JPH07144822A - Sheet storing device - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To secure the secrecy, etc., by keeping each bin in an untakabled state before the completion of the discharge of a sheet and preventing the sheet from being left, by locking each bin during the operation of a device, as for the device equipped with a number of bins for storing the sheets on which each image data is printed. CONSTITUTION:A sheet accommodating device, e.g. a mail box 10 is equipped with a number of bins (accommodation stages) for accommodating the sheets on which each image data is printed. In this case, during the operation of the mail box 10, each bin is locked. For instance, each cover 81 is installed in an openable/closable form on the bin, and each cover 81 is turned around a fulcrum (a) and opened by inserting a finger into a hole 82 and pulling the finger. Accompanied with the movement of the mail box 10, a solenoid 86 is operated and a locking plate 87 is pulled down, and then the opening of each cover 81 is suppressed by inserting the locking hook 84 of the locking plate 87 into the slit 83 of each cover 81. Accordingly, before the completion of the discharge of the sheets, each bin is kept in a untakabled state, and the sheet is prevented from being left.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to an image forming system such as various networks, workstations, personal computer systems, etc. using a plurality of host computers (including a display section, an operation section, etc.), or a page printer, a copying machine. And the like, and more particularly to a locking technique thereof.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, sheets (sheets) in a sheet storage device (hereinafter referred to as a mail box) having a plurality of storage stages.
Is required to be confidentiality. In recent years, as a method therefor, a technique has been proposed in which a user inputs a preset password, and the ejected paper can be taken out only when the passwords match (JP-A-4-48323).

As a similar technique, there is also proposed a technique in which a key lock is provided on the paper discharge tray and the key lock is unlocked by sending an ID code from the host (Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 2-186429). .

[0004]

However, in the former technique, since the password is set in advance, the user who does not have the password is not provided with the confidentiality protection mechanism, resulting in inconvenience to many users. There was a drawback.

Further, in the latter technique, since the unlocking is performed when the user is at the host, if the mailbox is far from the host, other users can access the mailbox in the mailbox while the user goes to pick up. There is also the risk of problems such as the sheet being removed.

It is an object of the present invention to solve the above-mentioned drawbacks of the prior art and to provide a sheet storage device which can satisfy the user's confidentiality and usability.

[0007]

The above object is to provide a plurality of bins for accommodating sheets printed with image data created by an image forming system including a host computer and an image forming apparatus such as a printer. The sheet accommodating apparatus including the above is achieved by the first means including the locking means for locking the bottle during the operation of the apparatus.

Further, in the first means, the locking means is achieved by the second means for locking all the bottles.

In the second means, the locking means is achieved by a single third means.

In the first means, the locking means is achieved by a fourth means that locks only the bin receiving the sheet.

The fourth means has a branch pawl for switching the sheet conveying path and a solenoid for operating the branch pawl, which is achieved by a fifth means for operating the locking means. .

[0012]

In the first means, the bin is locked while the sheet accommodating device is in operation, so that the sheet can be taken out after the sheet has been completely discharged into the bin.

In the second means, all bins are locked, so the confidentiality of all sheets is maintained. Also,
It is possible to prevent damage from interrupting the work of the bottle that is being discharged due to an operation error when taking out the sheet.

In the third means, one locking means can lock all the bottles.

In the fourth means, only the bin in which the sheet is being discharged is locked, so that the sheet in the bin that has been discharged can be promptly taken out.

In the fifth means, the locking means is also operated by a solenoid that operates a branching claw that switches the sheet conveying path.

[0017]

Embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings. FIG. 1 is a block diagram of an image forming system.

In the figure, 1 is a device body of a laser printer, 2 is an optional paper feed unit, 3 and 4 are paper feed cassettes attached to the device body 1, 5 is a photoconductor, and 6 is an optical writing unit. In addition to the optical writing unit 6, well-known image forming units such as a charging unit, a developing unit, a transfer unit, and a cleaning unit are arranged around the photoconductor 5. 7 is a fixing unit.

FIG. 2 is a layout diagram of the entire image forming system showing the first embodiment of the mail box installation mode. A mail box 10 mounted on a mounting table 14 is provided on the side of the apparatus body 1. This mail box 1
0 is a bin (accommodation stage) 11 arranged in multiple stages in the vertical direction,
11 are provided, and empty / overflow sensors 12, 12 ... For detecting empty and overflow of the sheet are attached to the bins 11, 11 ,. Further, the operation display unit 13 is provided on the front side.

FIG. 3 is a layout diagram of the entire image forming system showing the second embodiment of the installation form of the mailbox. The mail box 10 is attached to the upper part of the apparatus main body 1, and a sheet on which an image has been formed is conveyed to each of the bins 11, 11, ... In the mail box 10 by a vertical conveyance path 21.

FIG. 4 is a layout diagram of the entire image forming system showing a third embodiment of the installation form of the mailbox. In this embodiment, a mail box 1 including a separable upper stage portion 10a and a lower stage portion 10b is provided on the side of the apparatus main body 1.
0, on the other hand, the upper part 10
a is provided.

FIG. 5 is a block diagram showing an example of the mail box. The sheet discharged from the image forming system is transported by the transport roller pair 21. Reference numeral 23 is a branching claw for switching the sheet passing direction. In this figure, the sheet is discharged to the seventh bin 11. When a signal for discharging a sheet is output to a certain bin 11, a solenoid connected to the branch claw 23 (a solenoid as shown in FIG. 11, which will be described later) is actuated so that the branch claw 23 rotates about an axis. Then, a path for guiding the sheet to the paper discharge roller pair 24 is created. The guided sheet is discharged into the bin 11 by the pair of discharge rollers 24.

FIG. 6 is a block diagram showing another example of the mail box, and FIG. 7 is a top view thereof. The sheet transported by the transport roller pair 22 is transported upward by several transport belts 31. Reference numeral 32 is a fan for sucking the sheet onto the conveyor belt 31. Reference numeral 33 denotes a paper discharge unit for discharging the sheet to the bin 11, which is fixed to the belt 34, and is moved up and down when the belt 34 is moved by a stepping motor (not shown).

The sheet that has entered the paper discharge unit 33 is discharged into the bin 11 by the paper discharge roller pair 24. Each bottle 1
1 is partitioned by a tray 39. Tray 39
Is equipped with an empty overflow sensor 12, and a guide member 3 for mounting a tray 39 on the apparatus body.
5 and the connector 37 for connecting the connector 36 of the sensor 12
Are provided, and the capacity of the bin 11 can be changed by inserting and removing the tray 39 at an arbitrary position.

Here, the guide member 35 is provided outside the maximum size sheet 38 so that the sheet discharged to the guide member 35 remaining in the bin 11 is not caught when the capacity of the bin 11 is increased. There is.

FIG. 8 is a control block diagram of the entire image forming system. The apparatus main body 1 includes a standard paper discharge unit 41, a controller board 42, a power supply unit 43, a print engine board 44, a PE unit 45, and the like, and the option paper feed unit 2 includes a double-sided (DPX) unit 4
6, LCIT unit 47, their printed circuit board 48
And so on.

On the other hand, the mail box (MB) 10 includes a mail box (MB) substrate 49 and a mail box unit 50, and the operation display panel 51 has an operation display panel substrate 52. 53 is an LCOT unit.

Although the controller board 42 is built in the image forming system, it may be built in the host side (not shown) without being provided in the image forming system. Although the operation display panel substrate 52 is connected to the print engine substrate 44, the operation display panel 51 may have an independent interface and may be connected to the controller substrate 42 or the host. Further, when the power supply to the mail box 10 is provided in the upper paper discharge section of the image forming system, it is better to connect the mail box 10 as shown in this figure, but as shown in FIG. When separated from the above, the one provided on the side of the mail box 10 is treated as an option, and there is a sales merit.

FIG. 9 is a block diagram centering on the connection between the print engine board and another board. In FIG. 9, 1
2 is an empty overflow sensor, 13 is an operation display unit, 42 is a controller board, 44 is a print engine board, 48 is a printed board, 49 is a mailbox board, and 52 is an operation display panel board.
Various loads and sensors are connected to 4, 48 and 49, respectively.

Although the print engine board 44 and the board 49 of the mailbox 10 are connected to each other in FIGS. 8 and 9, depending on the system, the controller board 42 or the host may directly connect to the mailbox board 49. It doesn't matter.

FIG. 10 is a system block diagram showing the internal structure of the mailbox substrate.

The bin configuration of the mail box 10 is 1 to 9 bins, and 10 bins (uppermost bin) are used as a general paper discharge section (a configuration provided separately from the print engine).

Each bin 11, 11, ... Is provided with an empty sensor 12a for ejected mail, an overflow sensor 12b, a branch pawl plunger 61, and a bin lock plunger 62, respectively. Note that FIG.
In, the # mark indicates the bin number from the bottom.

In addition to the above, a paper conveying motor 63, a door switch 64 for removing jammed paper, a feed-in sensor 65 for sensing a sheet coming from the print engine board 44, a jam display, overflow of each bin, and others. And the display section that displays the
It is composed of an operation display unit 13 including an operation unit for inputting a code and other inputs, and a card reader 66.

The interface 67 of the mailbox board 49 may be connected to the controller board 42 and the host, but considering the system configuration, it interfaces with the print engine board 44 and makes the mailbox 10 a part of the image forming system. It can be said that the configuration is preferable from the viewpoint of overall structure (because the print engine can cover everything from the input of the print sheet to the discharge).

The mail box substrate 49 has a CPU inside.
68, PSU (power source unit) 69, ROM7
0, a RAM 71, an expansion I / O 72, and a non-volatile memory 73. Registration information of the user of the bin 11 is stored in the nonvolatile memory 73.

Next, a lock mechanism applicable to the bottles of the above embodiments will be described.

FIG. 11 is a block diagram of a bottle locking mechanism according to the fourth embodiment, and FIG. 12 is a perspective view thereof.

A lid 8 which can be opened and closed is provided on each of the bottles 11, 11 ,.
1, 81 ... are attached respectively, and the holes 8 provided in the lid 81
When a finger is put in 2 and pulled toward you, the lid 81 pivots and opens with the right side in FIG. 11 as a fulcrum a. A slit 83 is provided on the left side of each lid 81. A lock plate 87 provided with lock claws 84, 84 ... Is disposed in the mail box 10, and the upper end of the lock plate 87 has a spring 85.
The lower end of the lock plate 87 is connected to the solenoid 86.

When the mail box 10 is operated, the solenoid 86 is operated and the lock plate 87 is pulled downward. Then, the lock claw 84 of the lock plate 87 is fitted into the slit 83, so that the lid 81 cannot be opened. When the mail box 10 is not operating, that is, when the solenoid 86 is not operating, the lock plate 87 is lifted upward by the spring 85, so that the slit 83 of the lid 81 is formed.
The lock claw 84 is disengaged from the lid 81 so that the lid 81 can be opened and closed.

FIG. 13 is a perspective view of a lock mechanism for a bottle according to the fifth embodiment. The same parts as those in FIGS. 11 and 12 are designated by the same reference numerals. Lock claws 91 are attached to the ends of the shafts 25 of the branch claws 23 shown in FIG. 5, and one end of the lock claws 91 is connected to the solenoid 92. As described above, when the sheet is discharged to the designated bin 11, the solenoid 92 operates and one end of the lock claw 91 is pulled, whereby the shaft 25 and the branch claw 23 rotate, and the sheet is transferred to the bin 11. invite. At this time, the lock claw 9
1 is a slit 8 in the lid 81 of the bin 11 for receiving the sheet
The lid 81 is locked by rotating and fitting in 3 as shown by arrow A. When the solenoid 92 is released after the sheet is discharged, the lock claw 91 is returned to the original position by the spring 93 rotating in the counter A direction, the lock claw 91 is disengaged from the slit 83 of the lid 81, and the lid 81 can be opened and closed.

It should be noted that a lock mechanism composed of the solenoid 92, the lock claw 91, the shaft 25, and the spring 93 shown in FIG. 13 may be provided in each bin 11 without sharing the solenoid for operating the branch claw 23. .

Further, the locking means may be activated when it is known that print data will be sent, that is, when the image forming system starts feeding paper to create print data.

FIG. 14 is a perspective view of a lock mechanism for a bottle according to the sixth embodiment. The same parts as those in FIGS. 11 and 12 are designated by the same reference numerals. This embodiment is an example in which electrical control is not required for locking. Lock claw 101,
The rack 102 is attached to a part of the lock plate 107 provided with 101 ...
The rack 102 is provided with a gear 103. Further, the gear 103 is connected to the shaft 26 of the paper discharge roller pair 24 via a torque limiter 104.

When the mail box 10 is operated and the pair of discharge rollers 24 is rotated in the direction of arrow B, the gear 103 is also rotated, whereby the lock plate 107 is lowered and the lock claw 1
01 enters the slit 83. When the lock claw 101 reaches the bottom of the slit 83, a load is applied to the torque limiter 104, and only the paper discharge roller pair 24 rotates. Paper ejection roller pair 24
When the rotation is stopped, the lock plate 107 (lock claw 101) is pulled up by the force of the spring 105, the lock claw 101 is disengaged from the slit 83, and the locking is released.

[0046]

According to the first aspect of the invention, since the bin is locked while the sheet storage device is in operation, the sheet can be taken out after the sheet is surely discharged to the bin.
Confidentiality is maintained because the sheets are not removed and left unfinished.

According to the second aspect of the invention, since all the bins are locked, the confidentiality of all the sheets is maintained.
In addition, it is possible to prevent damage to the work of the discharged bin due to an operation error when the sheet is taken out.

According to the third aspect of the invention, since all the bottles can be locked by one locking means, the structure is simple and there is a merit in cost.

According to the fourth aspect of the present invention, since only the bin in which the sheet is being ejected is locked, the sheet in the bin that has been ejected can be promptly taken out.

According to the fifth aspect of the present invention, since the locking means is also operated by the solenoid that operates the branch claw that switches the sheet conveying path, there is a cost advantage.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a configuration diagram of an image forming system.

FIG. 2 is a layout diagram of the entire image forming system showing the first embodiment of the installation mode of the mailbox.

FIG. 3 is a layout diagram of the entire image forming system showing the second embodiment of the installation mode of the mailbox.

FIG. 4 is a layout diagram of the entire image forming system showing the third embodiment of the installation mode of the mailbox.

FIG. 5 is a configuration diagram showing an example of a mail box.

FIG. 6 is a configuration diagram showing another example of the mail box.

FIG. 7 is a top view of the mail box shown in FIG.

FIG. 8 is a control block diagram of the entire image forming system.

FIG. 9 is a block diagram centering on a connection between a print engine board and another board.

FIG. 10 is a system block diagram showing an internal configuration of a mail box substrate.

FIG. 11 is a configuration diagram of a lock mechanism of the bottle according to the first embodiment.

FIG. 12 is a perspective view of the lock mechanism of the bottle according to the first embodiment.

FIG. 13 is a perspective view of a lock mechanism for a bottle according to a second embodiment.

FIG. 14 is a perspective view of a lock mechanism for a bottle according to a third embodiment.

[Explanation of symbols]

 11 Bin 81 Lid (Locking means component) 84, 91, 101 Locking claw (Locking means component)

Front page continued (72) Inventor Akihiko Motegi 1-3-6 Nakamagome, Ota-ku, Tokyo In Ricoh Co., Ltd. (72) Inventor Katsuko Kaneko 1-3-3 Nakamagome, Ota-ku, Tokyo In Ricoh Co., Ltd.

Claims (5)

[Claims] 1. A sheet accommodating apparatus having a plurality of bins for accommodating sheets printed with image data created by an image forming system including a host computer and an image forming apparatus such as a printer, A sheet accommodating device comprising: locking means for locking a bottle during operation of the device. 2. The sheet storage device according to claim 1, wherein the locking means locks all the bins. 3. The sheet storage device according to claim 2, wherein the locking means is a single unit. 4. The sheet accommodating device according to claim 1, wherein the locking means locks only the bin receiving the sheet. 5. The sheet storage device according to claim 4, further comprising a branch claw for switching a sheet conveying path and a solenoid for operating the branch claw, and the solenoid also operates the locking means. .