JPH0551164A - Sorter - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To simplify the moving control of sheet material holding conveyor means at the time of shifting a sheet distributing position from a first group of bins to a second group of bins. CONSTITUTION:A sheet material delivery position, where discharged sheet material is delivered to a first sheet material holding conveyor means 1 from a second sheet material holding conveyor means 5, can be set into a first or a second home position which is to be a first delivery method, into a position between each home position and the discharge position of sheet material which is to be a second delivery method, and into a discharge position which is to be a third delivery method. In the case of a sheet material carrier path being switched from a first carrier path 19 to a second carrier path 20 or reversely by a gate means 21, the final sheet material existing in the carrier path 19 or 20 at least before switching is delivered to the first sheet material holding conveyor means 1 from the second sheet material holding conveyor means 5 by the third delivery method.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a copying machine, a printing device,
The present invention relates to a sorter for distributing sheets discharged one by one from an image forming apparatus such as a printing apparatus and other sheet material output apparatuses to a plurality of bins.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Generally, a sorter is roughly classified into a bottle moving type and a bottle fixed type.

In the bin moving type, the entire bin row is moved to the sheet discharge port of the sheet material output device to sequentially distribute the sheets to each bin.

In the fixed bin type, the entire bin row is fixed and the sheets discharged from the sheet discharge port of the sheet material output device are sequentially distributed to the respective bins.

As one type of fixed bin type, there is a type in which a movable sheet material holding and conveying means is provided between the sheet discharge port of the sheet material output device and each bin.

Conventionally, an apparatus having one sheet material sandwiching and conveying means is known as an apparatus having the sheet material sandwiching and conveying means. In this known device, the sheet material sandwiching and conveying means receives the sheet discharged from the sheet discharge port of the sheet material output device. Next, the sheet material sandwiching and conveying means moves to a position facing the sheet material inlet portion of the predetermined bin and stops, and the sheet is discharged to the bin. After the discharging operation is completed, the sheet material holding and conveying means returns to the sheet discharging port. This operation cycle is repeated. However, in this known device, the sheet material sandwiching and conveying means starts the return movement to the sheet discharge port until the rear end of the sheet distributed from the sheet material sandwiching and conveying means to the bin is completely removed from the sheet material sandwiching and conveying means. Can not do it. Therefore, there is a problem that the processing speed is reduced.

[0007] Therefore, an apparatus for increasing the processing speed is disclosed in Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 63-262371.

The device of this publication is provided with two sheet material sandwiching and conveying means. That is, this device is capable of nipping and conveying sheet material, and is vertically movable along the arrangement direction of the sheet material inlet portions of a plurality of bins, and is the first sheet material nipping and conveying apparatus for discharging the sheet material to the bin. Means for sandwiching and conveying the sheet material, and vertically movable along the arrangement direction of the plurality of bins, for receiving the sheet material discharged from the sheet material output device, to the first sheet material sandwiching and conveying means. It is provided with a second sheet material sandwiching and conveying means for delivering.

In the apparatus of this publication, a large number of bins are divided into an upper first group and a lower second group, and the first and second groups are divided into first and second groups.
The sheet material sandwiching / conveying means is provided with first and second home positions (first and second delivery positions) of the first sheet material sandwiching / conveying means for taking over the sheet material from the first sheet material sandwiching / conveying means. Further, the sheet material discharged from the sheet material output device is received by the second sheet material sandwiching and conveying means at one predetermined position. That is, the sheet material discharged from the sheet material output device is received by the second sheet material sandwiching and conveying means at one predetermined position, and then the second sheet material sandwiching and conveying means is operated at the first or second home position ( The sheet material is delivered to the first sheet material sandwiching and conveying means which moves to the first or second delivery position) and stands by at the home position, and then the first sheet material sandwiching and conveying means is the first or second sheet material conveying means. After moving from the home position to a predetermined bin of the first group or the second group, the sheet material is discharged to the bin.

[0010]

DISCLOSURE OF THE INVENTION Problems to be Solved by the Invention
In the apparatus described in Japanese Patent No. 2371, when the first group bin moves to the second group bin, the first sheet material pinching / conveying means transfers the sheet from the second sheet material nipping / conveying means at its home position (delivery position). After the material has been taken over, it must be moved to the desired sheet output bin. for that reason,
There is a problem that the movement control becomes complicated.

It is an object of the present invention to transfer bins from the first group to the second group.
Another object of the present invention is to provide a sorter that simplifies the movement control of the sheet material sandwiching and conveying means when shifting to the bin.

[0012]

In order to achieve the above object, according to the present invention, a sheet material delivery position for delivering the discharged sheet material from the second sheet material holding and conveying means to the first sheet material holding and conveying means is provided. A first delivery method for setting the first or second home position, a second delivery method set between each home position and the sheet material discharge position, and a third delivery method for setting the discharge position. I was prepared.

[0013]

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

FIG. 1 is a schematic view showing a copying machine 1 exemplified as a sheet material output device and a sorter 2 mounted on the sheet discharge side of the copying machine 1.

In the copying machine 1, 3 is a pair of discharge rollers as discharge means for discharging a copied sheet (hereinafter referred to as a sheet).

The sorter 2 is a bin B for accommodating sheets arranged vertically in a plurality of stages (21 stages in this example).
1 to 21, a first delivery unit 4 as a first sheet material sandwiching and conveying means that can move up and down along the arrangement direction of the sheet inlet portion of the bin B, and discharges the sheet to each bin B; First delivery unit 4 that can move up and down in the array direction
The second delivery unit 5 as the second sheet material sandwiching and conveying means for delivering the sheet to the second sheet, and the sheet discharged from the discharge roller 3 are carried in and the second sheet is discharged at the exit (two places in this example).
And a carry-in means 6 for delivering the sheet to the delivery unit 5.

The uppermost bin B1 is dedicated to the non-sort mode.

As shown in FIG. 7, the first delivery unit 4 has a conveying path 8 including a pair of upper and lower guide members 7a and 7b.
And two drive rollers 9a and 9b provided on the transport path 8.
And pinch rollers 11a and 11b pressed against the drive rollers 9a and 9b via biasing springs 10a and 10b.

As shown in FIG. 7, the second delivery unit 5 includes a conveying path 13 composed of a pair of upper and lower guide members 12a and 12b, and one driving roller 1 provided in the conveying path 13.
4, a pinch roller 16 that is pressed against the drive roller 14 via a biasing spring 15, and a pair of driven rollers 17a, 1a that are rotatably arranged in a state of being separated from each other on the outlet side.
7b and.

The reason why the pair of driven rollers 17a and 17b are provided on the outlet side of the second delivery unit 5 is as follows. At the delivery position where the second delivery unit 5 and the first delivery unit 4 are arranged in parallel in the horizontal direction, the leading edge side of the sheet carried out from the second delivery unit 5 is nipped by the first delivery unit 4, When the second delivery unit 5 and the first delivery unit 4 move relatively vertically apart from each other, the first delivery unit 4 and the second delivery unit 5
The sheet between the driven roller 17a and the driven roller 17b along the curved surface shape of the driven roller 17a and 17b, and the driven roller 17 is rotatable.
This is to minimize the load generated between the guide surface and the sheet by a and 17b and prevent the sheet from being damaged or deformed.

The second delivery unit 5 is located at the delivery position where the second delivery unit 5 and the first delivery unit 4 are arranged in parallel.
The leading end side of the sheet discharged from the first delivery unit 4
When the second delivery unit 5 and the first delivery unit 4 move relative to each other in the vertical direction after being sandwiched between the second delivery unit 5 and the first delivery unit 5, It is necessary to prevent the sheet from being pulled from the first delivery unit 5 by the tensile force acting on the sheet. Therefore, the biasing springs 10a and 10b for pressing the pinch rollers 11a and 11b of the first delivery unit 5 against the drive rollers 9a and 9b.
The spring constant k1 of the biasing spring 15 of the second delivery unit 5
Is set to be larger than the spring constant k2.

The carry-in means 6 has an introduction path 18 for introducing the sheet discharged by the discharge roller 3 of the copying machine 1, and a first conveyance path 19 and a second conveyance path 20 vertically branched from the introduction path 18. , A gate 21 as a gate means (switching means) for switching between the first transport path 19 and the second transport path 20, transport rollers 22, 23 provided in both transport paths 19, 20 and a pinch thereof. Laura 2
4 and 25 are provided.

The outlet 19a of the first conveying path 19 is located at substantially the same height as the sheet inlet of the uppermost bin B1. The exit 20a of the second delivery route 20 is 14 in this example.
It is located at approximately the same height as the seat entrance of the bin B14 of the tier.

The rollers 14, 16 of the second delivery unit 5 from the discharge roller 3 of the copying machine 1 through the first conveying path 19.
Is set to be longer than the length of a predetermined sheet, for example, a sheet discharged in a lateral direction in the A4 standard in the transport direction. As a result, when the front end of the A4 horizontal sheet discharged from the discharge roller 3 of the copying machine 1 is nipped by the rollers 14 and 16 on the upstream side of the second delivery unit 5, the rear end of the sheet is discharged. It is separated from the roller 3. Therefore, the second delivery unit 5 can be moved up or down at the moving speed V1 that exceeds the transport speed V0 of the discharge roller 3 of the copying machine 1 from when the sheet is nipped by the second delivery unit 5. ..

On the other hand, from the discharge roller 3 to the second conveying path 20.
The conveyance length to the rollers 14 and 16 of the second delivery unit 5 via the is set to be longer than the A4 horizontal length (for example, set to be longer than the A3 vertical sheet conveyance direction length). As a result, similarly to the case of the first transport path 19 described above, the moving speed V1 of the second delivery unit 5 is set to the copying machine 1
Can be set to a large value irrespective of the transport speed V0 of the discharge roller 3. As shown in FIG. 2, the first transport path 19 can be opened to remove the jammed sheet. In addition, the second conveyance path 20 can be divided and opened in order to remove the jammed sheet in the conveyance path 20, and at the same time, to remove the jammed sheets on the side of the second delivery unit 5 and the first delivery unit 4. It is possible to open to the whole.

The one-way clutches (allowing free rotation in the carrying direction) are provided to the carrying rollers 22 and 23 of the first and second carrying paths 19 and 20, the driving roller 14 and the pinch roller 16 of the second delivery unit 5, respectively. (Not shown) is attached. By the action of this one-way clutch,
When the second delivery unit 5 holds the sheets received from the second transport paths 19 and 20, the first and second transport paths 1
It is possible to carry or move up and down at a speed exceeding the carrying speed of 9 and 20. Similarly, the second delivery unit 5
The first delivery unit 4 sandwiches the sheet handed over from the second delivery unit 5 and the first delivery unit 4
It is possible to prevent the sheet from being pulled out of the first delivery unit 4 by being pulled by the second delivery unit 5 when the and are relatively separated from each other.

2 to 8, the carry-in means 6 and the transport drive mechanism for driving the drive rollers 9a, 9b, 14 of the first delivery unit 4 and the second delivery unit 5 will be described. ..

With one motor M1, the drive rollers 9a and 9b of the first delivery unit 4, the drive roller 14 of the second delivery unit 5 and the transport rollers 22 and 23 of the carry-in means 6 are used.
Is configured to drive. Further, the transport speed of the first delivery unit 4 can be switched to V1, and the transport speed of the second delivery unit 5 can be switched to V1 or V2 (approximately twice the V1).

When the belt 26 is rotated by the drive of the motor M1, a gear 27 with a pulley, a gear 28, and a belt 29 are provided.
The transport roller 23 of the second transport path 20 is driven at a transport speed V0 (substantially the same as the speed of the discharge roller 3 of the copying machine 1).

The rotation of the belt 26 causes the belt 31 to rotate via the pulley 30. Then, the transport roller 22 of the first transport path 19 is driven at the transport speed V0 (approximately the same as the speed of the discharge roller 3 of the copying machine 1) via the geared pulley 22a and the gear 22b. ..

When the belt 31 is rotated, the pulley gear 32, the gear pulley 33, the belt 34, the pulley bevel gear 35, and the bevel gear 3 fixed to the rotating shaft 36.
The rotary shaft 36 is rotated via 7. The bevel gear 38, the bevel gear-equipped gear 39, and the drive rollers 9a, 9 slidably attached to the rotating shaft 36 by the rotation of the rotating shaft 36.
The drive rollers 9a, 9b of the first delivery unit 4 are driven at the V1 speed via the gear 40 fixed to the shaft 41 of b.

When the belt 31 is rotated, one of the two power transmission paths is selected and connected to the second delivery unit 5.

When the same transmission mechanism as in the case of the first delivery unit 4 described above, which is one of the power transmission paths, is connected, the drive roller 14 of the second delivery unit 5 causes the driving speed V1 (first delivery). It is driven at substantially the same speed as the unit 4.
That is, the transmission mechanism includes a gear 42 with a pulley, a pulley 43 with a gear, a belt 44, and a bevel gear 4 with a pulley.
5, a bevel gear 47 fixed to the rotary shaft 46, the rotary shaft 46,
It comprises a bevel gear 48 slidably attached to the rotary shaft 46, a gear 49 with a bevel gear, and a gear 50 fixedly mounted on the shaft 51 of the drive roller 14.

When the other power transmission path is selected, the rotation is transmitted to the bevel gear 45 through the pulley gear 52, the gear pulley 53, and the belt 53a. In this case, the drive roller 14 of the second delivery unit 5
It is driven at a transport speed V2 of (V1 × 2 + α) (approximately double speed of the first delivery unit 4).

A clutch CL1 for turning on / off the driving force transmission to the drive rollers 9a, 9b of the first delivery unit 4 via the rotary shaft 36 of the first delivery unit 4 is provided. When the clutch CL1 is ON, the first delivery unit 4 conveys the sheet at the speed V1.

Clutches CL2, CL3 for turning ON / OFF the drive transmission to the drive roller 14 of the second delivery unit 5 via the rotary shaft 46 of the second delivery unit 5 are provided.

When the clutch CL2 is turned on, the second delivery unit 5 conveys the sheet at the speed V1. Clutch CL3
When is turned on, the second delivery unit 5 conveys the sheet at the speed V2.

A brake BL1 is provided which immediately stops the first delivery unit 4 when the clutch CL1 is turned off. Further, a brake BL2 that immediately stops the second delivery unit 5 when the clutches CL2 and CL3 are turned off is provided. When the belt 31 is rotated, the conveyance roller 22 fixed to the pulley 54 of the first conveyance path 19 is driven. The vertical drive mechanism of the first delivery unit 4 and the second delivery unit 5 will be described with reference to FIGS. 4 to 8.

As described above, the first delivery unit 4 and the second delivery unit 5 are provided with the rotating shaft 3 via the bevel gears 39 and 49 having the left and right side ends thereof meshed with each other.
It is supported by 6, 46. In addition, the guide portions 55 and 56 formed on the other left and right side ends are provided with guide rails 57 and 58.
Is engaged with.

A belt 59 is connected to the left and right sides of the first delivery unit 4, and the belt 59 is a pair of upper and lower pulleys 60.
It is stretched between 61, and one pulley 61 is drivingly connected to the motor M2 via a belt 62.

Similarly, the second delivery unit 5 has a pulley 6
It is drivingly connected to the motor M3 via a belt 65 and a belt 66 which are stretched between Nos. 3 and 64.

The first and second delivery units 4 and 5 are moved up and down by the forward and reverse rotations of the motors M2 and M3. At this time, the bevel gears 39 of the units 4 and 5,
The bevel gears 37 and 48 meshing with the 49 are the units 4 and 5.
It slides up and down along the axis of rotation following the vertical movement of. Further, the guide portions 55 and 56 of the units 4 and 5 slide up and down along the guide rails 57 and 58.

As shown in FIG. 8, pulse generating means 67, 68 for controlling the positioning of the vertically moving units 5, 4 are provided with encoders 69 having radial slits attached to the shafts of the motors M2, M3. 70 and photosensors S4 to S7 that count the light passing through the slits of the encoders 69 and 70 as a pulse.

The encoder 69 has two photosensors S.
Four and five are provided with a phase shift of two each. Similarly, the encoder 70 is provided with two photosensors S6 and S7 with their phases shifted. Therefore, it is possible to improve the positioning accuracy when the units 4 and 5 are moved up and down to the predetermined bin.

As shown in FIG. 4, the first delivery unit 4
The second delivery unit 5 is cantilevered on the rotary shafts 36 and 46. When each unit 4, 5 tilts downward to its unsupported side, the unsupported side of each unit 4, 5 is lifted to correct the levelness. However, due to the correction, the positional relationship between the rotary shafts 36 and 46 and the bearing portions of the units 4 and 5 coupled to the rotary shafts 36 and 46 is deviated, and the units 4 and 5 become the rotary shafts 36 and 46. There is a risk that it will not be able to slide up and down smoothly. In order to solve this problem, as shown in FIG. 7, the sliding bodies 73 and 74 are slidably fitted to the rotary shafts 36 and 46, and the sliding bodies 73 and 7 are
The holding bodies 75 and 76 are rotatably coupled to the outer side of the curved surface of 4 and fixed to the first delivery unit 4 and the second delivery unit 5 sides, thereby forming the centering bearings 77 and 78. ing.

The change in the posture of the delivery units 4 and 5 with respect to the rotation shafts 36 and 46 depends on the holding members 75 and 76 and the sliding member 73.
It is absorbed as a relative displacement with 74. Therefore, even if the delivery units 4 and 5 are inclined, the delivery units 4 and 5 can be smoothly moved up and down along the rotation axes 36 and 46.

The delivery units 4 and 5 are both supported in a cantilever manner at one end side in the width direction of the sheet inlet of the bin B. Therefore, the delivery units 4 and 5 have the same inclination direction. Therefore, even if the delivery units 4 and 5 are tilted due to aging or the like, it is possible to reduce the occurrence rate of jam when the sheets are taken over from the second delivery unit 5 to the first delivery unit 4.

As shown in FIGS. 4, 5 and 7, the second
Vertical pulleys 60, 6 of the vertical movement mechanism of the delivery unit 5 of
A plurality of reels 81 and 82 are attached to the shafts 79 and 80, respectively.
Is provided. Between the upper and lower reels 81, 82,
A guide ribbon 83 is stretched as a guide member.
The guide ribbon 83 extending from the reels 81 and 82 is the second
Are connected to the upper and lower parts of the delivery unit 5. Reel 8
Tension springs (not shown) that apply tension to the guide ribbons 83 are provided on the first and second parts 82. This guide ribbon 83
After the sheets are delivered from the second delivery unit 5 to the first delivery unit 4, the first delivery unit 4 and the second delivery unit 4
When the delivery unit 5 and the delivery unit 5 are separated from each other in the vertical direction, the sheet having the leading end sandwiched by the second delivery unit 5 is prevented from entering the moving area side of the first delivery unit 4.

Sheets are delivered from the second delivery unit 5 to the first delivery unit 4 at a delivery position preset for each bin B. In this example, the delivery units 4 and 5 are controlled to move according to Table 1 below. In addition, Table 1
In, the number of bin columns is the number of bins to be distributed, the number of columns for the second delivery unit and the first delivery unit is the range of bins to be moved by each unit (the delivery position is underlined), and the number of columns for movement amount is The number of moved bins for each unit is shown.

Table 1 Movement pattern of second and first delivery units Bin Second unit Movement amount First unit Movement amount 2 1 0 1 → 2 1 3 1 → 2 → 1 2 2 → 3 → 2 2 4 1 → 2 → 1 2 2 → 4 → 3 3 5 1 → 3 → 1 4 3 → 5 → 4 3 6 1 → 4 → 1 6 4 → 6 → 5 3 7 1 → 5 → 1 8 5 → 7 → 6 3 8 1 → 6 → 1 10 6 → 8 → 7 3 9 1 → 7 → 1 12 7 → 9 → 10 3 10 1 → 10 → 14 14 10 → 11 1 11 14 → 11 → 14 6 11 → 12 1 12 14 → 12 → 14 4 12 → 13 0 13 14 → 13 → 14 2 13 → 14 1 14 14 0 14 0 15 14 0 14 → 15 1 16 14 → 15 → 14 2 15 → 16 1 17 14 → 16 → 14 4 16 → 17 1 18 14 → 17 → 14 6 17 → 18 1 19 14 → 18 → 14 6 18 → 19 1 20 14 → 19 → 14 10 19 → 20 1 21 14 → 20 → 14 12 20 → 21 1 second The movement amount of the delivery unit 5 is set to the first delivery unit 4
In some cases, it may be set to be larger than the movement amount of (bins B5 to 13, B15 to 21). Second delivery unit 5
Immediately pinch the leading edge of the sheet discharged from the copying machine 1 or when the first delivery unit 4 pinches the leading edge of the sheet by passing it from the second delivery unit 5 to the first delivery unit 4. Can be moved to. On the other hand, the first delivery unit 4 cannot move until the trailing edge of the sheet is completely removed when the sheet is discharged to the bin B. That is, as compared with the second delivery unit 5, the first delivery unit 4 has a longer stop time for sheet transfer / delivery. Therefore, it is more efficient to set a large amount of movement of the second delivery unit 5, the distribution processing time can be shortened, and a large number of sheets can be distributed within a predetermined time.

The following two home positions, first and second, are set in the second delivery unit 5 which receives the sheets from the sheet output device. Bin B2 to Bin B
To send the sheet to 10 (first group of bins), select bin B
The facing position of 1 is the first home position.
When the sheets are sent to the bins B11 to B21 (bins of the second group), the facing position of the bin B14 is the second home position. Then, the first transport path 19 guides the sheet to the first home position. The second transport path 20 guides the sheet to the second home position.

In bins B4 to B9, the sheet transfer position is a position in which the bins sequentially move away from the first home position for each bin between the first home position and the sheet ejection position, and from the immediately preceding sheet ejection position. It is set to the first home position side. Then, the second delivery unit 5 clamps the sheet at the first home position and then moves downward to the sheet delivery position. The first delivery unit 4 moves downward from the immediately preceding sheet discharge position to the delivery position.

In the bins B16 to B21, the sheet delivery position is a position where the bins are sequentially moved away from the second home position for each bin between the second home position and the sheet ejection position, and to the immediately preceding sheet ejection position. It is set. Then, the second delivery unit 5 clamps the sheet at the second home position and then moves downward to the sheet delivery position. The first delivery unit 4 stands by at the immediately preceding sheet discharge position.

Bins B4 to B9 and Bins B16 to B21
As described above, the second delivery method is one in which sheets are delivered before the home position and the sheet material discharge position.

In the bin B2, the sheet is delivered from the second delivery unit 5 waiting at the first home position to the first delivery unit 4 waiting at the first home position, and the first delivery unit holding the sheet. 4 moves to the sheet discharge position (bin B2). Similarly, in the bin B15, the sheet is delivered from the second delivery unit 5 waiting at the second home position to the first delivery unit 4 waiting at the second home position, and the first delivery unit holding the sheet therebetween. 4 moves to the sheet discharge position (bin B15).

The first delivery method is one in which sheets are delivered at the home position (first or second home position) like the bins B3 and B4 and the bins B14 and B15.

Bins B5 to B9 and Bins B16 to B21
As described above, the second delivery method is one in which sheets are delivered before the home position and the sheet material discharge position.

A third delivery method is one in which delivery is performed at the sheet material discharging position like the bins B10, 11, 12, and 13.

In the bin B10 immediately before switching from the first transport path 19 to the second transport path 20 or in the bin B11 immediately before switching to the opposite, the sheet transfer position and the sheet discharge position are the same (bins B10 and B11). Has become.

A sensor for detecting a sheet will be described with reference to FIG.

The sensor S1 is an inlet sensor which is provided in the introduction path 18 and detects that the sheet has entered the sorter.

By turning on the sensor S1 (detecting that the leading edge of the sheet has arrived), the carrying roller 22 of the carrying-in means 6,
23, the rollers of the units 4 and 5 start driving. Also,
A sheet counter (not shown) counts the number of sheets by turning off the sensor S2 (detecting that the trailing edge of the sheet has passed).

The sensor S2 is composed of a pair of light emitting / receiving elements provided above and below the vertically moving region of the second delivery unit 5, respectively. The sensor S2 is the second delivery unit 5
It is detected by ON / OFF that the sheet has arrived at, and that the sheet has come out of the second delivery unit 5.

The sensor S3 is composed of a pair of light emitting / receiving elements provided above and below the vertically moving region of the first delivery unit 4, respectively. The sensor S3 is the first delivery unit 4
It is detected by ON / OFF that the sheet has arrived at, and that the sheet has come out of the first delivery unit 4.

As shown in FIG. 8, the sensors 4 and 5 are photosensors of the pulse generating means 67 for positioning the vertical moving mechanism of the second delivery unit 5, as described above.
The sensors 6 and 7 are photosensors of the pulse generating means 68 for positioning the vertical movement mechanism of the first delivery unit 4.

The drive control of this device is performed by a CPU (not shown).
And the like. That is, the sensor S1
The signal of the sheet conveyance state detected by 7 to 7 is input to the CPU, the control signal is output after the calculation, and the motors M1 to 3, the clutches CL1 to 3, and the brakes BL1 and 2 are drive-controlled.

The operation of this embodiment configured as described above will be described with reference to FIGS. 1 to 8 and Table 1 together with the flowcharts of FIGS. 9 and 10 and the operation state diagrams of FIGS. (1) When A4 landscape sheets are processed in sort mode: A document (A4 landscape in this example) is set on the platen glass (not shown) of the copier 1 or on an automatic document feeder (not shown), and the copier 1 is operated. A predetermined sort mode condition is input from a surface (not shown).

The first home positions of the second delivery unit 5 and the first delivery unit 4 are both set to the positions facing the sheet inlet portion of the bin B1 as shown by the solid line position in FIG. When the start key (not shown) of the copying machine 1 is pressed and the units 4 and 5 are in the positions deviated from the first home position, they are moved up or down to the first home position substantially the same as the bin B1. Be moved. In the carry-in means 6, the gate 21 is switched so that it can be conveyed from the introduction path 18 to the first carry-in path 19.

When the second delivery unit 5 and the first delivery unit 4 stop at the first home position, the copying operation is started in the copying machine 1. Feeding the first sheet to the bin B2 (see FIG. 11 ) The first copied sheet from the discharge roller 3 of the copying machine 1 enters the introduction path 18 of the sorter 2. Then, the motor M1 starts driving, and the second delivery unit 5 and the first delivery unit 5
The driving rollers 14, 9a, 9b of the delivery unit 5 of No. 1 start driving to prepare for sheet conveyance.

The first sheet carried into the sorter from the copying machine 1 is transferred from the second delivery unit 5 in the first home position to the first delivery unit 4 in the first home position.

When the leading edge of the sheet reaches the first delivery unit 4, the roller 9 of the first delivery unit 4 is moved.
Driving of a and 9b is stopped, and the leading edge side of the sheet is pinched (see FIG. 1).
1a, b).

First delivery unit 4 with sheet sandwiched
Moves downward from its home position to a position (sheet discharging position) facing the sheet inlet portion of the bin B2 and stops (FIG. 11c). During the downward movement of the first delivery unit 4, the rollers 14 of the second delivery unit 5 are driven at the transport speed of V1.

Here, when the delivery units 4 and 5 move relatively away from each other, the sheets carried out from the second delivery unit 5 are driven by the driven rollers 17a and 1a of the second delivery unit 5.
The guide roller 7a is guided along the curved surface shape of 7b, and the load generated between the guide surface and the sheet is minimized by the rotatable follower rollers 17a and 17b to prevent the sheet from being damaged or deformed.

Further, when the units 4 and 5 are separated from each other in the vertical direction, the rear end side of the sheet whose front end side is sandwiched by the second delivery unit 5 is stretched in the vertical direction of the second delivery unit 5. The guide ribbon 83 is guided. Therefore, it is possible to prevent the sheet from entering the moving area side of the first delivery unit 4 and being damaged or deformed. Further, since the sheet does not enter the moving area side of the first delivery unit 4, the malfunction of the sensor S2 for detecting the sheet of the second delivery unit 5 can be prevented.

The rollers 14, 16 of the second delivery unit 5
Is driven by the movement of the seat by the action of the one-way clutch. Therefore, the units 4, which are relatively spaced apart,
It is possible to reliably prevent the sheet from coming off from the first delivery unit 4 by the pulling force on the sheet between 5.

Then, the roller 9 of the first delivery unit 4
a and 9b are driven to discharge the first sheet onto the bin B2 (FIG. 11d).

After the sheet is discharged, the first delivery unit 4
It stops at this position and prepares for the next sheet transfer (Fig. 1
1e). Feeding the second sheet to the bin B3 (see FIG. 12 ) The front end side of the second sheet carried into the sorter from the copying machine 1 is sandwiched by the second delivery unit 5 at the first home position. (Fig. 12a).

Next, the second delivery unit 5 moves downward from the home position to the delivery position corresponding to the sheet inlet of the bin B2, with the sheet front end side being sandwiched,
Horizontally aligned with the first delivery unit 4 (Fig. 12b).

Here, when the second delivery unit 5 holds the leading edge of the sheet, the trailing edge of the sheet is separated from the discharge roller 3 of the copying machine 1. Therefore, as soon as the second delivery unit 5 holds the leading edge of the sheet, the second delivery unit 5 can move at a speed V1 that exceeds the transport speed V0 of the discharge roller 3 of the copying machine 1. At this time, the transport roller 2
2 follows the seat by the action of the one-way clutch.

Subsequently, the sheet is conveyed from the second delivery unit 5 to the first delivery unit 4 and delivered. The first delivery unit 4 holds the leading edge of the sheet (FIG. 12c).

Next, the first delivery unit 4 holding the leading edge of the sheet moves downward to the position facing the sheet entrance of the bin B3. At the same time, the second delivery unit 5 moves upward from the sheet entrance facing position of the bin B2 to the first home position and returns (FIG. 12d).

Here, the first delivery unit 4 holding the sheet moves downward from the delivery position to the sheet ejection position, and at the same time, the second delivery unit 5 moves upward from the delivery position to the home position. When the 5 are separated, the second delivery unit 5 is V2 (about twice the V1)
To convey the sheet. Therefore, it is possible to reliably prevent the sheet from coming off the first delivery unit 4 due to the sheet pulling force between the units 4 and 5.

Subsequently, the sheet is discharged from the first delivery unit 4 onto the bin B3 (FIG. 12e). Sending the third sheet to the bin B4 (see FIG. 13 ) The front end side of the second sheet carried into the sorter from the copying machine 1 is sandwiched by the second delivery unit 5 at the first home position. (Fig. 13a, b). Next, the second delivery unit 5 moves downward from the first home position to the position facing the sheet inlet portion of the bin B2 with the sheet front end side being sandwiched. At the same time, the first delivery unit 4 moves up to the bin B2. As a result, the units 4 and 5 are lined up at the delivery position (FIG. 13c). continue,
The sheet is conveyed from the second delivery unit 5 to the first delivery unit 4 and is delivered. The first delivery unit 4 holds the leading edge of the sheet (FIG. 13d).

Next, the first delivery unit 4 holding the leading edge of the sheet moves downward to the position facing the sheet entrance of the bin B4. At the same time, the second delivery unit 5 moves upward from the sheet inlet facing position of the bin B2 to the first home position and returns (FIG. 13e).

Subsequently, the sheet is discharged from the first delivery unit 4 onto the bin B4 (FIG. 13f). Feeding of the fourth sheet to the bin B5 (see FIG. 14 ) The leading end side of the second sheet carried into the sorter from the copying machine 1 is sandwiched by the second delivery unit 5 at the first home position. (FIGS. 14a, b). Next, the second delivery unit 5 moves downward from the first home position to the position facing the sheet inlet portion of the bin B3 with the sheet front end side being sandwiched. At the same time, the first delivery unit 4 moves up to the bin B3. As a result, the units 4 and 5 are lined up at the delivery position (FIG. 14c).

Then, the sheet is conveyed from the second delivery unit 5 to the first delivery unit 4 and delivered. The first delivery unit 4 holds the leading edge of the sheet (FIG. 14d).

Next, the first delivery unit 4 holding the leading edge of the sheet moves downward to a position facing the sheet entrance of the bin B5. At the same time, the second delivery unit 5 moves upward to the first home position and returns (FIG. 14e).

Subsequently, the sheet is discharged from the first delivery unit 4 onto the bin B5 (FIG. 14f).

Subsequently, the fifth to eighth sheets are distributed to the bins B6 to B9 according to the operation shown in Table 1. Feeding of 9th sheet to bin B10 (see FIG. 15 ) The leading end side of the 9th sheet carried into the sorter from the copying machine 1 is held by the second delivery unit 5 at the first home position. (FIGS. 15a, b). Next, the second delivery unit 5 moves downward from the home position to a position facing the sheet inlet portion of the bin B10 with the sheet front end side being sandwiched. At the same time, the first delivery unit 4 moves down from bin B9 to bin B10. by this,
The units 4, 5 are lined up in the delivery position in front of the bin 10 (Fig. 15c).

Subsequently, the sheet is conveyed from the second delivery unit 5 to the first delivery unit 4 and delivered. The first delivery unit 4 holds the leading edge of the sheet (FIG. 15d).

Subsequently, the sheet is discharged from the first delivery unit 10 onto the bin B10. At the same time, the second delivery unit 5 moves downward to the first home position facing the bin B14 (FIGS. 14e, f).

Ten or more sheets (send to bin B11)
The gate 21 is switched from the above, the second delivery unit 5 receives the sheet from the exit of the second delivery path 20, and the distribution operation is executed according to the operation pattern shown in Table 1. In particular, the feeding of the 16th sheet will be described below. Sending the 16th sheet to the bin B17 (see FIG. 16 ) The leading end side of the 16th sheet carried into the sorter from the copying machine 1 is delivered to the second home position in front of the bin B14 by the second delivery. It is clamped by the unit 5 (FIGS. 16a and 16b).

Next, the second delivery unit 5 holds 16 sheets from the second home position while holding the leading edge of the sheet.
It moves downward to a position facing the sheet entrance portion of the bin B16 of the tier. As a result, the units 4 and 5 are lined up at the position opposite to the bin B16 (FIG. 16c).

Subsequently, the sheet is conveyed from the second delivery unit 5 to the first delivery unit 4 and delivered. The first delivery unit 4 holds the leading edge of the sheet (FIG. 16d).

Subsequently, the first delivery unit 4 moves to the bin B1.
Move down before 7. At the same time, the second delivery unit 5
Moves upward to the second home position (see FIG. 16).
e).

Sheets from first delivery unit 4 into bin B
Discharge onto 17.

As described above, in the bins B2 to B10, the receiving position where the second delivery unit 5 receives the discharged sheet from the copying machine 1 is the exit of the first transport path 19, the bin B11.
At B21, the outlet is switched to the second delivery route 20. Therefore, the distribution efficiency is good and the distribution processing time can be shortened.

It is assumed that four copies of three originals are copied and then sorted. First, 14 copy sheets of the first original are distributed to the bins B2 to B15 one by one. Next, 14 copy sheets of the second original are placed in bins B15 to B2.
Distribute one by one in this order. Next, 15 copy sheets of the third original are distributed one by one in the order of bins B2 to B15, and the process is completed. (2) When A3 Landscape Sheets are Processed in Sort Mode Even in the case of A3 landscape sheets, distribution processing is performed according to the operation pattern of Table 1 as in the case of A4 landscape sheets in (1) above.

However, if the sheet is an A3 horizontal sheet, the discharge roller 3 of the copying machine 1 is not removed only by the sheet guided through the first transport path 19 reaching the second delivery unit 5. Therefore, when the entrance sensor S1 detects that the trailing edge of the sheet has separated from the copying machine main body 1, the second
The delivery unit 5 is moved at the speed V1. (3) Case of group mode For example, it is assumed that 14 copies of three originals are made and processed in the group mode.

First, with the units 4 and 5 positioned at the height of the sheet entrance of the bin B2 (the height of the exit of the first transport path 19), 14 copy sheets of the first original are continuously fed. And store in bin B2.

Next, the second delivery unit 5 is left at the exit position of the first transport path 19 and the first delivery unit 4
Moves 14 times back and forth between the second delivery unit 5 and the bin B3, and discharges 14 copy sheets of the second original document to the bin B3. Next, after the second delivery unit 5 receives the sheet from the exit of the first transport path 19, the sheet is delivered to the first delivery unit 4 at the position of the height of the bin B4, and then the first delivery unit 4.
The delivery unit 4 repeats the operation of ejecting the sheet to the bin B4, and 14 copy sheets of the third original are stored in the bin B4 to complete the process. (4) Non-sort mode processing With the units 4 and 5 positioned at the height of the sheet entrance of the uppermost bin B1 (the height of the exit of the first transport path 19),
All the sheets are continuously stored in the bin B1 for completion. (5) Case of Random Access Mode Processing It is assumed that the condition is set so that the first sheet is stored in the fifth-stage bin B5 and the second sheet is stored in the sixteenth-stage bin B16. To do.

First, with respect to the first sheet, the second delivery unit 5 receives the sheet from the exit of the first transport path 19, and then the sheet is sent to the first delivery unit 4 at the position opposite to the bin B3. The first delivery unit 4 then delivers the sheet to the bin B5.

For the second sheet, the second delivery unit 5 receives it from the exit of the second transport path 20, and then the first delivery unit 4 takes over the sheet at the height of the bin B15. , The first delivery unit 4 discharges the sheet into the bin B16.

The present invention is not limited to the above embodiment, and various modifications can be implemented.

For example, as shown in FIG. 11, the guide member 83 may be formed of a bellows material instead of the ribbon. Further, as shown in FIG. 12, in addition to providing the guide member 83a of the second delivery unit 5, the guide member 83b may be stretched on the first delivery unit 4. In this case, the sheet sandwiched by the first delivery unit 4 will be guided from both sides thereof.

In this embodiment described above, the sheet material delivery position for delivering the discharged sheet material from the second sheet material sandwiching and conveying means to the first sheet material sandwiching and conveying means is defined as the first or second home position. First delivery method, a second delivery method set between each home position and the sheet material discharge position, and a third delivery method
And a transfer method for transferring the sheet material by the gate means when the conveying path of the sheet material is switched from the first conveying path to the second conveying path or vice versa, at least the final sheet material in the conveying path before the switching. Is delivered from the second sheet material sandwiching and conveying means to the first sheet material sandwiching and conveying means by the third delivery method, the sheet material discharge bin is
It is possible to simplify the control method of the first and second sheet material sandwiching and conveying means when switching from the first group bin to the second group bin.

[0107]

According to the present invention described above, the sheet material delivery position for delivering the discharged sheet material from the second sheet material sandwiching and conveying means to the first sheet material sandwiching and conveying means is the first or second home position. A first delivery method, a second delivery method set between each home position and the sheet material discharge position, and a third delivery method
Since the second sheet material holding / conveying means transfers the sheet material to the first sheet material holding / conveying means,
The most appropriate delivery method can be selected according to the sheet material discharge bin.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a vertical sectional view showing the overall outline of an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a vertical cross-sectional view showing a partially opened state.

FIG. 3 is an enlarged view showing a drive system of a transport unit.

FIG. 4 is a perspective view showing a drive system for vertically moving a second delivery / first delivery unit.

FIG. 5 is a plan view showing a drive system for moving the unit.

FIG. 6 is a vertical cross-sectional view showing a drive system for moving the unit.

FIG. 7 is an enlarged vertical sectional view of the second delivery / first delivery unit.

FIG. 8 is a vertical cross-sectional view showing a part of a drive system for moving the unit.

FIG. 9 is a flowchart (1) showing the operation of the apparatus.

FIG. 10 is a flowchart (2) showing the operation of the apparatus.

FIG. 11 is an operation state diagram of the apparatus.

FIG. 12 is an operation state diagram of the apparatus.

FIG. 13 is an operation state diagram of the device.

FIG. 14 is an operation state diagram of the apparatus.

FIG. 15 is an operation state diagram of the apparatus.

FIG. 16 is an operation state diagram of the apparatus.

[Explanation of symbols]

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Copier (sheet material output device) 2 Sorter 4 1st delivery unit (1st sheet material holding and conveying means) 5 2nd delivery unit (2nd sheet material holding and conveying means) B1-21 Bin

Claims (8)

[Claims] 1. A plurality of bins arranged at a predetermined interval in the up-down direction for accommodating sheet materials, and sheet materials can be sandwiched and conveyed, and along the arrangement direction of the sheet material inlets of the plurality of bins. It is provided so that it can move up and down.
First sheet material sandwiching and conveying means for discharging the sheet material to the bin, and sheet material capable of sandwiching and transporting the sheet material, vertically movable in the arrangement direction of the plurality of bins, and discharged from the sheet material output device. The sheet material output device discharges the sheet material to the second sheet material sandwiching and conveying means and the second sheet material sandwiching and conveying means for receiving and delivering the sheet material to the first sheet material sandwiching and conveying means. A first conveying path for guiding the sheet material to be discharged, and a second conveying path for guiding the sheet material discharged from the sheet material output device to the second home position of the second sheet material sandwiching and conveying means, Gate means for switching the sheet material conveyance path is provided on either one of the first and second conveyance paths, and the sheet material conveyed to the first home position is
The sheet material conveyed to the second home position is discharged to the first group of bins provided above the second home position by the second sheet material sandwiching and conveying means, and the first and second sheets are conveyed. In the sorter for discharging the material to the second group of bins provided below the second home position by the material clamping / conveying means, the discharged sheet material is transferred from the second sheet material clamping / conveying means to the first sheet material clamping / conveying means. A first delivery method in which the delivery position of the delivery sheet material is the first or second home position, a second delivery method in which the delivery position of the sheet material is set between each home position and the delivery position of the sheet material, and the delivery position And a third delivery method including: 2. A final sheet material which is at least in the transport path before switching when the gate means switches the transport path of the sheet material from the first transport path to the second transport path or vice versa. 2. The sorter according to claim 1, wherein the sheet is delivered from the second sheet material sandwiching and conveying means to the first sheet material sandwiching and conveying means by the third delivery method. 3. A sheet material immediately before the final sheet material is delivered from the second sheet material sandwiching and conveying means to the first sheet material sandwiching and conveying means by the second delivering method. The sorter according to claim 1. 4. The sheet material delivering position according to the second delivering method is a position which is sequentially separated from each home position by a predetermined number of bins between each home position and a sheet material discharging position, and the immediately preceding sheet material. The sorter according to claim 1 or 3, wherein the sorter is set closer to each home position than the discharge position. 5. The sheet material delivery position according to the second delivery method is set to the immediately preceding sheet material delivery position between each home position and the sheet material delivery position. The sorter according to 1 or 3. 6. The sheet material delivery position according to the second delivery method is a position which is sequentially separated from each home position by a predetermined number of bins between each home position and the sheet material discharge position, and the immediately preceding sheet material. Both the position set to each home position side from the discharge position and the position set to the immediately preceding sheet material discharge position between each home position and the sheet material discharge position are included. The sorter according to claim 1. 7. The second sheet material sandwiching / conveying means transfers the sheet material to the first sheet material sandwiching / conveying means side while the second sheet material sandwiching / conveying means conveys the sheet material to the first sheet material sandwiching / conveying means side. Alternatively, the sorter according to claim 1, wherein the sorter is moved toward the second home position. 8. The second sheet material sandwiching / conveying means completes the transfer of the sheet material to the side of the first sheet material sandwiching / conveying means, and thereafter the second sheet material sandwiching / conveying means is moved to the first home position or the first home position. The sorter according to claim 1, wherein the sorter is moved toward the second home position.