JP3080734B2 - Sheet processing equipment - Google Patents

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a sheet processing apparatus for storing a sheet having a copied image from a printer in a storage bin of a collator via a folding machine. More specifically, the present invention relates to a sensor having an improved mounting position. And a sheet processing apparatus having the same.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art A system has been proposed in which a printer for continuously producing sheets having copied images is operatively connected to a folding machine and a collator, thereby simplifying sheet folding and sorting operations and saving labor. Have been. For example, in U.S. Pat. No. 4,768,767, a folding machine and a collator are connected, and sheets folded by the folding machine are sorted into storage bins of the collator according to a distribution pattern specified in advance. This U.S. Patent discloses a detecting means that uses a coefficient that varies depending on the number of folded panels to detect a full state of sheets in a storage bin of a collator.

That is, in the US patent specification, a coefficient corresponding to the number of folded panels of a sheet (for example, single fold or double fold) is previously selected, and each time the sheet passes, the coefficient corresponds to the number of folded panels of the sheet. It is assumed that the storage bin is full when the counted value reaches a predetermined value.

[0004]

In the above-mentioned U.S. Patent, means for accurately detecting the number of panels is required, which complicates the system. In addition, the problem of errors due to variations in the sheet thickness of the sheet and the degree of folding of the sheet (the sheet is folded tightly or folded gently) cannot be solved. Is determined. For this reason, although the bin still has a storage capacity, the operation of feeding sheets to a new storage bin is started to indicate that the bin is already full on the count. This makes the storage capacity of the collator smaller than the actual capacity. Therefore, an object of the present invention is to solve the above-mentioned disadvantages of the related art.

[0005]

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION An object of the present invention is to solve the above-mentioned disadvantages of the prior art, and to solve the problem, basically, as a mounting position of a sensor to a storage bin of a collator. The position where the sensor is opposed to the fold side of the sheet is used.

Specifically, the present invention relates to a printer that continuously discharges a sheet having a copied image, a folding machine that folds a sheet from the printer into a predetermined size by zigzag or cross-folding, And a collator for sorting the folded sheets output from the folding machine into respective storage bins according to a specified distribution pattern, wherein the collator is connected to a control unit of the collator. And a sensor for detecting a full state of the copy sheets stacked in the storage bin, and the sensor is stored above the storage bin on the sheet outlet side of the storage bin so that the fold overlaps the storage bin. The sensor is fixed so as to face the fold side of the sheet, and the sensor detects the height of the sheet in the storage bin. Then, in response to a signal indicating fullness from the sensor, the control unit of the collator selects the next empty storage bin stacked vertically, and stores the subsequent sheets in the next storage bin. A sheet processing device that, when it is not necessary for the folding machine to fold the sheet from the printer, passes the sheet as it is and stores it in the storage bin.

[0007]

[0008]

The sensor located above the folding bin of the folding panel of the sheets stacked in the storage bin of the collator and above the storage bin detects the total height of the folding panel.

The sensor emits a signal indicating that the storage bin is full when the folding panel reaches a predetermined height. The collator controller receives this signal,
The remaining sheets to be stored in the bin are sent to the next empty bin.

[0010]

FIG. 1 schematically shows an example of a sheet processing system to which the present invention is applied. The system includes a printer 1 that continuously forms copy images of a specified number and size, a conveyor device 2 that receives and transports copy sheets discharged from the printer 1, and forms a copy sheet fed by the conveyor device 2. A folding machine 3 for folding to a predetermined size, and a collator 4 for sorting copy sheets discharged from the folding machine 3 into storage bins according to a distribution pattern designated in advance.

The printer 1 is composed of an electrophotographic printer having a well-known configuration, and outputs copy sheets of different sizes according to instructions of an operator.

The conveyor device 2 forms a passage for conveying the copy sheet discharged from the printer 1 to the folding machine 3. As is known, an ordinary printer performs copying with center alignment (with reference to the center in the width direction) regardless of the size of a copy sheet. On the other hand, a normal folding machine uses one-sided alignment (based on one side edge). For this reason, the conveyor device 2 changes the copy sheet discharged from the printer in the center alignment to one-side alignment, and supplies the copy sheet to the folding machine 3.

As shown in FIG. 3, the folding machine 3 has a roller type zigzag folding section 30. Zigzag folding part 30
A receiving roller 31 made of an elastic material such as rubber and having a sufficiently large diameter capable of normal and reverse rotation, and a relatively small diameter normal and reverse rotatable folding roller 32 provided in pressure contact with the receiving roller 31; 33. Folding roller 3
The copy sheets 2 and 33 are separated from each other, and a copy sheet conveyed from the conveyor device 2 is guided by feed rollers 34 and 35 therebetween. The receiving roller 31 and the folding rollers 32 and 33 are interlocked, and rotate forward and backward at substantially the same peripheral speed. In a normal state, the receiving roller 31 and the folding rollers 32 and 33 rotate in the directions indicated by solid arrows, whereby the leading end of the copy sheet is fed into the transport path 36 by the receiving roller 31 and the folding roller 33. If it is not necessary to fold the copy sheet, the copy sheet is transported to the next department as it is.

On the other hand, the main controller 5 in the printer 1
When a command to perform folding is received from 00, the folding machine control unit 502 (FIG. 2) controls the zigzag folding unit 30 to perform a folding operation. The folding machine control unit 502 controls the folding mode (the number of times of folding,
(Presence / absence of cross-folding, etc.) is stored in advance, and data of a mode corresponding to the size of the copy sheet to be sent is called out, and the folding unit 30 operates based on the data. Normally, the copy sheet is folded into an A4 size shape. Conveyance path 3
6, a sheet leading edge detector 37 is disposed, and when the leading edge of the copy sheet is detected by the leading edge detector 37, the receiving roller 31 and the folding rollers 32, 33 are provided.
Rotates in the reverse direction and rotates in the direction of the dashed arrow.

At this time, the copy sheet is transported by the conveying rollers 34, 3
5, the copy sheet becomes slack between the folding rollers 32 and 33 due to the reverse rotation, and the slack is sandwiched between the receiving roller 31 and the folding roller 32 which rotate in the direction of the dashed arrow. Crushed to form a first fold. After a predetermined time (time corresponding to the folding width) has passed since the leading edge detector 37 detects the leading edge of the copy sheet, the receiving roller 31 and the folding rollers 32, 3
3 again rotates in the direction of the solid line arrow, and at this time, the slack formed between the folding rollers 32 and 33 is
The second fold is formed by being sandwiched and crushed by the first roller and the folding roller 33. According to the size of the copy sheet, the forward / reverse rotation of the rollers is repeated, and the copy sheet is zigzag folded to a predetermined size width (for example, A4 size width). Next, the folded copy sheet is transported by the transport rollers 38 to the next cross folding section 40.

FIG. 4 shows a cross-folding section 40, and the zigzag-folded copy sheet is conveyed along the fold direction. Cross-folding (folding perpendicular to zigzag folding) is performed when the copy sheet is A1 or A2 size, and is not performed when the copy sheet is A3 or A4 size.

When performing cross folding, the driving roller 41
And the driven roller 42 cooperating therewith inserts the leading end of the copy sheet into the butting guide 43. Butting guide 4
3 has a length for cross-folding an A1 size copy sheet, and a stopper 46 provided so as to be able to protrude and retract (showing a protruding state in the figure) so as to cross the middle of the guide 43 is provided. Defines the length for cross-folding an A2 size copy sheet. When the leading edge of the copy sheet continuously fed by the drive roller 41 abuts against the bottom surface of the guide 43 (or a stopper 146 protruding into the guide in the case of an A2 size copy sheet), the folding roller is folded at the upper end of the guide 43 into the copy sheet. A U-shaped slack is formed on the 48 side, and the slack portion is sandwiched between the driving roller 41 and the folding roller 48 which is in pressure contact with the driving roller 41 and is crushed to form a cross-fold. The copy sheet thus folded is transported along the transport path 49 to the next collator 4.

When the conveyed copy sheet is A3 or A4 size which does not require cross folding, the guide 43
The stopper 50 provided so as to be able to protrude and retract at the entrance of the projection 50 protrudes (the position indicated by the broken line) and closes the entrance of the butting guide 43. Thus, the copy sheet is conveyed to the conveyance path 49 without entering the butting guide 43.

FIG. 5 schematically shows the collator 4. The copy sheet discharged from the folder 3 is fed into the collator by the feed roller 101. Reference numeral 102 denotes a course changing claw, which sends a copy sheet to the sorting unit 110. The sorter 110 includes an endless belt 114 that moves in the direction of arrow C supported by the pair of rotating rollers 112 and 113.
, A feed roller 115 provided along the endless belt 114 so as to cooperate with the endless belt 114, a moving claw 116 disposed between the feed rollers, and a storage bin 117 for receiving a copy sheet fed by the moving claw 116. Having. The moving claws 116 sequentially protrude so as to cross the path of the copy sheet conveyed by the belt 114 based on a command from the collator control unit, whereby the copy sheets to be fed are sequentially sorted into the designated storage bins.

Although the illustrated collator has ten storage bins, a similar collator is further connected when more storage bins are required. Path change claw 1 described above
02 blocks the course to the sorting unit 110 in such a case,
The copy sheet is transported to the next collator via the transport roller 118.

FIG. 6 schematically shows the folded state of the copy sheet fed into the storage bin 117. When a sheet of each size is folded into an A4 size, the A1 or A2 size sheet has a fold at the front end side. Therefore, when these sheets are stacked in the storage bin 117, the front end side tends to bulge forward. Also, A3 size sheets are stacked while being inclined to one of the left and right sides.

In order to detect the full state of the copy sheets stacked in the storage bins, a fold panel of the sheets stacked in the storage bin, that is, a swelled fold side on the front end side is provided above each bin. A sensor 1 that detects the total height of the stacked folded panels at a position facing the part
20 is arranged. The sensor 120 is preferably provided at a position (corner of a sheet) where the fold side of the A1 and A2 sizes and the fold side of the A3 size are common on the back side of the bin.
The sensor 120 may use a well-known switch such as a microswitch, and is activated by the contact of the sheet when the folding panel reaches a predetermined height to indicate that the bin is full. Emits a signal. In response to this signal, a collator control unit described later sends the remaining sheets to be stored in the bin to the next empty bin. still,
Each sheet is accommodated in a bin in a direction having a bulge on the front end side, and a sensor is arranged on the back side of the bin, so that the sheet being moved when the sheet is stored in the bin is mistaken for the sensor. The problem of malfunctioning the sensor due to contact can be avoided.

Next, control of such a sheet processing system will be described with reference to FIG. The main control unit 500 is provided in the printer 1 and controls the overall operation of the system.
2 etc. are connected. The main control section 500 is mainly composed of a microcomputer and its peripheral circuits, and operates according to a program stored in the memory 501. The memory 501 is composed of a ROM and a RAM. The ROM stores an operation program and constants necessary for various processes. The RAM portion is provided with an area for rewritably storing an operation mode of the system set by a mode memory key described later. The input / output interface 502 includes an operation panel 300 of the printer 1, various detection switches 503 such as a paper detector, a motor control unit 504 for controlling a drive motor such as a photosensitive drum, and an image forming unit such as an exposure amount of an exposure lamp. An image control unit 505 for controlling a paper feed unit, a paper control unit 506 for controlling a paper feeding device, a counter 507 for counting the number of copies, a folding machine control unit 50 provided in the folding machine 3
8. Collator control unit 50 provided in collator 4
9 and so on.

The folding machine control unit 508 stores data on the folding method (for example, the number of times of zigzag folding, cross folding, etc.) corresponding to each size of the copy sheet. When the use of the folder is selected, a signal to that effect is sent to the main controller 500.
And folds the copy sheet by the above-described means based on the fold data corresponding to the copy sheet size.

The collator control unit 509 includes the main control unit 50
When a command to use the collator 4 is received from 0, the copy sheets are sorted based on the designated sorting mode. For example, storage bins 1, 2, and 3 contain 5, 6, and 7 A2 size copy sheets, and 6 A3 size copy sheets.
When the sorting mode is instructed to store 7, 8 sheets respectively, for example, when the sensor 120 of the storage bin 3 detects that the storage bin 3 is full, the sensor 120
Informs the collator control unit 509 of this fact, and the control unit 509 selects the remaining storage bins 4-10 that are not used.
It is instructed to store the remaining copy sheets to be stored in the storage bin 3 in the next empty storage bin (for example, the storage bin 4). Instead of the above, when one of the storage bins 1, 2, and 3 is full, another set of storage bins 4, 5, and 6 is set, and the remaining sheets of 1, 2, and 3 are set. May be successively stored in 4, 5, and 6.

[0026]

As described above, according to the present invention, the full state is detected by monitoring the height of the sheet panel by the fold side (forming a bulge) of the sheets stacked in each storage bin. Problems such as paper jams due to excessive pushing of sheets into the bins can be avoided, and the full state of sheets is detected by actual measurement, so that sheets can be stored without waste, that is, up to the limit of the storage capacity. .

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a sheet processing apparatus according to an example of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is an explanatory diagram showing a control system.

FIG. 3 is a front view showing a zigzag folded portion of the sheet.

FIG. 4 is a front view showing a chrome folded portion of the sheet.

FIG. 5 is a sectional view showing the inside of a collator.

FIG. 6 is a perspective view showing a folded state of a sheet.

[Explanation of symbols]

 DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Printer 3 Folding machine 4 Collator 30 Zigzag folding part 40 Cross folding part 120 Sensor

──────────────────────────────────────────────────続 き Continuing on the front page (72) Inventor Takashi Kobayashi 4-21-3 Shimomaruko, Ota-ku, Tokyo Inside the Shimomaruko Plant of Katsurakawa Electric Co., Ltd. (72) Keiichi Asakura 4-21-3 Shimomaruko, Ota-ku, Tokyo No. Katsurakawa Electric Co., Ltd. Shimomaruko Factory (56) References JP-A-60-19656 (JP, A) Japanese Translation of PCT International Publication No. 3-503999 (JP, A) (58) Fields surveyed (Int. Cl. ⁷ , DB Name) B65H 39/11 B65H 45/16

Claims (1)

(57) [Claims] And 1. A continuously discharged <br/> to printer a sheet having a copied image, the sheet from the printer Jiguza
A folding machine for folding into a predetermined size by folding grayed folding or cross, a collator to sort each bins according to the distribution pattern specified tatami Mareta sheet folding output from and the folding machine has a plurality of bins to have a
In the sheet processing apparatus, the collator is
Connected to the control unit of the
A sensor for detecting the full state of the copied copy sheet.
The sensor is mounted on the upper side of each storage bin on the sheet outlet side of the storage bin so that the fold overlaps the storage bin.
Is fixed so as to face the crease side sheets,
The sensor detects the height of the sheet in the storage bin
In response to a full signal from the sensor.
Of the next empty
Of the next storage bin
And the folding machine is
If it is not necessary to fold the sheet,
A sheet processing apparatus, wherein the sheet is stored in the storage bin .