changed accordingly. In this way, if the paper is ejected to a processing block that cannot be stapled due to a mismatch between the copy size of the copy main unit and the stapleable size of the sorter / stapler, etc. Further, it is possible to prevent a situation in which the stapling process cannot be performed on the sheet at all.

〔The invention's effect〕

As is clear from the above description, when processing is performed on the conveyed paper, when the first abnormality detection unit detects an abnormality, the discharge of the sheet to the first storage unit by the discharge unit is prohibited. Discharge the paper to the second storage means
According to the present invention provided with the control means for performing the processing by the processing means, if the corresponding processing cannot be executed due to the occurrence of the abnormality, the paper is discharged to the accommodation means in which the abnormality has not occurred, and the processing is performed. The intended processing is performed.

Further, there is provided an instructing means for instructing the first processing means to perform predetermined processing, and the control means controls the first processing means by the instructing means when the first abnormality detecting means detects an abnormality. If the instruction to perform the predetermined processing is not given by the above, if the discharge means is allowed to discharge the paper to the first storage means, waste is eliminated and the maximum productivity is obtained. Can be.

Further, when processing is performed on the conveyed paper, when both the first abnormality detection unit and the second abnormality detection unit detect an abnormality, the paper is stored in at least one of the first storage unit and the second storage unit. According to the present invention, the control means for discharging the paper and prohibiting the processing of the discharged paper is provided.
If the corresponding process cannot be executed in any of the two storage units due to the occurrence of an abnormality, the sheet is discharged to at least one of the storage units and the process is prohibited for the sheet. It is possible to prevent the occurrence of an unexpected situation such as a situation in which the processing is not performed on the discharged sheet.

[Brief description of the drawings]

The drawings are all for explaining an embodiment of the present invention, and FIG. 1 is a schematic configuration diagram of a 40-bin sorter / stapler in which two sorters / staplers are connected using a relay unit.
2 is a schematic configuration diagram of a 20-bin sorter / stapler, FIG. 3 is a perspective view schematically showing a swinging device, FIG. 4 is a plan view showing an operation of arranging sheets on the bin, and FIG. 6 is a perspective view schematically showing the stapler apparatus, FIG. 6 is a plan view showing the operation of the stapler apparatus, FIG. 7 is a block diagram of a control system in the embodiment, and FIG. 8 is a control system of a 40-bin sorter / stapler. FIG. 9 is a flow chart showing a procedure for determining a processing block, FIG. 10 is a flow chart showing a processing procedure for automatically changing a processing block to be used, and FIG. 12 is a flowchart showing a display control procedure, FIG. 12 is a flowchart showing a processing procedure of a needleless transmission determination, FIG. 13 is a flowchart showing a processing procedure of a door open transmission determination of a sorter / stapler, FIG.
FIG. 14 is a flowchart showing the procedure for determining the abnormal transmission in the 40-bin system, FIG. 15 is a flowchart showing the procedure for determining the connection of the second sorter / stapler, and FIG. It is. 100 ... first sorter means (upper block), 101 ... second
Sorter means (lower block), 300… bin, 400… stapler device, 401… stapler, 600… CPU, 601…
ROM, 602 RAM, 704 First sorter stapler, 705 Second sorter stapler, 706 Relay unit, 709 Copy body, 713 First block
714… second block, 715… third block, 716
...... The fourth block.

Claims (6)

(57) [Claims] A first storage unit configured to store a sheet; a first processing unit configured to perform a predetermined process on the sheet stored in the first storage unit; a second storage unit configured to store the sheet; A second processing unit for performing a predetermined process on the paper stored in the second storage unit, and selectively discharging the conveyed paper to the first storage unit or the second storage unit. Discharging means; first abnormality detecting means for detecting an abnormality in the first processing means; second abnormality detecting means for detecting an abnormality in the second processing means; When the first abnormality detecting unit detects an abnormality, the discharging unit prohibits the discharging unit from discharging the sheet to the first storing unit, and discharges the sheet to the second storing unit. The processing to be performed by the first processing means is the second processing. A paper processing apparatus, comprising: control means for performing the control by a control means. A first storage unit for storing the paper, a first processing unit for performing a predetermined process on the paper stored in the first storage unit, a second storage unit for storing the paper, A second processing unit for performing a predetermined process on the paper stored in the second storage unit, and selectively discharging the conveyed paper to the first storage unit or the second storage unit. Discharging means; first abnormality detecting means for detecting an abnormality in the first processing means; second abnormality detecting means for detecting an abnormality in the second processing means; In the case where both the first abnormality detecting means and the second or more detecting means detect abnormality, the sheet is discharged to at least one of the first storage means and the second storage means, and the discharge is performed. Control to prohibit processing on damaged paper Means, and a sheet processing apparatus, comprising: 3. The sheet processing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the abnormality in the first and second processing units is a state in which the binding unit that binds the sheets does not bind. 4. The sheet processing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the abnormality in the first and second processing means is a state in which the aligning means for aligning the paper is in an unalignable state. 5. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein each of said first and second storage means is a sorter comprising a plurality of bins.
Or the paper processing apparatus according to 2. 6. An instructing means for instructing the first processing means to perform a predetermined process, wherein the control means is configured to execute the instructing means when the first abnormality detecting means detects an abnormality. 2. The sheet according to claim 1, wherein when the first processing unit does not instruct the first processing unit to perform a predetermined process, the discharging unit permits discharge of the sheet to the first storage unit. Processing equipment.