JPH0686265B2 - Sorter sorter sorter for copiers - Google Patents

Description

Description: TECHNICAL FIELD The present invention relates to a sorter with a tiltable sort bin for a copying machine. In particular, the sort bin attached to the sorter is tiltable to facilitate taking out a copy from the sort bin. The present invention relates to a sorter with a tiltable sort bin for a copying machine.

[Prior Art] In recent years, copying machines have become more sophisticated, multifunctional and high-speed, and have been used in accordance with various demands.

For example, a sorting mechanism (sorter) is attached to the main body of the copying machine to sort the copied materials in the copying machine into necessary number of sheets for distribution to distribution destinations, or to automatically copy the original materials. Devices that have been arranged are being developed.

Referring to FIG. 4, a copying machine equipped with a conventional sorter provided with such a sorter will be described. An original pressing cover 2 for pressing an original is provided on the upper surface of the copying machine main body 1 so as to be openable and closable. Reference numeral 3 denotes an operation panel operated for copying, and a sorter body 4 is provided at the left end of the copying machine body 1.

A plurality of sort bins 5 are fixed to the sorter body 4 for sorting the copies. Copies copied by the copying machine main body 1 are fed to the sorter main body 4 and stored in the sort bins 5 ₁ , 5 ₂ , 5 ₃ for each required number of sheets.

[Problems to be Solved by the Invention]

By the way, as described above, the sort bins 5 ₁ , 5 ₂ and 5 ₃ are fixed to the sorter body 4, respectively, and the distance between the sort bins is increased.
Since S ₁ and S ₂ are constant and there are multiple stages side by side, it was unavoidable to narrow it down. So for each sort bin, say 5 ₁
It was difficult to take out the copy material stored in the space S ₁ with the space 5 _{2 because} it was difficult for the hand to enter the narrow space S ₁ when it was taken out. In particular, there is a problem that small-sized copies are stored in the sorter body 4 side by side, and it is not easy to take out the copies because it is difficult to handle.

[Means for Solving the Problems]

The present invention has been made in view of the above problems, and includes a sorter main body, a star gear support plate vertically provided on the sorter main body, and an elastic locking plate provided side by side with the star gear support plate. And a star gear having a plurality of fitting portions that engage with the elastic locking plate, and a sort bin fixed to each of the star gears. Thus, it is an object of the present invention to solve the above-mentioned problems by obtaining a sorter with a tiltable sort bin for a copying machine, which can easily take out a copy stored in a sort bin.

〔Example〕

Hereinafter, how the structure of the present invention is actually embodied will be described with reference to the drawings according to the drawings. FIG. 1 is a front view of a copying machine equipped with a sorter according to an embodiment of the present invention. In FIG. 1, reference numeral 1 denotes a copying machine main body, and a transparent original on which an original is placed. A document pressing plate 2 is provided which presses a document placed on the platen. An operation panel 3 is used to start and stop the copying machine and determine the number of copies.

A sorter body 4 is attached to the left side end of the copying machine body 1, and a plurality of sort bins 5 are vertically attached to the sorter body 4 with their respective base ends pivotally supported.

The structure of the sorter including the sort bin 5 and the sorter body 4 will be described with reference to FIGS. 2 and 3. In FIG. 2, reference numeral 4 denotes a sorter body, and a star gear support plate 6 is vertically provided on the sorter body 4, and a plurality of mountain-shaped elastic locking plates 9 made of metal are vertically arranged on the star gear support plate 6. A plurality of angled portions are provided side by side in the direction, and the chevron portion of the elastic locking plate 9 is deformed by the pressing force and returns to its original shape when the pressing force is removed.

On the other hand, as shown in FIG. ₃ , the sort bins 5 ₁ , 5 ₂ and 5 ₃ are formed in a flat plate shape for receiving a copy, and pivot shafts 7 and 7 ′ are projected from both side ends of the sort bins 5 ₁ The pivot shaft 7'is pivotally supported by a support plate 11 'formed on the sorter body 4. Further, the other pivot shaft 7 penetrates a support plate 11 formed on the sorter body 4, and a star gear 8 is integrally fixed to the tip thereof. Further, the star gear 8 is engaged with the chevron portion of the elastic locking plate 9 as shown in FIG. The sort bins 5 _1, 5 _2, normally in a position of the integrated angle shown in phantom lines, the copy material is fed into 5 _1, 5 _2, 5 _1, 5 ₂ is gripped by the hand to take it out And rotate it upwards. As the sort bins 5 ₁ , 5 ₂ rotate upward, 5 ₁ , 5, ₂
The star gear 8 that is integral with the pivot shaft 7 protruding from the tip of the shaft rotates while deforming the chevron portion by pressing the chevron portion of the elastic plate 9, and reaches the position of the desired inclination angle shown by the solid line. When the hands are released from the sort bins 5 ₁ and 5 ₂ , the elastic locking plate 9 is deformed to its original position and the star gear 8
And the chevron portion of the elastic locking plate 9 are engaged, and as a result, the sort bin
5 ₁ and 5 ₂ can be held at a desired inclination angle. That is, the star gear 8 and the elastic locking plate 9 are temporary holding means for holding the sort bin 5 at a desired inclination angle.

Further, the star gear 8 has a hexagonal star shape, and has six projecting portions 8a and six fitting portions 8b that engage with the elastic locking plate 9.

By selectively engaging each of the six fitting portions 8b with the elastic locking plate 9, each sort bin 5 ₁ , 5
_Since the inclination angle with ₂ and 5 ₃ can be changed in multiple stages, the star gear 8 is rotated to take out the six of them when taking out the copy sent to the sort bins 5 ₁ , 5 ₂ and 5 ₃ . Mating part 6b
By fitting any of the above to the elastic locking plate 9,
The sort bins 5 ₁ , 5 ₂ , 5 ₃ can be surely held at an arbitrary inclination angle.

Reference numeral 10 is a stopper pin that blocks downward rotation of each sort bin 5 ₁ , 5 ₂ , 5 ₃ .

Next, the method of using the sorter with a tiltable sort bin for the copying machine having the above-described structure will be described. The copied products copied in the copying machine main body 1 are normally accumulated as shown by the phantom line in FIG. The required number of sheets are sorted and sent to the sort bins 5 ₁ , 5 ₂ and 5 ₃ located at an angle. Sort bin 5 ₁
Copy material fed into it is directly removed, in order to take out the copy material fed into the sort bins 5 _2,
Rotating the bins 5 ₁ upward by hand That is rotated to the position indicated by the solid line is a desired tilt angle.

If the sort bin 5 ₁ rotates to the position indicated by the solid line, the sort bin 5 ₁
The distance between the and 5 ₂ becomes large, and the copy placed on the sort bin 5 ₂ can be easily taken out. As described above, by sequentially rotating the sort bins pivotally supported by the sorter body 4 and arranged in the up-down direction, the copy can be easily taken out. After taking out the copy of each sort bin in this way, the sort bin is pivoted downward and returned to the position of the normal copy accumulation angle shown by the phantom line.

〔The invention's effect〕

As described above, according to the present invention, since the plurality of star gears that engage with each of the plurality of elastic locking plates are provided, the star gears are rotated when the copy product sent to the sort bin is taken out. By fitting one of the plurality of fitting portions to the elastic locking plate, the tilt angle of the sort bin can be changed in multiple stages, and as a result, the sort bin can be reliably held at the desired tilt angle. Therefore, it is possible to easily take out the copy stored in the sort bin.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a front view of a copying machine equipped with a sorter according to an embodiment of the present invention, FIG. 2 is an enlarged front sectional view of a main part of the sorter shown in FIG. 1, and FIG. 3 is shown in FIG. FIG. 4 is a side view of the main part shown, and FIG. 4 is a front view of a copying machine equipped with a conventional sorter. 1 ... Copying machine main body, 4 ... Sorter main body, 5,5 ₁ , 5, ₂ , 5, ₃ ... Sort bin, 8 ... Star gear, 8b ... Fitting part, 9 ... Elastic locking plate.

Claims (1)

[Claims] 1. A sorter main body, a star gear support plate vertically provided on the sorter main body, an elastic locking plate attached to the star gear support plate, and a plurality of engaging members for the elastic locking plate. A tiltable sort bin sorter for a copying machine, comprising a star gear having individual fitting portions and a sort bin fixed to each of the star gears.