JPH0478549B2 - - Google Patents

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention A. Purpose of the Invention [Field of Industrial Application] The present invention is directed to storing sheet materials sequentially discharged one by one from a sheet material output device into a plurality of sheet material storage units called bins. The present invention relates to a sheet material distributing device (generally referred to as a sorter, collating machine, sorting machine, sorting machine, etc.) that distributes and accumulates sheet materials.

Specifically, the sheet material output device outputs (outputs) various image forming devices such as copying machines, printing devices, printers, and other sheet materials (cut sheet paper, cards, thin boards, etc.) one by one. It is equipment.

[Conventional technology]

Conventional sheet material distribution device (hereinafter referred to as sorter)
can be broadly divided into bin moving type sorters and bin fixed type sorters.

The bin moving type sorter controls the movement of the entire bin array relative to the sheet material discharge port of the sheet material output device (hereinafter referred to as this machine), and sequentially positions the sheet material inlets of individual bins in corresponding positions. This system distributes sheet material to individual bins by going through the bins.

In a fixed bin type sorter, the bin array is immovable.
A sheet material path mechanism that selectively communicates from the sheet material discharge port of the machine to the sheet material inlet of each bin in the bin array is formed by a guide plate, a deflection plate, etc. This system sequentially transports and distributes sheet materials discharged from the sheet material discharge port of the machine to individual bins.

As a type of fixed-bin sorter, the sheet material discharge port of this machine is controlled to move back and forth sequentially between the sheet material inlets of individual bins in the bin array, and the sheet material is discharged from the sheet material discharge port of the machine. It is envisaged that a configuration would be provided with movable sheet material delivery means for receiving the sheet material and sequentially conveying it to the sheet material inlet of the individual bins and introducing it into the bins.

An example is shown in Figure 6. In the figure, A is a part of a sheet material output device as the main machine, and in this example, it is an electrophotographic copying machine. 70 is a sheet material discharge port of the machine. C is a sorter installed on the sheet material discharge port side of the machine A. The sorter C is configured as an attachment device attached to the machine A during use, or as a built-in device to the machine A.

In the sorter C, 1a to 1j are a plurality of bins fixedly arranged in multiple vertical stages. 60 is the sheet material discharge port side of this machine A and the upper and lower multi-tiered bin array 1a
A sheet material holding and conveying means (hereinafter referred to as delivery unit) is a movable sheet material delivery means that is controlled to move up and down between the sheet material inlet side of ~1j and the sheet material inlet side, and includes rollers and rollers that grip and convey the sheet material. versus 6
1 and 62, a motor for driving the rotation thereof (not shown), a sensor 63 for detecting the presence of the sheet material, and the like. The delivery unit 60 is attached to and supported by a belt 66 suspended between a lower drive pulley 64 and an upper driven pulley 65, and the belt 66 is rotated in the forward and reverse directions by controlling the drive pulley 64 in forward and reverse directions. The vertical movement is controlled along with the rotation.

Start key (not shown) of this machine A (copying machine)
When is pressed, the copying operation of this machine starts.
In the sorter C, the delivery unit 60 is normally on standby at the position corresponding to the sheet material discharge port 70 on the side of the machine A as shown in the figure, but when the start key is pressed, the delivery unit 60 returns to its home position. When the drive pulley 64 is not located at the home position, the drive pulley 64 is rotated forward or backward to return to the home position (initial setting).

Roller/Kolo pair 61,6 of delivery unit 64
2 enters a forward rotation state by energizing the drive motor.

The copied sheet material enters the sorter C side from the machine A side through the discharge port 70.

The sheet material entering the sorter C side is discharged from the discharge port 70.
The tip of the delivery unit 60, which is waiting opposite to the delivery unit 60, enters between the pair of rollers 61 and 62 which are rotating in the forward direction, and passes between the pair of rollers and rollers.

The tip of the sheet material is a pair of rollers 61, 62
When the sheet material passes through the gap for a predetermined length, the sensor 63 detects the presence of the sheet material, and the rotation of the roller/roller pair 61, 62 is stopped in response to the detection signal. As a result, the leading end of the sheet material is firmly held and conveyed between the pair of rollers. Further, the drive pulley 64 starts to rotate normally in response to the above detection signal, and the delivery unit 60 moves upward at approximately the same speed as the speed at which the sheet material is discharged from the sheet material discharge port 70.

When the delivery unit 60 reaches a position opposite to the sheet material inlet of a predetermined bin, here the uppermost bin 1a, at that point the delivery unit 60
Further upward movement of 0 is stopped. At the same time, the rotational drive of the roller/roller pairs 61, 62 is resumed, whereby the sheet material whose leading end is conveyed and held between the roller/roller pairs 61, 62 is discharged into the corresponding bin 1a. (distributed).

When it is detected that the sheet material has been discharged into the bin 1a by the passage of the sensor 63 at the rear end of the sheet material, the delivery unit 60 is moved downward by the reverse drive of the drive pulley 64 and returns to the sheet material discharge port. 70, and waits to receive the next sheet material.

Thereafter, in the same manner as ~, the delivery unit 60 transfers the sheet material from the sheet material discharge port 70 to the sheet material inlet portion of the bin, and the sheet material discharge port 7 of the delivery unit 60 after discharging the sheet material to the bin.
By sequentially repeating the return to 0 for the individual bins 1b, 1c, . . . , a predetermined sheet material distribution to each bin is achieved.

It should be noted that sheet materials are delivered to bins on the lower side of the home position of the delivery unit 60 by controlling the delivery unit 60 to move downward, and return by controlling the movement upward.

[Problem that the invention seeks to solve]

In the sorter having the configuration shown in the above-mentioned example in FIG. 6, the return operation of the delivery unit 60 from the sheet material inlet of each bin to the home position is such that the sheet material transferred to a predetermined bin in the delivery operation is moved by the rollers. - The rear end of the sheet material is introduced into the bin by the rotation of the roller pair 61, 62 and the roller pair 61, 62
You have to wait until the gap has completely passed before you can enter.

Therefore, when the sorter C is used in conjunction with the machine A, such as a high-speed copying machine, in which the interval between sheet materials that are sequentially discharged or the discharge time interval is short, the short interval between the sheet materials or the discharge time interval is short. The return operation of the delivery unit 60 must be performed at an extremely high speed in time for the discharge interval time. However, in order to move at ultra-high speeds, it is necessary to use high-power drive motors, and a large load is placed on the sorter mechanism, so the mechanism must be made more robust. This will lead to an increase in the size of C and higher costs.

By designing the distance between the home position of the delivery unit 60 and the sheet material inlet of the bins 1a, 1j that are farthest from there to be short, the maximum return operation time of the delivery unit 60 is shortened. It may be possible to make it in time for sheet materials that are sequentially discharged at short intervals or discharge time intervals, but in this case, the total number of bins (total number of stages) to be arranged must be reduced, or the number of stages in each bin must be reduced. It becomes necessary to design the array spacing. A decrease in the number of bins will reduce the number of sheets that can be collated, and if the intervals between the bins are narrowed, the sheet material loading capacity of each bin will decrease.

The present invention has been made in view of the drawbacks of the above-mentioned conventional examples, and an object of the present invention is to provide a sheet material distributing device that eliminates the above-mentioned problems and is capable of increasing speed.

B. Structure of the Invention [Means for Solving Problems] The present invention comprises a plurality of bins for storing sheet materials, waiting at a predetermined home position, and a sheet material inlet of each bin from the home position. A first sheet material holding and conveying means that is controlled to sequentially reciprocate between sections and transports the sheet material received at the home position to a predetermined bin and discharged; and a position corresponding to the sheet material discharge port. Waits as the home position to receive the discharge sheet material,
The reciprocating movement is controlled between the home position and the home position of the first sheet material holding and conveying means, and the sheet material is transferred to the first sheet material holding and conveying means waiting at the home position. The gist of the present invention is a sheet material distributing device characterized by having a second sheet material holding and conveying means for delivering and delivering the sheet material.

[Effect]

That is, by providing two sheet material clamping and conveying means as described above as a sheet material delivery means for each bin, (1) the second sheet material clamping and conveying means is located at the home position of the means; It is sufficient to reciprocate between the home position and the home position of the first sheet material holding and conveying means,
(2) The length of the reciprocating motion is specified to be constant, and the length of the reciprocating motion can also be set relatively short by setting the home position of the first sheet material holding and conveying means to an appropriate position; After the sheet material is transferred from the second sheet material clamping and conveying means side to the first sheet material clamping and conveying means side, and the leading end side of the sheet material is transferred to and clamped by the first sheet material clamping and conveying side. Without waiting for the sheet material to pass through the second sheet material holding and conveying means, the sheet material is immediately returned to the home position facing the sheet material discharge section in order to receive the next sheet material (return operation). (3) It is sufficient for the first sheet material holding and conveying means to sequentially reciprocate between the home position of the means and the sheet material inlet of each bin, and its maximum reciprocating length is also By setting it at an appropriate position in relation to the position of the farthest bin, it can be set relatively short, and the return operation speed of the second and first sheet material holding and conveying means to their respective home positions can be particularly high. , it becomes possible to cope with the short sheet material output interval or interval time of a high-speed sheet material output device in sufficient time without reducing the total number of each bin or narrowing the arrangement interval.

Even if the second sheet material conveying and holding means is immediately shifted to the return operation as in (2) above, the first
Since the leading end of the sheet material transferred to the sheet material clamping and conveying means side is firmly transferred and held by the means side, there will be no conveyance failure, and the transferred sheet material will continue to be transferred to the first sheet. The material is stably transferred and discharged to a predetermined bin by the material holding and conveying means.

〔Example〕

FIG. 1 is an overall schematic diagram of a sheet material output device A, such as an electrophotographic copying machine, and a sorter, which is a sheet material distribution device B according to the present invention, mounted on the sheet material discharge port side of the electrophotographic copying machine.

Since the configuration and image forming process of the copying machine A itself are well known, only the reference numerals of the main components will be explained here. 71 is a fixed platen glass (original table glass), 72 is an original pressing plate, 73 is an optical system movable original scanning mechanism unit consisting of an original illumination lamp, a moving mirror, an imaging lens, a fixed mirror, etc., and 74 is a rotary photosensitive member. drum, 75 is a charger, 76 is a developer, 77 is a transfer/separation charger, 7
8 is the cleaning device, 79 and 80 are the first and second
81 is a sheet material conveyance device, 82 is an image fixing device, 83 is a pair of sheet material discharge rollers, and 70 is a discharge port for the copied sheet material.

In the sorter B, reference numerals 1a to 1j indicate a plurality of bins fixedly arranged in multiple stages above and below, and 2 indicates a first sheet material holding and conveying means (hereinafter referred to as a first 4 is a vertically movable second delivery unit for receiving the discharged sheet material from the sheet material discharge port 70 on the side of the machine A and delivering the sheet material to the first delivery unit 2. (hereinafter referred to as the second delivery unit).

FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the vertical movement mechanism of the first and second delivery units 2, 4.

The vertical movement mechanism of the first delivery unit 2 consists of a pair of main shafts 31 and 32 supported by bearings in parallel to each other on the lower and upper sides of the sorter, and each of the main shafts 3
Pulleys 33, 33, 34, 34 attached to the rear end and front end of 1, 32, and the rear and front side pulleys 33, 34, 33, 34, respectively, suspended and tensioned. a pair of vertical belts 35, 35;
A power pulley 36 attached to the back end of the lower main shaft 31, a forward/reverse rotation motor M1 for vertical movement, and a drive pulley 37 attached to the output shaft of the motor M1.
It consists of a belt 38 suspended between the drive pulley 37 and the power pulley 36. The first delivery unit 2 is supported substantially horizontally by fixing unit side plates 20, 20 on both ends of the pair of vertical belts 35, 35, respectively.

When the vertical motor M1 is driven to rotate in the normal direction, the belts 35, 35 rotate in the normal direction, and accordingly, the first delivery unit 2 moves upwardly on the sheet material entrance side of each of the vertically multi-tiered bins 1a to 1j. I will do it. Conversely, when the motor M1 is driven in the reverse direction, the belt pair 35, 35 rotates in the opposite direction, and the unit 2 moves downward accordingly.

The belt pairs 35, 35 are connected to the main shaft 3 on the drive side, respectively.
Pulleys 33, 33 fixed to 1, driven side main shaft 3
Since the belts 35, 35 are suspended and stretched around pulleys 34, 34 fixed to the unit 2, a difference in rotational phase between the belts 35, 35 is unlikely to occur, and the unit 2 moves up and down while maintaining its horizontal position.

Further, vertical rail strips 39, 39 in the vertical direction are attached and supported on the rear and front side plates 11, 11 of the sorter C, respectively.
Rail fitting pieces 21, 21 attached to the outer surfaces of the unit side plates 20, 20 on the back side and the front side of the unit 2, respectively, are fitted, so that the unit 2 can be moved back and forth as the unit 2 moves up and down. This prevents rattling in the left and right directions.

Movement mechanisms 51 to 59 of the second delivery unit 4,
In the case of the sorter of this embodiment, M2, 40, and 41 have substantially the same configuration as the first delivery unit 2, and when the vertical motor M2 is driven to rotate in the normal direction, the belt pair 55, 55 rotates in the normal direction. Accordingly, the second delivery unit 4 moves upward. On the other hand, motor M
When the unit 2 is driven in the reverse direction, the belt pair 55, 55 rotates in the opposite direction, and the unit 4 moves downward accordingly.

Figures 3a, b, and c are respectively the first delivery unit 2.
A partially cutaway front view, left side view, and cross-sectional view are shown. In the case of the sorter of this embodiment, the second delivery unit 4 has substantially the same structure as the first delivery unit 2, so in the drawings, the second delivery unit 4 is shown next to the reference numeral of each component of the first delivery unit 2. Write the code of the corresponding component of delivery unit 4 in parentheses and enter the second
A description of the configuration of the delivery unit 4 will be omitted.

The first delivery unit 2 includes a pair of sheet material guide plates 22, 2 provided integrally with the side plates and facing each other vertically between the unit side plates 20, 20 on the back side and the front side.
2, a roller shaft 23 supported by bearings between the side plates 20, 20, and a plurality of (four in this example) rollers 24 made of rubber or the like attached at intervals along the length of the roller shaft 23. , a pressure roller 25 that is constantly pressed against the upper surface of each roller 24 with a moderate force by a leaf spring 26, a sheet material conveying motor m1 attached to one side plate 20, and a rotating shaft of the motor. The attached drive gear 27, the power acquisition gear 28 meshed with the drive gear and attached to the shaft end of the roller shaft 23, and the sheet material presence detection sensor 29 provided on the sheet material exit side of the sheet material guide plates 22, 22.
a, 29b (for example, a photocoupler consisting of a light receiving element and a light source), each bin position detection sensor 30 (for example, a photocoupler), and the like. The sensor 30 is a sensor 50 in the second delivery unit 4 that detects the position of the first delivery unit 2.

The contact nip between each roller 24 and the pressure roller 25 is located within the sheet material passage between the upper and lower sheet material guide plates 22, 22.

In FIGS. 4a and 4b, the first delivery unit 2 is located corresponding to the sheet material inlet of the predetermined bins 1 (a to j), and the second delivery unit 4 is located corresponding to the first delivery unit 2. They are a partially cutaway plan view in a positioned state and a cross-sectional view at a partial position of the sensors 30 and 50.

During its upward or downward movement, the first delivery unit 2 uses a sensor 30 to detect and count the flag m protruding from the sheet material inlet side of each bin, thereby detecting the position of each bin and detecting the sheet material in a predetermined bin. It is controlled to move, position and stop with high precision to the position corresponding to the entrance.

The second delivery unit 4 is raised to a position corresponding to the first delivery unit 2 by detecting the flag n protruding from the first delivery unit 2 side with the sensor 50 during its upward or downward movement process. Move with precision
Positioning and stopping are controlled.

(A) Operation steps in sort mode (Figure 5) Set the original on the platen glass 71 of the copying machine (machine A), input the predetermined sort mode conditions to the control circuit at the console section, and press the start key. .

Standby processing on the sorter B side is started in response to a press-down signal of the start key. That is, for the first delivery unit 2, it is the predetermined home position of the pin, which in this embodiment is approximately midway between the position of the topmost bin 1a and the sheet material discharge port 70 on the machine A side. whether the second delivery unit 4 is at the position corresponding to the sheet material discharge port 70 on the machine A side as the home position; is confirmed in the control circuit. These confirmations are made using signals from detection means (not shown) such as microswitches that are turned on when each unit 2, 4 is located at its home position.

When one or both of the first and second delivery units 2 and 4 are not located at their respective home positions, the vertical movement motors M1 and M2 (second
The normal or reverse rotation of one or both of the units 2 and 4 shown in FIG.

When the above standby processing on the sorter B side is completed, the machine A starts the copying operation.

At the same time, the sheet material conveying motors m1 and m2 of the first and second delivery units 2 and 4 (the third
(Fig. 5) are driven in normal rotation, and the roller pairs 24, 25, 44, 45 of each unit 2, 4 are in the normal rotation state and are ready to receive the sheet material (Fig. 5b).

The first sheet material P ₁ that has undergone image formation processing on the side of the machine A is delivered to the discharge port 70 by a pair of discharge rollers 83.
is introduced into sorter B through.

The introduced sheet material _P1 enters between the upper and lower guide plates 42, 42 of the second delivery unit 4, which is waiting with the discharge port 70 position as its home position, and its leading end is guided by the guide plates 42, 42. and enters the nip portion of the roller/roller pair 44,45.

Since the roller pairs 44 and 45 are in a normal rotation state, the sheet material P ₁ is moved as it is to the guide plate 42,
42 (Fig. 5c).

When the leading end of the sheet material _P1 that has passed between the pair of rollers 44 and 45 is detected by the sensors 49a and 49b, the rotation of the sheet material conveyance motor m2 of the second delivery unit 4 is stopped at that point.
Therefore, the leading end of the sheet material _P1 is stably and firmly held between the pair of rollers 44 and 45, which have stopped rotating.

At the same time, the vertical motor M2 of the second delivery unit 4 is driven to rotate in the forward direction, and the second delivery unit 4 delivers the sheet material between the pair of rollers 44 and 45.
While holding the tip of P ₁ , move upward (Fig. 5 d). That is, the sheet material _P1 is transported upward. The upward movement speed of this unit 4 is determined by the sheet material discharged from the discharge port 70 on the A side of the machine.
By setting the upward movement speed to be the same as the discharge speed of P ₁ or slightly slower than that,
Roller pair 44, 45 and discharge roller pair 83
The sheet material is transported upward while maintaining an appropriate loop without being subjected to excessive loads such as being pulled or bent.

The second delivery unit 4, which has moved upward, is placed in the first delivery unit 4, which is waiting in a position corresponding to the sheet material inlet of the third bin 1c from the top, which is the home position.
When it is detected by the aforementioned flag n and the sensor 50 (Fig. 4) that the delivery unit 2 has reached the position corresponding to the delivery unit 2, the signal immediately sends the delivery unit 2
Normal rotation of the vertical motor M2 of the delivery unit 2 is stopped. That is, the upward movement of the second delivery unit 4 is stopped.

At the same time, normal rotation of the sheet material conveyance motor m2 of the second delivery unit 4 is restarted,
Due to the rotation of the pair of rollers 44 and 45, the sheet material _P1 , whose tip was held between them, is moved to the first
sheet material guide plate 22 on the side of the delivery unit 2,
Transported to 22 rooms.

The tip of the sheet material P ₁ is the guide plate 22, 22
is guided by the rollers of the first delivery unit 2.
It enters the nip part of roller pairs 24 and 25. The roller pressure of the roller pair 24, 25 is set to be the same as or higher than the roller pressure of the roller pair 44, 45 of the second delivery unit 4, and the tip of the sheet material _P1 is Laura, Koro pair 24,2
It is transported while being securely held between the two.

Since the roller pairs 24 and 25 are already in the normal rotation state, the introduced sheet material _P1 continues to be conveyed forward within the first delivery unit 2 (FIG. 5e).

When the leading edge of the sheet material P ₁ introduced into the first delivery unit 2 and conveyed forward through the pair of rollers 24 and 25 is detected by the sheet material presence detection sensors 29a and 29b, the signal is As a result, the forward rotation of the sheet material conveying motor m1 on the first delivery unit 2 side is stopped, and the sheet material P ₁
The leading end of the delivery unit is held firmly and stably between the pair of rollers 24 and 25 of the first delivery unit.

At the same time, the vertical motor M1 on the side of the first delivery unit 2 is driven to rotate normally, and the unit 2 moves upward while holding the leading end of the sheet material _P1 between the rollers 24 and 25. The upward movement speed of unit 2 is the sheet material discharged from machine A.
The discharge speed is the same as that of P ₁ or slightly slower than that.

At the same time, the vertical movement motor M2 on the second delivery unit 4 side is driven in reverse, and the unit 4 begins to move downward. At this point, the sheet material
Since the leading end of P ₁ is sufficiently clamped between the pair of rollers 24 and 25 on the first delivery unit 2 side, the sheet is transferred from the second delivery unit 4 side to the first delivery unit 2 side. The tip of material P ₁ is delivered reliably.

At the same time, the sheet material conveyance motor m2 on the second delivery unit 4 side is switched to a high-speed forward rotation state, that is, the roller 44 is rotated at an increased speed.

The high rotational speed of this roller 44, that is, the sheet material conveyance speed V _R by the second delivery unit 4 during its return movement process is the same as the moving speed V _a of the first delivery unit 2 and the second delivery unit 4. Therefore, even though _the sheet material _P1 is still passing through _{the second} delivery unit 4 and has not completely passed through, Even when the unit 4 is moved downward, loads such as tensile force, rubbing force, bending force, etc. on the sheet material portion between the units 2 and 4 are not substantially applied or are significantly reduced (FIG. 5f).

When the flag m and the sensor 30 detect that the first delivery unit 2 that has moved upward has reached the position corresponding to the sheet material inlet of the uppermost bin 1a, the normal rotation of the vertical movement M1 is immediately started. Then, the upward movement of the unit 2 is stopped.

Similar to the above-mentioned stop of the vertical motion motor M1, the forward rotation of the sheet material conveying motor m1 is restarted, and as a result, the sheet material is transferred from the first delivery unit 2 to the topmost bin 1a to which it corresponds.
Feeding of P ₁ is started.

In this state, the second delivery unit 4 has not returned to its home position, the sheet material discharge port 70 of the machine A, and the unit 4
A sheet material is placed between the side rollers 44 and 45.
If P ₁ is still passing, the sheet material conveyance speed of the roller 44 by the sheet material conveyance motor m2 is set near the sum of the sheet material conveyance speed on the first delivery unit 2 side and the return movement speed of the second delivery unit 4. By doing so, the load on the sheet material _P1 portion between both units 2 and 4 is reduced.

The second delivery unit 4 that has moved downward is at its home position, that is, the sheet material discharge port 70 of the machine A.
When the position corresponding to is reached, the vertical movement motor M
2 is stopped, and the sheet material conveyance motor m
The rotational speed of No. 2 is changed to the normal rotational speed state before being changed to the high speed, and the machine waits to receive the next sheet material to be discharged from the machine A side (Fig. 5g).

Until the second delivery unit 4 returns to the home position as described above, the rear end of the sheet material P ₁ delivered to the first delivery unit 2 is transferred from inside the second delivery unit 4. I'm getting through it.

If the speed V _b at which the second delivery unit 4 returns to the home position is made as fast as possible, the next sheet material can be received with plenty of time and the conveyance can be ensured. It is preferable.

On the other hand, the sheet material _P1 delivered to the first delivery unit 2 side is delivered to the uppermost bin 1a where the unit (2) is located by the forward rotation of the roller pair 24, 25 on the side of the first delivery unit 2. introduced into the world.

〓〓 Sensors 29a and 29 at the rear end of the sheet material indicate that the sheet material _P1 has been introduced and discharged into the bin 1a.
When the passage of position b is detected, the vertical movement motor M1 of the first delivery unit 2 is reversed, and the unit 2 moves to the home position of the third delivery unit from the top.
It is moved back to the position of the second bin 1c (Fig. 5h). It is advantageous for this downward movement of the unit 2 to be carried out at as high a speed as possible.

When the home position sensor detects that the first delivery unit 2 that has moved downward has returned to the bin 1c position, the reverse rotation of the vertical movement motor M1 is immediately stopped, and the unit 4 returns to the bin 1c position. Wait (Figure 5i).

〓〓 Second sheet material from machine A side to sorter B side
P ₂ emissions are introduced.

〓〓 The same operations as those described above are performed (FIG. 5 j to l).

〓〓 The second sheet material P ₂ delivered to the first delivery unit 2 is
transferred to the second bin 1b and transferred to the second bin 1b.
b (Fig. 4 m).

〓〓 When the same operation is completed up to the bin 1e (the upper 5 bins), the first delivery unit 2
is the second home position (in this example, 8 from the top)
Move to the third (third from the bottom) bin 1h) (Fig. 5n).

〓〓 Then, in the same manner, the sheet materials are introduced and discharged into the bins 1f to 1j (5 bins from the bottom) in order (FIG. 5o).

That is, the second delivery unit 4 sets the position corresponding to the sheet material discharge port 70 of the machine A as its home position, and moves from this home position to the first home position (bin 1c position) for the first delivery unit 2. ) or the sheet material is transferred to the second home position (bin 1h position),
The first delivery unit 2 transports sheet material from the first home position to the upper five bins 1a to 1e, and from the second home position to the lower five bins 1f to 1j. They have come to share the transportation duties.

By repeating the above operations, the sheet materials are sequentially distributed (collected) to a plurality of predetermined bins.
is being executed.

For example, when collating 10 copy sheets in a set of 3 sheets, the above distribution operation for the copy sheets of the first original is performed in bins 1a to 1j (bins 1 to 10).
Then, for the copy sheet of the second original, go to the pins 1j to 1a (bins 10 to 1) in reverse order, and for the third original copy sheet, go to the pins 1a to 1j again in order. If you do this, collation work will be performed efficiently.

(B) Operation steps in group (collate) mode Standby processing is performed in the same way as A- to A- in the sort mode.

The same operation as A- to A-25 in the sort mode is performed.

Regarding the continued sheet materials, A-~A-○25
This operation is performed and the liquid is discharged onto the bin 1a. The above operation is repeated for a predetermined number of sheets.

When the copy start key is pressed again after a predetermined number of copies have been made, the vertical motor M1 of the first delivery unit 2 is driven in the reverse direction, causing the unit 2 to move downward.

Wait at the position corresponding to the bin 1a in the same way as A-27.

The operation of distributing a predetermined number of sheets to the bin 1b is repeated.

When the copy start key is pressed again, the delivery unit 2 at the position corresponding to the bin 1c is lowered, and it becomes possible to carry out the copy up to the pin 1j.

(c) Operation steps in non-sort mode A- to A- standby processing is performed in the same way as in the sort mode.

The operations A- to A-25 are performed, and all the sheet materials discharged from the machine A are discharged into the bin 1a.

Here, it is preferable that the transport speed of the first and second delivery units 2 and 4 during normal rotation be close to the speed at which the sheet material is discharged from the machine A, in order to avoid applying a load to the sheet material.

C. Effects of the Invention As described above, the sorter of the present invention is equipped with two sheet material clamping and conveying means, the first and second, and the sheet materials are distributed to each bin by the linked operation of both of the means. Therefore, it is not necessary to particularly increase the return operation speed of the sheet material clamping and conveying means, reduce the total number of bins, or narrow the array interval between short sheet materials of a high-speed sheet material output device. It becomes possible to respond in sufficient time to the output interval or interval time.

Therefore, the intended purpose is well achieved and it is effectively suitable as a sheet material dispensing device for use in, for example, high-speed copying machines.

[Brief explanation of the drawing]

Fig. 1 is a schematic configuration diagram of a sorter according to the present invention and an electrophotographic copying machine equipped with the sorter, Fig. 2 is a perspective view of the vertical movement mechanism of the first and second delivery units, and Figs. 3 a, b, and c. are a partially cutaway front view, a left side view, and a cross-sectional view of the delivery unit, respectively. Figure 4a,
b shows a partially cutaway plan view and a cross-sectional view of the first delivery unit in a position corresponding to a predetermined bin position and the second delivery unit in a corresponding position to the first delivery unit; 5a to 5o are diagrams of the operation of the sorter, and FIG. 6 is a schematic diagram of an example of a sorter having only one delivery unit. A is a copying machine as a sheet material output device, 70 is a sheet material discharge port, B and C are sorters, 1a to 1j
2 and 4 are first and second movable sheet material holding and conveying means.

Claims (1)

[Scope of Claims] 1. A plurality of bins for storing sheet materials are placed on standby at a predetermined home position, and from the home position, reciprocating movement is controlled sequentially between the sheet material entrances of each bin, and the home A first sheet material clamping and conveying means transfers the sheet material delivered at a position to a predetermined bin and discharges it, and a first sheet material holding and conveying means which waits at a position corresponding to the sheet material discharge port section as a home position and discharges the sheet material. Acceptance,
The sheet material is controlled to reciprocate from the home position to the home position of the first sheet material holding and conveying means, and the sheet material is transferred to the first sheet material holding and conveying means waiting at the home position. a second sheet material clamping and conveying means for delivering and receiving; the sheet material is delivered from the second sheet material clamping and conveying means side to the first sheet material clamping and conveying means side, and the leading end of the sheet material is Once the sheet material is clamped by the first sheet material clamping and conveying means, the second sheet material clamping and conveying means is moved back to the home position corresponding to the sheet material discharge port, and the first sheet material clamping and conveying means is moved to a predetermined position. A sheet material dispensing device characterized in that the sheet material is moved to an inlet portion of a bin. 2. The sheet material conveying means V _R of the second sheet material clamping and conveying means in the return movement process to the home position is defined as the moving speed V _a of the first sheet material clamping and conveying means toward a predetermined bin; Sum V _a + return movement speed V _b of the second sheet material holding and conveying means
A sheet material dispensing device according to claim 1, wherein the sheet material dispensing device is set at a speed substantially equal to _Vb .