JPH0318556A - Sorter - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To realize a plurality of functions by a simple interface or operation designation by installing a paper counter, bin designation counter and an operation mode setting circuit in a sorter. CONSTITUTION:An operation mode register (a), paper counter Mb, and a bin position designation counter Lc are defined in a memory 8 for a microprocessor. The operation mode is provided from the operating panel 7 of a sorter 2 or from a printer 1. When a paper is inputted into the sorter 2 from the printer 1, the operation mode is judged, and in case of stacker mode, the paper is discharged into a stacker 4 and accommodated. In case of sorting mode, the paper supplied from the printer 1 is aaccommodated into a bin having a bin NO. designated by the bin designation counter Lc. The number 1 is added into the bin designation counter Lc, and the paper supplied next from the printer is received. Further, in case of order control stacker mode, the paper is accommodated into the bin designated by the bin designation counter Lc at that time point.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION [Field of Industrial Application] The present invention relates to a printer connected to a printer device, and particularly to a printer connected to a cut paper printer device whose printing method is an electrophotographic method or the like.

[Conventional technology]

Conventionally, a sorter connected to a printer has the function of sorting, classifying, and storing output paper by providing storage tray (hereinafter referred to as bin) position designation information from the printer.

[Problem to be solved by the invention]

With such a sorter, the printer needs to add sort information each time, and the control becomes complicated, making it difficult to easily connect the sorter to a regular printer that does not have the function to output sort information. There was a problem.

Furthermore, the sorters that can be connected to printers without requiring a special interface have only a single sorting function.

[Means to solve the problem]

In the present invention, by providing the sorter with a sheet counting counter, a bin designation counter, and an operation mode setting circuit, the operation mode instruction from the sorter's scanning panel or printing device, and the number of copies instruction when in the print mode, can be applied to the upper level. It is possible to operate in various forms without requiring various controls from the printing device.

That is, when the control unit of the printer is given the number of copies instruction, it changes the bin number designation to 0.1.2..., a-1 and stores the output sheets from the printer one sheet at a time in each bin. The first method is to continuously store sheets in each bin up to the maximum number of sheets that can be stored in the bin, and when the maximum number of sheets that can be stored in the bin is reached, the bin number is updated and the sheets are stored in the next bin. A second means for storing output sheets and a third means for simply stacking output sheets are provided, and the operation mode setting circuit determines which of these means to operate.

〔Example〕

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

Referring to FIG. 1, a first embodiment of the invention comprises a printing device 1 and a printer 2 connected to the output of the printing device l. The sorter of this embodiment consists of 10 bins 3, a top stacker 4, and a scanning panel 5.

Paper output from the printing device 1 is stored in one of ten bins or in the stacker 4 at the top along a path shown by dotted lines in FIG. The paper path is controlled by a control section within the sorter.

FIG. 2 shows the structure of the control section of the sorter of this embodiment. The control unit of the sorter in this embodiment is composed of a microprocessor 6, an operation panel 7, and a memory 8 for the microprocessor, and the paper path of the sorter mechanism is controlled by a control signal line 9 under the program control of the microprocessor. . The microprocessor 6 also interfaces with a printing device, and receives from the printing device the operating mode of the sorter and the number of copies in the sorting mode.

In the sorter of this embodiment, the operation mode and number of copies can be set from the operation panel 7 in the same way as from the printing device.

On the other hand, an operation mode register, a paper counter M, and a bin position designation counter L are defined in a microprocessor memory 8 connected to the microprocessor of the control section. Using these counters, the control section performs overall control of the sorter.

FIG. 3 shows a control flowchart of the control section, and operations in each operation mode will be explained. When using a sorter, first set the operating mode.

This information is given from the computer's operation panel or the printing device which is a host device. At this time, the "bin designation counter L" and "sheet counter M" in the control section are reset to the initial value "O". Next, only when the operation mode is the "sort mode", the "number of copies designation a" is given from the printer or the operation panel in the same way as in the operation mode, and is stored in the microprogram memory.

The initial setting of the sorter is now complete, and it is now possible to accept paper from the printing device.

When paper is input to the sorter from the printing device, the operating mode is determined, and if the paper is in the stacker mode, the paper is ejected to and stored in the stacker at the top of the sorter. In this case, the paper counter, bin designation counter, etc. do not change.

Next, the case of sort mode will be explained. In the case of the sort mode, the paper from the printing device is stored in the bin with the bin number indicated by the "bin designation counter L" at that time. Then, 1 is added to the "bin designation counter L". Here, the "bin designation counter L" and the number of copies designation a are compared, and if they do not match, paper from the next printing device is accepted. If they match, the "bin designation counter L" is returned to the initial value "O" and the "paper counter M" is incremented by 1. Since the maximum number of sheets stored in each bin in this embodiment is 50 sheets, it is determined whether the paper counter M matches 50. If they match, a message is displayed on the operation panel indicating that the number of sheets stored in the sorter has reached the maximum value. Displays "paper full" and notifies the printing device. The sheets input to the sorter after this point are discharged and stored in the stacker at the top.

Next, the case of sequential control stacker mode will be explained.

In this mode, the "bin designation counter L" at that time
After storing the paper in the bin specified by , the "paper counter M" is incremented by 1, and it is determined whether the maximum number of paper sheets stored in one bin has reached 50 sheets.

If the bin has 50 sheets, the "paper force counter M" is reset to "On" and the "bin designation counter L" is incremented by 1. If the "bin designation power counter L" exceeds the maximum bin number 9 of this embodiment and indicates 10, paper full is displayed and the printer is also notified of this fact.

As explained above, according to the sorter of this embodiment, in the sort mode, as shown in FIG. 3, and the second page follows.

FIG. 4 shows that four copies of 20 pages of printing paper can be produced by repeating the process in the same manner. In the case of this printer, the maximum number of pages that can be sorted at one time is 50 pages. In the sequential control stacker mode, a total of up to 500 sheets, 50 sheets in each bin, can be stored consecutively.

Note that in this embodiment, the printed side of the paper output from the printing device faces upward, but in the case of sequential control stacker mode and sort mode, when the first page of printing paper is stacked on top, The order is arranged so that the printed side is facing up. Although the sorter control section of this embodiment is controlled by a microprocessor, the same function can be realized by a general logic control circuit.

〔Effect of the invention〕

As explained above, the present invention provides control functions to the sorter itself, allowing multiple functions to be realized through a simple interface or panel operation instructions.

[Brief explanation of the drawing]

FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing the overall structure including a printing device according to an embodiment of the present invention, and FIG. 2 is a block diagram of the sorter section shown in FIG. FIG. 3 is a flowchart of the sorter control unit according to the embodiment of the present invention, and FIG.
) is a diagram showing the order of sheets output from the printing device, the fourth
Figure (b) is a diagram showing the storage format in bins in the sorter.

Claims (1)

[Claims] A sorter that sorts, sequentially controls, and stores output sheets from a printing device includes N (N is plural) storage trays, each of which can store up to M sheets, and a stacker that simply stacks and stores output sheets. and at least according to the copy number instruction a,
One in each storage tray with bin numbers 0.1, ..., a-1, 0.
1..., a-1, 0.1..., a first means of storing output sheets in a repeating manner, and a maximum number of sheets M stored in the bin consecutively in each storage tray.
The second method is to store up to M×N sheets of output paper by storing up to M sheets in each storage tray and storing it in the storage tray with the next storage tray number when each storage tray reaches M sheets. 1. A sorter comprising: a third means for storing the sorter in an overlapping manner; and an operation mode setting circuit for determining which of the first, second, and third means is to be used for operation.