JPH08133565A - Sorter device with lock mechanism - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE: To facilitate the management of documents and simplify the structure of a lock mechanism by arranging two kinds of lock mechanisms to trays in a sorter device arranged on the upper part of a small-sized image forming device and usable as a mail box. CONSTITUTION: To the trays of a sorter device, one collective lock device is arranged in conformation to all the trays, and an independent lock device 40 interlocked with the operation of a switching gate 16 is arranged to each tray. In the lock device 40, a locking arm 41 is oscillated by use of a solenoid 49 for driving the switching gate 16, whereby the locking to a claw member 2 to be locked provided on a tray 25 is released. The independent lock device is operated by use of the driving mechanism of the switching gate, whereby a driving means by solenoid independent only to the collective lock device is provided.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a sorter device which is connected to an image forming apparatus and sorts and discharges copies to a plurality of trays. In particular, a lock mechanism is provided on the trays of the sorter to keep documents secret. The present invention relates to a sorter device with a lock mechanism configured to be held.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art It has been generally used in the past to connect a sorter to an image forming apparatus such as a copying machine or a laser beam printer and sort the copies discharged from the image forming apparatus into trays of the sorter to discharge the copies. Also, with a sorter connected to a printer, even when used as a mailbox, the tray selection signal output at the same time as the copy creation signal from the terminal device such as a microcomputer,
Means have been used to store the copies in a particular tray. In the sorter described above, for example, as shown in Japanese Utility Model Application Laid-Open No. 64-43069, the tray of the sorter is designated corresponding to the terminal device that has instructed the document creation. When a document is taken out, a command signal from the terminal device or an ID card is used to unlock the opening / closing door of the sorter so that the document can be taken out from the tray.

In a small sorter device, for example, as shown in Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 5-177911, lock means is provided for one tray so that a secretly designated document is stored in a specific tray. In addition to storing the documents, the sorting mechanism is configured to store the general documents in the release tray. The secret-designated document is unlocked by using a personal identification number or the like so that the document can be taken out. Further, in the example disclosed in Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 4-121361, etc., a copy made by an instruction from a terminal device is accommodated in one tray, and a copy after the instruction from the same terminal device is the specific copy. The tray is accommodated, and the display section displays it. Only when there is a document take-out command from the terminal device, the take-out cover is unlocked so that the document can be taken out.

[0004]

In a sorter device which is connected to an image forming device and post-processes a document, a document whose secret is designated in a mailbox is provided by providing a lock mechanism as shown in the conventional example. Can be stored and the document can be handled without being seen by others. However, the sorter device shown in the conventional example is often configured as a relatively large device, and a dedicated lock mechanism is provided for each tray or a mechanism for locking the opening / closing door is provided. Needed. Therefore,
In addition to the complicated structure of the device, there are problems such as an increase in the manufacturing cost of the sorter device, and it is often difficult to cope with the downsizing of the sorter device.

In place of the large sorter device as described above, the image forming apparatus is constructed in a small size, and a sorter device equipped with a large number of trays is arranged on the upper part of the main body thereof to provide a copy function with a mailbox function. It is envisaged to construct a post-processing device. In the sorter device used in combination with the small-sized image forming apparatus, for example, 10 trays are arranged and a function of sorting and ejecting copies is provided. However, even for such a small sorter, secret designation is required. It is required to have a function that can be performed. However, if a conventional lock mechanism for the tray is to be provided, there is a problem that the configuration of the lock mechanism becomes complicated and the usability is deteriorated. Therefore, the development of a mailbox using a simple lock mechanism is desired. There is.

[0006]

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention solves the problems of the sorter device provided with the mailbox function as described above, and corresponds to a sorter device having a small size, and a lock mechanism corresponding to each tray. It is an object of the present invention to provide a sorter device with a lock mechanism that can provide a lock mechanism for all trays and can simplify the configuration of the lock mechanism.

[0007]

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention relates to a sorter device having a plurality of trays and storage switching means for selectively storing conveyed sheets in the trays. In the present invention, a lock mechanism for collectively locking a plurality of trays arranged in the sorter and a lock mechanism for individually locking the trays are arranged, and the lock mechanism for individually locking the trays An interlocking mechanism for interlocking with the storage switching means is provided. Further, in the present invention, the collective lock mechanism for collectively locking the plurality of trays arranged in the sorter device continues the lock operation for the trays even when the storage switching means is operating for the trays. When the sheet is taken out from the tray, the collective lock mechanism and the lock mechanism for the individual tray can be released.

[0008]

The sorter apparatus according to the present invention is disposed on the upper portion of a compact image forming apparatus. In the image forming apparatus, the copy discharge path branched from the discharge path provided toward the discharge tray is provided. It is connected to the transport path of the sorter. Then, with respect to the trays arranged in the sorter device, in response to the request from the terminal device that has instructed the copy creation, an operation of sorting and ejecting the copies into a plurality of trays, an operation of storing the copies in a specific tray, and the like are optional To be able to choose.
In the sorter device, a collective lock mechanism for simultaneously locking all trays and an individual lock mechanism for each tray are arranged. By releasing the entire lock, the individual locks are released. To be able to retrieve documents from a specific tray. Further, in the sorter device of the present invention, the individual lock mechanism arranged for each tray is configured to operate in conjunction with the swing of the branching claw corresponding to the tray.
A means for releasing the individual lock mechanism is configured at a position where the branch claw is swung to a position where the copy is branched to the tray. Further, by simplifying the structure of the lock mechanism, the lock mechanism can be arranged on the tray used in the small sorter device.

[0009]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS A sorter device with a lock mechanism according to the present invention will be described with reference to the illustrated example. In the example shown in FIG. 1, a sorter device 10 is arranged above the main body of an image forming apparatus 1 that makes a copy using an electrophotographic system such as a small printer. Like the conventional printer, the image forming apparatus 1 is provided with a mechanism for making a copy and discharging the copy toward a discharge tray or a tray of a sorter device according to copy creation information from a terminal device such as a microcomputer. There is. In addition, in order to input arbitrary control information to the image forming apparatus, the control panel 2
Is provided and the paper feed tray 3 and the manual feed tray 4 are arranged to form a means for feeding paper, and paper of any size can be fed from these paper feed means. further,
A discharge tray 6 is provided above the image forming apparatus 1,
The discharge port 5 of the main body corresponds to the discharge tray 6.

The sorter device 10 arranged above the printer device 1 is provided with a large number of trays 25 ... Removably attached to the sorter frame 20.
There is provided means for branching a copy from the transport path arranged in 0 toward each tray. The examples shown in FIGS. 2 and 3 show the relationship between the transport means arranged in the sorter device 10 and the tray member. As shown in FIG. 2, the upper discharge path of the image forming apparatus 1 is The sheet that is connected to the transport path 11 of the sorter device 10 and is discharged from the image forming apparatus through the discharge roller 7 is introduced into the transport path through the carry-in roller 12 and is directed upward in the transport path. I try to send it.

Further, a large number of trays 25 ... Are arranged with respect to the sorter frame 20 in which the conveying path 11 is arranged, and a branching device as shown in FIG. 3 is provided corresponding to each tray. ing. In the branching device shown in FIG. 3, a switching gate 16 that appears in and out of the transport path 11,
Discharge roller 1 that conveys the branched paper toward the tray
5 is provided, the sheet fed toward the conveying path of the sorter device is conveyed upward in the conveying path by using an arbitrary conveying member such as a roller device or a conveying belt device, The tray is branched toward the tray through the switching gate 16 so that the tray is accommodated.

As shown in FIGS. 2 and 3, the sorter device 10 having a large number of trays is provided with tray supporting means as shown in FIG. 4 so that each tray can be attached to and detached from the frame. ing. In the example shown in FIG.
Many rack members 21, 2 with respect to the sorter frame 20
1a is vertically arranged in a stepped manner with a predetermined space therebetween, the tray 25 is positioned on the rack member, and the tray is detachably supported. Further, the tray 25 can be configured by integrally forming a bottom plate and a peripheral frame member and providing an opening in the upper part, but a vertical plate is not disposed on the side where paper is inserted. However, in order to keep the documents to be stored secret, vertical plates are arranged on the other three sides. Then, with the tray pulled out from the sorter frame 20 by a predetermined length, the documents to be stored in the tray can be taken out.

As shown in FIG. 4, in the sorter in which the tray is detachably attached to the sorter frame 20,
A lock mechanism for the tray as shown in FIG. 5 is provided to keep the document confidential. In the example shown in FIG. 5, with respect to the vertical plates 26 on both sides of the tray 25, the locked claw members 27 and 28 are provided so as to project from the side portions, and the locked claw members are made to correspond to these, The locking claws that make up the lock mechanism are arranged. As the locking mechanism for the tray, the collective locking device 30 is arranged corresponding to one locked claw member 27, and the individual locking device 40 is arranged corresponding to the other locked claw member 28. Then, in the two types of locking mechanisms, the locking member is locked to the locked claw member by means of rocking each locking claw.
Allow the release operation to be performed.

The example shown in FIG. 6 shows the structure of the collective lock device 30 which operates on all the trays of the sorter device. In the collective lock device 30, a plurality of locking claws 32 ... Are provided at intervals corresponding to the tray with respect to a locking member 31 formed in a vertically long shape so as to correspond to all trays of the sorter device. There is. Further, the locking member 31 is swingably provided via a support shaft 33, and the support shaft 3
An arm member 35 connected to a solenoid 37 is attached to the lower end of 3. Further, a spring 36 is arranged so as to oppose the solenoid 37, the locking member 31 is urged by the spring 36, and the locking claw 32 is locked by the locked claw member 2.
It is possible to perform the action of locking the locking claw 7 and the action of removing the locking claw from the locked claw member by swinging the locking member 31 by the solenoid. Then, in the locking member 31 arranged on the tray, the locking claw 32 of the locking member 31 is locked by the spring in a normal state.
Since the action of locking and holding is performed on the solenoid, unless the solenoid is biased to swing the locking member counterclockwise in the figure,
It is possible to maintain the locked state for all trays.

The example shown in FIG. 7 shows a structure of an individual lock device 40 which is individually arranged for each tray of the sorter device, and is provided so as to project from the vertical plate 26 on the tray 25 side. With respect to the locked claw member 28, the locking arm 4
A mechanism for locking the first locking claw 43 and locking the tray at the fixed position is configured. The locking arm 41 is a support shaft 42.
And a means for pressing the locking claw 43 arranged at one end of the locking arm from behind using a spring 44. The locking claw 43 is locked and held with respect to 28.
A lower arm member 45 is provided at the other end of the locking arm 41 toward the lower side, and the lower arm member 45 is provided with a guide surface curved toward the outside of the tray. There is. Then, the pressing member 47 of the link member 46 driven by the solenoid slides on the lower arm member 45, whereby the locking arm 41 is swung in the clockwise direction via the support shaft, and the spring 44 moves. Contrary to the force, the locking claw 43 is swung in the direction of separating from the locked claw member 28.

Locking arm 41 of the individual locking device 40
In order to perform a swinging motion with respect to
The link member 46 provided on the shaft 17 is arranged, the link member 46 is formed of a substantially L-shaped member, and the tip end of the pressing member 47 of the link member corresponds to the lower arm member 45 of the locking arm. The solenoid 49 is connected to the end of the vertical member. Further, the switching gate 16 for branching the paper from the transport path of the sorter device is arranged corresponding to the tray 25 arranged in the sorter device, and the discharge roller 15 is provided to feed the paper toward the tray. As described above, the solenoid 49 is used to drive the shaft 17 of the switching gate 16. When the switching gate 16 is switched using the solenoid 49 to guide the sheet from the transport path to the tray, the locked state of the individual lock device for the tray can be released. I am able to do it.
That is, when the solenoid 49 is actuated to swing the switching gate, the pressing member 47 of the link member 46 exerts an effect of pressing the lower arm member of the locking arm 41 to release the locked state. To get it. In addition,
When the tray is inserted into the sorter frame, the locking claws arranged on the collective locking device and the individual locking device swing while pressing the springs to lock the locked claw members. The tray can be inserted up to the position.

In the sorter device 10 of the present invention configured as described above, the image forming device makes a copy in response to a copy making command from the terminal device and the sorter device 10 is made.
Send it to. In the sorter device, when the paper is accommodated in the tray corresponding to the terminal device, the switching gate corresponding to the designated tray is swung to accommodate the paper in the tray. As described above, when the sheets are stored in the tray, the switching gate is swung by operating the solenoid 49 (FIG. 7). At that time, the switching gate is accompanied by the swing operation. Then, the individual lock for the tray is released. However, in that state, since the batch lock is not released, the specific tray cannot be pulled out during the sorting operation.

In the device of the present invention, when the paper is to be taken out from the tray, first, a signal for taking out the paper is output from the terminal device to the sorter device, and first the collective lock device (FIG. 6). ) The solenoid is energized to retract the locking claws from the locking position and unlock all trays. Then, in response to the next command signal from the terminal device, the solenoid of the individual lock device is energized so that only the lock for that particular tray is released. Further, when the individual lock is released, the solenoid corresponding to the tray is operated to release the lock, and the action of swinging the switching gate is performed together with the operation of releasing the lock. However, when the operation of releasing the individual lock is performed, by taking measures such as keeping the paper from being fed into the transport path of the sorter device, the operation of swinging the switching gate causes
There is no problem such as paper jam.

Therefore, in the sorter device of the present invention, when a paper sheet is to be taken out from a particular tray, a signal for unlocking is transmitted from the terminal device to first release the collective lock device and then the individual lock device. It is necessary to perform the action of releasing the device. For example, even if the method of unlocking the collective lock device using a key provided on the sorter device is used, if the individual lock device release signal from the terminal device is not output to the control device of the sorter, the individual lock device is locked. It cannot be operated and documents cannot be removed from the tray.

In the sorter device of the present invention having the above-mentioned structure, an arbitrary number of trays can be arranged, and a switching gate for branching the paper to the trays can also be used. It is possible to use members of any configuration. Then, in order to operate the switching gate, when the driving means by the solenoid is used to drive the switching gate together with the individual locking device, the structure of the driving mechanism for the individual locking device can be simplified. Further, the tray arranged in the sorter device may be of any shape as long as the stored document cannot be seen from the outside, in order to detachably support the sorter frame. In addition, the configuration of the rack member provided on the frame can be arbitrarily configured.

In the sorter device according to the embodiment of the present invention, a switching gate is arranged corresponding to each of a plurality of trays, and means for interlocking the swinging of the switching gate and the unlocking operation of the individual locking device. Are configured. On the other hand, the present invention can be applied to a sorter device that uses an indexer in order to branch the sheets to the tray of the sorter device. For example, in a general indexer type sorter device, an indexer is provided so as to be movable along a transport path, and a branching unit of the indexer is used to configure a unit for branching a sheet to an arbitrary tray. It is possible to arrange the individual locking device and the collective locking device as shown in the above-mentioned embodiment with respect to the tray arranged in the indexer type sorter device as described above.

When the locking means is arranged for the indexer type sorter device, for example, the collective locking device can be constructed as a device as shown in FIG. The device as shown in FIG. 7 can also be configured as the basic configuration of the device. However, since it is not possible to configure a means for swinging the switching gate by the solenoid in the individual lock device, in this embodiment, a mechanism for swinging the locking claw by the vertically moving indexer can be configured.
Then, in a state where the indexer is positioned corresponding to a specific tray, a member that exerts a pressing action on the lower arm member 45 of FIG. 7 is arranged, and in a state where the indexer is positioned with respect to the specific tray, An operation such as releasing the individual locking device can be performed. Therefore, it becomes possible to equip the indexer type sorter device with the collective / individual locking device of the present invention so that the sorter device can be used as a mailbox.

[0023]

Since the sorter device with the lock mechanism of the present invention is configured as described above, it is accommodated in the tray by arranging two kinds of lock mechanisms for the tray of the sorter device. Documents can be kept secret. When a document is to be taken out, the two types of lock mechanisms are released in response to a command from the terminal device, and only the tray containing the specific document can be pulled out from the sorter frame. Further, in the sorter device of the present invention, since the mechanism for releasing the individual lock device in association with the operation of the switching gate corresponding to the tray is provided, the configuration of the individual lock device can be simplified and all trays When used together with a means for collectively locking the documents, it is possible to configure a sorter device adapted to the secret designation of documents.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is an explanatory diagram showing a relationship between a sorter device and an image forming apparatus of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is an explanatory diagram showing an overall configuration of a sorter device.

FIG. 3 is an explanatory diagram showing a configuration of a tray and a branch portion of the sorter device.

FIG. 4 is an explanatory diagram of a supporting relationship of a tray with respect to a frame.

FIG. 5 is an explanatory diagram showing a relationship between a tray and a lock member.

FIG. 6 is an explanatory diagram showing a configuration of a collective lock device of the sorter device.

FIG. 7 is an explanatory diagram showing a configuration of an individual lock device arranged corresponding to a tray.

[Explanation of symbols]

1 image forming apparatus, 10 sorter apparatus, 11
Transport path, 15 discharge rollers, 16 switching gates, 20 sorter frame, 21 rack members,
25 trays, 27/28 locked claw members, 3
0 collective locking device, 31 locking member, 32
Locking claws, 35 arm members, 37/49 solenoids, 40 individual locking devices, 41 locking arms, 43 locking claws, 45 lower arm members, 46
Link member, 47 pressing member.

Claims (2)

[Claims] 1. A sorter device having a plurality of trays and storage switching means for selectively storing conveyed sheets in the trays, and lock means for collectively locking the plurality of trays arranged in the sorter. A sorter device with a lock mechanism, characterized in that lock means for individually locking the tray is arranged, and the lock means for individually locking is provided with an interlocking mechanism that operates in conjunction with the storage switching means for the tray. . 2. The collective lock means for locking a plurality of trays arranged in the sorter device at a time continues the locking operation for the trays even when the storage switching means is operating for the trays. The sorter device with a lock mechanism according to claim 1, wherein the batch lock means and the lock means for the individual trays are released when the paper is taken out from the tray.