JP3087338B2 - Copier with sorter - Google Patents

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a copying apparatus having a sorter operable in a sort mode and a non-sort mode.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, as a sorter operable in a sort mode and a non-sort mode, a sort mode priority sorter is used.
And a sorter which gives priority to the non-sort mode. Normally, a sort mode-priority sorter returns to the sort mode after a predetermined time has elapsed after the copying operation in the non-sort mode is completed. Is controlled to return to the non-sort mode when a predetermined time elapses after completion of the process.

[0003] In any of the above types of sorters, when the sort operation is being performed, the sort operation is stopped until all the set number of copy sheets are discharged to the sorter. Was banned.

[0004]

When a large number of copies are made in the non-sort mode in a copying apparatus having a sorter with a priority in the non-sort mode, the operation mode of the sorter is changed to the sort mode. , The copying operation may be executed by mistake without noticing that the operation has not returned to the non-sort mode. However, in the conventional copying apparatus, it is impossible to stop the sorting operation halfway, so that all of the copy sheets discharged from the copying apparatus are distributed and stored in bins. For this reason, the operator has to collect the copy paper distributed and processed from each bin after the copy operation is completed, and there has been a problem that the work involved in the copy becomes cumbersome.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION It is an object of the present invention to provide a copying apparatus which eliminates inconvenience caused when a copying operation in a sort mode is started by mistake, and which does not reduce the efficiency of copying work as a whole.

[0006]

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION To achieve the above object, the present invention relates to a copying apparatus having a plurality of bins and having a sorter operable in a sort mode and a non-sort mode. Command means for instructing the release of the sort mode during the copying operation; and when the release of the sort mode is instructed by the command means, the copy paper discharged from the copying apparatus after the release instruction is discharged to a specific bin. Control means for controlling the operation of the sorter so as to continue the copying operation.

[0007]

In the above arrangement, if there is a command to stop the sort operation by the command means during the copy operation in the sort mode, the control means stops the sorter operation of the sorter and the copying apparatus after the stop command is issued. The discharged copy paper is discharged to a specific bin.

[0008]

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

[Overall Configuration] FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram showing an entire copying machine to which the present invention is applied.

A photoreceptor drum 2 is supported at a substantially central portion of the copying machine main body 1 so as to be rotatable in a direction indicated by an arrow a in the figure, and an eraser lamp 3, a charger 4 and a magnetic brush type are provided around the photosensitive drum 2. A developing device 5, a transfer charger 6, a separation charger 7, a blade-type cleaning device 8, and the like are sequentially arranged. The photoreceptor drum 2 has a photoreceptor layer provided on its surface, and is uniformly charged by the charging charger 4 with rotation in the direction of the arrow a in the figure, receives image exposure from the scanning optical system 11, and An electrostatic latent image is formed. This electrostatic latent image is developed by the developing device 5.

The scanning optical system 11 is installed below a platen glass 18 and includes an exposure lamp 12, mirrors 13 to 16, and a projection lens 17. At the time of image exposure,
The exposure lamp 12 and the mirror 13 can move in the direction of arrow b at a speed of (v / m) (where m: copy magnification) with respect to the peripheral speed (v) of the photosensitive drum. It is movable in the direction of arrow b at a speed of (v / 2m).

On the left side of the copying machine main body 1, an automatic paper feed cassette 30 and a manual paper feed unit 35 having an openable / closable manual paper feed tray 36 are provided. Automatic paper cassette 3
The copy paper set in the tray 0 or the manual feed tray 36 is selectively fed into the copying machine main body 1 by the respective feed rollers 21 and 37, and is transported by the transport roller pairs 22 and 23.
The timing roller pair 40 temporarily stops. Subsequently, the copy paper is sent to the transfer section in synchronization with the toner image formed on the surface of the photosensitive drum 2 by the timing roller pair 40, and the toner image is transferred from the photosensitive drum 2 by the transfer charger 6. Is separated from the surface of the photosensitive drum 2 by the separation charger 7. Then, the copy paper is fed to a fixing device 43 via a transport belt 42, where the toner image is fused and fixed, and is discharged from a discharge roller pair 44 to a sorter 10.
It is discharged into 0. A main body discharge sensor Se <b> 1 is arranged near the discharge roller pair 44. After the transfer, the photosensitive drum 2 is cleaned of residual toner by a cleaning device 8, and the residual charge is removed by light irradiation of an eraser lamp 3, so that the photosensitive drum 2 is prepared for the next copy.

[Configuration of Automatic Document Conveying Apparatus] Copying Machine Main Body 1
Is provided with an automatic document feeder 60 at the top. The automatic document feeder 60 is a well-known automatic document feeder. The document feeder 62 stocks the documents and feeds them one by one by a paper feed roller 61. And a document transport unit 65 that stops the document at a predetermined position on the upper surface of the glass 18 and feeds the document to the discharge tray 64 after the scanning of the document is completed.

[Structure and Operation of Sorter] The sorter 100 is detachably mounted on the copy paper discharge section of the copying machine body 1. The sorter 100 has a plurality of bins 101 for sorting and storing copy paper and a pair of feed rollers 104, and a deflecting unit 103 which can move intermittently downward along the entrance side of each bin 101. And an endless transport belt 108 and a retractable tape 10 for transporting the copy paper to the deflecting unit 103.
9 and a copy path for copying paper.
Non-sort path 110 including a pair of rollers 111 and a pair of discharge rollers 112 for conveying the sheet to the tray 145.
And a pair of rollers 114 for receiving the copy sheet discharged from the copying machine body 1 and a switching claw 115 for sorting the copy sheet into the sort path 107 and the non-sort path 110. Further, the sorter 100 is provided with a bin discharge sensor Se2 for detecting a copy sheet discharged from the feed roller pair 104 to the bin 101.

The sorter 101 configured as described above
It can operate in sort mode and non-sort mode. When the operation mode of the sorter 100 is set to the non-sort mode, the copy paper discharged from the copying machine 1 is guided to the non-sort path 110 by the switching claw 115, Sort tray 14
No. 5 is sent by the set number. On the other hand, when the sorter 100 is set to the sort mode, the copy paper
At 15, the sheet is guided to the sort path 107,
8 is conveyed to the deflecting unit 103 by being sandwiched between the retractable tape 109 and the retractable tape 109. Then, the copy paper is fed to the deflecting unit 103.
Is lowered intermittently, so that the feed roller pair 10
4 to each bin 101 one by one.

[Operation Panel] FIG. 2 shows an operation panel 300 provided on the copying machine main body 1, and 71 is a print key.
Reference numeral 72 denotes a set copy number display section for displaying the set copy number;
Numerals 0 to 89 are used to set the number of copies. 9
0 is an interrupt key and 91 is a clear stop key. 92 is a paper size selection key, and 92a to 92d
Is a display section for each selected paper size.
Numerals 93 and 94 are up / down keys for setting image density. As will be described later, the set copy number display section 72 can also display the bin number.
Is also used to enter the bin number.

FIG. 3 shows an operation panel 400 for operating the sorter 100, and 440 is a mode switching key for selectively switching the operation mode of the sorter 100. Reference numeral 441 denotes a sort mode display unit for displaying that the operation mode of the sorter is set to the sort mode, and 441 denotes a non-sort mode display unit for displaying that the operation mode of the sorter 100 is set to the non-sort mode. It is. 4
Reference numeral 43 denotes a sort operation stop display section for displaying that the operation mode of the sorter has been set to the sort operation stop mode. The sort operation stop display section 443 is displayed when the mode switching key 440 is pressed during the copy operation in the sort mode, and accordingly, the sorter 100 is set to the sort operation stop mode. In the sort operation stop mode, the sorter 100 stops the sort operation, and
Is controlled to discharge the copy paper discharged from the printer to a specific bin 101.

[Control Circuit] FIG. 4 is a block diagram of the control circuit. C for controlling copying machine body 1 and sorter 100
The PU 201 includes a switch matrix 200 of various key groups arranged on the operation panel 300, and ten keys 80 to 89.
The display unit 72 for displaying the set number of copies or the bin number in accordance with the above operation, and various display light emitting diodes are connected via a decoder. Further, the CPU 201 drives various loads 204 (main motor, clutch, charger, etc.) of the copying machine, the main body discharge sensor Se1, the bin discharge sensor Se2, the mode switching key 440, and the deflecting unit 103. A sorter motor 205, a sort mode display unit 441, a non-sort mode display unit 442, and a sort operation stop display unit 443 are connected. further,
The CPU 201 has a battery-backed RAM 2
06 is connected. The RAM 206 secures a plurality of memory areas including a memory area for storing a bin number described later. Addresses A (1) to A (N) and B are assigned to a memory area for storing bin numbers.

[Control Procedure] A control procedure based on the above control circuit 200 will be described with reference to flowcharts of FIGS.

In the following description, the ON edge refers to a change in the state when the state of a switch, key, sensor, signal, or the like is switched from OFF to ON. Similarly,
The OFF edge refers to a change in the state when the state of a switch, key, sensor, signal, or the like is switched from ON to OFF.

FIG. 5 shows a main routine of the CPU 201.

When the power is turned on, first, step (S)
Initial settings are made in 1). In the initial setting, the display of the set copy number display section 72 is set to "1" or the sorter 10
The copying conditions of the copying machine body 1 and the sorter 100 are set to a standard state, such as moving the zero deflection unit 103 to a position corresponding to the bin 101 at the uppermost stage or setting a bin number to 1 described later. The processing is executed to clear the data stored in the memory area of the RAM 206. In step (S2), the internal timer is started, and the processing of the main routine is executed within the time set by the internal timer. In the key input subroutine of step (S3), input of keys on the operation panel of the copier body 1 and the sorter 100 is accepted. In the copy operation subroutine of step (S4), the copy operation of the copying machine 100 is controlled. In the sorter control subroutine of step (S5), the sorter 101
Control the operation of. Finally, in step (S6), it is determined whether or not the internal timer has expired. If the internal timer has expired, the process returns to step (S2).

FIG. 6 shows a sorter control subroutine (S5).
It is a flowchart of FIG.

In the following processing, the bin number is used to identify each bin 101 in order to distinguish each bin 101.
1 means a number assigned to the bin 101 from the top bin 101 to the bottom bin 101 in order.
-M bin number is given. Also, the bin number of the lowermost bin 101 will be referred to as the maximum bin number.
(M is equivalent to the number of bins 101 of the sorter 100.)
In step (S11), it is determined whether or not a copy operation is being performed. If not, the process proceeds to a mode switching processing subroutine in step (S12). This mode switching subroutine sets the operation mode of the sorter 100 to the sort mode.
This is a subroutine for performing a process of switching between the default mode and the non-sort mode, the details of which will be described later. Meanwhile, copy
If the operation is being performed, the process proceeds to a sorting processing subroutine of step (S13). In the sorting subroutine, the bin 101 for discharging the copy paper is set, and the mode switching key 440 is set during the copy operation in the sort mode.
Is executed, the control for stopping the sort operation of the sorter 100 is executed. In the sorting subroutine, the bin 101 for discharging the copy paper is set.
A bin number corresponding to the bin 101 is set. In the deflection unit movement processing subroutine of step (S14),
The process of moving the deflecting unit to the bin 101 corresponding to the bin number set in step (S13) is executed.

FIG. 7 is a flowchart of the mode switching processing subroutine (S12).

When the on-edge of the mode switching key 440 is detected in step (S21), step (S22)
According to (S24), when the operation mode of the sorter 100 is the sort mode, the sorter 100 is switched to the non-sort mode.
The sort mode display section 441 is turned off and the non-sort mode display section 442 is turned on. On the other hand, when the operation mode of the sorter 100 is the non-sort mode, step (S
At 22), (S25) and (S26), the mode is switched to the sort mode, the non-sort mode display section 442 is turned off, and the sort mode display section 441 is turned on. Thereby, the sorter 1
00 operates in the mode displayed on the display unit 441 or 442.

In step (S27), it is determined whether or not the sort operation stop display section 443 is turned on. If the sort operation stop display section 443 is turned on, the process proceeds to step (S27).
At 28), the sort operation stop display section 443 is turned off. In steps (S27) and (S28), if the sorter operation mode is set to the sort operation stop mode,
After the copying operation is completed, the sorting operation stop mode is released, and the sorter 100 is returned to a state where the sorting operation can be performed.

FIG. 8 is a flowchart of the sorting processing subroutine (S13). Step (S3
In 1), the operation mode of the sorter 100 is determined, and when the sort mode display section 441 is not lit, that is, in the non-sort mode, the process returns to the sorter control subroutine (S5). On the other hand, when the sort mode display section 441 is lit, that is, when in the sort mode, the process proceeds to step (S32).

In step (S32), it is determined whether or not the mode switching key 440 has been pressed during the copying operation in the sort mode. When the mode switching key 440 is pressed, that is, when the operator instructs to stop the sorting operation, the process proceeds to step (S33) and the sorting operation stop display unit 4
43 is turned on to set the operation mode of the sorter 100 to the sort operation stop mode.

In step (S34), it is determined whether or not the sorting operation stop display section 443 is lit. When the sort operation stop display section 443 is not lit, that is, when the sort operation stop mode is not set, the process proceeds to step (S35).

In steps (S35) to (S37), when the main body discharge sensor Se1 detects the leading end of the copy paper discharged from the copier main body 1 to the sorter 100 and the overflag is 0, the bin is set. Execute the process of incrementing the number. In steps (S35) to (S37),
For example, when the process of incrementing the bin number from “3” to “4” is performed, the deflecting unit 103 executes the process of the deflecting unit moving process subroutine (S14) described below from the bin 101 of the bin number “3” to the bin number “4”. Is moved to the bin 101. When the processes of steps (S35) to (S37) are performed, the process proceeds to step (S39).

The over flag is a flag which is set to "1" when the bin number exceeds the maximum bin number. When the over flag is set to “1”,
In step (S36), it is determined that the over flag is not "0", and the bin number is not incremented.

On the other hand, when the sort operation stop display section 443 is turned on in step (S34), that is, when the sort operation stop mode is set, the sort operation is stopped and the bin in step (S38) is stopped. Proceed to the designated subroutine. When the mode is set to the sort operation stop mode, the processing of the above-described steps (S35) to (S37) is not performed, and thus the bin number is not incremented. Therefore,
The deflecting unit 1 is operated by the processing of a deflecting unit moving process routine described later.
03 stops at the bin 101 of the bin number when the mode switching key 440 is pressed, and discharges the copy paper to the bin 101.

When the process proceeds to the bin designation subroutine (S38), as shown in FIG. 9, first, in a step (S51), it is determined whether or not the initial processing flag is "1". The first processing flag is a flag that is set to “1” when the mode switching key 440 is pressed first during a copying operation in the sort mode. If the initial processing flag is not 1 in step (S51), the display of the set number of copies in the set copy number display section 72 is erased and displayed as "1" in step (S52), and the initial processing flag is set in step (S53). Set to “1”. On the other hand, if the initial processing flag is "1" in step (S51), that is, if the processing is the second or later processing of this subroutine, the process proceeds to step (S54), and it is determined whether or not a numerical input using the numeric keypad is performed. . In step (S54), when there is a numerical input by a numeric keypad, that is, when the operator designates a bin number using the numeric keypad, the display of "1" displayed on the copy set number display section 72 is erased, and the numeric keypad is displayed. The number input in the step S is displayed on the copy number display section 72, and the flow advances to step (S56). Also,
If there is no numeric input by the numeric key in step (S54), the display of "1" on the display unit 72 is continued, and the process proceeds to step (S56).

In step (S56), it is determined whether or not the mode switching key 440 has been pressed during the second and subsequent processes of this subroutine. When the mode switching key-440 is pressed, the number displayed on the display section 72 is set as the bin number, and the initial processing flag is set to "0". As described above, when the number displayed on the display unit 72 is set as the bin number in step (S56), the deflection unit 103 is processed by the deflection unit movement processing subroutine described later.
Is moved to the bin 101 of the bin number, that is, the bin 101 of the bin number "1" or the bin 101 of the bin number designated by the numeric keypad, and the copy paper is discharged to the bin 101. When the process in step (S38) ends, the process proceeds to step (S39).

Next, in step (S39), it is determined whether or not the set number of copy sheets have been discharged from the copying machine body 1 to the sorter 100. When the set number of copy sheets have been discharged, the overflag is set to "0" in step (S40).
The bin number set in step (S37) or (S38) is changed to "1", and the process proceeds to the bin number storage subroutine in step (S44). On the other hand, if the set number of copy sheets has not been discharged in step (S39), the process proceeds to step (S42), and the bin number set in step (S37) or (S38) becomes the maximum bin number. It is determined whether or not it has been exceeded.
If the bin number does not exceed the maximum bin number, the process directly proceeds to step (S44) without changing the bin number. If the bin number set in step (S37) or (S38) exceeds the maximum bin number in step (S42), the over flag is set to "1" in step (S43). In (S41), the bin number is changed to “1”, and the process proceeds to step (S44). In addition,
The bin number set in step (S37), (S38) or (S41) is stored in a predetermined memory area in the RAM 206 by the bin number store subroutine in step (S44).

FIG. 10 shows a flowchart of the bin number store subroutine.

In step (S61), it is determined whether or not the copy paper has been discharged from the copying machine body 1 to the sorter. When the copy paper is discharged, steps (S62) to (S6)
In step 5), a process of storing the bin number newly set in the sorting subroutine in a predetermined memory area of the RAM 206 is performed. On the other hand, if no copy paper is discharged, the process returns to the sorter control routine.

In steps (S62) to (S64), R
The memory area in which the bin number is stored in the AM 206 is sequentially searched from A (1) to A (N), and if there is a memory area in which no data is stored, step (S6) is executed.
Proceed to 5). In step (S65), the bin number set in the sorting subroutine (S13) is stored in a memory area where no data is stored. By this processing, A (1), A (2), A (3),.
Bin numbers are stored in the order of (N) addresses.

FIG. 11 shows a flowchart of the deflection section moving processing subroutine.

In step (S71), it is determined whether the bin number stored at address A (1) and the bin number stored at address B are the same. At the address A (1), the bin number of the bin 101 to which the deflection unit should move next is stored.
At the address B, the bin number of the bin 101 where the deflection unit 103 is currently located is stored. In step (S71), if the bin number stored in the address A (1) is different from the bin number stored in the address B, the process proceeds to step (S71).
72), the deflection unit 103 is moved to the position of the bin 101 of the bin number stored at the address A (1). In step (S73), the bin number stored in the address A (1) is stored in the address B, and the bin number of the bin 101 in which the deflection unit 103 is currently located is stored in the address B.

Next, in steps (S74) and (S75), at the timing when the copy paper is discharged from the deflecting unit 103 to the bin 101, that is, when the bin discharge sensor Se2 detects the rear end of the copy paper. A (2), A (3), A
(4)... The bin numbers stored at the address A (N) are A (1), A (2), A (3),.
1) Transfer to address. Therefore, the bin number stored at the address A (N) in the above-described bin designation routine is determined by the step (S
75) is finally transferred to the address A (1),
The deflecting unit 103 performs A in step (S71).
(1) Bin 10 of the bin number sequentially transferred to the address
Moved to 1.

According to the above control contents, when the mode switching key 440 is pressed during the copy operation in the sort mode,
The sorter 100 stops the sorting operation, stops the deflecting unit 103 at the bin 101 of the bin number at the time when the mode switching key 440 is pressed, and discharges the copy paper to the bin 101. At this time, "1" is displayed on the display unit 1. If there is no numerical input of the numeric keypad, "1" is continuously displayed, and "1" is displayed only when the numeric keypad is input. The display is turned off and the entered number is displayed on the display unit 72. Then, when the mode switching key is pressed again, the displayed number is set as the bin number, the deflection unit 103 is moved to the position of the bin 101 of this bin number, and the copy paper is discharged to this bin 101.

In the above-described embodiment, when the sort operation is stopped, the copy paper is controlled to be discharged to the specific bin 101. At this time, the switching claw 115 is switched to allow the copy paper to pass through the non-sort path. Control may be performed so that the sheet is discharged from the non-sort tray 145 to the non-sort tray 145.

In the above embodiment, the process of storing the bin number in a predetermined memory area of the RAM 206 is performed.
The bin discharge sensor Se2 executes the process at the timing of detecting a copy sheet. However, a paper feed sensor is provided near the paper feed rollers 21 and 37, or a paper feed sensor is provided near the timing roller 40. Alternatively, the storing process may be executed at a timing when the sheet passing sensor detects a copy sheet.

Further, in the above embodiment, in a copying machine having a sorter in which the deflecting unit moves intermittently along each bin, the sorting operation is arbitrarily stopped during the copying operation in the sort mode. However, in the present invention, the bottle itself
Sorter that moves with respect to the
The present invention can be applied to a copying machine having a sorter in which copy paper is discharged to each bin by a switching claw provided in each bin, and can be applied to all copying machines having a sorter. Can be.

Further, in the above-described embodiment, an example in which the present invention is applied to a copying machine has been described, but a printer, a facsimile,
The present invention is also applicable to a copying apparatus such as a reader printer.

[0048]

As is apparent from the above description, according to the copying apparatus of the present invention, during copying operation in the sort mode, software
The sorter operation is controlled so that the copy paper discharged from the copying apparatus is discharged to a specific bin when a command to stop the sort operation of the sorter is issued. Even if the copying operation is started in the sort mode by mistake, the sorting operation can be stopped halfway and the set number of copy sheets can be prevented from being distributed to the bins. Therefore, the operation of collecting the copy paper from each bin after the end of the copying operation as in the related art is omitted, and it is possible to prevent a reduction in the efficiency of the copying operation as a whole.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is an overall configuration diagram of a copying machine including a sorter, which is an embodiment of a copying apparatus according to the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a plan view of an operation panel of the copying machine.

FIG. 3 is a plan view of an operation panel of the sorter.

FIG. 4 is a block diagram of a control circuit of the copying machine.

FIG. 5 is a flowchart of a main routine.

FIG. 6 is a flowchart of a sorter control subroutine.

FIG. 7 is a flowchart of a mode switching processing subroutine.

FIG. 8 is a flowchart of a sorting processing subroutine.

FIG. 9 is a flowchart of a bin designation subroutine.

FIG. 10 is a flowchart of a bin number store subroutine.

FIG. 11 is a flowchart of a deflection unit movement processing subroutine.

[Explanation of symbols]

 1 ··· Copy machine body 1 100 ··· Sorter 101 ··· Bin 103 ··· Deflection unit 440 ··· Mode switching key 441 ··· Sort mode display unit 442 ... Non-sort mode display section 443 ...- Sort operation stop display section

Claims (1)

(57) [Claims] 1. A copying apparatus having a sorter having a plurality of bins and operable in a sort mode and a non-sort mode, wherein command means for instructing release of the sort mode during a copy operation in the sort mode. When the canceling of the sort mode is instructed by the instructing means, the operation of the sorter is controlled so as to discharge the copy paper discharged from the copying apparatus to a specific bin after the release is instructed, and the copying operation is continued. And a control means.