JPH0694329B2 - Paper sorting device - Google Patents

Description

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a sheet sorting apparatus for sorting recorded sheets in a desired number of set sheets on a discharge tray in an image recording apparatus such as a printer and an electronic copying machine.

2. Description of the Related Art As a sheet sorting device that sorts image-recorded sheets on a discharge tray for each desired set number of sheets, a first position for gripping discharged sheets and a direction perpendicular to the traveling direction of the sheets are moved. It is known that a paper discharge roller is reciprocated between a second position for discharging the gripped paper and the paper is sorted by changing the paper discharge position for each set number of sheets.

This paper sorting apparatus first discharges a first set number of sheets of paper onto a paper discharge tray at a position where the paper discharge roller is set at its first position, and then discharges the paper discharge roller to the first position and the second position. The second set number of sheets at the position of the second position, that is, at a position deviated in the direction perpendicular to the first set number of sheets, and the first set number of sheets. By ejecting the sheets upward and repeating this operation, the sheets are sorted on the sheet ejection tray for each desired set number of sheets.

However, this paper sorting apparatus has a drawback that the control thereof is complicated because the timing of the start of the operation of the paper discharge rollers for sorting the papers differs corresponding to different paper sizes.

It is an object of the present invention to provide a sheet sorting apparatus in which the operation of the discharge rollers for sorting the sheets can be easily controlled even when the sheets have different sizes.

Configuration According to the present invention, a pair of paper discharge rollers are reciprocally moved between a first position for gripping a discharged paper and a second position for moving the paper perpendicularly to the paper discharge direction and discharging the gripped paper. In the paper sorting device that sorts the paper by changing the paper discharge position for each set number of sheets, a paper discharge sensor is arranged in the paper transport path on the paper feed direction side of the paper discharge roller, and the paper is sorted. Therefore, when the paper discharge roller is moved in the direction perpendicular to the paper discharge direction, the movement of the paper discharge roller is started from the time when the paper discharge sensor detects the rear end of the paper.

Next, specific examples of the configuration of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the drawings.

In FIG. 1, a static eliminator 4, a cleaning device 5, a charging device 6, and an optical information writing device 7 having a laser are provided on the peripheral surface of a belt-shaped photoconductor 3 which is rotationally driven by a pair of rollers 1 and 2. An image forming device A such as the developing device 8 forms a toner image of image information. While the image forming apparatus A is operating, one of the sheets S stored in the plurality of first sheet feeding trays T ₁ and second sheet feeding trays T ₂ arranged in the printer body 9 is a sheet. The sheet is fed to a predetermined position by a sheet feeding unit B including a push-up lever 10, a pre-feed roller 11, a feed roller 12, a reverse roller 13, a pair of conveyance rollers 14 and a pair of registration rollers 15, and stands by. The standby sheet S is re-fed at the timing when the leading edge of the sheet S and the leading edge of the toner image formed on the photoconductor 3 coincide with each other, and the image is recorded via the transfer device 16 and the fixing device 17, and then the guide plate. Through a pair of paper ejection rollers 1
The sheets are discharged onto one sheet discharge tray 20 by 8,19. A paper discharge sensor 21 is disposed on the side of the paper S in the feeding direction with respect to the paper discharge rollers 18 and 19, that is, between the fixing device 17 and the paper discharge roller 18. The paper discharge sensor 21 is a reed switch that is arranged in the conveyance path of the paper S and detects the displacement of the actuator displaced by the paper S.

The shaft 18a of the paper discharge roller 18 is mounted on the pair of support plates 22 and 22 with the bearing 2
It is rotatably and slidably supported via 3, 23. The shaft 19a of the discharge roller 19 is also attached to the support plates 22 and 22 by the bearings 24 and 2
It is rotatably and slidably supported via 4.

A rack 25 is loosely fitted to and supported by the intermediate portion of the shaft 18a. The rack 25 is prevented from rotating with respect to an immovable member, and both sides of the washer are locked to the shaft 18a. Axial movements with respect to the shaft 18a are blocked by 60 and 60.

A worm 27 fixed to a shaft 26a of a motor 26 capable of rotating in the forward and reverse directions is engaged with the rack 25.
Moves the rack 25 in the direction of arrow a in FIG. 2 by the forward rotation of the motor 26, and moves the rack 25 in the direction of the arrow b by reverse rotation of the motor 26.

A sprocket 28 is attached to the end of the shaft 18a of the paper discharge roller 18 via a bearing 29. This bearing 29 is
The shaft 18a is movably supported in the longitudinal direction thereof, that is, in the direction perpendicular to the paper discharge direction, and also rotates integrally with the shaft 18a in the rotation direction of the shaft 18a. The bearing 29 is arranged between the bearing 23 provided on the support plate 22 and the support piece 30 so as not to move in the longitudinal direction of the shaft 18a. A drive chain 31 is attached to the sprocket 28. This drive chain
When 31 is driven by a motor (not shown), the driving force of the drive chain 31 is transmitted to the shaft 18a via the sprocket 28 and the bearing 29, and the shaft 18a and the paper discharge roller 18 are rotated. When these paper discharge rollers 18 rotate, the paper discharge rollers 19 in contact with them are rotated by frictional force.

At the end of the shaft 18a of the discharge roller 18, two connecting discs 32 are provided.
Is fixed. One end of the roller position detecting piece 33 is arranged between the connecting discs 32, and one end of the roller position detecting piece 33 is rotatably attached to the shaft 18a of the paper discharge roller 18. Further, one end portion having a concave portion of the connecting piece 34 is arranged between the connecting discs 32, and the concave portion of the one end portion of the connecting piece 34 is provided with a shaft through a roller position detecting piece 33.
It is fitted on 18a. The other end of the connecting piece 34 is rotatably attached to the shaft 19a of the paper discharge roller 19 and cannot move in the longitudinal direction of the shaft 19a. A rack 25 in which the shaft 18a of the paper discharge roller 18 is driven by a worm 27
When it is moved in the longitudinal direction, that is, in the direction perpendicular to the paper discharge direction, this moving force is transmitted to the shaft 19a of the paper discharge roller 19 by the connecting disc 32 and the connecting piece 34, and this shaft 19a also rotates.
Move with a.

When the shaft 18a of the paper discharge roller 18 moves in the direction perpendicular to the paper discharge direction, the roller position detection piece 33 moves integrally with this. A sensor support member 35 having a groove is arranged near the roller position detection piece 33. The protruding end of the roller position detecting piece 33 is fitted in the groove of the sensor support member 35. On the sensor support member 35, two roller position sensors 36 and 37, which are photosensors, are arranged at a predetermined interval 1 in the direction perpendicular to the paper discharge direction.

As shown in FIG. 2, when the discharge rollers 18 and 19 are arranged at the first position (left position), that is, when the roller position detecting piece 33 is detected by the roller position sensor 36, the motor 26 Is turned on and the drive shaft 26a is rotated in the forward direction, the paper discharge rollers 18 and 19 move in the direction of arrow a (to the right), and the roller position sensor 37 detects the roller position detecting piece 33 and turns on. OFF, the discharge roller 18,
19 is stopped at the second position (right position), then the motor 26 is turned on and the drive shaft 26a rotates in the reverse direction, so that the discharge roller 1
When 8 and 19 move in the direction of arrow b (to the left) and the roller position sensor 36 detects the roller position detection piece 33 and turns on, the motor is turned on.
26 is turned off and the discharge rollers 18 and 19 are stopped at the first position (left position).

An operation display panel 38 is provided on the upper surface of the exterior plate 9a of the printer body 9. Next this operation display panel 38
Will be described with reference to FIG.

On the operation display panel 38, a power key 39 for turning the power on or off, a power indicator 4 for displaying the power on or off
0, start key 41 to start printing, paper S
Sorting number setting key 42 to set the number of sorted sheets, the set sorting number display 43 to display the set number of sorted sheets, the total number of recorded sheets setting key 44 to set the total number of recorded sheets, the set total number to display the set total number of recorded sheets Recorded number display 35, numeric keypad
46, a clear stop key 47 that clears the input value input by the ten-key pad 46 and stops the operation of the printer body 9, and feeds the paper S in the first paper feed tray T ₁ or the second paper feed tray T _2. To select the tray selection key
48, 49 and tray selection indicators 50, 51 for indicating that these tray selection keys 48, 49 are turned on are provided.

Turn on the numeric keypad 46 after turning on the sorting number setting key 42.
By doing so, the number of sorted sheets is set. The total number of recorded sheets is set by turning on the ten key 46 after turning on the total number of recorded sheets setting key 44.

FIG. 4 shows a controller of the sheet sorting apparatus of the present invention, which will be described below.

Paper ejection sensor 21, roller position sensors 36, 37, power key 3
Information such as 9, a start key 41, a sorting number setting key 42, a total recording number setting key 44, a ten key 46, a clear stop key 47, and tray selection keys 48, 49 is given to the input port of the microcomputer 52.

The output port of the microcomputer 52 has two roller driving means for rotating the image forming device A, each pre-feed roller 11, each feed roller 12 and each reverse roller 13.
53, 54, roller driving means 55 for rotating the conveying roller 14,
A roller driving means 56 for rotating the registration roller 15, a roller driving means 57 for rotating the fixing roller of the fixing device 17, a roller driving means 58 for rotating the discharge roller 18, a driving means 26b of the motor 26, and a set sorting number indicator 43. , The set total recording number display 45, the tray selection display 50, 51, etc. are connected.

In the RAM of the microcomputer 52, a sorting number setting counter that counts the setting number of sorting numbers, a total recording number setting counter that counts the setting number of total recording numbers,
A sorting paper discharge counter that counts the image-recorded paper S to sort the paper S based on the output from the paper discharge sensor 21, and all the image-recorded paper S based on the output from the paper discharge sensor 21. Total discharge counter that counts the number of sheets, the first tray flag for storing that the tray selection keys 48, 49 are turned on and for automatically selecting the first paper feed tray T ₁ and the second paper feed tray T _2. Further, there are provided a second tray flag and a paper discharge right flag for storing the case where the paper discharge rollers 18 and 19 are moved to the right.

Next, an example of the operation of the sheet sorting apparatus of the present invention will be described with reference to FIGS. 5 and 6.

When the power key 39 is turned on, the microcomputer 52
The operation is executed in accordance with the programs stored in the ROM of FIG.

First, initial setting is performed in step. In this initial setting, after clearing the RAM and the input / output port of the microcomputer 52, the printer body 9 is brought into a state in which image recording is possible.

Next, in step, the total number of recorded sheets is set, and in step, the number of sorted sheets is set. Next, in step, it is checked whether or not the tray selection keys 48, 49 are turned on. If the tray selection keys 48, 49 are turned on, the ON signal of the tray selection keys 48, 49 is sent in step [First tray flag ] = 1 or [Second Tray Flag] = 1 and then go to step. If the tray selection keys 48, 49 are not turned on at the step, the first tray flag is set to 1 at the step, and then the step proceeds.

Next, at step, it is checked whether or not the start key 26 is turned on, and when the start key 41 is turned on, it is checked at step whether [first tray flag] = 1. If it is determined in step 1 that [first tray flag] = 1, the roller drive means 53 is selected so as to feed the paper S in the first paper feed tray T _{1 in} step. If [first tray flag] = 1 is not set in step S1, the roller driving means 54 is selected so that the sheet in the _second sheet feed tray T2 is fed in step S1.

Next, in step S, the image forming apparatus A is turned on, and the roller driving means 53 or 54 and the roller driving means 55 to 58 are turned on to print an image on the paper S. Next, in step, it is checked whether or not [paper discharge right flag] = 0, and if it is determined that [paper discharge right flag] = 0, it is judged in step whether the paper discharge sensor 21 is turned from OFF to ON. Check. When the paper discharge sensor 21 turns from OFF to ON in step,
After setting [sorting discharge counter] +1 and [total discharge counter] +1, it is checked whether [sorting discharge counter] = [set sorting number] [step ,,]. In steps [paper discharge counter for sorting]
If it is determined that the value is not equal to [the set number of sorted sheets], the process returns to step and printing is repeated.

When it is determined in the above step that [sorting discharge counter] = [set sorting number], it is checked in step whether [sheet discharge right flag] = 0. When it is determined that [paper discharge right flag] = 0 in step, [paper discharge right flag] = 1 is set in step, and when it is determined that [paper discharge right flag] = 0 is not set in step, [paper discharge right flag] is set. ] = 0.

Next, after setting [paper discharge counter for sorting] = 0 in step, it is checked in step whether [total paper discharge counter] = [set total number of recorded sheets]. If it is determined in step S1 that [total sheet discharge counter] = [set total number of prints], the process returns to step S1 and printing is performed. If it is judged in the step that [total sheet discharge counter] = [set total number of recorded sheets], the operation is stopped.

If it is determined in the above step that [paper discharge right flag] is not 0, it is checked in step whether the paper discharge sensor 21 is turned from OFF to ON. The paper ejection sensor 21 is OF in step
If it is determined that the output has turned from F to ON, then [sorting discharge counter] +1 and [total discharge counter] +1 are set, and then it is checked whether the discharge sensor 21 has changed from ON to OFF, that is, It is checked whether or not the paper sensor 21 detects the trailing edge of the paper S (step, ...).

When it is determined that the paper discharge sensor 21 has changed from ON to OFF in step, the motor 26 is turned on in step and the paper discharge roller 1
Move 8, 19 to the right. In this case, the paper discharge rollers 18 and 19 are in a state of holding the paper S. Next, in step, it is checked whether or not the roller position sensor 37 is turned on, and if it is determined that the roller position sensor 37 is turned on, the motor 26 is turned off in step and the discharge rollers 18 and 19 are stopped at the right position. . Next, in step, it is checked whether tx ≧ ta. This tx is the elapsed time from the time when the paper discharge sensor 21 is turned from ON to OFF, and ta is the time when the paper discharge sensor 21 is turned ON.
It is a predetermined time required to discharge the paper S by the paper discharge rollers 18 and 19 from the time when it is turned off.

When it is determined that tx ≧ ta in step, the motor 26 is turned on in step and the paper discharge rollers 18 and 19 are moved to the left.
Next, in step, it is checked whether or not the roller position sensor 36 is turned on, and when it is determined that the roller position sensor 36 is turned on, the motor 26 is turned off in step and the discharge rollers 18 and 19 are stopped at the left position. I will go to the step later.

When the operation is executed according to the program shown in the flow charts of FIGS. 5 and 6, a plurality of sheets S on which images are recorded as shown in FIG.
The sheets are shifted and arranged on the discharge tray 19 to be sorted.

Effect When the paper discharge device of the present invention moves the paper discharge roller in the direction perpendicular to the paper discharge direction for paper classification, the paper discharge sensor disposed on the paper feed direction side of the paper discharge roller is positioned behind the paper. Since the operation of the discharge rollers is started from the time when the edge is detected, it is easy to control the operation of the discharge rollers for sorting the paper even if the paper sizes are different.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a schematic view showing a printer equipped with the paper sorting apparatus of the present invention, FIG. 2 is a side view showing the main part of the paper sorting apparatus of the above, and FIG. 3 is a plan view showing the operation display panel of the same printer. FIG. 4 is a block diagram showing a control device of the paper sorting apparatus of the same as above, and FIGS. 5 and 6 are a flow chart and an seventh flowchart for explaining the operation of the paper sorting apparatus of the same as above.
The figure is a side view showing a mode of sheet sorting by the sheet sorting apparatus. 18, 19 …… Paper ejection roller, 21 …… Paper ejection sensor, 26 …… Motor, 52 …… Microcomputer

 ─────────────────────────────────────────────────── ─── Continuation of the front page (72) Inventor Koji Nishitoku 1-3-6 Nakamagome, Ota-ku, Tokyo Inside Ricoh Co., Ltd. (56) References JP-A-54-103354 (JP, A)

Claims (1)

[Claims] 1. A pair of paper discharge rollers are reciprocally moved between a first position for gripping discharged paper and a second position for moving paper perpendicular to the paper discharge direction and discharging the gripped paper. In the paper sorting device that sorts the paper by changing the paper discharge position for each set number by
The paper ejection sensor is arranged in the paper conveyance path on the paper feed direction side of the paper ejection roller, and the paper ejection sensor is used when the paper ejection roller is moved in a direction perpendicular to the paper ejection direction for sorting the paper. A sheet sorting device, wherein the sheet discharge device starts moving at the time when the trailing edge of the sheet is detected.