JPH0873107A - Sorting device and image forming device - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE: To quickly cope with unexpected large output while securing the operability at small output of paper by temporarily enlarging a space between the tray and a tray over it for increasing the receiving number, when the number of sheets output on a tray is over a prescribed quantity. CONSTITUTION: When an image forming device is in a printer mode, the third tray 4c in a tray part 4 is moved onto the position directly under a paper discharge port by operation of a motor 3b, and sheets are loaded on the third tray 4c. Under the condition in which the sheets are not removed from the third tray 4c by a user, output of the printer mode is continued and full load of the third tray 4c is detected by an upper face detecting means 41, then a drive signal is sent to a motor 4g, a lead screw 4e is rotated by a specific quantity in the direction of bringing down the third tray 4c, and the space between the second tray 4b and the third tray 4c is enlarged. Namely, the sheet receiving capacity of the third tray 4c is increased.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION The present invention relates to a sorting device, for example,
The present invention relates to a paper discharge process in an image forming apparatus such as a copying machine, and more specifically, to a sorting apparatus in a composite image forming apparatus having a plurality of modes such as a copying machine, a facsimile, and a printer.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art A composite image forming apparatus (hereinafter referred to as a composite machine) as described above is a so-called digital copying machine that converts optically read original image information into a digital signal and exposes a photoconductor with a laser. Generally, it has a communication function as a facsimile and an interface function with a computer, which allows it to be used not only as a copying machine but also in multiple modes such as facsimile and computer output terminal. become.

As a method of processing output paper in such a multifunction machine, there is a method of sorting and outputting to different paper discharge trays for each mode. This is a mixture of the one where the operator is always near the machine like a copier and removes the output paper from the tray each time, and the one where the output paper is left on the tray for a long time like a facsimile. This is to avoid making mistakes in taking output paper by doing so.

As a concrete configuration, as shown in FIG. 12, a dedicated tray for a copying machine, a facsimile, etc. is provided, and a conveying path is switched and sorted according to the output mode, or a sorter tray for the copying machine is required. Depending on the method, there are methods to use for facsimile and printer.

[0005]

At this time, the intervals (L, L ') between the trays are determined by the maximum number of sheets of paper loaded on the trays. However, it is difficult to set the tray intervals uniformly because the modes used frequently are different.

There is also a method of adjusting the tray interval according to the user in advance, but even the same user sometimes outputs a large amount of facsimiles at one time, and it is difficult to estimate the number of accommodated sheets.

If the space between the trays is set to be as large as possible, the tray position will be too low, and the operability will be poor, for example, the user will have to bend to pick up the lower stack of paper. I will end up.

There is also a method of allocating the next output paper to another tray when a certain tray is full, but there is a disadvantage that the user cannot recognize the paper by discharging the output paper to a different tray than usual.

If the tray is full of stacked sheets, the sheets may drop from the tray or the conveyance path for the next output sheet may be blocked, causing a paper jam. For fax machines, etc.
There is also the risk of serious damage to the machine.

As a method for preventing a paper jam on a sheet,
Widen the space between the trays when sending sheets to the tray,
Although a method of making it easy to stack sheets has been adopted (Fig. 1
3) As a result, the stacking amount of sheets on the tray does not increase, and the original tray interval is restored at a place other than the feeding position. Therefore, the lower surface of the upper tray comes into contact with the uppermost surface of the stacked sheets, and the image on the sheets becomes dirty.
Sometimes the sheets were caught between the trays, making it difficult to remove them from the tray.

[0011]

In order to solve the above problems, according to the present invention, when the number of sheets output to a certain tray exceeds (or is likely to exceed) a predetermined amount. In this case, by temporarily widening the distance between the tray and the upper tray in order to increase the number of sheets to be accommodated, it is possible to secure operability when there is a small amount of output paper and to handle unscheduled large output. A paper discharge device is provided.

[0012]

1 and 2 show an embodiment of the present invention. In FIG. 1, the sorting apparatus main body 1 is divided into a transport unit 2 that receives and transports the discharged paper from the image forming apparatus, and a tray unit 4 that is supported by a lifting unit 3 so as to be lifted and lowered. The transport unit 2 has a first transport path 2b connected to the first paper discharge port 2a.
And a flapper 2f that cuts the sheet from the receiving section 2e into the first and second transport paths, and the second transport path 2d that is connected to the second sheet discharge port 2c. Sheet detecting means 2g and 2h are provided immediately below the first and second sheet discharge ports.

The tray portion 4 meshes with the lead screw 3a and is raised and lowered by the rotation of the motor 3b. The first tray 4a guided by the lead screw 3a and connected to the second tray 4b, the lead screw 3a. And a third tray 4c which is connected to the second tray 4b.

First tray 4a (and third tray 4c)
Is connected to the second tray 4b by a lead screw 4d (4e), and the space between the second tray 4b and the second tray 4b is changed by the rotation of the motor 4f (4g).

Below the first tray 4a and the second tray 4b, sheet upper surface detecting means 4h and 4i are provided, which are used when the second and third trays 4b and 4c are full of sheets, respectively. To detect. Further, on the upper surfaces of the first, second and third trays 4a to 4c, the sheet detecting means 4j,
4k and 4m are provided to detect the presence or absence of sheets on the tray.

Here, it is assumed that the output of the copying machine is output to the first tray 4a, the output of the facsimile is output to the second tray 4b, and the output of the printer is output to the third tray 4c. The sorting operation in the present invention will be described.

Assuming that the image forming apparatus is now outputting in the printer mode, the motor 3b rotates and the tray portion 4 reaches the position where the third tray 4c is located directly below the first sheet discharge port 2a. The sheets move, and the sheets start to be stacked on the third tray 4c.

The sheet is loaded by the user into the third tray 4c.
When the upper surface detecting means 4i detects that the third tray 4c is full, the drive signal is sent to the motor 4g and the lead screw 4e moves down the third tray 4c. Rotate a fixed amount to separate the second tray 4b and the third tray 4c from each other (FIG. 4). As a result, the sheet accommodating capacity of the third tray 4c is increased, and it becomes possible to cope with the output of more sheets. After that, when the full load is detected again, the third tray 4c is lowered similarly. Here, when the user removes the sheet from the third tray 4c, the sheet detection unit 4m detects that there is no sheet, and a drive signal is sent to the motor 4g again to raise the third tray 4c, and Return to tray interval. for that reason,
Each tray is provided with a tray interval detecting means (sensor) so as to detect the return of the tray.

Next, assume that a large amount of output paper in the copying machine mode is sent from the image forming apparatus (FIG. 5). The output paper is stored in the first tray 4a from the first paper ejection port 2a. When the tray is full of sheets, the sheet detection unit 2g detects that the sheets have been stacked up to just below the paper ejection port. Then, a drive signal is sent to the motor 3b to lower the tray unit 4 and widen the distance between the first tray 4a and the paper discharge port 2a, thereby increasing the storage capacity of the first tray 4a and supporting output of more sheets. Can be done (Fig. 6).

When the sheets of the facsimile or printer are sent from the image forming apparatus before the sheets fully loaded in the first tray 4a are thus removed, the second (or third) tray is first discharged. In some cases, it may be difficult to raise the sheet to just below the mouth 2a. In such a case, the flapper 2f guides the sheet to the second transport path 2d, and the second (or third) tray is discharged to the second sheet discharge. Mouth 2c
Sheets can be sorted by descending to just below (Fig. 7).

As described above, in this embodiment, the motors 3b, 4f, 4g and the lead screws 3a, 4d,
By moving the trays up and down by 4e and changing the interval between the trays, even if the output to a specific tray exceeds a predetermined amount, the sheets will not be overflowed from the tray or the discharge port will not be clogged to sort the sheets. It can be performed.

1 and 2, the structure will be described in more detail. The lead screw 3a is rotatably supported by bearings 25 and 26 fixed to the apparatus. The lead screw 3a passes through the holes of the trays 4a and 4c and fits into the screw holes of the tray 4b.

On the other hand, the lead screw 4e is the tray 4
It is rotatably supported by a nut 27 fixed to b and a bearing 28 fixed to the tray 4c.

The lead screw 4d is a nut 29 fixed to the tray 4b and a bearing 3 fixed to the tray 4a.
It is rotatably supported at 0.

The lead screws 3a, 4e, 4d are arranged at both ends in the left-right direction of the tray when seen in a plan view.

The overall structure of the multi-function peripheral will be described with reference to FIG.

The sheet material is fed from the cassette 101 by the feeding roller 102 and is fed to the transfer position 106 via the registration roller 103. At the transfer position, the image on the photosensitive drum 104 is transferred to the sheet material. Reference numeral 105 is a developing means. The transferred sheet material is sent to the fixing roller 107 and introduced into the sorter 1 via the discharge roller 108.

Reference numeral 50 denotes a document feeder which feeds the documents one by one onto the platen glass for reading. The read document image is sent to the CCD unit, and an image is formed on the photosensitive drum through the image processing unit and the laser scanner (polygon scanner) unit 110.

Although the copying machine operates as described above, in the case of a printer, the image output from the host computer (converted into an electric signal by the image processing section) is input to the laser scanner (polygon scanner) unit 110. . Similarly, in the case of fax, the transmission image is input to the polygon scanner unit 110.

In the case of fax, when transmitting, the document is read by using the document feeding device 50, converted into an electric signal through the CCD unit and the image processing section, and transmitted.

(Embodiment 2) FIG. 8 shows another embodiment of the present invention.

In this embodiment, the first, second and third trays (8a, 8b, 8c) are respectively provided with the guide posts 6.
Are independently suspended by wires (5a, 5b, 5c) while being guided by the motors (7a, 7b, 7c).
It goes up and down by the rotation of c).

The operation is similar to that of the first embodiment,
In this embodiment, since the operation of each tray is completely independent, it is possible to provide a more flexible response such as increasing the loading capacity of the third tray by setting the first and second trays to the top as shown in FIG. It is possible.

In the above embodiment, the tray is provided with the upper surface detection sensor to detect the full load of the tray. However, the full load is detected by the number of output sheets (for example, the counter or the copy number command). However, the method is not limited to the embodiment.

Further, the number of trays and the driving method are not limited to those in the embodiment, and the present invention can be implemented as long as the mechanism can change the space between the trays.

The tray interval may be expanded after the number of sheets exceeds the stacking capacity, or when it becomes clear in advance that the number of sheets exceeds the stacking capacity (for example, several sheets). Before or at the start of copying). Including all of these, it is called "when crossing."

[0037]

As described above, when the amount of sheets output to the tray exceeds a predetermined amount, the interval between the trays is changed to increase the loading capacity of the trays, so that an unreasonably large amount is output in a specific mode. It is possible to prevent inconveniences such as paper jams and poor stacking even when the output of is output.

Further, at the time of normal output, good operability can be ensured by returning the tray interval to the initial value and positioning the tray on the upper side.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a front sectional view of a sorter according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a sectional view of the same.

FIG. 3 is an operation explanatory diagram of the sorter shown in FIGS.

FIG. 4 is a similar operation explanatory diagram.

FIG. 5 is a similar operation explanatory diagram.

FIG. 6 is an operation explanatory diagram of the same.

FIG. 7 is an operation explanatory diagram of the same.

FIG. 8 is a front sectional view of a sorter according to another example of the present invention.

FIG. 9 is an operation explanatory diagram of FIG. 8;

FIG. 10 is a front sectional view of an image forming apparatus including a sorter according to the present invention.

FIG. 11 is a block diagram.

FIG. 12 is a diagram showing a conventional example.

FIG. 13 is a diagram showing a conventional example.

[Explanation of symbols]

 1 Device Main Body 2 Sheet Conveying Path 3 Lifting Means 4 Tray

Claims (4)

[Claims] 1. A sorting device that sorts sheets based on a sorting signal from an image forming apparatus, the sorting device having a plurality of sheet stacking trays and a sheet transporting path for transporting the sheets to the trays, and the sheet stacking tray being adjacent to at least one tray. And a means for varying the distance between the trays to be set, and when the sheet stacking amount on the tray exceeds a predetermined amount,
A sorting device, characterized in that a space between the tray and the adjacent tray is changed to increase a sheet loading amount of the tray. 2. The sorting apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the means for varying the distance between the trays moves the trays substantially in parallel. 3. The sorting apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the means for varying the distance between the trays changes the distance between the tray and the adjacent tray independently of other trays. 4. An image forming apparatus comprising the sorting device according to claim 1.