JPH0327460B2 - - Google Patents

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION The present invention relates to a paper alignment device that stacks sheets of paper sent out from, for example, a printing machine, with their two right-angled sides aligned correctly.

For example, in devices such as laser beam printers that eject printed paper one after another, a paper alignment device called a stacker is used to prevent later processing if the paper is not stacked with the two right-angled sides aligned. used.

One example is shown in FIG. 1, in which paper receiving members 4, 4,
The paper P fed into the tray 3 having the blades 5 is guided toward the paper receiving members 4, 4 by paddles 7, 8 having flexible wings 6 made of rubber or the like. In addition, the putter 9 is swung by the plunger 10 for each sheet of paper P that is sent in, and pushes one side p1 of the paper P, and pushes the other side p2 into the paper receiving member 5 perpendicular to the direction of the paper receiving members 4, 4. and position it along the two right-angled sides of the paper receiving members 4, 4, and 5.

In this configuration, the paper P is
There is a risk that the paper may separate from the paper receiving members 4, 4, which have been carefully positioned. Also, if the paper P entering tray 3 is delayed or too early for some reason, putter 9
Since the paddle 7 or 8 pushes the paper P at a position away from the center in the feeding direction, the paper P is tilted and one of the paddles 7 or 8 acts to pull in the paper, but the other does not. That is, the next paper P may arrive before the paper P is positioned on the paper receiving members 4, 4. In this case, since the previous paper P is in the above-mentioned slanted position, the pushing action to the next paper cannot be performed, and the uneven state continues thereafter. Furthermore, since the plunger 10 that operates the putter 9 operates for each sheet of paper P, there is also a drawback that it is not durable.

The present invention provides an apparatus that reliably and smoothly performs paper alignment as described above.

That is, the present invention provides a member 28 that rubs the upper surface of the paper P fed into the tray 20 having three right-angled sides 23, 24, 25 and rotates in the direction R or L perpendicular to the feeding direction A. This paper alignment device is characterized in that the paper P is pushed toward the two right-angled sides 23, 25 or 24, 25 of the tray and positioned along the two right-angled sides 23, 25 or 24, 25 by changing direction due to the sliding resistance.

To specifically explain the embodiment shown in the drawings, the tray 20 is shown with no side edges on the paper feeding side, and at least one of the right-angled sides 23, 24, 25 is a hinge 26 fixed to the bottom plate 22. It should be possible to open it, and the paper should be stacked and arranged (No. 5)
(Fig.) is the outlet. 27 is the stopper.
30 is a reversible motor that drives the rotating member 28;
A bracket 31 is arranged above the center line in the paper feeding direction A, and connected to the rotating member 28 by a flexible coupling 29.

The rotating member 28 has a hemispherical front half, and this hemispherical portion contacts the sheet surface due to its own weight or the force of a spring, and moves up as the sheets are piled up according to the flexible coupling 29, always applying approximately the same pressure. come into contact with the paper.

In the above configuration, at the start of operation, the rotating member 28 is oriented in the approximate paper feeding direction A as shown by the two-dot chain line in FIG. Assuming that papers are to be stacked along the two sides 23 and 25 of the tray, the rotating member 28 is rotated in the paper feeding direction (clockwise rotation R) as shown in FIG.

When the paper P fed in the direction A enters under the rotating member 28, it comes into frictional contact with the paper P, and due to the reaction force, the rotating member 28 is easily angled by the flexible coupling 29 in the opposite direction to the paper feeding direction. α tilt.

As a result, the paper P is sent in the direction of arrow B toward the approximate intersection of the two sides 23 and 25, and
be forced to.

In this way, a large number of sheets of paper that are fed one after another are stacked with their two sides aligned correctly as shown in FIG. 5A.

When the rotating direction of the motor 30 is changed and the rotating member 28 is rotated in the opposite direction L as shown in FIG.
They are pressed against the two sides 24 and 25 and stacked as shown in FIG. 5B.

By changing the rotational direction of the motor 30 in this manner, it is possible to sort the sheets P entering the tray 20 at any desired timing as shown in FIGS. 5A and 5B. Note that if sorting is not necessary, the motor 30 may be rotated uniformly in the same rotation direction.

In the present invention, the rotating member changes its direction by the sliding reaction force with the paper to be aligned and feeds the fed paper so that it comes into contact with two orthogonal sides of the tray. is very good. Furthermore, by supporting the rotating member with a flexible coupling ring, it is possible to follow the height of the paper stacking surface and provide a constant feeding action at all times.

[Brief explanation of the drawing]

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a conventional example, FIG. 2 is a perspective view of a paper straightening device of the present invention, FIGS. 3 and 4 are diagrams explaining the operation of the present invention, and FIG. FIG. 1, 1 is a paper ejection roller, 20 is a tray, 23, 2
4 and 25 are its three sides, 28 is a rotating member, 29 is a flexible coupling, and 30 is a motor.

Claims (1)

[Scope of Claims] 1. A rotating member that rubs against the upper surface of paper fed into a tray having three substantially right-angled sides and rotates in a direction substantially perpendicular to the feeding direction; It is characterized by comprising a support member that changes the axial direction by friction resistance, pushes the paper diagonally toward two substantially right-angled sides of the tray, and supports the paper so as to position it along the two sides. Paper alignment device. 2. The paper straightening device according to claim 1, wherein the support member is a flexible coupling. 3. The paper alignment device according to claim 1, wherein the rotating member has a hemispherical shape. 4. The paper aligning device according to claim 1, wherein the rotating member rotates forward or backward according to the alignment direction, and aligns each bundle of paper in a staggered manner.