JPH03264465A - Sheet sorting device - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To prevent the generation of noise and improve work efficiency by providing a non-load part at a lead cam for elevating/driving a bin, and stopping the bin without stopping the lead cam so as to perform binding work during the stop time of the bin. CONSTITUTION:Sheets are discharged by discharge means 13, 15, whereas bins B are conveyed by lead cams 2 through rollers 30 along a guide groove 7 provided vertically at a device body 6 into positions corresponding to the discharge means 13, 15, as well as the spacing between the adjoining bins B is enlarged. The discharged sheets are then stored into the bins B. The sheets stored in each bin B are bound by a binding means 50. At this time, the sheets are bound during the rotation of the lead cam 2, as well as the sheets in the bin B are bound while the roller 30 of the bin B is passing the non-lead part of the lead cam 2.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION (A) Industrial Application Field The present invention relates to a sheet classification system for classifying and accumulating sheets on which images have been formed, which are carried out from an image forming apparatus such as a copying machine, a printing machine, or a recording device. The present invention relates to a sheet sorting device, and more particularly to a sheet sorting device that improves the binding efficiency of a sheet sorting device having a binding means.

(B) Conventional technology Conventionally, a binding device automatically binds the sorted sheets in a sorter that stores and sorts the discharged sheets by sequentially moving bins to positions corresponding to the discharge ports for discharging the sheets. A sorter having the following is known.

In such a sorter, after the bins are moved to the binding position by rotation of the lead cam, the bins are stopped at that position, the binding is performed at the binding position, and when the binding is completed, the next bin is moved to the same position, and then the next bin is moved to the same position. Binding work was being carried out, such as binding the sheets of the stopped bins.

(c) Problems to be Solved by the Invention However, in the above-described conventional structure, the binding device is operated after the lead cam has finished operating, which causes a time loss in the operation and reduces work efficiency.

In addition, if the lead cam is rotated quickly to improve work efficiency, the bins driven by the lead cam through rollers will suddenly accelerate or stop suddenly, causing noise due to the loud impact between the rollers of the bins. There was a drawback.

Therefore, the present invention provides a non-lead portion in the lead cam that drives the bins up and down, stops the bins without stopping the lead cam, and performs the binding operation when the bins are stopped, thereby preventing noise and improving efficiency. The object of the present invention is to provide a sheet sorting device that can perform efficient operations.

(d) Means for Solving the Problems The present invention has been made in view of the above-mentioned circumstances. For example, as shown with reference to FIGS. 1 and 7, A large number of bins (B) that move by guiding rollers (30) through guide grooves (7) provided in the vertical direction of the main body (6), and a number of bins (B) that are provided in the main body (6) and move the sheets (P) accordingly. Sheet discharge means (15) for discharging into the bin (B)
) and the roller (
30) and the bin (B).
Binding means (50) for binding the sheets (P) discharged above
In the sheet sorting device (1), the binding means (50) is operated to bind the bundle of sheets (P) on the bin (B) during rotation of the lead cam (2). It is characterized by the following.

Further, a non-lead portion of a predetermined length is provided in the cam portion of the slide cam (2) that transfers the roller (30), and
) is passing through the non-lead portion when the binding means (5) is applied to the bundle of sheets CP) on the bin (B).
0) is activated.

(f) Based on the structure described above, the sheet (P) is ejected by the ejection means (13,
15). On the other hand, a guide groove (7) provided vertically in the device body (6) allows the roller (3
The lead cam (2) conveys the bin (B) to the position corresponding to the discharge means (13, 15) via the bin (B) via the lead cam (2), and widens the distance between the bins (B) and the adjacent bins (B). Then, the discharged sheet (P) is stored in the bin CB). Then, the sheets (P) stored in the bin (B) are bound by the binding means (5).
0). At this time, the sheets (P) are bound by the binding means (50) while the lead cam (2) is rotating.

Also, the roller (30) of the bin (B) is connected to the lead cam (2).
While passing through the non-lead part, the binding means (50)
Bind the sheets CP in the bin (B).

Note that the symbols in parentheses are just examples and do not limit the configuration in any way.

(f) Example The present invention will be described in detail below with reference to the drawings.

As shown in FIG. 1, the sorter 1 has a pair of front and rear side plates 3,
It has a sorter main body 6 consisting of a cover 4 and a base 5, stores a large number of bins B1...Bn, and has front and rear side plates 3.
The bin unit 9 is provided with a bin unit 9 that can be moved up and down along guide rails 7 provided respectively in the bin unit 9.

The sorter main body 6 is provided with a carry-in port 10 through which discharged sheets from a copying machine or the like are carried in.
A first sheet conveyance path 11 is configured extending from the first sheet conveyance path 11 toward the bin unit 9, and a second sheet conveyance path 12 is configured branching off from the first sheet conveyance path 11. On the downstream side of 11, there is a pair of upper discharge rollers 1
3 and downstream of the second sheet conveyance path 12, a pair of lower discharge rollers 15 are respectively arranged.

Further, a pair of carry-in rollers 16 and a flapper 17 are disposed at the branching portions of the first and second sheet conveyance paths 11 and 12, and the flapper 17 is selectively displaced to remove the material from the pair of upper discharge rollers 13 to the bin. A sheet to be discharged to bin B is guided to the first sheet conveyance path 11, and a sheet to be discharged from the lower discharge roller pair 15 to bin B is guided to the second sheet conveyance path 1.
Guide to 2. A paper sensor 18 for detecting sheets is disposed near the sheet discharge section of the second sheet conveyance path 12. In this embodiment, the paper sensor 18 is composed of a sword switch with a built-in photointerrupter, but the same effect can be obtained with a transmission type sensor.
8, in this embodiment, it is possible to not only judge the passage of the sheet, but also measure the sheet passage time and the interval between the sheets being fed (paper distance), and these data can be measured. Then, the rotation speed of the lead cam 2 can be controlled by the arithmetic circuit built into the microcomputer of the sorter 1.

The bin unit 9 has a pair of frame-structured bottle support plates 19 at the front and rear, and a bottle slider 20 is attached to the tip of the bottle support plate 19. is fixed with a bin cover 21.

Further, from the bin cover 21 to the bin support plate 19, as shown in detail in FIGS. 2 and 3, an alignment reference member 22 is fixedly provided, and a notch provided in each bin B... An alignment rod 25 passing through the bins B over all the bins B is swingably arranged, and the sheets stored in the bins B are pressed against the alignment reference member 22 by the movement of the alignment rod 25. It is designed to be consistent.

The bottles B... stored in the bin unit 9 have one end movably placed in the comb-shaped groove of the pin slider 20, and front and rear of the base end. As shown in detail in FIG. 4, a bin 26 is fixedly installed. The bottle 26 passes through slits 27 provided in the front and rear bottle support plates 19, and the bottle 26 that has passed through the slit 27 has a mouth ring 30 via a cushioning O-ring 29. The rollers 30 of each bin B are inserted into the guide rail 7 so as to be stacked, and the lowest roller 30 is inserted into the lower guide roller 31 rotatably supported by the bin support plate 19. The uppermost roller 30 contacts the upper guide roller 32 rotatably supported by the bin support plate 19, and each bin B...
is supported by the bin unit 9 so that the bin interval is kept constant and equal to the diameter of the roller 30.

As shown in FIG. 1, the bin unit 9 has the upper guide roller 32 and the lower guide roller 31 fitted into the guide rail 7 so that it can move up and down along the guide rail 7. Note that the metal fittings 33 fixed to the bin support plate 19 of the bin unit 9 and the side plate 3 of the sorter body 6
A tension spring 35 is tensioned between the bin unit 9 and the bin unit 9.

Further, as shown in FIGS. 2 and 5, camshaft holders 36 are disposed at positions facing the lower discharge roller pair 15 on the front and rear side plates 3, 3, respectively, and the camshaft holders 36 A lead and a camshaft 39 are rotatably disposed between the base 5 and the base 5 via bearings 37, respectively.

Front and rear lead cams 2.2 each having a spiral cam surface are fixed above the lead cam shafts 39 arranged in the front and rear, and a pulley 41 is fixed below.
A tying belt 43 is stretched between the pulley 41 and the shift motor 42, and the lead cams 2, 2
can be rotated in both forward and reverse directions by a shift motor 42 that rotates in both forward and reverse directions depending on selection. Drive transmission from the shift motor 42 to the lead cam 2 on the other side is performed by a cover gear 47 that is integrally formed on the upper part of the motor output pulley 46 and a cover gear 47 that meshes with the front and rear side plates 3.
．． Drive transmission is performed by a through shaft 48 that passes through the through shaft 48, and a cover gear 47 and a pulley gear 46 on the front and rear sides of the through shaft 48
, the timing belt 43, and the pulley 41, the lead cam shaft 39 and the lead cam 2 can be rotated.

Further, a clock disk 49 is attached to the shaft opposite to the output shaft of the shift motor 42, and the rotation speed of the motor 42 is controlled by an interleader 44 held on the side plate 3 via a sensor holder 45. The number of revolutions of the lead cam 2 can be freely controlled by the third control circuit of the lead cam 2 in the microcomputer of the sorter 1.

In addition, in FIG. 5, the lower part of the lead cam 2 [this 1-node camshaft 39 and coaxially the flag jigs 51 and 52 for recognizing the position of the lead cam 2 are installed (installed); FIG. 6 shows this part. is shown in detail, flag 5
Interrupters 53 and 54 for reading 1.52 are held by the position detection holder 55 of the lead cam 2 and supported by the rear plate 3).

Although flags 51 and 52 have the same angle, their phases are shifted by a predetermined angle.
It is determined whether the position is the home position in the upward direction or the home position in the downward direction. That is, the lead cam 2 is turned on and off by the combination of the two interrupters 53 and 54.
Together with the non-lead part (approximately 180"), flag 5
An angle of 1.52 is determined. Incidentally, the phase t is shifted by a predetermined angle (approximately 30 degrees), and the position of the lead cam 2 is determined based on this angular shift and whether the interrupters 53 and 54 are turned on or off.

Next, the movement of the bins B determined by the shape of the lead cam 2 and the roller 30 that engages with the lead cam 2 will be explained.

Figure 7(a) shows the lead cam 2 on the near side, and Figure 7(b) shows the lead cam 2 on the front side.
is a diagram showing the relationship between the lead cam 2, the roller 30, and the bin B on the opposite side. FIG. 8 is a plan view of the lead cam 2. As can be understood from FIGS. 7 and 8, the direction of rotation is reversed between the front side and the opposite side of the lead cam 2.

Furthermore, the reason why the two expanded portions Xa and Xb are formed between the bins Ba and Bb and between Bb and Bc is because the bin B is equipped with a sheet binding means 50 that moves forward and backward, and the sheet P is stored therein. If the sorter 1 has only one side, it is sufficient to expand only one side.

Further, the reason why the guide rail 7 is bent between the upper and lower portions is because the sheet binding means 50 is provided, and the guide rail 7 is not particularly limited to the bent guide rail 7.

FIG. 9 shows an example of a cam diagram of the lead cam 2.

FIG. 9(b) is a cam diagram of a lead cam of a conventional sorter, in which 30a, 30b, and 30c indicate bins Ba and Bb.
, Bc rollers are shown. And there is almost no non-lead section.

FIG. 9(a) is a cam diagram of the lead cam 2 of the present invention, and on the diagram of the middle part there is a non-lead part extending about 180 @,
(parallel part) is provided, and 30x and 30y are provided at the ends of the section.
is written. That is, the X position and the Y position of the roller 30 of the bin B. When the lead cam 2 moves to the right, the roller 30 moves relatively to the left and the bin B rises. In the opposite case, the bin B is lowered.

When the roller 30 of bin B goes up, its home position is set to 30x, and when it goes down, its home position is set to 30y.

One revolution of the lead cam in this example (Fig. 9(a)) is
π (rad), and the non-lead part (parallel part) is θ (rad).
), and if the time for the sheet P to pass through the lower discharge roller pair 15 is t, then the rotation speed of the lead cam 2 R+ (r
pm) can be expressed by the following formula.

Therefore, the shorter the sheet discharge time, the higher the rotation speed (process speed).

Next, if the gap (between sheets) of each sheet P when the sheets P are continuously discharged from the image forming apparatus, etc. is t2, then in order to match one revolution of the lead cam 2 to the interval of ten sheets discharged, the remaining The number of revolutions R, (rpm) of the lead cam relative to 2π-0 (the inclined part of the lead cam) must be calculated. If the non-lead part (parallel part) θ of the lead cam 2 is set so that R+ = Rt, then theoretically Above, the rotational speed of the lead cam 2 is constant during sheet ejection and during sheet spacing, making it possible to receive and bin shift the sheet P while rotating the lead cam 2. (If the lead cam 2 is at a constant speed, a series of sheet sorting functions can be achieved.) Also, even if the rotation of the lead cam 2 is not at a constant speed, (
If RI and R3 are controlled in two speeds (because t2 becomes small especially in the case of a high-speed machine), the lead cam 2 will not stop even if the rotation speed changes, and conventional bin moving type sorters・Noise was generated due to the impact force caused by the inertia of the bin unit 9 when the bin unit 9 stopped, but in this embodiment, noise was prevented and a quiet sorter design was possible. One feature is that if you change the predetermined angle of the non-lead part (parallel part) of the lead cam 2 to a certain extent, for example, if you make it larger than 180 degrees, the rotation angle of the lead cam 2 between sheets will decrease accordingly, so the rotation speed of the lead cam 2 will be reduced. Even when operated at considerably lower speeds, it is possible to achieve higher productivity than conventional high-speed machines.

Furthermore, it becomes possible to significantly reduce the power consumption loss for starting and stopping the bin unit 9, which has a large mass, compared to the conventional method.

Next, an explanation will be given of the operation in which the sheet 1-P is carried into the sorter 1 from the image forming apparatus, is discharged to the bin B, and the bin B is shifted.

First, sheets P on which images have been formed are discharged from an image forming apparatus (not shown) through a carry-in port 10 of a sorter 1 via a pair of carry-in rollers 16 and a flapper 17, during non-sorting.
The sheet is ejected from the upper ejection roller pair 13, and during sorting, it is transported downward by the second sheet transport path 12, and the paper sensor 18 measures the passing time of the sheet P and the interval between the sheets P (paper distance). The information is measured and transmitted to the microcomputer in the sorter 1. (If a conveyance failure of the sheet P occurs and the next sheet P cannot be detected within a predetermined time period or within a predetermined interval, a signal of accumulation or delayed jam is sent to the microcomputer and the sorter 1 is stopped.) Information The microcomputer that receives the command controls the rotational speed of the lead cam 2 and the position of the lead cam 2.

Further, the rotational speed of the lead cam 2 is recognized by the clock disk 49 and the interrupter 44 (see FIG. 5), and one end and the other end of the non-lead portion of the lead cam 2 are recognized by the fluffs 51 and 52. When sorting, the 9th
A roller 30 corresponding to the discharge bin Bb is shown at 30x in Figure (a).
When the point b arrives, the sheet P starts to be discharged and the roller 30b
The sheet P is completely discharged while the lead cam 2 moves to 30b (the rotational speed of the lead cam 2 is set in this way).

Furthermore, the bin B is shifted from 30y to the next 30x. This is carried out in a timely manner.

Repeat this operation.

In addition, when sorting in the downward direction, when the roller 30b of bin Bb reaches 30V, the discharge of the sheet P is started, the discharge is finished until 30x, and the discharge is completed until the next 30y arrives. Repeat shift B.

During the process, the microcomputer controls the speed of the lead cam 2 according to signals from the paper sensor 18 (see FIG. 1) whenever errors in the process speed of the sorter 1, paper spacing, etc. change.

As a result of the above-mentioned actions, it is possible to respond to differences in the ejection time of the sheet P depending on the size of the sheet P, and even when installed on different models with different process speeds and paper distances, it is possible to perform the best lead cam control suitable for that model. This enables stable support for a wide range of models.

Next, referring to the flowchart of FIG. 10, the operation of binding a bundle of sheets P will be explained using H<(L/).

When the image formation on the sheet P is completed in sequential sorting (sorting when the bin is raised), the ejection of the last sheet P begins 777
The lead cam 2 stops at 30x, and at the same time, a binding operation is instructed (step S□). When the binding is finished (step S2), the lead cam 2 starts to rotate in the reverse direction, and when the roller 3o of the bin B reaches 3oy, the binding starts, and by the time the roller 3o of the bin B reaches 30x, the binding is finished.This process is repeated (step s2゜S).
1+ S4. SS).

During such work, if the roller 30 or 30x of bin B is reached before the binding is completed, the rotation of the lead cam 2 is stopped, and when the binding is completed, the lead cam 2 is rotated again (step S6゜3). ,,S,) to prevent failure of the sorter 1. When all the binding operations are completed, the binding operations are completed (step S s ).

In addition, when forming an image on the sheet P and discharging it by reverse sorting (when sorting the sheets P in the descending direction of the bin B),
Although the direction of rotation of the lead cam 2 is different, the binding operation is performed under similar control.

In the above, the time that the roller 30 of the bin B is in the non-lead part of the lead cam 2 is set to be slightly longer than the stapling work time, and the rotation of the lead and cam 2 when the roller 30 of the bin B comes to the inclined part (lead part) By performing control to increase the speed, productivity can be further improved.

Next, another embodiment will be described with reference to FIG.

Although the lead cam 2 had only one non-lead portion in the previous embodiment, in this embodiment, if the lead cam 51 having double non-lead portions adjacent to each other and in the same phase is applied, for example, when sorting when the bins are raised, When the final sheet P is sorted into bin B, bin B2, which has been previously sorted, can be bound by the binding means 50 at the same time.

Furthermore, by disposing the binding means 50 above and below the pair of paper discharge rollers 15, sorting and binding can be performed simultaneously during forward sorting and reverse sorting.

Furthermore, similar effects can be obtained by disposing a pair of paper discharge rollers 15 above and below the binding means 50, and the productivity of the sorter 1 can be further improved.

Next, still another embodiment will be described with reference to FIG. 12.

In this embodiment, instead of providing the binding means 50, a punching means 52 is provided to punch holes 53.

(G) Effects of the Invention As explained above, according to the present invention, the binding means is operated during the rotation of the lead cam to bind the bundle of sheets on the bin, so that the sheet sorting device can be manufactured easily. It is possible to significantly improve the performance and prevent the accompanying noise.

Furthermore, by providing a non-lead portion of a predetermined length on the cam portion of the lead cam that transports the bottles by roller, and activating the binding means while the roller is passing through the non-lead portion, the binding operation can be stabilized.

[Brief explanation of drawings]

Fig. 1 is a sectional side view showing an embodiment of the present invention, Fig. 2 is a perspective view thereof, Fig. 3 is a perspective view of the bin unit, and Fig. 4 is a sectional view showing the relationship between the bin roller, guide rail, and lead cam. Plan view Figure 5 is a side view showing the control equipment, Figure 6 is an enlarged side view showing the control equipment at the lead cam position, and Figures 7 (a) and (b) show the operating state of the bin with respect to the lead cam. 8 is a plan view of the lead cam, FIG. 9(a) is a diagram of the lead cam of this embodiment, FIG. 9(b) is a diagram of the lead cam of the conventional example, and FIG. 10 is a diagram of the lead cam of this embodiment. A flowchart of the example, FIG. 11 is a side view showing another embodiment, and FIG. 12 is a plan view of still another embodiment. DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1... Sheet sorting device (sorter), 2... Lead cam, 6... Main body 7... Guide groove (guide rail) 15... Sheet discharge means (
Upper discharge roller pair, lower discharge roller pair>

Claims (1)

[Claims] 1. A large number of bins that move by guiding rollers provided on both sides of the base end by guide grooves provided in the vertical direction of the main body, and a plurality of bins provided on the main body to move sheets into the bins. a sheet discharging means for discharging, a lead cam disposed at a position facing the sheet discharging means and transporting the roller so as to spread the bin, and a binding means for binding the sheets discharged onto the bin; 2. A sheet sorting device comprising: a sheet sorting device comprising: a sheet sorting device having a sheet sorting device, wherein the binding means is operated during rotation of the lead cam to bind the bundle of sheets on the bin. 2. A non-lead portion of a predetermined length is provided in the cam portion of the lead cam that transports the roller, so that the binding means operates on the bundle of sheets on the bin while the roller of the bin passes through the non-lead portion. The sheet sorting device according to claim 1, which comprises: