JPH101255A - Sorting device - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To carry out sorting only with paper sheets delivered onto an delivery stand, without rotating the paper delivery stand or using supplies such as sorting tape. SOLUTION: A paper receiving member 61 holding the rear ends of paper sheets is put into back-and-forth movement or rising or falling motion each time a predetermined number of paper sheets 3a, 3b, 3c... are loaded on a paper delivery stand 36, so that sorting paper sheets 3A, 3B,... are loaded on the paper sheets 3a, 3b, 3c,... loaded on the paper delivery stand 36, while the sorting paper sheets are moved toward a paper-delivery front panel 52 by a predetermined amount.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a sorting apparatus for sorting sheets such as printed matter and copied matter discharged from an image forming apparatus such as a printing machine and a copying machine into an arbitrary number of sheets.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art FIG. 14 shows an example of a conventional sorting apparatus and an example of its use. In FIG. 14, the sorting device 40 has a roll-shaped special tape 42 inside a case 41. The tape 42 is guided to the left through a tape guide 43, and a pair of a capstan 44 and a pinch roller. 45
And conveyed to the cutter 46. Cutter 4
Numeral 6 includes a fixed lower blade 46a and an upper blade 46b driven downward by the solenoid S, and is configured to cut the roll-shaped tape 42 into tape pieces 47 of a predetermined length.

[0003] A printing machine 48 is provided adjacent to the sorting device 40, and a printed matter 4 printed by the printing machine 48 is provided.
The sheet 9 is discharged in a direction orthogonal to the direction in which the tape 42 is sent out, and is stacked on a sheet discharge table 48 a fixed to the printing press 48. Then, when a predetermined number of printed materials 49 are stacked on the paper discharge table 48a, the tape pieces 47 cut by the cutter 46 are allowed to protrude the tape ends onto the printed materials 49 through the discharge port 41a of the case 41. In this state, the printed matter 49 is divided into an arbitrary number of divisions. As a prior art similar to this sorting device,
Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 7-1722 discloses a "tape ejection device for printing press".

However, the conventional sorting device 40
In such a case, it is necessary to prepare a roll-shaped special tape 42 and attach it to a predetermined position inside the apparatus. Further, in the conventional sorting apparatus 40, after a predetermined length of the roll-shaped elongate tape 42 is fed in a direction perpendicular to the discharge direction of the printed matter 49, the printed matter discharged and stacked on the paper discharge tray 48a is stacked. On top of the tape 49, cut the tape 42 into pieces 4
7 is dropped, but the dropping operation of the elongated tape piece 47 is not always constant, and sometimes the timing of the discharging operation of the printed material 49 is not synchronized, so that it is not always smooth and reliable. There is a problem that the sorting operation is not realized.

[0005]

In order to solve the problems of the conventional sorting device, a "sorting device" described in Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. Hei 6-78151 has been proposed. This sorting apparatus rotates the discharge tray by 90 ° each time the number of sheets (discharges) discharged onto the discharge tray reaches a predetermined number, thereby changing the discharge receiving direction, and The orientation of the printed paper received on the table is changed by 90 ° every predetermined number of sheets, so that the paper can be sorted without using a sorting tape.

However, since this sorter is configured to sort the sheets by rotating the sheet discharge tray, for example, when sorting A3 size sheets, a direction perpendicular to the sheet discharge direction is used. A3 size paper must be stacked so as to be vertically long, and there is a disadvantage that the size of the paper discharge tray becomes large and the apparatus becomes large. Further, in this sorting apparatus, the paper discharge table is rotated by 90 °, so that the configuration is complicated and expensive, and
Since the weight is also increased, the operability when storing the paper discharge tray in the printing press main body is also reduced.

[0007]

According to the present invention, in order to solve the above-mentioned problems, the sorting paper discharged onto the paper discharge table is advanced into a falling path and the end of the sorting paper is cut. An advancing and retreating sheet receiving member is provided which is retracted to a position below the sheet discharging and conveying device in a held state, and a predetermined number of sorting sheets to be sorted are displaced toward the sheet discharging front plate by the sheet receiving member. Configuration. As a result, the sheet can be sorted only by the paper discharged onto the sheet discharge table without rotating the sheet discharge table or using a supply such as a sorting tape.

[0008]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS In a sorting apparatus according to the present invention, a paper discharging and conveying apparatus for carrying out a sheet after image formation to the outside of the apparatus, and a stack of sheets which are discharged out of the apparatus by the paper discharging and conveying apparatus and fall freely. A paper output front plate that is substantially perpendicular to the paper discharge direction is disposed between the paper output tray and the paper discharge direction. A paper receiving member that is retractable and retracted to a position below the paper discharge transport device through the paper discharge front plate while holding an end of the paper for use.

The sheet receiving member is advanced and retracted in accordance with the number of sheets to be discharged onto the sheet discharge table, and the rear end of the sheet for separation held on the sheet receiving member is moved to the discharge front plate. Move to the area where it contacts.

Further, in order to securely hold the rear end of the sorting sheet on the sheet receiving member and move the rear end of the sorting sheet to a portion in contact with the discharge front plate without slipping, the end portion of the sorting sheet is required. It is preferable to dispose a friction member on the sheet holding surface of the sheet receiving member that holds the sheet.

In order to surely hold the sorting paper discharged from the paper discharging and conveying device on the paper receiving member, the paper discharging and conveying device is constituted by a conveying belt rotating in the paper conveying direction. It is effective to make the inclination of the sheet holding surface of the sheet receiving member substantially equal to the inclination of the sheet conveyance surface of the conveyance belt.

[0012] The paper receiving member is provided for ensuring the holding of the sorting paper discharged from the paper discharge transport device.
Although it is preferable that the sheet receiving member is located immediately below the sheet discharging and conveying device, the sheet receiving member is moved forward and backward in the sheet discharging direction at this position, and the rear end of the held sorting sheet is shifted toward the sheet discharging front plate, When the sorting sheet is allowed to fall freely on the sheet stacked on the sheet ejection table along the sheet ejection front plate, the sheet receiving member is set in accordance with the maximum amount of sheets stacked on the sheet ejection table. If the dropping distance of the sorting sheet from the sheet holding surface of the sheet to the uppermost surface of the sheets stacked on the sheet ejection table is large, the sorting sheet does not fall along the sheet ejection front plate without fail. Sometimes. For this reason, the paper receiving member is
The sheet can be moved up and down in the drop direction, and descends in accordance with the number of sheets to be sorted, so that the sorting sheet held by the sheet receiving member is moved to the highest position of the sheets stacked on the sheet discharge tray. It is preferable to guide to the upper surface.

[0013] Further, regardless of the amount of paper loaded on the paper discharge tray, the sorting paper held by the paper receiving member is moved to the uppermost surface of the paper loaded on the paper discharge tray. When the paper receiving member approaches the uppermost surface of the paper stacked on the paper discharge tray,
The lowering operation of the sheet receiving member may be stopped.

In the case where the size of the sheet discharged to the discharge tray is large, the end of the sheet for separation is held by a plurality of sheet receiving members. It is preferable for stabilizing the holding. Therefore, when the size of the paper discharged to the paper discharge tray is appropriately different, a paper size detecting means for detecting the size of the paper discharged to the paper discharge tray, and a plurality of selectively drivable papers are provided. A paper receiving member may be provided, and the number of operating paper receiving members may be changed based on the paper size information detected by the paper size detecting means.

[0015]

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS Embodiments of the present invention will be described below in detail with reference to the drawings. FIG. 1 shows an example of an image forming apparatus (stencil printing machine) in which the present invention is implemented. In FIG. 1, on the right side of the cylindrical plate cylinder 1, there is provided a plate making / writing device 19 for writing document information to a master 2 wound around the outer peripheral surface of the cylindrical plate cylinder 1. In the stencil making device 19, first, the perforated stencil making is performed on the roll-shaped master 10 by the thermal head 17 based on an image signal sent from a scanner (not shown). This roll-shaped master 1
In the case of 0, the feed amount is controlled by the pulse motor 6 for driving the platen roller 9. Next, based on a command from a control device (not shown), when a certain amount of feeding of the roll-shaped master 10 is completed, the cutter driving motor 7
, The eccentric cam 8 is rotated, the cutter 4 is driven, and the roll-shaped master 10 is cut into the master 2 of a predetermined size. The master 2 is fed by the plate feed roller 5 to the cylindrical plate cylinder 1.
The master clamper 1 is sent out along the peripheral surface of the cylinder plate 1 and is provided to be openable and closable in parallel with the generatrix of the cylindrical plate cylinder 1.
2 is clamped at one end thereof and wound around the outer peripheral surface of the cylindrical plate cylinder 1 to complete the plate making and feeding.

On the other hand, on the left side of the cylindrical plate cylinder 1, a plate discharging device for separating the used master wound around the cylindrical plate cylinder 1 and having completed printing from the cylindrical plate cylinder 1 for storage. 18 are provided.

The cylindrical plate cylinder 1 has a main motor 50 (FIG. 1).
In FIG. 1, the ink 14 supplied to the ink reservoir 16 from the hole of the shaft pipe 11 is rotated by the doctor roller 15 in the cylindrical plate cylinder in FIG. The ink is supplied to the outer peripheral surface of the ink roller 13 that rotates in synchronization with the first roller 1, and further supplied to the inner peripheral surface of the cylindrical plate cylinder 1 by the ink roller 13.

Below the cylindrical plate cylinder 1, a support shaft 23 of the impression cylinder 20 is supported by an arm 25 which is rotatable about a fulcrum shaft 24 so as to be able to freely contact and separate. A part of the outer periphery of the impression cylinder 20 is formed in a flat D-shape so as to avoid collision with the master clamper 12, and the flat portion has a grip for holding the leading end of the sheet 3 on the impression cylinder 20. A claw 21 is provided.

On the right side of the impression cylinder 20, a sheet feeding device 28 for feeding the sheets 3 stacked on the sheet feeding table 31 to the impression cylinder 20 is provided.
The paper 3 fed by the rotation of the feeding roller 30 and the paper feeding roller 32 of the paper feeding device 28
The double feed is prevented by the feed roller 32 and the separation roller 34, and only the uppermost sheet is fed by the feed roller 33.
Sent to When the leading end of the sheet 3 collides with the nip portion of the feed roller 33 and is further conveyed, and a predetermined amount of curved slack 39 is formed downstream thereof, the rotation of the call roller 30 and the sheet feeding roller 32 is stopped. You. Thereafter, the feed roller 33 is rotated at a predetermined timing, and the sheet 3 is conveyed toward the peripheral surface of the impression cylinder 20 through the pair of guide plates 38.

In accordance with the transport timing of the paper 3,
The gripper 21 is opened by a cam (not shown), and the gripper 21 is closed after the tip of the paper 3 is gripped and holds the paper 3 on the impression cylinder 20. The paper 3 held by the impression cylinder 20 is further conveyed to the nip portion between the cylindrical plate cylinder 1 and the impression cylinder 20 by the rotation of the feed roller 33 in accordance with the rotation of the impression cylinder 20, and the printing pressure spring 26 Is pressed against the outer peripheral surface of the cylindrical plate cylinder 1. By this pressing, the ink 14 oozing from the perforated portion of the master 2 wound around the outer peripheral surface of the cylindrical plate cylinder 1 is transferred to the paper 3 and printing is performed.

After the printed matter is printed, the gripper 21 is opened again before the paper discharge nail 29, so that the paper discharge nail 2 is released.
After being peeled off from the peripheral surface of the impression cylinder 20 by 9, the sheet is conveyed toward a sheet discharge table 36 by a sheet discharge conveyance device 35, and
6 is loaded.

FIG. 2 shows the configuration of a paper discharge tray 36 embodying the present invention. The discharge tray 36 includes a base 55 projecting from the bottoms of the pair of side plates 51 of the printing press main body, and a base 55
End fence 56 that rises from the lower end of the paper and can be adjusted in position according to the size of the printed matter to be discharged, and
It is composed of a pair of side fences 57. Also,
The paper discharge tray 36 is provided at a position lower than the disposition position of the paper discharge conveyance device 35, and the printed matter discharged from the printing press main body by the paper discharge conveyance device 35 is supplied to the end fence 56 and each side fence 57. The sheets fall down from above and are stacked one by one on the base 55 of the sheet discharge table 36.

The sorting device 60 of the present embodiment has a paper discharge front plate 52 and a paper receiving member 61, and is located inside the paper discharge front plate 52 (on the printing press side) below the paper discharge transport device 35. It is located at the location. As shown in FIG. 2, the paper discharge front plate 52 is disposed between the paper discharge conveyance device 35 and the paper discharge table 36 so as to be substantially orthogonal to the direction in which the printed material is carried out. The leading end of the paper receiving member 61 is configured to be able to advance and retreat through a vertically long through hole 53 formed in a substantially central portion of the paper discharge front plate 52. 1
Is loaded in the dropping path of the sheet (hereinafter, this sheet is referred to as a separating sheet in a sense of distinguishing it from other printed matter) discharged onto the sheet output tray 36 immediately after the sheet 3a is stacked. The leading end advances, and the first sorting paper 3A
Is held on the rear end side, which is the upstream side in the discharge direction. After that, the paper receiving member 61 penetrates the paper discharge front plate 52 to the printing machine side, that is, the paper discharge side, in a state where the leading end thereof holds the rear end of the first sorting paper 3A. It is retracted to a position below the paper transport device 35. By the advancing and retreating operation of the sheet receiving member 61, the first sorting sheet 3A held at the leading end thereof is moved to the sheet discharge front plate 52 side. And
In the retreating process of the sheet receiving member 61, first, when the rear end of the first sorting sheet 3A, which is held and moved by the sheet receiving member 61, comes into contact with the discharge front plate 52, the first sorting sheet 3A Is stopped, and then the sheet receiving member 61 is completely retracted, the leading end of the sheet receiving member 61 is separated from the end of the first sorting sheet 3A, and the first sorting sheet 3A is moved.
Falls on a predetermined number of first class sheets 3a stacked on the sheet discharge table 36. As a result, the first sorting sheet 3A has a trailing end that is higher than the trailing end of the first-class sheet 3a stacked on the sheet tray 36.
The sheet is dropped on the first class paper 3a while being displaced to the side. Therefore, according to the sorting device 60, as described above, the paper receiving member 61 is moved forward and backward each time a predetermined number of printed materials are stacked on the paper discharge tray 36, and thereby the paper discharge tray 36 is moved. Instead of rotating or using a supply such as the sorting tape 42, it is possible to sort only by the same sorting sheet as the printed matter discharged onto the sheet discharge tray 36.

It is needless to say that the above-mentioned sorting sheet may be either the last sheet of the class or the first sheet of the next class.

FIG. 3 shows a sorting device 60 according to this embodiment.
Of the sheet receiving member 61 of FIG. In FIG.
The paper receiving member 61 has a long hole 61a along its longitudinal direction.
Are supported by a pair of stepped screws 66 screwed to the advance / retreat bracket 63 through the elongated holes 61a so as to be able to advance / retreat in the discharge direction of the printed matter. Further, on the lower surface of the sheet receiving member 61, the long hole 61 is provided.
A rack 61b is formed in parallel with a, and a pinion 65 fixed to a rotating shaft of an advance / retreat motor 64 fixed to the advance / retreat bracket 63 meshes with the rack 61b. The pinion 65 moves the sheet receiving member 61 forward and backward along the discharge direction of the sheet 3 via the rack 61b by the forward / reverse rotation of the forward / backward motor 64. The advance / retreat movement position of the paper receiving member 61 at this time is
Position sensor 81 and retreat position sensor 8 arranged at
2 respectively. An escape hole 63a is formed in the advance / retreat path of the paper receiving member 61 of the advance / retreat bracket 63 to avoid interference between the paper receiving member 61 and the advance / retreat bracket 63 when the paper receiving member 61 moves forward / backward.

By the way, the sheet receiving member 61 is provided with sorting sheets (3A, 3B,.
It is preferable that the sheet receiving member 61 is located immediately below the sheet discharging and conveying device 35 in order to ensure the holding of the sheet receiving member 61 at this position. 3A, 3B,...) Are shifted toward the paper discharge front plate 52, and the sheets for sorting (3A, 3B,...) Are discharged onto the printed material stacked on the paper discharge table 36. When the sheet is freely dropped along the front plate 52, the sheet from the sheet holding surface of the sheet receiving member 61 to the uppermost surface of the printed material stacked on the sheet discharge table 36 due to the relation of the maximum amount of sheets stacked on the sheet discharge table 36. If the dropping distance of the sorting sheets (3A, 3B,...) Is large, the sorting sheets (3A, 3B,...) May not fall reliably along the discharge front plate 52.
For this reason, the sheet receiving member 61 can be moved up and down in the direction in which the sheet is dropped, and descends in accordance with the number of sorting of the printed matter, and the sorting sheet (3A, 3A,
3B,...)
Is preferably guided to the uppermost surface.

In consideration of the above points, the sorting device 60 of the present embodiment is configured so that the sheet receiving member 61 can move up and down along the through hole 53 of the paper discharge front plate 52. An example of the lifting mechanism of the paper receiving member 61 will be described with reference to FIG. In FIG. 3, an advance / retreat bracket 63 that supports the sheet receiving member 61 so as to be able to advance / retreat is fixed to an endless timing belt 75 by a fixing plate 67. The timing belt 75 is rotatably stretched around a driven pulley 68 and a driving pulley 69 which are rotatably supported by a pair of upper and lower support shafts 73 and 74 implanted on a lifting bracket 76. The drive pulley 69 is mounted on the worm wheel 7
The worm 71 is fixed to a rotating shaft of an elevating motor 72 fixed to an elevating bracket 76 and meshes with the worm wheel 70. The worm 71 is rotated by a forward / reverse rotation of a lifting / lowering motor 72 via a worm wheel 70, a driving pulley 69, a timing belt 75, and a reciprocating bracket 63.
The paper receiving member 61 is moved up and down along the direction in which the printed materials are stacked. At this time, the ascending / moving position of the elevating / lowering of the sheet receiving member is determined by the ascending position sensor 8
0 is detected. The lifting bracket 76 is
A guide elongate hole 76a parallel to the timing belt 75 is formed in a vertical portion of the advancing / retreating bracket 63, which is fixed to a part of a main body base (not shown) of the printing press main body. The reciprocating bracket 63 is supported by a pair of stepped screws 77 screwed to the reciprocating bracket 63 through the guide elongated hole 76a so as to be able to move up and down in the stacking direction of the printed matter. Thus, the posture of the advance / retreat bracket 63 does not become unstable due to a difference in the tension of the timing belt 75 or the like. Also,
Each step screw 77 is provided with a bearing 78 in order to reduce frictional resistance to the guide elongated hole 76a when the reciprocating bracket 63 moves up and down.

Next, the operation of the sorting device 60 of the present embodiment configured as described above will be described. The operation of the sorting device 60 is controlled by, for example, a control device including a microcomputer 90 as shown in FIG. The microcomputer 90 of this control device
An operation program as shown in FIG. 13 is previously written in a storage circuit such as a ROM.

In FIG. 12, the microcomputer 9
The 0 input port includes a numeric keypad 84 of the printing press 48, a plate making start key 85, a printing start key 88, a lowering position sensor 79 (described later), a raising position sensor 80, an advance position sensor 81, a retreating device of the sorting device 60. Position sensor 8
2 are input via the interface 91. From the output port of the microcomputer 90, the pulse motor 6, the cutter driving motor 7, the plate discharging device 18, the sheet feeding table driving device 27, the sheet feeding device 28, and the sheet discharging and conveying device 35 of the plate making and writing device 19 of the printing press 48 are output. ,
A main motor 50, a print number counter 86, a class number counter 87, and a forward / backward motor 64 of the sorting device 60;
A drive signal for driving the elevating motor 72 and the like is output via the interface 92.

Main switch (not shown) of the printing press 48
Is turned on and the operation program shown in FIG. 13 is started. First, the presence or absence of the sheet 3 set on the sheet feeding table 31 and the remaining amount of the ink 14 are checked, and various motors and the like are set to their respective homes. An initial setting operation such as returning to the position is performed. Next, the number of divisions (N) for setting how many prints are to be classified into one class by a numeric keypad 84 of an operation panel (not shown) provided on the upper surface of the printing press main body and a predetermined printing number The number of classes (M) for setting how many classes of printed materials classified by the number of sheets are to be created is input. In this embodiment, for convenience of explanation, the number of classes (N = 50) and the number of classes (M = 10) are used. These setting values are stored in a storage circuit of the microcomputer 90.

Thereafter, when the plate making start key 85 is turned on, the plate making writing device 19 is operated, and as described above, the roll-shaped master 10 perforated and made on the basis of a predetermined image signal is cut into a predetermined length. Thus, the master 2 is created, and the master 2 is wound around the outer peripheral surface of the cylindrical plate cylinder 1. Next, when the printing start key 88 is turned on after the completion of the plate making operation, printing on the first class paper 3a is executed according to the printing procedure as described above. At this time, the number of printed sheets is sequentially counted by, for example, a printed sheet counter 86 that counts a sheet detection signal from a not-shown sheet discharge sensor or the like provided in a sheet discharge unit of the sheet discharge conveyance device 35.

Then, as shown in FIG. 4, the number of sheets of the first class paper 3a stacked on the sheet discharge tray 36 after printing, that is, the count number of the print number counter 86 is:
When the number of sheets (N-1 = 49) smaller than the preset number of sheets (N = 50) is reached, the printing operation of the printing press 48 is temporarily stopped, and then the microcomputer 90
A forward rotation drive signal is output to the forward / backward motor 64,
The forward / backward motor 64 is rotated forward via a motor drive circuit (not shown) of the interface 92. The forward rotation of the advance / retreat motor 64 causes the pinion 65 and the rack 61b to rotate.
, The leading end of the sheet receiving member 61 is moved in a direction to advance onto the sheet discharge table 36. The forward / backward movement of the forward / backward motor 64 is stopped by the forward / backward position sensor 81 detecting and turning on a detected piece (not shown) provided on the rear end side of the sheet receiving member 61, whereby the forward / backward motor 64 is stopped. As shown in FIG. 5, the sheet receiving member 61 is in a state in which the sheet receiving member 61 has advanced into the sheet falling path of the sheet discharge tray 36.

In this way, when the advance operation of the paper receiving member 61 is completed, the printing operation of the printing press 48 is restarted,
Printing is performed on a first sorting sheet 3A, which is a sheet for sorting the first class sheet 3a and the second class sheet 3b to be printed next. The printing speed at this time is, for example, about 30 rpm in order to stabilize the holding operation of the rear end of the sorting paper (3A, 3B,...) On the leading end of the paper receiving member 61. The speed is controlled to be the minimum speed. When the printing of the sorting paper 3A is completed, the count number of the print number counter 86 becomes the preset sorting number (N = 50), and the printing of the number of sheets of the first class is completed.

At this time, as shown in FIG. 5, the paper receiving member 61 advances into the falling path of the paper 3a on the paper discharge tray 36, and its leading end (the left end in FIG. 5) is discharged. Stand 3
5, a predetermined amount (80 mm to 120 mm in this embodiment) overlaps the rear end (right end in FIG. 5) of the paper 3a as a printed matter on the end fence 56 side. As shown in FIG. 6, the sorting paper 3A discharged onto the paper output tray 36 after the printing is completed.
The rear end is securely held on the front end of the sheet receiving member 61.

Next, it is confirmed whether or not the first sorting sheet 3A has been reliably discharged onto the discharge tray 36 by a jam sensor (not shown) disposed in the discharge and transport device 35. After the printing operation of the printing press 48 is stopped, the elevating motor 72 is rotated forward, and in FIG. 6, the timing belt 75 is rotated in the counterclockwise direction, and the sheet receiving member 61 is advanced onto the sheet discharge tray 36. It is lowered in the state. On the lower surface of the leading end of the sheet receiving member 61, a lowering position provided with an arm-shaped detecting unit for detecting the lowering stop position of the sheet receiving member 61 in accordance with the stacked amount of the sheet 3 on the sheet discharge tray 36. When the descending position sensor 79 detects the uppermost surface of the paper 3a stacked on the paper discharge tray 36 and turns it on, the forward rotation of the elevating motor 72 is stopped. As shown, the lowering of the paper receiving member 61 is
6 is stopped at a position close to the uppermost surface of the first class paper 3a stacked on the paper 6.

When the lowering of the paper receiving member 61 is stopped in this manner, the advance / retreat motor 64 is rotated in the reverse direction, and the paper receiving member 61 is moved backward toward the inside of the printing press on the paper discharge front plate 52. . By the retreating movement of the sheet receiving member 61, the first sorting sheet 3A held on the leading end of the sheet receiving member 61 is moved to the sheet discharge front plate 52 side together with the sheet receiving member 61. At this time, in order to prevent the end of the first sorting sheet 3A from dropping off from the front end of the paper receiving member 61, the paper holding surface at the front end of the paper receiving member 61 should be as shown in FIG. Member 6 made of a rubber plate or the like
2 are provided. Then, when the rear end of the first sorting sheet 3A, which is held and moved by the leading end of the sheet receiving member 61, comes into contact with the discharge front plate 52, the movement of the first sorting sheet 3A is stopped. When the sheet receiving member 61 further retreats in this state, as shown in FIG. 8, the leading end of the sheet receiving member 61 separates from the end of the first sorting sheet 3A and the first sorting sheet 3A. Is dropped onto the first class sheet 3a in a state where the sheet 3a is displaced closer to the sheet discharge front plate 52 than the first class sheet 3a stacked on the sheet discharge table 36.

The reversing operation of the reciprocating motor 64 for reversing the paper receiving member 61 is performed when the retreat position sensor 82 detects a detected piece (not shown) provided on the leading end side of the paper receiving member 61 and turns on. As a result, as shown in FIG. 8, the sheet receiving member 61 is retracted to a position below the sheet discharging and conveying device 35. When the retreating movement of the sheet receiving member 61 is completed in this way, the elevating motor 72 is rotated in the reverse direction, and in FIG. 8, the timing belt 75 is rotated clockwise, and the sheet receiving member 61 is rotated.
Is retracted to a position below the sheet discharging and conveying device 35 and is raised. The rising position sensor 80 for regulating the upper limit position of the sheet receiving member 61 is provided by the sheet receiving member 6.
When a detected piece (not shown) provided on the fixed plate 67 that rises with 1 is detected and turned on, the reverse rotation of the elevating motor 72 is stopped, and the rising of the paper receiving member 61 causes It is stopped at the home position close to the lower position.

Here, the detection position of the ascending position sensor 80,
That is, the home position of the sheet receiving member 61 is set such that the lower surface position of the sheet receiving member 61 is higher than the upper surface position of the sheet of the maximum load amount that can be stacked on the sheet discharge tray 36, , This sorting device 60
Can be sorted until the maximum stacking amount of sheets is stacked on the sheet discharge table 36. Also, the paper receiving member 6
Since the printed matter can be discharged to the paper discharge tray 36 during the ascending operation of No. 1, in the present embodiment, as shown in FIG. The number of classes (at present, 1) of the printed matter printed by 87 is counted, and it is determined whether or not the count value of the class number counter 87 has reached a preset number of classes (M = 10). If the number of classes is M <10, the process returns to the step of executing printing of a predetermined number of sheets set in advance, and printing of the next second class of paper 3b is performed as shown in FIG. To start.

Then, the paper 3b of the second class is
At the time when the printing is finished and the paper is stacked on the paper output tray 36, the sheet receiving member 61 performs the forward / backward operation and the elevating operation as in the case of the first class of paper 3a.
As shown in FIG. 0, a second sorting sheet 3B serving as a sheet for sorting the second class sheet 3b and the third class sheet 3c to be printed next is placed on the sheet output tray 36. The discharge front plate 52 is higher than the loaded second class paper 3b.
The paper is dropped on the second class paper 3b while being displaced to the side.

In this way, every time a predetermined number of sheets 3a, 3b, 3c,... Are stacked on the sheet discharge table 36, the sheet receiving member 61 performs the reciprocating operation and the elevating operation.
The sheets 3a, 3b, 3c stacked on the sheet discharge tray 36,
Are sequentially stacked while being shifted by a predetermined amount, and the count value of the class number counter 87 is set to a predetermined class as shown in FIG. When the number (M = 10) is reached, the operation of the control device is stopped, and printing and sorting of the set number of sheets are completed.

As described above, according to the sorting device 60, the predetermined number of sheets 3a, 3b, 3c,
.. Are carried out, the sheet receiving member 61 performs the forward / backward operation and the elevating operation, so that the sheets 3a, 3b, 3c,.
Can be stacked while being shifted by a predetermined amount, so that the paper discharge tray 36 is not rotated, and the sheets 3a, 3B are not used without using the supply of the sorting tape 42 or the like.
, 3c,... can be classified.

By the way, in the sorting device 60 of the above embodiment, as shown in FIGS. 4 and 5, the upper surface of the sheet receiving member 61 is configured to keep a substantially horizontal posture. As shown in FIG. 6, the sorting paper (3A,
3B,...) Is held only by point contact or line contact with the leading end of the sheet receiving member 61, so that the upper surface of the sheet receiving member 61
If the head of the printed matter stacked on the top is large or the paper of the printed matter is weak, the sorting paper (3
A, 3B,...) Is the paper receiving member 6
There is a possibility that the sheet 1 slips down from the leading end in the sheet discharging direction.

Therefore, in the sorting apparatus shown in FIG. 11, the discharge belt 35 is rotated by the transport belt 3 rotating in the paper transport direction.
5a, and the inclination of the sheet holding surface of the sheet receiving member 61 is substantially equal to the inclination of the sheet conveying surface of the conveying belt 35a. According to the sorting device of this configuration, FIG.
As shown in FIG. 1, the rear end of the sorting paper 3A is
Since the paper receiving member 61 is held in surface contact with the leading end thereof, the upper surface of the paper receiving member 61 and the uppermost surface of the printed matter stacked on the paper output tray 36 have a large drop. Even if the paper of the printed matter is weak, the sorting paper (3
A, 3B,...) Is the paper receiving member 6
The rear end of the sorting paper (3A, 3B,...) Can be securely held by the front end of the paper receiving member 61 without slipping down from the front end of the sheet receiving member 1 in the paper discharge direction. Here, the inclination of the sheet holding surface of the sheet receiving member 61 can be changed very easily by changing the attachment position of the step screw 66 shown in FIG. Therefore, in the present embodiment, for example, the mounting hole of the stepped screw 66 of the reciprocating bracket 63 is formed in advance by a long hole, so that the assembling accuracy of the sheet discharging and conveying device 35 and the sheet holding surface of the sheet receiving member 61 can be improved. The inclination of the sheet holding surface of the sheet receiving member 61 can be finely adjusted to the best inclination in accordance with the holding performance of the rear end side of the sorting sheet.

Further, in the above-described embodiment, the sorting device having the configuration in which the sorting sheet is displaced to the sorting position by one sheet receiving member is shown, but the sorting device of the present invention is not limited to this. 15, a plurality of (here, three) paper receiving members 61A, 61B, 61C that can be selectively driven may be provided.
In this case, as shown in FIG. 1, a paper size detection sensor 83 for detecting the paper size of the paper 3 set on the paper supply table 31 is provided, and the paper size information detected by the paper size detection sensor 83, that is, A plurality of sheet receiving members 6 are provided in accordance with the size of the sheet 3 set on the sheet table 31.
Control is performed so as to change the operating numbers of 1A, 61B and 61C. For example, when the size of the sheet 3 set on the sheet feeding table 31 is large, three sheet receiving members 61A and 61 are used.
B and 61C are all operated, and the sheet feeding table 31 is controlled.
When the size of the paper 3 set in the center is small, control is performed so that only one paper receiving member 61B located at the center is operated. As described above, the sorting apparatus including the plurality of sheet receiving members is advantageous in stabilizing the holding of the sorting sheet end by the sheet receiving member when the large-size sorting sheet is displaced to the sorting position. Become. Here, since only the load for one sheet of sorting paper is applied to the leading end of the paper receiving member, when a plurality of paper receiving members are provided, the driving unit does not necessarily have to be plural,
A single driving unit can selectively drive a plurality of paper receiving members using an electromagnetic clutch or the like. Further, the sheet receiving member is formed, for example, in such a shape that only the leading end thereof is branched into a plurality of comb teeth, and the plurality of leading ends of the single sheet receiving member is located on the rear end side of the sheet for sorting. May be configured to hold a plurality of positions at the ends of the.

[0045]

As described above, according to the present invention, the paper receiving member for performing the sorting and the drive mechanism for the paper receiving member are arranged in the apparatus main body at a position below the paper discharging and conveying apparatus which is an empty space. The paper discharge tray can be easily stored in the apparatus main body, and the apparatus main body can be downsized.
The wiring of the harness connecting the control device and the driving source can be shortened.

Further, by moving the rear end of the printed sheet corresponding to the number of sheets to be sorted to a portion in contact with the sheet discharge front plate, the printed sheet can be used as it is as the sheet for sorting. Sheets can be sorted without rotating or using a supply of a sorting tape or the like, so that the sheet can be configured at a low cost, and costs such as a tape cost are not required, and operability of an operator can be improved.

Further, by arranging a friction member on the sheet holding surface of the sheet receiving member for holding the rear end of the sheet for sorting, the rear end of the sheet for sorting with respect to the sheet holding surface of the sheet receiving member is provided. Since the coefficient of friction at the end of the sheet becomes large, the rear end of the sheet for sorting can be moved more reliably to the portion that comes into contact with the front face plate.

Also, by making the inclination of the sheet conveying surface of the conveying belt rotating the sheet discharging and conveying device in the sheet conveying direction substantially equal to the inclination of the sheet holding surface of the sheet receiving member, the sheet holding surface of the sheet receiving member can be adjusted. , The rear edge of the sorting paper
It can be held more reliably by surface contact.

Further, the sheet receiving member descends in accordance with the number of sheets to be sorted, and guides the sorting sheet held by the sheet receiving member to the uppermost surface of the sheets stacked on the sheet discharge table. With this configuration, the rear end of the sorting sheet can be securely held against the sheet holding surface of the sheet receiving member. Can be moved more reliably.

When the sheet receiving member is lowered, the lowering operation of the sheet receiving member is stopped when the sheet receiving member comes close to the uppermost surface of the sheets stacked on the sheet discharging table. Regardless of the number of sheets to be stacked on the table, the stacked sheets can be sorted by an arbitrary set number.

Also, selectively according to the paper size detection information of the paper size detecting means for detecting the paper size of the paper discharged to the paper discharge tray, that is, the size of the paper set on the paper feed tray. When large-size sorting paper is displaced to the sorting position by controlling the operating number of the plurality of drivable sheet receiving members, the rear end of the sorting paper by the sheet receiving member is controlled. The holding of the part can be stabilized.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is an overall schematic diagram illustrating an example of an image forming apparatus in which the present invention is implemented.

FIG. 2 is a schematic perspective view illustrating a configuration of a paper discharge tray embodying the present invention.

FIG. 3 is a perspective view showing a driving mechanism of a sheet receiving member of the sorting device according to the embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 4 is a schematic cross-sectional view showing a state in which one sheet less than the set number of sheets for one class is stacked on a sheet discharge tray of the sorting apparatus according to the embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 5 is a schematic cross-sectional view showing a state in which the sheet receiving member of the sorting device in the embodiment of the present invention has advanced into the sheet falling path of the sheet discharge tray.

FIG. 6 is a schematic cross-sectional view illustrating a state in which an end of the sorting sheet is held on a sheet receiving member that has advanced into a sheet falling path of a sheet discharge tray of the sorting apparatus according to the embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 7 illustrates a sheet receiving member that has advanced into the sheet dropping path of the sheet discharge tray of the sorting device according to the embodiment of the present invention and that holds the end of the sheet for sorting. FIG. 4 is a schematic cross-sectional view showing a state in which it is lowered to a position close to an upper surface.

FIG. 8 is a schematic cross-sectional view showing a state in which the sheet receiving member that has been lowered to a position close to the uppermost surface of the sheets stacked on the sheet discharge tray of the sorting apparatus according to the embodiment of the present invention has receded to the printing press main body side. It is.

FIG. 9 is a schematic cross-sectional view illustrating a state in which one sheet less than the set number of sheets for two classes is stacked on the sheet discharge tray of the sorting apparatus according to the embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 10 is a schematic cross-sectional view illustrating a state in which one less sheet than the set number of sheets for three classes is stacked on the sheet discharge tray of the sorting apparatus according to the embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 11 is a schematic sectional view showing a configuration of a sorting apparatus according to another embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 12 is a block diagram illustrating an example of a control device that controls the operation of the sorting device according to the embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 13 is a flowchart showing an operation program of a control device for controlling the operation of the sorting device according to the embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 14 is a schematic explanatory view showing an example of a conventional sorting device.

FIG. 15 is a schematic perspective view showing a configuration of a sheet discharge table provided with a sorting device according to another embodiment of the present invention.

[Explanation of symbols]

 3 Paper 3a First Class Paper 3b Second Class Paper 3c Third Class Paper 3A First Class Sorting Paper 3B Second Class Sorting Paper 35 Discharge and Conveyor 35a Conveyor Belt 36 Paper discharge tray 48 Printing machine 50 Main motor 52 Paper discharge front plate 53 Through hole 55 Base 56 End fence 57 Side fence 60 Sorting device 61, 61A, 61B, 61C Paper receiving member 61a Long hole 61b Rack 62 Friction member 63 Advance / retreat bracket 63a Escape hole 64 Forward / backward motor 65 Pinion 66 Step screw 67 Fixing plate 68 Follower pulley 69 Drive pulley 70 Warm wheel 71 Worm 72 Lifting motor 73, 74 Support shaft 75 Timing belt 76 Lifting bracket 76a Guide slot hole 77 Step screw 78 Bearing 79 Lowering position Sensor 8 Raised position sensor 81 advanced position sensor 82 retracted position sensor 83 the paper size detection sensor 84 ten-key pad 85 perforation start key 86 print number counter 87 class counter 88 print start key 90 microcomputer 91 interface

Claims (7)

[Claims] 1. An image forming apparatus comprising: a sheet discharging and conveying device for carrying out a sheet on which an image has been formed out of the apparatus; and a sheet discharging table on which a sheet discharged by the sheet discharging and conveying device and falling freely is stacked. In the apparatus, a paper discharge front plate substantially perpendicular to a paper discharge direction disposed between the paper discharge transport device and the paper discharge table, and a sorting paper discharged on the paper discharge table are provided. A paper receiving member that is capable of moving back and forth to a lower position of the paper discharge transport device through the paper discharge front plate while being advanced into the falling path and holding the end of the sorting paper. A sorting device, characterized in that: 2. The paper receiving member moves forward and backward in accordance with the number of paper sheets to be discharged onto the paper discharge table.
2. The sorting apparatus according to claim 1, wherein a rear end of the sorting sheet held on the sheet receiving member is moved to a portion which comes into contact with the sheet discharging front plate. 3. The sorting apparatus according to claim 1, wherein a friction member is provided on a sheet holding surface of the sheet receiving member that holds an end of the sorting sheet. 4. The sheet discharging and conveying device is constituted by a conveying belt rotating in the sheet conveying direction, and the inclination of the sheet holding surface of the sheet receiving member is made substantially equal to the inclination of the sheet conveying surface of the conveying belt. 4. The method according to claim 1, wherein:
The sorting device as described. 5. The paper receiving member is movable up and down in the direction in which the paper falls, and the paper receiving member descends in accordance with the number of papers to be sorted, and the sorting paper held by the paper receiving member is removed. 5. The sorting apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the sheet is guided to the uppermost surface of the sheets stacked on the sheet discharge table. 6. A descending operation of the sheet receiving member is stopped when the sheet receiving member comes close to an uppermost surface of the sheets stacked on the sheet discharge tray when the sheet receiving member is lowered. The sorting device according to claim 5, wherein: 7. A sheet size detecting means for detecting a size of a sheet discharged to the sheet discharging table, and a plurality of selectively operable sheet receiving members, wherein the sheet size detecting means detects the sheet size. 3. The sorting apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the number of operating paper receiving members is changed based on the paper size information.