JPH0688731B2 - Sorter - Google Patents

Description

Description: TECHNICAL FIELD The present invention relates to a sorter for collecting sheets discharged from an electrostatic copying machine, a printing machine, or the like in a desired manner.

<Prior Art> Conventionally, a relatively small sorter called a compact sorter has been proposed and put into practical use. A representative example of prior art disclosing such a sorter is U.S. Pat.
8,963 (JP-A-56-787703), U.S. Pat. No. 4,332,377
(JP-A-57-141357), U.S. Pat.No. 4,337,936 (JP-A-57-4856), U.S. Pat.
4,466,608 (JP-A-57-4855), U.S. Pat. No. 4,466,6
09 and U.S. Pat. No. 4,478,406 (JP-A-59-43769).
No.) can be mentioned.

The sorter includes a plurality of bin trays arranged in the vertical direction, and the upstream end of each bin tray is mounted so as to be vertically movable and rotatable along a predetermined movement path. The sorter further includes an upstream end of the bin tray at 1
A transfer mechanism is provided for sequentially raising and lowering the individual bins and sequentially separating adjacent bin trays at their upstream end portions in the vertical direction to form a sheet receiving port.

On the other hand, as a supporting system for the downstream end of the bin tray, a supporting system generally called a stacking system (such a supporting system is disclosed in the above-mentioned US Pat. No. 4,332,377) and an independent system are generally called. The supporting method (such a supporting method is disclosed in the above-mentioned US Pat. No. 4,343,463) is used. In the stacking method, appropriate supporting blocks are fixed on both sides of each downstream end of the bin tray, and the supporting blocks are vertically slidably stacked relative to each other. The downstream end of the first bin tray from the bottom is directly supported by the supporting means arranged below it, while the downstream ends of the second and upper bin trays from the bottom are respectively It is supported by the above-mentioned supporting means via the supporting block of the lower bin tray. In the above-mentioned independent system, the support walls are disposed so as to face both sides of the downstream end of the bin tray, and a plurality of guide surfaces are formed on the inner surface of the support wall at intervals in the vertical direction. And appropriate parts on both sides of the downstream end of the bin tray,
For example, support pieces formed on both sides of the downstream end of the bin tray and protruding in the width direction are mounted on the guide surface so as to be slidable and relatively rotatable.

<Problems of Prior Art> In the stacking method described above, for example, when sheets are jammed between the fifth bin tray from the top and the sixth bin tray from the top, Lifting the downstream end of the 5th to 5th bin trays, the 1st to 5th from the top
Swivel the 8th bin tray upwards around their upstream ends, thus significantly separating the 5th bin from the top and 6th bin from the top, and handling jammed sheets with sufficient ease It has the advantage of being able to do what it can. However, the stacking method described above has the following disadvantages. That is, when the upstream end portion of a specific bin tray is raised or lowered by the transfer mechanism, the support blocks provided on both sides of the downstream end portion of the specific bin tray have the support of the bin trays immediately above and below. The block is slid to the downstream side or the upstream side and swiveled. However, since the support blocks of the plurality of bin trays are vertically stacked as described above, the lower the bin tray, the greater the weight acting on the support block (for example, the support block of the third bin tray from the top). Is
Although only the weights of the first to third bin trays from the top act, the weights of the tenth to tenth bin trays from the top are set on the support blocks of the tenth bin tray from the top. Works). Therefore, compared with the case where the upstream end of the relatively upper bin tray is raised or lowered by the transfer mechanism, the required power is large when the upstream end of the relatively lower bin tray is raised or lowered by the transfer mechanism. Become. Further, the rigidity required for the bin tray itself is also increased in the lower bin tray.

On the other hand, in the above-mentioned independent method, the both sides of the downstream end portions of the plurality of bin trays are individually and independently supported by the plurality of guide surfaces. Therefore, the stacking method does not have the above disadvantages. However, the conventional independent method eliminates the above advantages of the stacking method. That is, both the downstream end portions of all the bin trays except the first bin tray from the top are moved upward by the protrusions that define the guide surfaces that support the downstream end portions of the bin trays immediately above. Movement is restricted. Therefore, for example, when sheets are jammed between the fifth bin tray from the top and the sixth bin tray from the top, the downstream end portions of the first to fifth bin trays from the top are lifted and Since the fifth bin tray and the sixth bin tray from the top cannot be separated significantly, it is considerably difficult to deal with a jammed sheet.

<Problems of the invention> The present invention has been made in view of the above facts, and a technical problem thereof is to improve the supporting system of the downstream end portions of a plurality of bin trays in a sorter to achieve the above-mentioned stacking system. Retaining the advantages and solving the above disadvantages, in other words, having both the above advantages of the stacking method and the above advantages of the independent method, and the above disadvantages of the above-mentioned stacking method. It is an object of the present invention to provide a new and excellent sorter that solves both of the above disadvantages of the independent type.

<Means for Solving the Invention> As a result of earnest studies, the present inventor has made the following improvements to the conventional independent system, that is, (a) at least the first to the second to the second to the second bin trays. Providing a projecting piece in which the projecting amount outward in the width direction is gradually reduced downward, (b) the inner surface of the support wall, which is disposed so as to face both sides of the downstream end of the bin tray, is the bin tray. In accordance with the amount of protrusion of the protruding piece outward in the width direction, the stepped shape is gradually displaced inward in the width direction from the upper side to the lower side. Despite the fact that the bin trays are independently supported by a plurality of guide surfaces, respectively, it becomes possible to raise the downstream end portion of each of the bin trays as needed, and thus to achieve the above technical problem. Headline that you can It was

That is, according to the present invention, each upstream end is mounted so as to be able to move up and down and swivel so as to vertically move a plurality of bin trays and the upstream end of the bin tray. In the sorter provided with the transfer mechanism of the above, at least the first to the second to the second from the bottom, the trays are provided with protrusion pieces protruding outward in the width direction from both sides of their downstream end portions, The protruding amount of the protruding piece outward in the width direction is gradually reduced from the first bin tray from the top toward the lower bin tray,
Supporting walls are disposed opposite to both sides of the downstream end of the bin tray, and an inner surface of the supporting wall is arranged from the upper side to the lower side in correspondence with the protruding amount of the protruding piece of the bin tray outward in the width direction. The stepped shape having a plurality of guide surfaces displaced inward in the width direction stepwise, the protruding pieces of the bin tray being placed on the corresponding guide surfaces, A sorter characterized by the above is provided.

<Preferred Embodiments of the Invention> Hereinafter, preferred embodiments of a sorter configured according to the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings.

Referring to FIG. 1 and FIG.
The sorter shown by (1) includes a stationary support frame 4 and a plurality of (18 in the illustrated case) bin trays 6 mounted on the support frame 4. Each of the plurality of bin trays 6 arranged in the up-down direction can be conveniently formed of a substantially rectangular plate-shaped member. In the illustrated specific example, each of the bin trays 6 is formed with a notch 7 extending from the downstream end toward the upstream at the center portion in the width direction. As clearly shown in FIG. 3, each upstream end edge (the right end edge in FIG. 2) of the bin tray 6 is integrally formed with an end wall 8 protruding upward by a slight distance. Projecting pieces 10 curved in an arc shape are integrally formed on both sides of the wall 8. Then, the curved protruding piece 10
Each of which may be a pin with a circular cross section trunnion
12 is fixed. An inner half of each trunnion 12 is fixed to the projecting piece 10, and an outer half thereof projects outward in the width direction from the projecting piece 10. On the other hand, as understood by referring to FIGS. 1 and 2, the support frame 4 has a front side which is arranged at predetermined intervals in the width direction (direction perpendicular to the paper surface in FIG. 2). And the rear upright side plates 13 and 14. Each of the front and rear upright side plates 13 and 14 is formed with an elongated slot 16 extending substantially vertically. Each of the trunnions 12 arranged on both sides of the upstream end of the bin tray 6 is
It penetrates through the slot 16 and is projected outward in the width direction. Thus, the upstream ends of the plurality of bin trays 6 are mounted on the support frame 4 so as to be movable up and down along the slots 16 and rotatable about the trunnions 12. In each of the front and rear upright side plates 13 and 14,
A plurality of (18 in the case shown) trunnions 12 penetrating the slots 16 are vertically stacked on top of each other (however, in the state shown in FIG. 1 and FIG. The seventh bin tray 6 and the eighth bin tray from the top are vertically separated from each other at their upstream ends by the action of a transfer mechanism 18 described later, and thus the first to seventh bins from the top. The trunnions 12 of the bin tray 6 up to are sequentially contacted in the vertical direction,
Further, the trunnions 12 of the 8th to 18th bin trays 6 from the top are sequentially contacted in the vertical direction, but the trunnions of the 7th bin tray 6 from the top.
12 and the trunnion 12 of the eighth bin tray 6 from the top are separated from each other).

Continuing the description with reference to FIGS. 1 and 2, the stationary support frame 4 has a transfer mechanism 18 that acts on the trunnion 12 to sequentially raise and lower the upstream ends of the bin trays 6 one by one. Is also installed. The transfer mechanism 18 includes, between the front upright side plate 13 and an auxiliary plate 20 disposed on the front side thereof, and between the rear upright side plate 14 and an auxiliary plate 22 disposed on the rear side thereof, respectively, It includes a sliding member 24 mounted so as to be movable in the vertical direction (only the front sliding member 24 is shown in FIGS. 1 and 2). Each of the sliding members 24,
A pair of rotating cam plates 26 and 28 that cooperate with each other are rotatably mounted. The transfer mechanism 18 further includes a rotation drive means (not shown) for rotating the pair of rotary cam plates 26 and 28 in mutually opposite directions. The operation of the transfer mechanism 18 will be briefly described. When the rotary cam plate 26 is rotated clockwise in the state shown in FIG. The trunnion 12 of the eighth bin tray 6 is raised by a predetermined distance x, and the sliding member 24 and the rotary cam plates 26 and 28 attached thereto are lowered by a distance corresponding to the diameter d of the trunnion 12, and thus from above. A state in which the eighth bin tray 6 and the ninth bin tray 6 from the top are vertically separated from each other at their upstream end portions (thus, the ninth bin tray from the top).
The sheet is distributed to the second bin tray 6). On the contrary, in the state shown in FIG. 2, the rotary cam plate 26 is set counterclockwise and the rotary cam plate 28 is set clockwise by 1 respectively.
When rotated, the trunnion 12 of the seventh bin tray 6 from the top is lowered by a predetermined distance x, and the sliding member 24 and the rotary cam plates 26 and 28 attached thereto correspond to the diameter d of the trunnion 12. By a distance so that the sixth bin tray 6 from the top and the seventh bin tray 6 from the top are vertically separated from each other at their upstream ends (thus, to the seventh bin tray 6 from the top). Sheets are distributed). Therefore,
For details of the configuration and operation of the transfer mechanism 18, refer to a patent application filed by the applicant of the present application on July 28, 1987 (Title of Invention: Stacked trunnion transfer mechanism and sorter using the same).
Since the description is given in the specification and drawings, the description will be cited and the description will be omitted in the present specification.

Between the front upright side plate 13 and the rear upright side plate 14 in the stationary support frame 4, as shown by a two-dot chain line in FIG.
Guide plate pair 30, first conveying roller pair 32, second guide plate pair
34 and a second conveying roller pair 36 are also arranged. The second conveying roller pair 36 is supported by the sliding member 24, and therefore can be moved up and down according to the lifting of the sliding member 24. The upstream end of the second guide plate pair 34 is rotatably supported, and this allows the downstream end of the second guide plate pair 34 to move up and down together with the sliding member 24.

Thus, the above-described configuration of the illustrated sorter 2 is not related to the novel features of the improved sorter according to the present invention, but merely represents one example of a sorter to which the present invention can be applied, and A detailed description of the configuration of the illustrated sorter 2 as described above is omitted in the present specification (if necessary, refer to the specification and drawings of the above-mentioned patent application dated July 28, 1987). I want to be).

According to the present invention, the method of supporting the downstream end portions (the left end portion in FIG. 2) of the plurality of bin trays 6 is improved.

Explaining with reference to FIG. 3, the illustrated bin tray 6 is integrally formed with additional portions 38 on both sides of its downstream end portion. The adding portion 38 has a rising piece 40 that extends upward from the side edge of the downstream end of the main body of the bin tray 6, and a protruding piece 42 that projects outward in the width direction from the upper edge of the rising piece 40. As can be understood by referring to FIG. 4, the rising piece 40 is inclined slightly upward in the width direction outward. As clearly shown in FIG. 3, the rising piece 40 has a triangular shape in which the upward protruding height gradually increases toward the downstream side, and the protruding piece 42 has a rectangular shape. Therefore, the protruding piece 42 is inclined upward toward the downstream side at an inclination angle α which may be about 20 to 30 degrees with respect to the side edge of the main body of the bin tray 6.

As can be understood by referring to FIG. 4 together with FIG. 3, the rising pieces 40 of the additional portions 38 provided on the plurality of bin trays 6 are substantially the same for all the bin trays 6. Is. However, it is important that the projecting piece 42 of the additional portion 38 has a projecting amount outward in the width direction gradually reduced toward the upper bin tray 6 or the lower bin tray 6. In the illustrated specific example, the protruding piece 42 in the first bin tray 6 from the top is shown.
The widthwise protrusion amount l of the protruding piece 42 in the lower bin tray 6 is gradually reduced by a predetermined amount C _{1 with} respect to the widthwise protrusion amount l _max of the above, and the protrusion in the nth bin tray 6 from the top. The protrusion amount l _{n in} the width direction of the piece 42 is l _n = l
It is set to _max − (n−1) C ₁ . In the first bin tray 6 from the bottom, the rising piece 40 is formed, but the protruding piece 42 is not formed.

Referring to FIGS. 1 and 2, the stationary support frame 4 is provided with a support frame 44 for supporting the downstream end portions of the plurality of bin trays 6. The illustrated support frame 44 includes an extending portion 46 that is inclined upward toward the upstream end or the downstream side fixed to each of the front and rear upright side plates 13 and 14, and each of the extending portions 46. Inclined portions 48 that extend upward in the width direction from the downstream end and extend upward, upright portions 50 that extend substantially vertically upward from each of the inclined portions 48, and between the upright portions 50 substantially horizontally. Horizontal part that extends
With 52. A support wall 54 is fixed to both sides of the downstream end of the support frame 44. If desired, the support wall 54 can be formed integrally with the support frame 44.

As can be understood by referring to FIGS. 2 and 4, each of the support walls 54 located on opposite sides of the downstream ends of the plurality of bin trays 6 has a substantially parallelogram shape in a side view. Yes (see FIG. 2), and in the end view seen from the downstream side, it extends upward along the inclined portion 48 of the support frame 44 so as to incline outward in the width direction. The inner surface of each of the support walls 54, as clearly shown in FIG. 4, is in the form of a staircase having a plurality of guide surfaces which are gradually displaced inward in the width direction from top to bottom. Is important. In the illustrated embodiment, the support wall
The inner surface of each of 54 has 18 guide surfaces 56 facing upwards. From the first guide surface 56 from the top to the seventeenth guide surface 56 from the top (that is, the second from the bottom), the widthwise displacement amount C ₂ and the vertical step h between the adjacent guide surfaces 56 are Are virtually the same. Then, the widthwise displacement amount C ₂ is the predetermined amount referred to for the protruding piece 42 in the bin tray 6.
It is set to be substantially the same as C ₁ . On the other hand, the step between the first guide surface 56 from the bottom and the second guide surface 56 from the bottom
ha is set to be larger than the other steps h (this corresponds to the fact that the protruding piece 42 is not formed on the first bin tray 6 from the bottom as described above). Second
As will be clearly understood by referring to the drawings, a plurality of guide surfaces 56 formed on the inner surface of each of the support walls 54.
Expediently extends obliquely upward with a tilt angle β which may be approximately 40 to 50 degrees.

As will be understood by referring to FIGS. 2 and 4, the downstream end of each of the plurality of bin trays 6 is supported by placing the protruding piece 42 on the corresponding guide surface 56. . That is, the protruding piece 42 of the first bin tray 6 from the top is placed on the first guide surface 56 from the top of the support wall 54, and the protruding piece 42 of the nth bin tray 6 from the top.
Is placed on the nth guide surface 56 from the top of the support wall 54. However, in the illustrated specific example, the projecting piece 42 is not formed on the first bin tray 6 from the bottom as described above, and as shown in FIG. 4, it is located downstream of the first bin tray 6 from the bottom. The ends are supported in place by having both side edges of the body itself rest directly on the first guide surface 56 from the bottom of the support wall 54.

In the sorter 2 as described above, when the upstream end of the specific bin tray 6 is raised or lowered by the action of the transfer mechanism 18, the projecting piece 42 of the specific bin tray 6 is guided by the placed piece. It is slidable downstream or upstream along surface 56 and is pivoted somewhat with respect to said guide surface 56. More specifically with reference to FIG. 2, while the trunnion 12 of the eighth bin tray 6 from the top is raised by a predetermined distance x by the action of the transfer mechanism 18 from the state shown in FIG. The protruding piece 42 of the eighth bin tray 6 from the top slides slightly downstream along the eighth guide surface 56 from the top of the support wall 54 and is swung slightly counterclockwise. On the contrary, from the state shown in FIG. 2, while the trunnion 12 of the 7th bin tray 6 from the top is lowered by the action of the transfer mechanism 18 by the predetermined distance x, the 7th bin tray 6 from the top The protruding piece 42 slides slightly upstream along the seventh guide surface 56 of the support wall 54 and is swung slightly clockwise.

<Advantages of the Invention> In the sorter 2 improved according to the present invention, both sides of the downstream end portions of the plurality of bin trays 6 are individually and independently supported by the plurality of guide surfaces 56 of the support wall 54.
Therefore, the above-mentioned disadvantages of the conventional stacking method are eliminated,
It has the above-mentioned advantages of the conventional independent method. In addition, in the sorter 2 improved in accordance with the present invention, the plurality of guide surfaces 56 of the support wall 54 are displaced stepwise inward in the width direction from above to below, in other words, from below to above. Are gradually displaced outward in the width direction. Therefore, the rising of the downstream end of the particular bin tray 6 is not hindered by the guide surface 56 for the bin tray 6 above it, and the downstream end of the particular bin tray 6 is above it. It can be raised freely with the downstream end of 6. Therefore, for example, when a sheet is jammed between the seventh bin tray 6 from the top and the eighth bin tray 6 from the top, as shown by a chain double-dashed line in FIG.
The downstream end portions of the first to seventh bin trays 6 from the top are manually lifted to rotate these bin trays 6 about the trunnion 12 at the upstream end, respectively, and thus, the seventh bin tray 6 from the top. And the eighth bin tray 6 from the top can be greatly separated, and the jammed sheet can be treated sufficiently easily. Therefore,
It does not have the above-mentioned disadvantages of the conventional independent method, but has the above-mentioned advantages of the conventional stacking method.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing a preferred embodiment of a sorter improved according to the present invention. FIG. 2 is a simplified cross-sectional view of the sorter shown in FIG. FIG. 3 is a perspective view showing a bin tray used in the sorter shown in FIG. 1. FIG. 4 is a partial side view showing the downstream end of the sorter shown in FIG. 1. 2 …… Sorter 4 …… Standing support frame 6 …… Bin tray 12 …… Trunion 18 …… Transfer mechanism 38 …… Bin tray additional part 40 …… Standing piece 42 …… Projecting piece 44 …… Supporting frame 54 …… Support wall 56 ... Guide surface

Claims (1)

[Claims] 1. A plurality of bin trays, which are vertically movably and pivotally mounted, and vertically arranged, and a transfer mechanism for appropriately raising and lowering the upstream end of the bin tray. In the sorter provided with and, at least the first to second bin trays from the top are provided with projecting pieces projecting outward in the width direction from both sides of their downstream end portions. The amount of protrusion of the width direction outward is gradually reduced from the first bin tray to the lower bin tray,
Supporting walls are disposed opposite to both sides of the downstream end of the bin tray, and an inner surface of the supporting wall is arranged from the upper side to the lower side in correspondence with the protruding amount of the protruding piece of the bin tray outward in the width direction. The stepped shape having a plurality of guide surfaces displaced inward in the width direction stepwise, the protruding pieces of the bin tray being placed on the corresponding guide surfaces, A sorter characterized by that.