JPH04286693A - Paper distributor equipped with stapler - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To miniaturize a paper distributor as a whose by enabling a mutual gap between trays to be set to small one by a method wherein the tray is so installed as to be capable of being moved along its paper placed surface, and at least trays vertically adjacent to a specific tray are enabled to be pushed in their moving direction with a stapler. CONSTITUTION:A tray 4 is so installed as to be capable of being moved along a paper placed surface 4a. A stapler 21 is made to approach a specific tray 4 while pushing trays 4 vertically adjacent to the specific tray 4 into its moving direction. Stapling can be performed without moving the specific tray 4 and without scattering a bundle of sheets of paper. Thereby, a mutual gas between the trays can be aligned in small one, and a paper distributor 3 can be miniaturized as a whole.

Description

[Detailed description of the invention]

0001

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a device (sorter) that sequentially distributes sheets discharged from an image forming apparatus such as a copying machine to each of a plurality of sheet storage trays.

0002

2. Description of the Related Art There is a paper distribution device that sequentially distributes paper discharged from a copying machine or the like to each of a plurality of paper storage trays.

Some of such paper distributing apparatuses are equipped with a stapler for driving staples into a bundle of sheets distributed and stored on a tray.

In general, this device with a stapler sequentially guides and feeds sheets of paper through a sheet guide means into one of the trays arranged in stages in the vertical direction, and intermittently moves the stapler one pitch of the interval between the trays. The paper stack is moved upward or downward to correspond to a predetermined tray, and then staples are driven into the bundle of sheets on the tray by a stapler to bind them.

[0005] There are two methods for bringing a predetermined tray and a stapler located opposite thereto close to each other to a position where stapling is possible. One is to move the tray to the stapler position, and the other is to move the stapler to the tray position. There is a way to move it.

However, in the method of moving the tray to the stapler position, there is a risk that the stack of sheets on the tray will come apart and misalignment will occur in the stack of sheets after stapling.

[0007] From the viewpoint of eliminating such paper variations, it is desirable to have a method in which the stapler is moved to the position of the tray.

By the way, since the trays are arranged in upper and lower tiers as described above, in order to avoid the stapler colliding with the trays above and below a given tray, conventionally, each tray has been set to such an extent that the trays and the stapler do not interfere with each other. They are arranged with large vertical spacing between them.

[0009]

However, in the conventional example described above, since the vertical distance between each tray is set large, there is a problem that the sheet distributing device as a whole becomes large.

An object of the present invention is to reduce the size of the entire device by making it possible to arrange the trays with narrower vertical intervals in a sheet distributing device that performs stapling by moving a stapler toward trays arranged in stages. An object of the present invention is to provide a paper dispensing device that is equipped with a

[0011]

[Means for Solving the Problems] In order to achieve the above object, the present invention provides a tray movable along its paper loading surface, and uses a stapler to move trays vertically adjacent to a predetermined tray in the direction of movement thereof. It can be pushed in.

0012

[Operation] Since the stapler pushes at least the trays vertically adjacent to a predetermined tray in the direction of movement thereof and performs stapling without moving the predetermined tray, it is possible to staple the sheets on the trays without dispersing them.

[0013]

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS An embodiment of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings.

<Structure> In FIG. 2, reference numeral 1 denotes an image forming apparatus such as a copying machine, 2 is a mounting table thereof, and 3 is a paper distribution device connected to the copying machine 1 and into which copied sheets are carried in from the copying machine 1.

Referring to FIG. 2 and FIG. 3, the paper distribution device 3 has a plurality of trays 4 arranged vertically in steps, and inside the device there is a paper tray that guides and feeds the paper sequentially to each tray 4. Guidance means are provided.

[0016] At the top of the apparatus, there is provided a carry-in path 5 through which sheets are carried in from the copying machine 1. At the entrance of this carry-in path 5, an entrance roller 6 and its pinch roller 7 are provided. This carry-in path 5 is connected to a paper discharge path 8 in a straight line. At the exit of the paper ejection path 8, a paper ejection roller 9 and its pinch roller 10 are provided.

A switching claw 11 is provided between the carry-in path 5 and the paper discharge path 8 for switching the paper conveyance direction. In the non-sort mode, this switching claw 11 rotates clockwise in the figure to guide the paper toward the paper discharge path 5, so that all the paper is discharged to the uppermost tray 4. On the other hand, in the sort mode, the switching claw 11 rotates counterclockwise in the figure to guide the paper toward the bottom of the apparatus (toward the trays 4 in multiple stages).

As a mechanism for conveying sheets in the sorting mode, a conveyor belt 13 having a large number of small holes stretched between upper and lower belt pulleys 12a and 12b, and this conveyor belt 1
an air suction means 14 which suctions air from the back side of the trays 3 to attract the paper to the conveyor belt;
A distributing claw 16 that scoops up paper and directs it to the tray 4 side, and a discharge roller 17 that discharges the paper from the distributing claw 16 to the tray 4 are provided.

The above-mentioned entrance roller 6, carry-in path 5, conveyor belt 13, distribution claw 16, and discharge roller 17 constitute a paper guide means.

Inlet roller 6 and belt pulley 12a in FIG.
, 12b, as shown in FIG.
A transmission belt 18, a one-way clutch 19, and a conveyance motor 20 are connected.

By the normal rotation of the transport motor 20, the entrance roller 6, transport belt 13, discharge roller 17, etc. are rotated, and the distribution claw 16 is moved (raised or lowered) by one pitch of the tray interval, and the paper is removed. Distribute to each tray 4.

Further, a stapler 21 for driving staples into a bundle of sheets on the tray 4 is drivingly connected to a first driving means consisting of an elevating belt 22 and a stapler elevating motor 23. By driving the stapler elevating motor 23, the stapler 21 is intermittently moved (raised or lowered) by one pitch of the tray interval.

On the other hand, the one-way clutch 19 of the transport motor 20 includes a transmission belt 24, a belt pulley 25, a worm gear 26, a gear 27, a link 28, a rack 29,
It is drivingly connected to the stapler 21 via a second driving means consisting of a pinion 30, a square shaft 31, a pinion 32, and a rack 33.

When the gear 27 rotates once due to one reverse rotation (one rotation) of the drive motor 20, the link 28 moves straight in one reciprocation, and the stapler 21 moves one reciprocation (approaching and separating) from the opposing tray 4. 34 is a position sensor that detects the position of the stapler 21 when it approaches or moves away from the stapler 21.

Note that a stapling notch 35 is formed at the end of the paper placement surface 4a of the tray 4.

A support member 36 extending from each tray 4 is loosely inserted into a support hole 38 of a frame 37, so that the tray 4 is movable along its paper loading surface 4a. Further, a return spring 39 is interposed in the support member 36 between the tray 4 and the frame 37 to urge the tray 4 toward the stapler 21 side.

Therefore, as shown in FIG. 1, while pushing the upper and lower trays 4 (in this example, two trays each on the upper and lower sides) of the predetermined (opposite) tray 4 in the moving direction of the stapler 21, the stapler 21 is placed on the predetermined tray 4. be in close proximity. At the same time as the stapler 21 separates from the predetermined tray 4 after stapling, the pushed tray 4 is released by the return spring 39.
is returned to its original position by the action of

Paper regulating plates 40 and 41 are provided upright on the paper loading side and the stapling side of the tray 4, respectively.

Aligning means for aligning the sheaf of sheets by coming into contact with one end surface of the sheaf of sheets on the tray 4 and pressing against the sheet regulating plate 41 on the stapling side is constructed as follows. That is, this alignment means includes one alignment rod 4 that can reciprocate along the guide slits 42 formed in all the trays 4.
3, a belt 44 connected to each of the upper and lower ends of the alignment rod 43, and a connecting rod 45 connecting the upper and lower belts 44.
and an alignment motor 46 connected to this connecting rod 45.

The alignment motor 46 is driven in conjunction with the reciprocating movement of the stapler toward and away from a predetermined (opposite) tray 4, and causes the alignment rod 43 to reciprocate.

The above-described drive control is performed by a control means (not shown) such as a CPU.

<Operation> The device configured as described above has the following features:
It works like this:

The forward rotation of the conveyance motor 20 rotates the entrance roller 6, conveyance belt 13, etc.

Furthermore, in the sorting mode, the switching claw 11 rotates counterclockwise.

Next, when a plurality of sheets of copied paper are successively fed into the paper distribution device 3 from the copying machine 1, they are sent to the conveyance belt 13 by the entrance roller 6 through the carry-in path 5 and the switching claw 11. It will be done.

Next, the paper is transported while being attracted to the transport belt 13, and the paper is transferred from the transport belt 13 to the distribution claw 1.
6 scoops it up and discharges it onto the tray 4 by a discharge roller 17. Next, the distributing claw 16 moves intermittently for each tray 4 to repeat the paper distributing operation to a predetermined plurality of trays 4.

Next, the stapler lifting motor 23 is driven to move the stapler 21 up and down to a position opposite to the stapling start tray 4 among the plurality of trays 4 containing sheets.
make it stop.

Next, the conveyance motor 20 is reversely rotated by half a rotation to move the stapler 21 approximately horizontally toward the opposing tray 4. Then, the stapler 21 pushes the upper and lower trays 4 of the opposing tray 4 and retracts them (see FIG. 1).

At this time, in conjunction with the approaching movement of the stapler 21, the alignment motor 46 is driven to retract the alignment rod 43 (see FIG. 1).

Next, when the stapler 21 completes the stapling operation, the conveyance motor 20 is further reversed by half a rotation to separate the stapler 21 from the opposing tray 4 and return it.

At this time, the trays 4 that have been retracted above and below the opposing tray 4 return to their original positions by the action of the return spring 39.

At this time, in conjunction with the separation and return operation of the stapler 21, the alignment rod 43 returns to its original position and aligns the sheet bundle.

Next, the stapler 21 is sequentially moved up and down to a position facing the next tray 4, and the stapling operation described above is repeated.

<Effects of the Embodiment> The above embodiment provides the following effects. (1) The tray 4 is provided so as to be movable along its paper loading surface 4a, and the stapler 21 is attached to at least a predetermined tray 4.
Since the stapler 21 approaches the predetermined tray 4 while pushing the trays 4 that are vertically adjacent to each other in the moving direction, the stapler 21 can staple the bundle of sheets without dispersing the paper bundle without moving the predetermined tray 4. Therefore, the trays 4 can be arranged with small intervals between them, and the paper distributing device 3 can be downsized as a whole. (2) Stapler 2 along paper placement surface 4a of tray 4
Since the aligning rod 45 of the sheet bundle moves back and forth in conjunction with the reciprocating movement of the paper stack towards and away from the tray 4, the aligning rod 43 does not become an obstacle when the stapler 21 pushes the upper and lower trays 4 of the predetermined tray 4. It won't happen.

[0045]

According to the present invention, the tray is provided movably along its sheet loading surface, and the stapler pushes at least the trays vertically adjacent to a predetermined tray in the direction of movement, so that the stack of sheets on the tray can be separated. Stapling can be done without sticking. Further, the interval between the trays can be set small, and the paper distributing device as a whole can be made smaller.

[Brief explanation of the drawing]

FIG. 1 is a diagram showing essential parts of an embodiment of the present invention, viewed from the direction of arrow a in FIG. 2;

FIG. 2 is an enlarged view showing a part of the apparatus of the embodiment.

FIG. 3 is a longitudinal sectional view of the embodiment.

[Explanation of symbols]

1 Copy machine 3 Paper distribution device 4 Tray 4a paper placement surface 20 Conveyance motor 21 Stapler 22 Lifting belt 23 Stapler lifting belt 24 Transmission belt 25 Belt pulley 26 Worm gear 27 Gear 28 Link 29 Rack 30 pinion 31 Square shaft 32 pinion 33 Rack 36 Support member 38 Support hole 39 Return spring 43 Matching rod 44 Belt 45 Connecting rod 46 Alignment motor

Claims (2)

[Claims] Claim 1: A device that sequentially distributes paper ejected from an image forming device such as a copying machine to each of a plurality of paper storage trays, which are arranged in steps in the vertical direction, each of which is arranged along a paper loading surface. a plurality of trays movable by a plurality of trays; a paper guide means for sequentially guiding and feeding paper into one of the upper and lower trays; and a stapler for each of the stacks of paper placed on each of the trays. a first driving means for intermittently moving the stapler up or down to correspond to a predetermined tray in order to staple the stack of sheets on a predetermined tray with the stapler; and a second driving means for reciprocating the stapler along the paper placement surface, the stapler corresponding to a predetermined tray being moved by the first driving means to the second
at least the trays that are vertically adjacent to the predetermined tray are pushed in the moving direction by the stapler, and a staple is driven into the stack of sheets on the predetermined tray, and then the stapler is moved by the second drive means. A paper dispensing device equipped with a stapler, characterized in that the stapler is returned to a predetermined position by a means. 2. Aligning means for aligning the sheets by coming into contact with the end surfaces of the bundles of sheets distributed on each of the trays, and interlocking with the operation of the stapler that is reciprocated by the second driving means. 2. A sheet dispensing device equipped with a stapler according to claim 1, wherein said aligning means is moved back and forth.