JPH10139268A - Sorter - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a sorter whose internal structure is simplified and which can be embodied in a small size. SOLUTION: A sorter is composed of a plurality of bins 40 installed in the vertical arrangement and capable of elevating and sinking, the first conveying path 36 to convey transfer sheets of paper fed from a carry-in port 35 to bins 40, a sheet processing part 34 to make sheet processing for bundle of sheets stacked in each bin, a stack tray 32 to stack the bundle of sheets which have undergone the sheet processing, and the second transport path 37 to convey the processed byndle of sheets from each bin 40 to the stack tray 32. The first conveying path 36 and second conveying path 37 have a common part 39 where they possess part of conveying path mutually.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a sorter for sorting transfer paper discharged from an image forming apparatus such as a copying machine or a printer.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, a copier,
Transfer paper discharged from the main body of the image forming apparatus such as a printer is transported to a plurality of bins arranged so as to be able to move up and down, and is sorted, and the transfer paper accumulated in each bin is subjected to staple processing, punching processing, etc. There has been known an apparatus in which a transfer process is performed, and the transfer sheets of each bin on which the sheet processing has been performed are conveyed onto the same tray and are sequentially stacked from bottom to top. In such a sorter, a single sheet transport path for transporting the transfer paper conveyed from the image forming apparatus main body to the bin, or a transfer paper bundle on each bin on which paper processing such as staple processing or punching processing is performed, is placed in a tray. A plurality of transport paths such as a bundle sheet transport path for transporting the sheet are provided.

[0003]

However, in the conventional sorter configured as described above, since a plurality of transport paths are independently provided, each transport path is provided inside the sorter. Space is required for this purpose, and the sorter becomes large.

Further, since a plurality of transport paths are independently provided, it is necessary to provide a jam-handling mechanism in each transport path, so that the internal structure of the sorter becomes complicated and a plurality of jam processing apparatuses are provided. There is a problem that a space for disposing the mechanism is required, and the sorter is further increased in size.

Accordingly, an object of the present invention is to provide a sorter whose internal structure can be simplified and whose size can be reduced.

[0006]

According to a first aspect of the present invention, there is provided a sorter in which transfer paper discharged from a main body of an image forming apparatus is carried in from a carry-in port and sorted. A plurality of vertically movable bins arranged vertically, a first transport path for transporting the transfer paper loaded from the transport entrance to each of the bins, and a transfer paper bundle stacked in each of the bins; A paper processing unit for performing the paper processing, a tray for stacking the transfer paper bundle subjected to the paper processing by the paper processing unit, and a second transporting the paper processed transfer paper bundle from each bin to the tray. The first transport path and the second transport path include a sharing unit that shares a part of the transport path with each other.

In the sorter according to the first aspect, the transfer paper carried into the carry-in entrance is discharged onto each bin through the first transport path including the common part, and is subjected to predetermined paper processing in the paper processing part. The transfer paper bundle on each bin is discharged onto a tray through a second conveyance path including a common part.

[0008] Further, the sorter according to claim 2 is based on claim 1.
According to the present invention, a transport path switching member for switching between the first transport path and the second transport path is provided at a branch portion at both ends of the shared section.

In the sorter according to the second aspect, the transfer paper carried into the carry-in entrance is conveyed onto the bin via the first conveyance path by the conveyance path switching member, and is transferred onto the bin on which the paper processing has been performed. The sheet bundle is transported to the tray via the second transport path by the transport path switching member.

[0010] Further, the sorter according to claim 3 is based on claim 1.
Or 2) the shared portion includes at least one pair of transport rollers, and at least one of the transport roller pairs is biased toward the other roller.

[0011] In the sorter according to the third aspect, when the transfer paper and the transfer paper bundle subjected to the paper processing carried into the carry-in entrance pass through the shared portion, the transfer paper pair is properly nipped and moved in a predetermined direction. Conveyed.

[0012]

FIG. 1 is a diagram showing the overall configuration of a copying machine as an example of an image forming apparatus to which a sorter according to an embodiment of the present invention is applied. In this figure, the copying machine includes a copying machine main body 1, a paper feeding unit 2 provided on the right side of the copying machine main body 1, and a sorter 3 provided on the left side of the copying machine main body 1. I have.

The main body 1 of the copying machine has a housing 4, a contact glass (not shown) is provided at the center of the upper surface of the housing 4, and an automatic document feeder 5 is provided above the glass. . The automatic document feeder 5 includes a document placement unit 6 and a document discharge unit 7, and automatically transports a plurality of documents placed on the document placement unit 6 onto the above-mentioned contact glass automatically. It is configured to be discharged to the discharge unit 7.

In the housing 4, an optical system for optically scanning an original on a contact glass, an image forming section having respective components such as a photosensitive drum and a developing section, and a toner image are fixed on a transfer paper. Each component (not shown) such as a fixing unit to be transferred and a transfer paper transport system is provided.

An operation panel 8 is provided on the upper part of the housing 4. The operation panel 8 has various keys such as a start switch 9, a copy number setting key 10, and a mode selection key 11 of the sorter 3. A display 12 is provided for displaying the setting contents and the like.

The paper feed unit 2 feeds transfer paper to the image forming unit side of the copying machine main body 1 via a transport system, and can store transfer papers of different sizes. The sorter 3 includes a housing 30. The sorter 3 is disposed on the inner front end side (left side in the figure) of the housing 30, and sorts the transfer paper conveyed from the copier main body 1. A stack tray 32 is provided above the bin unit 31 and is provided with a stack of transfer paper sheets on which sheet processing such as stapling and punching has been performed. The stack tray 32 is provided above the stack tray 32. A non-sort tray 33 on which transfer papers when sorting is not performed is provided.

In the above copying machine, when the original is conveyed onto the contact glass by the automatic original conveying section 5, the original image is read by the optical system and an electrostatic latent image is formed on the photosensitive drum of the image forming section. This electrostatic latent image is developed into a toner image. This toner image is transferred onto a transfer sheet fed from the sheet feeding unit 2 via a transport system, and is fixed by a fixing unit. The transfer paper on which the toner image is fixed is discharged from the transfer paper discharge port of the housing 4 to the adjacent sorter 3 side, and the transfer paper is sorted by the sorter 3 as necessary.

FIG. 2 is a diagram showing the internal configuration of the sorter 3. In this drawing, inside the housing 30 of the sorter 3, in addition to the bin unit 31, the stack tray 32, and the non-sort tray 33, a sheet processing for performing a predetermined sheet processing such as a staple processing and a punching processing on the transfer paper bundle. Unit 34, a carry-in port 35 that guides the transfer paper discharged from the copying machine body 1 to the sorter 3 side into the housing 30, and a first conveyance path that conveys the transfer paper carried in from the carry-in port 35 to the bin unit 31. 36, a second transport path 37 for transporting the transfer paper bundle subjected to predetermined paper processing by the paper processing unit 34 to the stack tray 32 above the bin unit 31, and a carry-in port 35.
And a third transport path 38 for transporting the transfer paper carried from the printer to the non-sort tray 33.

The bin unit 31 includes a plurality of bins 40 arranged at predetermined intervals in the vertical direction, and a pair of side plates 4 disposed on both sides in the width direction (depth direction in the drawing) of each bin 40.
1 (only one is shown in the figure).
Numeral 0 is raised and lowered by lifting means 50 described later.

Each bin 40 has a flat plate portion 42 on which transfer paper is placed and stacked, and a rear end side (right side in the drawing) of the flat plate portion 42.
And a substantially L-shaped stopper 43 disposed at the center.
On both sides in the width direction (depth direction in the drawing) on the front end side (left side in the drawing) of the flat plate portion 42, first pins 46 are formed to protrude outward. The second pin 47 and the third pin 48 are formed to protrude outward. The first pins 46 are used to guide grooves 4 of side plates 41 which will be described later.
9 and the second pin 47 is fitted into a groove 51 of a spiral cam 52 described later. In addition, the stopper 43
The transfer paper discharged from the first transport path 36 is prevented from dropping from the rear end side of the flat plate portion 42, and one end side of the discharged transfer paper is aligned. One end of the sheet bundle is rotatably attached to the flat plate portion 42 via a connection pin 44 so that predetermined sheet processing such as stapling and punching can be performed.

A notch is formed at the rear end of the flat plate portion 42, and the carry-in port 3 of the second conveyance path 37 is formed through the notch.
A distal end portion of a transport roller mechanism 150 described later disposed at 71 is inserted into the bin 40. Also,
The stopper 43 normally closes the rear end of the flat plate portion 42, but when the bin 40 retreats toward the paper processing unit 34, the stopper 43 pivots downward about the connection pin 44 as a fulcrum due to its own weight. Thus, the rear end of the flat plate portion 42 is opened.

On the inner side of the side plate 41, a guide groove 49 having a downward slope is formed on the right side in the figure where the first pin 46 of each bin 40 is slidably fitted.
0 is inclined to the right side in the figure at a predetermined angle. As a result, the transfer paper discharged from the first transport path 36 to the bin 40 slides toward the rear end of the flat plate 42 and
3 so that one end side of the transfer paper is aligned. The side plate 41 has a pin (not shown) protruding inward at a position facing the second pin of the bin 40 in the upper portion thereof, and the pin is formed in a groove of a spiral cam 52 described later similarly to the second pin of the bin 40. 51, and is moved up and down together with each bin 40 by elevating means 50 described later.

On the rear end side of the bin unit 31 in the housing 30, the above-described elevating means 5 for elevating each bin 40 is provided.
0 is provided. This elevating means 50 is provided for each bin 40
And a pair of cylinders (hereinafter referred to as a spiral cam, only one of which is shown in the figure) 52 having spiral grooves 51 formed at a predetermined pitch on the outer peripheral surface thereof, while being erected on both sides in the width direction. And a drive motor (spiral cam drive motor) 53 for rotating the pair of spiral cams 52 in both forward and reverse directions.
And a driving force transmitting means 54 for transmitting the driving force of the driving motor 53 to the spiral cam 52.

The second pin 47 of each bin 40 is fitted in the groove 51 of the spiral cam 52, and the drive motor 53
Rotates, the helical cam 52 via the driving force transmitting means 54
Rotates, and every time the spiral cam 52 rotates 360 °, the bin 40 moves up or down by one step according to the rotation direction of the spiral cam 52. The lifting and lowering of the bin 40 is performed in synchronization with the operation of discharging the transfer paper from the copying machine main body 1, whereby the transfer paper carried in from the copying machine main body 1 is sorted.

When the sorting is completed, each bin 40
When performing a sheet process such as a stapling process or a punching process on the transfer sheet bundle accumulated in the printer, the spiral cam 52 rotates, and after all the bins 40 have once moved upward,
The bin 40 on which the paper processing is performed is lowered one step at a time to a position facing the paper processing unit 34. Then, the operation plate 8 of the moving mechanism 80 disposed between the bin 40 and the paper processing unit 34
1 is inserted between the second pin 47 and the third pin 48 of the bin 40, and retreats to the position of the sheet processing unit 34 by the driving force applied to the third pin 48 by the action plate 81.
During the retreat of the bin 40, the stopper 43 is rotated to open the rear end of the flat plate portion 42, and the edge of the transfer paper bundle located at the rear end of the flat plate portion 42 , The sheet processing is performed on the transfer sheet bundle.
After this paper processing is performed, the bin 40 is
1 returns to the original position by the driving force applied to the second pin 47.

The stack tray 32 has an inclined surface having a downward slope on the right side in the figure, and a partition member 321 is formed upright at a base end portion, and the rear side of the partition member 321 (the right side in the figure). Can be intermittently moved up and down within a predetermined moving range by means of the lifting means 65 disposed in the moving section.

The elevating means 65 includes a vertically arranged rack 651, a pinion 652 meshed with the rack 651, and a drive motor (tray drive) for intermittently rotating the pinion 652 in both forward and reverse directions. Motor) 653
It is composed of The stack tray 32 has its rear end locked to the upper portion of the rack 651 by a locking member 654. Thus, when the drive motor 653 rotates intermittently, the stack tray 32 intermittently moves up or down according to the direction of rotation.

A tray transfer paper sensor 322 composed of a reflection type photo sensor or the like is provided on the upper side of the stack tray 32 in the moving range, and an optical signal from the tray transfer paper sensor 322 is transmitted to the partition member 321. The light is transmitted in the horizontal direction through a slit (not shown) formed in the vertical direction. When there is a transfer sheet bundle accumulated on the stack tray 32 in the front in the horizontal direction, the optical signal is reflected, and the tray transfer sheet sensor 322 receives the reflection signal to detect the presence of the transfer sheet bundle. You. Then, when the presence of the transfer paper bundle is detected, the drive motor 653 rotates to lower the stack tray 32 by one pitch, and the stack of the transfer paper bundles already has a problem in the accumulation of the next transfer paper bundle. Not to be.

Even if an optical signal is transmitted from the tray transfer paper sensor 322, if the transfer paper bundle is not accumulated to that height, the tray transfer paper sensor 322 does not receive a reflection signal, so that the stack tray 32 Remains stopped at that position. That is, the stack tray 32 is lowered by one pitch every time one or more new transfer paper bundles are stacked on the stack tray 32, and the stack tray 3
The upper surface of the stack of transfer papers stacked on the sheet 2 is always kept at a constant height with respect to the discharge port 372 of the second transport path 37.

The non-sort tray 33 includes the housing 30
The transfer paper discharged from the copying machine body 1 is discharged onto the non-sort tray 33 when sorting is not performed (that is, when the non-sorting mode is selected).

The paper processing unit 34 is disposed below the housing 30 and includes a stapler for stapling one end of a stack of transfer paper discharged and accumulated in each bin 40 and a punch for forming a punch hole. Provided with the support frame 7
It is attached to 0. The support frame 70 is mounted via a roller 72 on a guide rail 71 disposed in the width direction (the depth direction in the drawing) of the transfer paper bundle, and includes a driving motor (paper processing driving motor) 73 and a driving mechanism. 74. As a result, the sheet processing unit 34 moves along the width direction of the transfer sheet bundle, and performs sheet processing on a predetermined position of the edge of the transfer sheet bundle that has receded toward the sheet processing unit 34 together with the bin 40. When the sheet processing is performed on the transfer sheet bundle and the second pin 47 of the bin 40 returns to the groove 51 of the spiral cam 52, the bin 40 is moved below the sheet processing unit 34 by the rotation of the spiral cam 52. Then, the next bin 40 is retracted to the sheet processing section 34 side, and the sheet processing is performed on the transfer sheet bundle.

The carry-in port 35 is disposed above the rear end side (right side in the figure) of the housing 30. Inside the carry-in port 35, the transfer paper carried in from the copying machine main body 1 is first conveyed. In order to feed the sheet to either the path 36 or the third conveyance path 38, the conveyance roller pair 140 and the first direction switching plate 1
41 are provided. That is, the first direction switching plate 1
Reference numeral 41 denotes a first position (a position indicated by a solid line in the figure) at which the third transport path 38 is blocked to form the first transport path 36, and a third position 41 at which the first transport path 36 is blocked at the third transport path 38. It is switchably attached to a second position to be formed (a position indicated by a chain line in the figure).

A plurality of transport roller pairs 140 are provided at predetermined intervals along the axial direction, and the end of the first direction switching plate 141 is inserted between adjacent transport roller pairs. Thus, the transfer direction of the transfer paper can be reliably switched. Further, the first direction switching plate 141 is driven by a first direction switching unit 142 (FIG. 4) which is a driving means including a solenoid or the like.

The first transport path 36 includes a transport roller pair 140 inside the entrance 35 disposed above the housing 30.
An outlet 36 for discharging the transfer paper to a bin 40 located above a paper processing unit 34 provided at a lower part of the housing 30.
1, a discharge roller pair 144 is disposed at the discharge port 361, and the transport roller pair 1 is located at an intermediate position.
45 and 146 are provided. Note that the first transport path 36 has a sharing unit 39 that shares a part of the transport path with the second transport path 37, as described later. Also, the sharing unit 3
The transfer roller pair 146 disposed at 9 is provided with at least an appropriate elastic force so that the transfer paper pair passing through the transfer roller pair 146 can be conveyed in a predetermined direction even if the transfer paper is a single sheet or a plurality of sheets. One roller 146a is biased toward the other roller 146b by a spring member (not shown).

The second transport path 37 is located above the discharge port 361 of the first transport path 36 and has been subjected to the paper processing bin 40.
The transfer paper bundle 371 is provided between a carry-in port 371 into which the upper transfer paper bundle is loaded and a discharge port 372 located above the housing 30 for discharging the transfer paper bundle loaded into the carry-in port 371 onto the stack tray 32. Thus, a first position 391 (hereinafter, referred to as a first branch portion) above the first transport path 36 and a second position 392 (hereinafter, referred to as a second branch portion) below the first transport path 36. ) Is connected to the first transport path 36. That is, the first branch 391 and the second branch 3
The first transport path 36 and the second transport path 3
7 constitute a sharing unit 39. The bent portion of the second transport path 37 has a larger radius of curvature than the first transport path 36 that transports one sheet of transfer paper in order to facilitate the transport of the transfer paper bundle.

The first branch portion 391 is provided with a guide plate 363 as a conveyance path switching member projecting downward, and a transfer paper bundle conveyed from the bin 40 to the stack tray 32 is moved to the carry-in entrance 35 side. It is designed to prevent entry. Further, a second direction switching plate 147 as a transport path switching member is provided in the second branch portion 392. The second direction switching plate 147 is driven by a second direction switching unit 148 (FIG. 4), which is a driving means composed of a solenoid or the like, so that the first conveyance path 3
6 (a position indicated by a solid line in the figure);
The position can be switched to a second position (a position indicated by a chain line in the drawing) where the second transport path 37 is formed.

In the first transport path 36, a guide plate 364 on the rear end side of the housing 30 forming the first transport path 36 including the shared portion 39 is located at a position on the rear end side of the housing 30 (in FIG. (Position indicated by a chain line). That is, a support 366 is integrally attached to a rotation shaft 365 provided below the first transport path 36, and a guide plate 364 is attached to the support 366, and the support 366 is attached to the rotation shaft 365. By rotating a knob (not shown), the guide plate 364 is opened and closed. Thus, when a jam occurs in the first transport path 36 or the second transport path 37, the guide plate 36
By opening 4, the jammed transfer paper can be easily taken out.

At the entrance 371 of the second transport path 37, the above-described transport roller mechanism 150 is provided.
The transport roller mechanism 150 is for sequentially transporting the transfer paper bundle on each bin 40 subjected to the paper processing to the entrance 371 of the second transport path 37, and as shown in FIG. The drive rollers 151 and 152 and each drive roller 15
, A pair of driven rollers 153 and 154
And a conveyor belt 155 bridged between the drive roller 151 and the driven roller 153; a conveyor belt 156 bridged between the drive roller 152 and the driven roller 154; While driving
And a drive motor (belt drive motor) 157 (FIG. 4) for driving the drive roller 152 to rotate clockwise in the figure. The driving roller 151 and the driven roller 15
3 and the transport belt 155 constitute an upper roller mechanism 158, and the drive roller 152, the driven roller 154, and the transport belt 156 constitute a lower roller mechanism 159.

The upper roller mechanism 158 is provided with a drive roller 1
51 of the rotating shaft 151a and the rotating shaft 15 of the driven roller 153
3a is mounted on the same frame (not shown), and rotates about a rotation shaft 151a of the drive roller 151 between a transport position indicated by a solid line and a standby position indicated by a chain line. Further, the lower roller mechanism 159 is configured to
52 and the rotating shaft 15 of the driven roller 154.
4a is mounted on the same frame (not shown), and rotates between a transport position indicated by a solid line and a standby position indicated by a chain line around a rotation shaft 152a of the drive roller 152. The upper roller mechanism 158 and the lower roller mechanism 1
The drive motor 157 is rotated between the transfer position 59 and the standby position via, for example, an electromagnetic clutch or the like.

The transport roller mechanism 1 configured as described above
Reference numeral 50 denotes an upper roller mechanism 158 and a lower roller mechanism 159 at the standby position when the transfer sheet bundle P on the bin 40 subjected to the sheet processing is carried out to the carry-in port 371 of the second transport path 37. , The driven roller 154 side of the lower roller mechanism 159 enters the bin 40 from the lower surface of the bin 40 located at a position facing the transport roller mechanism 150, and passes the leading end of the transfer paper bundle P beyond the upper end of the stopper 43. The transfer paper bundle P is lifted to the position and the transfer paper bundle P is sandwiched between the transport belt 155 of the upper roller mechanism 158 and the transport belt 156 of the lower roller mechanism 159, and is sent out to the carry-in port 371 side.

A plurality of pairs of transport rollers 161 and 162 are provided at an intermediate position of the second transport path 37,
The discharge port 372 is provided with a discharge roller pair 163. The shared section 3 of the first transport path 36 and the second transport path 37
9, the transfer roller pair 146 transfers the transfer paper loaded into the carry-in port 35 to the bin 40 via the first transport path 36, and transfers the transfer paper bundle on the bin 40 to the second transport path 37. The rotation direction is opposite to that when the sheet is conveyed to the stack tray 32 through the first conveyance path 36 and the second conveyance path 36.
The transfer path 37 is also used.

A transfer path transfer paper sensor 373 composed of a reflection type photo sensor or the like is disposed at a position near the carry-in port 371 in the second transfer path 37, and is carried out into the second transfer path 37 by the transfer roller mechanism 150. It is configured to detect that the rear end of the transferred transfer paper bundle has passed. Then, when a detection signal is output from the conveyance path transfer paper sensor 373, the upper roller mechanism 158 and the lower roller mechanism 159 are rotated from the conveyance position to the standby position, and the bin 40 can be moved up and down. I have.

The third conveying path 38 includes a pair of conveying rollers 140
And a discharge port 381 for discharging the transfer paper carried into the carry-in port 35 to the non-sort tray 33, a pair of transport rollers 157 is provided at an intermediate position, and the discharge port 3 is provided.
A discharge roller pair 158 is provided at 81.

FIG. 4 is a block diagram showing a main control configuration of the sorter 3 according to the present invention. The control unit 170 includes a CPU 171 for performing predetermined arithmetic processing, a ROM 172 for storing a predetermined program, a RAM 173 for temporarily storing processing data, and the like. Control behavior.

That is, the CPU 171 receives signals from the start switch 9, the copy number setting key 10, the sorter mode selection key 11, the tray transfer paper sensor 322, and the transfer path transfer paper sensor 373 to drive the spiral cam. The drive control of the motor 53, the paper processing drive motor 73, the belt drive motor 157, and the tray drive motor 653 is performed, and the drive control of the first direction switching unit 142 and the second direction switching unit 148 each including a solenoid or the like is performed.

The copying machine constructed as described above operates as follows. That is, a plurality of originals are placed on the original placing section 6 of the automatic original transport section 5 of the copying machine body 1, the number of copies is set by the copy number setting key 10 of the operation panel 8, and the mode selection key 11 is set. When the user selects a sorting mode in which a stapling process is performed on the transfer paper bundle after the sorting and is stacked on the stack tray 32 and the start switch 9 is pressed, the originals placed on the original placing portion 6 are sequentially placed on the contact glass. And the original image is read, the original image is copied on the transfer paper fed from the paper feed unit 2, and the copied copy of the original image is discharged to the sorter 3 side. .

On the other hand, when the above-mentioned keys on the operation panel 8 are pressed and the predetermined conditions are set, the bin unit 31 causes the lowermost bin 40 to move to the discharge roller pair 144 of the first transport path 36. It rises so as to be located at a position corresponding to the disposed outlet 361. Further, the stack tray 32 moves up to the highest position in the movement range. Also,
The first direction switching plate 141 and the second direction switching plate 147 are
Move to the position. Further, the upper roller mechanism 158 and the lower roller mechanism 159 of the transport roller mechanism 150 move to the standby position.

In this state, when the transfer paper discharged from the copying machine main body 1 is carried into the carry-in port 35, the transfer paper is sequentially fed to the first transport path 36 by the transport roller pair 140, The pair is transported to the discharge port 361 by the pairs 145 and 146. The transfer paper conveyed to the discharge port 361 is
The sheet is discharged onto the bin 40 at the corresponding position by the discharge roller pair 144. Each bin 40 holds one bin in synchronization with the discharge of the transfer paper.
A plurality of transfer papers having the same original image copied down step by step are discharged onto different bins 40 in order. When the transfer paper on which the next original image has been copied is conveyed, each bin 40 rises by one step, and the transfer paper is sequentially discharged onto the transfer paper on which the previous original image has been copied. Each bin 40 repeats the above elevating operation until the transfer paper on which the last document image is copied is discharged.

When the transfer paper onto which the last original image has been copied onto the bins 40 has been discharged, each bin 40 moves to a position facing the paper processing unit 34 in order.
The bin 40 that has moved to the position facing the paper sheet retreats to the paper processing unit 34 side. Then, the stapling process is performed on the transfer paper bundle, and the bin 40 advances thereafter and returns to the original position. Bin 40 returned to its original position after paper processing
Descend in order.

When the above operations are sequentially repeated and the stapling process for the transfer paper bundle of each bin 40 is completed, the uppermost bin 40 on which the transfer paper bundle is accumulated is moved to the second transport path 37.
To the position opposed to the carry-in port 371 of the storage device. When the bin 40 stops at that position, the upper roller mechanism 158 and the lower roller mechanism 159 at the standby position are rotated to the transport position, and the transport belts 155 and 156 are driven to transfer the transfer paper bundle on the bin 40. To the second transport path 37. The transfer paper bundle conveyed to the second conveyance path 37 is conveyed to the discharge port 372 by the conveyance roller pair 161 and the like, and is stacked by the discharge roller pair 163 of the discharge port 372.
2 is discharged.

When the trailing end of the transfer paper bundle conveyed to the second conveyance path 37 passes through the conveyance path transfer paper sensor 373, the upper roller mechanism 158 and the lower roller mechanism 159 are rotated to the standby position, and the bin 40 is moved up by one step. To rise. When the next bin 40 comes to a position facing the carry-in port 371 of the second carrying path 37, the upper roller mechanism 158 and the lower roller mechanism 159 are rotated to the carrying position, and the above operation is repeated to transfer the transfer paper bundle. The sheet is discharged onto the stack tray 32.

As described above, the transfer paper bundle is
When the uppermost transfer paper bundle reaches the predetermined height position (the position of the tray transfer paper sensor 322) and is sequentially stacked on the tray 2, the tray transfer paper sensor 322 detects it, and the stack tray 32 moves by one pitch. Descend. Further, when the transfer paper bundle is accumulated and the uppermost transfer paper bundle reaches the predetermined height position, the tray transfer paper sensor 322 detects this, and the stack tray 32 is further lowered by one pitch. This lowering is performed every time the tray transfer paper sensor 322 detects the presence of transfer paper. As a result, the position at which the transfer paper bundle falls from the discharge port 372 to the stack tray 32 is maintained substantially constant, and the transfer paper bundle is accurately discharged to a predetermined position on the stack tray 32.

According to the sorter according to the present invention configured as described above, since the first transport path 36 and the second transport path 37 include the sharing unit 39 that shares a part of the transport path with each other. The space in the housing 30 for arranging the transport paths can be reduced as compared with the one having the independent transport paths, and as a result, the size of the sorter 3 can be reduced. Further, since the first transport path 36 and the second transport path 37 include the sharing unit 39 that shares a part of the transport path with each other, the first transport path 36 and the second transport path 37 use the jam clearance mechanism. As a result, the jam processing mechanism can be reduced, the internal structure can be simplified, and the size of the sorter can be further reduced.

In the above embodiment, the guide plate 363 as a transport path switching member is provided in the first branch section 391 of the shared section 39 of the transport path, and the guide plate 363 as the transport path switching member is provided in the second branch section 392. Although a two-way switching plate 147 is provided, the first branch portion 391 is replaced with a second plate instead of the guide plate 363.
A direction switching plate as a transport path switching member having the same configuration as the direction switching plate 147 may be provided. Also,
The transfer paper conveyed from the carry-in port 35 instead of the second direction switching plate 147 is guided to the second branch portion 392 toward the discharge port 361 side of the first transport path 36, and the carry-in port 371 of the second transport path 37. It is also possible to arrange a guide plate as a conveyance path switching member for guiding the transfer paper bundle conveyed out to the discharge port 372 side of the second conveyance path 37.

In the above embodiment, the first transport path 36
Is configured such that the discharge port 361 of the second transfer path 37 is located below the discharge port 361 of the second transfer path 37, but the discharge port 371 of the second transfer path 37 is positioned below the discharge port 361 of the first transfer path 36. It is also possible to configure so that Moreover,
The entrance 371 of the second transport path 37 may be located below the sheet processing unit 34.

[0056]

As described above, according to the sorter of the first aspect, the first transport path for transporting the transfer paper conveyed from the image forming apparatus main body to the bin and the transfer paper on the bin on which the paper processing has been performed. Since the second transport path that transports the bundle to the tray has a shared portion that shares a part of the transport path with each other, the internal structure can be simplified and the size can be reduced.

According to the sorter of the second aspect, since the branching section of the common section is provided with the transport path switching member for switching between the first transport path and the second transport path, the transfer carried in from the image forming apparatus main body. The paper can be reliably transported to the bin, and the transfer paper bundle on the bin on which the paper processing has been performed can be reliably transported to the tray.

According to the third aspect of the present invention, at least one roller of the pair of conveying rollers provided in the shared section is urged toward the other roller, so that even if the number of transfer papers is one, a plurality of transfer papers are required. Even in such a case, it is possible to accurately pinch the sheet and convey the sheet in a predetermined direction.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing an overall configuration of a copying machine to which a sorter according to an embodiment of the present invention is applied.

FIG. 2 is a diagram showing an internal configuration of a sorter of the copying machine shown in FIG.

FIG. 3 is a view for explaining a configuration of a transport roller mechanism in the sorter shown in FIG. 2;

FIG. 4 is a diagram showing a main control configuration of a sorter.

[Explanation of symbols]

 DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Copier main body 2 Paper feed unit 3 Sorter 31 Bin unit 32 Stack tray (tray) 33 Non-sort tray 34 Paper processing unit 35 Carry inlet 36 First transport path 37 Second transport path 38 Third transport path 39 Shared unit 40 Bin 146 Conveyor roller pair 147 Second direction switching plate (conveyance path switching member) 170 Control unit 363 Guide plate (conveyance path switching member) 391 First branch 392 Second branch

Claims (3)

[Claims] A sorter for carrying in and sorting transfer paper discharged from a main body of an image forming apparatus through a carry-in port, wherein the sorter is provided with a plurality of vertically movable bins disposed vertically and carried in from the carry-in port. A first transport path for transporting the transferred transfer paper to each bin, a paper processing unit for performing a paper process on the transfer paper bundle accumulated in each bin, and a transfer on which the paper processing is performed by the paper processing unit The tray comprises a tray for stacking paper bundles, and a second transport path for transporting the transfer-processed paper bundle from each bin to the tray. The first transport path and the second transport path are one of the transport paths. A sorter comprising a sharing unit for sharing a unit with each other. 2. The sorter according to claim 1, wherein a transfer path switching member for switching between the first transfer path and the second transfer path is provided at a branch portion at both ends of the common section. 3. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the sharing unit includes at least one pair of conveying rollers, and at least one of the conveying roller pairs is biased toward the other roller. 2. Sorter according to 2.