JPH09197737A - Image carrier sorter - Google Patents

Abstract

(57) Abstract: A recorded sheet on which an image is recorded by an image forming apparatus is selected according to a recording method and a recording direction surface. SOLUTION: Line sensors 506A and B detect the presence or absence of an image on the front and back surfaces of a recorded sheet, and copied sheet detecting means 507A and B detect the recording method of the image on the recorded sheet. In the paper transport mechanism 508, the transport paths A to D are switched by displacing the positions of the switching claws 541 to 543 based on the detection results of the sensor and the detection means, and the recorded paper is discharged corresponding to the detection result. It was designed to guide the units 502-505.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a sheet selection device for selecting a sheet on which an image is recorded by an image forming apparatus such as a copying machine, a facsimile machine, a printer or a printing machine according to a recording method and a recording direction surface. .

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art In recent years, in order to effectively use resources, a paper on which an image is recorded by an image forming apparatus such as a copying machine (hereinafter, recorded paper) is being actively reused.
For example, use the back side of recorded paper that has been copied on one side as the copy side (hereinafter referred to as back side copy), or remove the toner adhering to the surface of recorded paper that has been copied on one side or both sides and use it again as copy paper. The method of doing is used.

Of these, various methods are known as an image-forming substance removing method for removing an image-forming substance such as toner from a recorded sheet and its apparatus. For example, in JP-A-1-1011076, which uses a solvent, the paper to which the toner is attached is eroded in a soluble solvent of the toner resin and ultrasonic vibration is applied to the toner dissolved in the solvent from the surface of the paper. A method of removing an image forming substance is disclosed. Further, in Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 4-300395,
An image in which a solvent is attached to the printed portion of waste paper by a method such as erosion, spraying or coating to dissolve the toner, and the dissolved toner is washed, air suction, adsorbent peeling, mechanical peeling or electrostatic adsorption is used to remove the toner. A forming substance removal method is disclosed.

On the other hand, as one not using a solvent, for example, in Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 2510195/1990, a hot-melt ink which is placed on a printed material having a release agent coated on a support by an electrophotographic method or a thermal transfer method, or A method for removing an image forming substance in which toner is adhered to the ink peeling body and removed by stacking the ink peeling body on the printed body and passing the toner between the heating roller and the pressure roller and cooling the peeled ink peeling body. Is disclosed. Further, in Japanese Unexamined Patent Publication No. 4-64472, at least an endless sheet having a heat-melting resin on the surface, a heat roller and a cooling roller for supporting and rotating the endless sheet, and paper having a release treatment on the surface (erasable paper) There is disclosed an eraser including a pressing roller that presses against a softened or melted heat-melting resin, and a drive unit that moves these in conjunction with each other. Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 4-829
In Japanese Patent Publication No. 83, 83, two rollers provided in parallel to rotate in pressure contact with each other to allow the paper to pass through the pressure contact point, a heater for heating at least one of the two rollers, and a roller passing through the pressure contact point. A scraper for separating the paper from the roller,
An image forming substance removing device is disclosed, which comprises a peeling device that removes the image forming substance attached to the roller from the roller.

[0005]

By the way, the recorded paper sheets to be reused are collected together in a collection box or the like in the office, and the user of the copying machine or the like can collect the required amount of the recorded paper sheets from the collection box. Was taken out and set in the device. However, since the recorded paper is generally stored in the collection box in a mixed state, the user who makes the back side copy with a copying machine or the like extracts the single-sided copy paper from the collection box before setting the paper in the device. In addition to the work of aligning the copy surfaces and the work of removing the double-sided copy paper, the work is complicated.

Further, in the image forming substance removing method and the apparatus for removing the image forming substance such as toner from the recorded sheet, in addition to the above-mentioned work of aligning the copy surface, the recording method must be distinguished for each sheet. I had to do it. This is because the image forming substance removing method and the apparatus thereof are based on the assumption that the toner formed by the electrophotographic method is peeled and removed, and substances other than the toner cannot be basically removed.

The present invention has been made in view of the above problems, and an object of the present invention is to automatically perform a sorting operation of recorded sheets when back side copying is performed by a copying machine or the like. An object of the present invention is to provide a paper sorting device that reduces the work load on the user.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a paper sorting apparatus which reduces the work load on the user by automatically performing the sorting work of the recorded paper when the electrophotographic image forming substance removing apparatus is used. To provide.

[0009]

In order to achieve the above-mentioned object, the invention of claim 1 has a plurality of switchable transport paths for transporting an image carrier having an image recorded on at least one surface to a predetermined position, Image detection means for detecting the presence or absence of an image on the front and back surfaces of the image carrier, and the conveyance path is switched according to the detection results of the image detection means and the image recording method detection means, and the image carrier is made to correspond to the detection result. And a transport path switching means for guiding to a predetermined position.

Here, as the image detecting means, for example, a contact type sensor such as CCD can be used. In particular, it is desirable to use an integrated sensor and light source for illuminating the original. Further, it is desirable that the resolution of the sensor is 100 dpi or more in the direction orthogonal to the paper transport direction. The image can be detected even when the resolution is about 30 to 50 dpi, and in this case, the cost can be further reduced.

According to a second aspect of the present invention, in the image holding member selecting device according to the first aspect, an image recording method detecting unit for detecting an image recording method on the image holding member is provided, and the conveyance path switching unit is provided. According to the detection results of the image detection means and the image recording method detection means, the conveyance path is switched to guide the image carrier to a predetermined position corresponding to the detection result.

According to a third aspect of the invention, a plurality of switchable transport paths for transporting the image carrier having an image recorded on at least one surface to a predetermined position, and an image for detecting the image recording method on the image carrier. A recording system detection unit; and a transportation route switching unit that switches the transportation route according to the detection result of the image recording system detection unit and guides the image carrier to a predetermined position corresponding to the detection result. It is what

[0013] The invention of claim 4 is the invention of claim 1, 2 or 3.
In the image carrier selecting device described above, a plurality of image carrier accommodating means for accommodating the image carrier guided to the predetermined position is provided.

According to a fifth aspect of the present invention, in the image holding member selecting apparatus according to the fourth aspect, the plurality of image holding member accommodating means are detachably attached to the apparatus main body. .

According to a sixth aspect of the present invention, in the image holding member selecting apparatus according to the fifth aspect, the plurality of image holding member accommodating means has an image forming substance removing processing unit for removing an image recorded on the image holding member. The image forming substance removing device is configured to be detachable.

According to the invention of claim 1, 2, 4, 5 or 6, the transport path is switched by the transport path switching means in accordance with the detection result of the image detecting means, and the image holding member determines whether or not there is an image on the front and back surfaces. You will be guided to the corresponding predetermined position.

Particularly, in the second aspect of the invention, the transport path is switched by the transport path switching means according to the detection results of the image detecting means and the image recording method detecting means, and the image carrier has the presence or absence of an image on the front and back sides. , Is guided to a predetermined position corresponding to the image recording method.

According to the third, fourth, fifth or sixth aspect of the invention, the conveyance path is switched by the conveyance path switching means according to the detection result of the image recording method detection means, and the image carrier corresponds to the image recording method. You will be guided to a predetermined position.

In particular, in the invention of claim 4, the image carriers guided to the predetermined positions are housed in the respective image carrier housing means.

Further, particularly in the invention of claim 5,
The image carrier accommodating means can be independently attached to and detached from the apparatus main body.

Further, particularly in the invention of claim 6,
The image carrier accommodating means removed from the image carrier sorting device,
It can be mounted on an image forming substance removing device.

BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION An embodiment in which an image carrier sorting apparatus according to the present invention is applied to a sheet sorting apparatus will be described below. First, before describing the structure of the paper sorting device according to the present embodiment, the structure of a toner removing device that removes toner from a transfer paper on which an image is formed by a transfer type electrophotographic copying machine will be described. Note that, here, for simplification of description, description of a part of the configuration is omitted.

FIG. 5 is a conceptual sectional view showing a schematic structure of the toner removing device. First, a general description will be given of the toner removing apparatus 100. In the toner removing device 100, a sheet feeding unit 1 that separates and feeds, one by one, a transfer sheet 102 in which a toner image is formed and is housed in a sheet feeding tray 101. , Paper feeding unit 1
A toner removal processing unit 2 for supplying a liquid to the transfer paper 102 sent from the printer, peeling and removing the toner from the transfer paper 102 supplied with the liquid, and drying the transfer paper 102 from which the toner has been removed, and The paper receiving unit 3 having the paper discharge tray 301 is provided. Hereinafter, each unit will be briefly described.

The paper feeding unit 1 includes a paper feeding tray 101.
The transfer papers 102 stacked inside are fed from the uppermost one by a paper feed roller 103, and the double feed paper is separated by a separation roller pair consisting of a feed roller 104 and a separate roller 105, and one transfer paper 102 is fed. Only the pair of rollers is sent out by the conveying roller pair 106 for timing adjustment and skew correction. The specific configuration and operation are the same as those of the paper feeding mechanism in the electrophotographic copying machine, and therefore detailed description will be omitted. A grip 103 is attached to the paper feeding unit 101, and is configured to be detachable from the horizontal direction in the drawing.

The toner removal processing unit 2 includes a liquid supplying section 20 for supplying a liquid to the transfer sheet 102, a toner removing section 21 for removing and removing the toner from the transfer sheet 102 to which the liquid is supplied, and a toner removing section. And a drying unit 22 for drying the transferred transfer paper 102.

The liquid supply unit 20 is configured to be rotatable, and contains the treatment liquid 201 as a destabilizing liquid that makes the adhesion state between the toner stably adhering to the surface of the transfer paper 102 and the surface thereof unstable. Application roller 202 for applying the transfer paper 102
A liquid container 203 containing the coating roller 202 and the processing liquid 201, and a coating roller 2 facing the coating roller 202.
And a pressing roller 204 that presses the transfer paper 102 that has entered the facing portion of the transfer paper 02 from above. A pair of transport rollers 205 is provided on the upstream side of the liquid supply unit 20 in the transport direction of the transfer paper 102.

The toner peeling section 21 includes a peeling roller 211 having a heating lamp 210 built therein and a pressing roller 213 having a heating lamp 212 built therein and brought into pressure contact with the peeling roller 211.
And a cleaning device 214 for cleaning the surface of the peeling roller 211. The peeling roller 211 is
This is for peeling and removing the toner from the transfer paper 102 to which the treatment liquid 201 has been supplied. The surface of the transfer paper 102 is at least softened by the adhesive force between the transfer paper 102 and the toner. It is configured by using one having a large adhesive force.

The heating lamp 21 of the peeling roller 211 is also used.
The heating lamp 212 of 0 and the pressing roller 213 is in close contact with the front and back surfaces of the transfer paper 102 to soften the toner adhered to the transfer paper 102, whereby the toner is easily separated from the fibers of the transfer paper 102. . It is desirable to perform this heating to such an extent that the toner on the transfer paper 102 does not melt at the pressure contact portion. This is because if the toner melts, it becomes difficult to transfer the toner on the transfer paper 102 to the peeling roller 211 side without dividing the toner between the paper side and the peeling roller 211 side. Further, if the heating is excessively performed, the transfer paper 102 is too dry while passing through the pressure contact portion between the peeling roller 211 and the pressing roller 213, and the fixing force of the toner to the transfer paper 102 is greater than that when the transfer paper 102 is wet. There is a risk that the transfer paper 102 will adhere to the roller 211 via the toner and cannot be separated. Therefore, it is desirable to heat the transfer paper 102 after passing through the heating unit to such an extent that a small amount of moist air remains and the redeposition of the toner can be prevented.

The cleaning device 214 includes a cleaning brush 215 for removing the toner on the surface of the peeling roller 211, a blade 216 for knocking off the toner adhering to the cleaning brush 215, and a toner receiver (for receiving the toner knocked off by the blade 216). Toner container)
217 is provided.

The drying unit 22 is for drying the transfer paper 102, and is wound around a rigid heating drum 222 made of, for example, aluminum or iron, which is built in the heating lamp 221, and a plurality of supporting rollers 223. It is composed of a paper pressing belt 224 which is endlessly moved while being wound around the peripheral surface of the 222 at a constant angle.

Further, as the material of the paper pressing belt 224, it is desirable to use a material having heat resistance and air permeability, for example, a material which is not stretchable as much as possible, such as canvas cloth, cotton cloth and Tetoron cloth. Then, in order to prevent the transfer paper 102 from shrinking and wrinkling in a completely free form while the drying progresses in the area wound around the heating drum, and to prevent the transfer paper 102 from curling or waviness. Transfer paper 102 with a certain amount of force between the peripheral surface of the heating drum and the inner surface of the belt.
To be able to hold. In this drying section 22,
In the case of removing the toner from only one surface, the surface from which the toner has been removed is brought into close contact with the belt 224, and the belt 224 and the peripheral surface of the drum 222 are sandwiched and dried and conveyed. As a result, even if some paper fibers stand up due to toner removal, the standing paper fibers can be restored by being held between the belt 224 and the drum 222 peripheral surface.

The paper receiving unit 3 includes a paper discharge tray 30.
1 and a discharge roller pair 302.

In the toner removing device 100 having the above-described structure, the transfer paper 102 having a toner image formed on one side (hereinafter referred to as one-sided transfer paper) 102 has a paper feed tray 101 with its toner image forming surface facing upward. Loaded on. Then, the one-sided transfer paper 102 is conveyed from the paper feeding unit 1 to the toner removal processing unit 2 by the switching claws 46 and 47 being displaced to the positions shown by the solid lines in the figure, and after being subjected to the toner removal processing, it is switched. When the claw 44 is displaced to the position shown by the chain double-dashed line in the figure, it is conveyed from the toner removal processing unit 2 to the paper receiving unit 3 and discharged onto the paper discharge tray 301.

Next, the paper sorting apparatus according to this embodiment will be described. FIG. 1 is a front view showing a schematic configuration of a sheet sorting apparatus according to this embodiment. This paper sorting device 10
When roughly classified, the recorded paper stacking base 501, the paper discharge units 502, 503, 504, 505, and the line sensor 506.
A, 506B, copied paper detecting means 507A, 507
B and a sheet transport mechanism 508.
Hereinafter, each unit will be described.

The recorded sheet stacking base 501 is a copy sheet on which images are recorded on both sides or one side by an electrophotographic recording method.
Printed sheets, handwritten sheets, etc. are stacked. Here, a plurality of sheets having different recording methods (electrophotographic recording method, other recording method) and recording direction surfaces (double-sided / single-sided, and single-sided front / back surface) are stacked in a mixed state. Further, a stacking plate 501b, one end of which is biased upward by a coil spring 501a, is arranged at the bottom of the recorded paper stacking table 501. This stacking plate 501b
One end of the sheets stacked on the top of the sheet is in contact with a sheet feeding roller 521 described later.

The paper discharging units 502 to 505 are accommodating means for accommodating the respective sheets selected by the sheet selecting operation described later for each recording method and each recording direction surface. The paper discharge unit 502 accommodates, among copy papers on one side of which an image is recorded by an electrophotographic recording method, a paper having a recording surface arranged on the recorded paper stacking base 501 on the back side. However, when the unit is accommodated, the recording surface of the sheet faces up.
The paper discharge unit 503 accommodates, among copy papers on one side of which an image is recorded by an electrophotographic recording method, a preparation in which the recording surface is arranged on the surface of the recorded paper stacking base 501. However, the recording surface faces down when the unit is housed. The paper discharge unit 504 accommodates copy paper on both sides of which images are recorded by an electrophotographic recording method. Further, the paper discharge unit 505 accommodates a paper on which an image is recorded by a recording method other than the electrophotographic recording method.

The recorded paper stacking base 501 and the paper discharge units 502 to 505 described above are formed in a substantially box shape, and grips 511 to 515 are attached to one side surface, respectively. Further, the loading platform and each unit are configured to be attachable to and detachable from the device 10, and the user can remove the loading platform and each unit from the device 10 by grasping the grips 511 to 515 and pulling out in the horizontal direction. Further, the loading platform and each unit can be mounted on the apparatus 10 by pushing in from the horizontal direction. Further, the paper discharge units 502 to 505 are configured to be detachable from the paper feed unit 1 of the toner removing device 100 shown in FIG.

The paper transport mechanism 508 includes a paper feed roller 52.
1, transport rollers (pair) 522 to 527, paper discharge rollers (pair) 528 to 531, switching claws 541 to 543, and guide plate 544.

The sheets stacked on the recorded sheet stack base 501 are separated and taken in one by one by the sheet feed roller 521, and then appropriately guided downward by the conveying roller pairs 522 to 526. Further, conveying roller pairs 524 to 526
Switch claws 541 to 543 are respectively arranged immediately below, and are displaced to positions indicated by solid lines or broken lines in the figure. The sheet is guided vertically or horizontally depending on the position of the switching claw. The paper discharge roller pairs 528 to 530 convey the paper guided in the horizontal direction by the switching claws 541 to 543 to the paper discharge units 502 to 504, respectively. Also,
The paper discharge roller pair 531 includes a transport roller 527 and a guide plate 54.
The paper guided in the horizontal direction by the paper ejection unit 50
Transport to 5. 1A to 1D show four transport paths for guiding a sheet to a predetermined sheet discharge unit. In the paper transport mechanism 508, the four transport paths A to D are selectively switched by displacing the switching claws 541 to 543. The rotation of the rollers 521 to 531 and the displacement of the switching claws 541 to 543 are drive-controlled by a control circuit (not shown).

Line sensors 506A and 50 for detecting the presence / absence of an image on the front and back surfaces of the conveyed sheet are provided between the uppermost sheet feeding roller 521 and the conveying roller pair 522.
6B and copied paper detecting means 507A, 507B for detecting the recording method of the image on the paper.

As the line sensors 506A and 506B, contact type sensors such as CCD can be used. In particular, it is desirable to use an integrated sensor and light source for illuminating the original. Further, it is desirable that the line sensor has a resolution of 100 dpi or more in the direction orthogonal to the sheet conveying direction. Normally, when the line sensor is used to read characters, etc., it is 300-400.
Although a device having a resolution of 600 dpi or higher, preferably 600 dpi or more, is used, 100 dpi is used as long as the purpose is to detect the presence or absence of an image on the front and back surfaces of the paper, as in the paper sorting apparatus according to the present embodiment. This is because the above resolution is practically sufficient. The image can be detected even when the resolution is about 30 to 50 dpi.
In this case, the cost can be further reduced. Further, since the line sensors 506A and 506B are provided on the front surface and the back surface of the paper, respectively, the presence or absence of an image can be detected over the entire surface of the paper. For this reason,
It is possible to detect a document in which different recording methods are mixed, such as handwritten characters, and to perform highly accurate detection. The line sensor 506A configured as described above,
506B detects whether the paper is single-sided recording or double-sided recording.

Further, the copied paper detecting means 507A, 5
As 07B, it is possible to use, for example, one that has a built-in heating means and is configured to detect the melted state of the recording material adhered to the paper by this heating means in the longitudinal direction. Generally, in the electrophotographic recording system, a recording material formed of resin called toner is used, so that it melts when heated and has an adhesive force. Therefore, the copied sheet detecting means 507A, 507B
Detects whether or not the recording material on the surface has an adhesive force by heating the conveyed paper. Then, if there is adhesiveness, it is determined that the copy is based on the electrophotographic recording method. In general, printed matter, handwritten characters, and those recorded by a method other than the electrophotographic recording method such as ink jet recording method are recorded by the electrophotographic recording method because the recording material does not generate adhesive force even when heated. It is possible to accurately discriminate whether the recording method is one recorded by another recording method. The copied paper detecting means 507A, 5
Since 07B is provided on each of the front surface and the back surface of the paper, the recording method can be determined over the entire surface of the paper. The copied paper detecting means 507A and 507B configured as described above detect whether the paper is recorded by the electrophotographic recording method or by any other recording method. (Hereinafter, blank space) Line sensors 506A and 506
B and the detection results of the copied paper detecting means 507A and 507B are output to a control circuit (not shown) as ON or OFF signals.

Next, the sheet sorting operation by the sheet sorting apparatus 10 described above will be described. Recorded paper stacking platform 501
Of the sheets stacked on the sheet, the sheet placed on the top is separated by the sheet feed roller 521 and taken in one by one,
It passes between the line sensors 506A and 506B and the copied paper detecting means 507A and 507B. As previously mentioned,
Since sheets of different recording methods and recording directions are mixed on the recorded sheet stack base 501, line sensors 506A and 506B are used in the control circuit (not shown).
According to the detection result output from the copied paper detecting means 507A, 507B, the control for switching the transport path is performed. The operation will be described below for each recording method and each recording direction surface.

When a sheet on which an image is recorded by the electrophotographic recording method on one side and the recording surface of which is arranged on the back side is conveyed, the output of the line sensor 506A is OFF.
The output of 6B is turned on. Further, the output of the copied sheet detecting means 507A is OFF, and the output of the same 507B is ON. The control circuit (not shown) responds to this output by switching claw 5
41 is displaced to the position indicated by the broken line in the figure, and the paper path is switched to the transport path A. Then, the paper 551 with the toner 552 attached on one side passes through the pair of transport rollers 524,
It is guided to the conveyance path A by the switching claw 541, and the discharge roller 5
It is conveyed to the paper discharge unit 502 by 28. In addition,
The recording surface of the paper 551 is accommodated in the paper discharge unit 502 with its recording surface facing up.

Further, when a sheet having an image recorded on one side by the electrophotographic recording method and having a recording surface arranged on the front side is conveyed, the output of the line sensor 506A is ON and the output of the line sensor 506B is OFF. Becomes Further, the output of the copied sheet detecting means 507A is ON, and the output of the same 507B is OF.
It becomes F. A control circuit (not shown) displaces the switching claw 541 to the position shown by the solid line in the figure and displaces the switching claw 542 to the position shown by the broken line in the figure in response to this output, and switches the paper path to the conveyance path B. Then, the toner 554 on one side
The sheet 553 having adhered thereto is guided to the transport path B by the switching claw 542 after passing through the transport roller pair 525, and is transported to the paper discharge unit 503 by the paper discharge roller 529.
The paper 553 is accommodated in the paper discharge unit 503 with the recording surface facing down.

Further, when the paper on which the images are recorded by the electrophotographic recording method on both sides is conveyed, the line sensor 506A,
Both outputs of 506B are turned on, and outputs of copied paper detecting means 507A and 507B are both turned on. The control circuit (not shown) responds to this output by switching claws 541 and 54.
2 is displaced to the position shown by the solid line in the figure, and the switching claw 54
3 is displaced to the position of the broken line in the figure, and the paper path is switched to the transport path C. Then, the toner 556 and 5
The sheet 555 to which 57 is attached passes through the pair of conveying rollers 526, is then guided to the conveying path C by the switching claw 543, and is conveyed to the sheet discharging unit 504 by the sheet discharging roller 530.

Further, when a sheet having a recording material other than toner adhered on one side or both sides, that is, a sheet on which an image is recorded by a recording method other than the electrophotographic recording method is conveyed, the outputs of the line sensors 506A and 506B are turned on. Or O
Becomes FF, and copy sheet detection means 507A, 507B
Both outputs are OFF. A control circuit (not shown) displaces the switching claws 541, 542 and 543 to the positions indicated by the solid lines in the figure in response to this output, and switches the paper path to the transport path D. Then, the paper 558 having the recording material 559 other than the toner adhered on one side (or both sides) of the paper 558 is
The sheet 27 is guided to the conveyance path D by the guide plate 544 and the sheet 27, and is conveyed to the sheet discharge unit 505 by the sheet discharge rollers 531.

The outputs of the line sensors 506A and 506B,
2 shows the relationship between the outputs of the copied sheet detecting means 507A and 507B and the displacement of the switching claws 541 to 543.
A control circuit (not shown) drives and controls the switching claw according to the combination shown in FIG. In the present embodiment, the paper discharge units are distributed in the order of single-sided copy (recording surface front), single-sided copy (recording surface back), double-sided copy, and other order. Which paper is conveyed to which paper discharge unit? Is shown in FIG.
It can be arbitrarily set by changing the displacement direction of the switching claw.

By the way, the toner removing device 1 shown in FIG.
Since 00 removes the toner adhering to one side of the paper, it is necessary to align the recording surfaces in order to stack the paper on the paper feed tray 101 of the paper feed unit 1. On the other hand, of the paper discharge units 502-505, the paper discharge unit 505 containing the paper to which the recording material other than the toner adheres is stored.
Since the recording surfaces of the paper discharge units 502-504 other than the above are sorted according to front, back, and both sides, the paper discharge units can be mounted together with the paper discharge unit 1 of the toner removing device 100. Regarding the paper discharge unit 502,
As it is, the sheet feeding unit 1 of the toner removing device 100 of FIG.
Can be attached to As for the paper discharge unit 503, after the stacked papers are turned upside down, as shown in FIG.
The toner removing device 100 can be attached to the paper feeding unit 1. Furthermore, regarding the paper discharge unit 504,
As it is, the sheet feeding unit 1 of the toner removing device 100 of FIG.
To remove the toner adhering to one side, and then turn the paper face down, and then re-install the toner removing device 1.
The toner adhered to the other surface may be removed by mounting it on the paper feeding unit 1 of No. 00.

Since the paper ejecting unit 505 contains the paper to which the recording material other than the toner adheres, it is used for collecting the printing paper and the like. Further, the paper discharge unit 505 may store not only the paper on which the recording material other than toner is attached, but also the paper on which the presence or absence of an image on the front and back surfaces and the image recording method cannot be detected.

The sheet sorting device 10 configured as described above
According to the above, by displacing the switching claws 541 to 543 in accordance with the detection results of the line sensor and the copied paper detecting means, the paper conveyance paths A to D are switched, and the paper discharge units corresponding to the detection results of the paper. Since it is guided to, it becomes possible to sort the sheets according to the direction of the copy surface and the recording method. Therefore, it is not necessary to perform the sorting work for aligning the copy surface of the paper and the recording method when setting the recorded paper on the back side copy in the copying machine or the toner removing device, which reduces the work load on the user. be able to. Further, the sorted sheets are stored in the respective sheet discharging units, so that the sheets can be sorted according to the type and collected. Moreover, since each paper discharge unit is configured to be attachable to and detachable from the apparatus 10, each paper discharge unit can be independently attached and detached.
Further, since each paper discharge unit is configured to be attachable / detachable to / from the paper feed unit 1 of the toner removing device 100 shown in FIG. 5, by transferring the sorted paper together with the paper discharge unit, the toner can be removed. It is possible to omit the work of selecting the recording direction surface and recording method of the paper for which the removal is desired.

In the paper sorting apparatus 10 shown in FIG.
Between the paper feed roller 521 and the transport roller 522, line sensors 506A and B and copied paper detection means 507A and B are provided.
Are arranged along the transport path, but the line sensor 50
6A, B or only the copied sheet detecting means 507A, B may be provided.

When only the line sensors 506A and 506 are provided, it is possible to omit the sorting operation for aligning only the copy surfaces of the sheets when performing back side copying with a copying machine or the like. Further, when the copied sheet detecting means 507A and 507B are provided, it is possible to omit the trouble of distinguishing the recording method of the sheet when setting the sheet in the toner removing device.

By the way, in the sheet sorting apparatus 10 shown in FIG. 1, since the recording method and the recording direction of the sheets are accommodated in different sheet discharge units, the recording surfaces of the sheets are aligned face down. The paper discharge unit is the toner removing device 1 shown in FIG.
When set to 00, it is necessary to realign the recording surfaces face up. Next, a description will be given of an embodiment in which the recording direction surfaces of a sheet having a mixture of front and back surfaces are aligned in the front direction.

FIG. 3 is a partial front view showing a schematic structure of a sheet sorting apparatus according to another embodiment, and the same portions as those in FIG. 1 are designated by the same reference numerals. Here, only parts different from the paper sorting apparatus 10 of FIG. 1 will be described.

In FIG. 3, the paper discharge unit 502 includes
Among the copy sheets on one side of which the image is recorded by the electrophotographic recording method, the sheet having the recording side arranged on the back side of the recorded sheet stacking base 501 is accommodated. In addition, the paper discharge unit 50
In the copy paper 6 of which the image is recorded on one side by the electrophotographic recording method, the paper 6 having the recording surface arranged on the recorded paper stacking table 501 is accommodated. However, in any of the paper discharge units, the recording surface of the paper is accommodated in the front direction.

On the other hand, a switching claw 545 is arranged downstream of the paper discharge roller pair 528 and is displaced to the position shown by the solid line or broken line in the figure. Depending on the position of the switching claw 545,
The paper is guided vertically or horizontally. E and F of FIG. 3 show the conveyance path for guiding the paper to the paper discharge unit 502 or 506. Paper transport mechanism 50
In FIG. 9, the switching claw 545 is displaced to selectively switch the path following the transport path A to E or F. The rotation of each conveying roller and the displacement of the switching claw 545 are drive-controlled by a control circuit (not shown).

Next, the sheet sorting operation by the sheet sorting apparatus 11 described above will be described. When a sheet on which an image is recorded by the electrophotographic recording method on one side and the recording surface is arranged on the back side is conveyed, the output of the line sensor 506A is OFF, the output of the same 506B is ON, and the copied sheet The output of the detection means 507A is OFF, and the output of the detection means 507B is ON. A control circuit (not shown) displaces the switching claws 541 and 545 to the positions indicated by broken lines in the figure in response to this output. Then, the paper path is switched to the transport paths A and E, so that the paper 551 having the toner 552 attached on one side thereof.
Is guided to the transport path A by the switching claw 541 after passing through the transport roller pair 524. The paper 551 guided through the transport path A passes through the paper discharge rollers 528, is further guided to the transport path E by the switching claw 545, and is transported to the paper discharge unit 502. At this time, since the sheet 551 is inverted once from the state of being placed on the recorded sheet stacking table 501 (back surface → front surface), the recording surface is accommodated in the paper discharge unit 502 face up.

When a sheet on which an image is recorded by the electrophotographic recording method on one side and the recording surface is placed on the front side is conveyed, the output of the line sensor 506A is ON and the output of the line sensor 506B is OFF. Becomes Further, the output of the copied sheet detecting means 507A is ON, and the output of the same 507B is OF.
It becomes F. The control circuit (not shown) displaces the switching claw 541 to the position indicated by the broken line in the figure and the displacement claw 545 to the position indicated by the solid line in the figure in response to this output. Then, the paper path is switched to the transport paths A and F, so that the paper 553 having the toner 554 attached to one surface thereof is guided to the transport path A by the switching claw 541 after passing through the transport roller pair 524. The paper 551 guided through the transport path A passes through the paper discharge rollers 528, is further guided to the transport path F by the switching claw 545, and is transported to the paper discharge unit 506 by the transport rollers 532. At this time, the sheet 553 is inverted twice from the state of being placed on the recorded sheet stacking table 501 (front surface → back surface → front surface), so that the recording surface of the paper sheet 553 is accommodated in the paper discharge unit 506 with the recording surface facing up.

The outputs of the line sensors 506A and 506B,
FIG. 4 shows the relationship between the outputs of the copied paper detecting means 507A and 507B and the displacement of the switching claws 541 and 545.
A control circuit (not shown) drives and controls the switching claw according to the combination shown in FIG. In this embodiment, the recording direction surface of the sheet having the mixed front and back surfaces is aligned in the front direction, but the recording direction surface may be aligned in the reverse direction.

The sheet sorting device 11 configured as described above
According to the above, by displacing the switching claws 541 and 545 in accordance with the detection results of the line sensor and the copied sheet detecting means, the sheet conveying paths A, E, and F are switched so that the recording direction surface of the sheet becomes the front side. In addition, since the sheet is guided to the respective discharge units, even when the one-sided copy sheets having the mixed front and back sides are stacked on the recorded sheet stacking base 501, all the sheets can be accommodated in the front side aligned state. Therefore, it is possible to save the trouble of realigning the recording surfaces in the front direction when setting the paper in which the recording surfaces are aligned in the reverse direction in the toner removing device 100 of FIG.

According to the first, second, fourth, fifth or sixth aspect of the present invention, the transport path is switched by the transport path switching means in accordance with the detection result of the image detecting means, and the image holding member has images on the front and back surfaces. Since the sheet is guided to a predetermined position corresponding to the presence or absence of the sheet, the recorded sheet as the image carrier is automatically sorted according to the direction of the copy surface. Therefore, when performing back side copying with a copying machine or the like, there is no need to perform a sorting operation for aligning the copy sides of the sheets, and the work burden on the user can be reduced.

Particularly, according to the second aspect of the invention, the transport path is switched by the transport path switching means in accordance with the detection results of the image detecting means and the image recording system detecting means, and the image carrier corresponds to the detection result. Since it is guided to a predetermined position, the recorded sheet as the image carrier is automatically selected according to the direction of the copy surface and the recording method. Therefore, when performing back side copying with a copier or the like, or when setting recorded paper in the image forming substance removing device using the electrophotographic recording method,
Since it is not necessary to perform a selection work for aligning the copy surface of the paper and the recording method, the work load on the user can be reduced.

According to the invention of claim 3, 4, 5 or 6, the transport path is switched by the transport path switching means in accordance with the detection result of the image recording system detection means, and the image carrier is set to the detection result of the image. Since it is guided to the corresponding predetermined position, the recorded sheet as the image carrier is automatically selected according to the recording method. Therefore, when setting the recorded paper on the image forming substance removing device by the electrophotographic recording method, it is not necessary to perform the sorting work for aligning the copy surface of the paper and the recording method, and the work load on the user can be reduced. it can.

In particular, according to the invention of claim 4, the recorded sheets as the image carriers guided to the predetermined positions are accommodated in the respective image carrier accommodating means, so that the sorted sheets are classified by type. It can be collected by dividing into.

Further, according to the invention of claim 5, in particular, since the image holding member accommodating means is detachably attached to the apparatus main body, each image holding member accommodating means is independent of the apparatus main body. Can be attached and detached.

In particular, according to the invention of claim 6, the image carrier accommodating means detached from the image carrier selecting device is constructed so as to be attachable to and detachable from the image forming substance removing device by electrophotography. By transferring the selected sheets together with the image holding member accommodating means, it is possible to omit the work of selecting the recording direction surface and the recording method of the sheet from which the toner is to be removed.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a front view showing a schematic configuration of a sheet sorting apparatus according to an embodiment.

FIG. 2 is an explanatory diagram showing the relationship between the outputs of line sensors and copied paper detection means and the displacement of the switching claws.

FIG. 3 is a partial front view showing a schematic configuration of a sheet sorting apparatus according to another embodiment.

FIG. 4 is an explanatory view showing the relationship between the outputs of the line sensor and the copied sheet detecting means and the displacement of the switching claw.

FIG. 5 is a conceptual cross-sectional view showing a schematic configuration of a toner removing device.

[Explanation of symbols]

 1 Paper Feeding Units 10 and 11 Paper Sorting Device 100 Toner Removing Device 101 Paper Feeding Tray 501 Recorded Paper Loading Platforms 502 to 505 Paper Discharging Unit 506A, B Line Sensor 507A, B Copyed Paper Detecting Means 508 and 509 Paper Conveying Mechanism 511 To 515 grips 522 to 527 transport rollers 528 to 531 paper discharge rollers 541 to 543 switching claws

Continuation of the front page (51) Int.Cl. ⁶ Identification code Office reference number FI Technical display location G03G 21/00 378 G03G 21/00 378 578 578

Claims (6)

[Claims] 1. A plurality of switchable transport paths for transporting an image carrier having an image recorded on at least one surface to a predetermined position, and image detection means for detecting the presence or absence of an image on the front and back surfaces of the image carrier, An image carrier sorting device comprising: a transport path switching unit that switches the transport route according to a detection result of the image detection unit and guides the image carrier to a predetermined position corresponding to the detection result. 2. The image carrier selecting device according to claim 1, further comprising an image recording system detecting unit for detecting an image recording system on the image carrier, and the transport path switching unit being the image detecting unit. An image holding member selecting device, characterized in that the conveying path is switched according to the detection result of the image recording method detecting unit to guide the image carrier to a predetermined position corresponding to the detection result. 3. A plurality of switchable transport paths for transporting an image carrier having an image recorded on at least one surface to a predetermined position, and an image recording system detecting means for detecting an image recording system on the image carrier. An image carrier, comprising: a transportation path switching unit that switches the transportation path according to a detection result of the image recording method detection unit and guides the image carrier to a predetermined position corresponding to the detection result. Sorter. 4. The image carrier sorting device according to claim 1, 2 or 3, further comprising a plurality of image carrier accommodating means for accommodating the image carrier guided to the predetermined position. Image carrier sorting device. 5. The image carrier selecting device according to claim 4, wherein the plurality of image carrier accommodating means are detachably provided to the main body of the device. 6. The image carrier removing device according to claim 5, wherein the plurality of image carrier housing means includes an image forming material removing processing unit for removing an image recorded on the image carrier. An image carrier sorting device characterized by being configured so as to be attachable to and detachable from.