JPH0348106B2 - - Google Patents

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention The present invention applies to recording machines such as copying machines, printing machines, laser beam printers, etc. The present invention relates to a sheet stacking device (hereinafter also referred to as a stacker) for various machines (hereinafter referred to as a recording machine, etc.) equipped with a mechanism for discharging and conveying sheets.

Conventionally, in this type of device, the sheets stored on the stacker were pushed in the direction of entry by a rotating paddle (sheet moving means for moving the sheets) made of a flexible material such as rubber. Later, lateral positioning was performed using a pattern that was movable from the side in a direction perpendicular to the direction of approach. However, if the sheet stored in the stacker enters the sheet too late or too early, for example, the position where the pattern is pressed against the sheet deviates from the predetermined position (center) of the sheet, giving the sheet rotational motion. Sometimes the next sheet comes before the paddle can fully pull the sheet. In such a case, the putter cannot press the newly incoming sheet due to the irregularity of the previous sheet, and the irregularity continues thereafter.

The above-mentioned drawback is particularly noticeable in a sheet stacking device that sorts sheet bundles by shifting them one by one on a stacker, and there is a drawback that the divisions become blurred.

The present invention has been made in view of the above-mentioned conventional drawbacks, and it is an object of the present invention to provide a sheet storage device that can clearly sort sheet bundles.

In order to achieve the above object, the present invention provides a sheet storage device that arranges and stores sheets to be conveyed and discharged on a sheet storage member, in which the sheets enter so that the leading edge is outside the trajectory of the sheet conveyance path. first and second sheet guide members that are substantially perpendicular to each other and are arranged to be inclined in one direction by a certain angle with respect to the direction; third and fourth sheet guide members that are substantially orthogonal to each other and are inclined in opposite directions by an angle; and either the first and second sheet guide members or the third and fourth sheet guide members. and a sheet moving means whose angle can be changed in order to press and move the sheets in the direction of the pair of substantially intersecting positions, and the sheets being conveyed and discharged are alternately moved in the direction of the intersecting positions by the sheet moving means. The sheets are arranged and sorted by the first and second sheet guide members or the third and fourth sheet guide members and then stored.

Hereinafter, specific embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the drawings.

FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing an embodiment of the present invention. In the figure, a pair of paper ejection rollers 1 and 2 feed the paper 12 into the stacker. 20, 21, 2
Reference numeral 2 denotes first, second, and third guide members that regulate the position of the paper. The first guide member 20
The surface 20 ₁ and the surface 21 ₁ of the guide member 21 are substantially perpendicular to each other, and are inclined at a constant angle with respect to the direction of the sheets 12 entering the stacker. Similarly, the second surface ₂₀₂ of the guide member 20 and the guide member 2
2 and is substantially perpendicular to the surface 22 ₁ of the stacker, and is also at a certain inclination angle (not necessarily the same angle as the above angle) with respect to the direction of the paper 12 entering the stacker. 23 is a motor,
A motor shaft 24 extends long at both ends, and paddles 25 and 26 are attached to both ends of the motor shaft 24. The motor 23 rotates in the direction of the arrow,
Paddles 25 and 26 similarly rotate in the direction of the arrow.
The paddles 25 and 26 are made of a flexible member such as rubber, and are preferably made of a material with relatively low electrical resistance so as not to charge the paper. The paddle 25 moves the paper 12 between the first surface ₂₀₁ of the guide member 20 and the guide member 21.
The surface 21 works to pull in the direction of ₁ . Similarly, the paddle 26 acts to pull the guide member 20 towards the second surface 20 ₂ and the guide member 22 towards the surface 22 ₁ .
The motor 27 functions to rotate the motor 23 about an axis perpendicular to the axial direction of the motor shaft 24 . By operating the motor 27 at a certain angle, the paddles 25 and 26 can be selectively operated. FIGS. 2 and 3 illustrate the operation of the above configuration. In Figure 2, paper 1 entering the stacker
The center 12 of the tip end of 2 ₁ is the center 2 of the guide member 20
0 ₃ , the paper rotates around the center point 20 ₃ due to the action of the paddle 25, and the paper rotates between the first surface 20 ₁ and the surface 2.
1 ₁ is positioned. Furthermore, center point 20 ₃ and surface 2
The best results can be obtained by setting the distance l from ₁ to slightly longer than half the paper width b.

Since the orientation of the paper 12 entering the stacker and the orientation of the paper positioned on the first surface 20 ₁ and the surface 21 ₁ are different, the end 21 of the guide member 21
₂ is separated from the paper 12 entering the stacker (δ in the figure), making it difficult for paper jams to occur.
In the state shown in FIG. 2, the paddle 26 is rotating but is in a non-contact position with the paper and does not pull the paper.

FIG. 3 is a diagram when the motor 27 is rotated by a certain angle. Since the paddle 25 does not come into contact with the paper and instead the paddle 26 comes into contact with the paper, the paper 12 is positioned between the second surface 20 ₂ and the surface 22 ₁ .

By selectively operating the two paddles 25 and 26 in this way, it is possible to sort the sheets input into the stacker at desired locations.
FIG. 4 is a perspective view showing the state of sheets sorted by such an embodiment.

FIG. 5 is a perspective view showing another embodiment, in which sheets are sorted into three positions. The shape is different from the embodiment shown in FIG. 1 and the first guide member 20,
The third surface 20 ₄ is configured parallel to the front edge 12 ₂ of the sheets 12 entering the stacker. FIGS. 6 to 8 are plan views illustrating the operation. In FIG. 6, the paper 12 entering the stacker is positioned by the action of the paddle 25 between the first surface 20 ₁ and the surface 21 ₁ . In FIG. 7, when the motor 27 is rotated as shown, the paper 12 entering the stacker is positioned by the action of the paddle 26 between the second surface 20 ₂ and the surface 22 ₁ . In FIG. 8, when the motor 27 is rotated as shown, the paddles 25 and 26 work together to prevent the paper 12 entering the stacker.
is positioned at the third surface ₂₀₄ . In this case, the left and right direction of the paper will be slightly uneven, but if you use this position, for example when ejecting jam paper from the paper transport path in a laser beam printer, you can distinguish it from other positions even if it is slightly uneven. , later it becomes possible to easily sort the jam paper, etc. As described above, according to the other embodiment shown in FIG. 5, it is possible to perform sorting in a total of three positions, two positions where the sheets are well aligned, plus one position. FIG. 9 is a perspective view showing the sorted state. FIG. 10 shows a modified embodiment of FIG. 1, with the motor 27 mounted in a different direction. Even in this case, the same effects as in the previous embodiment can be obtained.

In the above embodiment, it is also possible to increase the number of sheets stacked by moving the stacker up and down according to the number of sheets stacked. Further, the position of the guide member and the paddle may be movable depending on the paper size. Alternatively, the two paddles may be driven separately.

As explained above, according to the configuration of the present invention, when stacking sheets, the sheet moving means (paddles in the embodiment) is moved in the direction of the substantially orthogonal intersecting position of the sheet guide members, so that the sheets can be aligned easily. It is easy and reliable. Furthermore, sheet jamming can thereby also be reduced.

In particular, by arranging the first and second sheet guides so as to be inclined at a certain angle, the entrance for the sheet is widened, and the sheet can enter easily. Further, since the sheets are also aligned while being rotated, alignment is performed smoothly.

Furthermore, by changing the angle of the sheet moving means, the alignment position of the sheets is changed, and the sheet bundle is divided.

In particular, by arranging the first and second sheet guides so as to be inclined at a certain angle, the entrance for the sheet is widened and the sheet can easily enter. Furthermore, since the sheets are aligned while being rotated, alignment is performed smoothly. Therefore, there is an effect that the sheet bundle can be reliably sorted simply by switching the sheet moving means.

[Brief explanation of drawings]

Fig. 1 is a perspective view showing an embodiment of the present invention, Fig. 2 is a perspective view showing an embodiment of the present invention;
Figures 3 and 3 are plan views showing the sheet storage state;
Fig. 4 is a perspective view showing the state of sorted sheets, Fig. 5 is a perspective view showing another embodiment, and Fig. 6 is a perspective view showing the state of sorted sheets.
Figures 7 and 8 are plan views showing the sheet storage state, Figure 9 is a perspective view of the sheet sorting state, and Figure 10 is a perspective view showing still another embodiment. . In the figure, 12 is a sheet of paper, 20 is a first sheet guide member, 20 ₁ is a first surface, 20 ₂ is a second surface, 2
0 ₄ is the third surface, 21 is the second sheet guide member,
22 is a third sheet guide member, 25 and 26 are paddles, and 27 is a motor.

Claims (1)

[Scope of Claims] 1. In a sheet storage device that arranges and stores sheets to be conveyed and discharged on a sheet storage member, the sheet storage device is arranged such that the leading end is outside the locus of the sheet conveyance path with respect to the sheet entry direction. The first and second sheet guide members 21, ₂₀₁ are substantially orthogonal to each other and are arranged inclined at a certain angle in one direction, and are arranged with respect to the sheet entry direction so that the leading ends are outside the locus of the sheet conveyance path. third and fourth sheet guide members 22, ₂₀₂ substantially orthogonal to each other and arranged tilted in opposite directions by a certain angle; and the first and second sheet guide members or the third and fourth sheets. Sheet moving means 25, 26 whose angle can be changed in order to press and move the sheet in the direction of the substantially crossing position of either pair of guide members, and the sheet moving means transports and discharges the sheet to the crossing position. A sheet stacking device characterized in that the sheets are moved alternately in a positional direction, arranged, sorted, and stacked by the first and second sheet guide members or the third and fourth sheet guide members.