JP4771405B2 - Collating device - Google Patents

Description

  According to the present invention, a plurality of paper feeding units are arranged along a collation conveyance path, and sheets fed one by one from each paper feeding unit are overlapped on the collation conveyance path to form a set of paper bundles. Related to the combined device.

  A bundle of sheets is stacked on a plurality of sheet feeding units arranged along the collating conveyance path, and one set of sheet bundles is formed by stacking on the collating conveyance path while taking out one sheet from each sheet feeding unit. Collating devices are widely used in the bookbinding process and the creation of newspaper bundles.

  FIG. 6 is a schematic view showing a collation apparatus 101 for newspaper advertisement as a background art as an example of such a collation apparatus.

  As shown in FIG. 6, this background art collating apparatus 101 is arranged in parallel in the vertical direction on the left side of the casing 2, and the paper feeding units 3 a to 3 j are aligned in the vertical direction on the right side of the casing 2. The sheet feeding units 3k to 3t are provided, and a bundle of sheets (advertisements) is stacked on each sheet feeding unit 3.

  FIG. 7 is a schematic diagram illustrating a state in which the sheets P are stacked on the sheet feeding unit 3 of the background art collating apparatus 101. The paper feed unit 3 has a fixed paper feed plate 4, a paper feed roller 5 that presses against the top surface of the topmost paper P, a paper plate 6 that presses against the paper feed roller 5 from below, and a top paper. An auxiliary paper feed roller 7 is provided for allowing the leading end of P to enter between the paper feed roller 5 and the baffle plate 6, and the uppermost sheet is driven by rotation of the paper feed roller 5 and the auxiliary paper feed roller 7. The paper P is advanced in the feeding direction (arrow A direction). At this time, the uppermost sheet P is separated from the second and subsequent sheets P by the effect of the friction coefficient between the sheet feeding roller 5 and the sheet P, between the sheet P and the paper plate 6 and between the sheets P. Only the uppermost sheet passes through between the sheet feeding roller 5 and the plate 6 and advances in the feeding direction. The leading edge of the fed paper P is sandwiched between the pair of horizontal transport rollers 8, guided to the guide plate 9, is sandwiched between the pair of vertical transport rollers 10, and is transported in the direction of arrow B. The paper feed unit 3 is provided with a sensor S1 that is a paper presence / absence detecting means for detecting whether or not the paper P is stacked.

  As shown in FIG. 6, the vertical conveying roller pair 10 provided corresponding to each of the paper feeding units 3 arranged in parallel and a plurality of guide plates collate and convey vertically in the center of the casing 2 in the figure. A path 11 is formed. The paper P supplied from each paper feed unit 3 is overlapped in the collation conveyance path 11 so that the leading ends thereof are aligned, and conveyed downward while forming a collation bundle.

A folding sheet feeding unit 12 is provided further below the lowermost sheet feeding unit 3 a on the left side of the drawing, and like the sheet feeding unit 3, a sheet feeding roller, a baffle plate, and the like are provided. A bundle of sheets P1 is stacked on the folded sheet feeding unit 12, and only the uppermost sheet P1 of the bundle is fed in the right direction in the drawing. Then, the advertisement P1 enters the folding plate 13, the tip of which abuts against the stopper 14 and temporarily stops, and the bundle of sheets P stacked in the collating conveyance path 11 is moved upward in the center of the upper surface of the sheet P1. Abut. At this time, the flap 16 provided with the knife 15 is moved from the standby position to the folding position, and the leading end of the knife 15 is brought into contact with the paper P1, whereby the contacted portion is held by the pair of folding rollers 17, A crease is made on the paper P1. At this time, the paper P transported from the collating transport path 11 is sandwiched inside the fold of the paper P1. The sheet bundle that has passed through the pair of folding rollers 17 is conveyed leftward in the drawing along a sheet discharge conveyance path 18, discharged from the discharge outlet 19 to the outside of the apparatus, and stacked on the stacker 20.

  In this way, the sheet P1 fed from the folding sheet feeding unit 12 is folded in half, and a collation bundle in which a bundle of sheets P fed from each sheet feeding unit 3 is inserted inside the fold is formed. It is formed (for example, see Patent Document 1). When the collating device is started, a CPU (not shown) generates a paper feed start signal at regular time intervals and transmits it to each paper feed unit 3 and folding paper feed unit 12. Each sheet feeding unit 3 and folding sheet feeding unit 12 starts driving the sheet feeding roller 5 at a timing delayed by a time corresponding to the respective position after receiving this sheet feeding start signal, and feeds the sheet P. . The drive start timing is set so that the leading edges of the sheets P are aligned when the sheets P overlap on the collating transport path 11.

  In such a collating apparatus 101, a continuous paper feed unit set designating unit that collectively sets a plurality of paper feed units adjacent to each other among a plurality of paper feed units 3 arranged in parallel is used as a continuous paper feed unit set F101. There is something to have. A plurality of adjacent paper feed units 3, for example, a total of three paper feed units 3r, 3s, and 3t are collectively designated as the continuous paper feed unit group F101 by the continuous paper feed unit set designating unit. When the combined apparatus is started, one of the paper feeding units 3r, 3s, and 3t on which paper is stacked becomes an active paper feeding unit, and the other two become non-operating paper feeding units. The continuous paper feed unit control means controls so that the paper P is not fed from the paper feed unit. In addition, when the continuous paper feeding unit control means detects that no paper is detected in the active paper feeding unit, the active paper feeding unit is set as a non-working paper feeding unit, and one of the remaining two paper feeding units is The non-working paper feeding unit is changed to the working paper feeding unit, and thereafter, control is performed so that the paper P is fed from the changed working paper feeding unit.

  When the collating apparatus is started, the upstream side of the continuous sheet feeding unit group F101 in the collating transport direction (the collating transport direction is the direction in which the paper flows through the collating transport path 11. The paper is the collating transport path. 11 flows from the upper side to the lower side, so that the upper side is the upstream side in the collating conveyance direction (hereinafter simply referred to as “upstream side”). 3s and 3t are non-operating sheet feeding units. Then, the sheet P is not fed from the sheet feeding units 3s and 3t, and the 3r that is the active sheet feeding unit and the other sheet feeding units 3 (non-continuous sheet feeding units) that do not belong to the continuous sheet feeding unit F101. Paper P is fed and collation is performed. When the sheet P runs out in the active sheet feeding unit 3r and the absence of the sheet is detected by the sensor S1 of the sheet feeding unit 3r, the sheet feeding unit 3r is changed from the active sheet feeding unit to the non-working sheet feeding unit. The downstream side of the paper portion 3r in the collating conveyance direction (the sheet flows from the upper side to the lower side of the collating conveyance path 11, so that the lower side is the downstream side in the collating conveyance direction. Hereinafter, simply referred to as “downstream side”) ) Adjacent to the non-operating paper feeding unit is changed from the non-operating paper feeding unit to the active paper feeding unit. Thereafter, the active paper feeding unit 3s and the other paper feeding units 3 (not belonging to the continuous paper feeding unit F101). The sheet P is fed in the non-continuous sheet feeding unit), and the sheet feeding units 3r and 3t do not operate, so the sheet P is not fed. When the paper in the paper feeding unit 3s runs out, the paper feeding unit 3t becomes the active paper feeding unit. When the paper in the paper feeding unit 3t runs out, the paper feeding unit 3r becomes the active paper feeding unit.

The same type of paper is loaded on the paper feed units belonging to this continuous paper feed unit group. When there is no more paper in the active paper feed unit, another paper feed unit on which the same type of paper is automatically stacked is loaded. Since it becomes an active paper feed unit, if paper is replenished to the non-working paper feed unit while paper is being fed from the active paper feed unit, processing can be continued without stopping the collator. There is an advantage, and it is particularly convenient when handling a sheet or the like in which the reduction of the bundle in the sheet feeding unit is faster than the others because it is relatively thick.
JP 2002-3075 A

  In the collating apparatus of this background art, feeding is started first from the upstream sheet feeding unit, and feeding of the downstream sheet feeding unit is sequentially started, so that When the sheets P fed from the sheet feeding shelf 3 are overlapped, the leading ends are aligned. In order to create a large number of these collated bundles in a short time, while the feeding of the paper forming the collated bundle for one set is still in progress in the downstream paper feed shelf, the paper bundle for the next set In some cases, the time interval of the paper feed start signal is set so that the feeding of the paper forming the paper starts from the upstream paper feed unit. That is, collation proceeds simultaneously at a plurality of locations in the collation transport path 11.

  In such a collating apparatus, the active paper feeding unit detects no paper, and one of the non-working paper feeding units belonging to the continuous paper feeding unit group including the active paper feeding unit is changed to the active paper feeding unit. In addition, when the paper feed unit in which no paper is detected is changed to the non-working paper feed unit, depending on the position of the active paper feed unit before and after the change and the time interval of the paper feed start signal The first collating bundle including the last sheet fed in the active sheet feeding unit, and the first collating bundle in the working sheet feeding unit after the change for the collating bundle to be collated next Sometimes it was not in time. That is, the sheets stacked on the continuous sheet feeding unit group are stacked with a delay, or a collation bundle not including the sheets stacked on the continuous sheet feeding unit set is generated. In such a case, there is a problem that the apparatus must be stopped due to an error as a missing page.

  This problem occurs, for example, when the active sheet feeding unit sequentially moves from the sheet feeding unit 3r to the neighboring sheet feeding units 3s and 3t and then returns to the uppermost sheet feeding unit 3r. FIG. 8 is a schematic diagram showing the continuous sheet feeding unit set F101. As shown in FIG. 8, first, the last sheet Pt is fed by the active sheet feeding unit 3t before the change, and a first collation bundle C1 including the sheet Pt is formed in the collation transport path 11. Is done.

  When the trailing edge of the sheet Pt passes the sensor S1t, the lever of the sensor S1t that has been pushed down by the sheet Pt is raised, thereby detecting the absence of the sheet in the sheet feeding unit 3t. Thereafter, the active paper feeding unit is changed from the paper feeding unit 3t to the paper feeding unit 3r, so that the first sheet Pr is fed from the paper feeding unit 3r.

  However, even if the feeding of the first sheet Pr from the paper feed unit 3r is started immediately after the sensor S1t detects the absence of the paper in the paper feed unit 3t, the second collation after the first collating bundle C1 is started. Since the leading end of the combined second collation bundle C2 has already reached the vicinity of the junction between the conveyance path from the paper feed unit 3r and the collation conveyance path 11, the sheet Pr is in the second collation bundle C2. Therefore, only the paper Pr protrudes in the collating bundle C2 with a considerable delay, and therefore, a jam or other trouble occurs when the collating bundle C2 is discharged, or the bundle stacked on the stacker 20 Sometimes collapsed. In addition, the delay increases as the operating paper feeding unit before and after the change are separated from each other, and the paper Pr may be completely removed from the second collating bundle C2.

  Therefore, when the paper feed unit 3t detects that no paper is detected, even if the paper feed is started in the changed active paper feed unit, the leading edge is aligned with the next collating bundle and the timing is not enough. In this case, since the collating apparatus is stopped as a missing page error without feeding from the paper feeding unit 3r, the collating apparatus has already lost the time and collation has already started when the error occurs. Since a bundle of C2 is formed in a state where the paper Pr has been removed, this has to be repaired manually, leading to an increase in the time required for the entire collating operation and an increase in the burden on the operator. .

  In the collation apparatus of the background art, at the start of the collating operation, among the paper feeding units belonging to the continuous paper feeding unit group, the paper feeding unit located on the most upstream side is set as the active paper feeding unit. When there are no more sheets, the active sheet feeder sequentially moves to the downstream side. If the active paper feed unit is the paper feed unit located on the most downstream side of the continuous paper feed unit group, and the active paper feed unit is out of paper, the upstream side of the continuous paper feed unit group The sheet feeding unit located on the side becomes the active sheet feeding unit. In other words, a phenomenon occurs in which the active sheet feeding unit is changed from the most downstream sheet feeding unit to the most upstream sheet feeding unit in the continuous sheet feeding unit group, so that the sheet feeding units are separated from each other. In such a case, a missing page error as described above has occurred.

  The present invention has been made in view of such problems, and even when a continuous sheet feeding unit set is specified in the collating apparatus, an error stop due to a missing page does not occur, and a paper missing or An object of the present invention is to provide a collating apparatus that does not cause a delay.

  In order to solve the above problems, the collating apparatus of the present invention has the following configuration.

In the first configuration, a plurality of sheet feeding units that take out sheets one by one from a stack of stacked sheets are arranged side by side, and collated conveyance is performed along the plurality of sheet feeding units to convey the sheets taken out from the sheet feeding unit. A collating apparatus that has a section and superimposes sheets taken out from a paper feeding section while being conveyed by the collating conveyance section.
(A) A sheet presence / absence detection unit that is provided in each of the plurality of sheet feeding units and detects whether or not sheets are stacked on the sheet feeding unit.
(B) By specifying at least one continuous sheet feeding unit group that forms a part of the plurality of sheet feeding units and includes two or more adjacent sheet feeding units, The continuous paper feeding unit group designation means for classifying the paper feeding units into a continuous paper feeding unit belonging to the continuous paper feeding unit group and a non-continuous paper feeding unit not belonging to the continuous paper feeding unit group.
(C) The continuous paper feeder is divided into one active paper feeder and other non-operating paper feeders for each continuous paper feeder group;
When the paper presence / absence detecting means detects that the active paper feed unit is out of paper during the collating operation, the paper feed unit belonging to the same continuous paper feed unit set as the paper feed unit where the paper out is detected is detected. Among them, the paper feeding unit adjacent to the paper feeding unit in which no paper is detected is changed from a non-operating paper feeding unit to an active paper feeding unit, and the paper feeding unit in which the paper is detected is changed from the active paper feeding unit. Continuous feed unit control means for controlling to change to a non-operating feed unit.
(D) The paper take-out operation during the collating operation is performed in the non-continuous paper feed unit and the active paper feed unit, and the non-working paper feed unit is controlled so as not to perform the paper take-out operation. Control means.

The second configuration includes transition state switching means for switching whether the continuous sheet feeder control unit in the first configuration switches the continuous sheet feeder to the downstream transition state or the upstream transition state. In the collating apparatus, when the presence / absence of paper in the active paper feeding unit is detected by the paper presence / absence detecting means during the collating operation, the following (1) or (2) is controlled. is there.
(1) When a continuous paper feed unit set including an active paper feed unit in which no paper is detected is in the downstream transition state, the paper feed unit in which no paper is detected is located downstream in the collating transport direction. The adjacent paper feed unit is changed from the non-working paper feed unit to the active paper feed unit, and the paper feed unit in which the absence of paper is detected is changed from the active paper feed unit to the non-working paper feed unit. When the active sheet feeding unit is the most downstream sheet feeding unit in the continuous sheet feeding unit set including the changed active sheet feeding unit, the transition state switching unit Switch from the side transition state to the upstream transition state.
(2) When the continuous paper feed unit set including the active paper feed unit in which the absence of paper is detected is in the upstream transition state, the upstream side in the collating transport direction of the paper feed unit in which the absence of paper is detected The adjacent paper feed unit is changed from the non-working paper feed unit to the active paper feed unit, and the paper feed unit in which the absence of paper is detected is changed from the active paper feed unit to the non-working paper feed unit. When the active sheet feeding unit is the most upstream sheet feeding unit in the continuous sheet feeding unit set including the changed active sheet feeding unit, the transition state switching means Switch from the side transition state to the downstream transition state.

In the third configuration, a plurality of sheet feeding units that take out sheets one by one from a stack of stacked sheets are arranged side by side, and collated conveyance is performed along the plurality of sheet feeding units to convey the sheets taken out from the sheet feeding unit. A collating apparatus that has a section and superimposes sheets taken out from a paper feeding section while being conveyed by the collating conveyance section.
(A) A sheet presence / absence detection unit that is provided in each of the plurality of sheet feeding units and detects whether or not sheets are stacked on the sheet feeding unit.
(B) By specifying at least one continuous sheet feeding unit group that forms a part of the plurality of sheet feeding units and includes two or more adjacent sheet feeding units, The continuous paper feeding unit group designation means for classifying the paper feeding units into a continuous paper feeding unit belonging to the continuous paper feeding unit group and a non-continuous paper feeding unit not belonging to the continuous paper feeding unit group.
(C ') The continuous paper feeder is divided into one active paper feeder and other non-operating paper feeders for each continuous paper feeder group,
When the paper presence / absence detecting means detects that the active paper feed unit is out of paper during the collating operation, the paper feed unit belonging to the same continuous paper feed unit set as the paper feed unit where the paper out is detected is detected. Of these, the paper feed unit disposed downstream in the collating transport direction with respect to the paper feed unit in which the absence of paper is detected, or the upstream in the collating transport direction with respect to the paper feed unit in which the absence of paper is detected The sheet feeding unit disposed adjacent to the sheet feeding unit is changed from the non-working sheet feeding unit to the working sheet feeding unit, and the sheet feeding unit in which the absence of paper is detected is changed from the working sheet feeding unit to the non-working sheet feeding unit. Continuous feed unit control means for controlling as described above.
(D) The paper take-out operation during the collating operation is performed in the non-continuous paper feed unit and the active paper feed unit, and the non-working paper feed unit is controlled so as not to perform the paper take-out operation. Control means.

In the fourth configuration, when the continuous paper feeding unit control unit in the third configuration detects that the paper feeding unit is out of paper during the collating operation, the following (3) or ( 4) A collation apparatus characterized by performing any one of the controls.
(3) The operating sheet feeding unit in which the absence of the sheet is detected is not the sheet feeding unit located on the most upstream side in the collating conveyance direction in the continuous sheet feeding unit set including the working sheet feeding unit, and the If paper is stacked on the upstream side of the collating conveyance direction upstream of the active paper feeding unit where no paper is detected, the paper feeding unit adjacent to the upstream side of the collating conveyance direction is not operated. In addition to changing from the paper unit to the active paper supply unit, the paper supply unit in which the absence of paper is detected is changed from the active paper supply unit to the non-operational paper supply unit.
(4) If the condition does not correspond to (3), the same stage as the active sheet feeding unit that is downstream in the collating transport direction with respect to the sheet feeding unit in which the absence of the sheet is detected. Change one of the paper feed units belonging to the paper feed unit group from the non-working paper feed unit to the active paper feed unit, and change the paper feed unit detected to be out of paper from the active paper feed unit to the non-working paper feed unit. Change to paper.

In the fifth configuration, in addition to the first to fourth configurations, a sheet feed start signal generating unit that generates a sheet feed start signal at regular time intervals and the sheet feed start provided in each sheet feeding unit. A paper feed start control means for receiving a signal and starting a paper take-out operation at a timing delayed from the paper feed start signal by a time corresponding to the position of the paper feed unit;
The absence of paper in the active paper feed unit is detected, and the paper feed unit adjacent to the upstream side in the collating transport direction of the active paper feed unit is changed from the non-working paper feed unit to the active paper feed unit, and the absence of paper is detected. When the activated paper feeder is changed to a non-working paper feeder,
In the collation bundle that includes the last sheet that was picked up by the active sheet feeding unit before the change, the first sheet that was picked up by the working sheet feeding unit after the change is included in the collation bundle to be collated next. The collating apparatus is characterized in that the time interval is set so as to be included.

A sixth configuration is a collation apparatus characterized in that the time interval in the fifth configuration is calculated by the following formula 1.
T0 = T1 + T2 + T3 + α
T0: Time interval T1: Time it takes for the trailing edge of the paper to pass through the paper presence / absence detection sensor after the leading edge of the paper taken out from the paper feeding unit joins the collating conveyance path T2: Start of feeding roller rotation T3: It takes for the leading edge of the taken-out paper to join the collating conveyance path. T3: It takes for the collating bundle to move the distance corresponding to the arrangement pitch of each paper feed unit in the collating conveying path. Time α: Time to spare

  The background error is that when the paper in the active paper feed unit runs out and the active paper feed unit is changed, the new active paper feed unit is located upstream of the previous active paper feed unit, In addition, this may occur when the paper feed unit before the change is separated from the paper feed unit after the change. In order to prevent this missing page, it is necessary that the changed working sheet feeding unit does not become a sheet feeding unit that is separated upstream from the working sheet feeding unit before the change.

  According to the first configuration of the present invention, when there is no more paper in the active paper feed unit and the active paper feed unit is changed, the paper feed unit adjacent to the pre-change active paper feed unit is the changed active paper feed unit. It becomes. Accordingly, since the changed working sheet feeding unit is adjacent to the working sheet feeding unit before the change, it is possible to eliminate the occurrence of missing pages.

  Further, the second configuration of the present invention is in the downstream transition state when the most upstream sheet feeding unit of the continuous sheet feeding unit set becomes the working sheet feeding unit, and thereafter the working sheet feeding unit. Each time there is no more paper, the active paper feed unit sequentially moves to the paper feed unit adjacent to the downstream side. When the most downstream sheet feeding unit in the continuous sheet feeding unit group becomes the active sheet feeding unit, the upstream sheet is shifted to the upstream side. The units sequentially move to a paper feeding unit adjacent to the upstream side. Therefore, since the changed working sheet feeding unit is always adjacent to the previous working sheet feeding unit, the occurrence of missing pages can be eliminated.

  According to the third configuration of the present invention, when the active paper feeding unit runs out of paper and changes the active paper feeding unit, a new paper feeding unit upstream of the active paper feeding unit that has run out of paper is newly supplied. In the case of a paper section, the paper feeding section adjacent to the operating paper feeding section before the change becomes the working paper feeding section after the change. Therefore, since the changed operating sheet feeding unit is adjacent to the upstream side of the operating sheet feeding unit before the change, the occurrence of missing pages can be eliminated.

  Furthermore, in the fourth configuration of the present invention, when there is no more paper in the active paper feed unit, it is first determined whether or not the paper feed unit adjacent to the upstream side can be changed to the active paper feed unit. If there is not, the downstream paper feed unit is changed to the active paper feed unit. According to this configuration, since the sheet feeding unit adjacent to the upstream side of the working sheet feeding unit that has run out of paper or the sheet feeding unit on the downstream side becomes the new working sheet feeding unit, the occurrence of missing pages can be eliminated. it can.

  Further, according to the fifth configuration of the present invention, the operation after the change is performed on the collation bundle including the last one taken out in the operation paper feeding unit before the change, and the collation bundle to be collated next. Since the time interval of the paper take-out operation of each paper feed unit is set so that the first sheet in the paper feed unit is included, the paper feed unit that has newly become the active paper feed unit has no paper. Even on the upstream side of the detected paper feed unit, if the paper feed unit is adjacent to the paper feed unit where no paper is detected, the occurrence of a missing page can be reliably prevented.

  Further, it is desirable that the time interval of the sheet take-out operation of the collating apparatus is as short as possible and the processing speed becomes faster as the interval between the collating bundles is shortened, but T1 + T2 + T3 in Equation 1 described in the sixth configuration is Since the time until the trailing end passes after the leading end of the collating bundle passes through the collating conveyance path does not need to be so long. Therefore, according to the sixth configuration of the present invention, missing pages can be reliably prevented without slowing the processing speed.

  In the present invention, it is possible to prevent a missing page when the sheet in the active sheet feeding unit runs out and the active sheet feeding unit moves to another sheet feeding unit.

  The best mode for carrying out the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings. In addition, the same code | symbol is used for the member and structure which has the same shape and function as background art, and the detailed description is abbreviate | omitted.

  First, a first embodiment of the present invention will be described. FIG. 1 is a schematic front view showing a collating apparatus 1 according to a first embodiment of the present invention. As shown in FIG. 1, the collating apparatus 1 of the present invention is provided with sheet feeding units 3 a to 3 j and sheet feeding units 3 k to 1 t arranged in parallel in the vertical direction on the left and right sides of the casing 2, respectively. A bundle of sheets P is stacked on the sheet feeding unit 3. The configuration of each paper feed unit 3 is the same as that of the background art paper feed unit (see FIG. 7).

  That is, as shown in FIG. 7, the paper feed unit 3 has a fixed paper feed plate 4, a paper feed roller 5 that presses the top surface of the uppermost paper P, and a paper bag that presses the paper feed roller 5 from below. A plate 6 and an auxiliary paper feed roller 7 for allowing the leading edge of the uppermost paper P to enter between the paper feed roller 5 and the suction plate 6 are provided. When the paper feeding roller 5 and the auxiliary paper feeding roller 7 are driven and rotated, the uppermost paper P is separated from the second and lower papers P and advances in the feeding direction (arrow A direction), and the horizontal conveying roller. It is sandwiched between the pair 8, guided to the guide plate 9, sandwiched between the pair of vertical transport rollers 10, and transported in the arrow B direction.

  The paper feed rollers 5 are controlled by motors M (see FIG. 2) that can be independently controlled. Each sheet feeding unit is provided with a sheet presence / absence detection sensor S1. If a bundle of sheets P is stacked, the arm portion S1a of the sensor S1 is pushed down by the sheet P to detect the presence of sheets. When the paper P is exhausted, the arm portion S1a of the arm portion S1 protrudes upward from the paper stacking surface through an appropriate opening provided on the paper stacking surface by appropriate biasing means, and in this state, it is recognized that there is no paper. It has become.

  As shown in FIG. 1, a collating conveyance path 11 is formed in the vertical direction in the center of the figure, and the paper P supplied from each paper feeding unit 3 is overlapped in this collating conveyance path 11 and collated. Form a bundle. A folding roller pair 17, a flap 16 having a knife 15, and a paper discharge conveyance path 18 are provided below the collating conveyance path 11. A paper discharge port 19 and a stacker 20 are provided below the folding plate 13 and the folded paper feeding unit 12. The configuration and function of each member are the same as those of the collation apparatus 101 of the background art.

  FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing the control of the collating apparatus 1 of the present invention. In FIG. 2, the paper feeding units 3p, 3q, 3r, 3s, and 3t shown in FIG. 1 are extracted from the paper feeding units in order to avoid complicated description. In actuality, it is assumed that the same control is performed for all the sheet feeding units.

  In the collating apparatus 1 according to the present invention, a continuous paper feed unit set designating unit that sets a plurality of paper feed units adjacent to each other among the plurality of paper feed units 3 arranged in parallel to form a continuous paper feed unit set F is provided. Have. Assume that a plurality of adjacent paper feeding units 3, for example, a total of three paper feeding units 3r, 3s, and 3t are collectively designated as the continuous paper feeding unit group F1 by the continuous paper feeding unit group designation means. Each of the paper feed units 3 includes a continuous paper feed unit (3r, 3s, 3t) belonging to the continuous paper feed unit set F1, and a non-continuous paper feed unit (3a) not belonging to the continuous paper feed unit set F1. 3b... 3p, 3q).

  As shown in FIG. 2, the continuous paper feed unit set designating means is provided with a switch 22 (22a, 22b... 22p, 22q, 22r, 22s, 22t) for each paper feed unit 3. Can be switched between “ream” and “single”, and the paper feed unit 3 whose switch 22 is “ream” and the paper feed unit 3 adjacent to the upstream side of the paper feed unit 3 are continuously fed. Become a group. When the “continuous” sheet feeding units are continuously arranged in a plurality of stages, the plurality of successive stages and the sheet feeding unit adjacent to the upstream side of the plurality of stages form a continuous sheet feeding unit set.

  For example, if the switch 22s of the paper feed unit 3s and the switch 22t of the paper feed unit 3t in FIG. 2 are “ream”, in addition to the paper feed units 3s and 3t, the paper feed unit 3r on the upstream side is connected. The three sheet feeding units including the designated sheet feeding unit set F1 are designated. The continuous paper feed unit set specifying means is provided as described above as an example. However, the configuration is not limited to this configuration. For example, the continuous paper feed unit set is configured only by the paper feed units whose switches are set to “ream”. Alternatively, an arbitrary paper feed unit may be selected on the operation panel to designate a continuous paper feed unit set.

  When a continuous paper feed unit group is designated by the continuous paper feed unit group specifying means, information indicating which paper feed unit is a continuous paper feed unit group is provided in the continuous feed provided in the CPU 21. It is sent to the paper section control means 23. Then, the continuous paper feed unit control means 23 sets the most upstream paper feed unit among the paper feed units belonging to each continuous paper feed unit group as the active paper feed unit and the other paper feed units as the non-operating paper feed unit. Part. Further, information about whether the paper feeding unit is an active paper feeding unit or a non-working paper feeding unit is transmitted from the continuous paper feeding unit control means 23 to each continuous paper feeding unit. The data is stored in the storage unit 24 provided in the paper supply unit.

  For example, when the continuous feed unit set F1 is designated, information that the paper feed units 3r, 3s, and 3t are designated as the continuous feed unit set F1 among the respective paper feed units is the continuous feed. Sent to the section control means 23. Of these, the most upstream sheet feeding unit 3r is an active sheet feeding unit, and the other sheet feeding units 3s and 3t are non-working sheet feeding units. Then, information indicating that the sheet feeding unit 3r is an active sheet feeding unit is sent from the continuous sheet feeding unit control means 23 to the sheet feeding unit 3r and stored in the storage unit 24r of the sheet feeding unit 3r, and the sheet feeding unit 3s. 3t, information indicating that the sheet feeding units 3s and 3t are non-operating sheet feeding units is sent and stored in the storage units 24s and 24t of the sheet feeding units 3s and 3t.

  Further, the continuous paper feed unit control means 23 changes the active paper feed unit to the non-working paper feed unit when the paper feed from the active paper feed unit proceeds and the paper presence / absence detection unit detects no paper. A sheet feed adjacent to the sheet feed unit that is one of the other non-working sheet feed units belonging to the continuous sheet feed unit set including the sheet feed unit that is detected to be out of paper. The paper is fed from the new active paper feed unit. This change is performed by rewriting the storage contents of the storage unit 24 of the paper feed unit to be changed by a signal from the continuous paper feed unit control means 23.

  Further, the continuous sheet feeding unit control means 23 has a transition state flag X. By setting this transition state flag X = 1, the downstream state is set, and by setting the transition state flag X = 0, the upstream side transition state. And a transition state switching means 23a. In the downstream side transition state, when the active paper feeding unit detects no paper, the paper feeding unit adjacent to the downstream side of the paper feeding unit where the paper is detected becomes the active paper feeding unit. In the upstream transition state, when the active paper feeding unit detects no paper, the paper feeding unit adjacent to the upstream side of the paper feeding unit in which this paper is detected becomes the active paper feeding unit. This transition state flag X is set to the downstream transition state when the most upstream sheet feeding unit of the continuous sheet feeding unit set becomes the active sheet feeding unit, and the most downstream of the continuous sheet feeding unit set. When the sheet feeding unit located on the side becomes the active sheet feeding unit, the state is switched to the state after the upstream side.

  Further, the CPU 21 is provided with a paper feed start signal generating means 27, which generates a paper feed start signal at regular intervals and sends it to each paper feed unit 3. Each paper feed unit 3 is provided with paper feed control means 25 (25a, 25b... 25p, 25q, 25r, 25s, 25t). The paper feed control means 25 is provided with a paper feed start control means 26, and starts driving the motor M at a timing delayed by a time corresponding to the position of each paper feed unit 3 from the paper feed start signal. In the combined conveyance path 11, the sheets are stacked with their leading edges aligned. Further, the paper feed control means 25 refers to the contents of the storage unit 24 to control the motor M not to be driven when it is a non-working paper feed unit.

  Next, the operation of the first embodiment of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to FIGS. FIG. 3 is a flowchart showing the operation of the first embodiment of the present invention by paying attention to one paper feeding unit among the plurality of paper feeding units 3 of the collating apparatus. Here, the focused paper feeding unit will be described as a paper feeding unit Y1. The paper feeding unit Y1 may be any paper feeding unit among the paper feeding units 3a to 3t.

  When the collating apparatus is started, it is first determined whether or not the sheet feeding unit Y1 is a non-operating sheet feeding unit (S101). If it is not a non-operating sheet feeding unit, the sheet feeding start control unit 26 of the sheet feeding unit Y1 responds to the sheet feeding start signal sent to each sheet feeding unit by the sheet feeding start signal generating unit 27 provided in the CPU 21. Thus, the motor M starts to be driven at a timing delayed from the paper feed start signal by a time corresponding to the arrangement position of the paper feed unit Y1 in the collating device (S102), and 1 is started from the sheet bundle loaded on the paper feed unit Y1. Remove the sheet and feed it. If the sheet feeding control unit of the sheet feeding unit Y1 refers to the contents of the storage unit 24 of the sheet feeding unit Y1, if the sheet feeding unit Y1 is a non-operating sheet feeding unit, the motor M is not driven, so the sheet is fed. Not sent.

  Next, it is determined by the paper presence / absence detection sensor S1 of the paper feed unit Y1 whether or not there is no paper from the paper feed unit Y1 (S103). If there is no sheet, the process returns to step S101 and proceeds to the next sheet feeding operation. If there is no sheet, it is next determined whether or not the sheet feeding unit Y1 belongs to the continuous sheet feeding unit group (S104). This determination is made by referring to the detection status of the sheet presence / absence detection sensor S1 and the setting information of the continuous paper feed unit. Here, if the sheet feeding unit Y1 does not belong to the continuous sheet feeding unit group, a collation stop signal is generated to stop the collation apparatus as being out of paper. When this collation stop signal is generated, the paper feeding operation in progress from the upstream side toward the downstream side at that time is performed to the lowest level, and the collating apparatus stops without performing the next paper feeding. If it is determined in S104 that the sheet feeding unit Y1 belongs to the continuous sheet feeding unit group, the sheet feeding unit Y1 is changed from the active sheet feeding unit to the non-working sheet feeding unit (S105), and the flag X It is determined whether or not = 1 (S106). If the flag X = 1, the downstream side shift state is set, and the paper feeding unit adjacent to the downstream side of the paper feeding unit Y1 is changed to the active paper feeding unit (S107). If the working sheet feeding unit adjacent to the downstream side is the sheet feeding unit located on the most downstream side in the continuous sheet feeding unit set, the flag X is changed from 1 to 0 (S109), that is, Change from the downstream transition state to the upstream transition state.

  In step S106, if the flag X = 0, the upstream side shift state is set, and therefore the paper feeding unit adjacent to the upstream side of the paper feeding unit Y1 is changed to the active paper feeding unit (S117). If the sheet feeding unit adjacent to the upstream side is the sheet feeding unit located on the most upstream side in the continuous sheet feeding unit set, the flag X is changed from 0 to 1 (S119), that is, upstream Change from the side transition state to the downstream transition state. Thereafter, the process returns to step S101, and the next paper feeding operation is started.

  The operation of the sheet feeding unit 3r immediately after setting the continuous sheet feeding unit set F1 will be described with reference to the flowchart of FIG. 3 and FIG. Immediately after setting the continuous paper feed unit set F1, the most upstream paper feed unit 3r in the continuous paper feed unit set F1 is set as the active paper feed unit. Therefore, in step S101, it is determined that the sheet is not a non-operating sheet feeding unit. Next, the motor Mr is driven at a predetermined timing, and only the uppermost sheet is fed from the sheet bundle loaded on the sheet feeding unit 3r.

  If the paper feed unit 3r is not out of paper, it is determined in step S103 that the paper feed unit 3r is out of paper. Therefore, the process returns to step S101 without moving the active paper feed unit and the next time. Move on to paper feeding operation. When there is no more paper in the paper feed unit 3r by repeatedly taking out the paper, the paper presence / absence detection sensor S1r detects the absence of paper in the paper feed unit 3r. Then, since it is determined that there is no paper in step S103, it is next determined in step S104 whether or not this paper feed unit 3r belongs to the continuous paper feed unit group. Since the sheet feeding unit 3r belongs to the continuous sheet feeding unit set F1, the process proceeds to step S105, and the sheet feeding unit 3r is changed from the active sheet feeding unit to the non-working sheet feeding unit. Further, in step S106, it is determined whether or not the transition state flag X is 1. The transition state flag X is set to the downstream transition state at the time when the continuous sheet feeding unit set F1 is set and the sheet feeding unit 3r becomes the active sheet feeding unit, and X = 1 is set. It is determined that X = 1. Then, the process proceeds to step S107, and the sheet feeding unit 3s on the downstream side of the sheet feeding unit 3r is changed from the non-working sheet feeding unit to the working sheet feeding unit.

  In step S108, it is determined whether or not the sheet feeding unit changed from the non-working sheet feeding unit to the working sheet feeding unit is the most downstream sheet feeding unit 3t in the continuous sheet feeding unit group F1. However, since the paper feed unit 3s has been changed, step S109 is not performed here, and the process returns to step S101 to start the next operation. In the next operation, since it is determined in step S101 that the sheet feeding unit 3r is a non-working sheet feeding unit, the sheet is not taken out from the sheet feeding unit 3r.

  Next, the sheet feeding operation of the sheet feeding unit 3s that has newly become an active sheet feeding unit will be described with reference to the flowchart of FIG. 3 and FIG. First, since the sheet feeding unit 3s is an active sheet feeding unit, it is determined in step S101 that it is not a non-working sheet feeding unit. Next, the motor Ms is driven at a predetermined timing, and only the uppermost sheet is fed from the sheet bundle loaded on the sheet feeding unit 3s.

  If the paper feed unit 3s is not out of paper, it is determined in step S103 that the paper feed unit 3s is out of paper. Therefore, the process returns to step S101 without moving the active paper feed unit and the next time. Move on to paper feeding operation. If there is no paper in the paper feed unit 3s due to repeated paper removal, the paper presence / absence detection sensor S1s detects the absence of paper in the paper feed unit 3s. Then, since it is determined that there is no paper in step S103, it is next determined in step S104 whether or not the sheet feeding unit 3s belongs to the continuous sheet feeding unit group. Since the sheet feeding unit 3s belongs to the continuous sheet feeding unit group F1, the process proceeds to step S105, and the sheet feeding unit 3s is changed from the active sheet feeding unit to the non-working sheet feeding unit. Further, in step S106, it is determined whether or not the transition state flag X is 1. The transition state flag X is set to the downstream transition state when the continuous sheet feeding unit set F1 is set and the sheet feeding unit 3r becomes the active sheet feeding unit, and X = 1 is set. In step S106, it is determined that X = 1. Then, the process proceeds to step S107, and the sheet feeding unit 3t that is one stage downstream of the sheet feeding unit 3s is changed from the non-working sheet feeding unit to the working sheet feeding unit.

  In step S108, it is determined whether or not the sheet feeding unit changed from the non-working sheet feeding unit to the working sheet feeding unit is the most downstream sheet feeding unit 3t in the continuous sheet feeding unit group F1. . Since the paper feed unit 3t has been changed, the process proceeds to step S109, where the transition state flag X is changed from 1 to 0, the upstream side transition state is set, the process returns to step S101, and the next operation is started. In the next operation, since it is determined in step S101 that the sheet feeding unit 3s is a non-operating sheet feeding unit, the sheet is not taken out from the sheet feeding unit 3s.

  Next, the sheet feeding operation of the sheet feeding unit 3t that has newly become an active sheet feeding unit will be described with reference to the flowchart of FIG. First, since the sheet feeding unit 3t is an active sheet feeding unit, it is determined in step S101 that it is not a non-working sheet feeding unit. Next, the motor Mt is driven at a predetermined timing, and only the topmost sheet is fed from the sheet bundle stacked on the sheet feeding unit 3t.

  If the paper feed unit 3t is not out of paper, it is determined in step S103 that the paper feed unit 3t is out of paper. Therefore, the process returns to step S101 without moving the active paper feed unit and the next time. Move on to paper feeding operation. When there is no more paper in the paper feed unit 3t by repeating the removal of the paper, the paper presence / absence detection sensor S1t detects the absence of paper in the paper feed unit 3t. Then, in step S103, it is determined that there is no paper. Next, in step S104, it is determined whether or not the sheet feeding unit 3t belongs to the continuous sheet feeding unit group. Since the sheet feeding unit 3t belongs to the continuous sheet feeding unit group F1, the process proceeds to step S105, and the sheet feeding unit 3t is changed from the active sheet feeding unit to the non-working sheet feeding unit. Further, in step S106, it is determined whether or not the transition state flag X is 1. Since the transition state flag X is set to an upstream transition state when the active sheet feeding unit is changed from the sheet feeding unit 3s to the sheet feeding unit 3t, X = 0 is set. It is determined that = 1 is not satisfied. Then, the process proceeds to step S117, and the sheet feeding unit 3s upstream of the sheet feeding unit 3t is changed from the non-working sheet feeding unit to the working sheet feeding unit.

  Next, in step S118, it is determined whether or not the sheet feeding unit changed from the non-working sheet feeding unit to the working sheet feeding unit is the most upstream sheet feeding unit 3r in the continuous sheet feeding unit group F1. . Since the paper feed unit 3s has been changed, step S119 is not performed here, and the process returns to step S101 to start the next operation. In the next operation, since it is determined in step S101 that the paper feed unit 3t is a non-working paper feed unit, the paper is not taken out from the paper feed unit 3t.

  Further, when the paper feeding unit 3s that has newly become the active paper feeding unit repeatedly takes out the paper and runs out of paper, the paper feeding unit 3s becomes a non-working paper feeding unit, and since it is in the upstream transition state, The adjacent paper feed unit 3r becomes the active paper feed unit. Therefore, since step S119 is executed, the transition state flag X is changed from 0 to 1, and the downstream transition state is entered.

  Accordingly, the sheet feeding unit 3r, the sheet feeding unit 3s, the sheet feeding unit 3t, the sheet feeding unit 3s, and the sheet feeding unit 3r are sequentially operated, and this is repeated thereafter. Therefore, the paper feed unit newly changed from the non-working paper feed unit to the active paper feed unit is always a paper feed unit adjacent to either the upstream side or the downstream side with respect to the paper feed unit that has run out of paper. As a result, no missing pages occur.

  The paper feed start signal sent to each paper feed unit by the paper feed start signal generating means 27 is transmitted at regular time intervals T0. During this time interval T0, the absence of paper in the active paper feed unit is detected, and the paper feed unit adjacent to the upstream side in the collating transport direction of the active paper feed unit is changed from the non-working paper feed unit to the active paper feed unit. When the active paper feeding unit in which the absence of paper is detected is changed to a non-working paper feeding unit, the collating bundle including the last sheet taken out in the working paper feeding unit before the change is next to the collating bundle. The collation bundle to be merged is set so as to include the first sheet in the changed working sheet feeding unit.

Specifically, it is calculated by the following formula 1.
T0 = T1 + T2 + T3 + α (Formula 1)
T0: Time interval T1: Time it takes for the trailing edge of the paper to pass through the paper presence / absence detection sensor after the leading edge of the paper taken out from the paper feeding unit joins the collating conveyance path T2: Start of feeding roller rotation T3: Time required for the leading edge of the taken-out paper to join the collating transport path T3: Time required for the collating bundle to move the distance corresponding to the arrangement pitch of the paper feed unit in the collating transport path α: Time to spare

Here, as shown in FIG. 4, assuming that the sheet conveyance speed is V, the sheet length is L, and the distance from the sheet presence / absence detection sensor S1 to the junction point of the collating conveyance path is D,
T1 = (LD) / V (Formula 2)
T2 = D / V (Formula 3)
It is. In addition, if the arrangement pitch of the sheet feeding unit is H,
T3 = H / V (Formula 4)
It is. Therefore, substituting Equations 2, 3, and 4 into Equation 1,
T0 = (LD) / V + D / V + H / V + α = (L + H) / V + α (Formula 5)
It becomes.

Therefore, when the paper is taken out at every time interval T0, the time for the paper to pass from the leading edge to the trailing edge is L / V. The distance Y between the tip of the collation bundle is
Y = V {(L + H) / V + α−L / V} = H + Vα (Formula 6)
It becomes. In other words, if there is a distance larger than the margin (distance Vα) of the paper feed unit arrangement pitch H, a missing page will not occur. Therefore, since the intervals between the collating bundles can be reduced to a relatively short distance, the missing pages can be eliminated without substantially impairing the high-speed processing performance of the collating apparatus.

  In addition, when the conveyance speed when the paper is fed by the paper feed roller and the conveyance speed of the collating conveyance path are different, the calculation may be appropriately performed in consideration of both the conveyance speed and the speed switching position. Also in this case, the time interval T0 is not significantly different from the result in the above formula 5, so that the high-speed processing performance of the collating apparatus is not impaired.

  Next, a second embodiment of the present invention will be described. In the second embodiment, when the absence of paper is detected in the active paper feeding unit belonging to the continuous paper feeding unit group, the active paper feeding unit in which no paper is detected is changed to the non-working paper feeding unit. Similar to the first embodiment, one of the other sheet feeding units belonging to the group of sheet feeding units is an active sheet feeding unit. However, in the first embodiment, the paper feed unit that is newly changed to the active paper feed unit is a paper feed unit adjacent to either the upstream side or the downstream side of the paper feed unit in which no paper is detected. In the second embodiment, when the paper feed unit that is newly changed to the active paper feed unit is located downstream of the paper feed unit in which no paper is detected, the paper feed unit in which no paper is detected is displayed. Regardless of whether or not they are adjacent to each other, one of the paper feed units belonging to the same continuous paper feed unit set as the paper feed unit in which no paper is detected is changed to the active paper feed unit. As long as the paper feed unit located downstream of the paper feed unit in which no paper is detected is changed to the active paper feed unit, the changed active paper feed unit is adjacent to the paper feed unit in which no paper is detected. This is because there is no missing page even if it is not. If the paper feed unit to be newly changed to the active paper feed unit is located upstream of the paper feed unit in which no paper is detected, the paper feed unit adjacent to the paper feed unit in which no paper is detected is displayed. Changed to the active paper feeder. And the more the active paper feed unit is in the downstream side of the continuous paper feed unit set, the fewer options for the paper feed unit to be newly used as the active paper feed unit when the paper runs out. Is controlled so as to preferentially change the sheet feeding unit adjacent to the active sheet feeding unit. In the second embodiment, the collating apparatus and its control block diagram are the same as those shown in FIGS.

  FIG. 5 is a flowchart showing the operation of the second embodiment of the present invention, focusing on one of the plurality of paper feeding units 3 of the collating apparatus. Here, the focused paper feeding unit will be described as a paper feeding unit Y2. The paper feeding unit Y2 may be any paper feeding unit among the paper feeding units 3a to 3t. In FIG. 5, steps S201 to S205 are the same as S101 to S105 shown in FIG. 3 except for the difference in the names of the paper feeding units Y1 and Y2, and thus detailed description thereof is omitted.

  First, in steps S201 to S203, steps S201 to S203, that is, removal of sheets from the sheet feeding unit Y2 are repeatedly performed until it is detected in step S203 that the sheet feeding unit Y2 is out of paper. If it is detected in step S203 that the paper feed unit Y2 is out of paper, it is determined whether or not the paper feed unit Y2 belongs to the continuous paper feed unit group (S204). If the paper feed unit Y2 does not belong to the continuous paper feed unit group, a collation stop signal is transmitted to stop the collation apparatus. If the paper feeding unit Y2 belongs to the continuous paper feeding unit group, the process proceeds to step S205.

  In step S205, whether or not the sheet feeding unit Y2 is the most upstream sheet feeding unit in the continuous sheet feeding unit set, and sheets are stacked on the sheet feeding unit adjacent to the upstream side of the sheet feeding unit Y2. Judge whether or not. When the sheet feeding unit Y2 is not the most upstream sheet feeding unit in the continuous sheet feeding unit set and the sheet is stacked on the sheet feeding unit adjacent to the upstream side of the sheet feeding unit Y2, the sheet feeding unit In addition to changing Y2 to the non-operating paper feeding unit, the paper feeding unit adjacent to the upstream side of the paper feeding unit Y2 is changed from the non-working paper feeding unit to the active paper feeding unit (S206). If the sheet feeding unit Y2 is the most upstream sheet feeding unit in the continuous sheet feeding unit set, or if no sheet is stacked on the sheet feeding unit adjacent to the upstream side of the sheet feeding unit Y2, the sheet feeding unit Y2 The unit Y2 is changed to a non-operating sheet feeding unit, and one of the sheet feeding units belonging to the continuous sheet feeding unit set to which the sheet feeding unit Y2 belongs is not operated on the downstream side of the sheet feeding unit Y2. The paper feed unit is changed to the active paper feed unit (S216). This determination is made by the continuous paper supply unit control means 23 with reference to the setting status of the continuous paper supply unit and the detection result of the sensor S1.

  The operation of the sheet feeding unit 3r that has become the active sheet feeding unit immediately after setting the continuous sheet feeding unit group F1 will be described with reference to the flowcharts of FIGS. First, in steps S201 to S203, steps S201 to S203, that is, the removal of sheets is repeatedly performed until it is detected in step S203 that the paper feed unit 3r is out of paper. If it is detected that there is no paper in the paper feed unit 3r, the process proceeds to step S204, and further, since the paper feed unit 3r belongs to the continuous paper feed unit set F1, the process proceeds to step S205.

  In step S205, the sheet feeding unit 3r is the most upstream sheet feeding unit in the continuous sheet feeding unit set F1, and thus the process proceeds to step S216, and the sheet feeding unit 3r is set as a non-operating sheet feeding unit. One of the sheet feeding units that is downstream of the sheet feeding unit 3r and belongs to the continuous sheet feeding unit group F1, for example, the sheet feeding unit 3s is set as an active sheet feeding unit. Thereafter, the process returns to step S201 and the next paper feeding operation is started. In the next paper feeding operation, since it is determined in step S201 that the paper feeding unit 3r is a non-working paper feeding unit, the paper is not taken out from the paper feeding unit 3r.

  Next, the sheet feeding operation of the sheet feeding unit 3s that has newly become an active sheet feeding unit will be described with reference to the flowcharts of FIGS. First, steps S201 to S203 are repeated until no paper is detected in the paper feed unit 3s. If it is detected that the paper feed unit 3s is out of paper, the process proceeds to step S204. Since the paper feed unit 3s belongs to the continuous paper feed unit set F1, the process proceeds to step S205.

  In step S205, since the sheet feeding unit 3s is not the most upstream sheet feeding unit in the continuous sheet feeding unit group F1, sheets are stacked on the sheet feeding unit 3r adjacent to the upstream side of the sheet feeding unit 3s. If so, the process proceeds to step S206. In step S206, the sheet feeding unit 3s is changed to a non-operating sheet feeding unit, and the sheet feeding unit 3r adjacent to the upstream side of the sheet feeding unit 3s is changed from an active sheet feeding unit to a non-working sheet feeding unit. Thereafter, the process returns to step S201 and the next paper feeding operation is started. In the next paper feeding operation, since it is determined in step S201 that the paper feeding unit 3s is a non-operating paper feeding unit, the paper is not taken out from the paper feeding unit 3s.

  If it is determined in step S205 that no paper is loaded on the paper feed unit 3r, the process proceeds to step S216, and is downstream of the paper feed unit 3s and belongs to the continuous paper feed unit group F1. The sheet feeding unit, that is, the sheet feeding unit 3t is defined as an active sheet feeding unit.

  As described above, in the second embodiment, when there is no paper in the active paper feed unit, it is first determined whether or not the paper feed unit adjacent to the upstream side can be the active paper feed unit. Then, the sheet feeding unit adjacent to the upstream side is set as the active sheet feeding unit. If the paper feeder adjacent to the upstream side cannot be used as the active paper feeder, that is, if it does not belong to the continuous paper feeder group or if there is no paper, the paper feeder on the downstream side Let the paper section be the active paper feed section. That is, for the paper feeding unit that has run out of paper, either the paper feeding unit adjacent to the upstream side or the paper feeding unit on the downstream side is used as the active paper feeding unit, so that no missing page is generated.

  In the second embodiment, the options of the paper feeding unit that is newly set as the active paper feeding unit are the paper feeding unit adjacent to the upstream side of the paper feeding unit that has run out of paper or the paper feeding unit existing downstream. Therefore, the more the active paper feed unit is on the downstream side of the continuous paper feed unit, the more the paper feed unit to be newly set as the active paper feed unit when there is no more paper in that active paper feed unit There will be fewer choices. However, according to the second embodiment, control is performed so that the paper feeding unit adjacent to the upstream side is preferentially changed to the active paper feeding unit. It can be minimized, and it is possible to minimize the error stop of the apparatus due to the inability to shift due to the time when the sheets are not stacked.

It is a model front view which shows the collation apparatus 1 of this invention. It is a block diagram which shows control of the collation apparatus 1 of this invention. 5 is a flowchart showing the operation of the first exemplary embodiment of the present invention, paying attention to one paper feeding unit. It is a schematic diagram which shows the continuous feed part group F1 of the collation apparatus 1 of this invention. It is the flowchart which showed the operation | movement of 2nd Embodiment of this invention paying attention to one paper supply part. It is a model front view which shows the collation apparatus 101 of background art. It is a schematic diagram which shows the state which loaded the paper P on the paper feed part 3 of the collation apparatus 101 of background art. It is a schematic diagram which shows the continuous sheet feeder part group F101 of the collation apparatus 101 of background art.

Explanation of symbols

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1; Collating apparatus 2; Housing | casing 3, 3a-3t; Paper feed part 4; Paper feed plate 5; Paper feed roller 6; Sabaki plate 7; Auxiliary paper feed roller 8; Conveying roller pair 11; Collating conveying path 12; Fold feeding unit 20; Stacker 21; CPU
22; switch 23; continuous paper feed unit control means 23a; transition state switching means 24; storage 25; paper feed control means 26; paper feed start control means 27; paper feed start signal generating means 101; B: Arrows C1, C2; Collating bundle D: Distance from the sheet presence / absence detection sensor S1 to the confluence of the collating conveyance path F, F1, F101; Continuous paper feeding unit set H: Paper feeding unit arrangement pitch L ; Paper length M; Motor P, P1, Pr, Pt; Paper S1; Sensor T0, T1, T2, T3; Time V; Paper transport speed X; Transition status flag Y1, Y2; time

Claims (4)

A plurality of sheet feeding units that take out sheets one by one from the stacked sheet bundle are provided side by side, and a collating conveyance unit that is provided along the plurality of sheet feeding units and conveys the sheets taken out from the sheet feeding unit is provided. A collating apparatus for stacking sheets taken out from a paper section while transporting them at a collating transport section, and having the following configurations.
(A) A sheet presence / absence detection unit that is provided in each of the plurality of sheet feeding units and detects whether or not sheets are stacked on the sheet feeding unit.
(B) by at least one specifying the communication step feeding unit sets a collection of three sheet feeding portion that are adjacent to each other be one that forms a part of the plurality of sheet feeding portion, said plurality of A continuous paper feed unit set specifying unit that classifies the paper feed unit into a continuous paper feed unit belonging to the continuous paper feed unit group and a non-continuous paper feed unit not belonging to the continuous paper feed unit group.
(C) The continuous paper feeder is divided into one active paper feeder and other non-operating paper feeders for each continuous paper feeder group;
When the paper presence / absence detecting means detects that the active paper feed unit is out of paper during the collating operation, the paper feed unit belonging to the same continuous paper feed unit set as the paper feed unit where the paper out is detected is detected. One of them is changed from a non-working paper feeding unit to a working paper feeding unit, and the paper feeding unit in which the absence of paper is detected is changed from a working paper feeding unit to a non-working paper feeding unit,
When the changed working sheet feeding unit is on the upstream side in the collating transport direction with respect to the previous working sheet feeding unit, the changed working sheet feeding unit and the changed working sheet feeding unit are adjacent to each other. The continuous paper feed unit control means for selecting the change destination as described above .
(D) The paper take-out operation during the collating operation is performed in the non-continuous paper feed unit and the active paper feed unit, and the non-working paper feed unit is controlled so as not to perform the paper take-out operation. Control means. In the continuous paper feed unit control means, the paper feed unit adjacent to the upstream side in the collating transport direction of the active paper feed unit before the change is included in the same continuous paper feed unit set as the active paper feed unit before the change. And if so, change the adjacent paper feed unit from the non-working paper feed unit to the active paper feed unit, otherwise change Among the paper feed units included in the same continuous paper feed unit set as the previous active paper feed unit, one of the paper feed units existing on the downstream side in the collating transport direction of the previous active paper feed unit, The collating apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the non-operating sheet feeding unit is changed to an operating sheet feeding unit. In addition to the configuration described in claim 1 or 2 , a paper feed start signal generating means for generating a paper feed start signal at regular time intervals, and a paper feed start signal provided in each paper feed unit. A paper feed start control means for starting the paper take-out operation at a timing delayed by a time corresponding to the position of the paper feed unit from the paper feed start signal;
The absence of paper in the active paper feed unit is detected, and the paper feed unit adjacent to the upstream side in the collating transport direction of the active paper feed unit is changed from the non-working paper feed unit to the active paper feed unit, and the absence of paper is detected. When the activated paper feeder is changed to a non-working paper feeder,
In the collation bundle that includes the last sheet that was picked up by the active sheet feeding unit before the change, the first sheet that was picked up by the working sheet feeding unit after the change is included in the collation bundle to be collated next. The collating apparatus according to claim 1 or 2 , wherein the time interval is set so as to be included. The collating apparatus according to claim 3, wherein the time interval is calculated by the following equation (1).
T0 = T1 + T2 + T3 + α
T0: Time interval T1: Time it takes for the trailing edge of the paper to pass through the paper presence / absence detection sensor after the leading edge of the paper taken out from the paper feeding unit joins the collating conveyance path T2: Start of feeding roller rotation T3: It takes for the leading edge of the taken-out paper to join the collating conveyance path. T3: It takes for the collating bundle to move the distance corresponding to the arrangement pitch of each paper feed unit in the collating conveying path. Time α: Time to spare

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