JPH10250925A - Sheet bundle carrying device - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To carry a sheet bundle upward by holding it by a pair of an upper and a lower rollers without generating sheet deflection or removal. SOLUTION: In a device, a sheet bundle S is held by an upper roller 102 and a lower roller 103 to be carried upward. A link 128 connected to a support shaft 122 of the upper roller 102 and a link 129 connected to a support shaft 123 of the lower roller 103 are connected to each other by a support shaft 121. The links 128, 129 are provided with gears 124, 125, 126, 127 which are engaged with each other. Rotation force in directions of arrows (g), (g') is generated at the rollers 102, 103 by weight of the sheet bundle S, and this rotation force is applied through the links 128, 129 in such directions that the rollers 102, 103 press the sheet bundle S.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

The present invention relates to a sheet bundle conveying device,
More specifically, the present invention relates to a sheet bundle conveying device incorporated in a sheet processing apparatus for sorting and stapling image-formed sheets discharged from a copying machine or a printer.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, an image-formed paper processing apparatus called a finisher is provided with various functions such as paper page alignment (sort), page sorting (group), stapling, punching, and the like. Have been. In recent years, there has been a demand for increasing the capacity of paper. In order to increase the capacity, a mechanism for stapling the sheet bundle distributed to each bin or taking out the sheet bundle without stapling and storing it in a large capacity tray is required. Usually, the large capacity tray is installed above the bin.

By the way, in order to transport / accommodate a sheet bundle accumulated on a bin to a large-capacity tray, the present inventors newly provide a configuration in which the sheet bundle is sandwiched between a pair of upper and lower rollers and transported upward. I decided to adopt it. However, when the sheet bundle is simply nipped and conveyed by the upper and lower rollers, in a sheet bundle that is not stapled, there occurs a problem that the paper shifts due to its own weight or the inner sheet comes off. It is conceivable to increase the pressure contact force between the upper and lower rollers, but this will cause excessive force when eating the sheet bundle, and will cause paper misalignment.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION It is an object of the present invention to provide a sheet bundle conveying apparatus which can not only dig a sheet bundle without hindrance but also prevent a lifted sheet bundle from slipping or falling off due to its own weight. .

[0005]

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION In order to achieve the above object, a sheet bundle conveying device according to the present invention is arranged such that a sheet bundle accumulated on a bin is sandwiched between an upper roller and a lower roller and is then transferred to an upper stacking tray. A sheet bundle conveying device for conveying / accommodating, wherein an upper roller and a lower roller are connected by a link, and a rotational force for rotating the upper roller and the lower roller by the weight of the sandwiched sheet bundle is applied to the link. The upper roller and the lower roller work in the direction in which the sheet bundle is pressed.

That is, in the present invention, when a bundle of papers is sandwiched between the upper roller and the lower roller and is conveyed upward, if the hanging bundle of papers tries to drop under its own weight, the bundles of paper are applied to the upper roller and the lower roller. A rotating force for reversing acts. The upper roller and the lower roller press the sheet bundle through the link mechanism by the rotational force generated at this time. Therefore, even if the sheet bundle has not been stapled, the sheet can be reliably conveyed without slippage or slippage of the inner sheet. On the other hand, in the present invention, the upper and lower rollers generate the strong pressing force only when the sheet bundle is lifted, and do not generate such a strong pressing force when eating the sheet bundle. The bundle can be smoothly taken into the upper and lower rollers.

[0007]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS An embodiment of a sheet bundle conveying device according to the present invention will be described below with reference to the accompanying drawings. In the embodiments described below, the present invention is applied to a staple sorter connected to an electrophotographic copying machine.

In FIG. 1, reference numeral 1 denotes an electrophotographic copying machine;
Is a staple sorter. The copier 1 forms an image on a sheet by a well-known electrophotographic method, and includes a circulation type automatic document feeder 5 at an upper portion thereof. The automatic document feeder 5 sequentially feeds a group of documents stacked on a tray onto a platen glass, and discharges the document from the platen glass when exposure processing is performed for the number of copies (number of copies) designated by an operator. Return to top. If copying is still necessary after a group of originals has made one round, the second and third rounds of original transport processing are further performed. The automatic document feeder 5 has a function of counting the number of conveyed documents.

As shown in FIG. 2, the staple sorter 10 generally includes a large capacity non-sort tray 20 and a bin assembly 3 having 20 stages of bins 31 (31 _{1 to} 31 ₂₀ ).
0, a take-out unit 40 for taking out a sheet bundle contained in each bin 31, and a staple unit 70
, A sheet transport unit 80 and a sheet bundle transport gate 100.

The staple sorter 10 can process an image-formed sheet discharged from the copying machine 1 in the following modes. Non-sort tray 20 without sorting paper
Processing to load and store on top (non-sort). Paper in each bin 3
1. Sorting (sorting) pages in order. Processing for stapling the sorted sheet bundle (sort / staple).
A process of taking out a stapled sheet bundle from each bin 31 and stacking and storing it in the non-sort tray 20 (sort / staple / stack). A process (sort / stack) for taking out the sorted sheet bundle from each bin 31 without stapling and stacking and storing it in the non-sort tray 20. Further, a process (group) for sorting paper into each bin 31 for each page. Processing to staple a grouped sheet bundle (group / staple). A process of taking out a stapled sheet bundle from each bin 31 and stacking and storing it in the non-sort tray 20 (group / staple / stack). A process of taking out the grouped sheet bundle from each bin 31 without stapling and stacking and storing them in the non-sort tray 20 (group / stack).

Next, the internal structure of the staple sorter 10 will be described in detail. First, the paper transport unit 80 includes a pair of receiving rollers 81 for receiving the paper discharged from the copying machine 1.
A switching claw 82 for switching the paper transport direction; a first transport unit 83 extending substantially vertically; and a first transport unit 83
And a second transport section 90 extending substantially horizontally to the bin assembly 30 side. The switching claw 82 is rotatably mounted on the pin 82a as a fulcrum based on ON / OFF of the solenoid SL50. Switching claw 82
Is set at the position shown by the solid line in FIG. 2 when the solenoid SL50 is off. At this time, the sheet received by the pair of receiving rollers 81 is guided by the curved right side surface of the switching claw 82 and sent to the first transport unit 83. When the solenoid SL50 is turned off, the switching claw 82 slightly rotates clockwise. At this time, the sheet is guided by the upper surface of the switching claw 82 and the guide plate 79 and is fed onto the non-sort tray 20 through the sheet bundle conveying gate 100 described below.

The first transport section 83 includes guide plates 84, 85,
A punch unit 75, which is composed of a pair of feed rollers 86, 87 and a pair of feed rollers 88, 89, is provided in the middle section and forms a binding hole at the leading end or the trailing end in the sheet feeding direction. The details of the punch unit 75 are omitted.

The second transport section 90 includes a pair of transport rollers 9.
1 and 92 and guide plates 93 and 94. Guide plate 9
4 is attached to the side plate portion 93a of the guide plate 93 (see FIGS. 3 and 4), and the transport roller 91 is mounted on one end of the guide plate 94. The second transport section 90 is rotatable about a support shaft 95 in the direction of arrow a substantially 90 °. Another transport roller 92 is mounted on a frame 96 via a support shaft 97. When the sort mode or the group mode is executed (when the paper is distributed to the bin 31), the second transport unit 90
2 is set at a transport position indicated by a solid line in FIGS. At the time of taking out a sheet bundle described below, the second transport section 90 is turned up by about 90 ° in the direction of arrow a with the support shaft 95 as a fulcrum (see FIG. 4), and retracts from the sheet transport position.

The second transporting section 90 has a sensor SE21.
Is installed, and the sensor SE21 detects the sheet housed in the bin 31 and the sheet bundle taken out of the bin 31. The roller pair 81, 88, 89, the rollers 91, 92 and the take-out rollers 42, 43 described below are motor M50.
, And is rotationally driven via a driving force transmitting means (not shown).

The bin assembly 30 has 20 stages of bins 31.
₁…… 31₂₀And each bin 31 is inclined at regular intervals
And each pin 32 provided on the lower end side is vertically
A spa formed on the outer peripheral surface of the installed drive shaft (not shown)
Engage with the iral groove. This drive shaft is driven by a motor M60.
By rotating forward / reverse, one rotation of the drive shaft makes each bin 3
1 goes up and down one pitch. The bin assembly 30 is shown in FIG.
The position indicated by the solid line is the lower limit position (home position).
At this time, the first bin 31₁Are transport rollers 91 and 92
Facing. Hereinafter, the transfer rollers 91 and 92 are opposed to each other.
The position of bin 31_TwoCalled. One drive axis
When turning (reversing), the first bin 31₁Is level X₁Descend to
And this level X₁The bundle of sheets is stapled by 70
Bound. Further, the drive shaft makes one rotation (forward rotation).
And the first bin 31₁Is level X_TwoRise to this level X
_TwoTo take out the sheet bundle. At this time, the next bin 31_Two
~ 31₂₀Also increased by one pitch, bin 31_TwoIs level X₁Hessian
Is set. Each bin 31 is at level X ₁, X_TwoSet to
The upper and lower intervals with other bins 31 are set wide.
It is. To set the bin interval, select the spiral groove on the drive shaft.
This is achieved by changing the shape of the switch.

Further, in the present embodiment, the sheet dispensing position and both the level X ₂ is the take-out position of the sheet bundle for each bin 31, simplified configuration of the sorter unit by performing receiving and unloading of the paper at the same position Is becoming

The bin assembly 30 includes each bin 31
(Not shown) for detecting that is set to the lower limit position (home position) and the drive shaft is 1
A sensor (not shown) is provided for detecting that each bin 31 has been rotated and raised by one pitch. Further, a transmission sensor SE34 for detecting the presence or absence of a sheet on each bin 31 is provided. Furthermore, the sensor SE35 for detecting the presence or absence of sheets on the bin 31 set at the level X ₂ is installed. If detecting a stack of sheets on the bin 31 the sensor SE35 is set to level X ₂ (operator or the like when an extracted sheet bundle is assumed), it stops the extraction process and stack processing from the bin 31 Then, the processing shifts to the processing of taking out the sheet bundle on the next bin 31 and the stacking processing.

Here, the staple unit 70 will be described. The staple unit 70 has a well-known electrically driven structure, and includes a head portion 71 capable of attaching and detaching a cartridge containing a staple, and an anvil portion 72 that receives and bends a staple ejected from the head 71. Have been. The staple unit 70 is moved to the bottle 31 side, which is set on the level X _1, drive the staple at two points in one place or central portion of the corner sheet bundle (see FIG. 14). That is, the staple unit 70 has the front side of the staple sorter 10 as a home position and is movable toward the back side. The staple unit 70 is temporarily stopped at a predetermined position, moved to the bin 31 side, drives a staple, and finally the home Return to position. A notch is formed at the lower end of each bin 31 at a position corresponding to staples, so that the leading end of the staple unit 70 can enter the bin 31.

Next, the take-out unit 40 will be described. Extraction unit 40 is for taking out and pinched the sheet bundle from the top bin 31 set at the level X _2, 3, 4, bottles 31 the ends of the sheet bundle
A lever 41 that pushes back from the stopper 34, a lower roller 43 that lifts the sheet bundle from below, and an upper roller 42 that presses against the sheet bundle from above. The upper roller 42 is attached to an upper arm 45 that is rotatable about a support shaft 95, and the lower roller 43 is attached to a lower arm 46 that is rotatable about a support shaft 47.

The take-out unit 40 and the second transport unit 90
Means a motor M70 that can rotate forward and reverse, as shown in FIG.
Drive system 50A and second drive system 50B
Will be repositioned via The first drive system 50A operates the second transport unit 90 and the upper arm 45, and the second drive system 50B
Operates the lower arm 46. First and second drive systems 50
A and 50B each have a one-way mechanism (not shown), and the first drive system 50A operates by the forward rotation of the motor M70.
The second drive system 50B operates by the reverse rotation.

More specifically, as shown in FIGS. 6, 7, and 8, a belt 49 is stretched between the output pulley 48 of the motor M70 and the one-way pulleys 51a and 51b. First
In the drive system 50A, the support shaft 52 of the one-way pulley 51a
The worm gear 53a is fixed to the worm gear 53a.
a meshes with the worm wheel 54a. In the second drive system 50B, a worm gear 53a is fixed to a support shaft 52b of the one-way pulley 51b, and the worm gear 53a meshes with a worm wheel 54b.

Further, the first drive system 50A is provided with a boss 56a.
The levers 56 and 57 are connected with each other. Lever 5
6 is rotatable about a support shaft 58 as a fulcrum,
Are engaged with pins 55a protruding from the worm wheel 54a. Another end of the lever 57 is connected to a side plate 93 a of the guide plate 93 via a pin 59.
When the motor M70 rotates forward (in the direction of arrow a), the worm wheel 54a rotates in the direction of arrow a in FIG. 7, and the lever 56 also rotates in the direction of arrow a with the support shaft 58 as a fulcrum.
In conjunction with this, the lever 57 and the second transport section 90 (guide plates 93 and 94) also rotate in the direction of arrow a with the support shaft 95 as a fulcrum (see FIG. 8). At the same time, rotates in the direction of the arrow a on the arm 45 also supporting shaft 95 as a fulcrum, the upper roller 42 is pressed against from above the sheet bundle S on the bin 31 are set to the level X _2.

The second drive system 50B uses the support shaft 61 as a fulcrum.
A rotatable sector gear 60 is provided. Sector gear 6
0 meshes with the gear 62, and the gear 62 is
47 are provided integrally. In addition,
The groove 60a of the gear 60 protrudes from the worm wheel 54b.
With the pin 55b. Motor M70 rotates reversely (arrow
7), the worm wheel 5 in FIG.
4b rotates in the direction of arrow b, and the sector gear 60
Pivoted in the direction of arrow b with the fulcrum
62 rotates in the direction of arrow c. At the same time, the lower arm 46
Rotate in the direction of arrow c with the support shaft 47 as a fulcrum (see FIG. 3).
See). As a result, the lower roller 43 moves to the level X _TwoSet to
The sheet bundle S on the bin 31 is lifted from below.

Further, when the motor M70 rotates forward or backward, the worm wheels 54a and 54b further rotate in the directions of the arrows a and b, and the second transport unit 90 and the upper and lower rollers 42 and 43 are moved to the take-out position shown in FIG. To the paper distribution position shown in FIG.

As shown in FIG. 3, the second transport section 90 guides the guide plates 93, 9 when the sheets are distributed in the sort / group processing.
4 and the frame 96 form a paper transport path. The frame 96 is connected to a lever 64 via a pin 63, and the lever 64 is connected to a guide plate 66 via a pin 65, and the guide plate 66 is connected to a pin 59. Therefore,
When the second transport section 90 stands up during the sheet bundle removal process, as shown in FIG. 4, the projecting piece 93b of the guide plate 93, the frame 96, and the guide plate 66 form a sheet bundle transport path. At this time, the transport roller 91 retreats upward.

As shown in FIG. 3, the sensor SE53 detects that the second transport section 90 is set at the sheet distribution position, and the sensor SE53 indicates that the second transport section 90 has been set up at the sheet bundle take-out position.
Detected at 54. The sensor SE55 detects that the lower arm 46 is retracted, and the sensor SE56 detects that the lower arm 46 has moved to the sheet bundle lifting position during the take-out processing.

On the other hand, a stopper 34 for sheet alignment provided at the lower end of each bin 31 is formed with a projection 34a for preventing the sheet from falling due to the elevation and vibration of the bin 31 or vibration ( 2 and 3). Therefore, when the sheet bundle is lifted by the lower roller 43 when taking out the sheet bundle, it is necessary to prevent the leading end of the sheet bundle from rubbing against the stopper 34 or being caught on the projection 34a. The push-back lever 41 slightly retracts the sheet bundle on the bin 31 during the take-out processing, and
4 and are provided to prevent interference with the projection 34a. The push-back lever 41 is supported by a support shaft 97 of the transport roller 92.
Is mounted so as to be rotatable with the fulcrum as a fulcrum, hangs down by its own weight, and is in contact with the lower arm 46. During the removal process,
When the lower arm 46 rotates in the direction of arrow c as described above, the cam surface 46a formed on the lower arm 46
Press. As a result, the push-back lever 41 rotates in the direction of arrow e with the support shaft 97 as a fulcrum, and retracts the sheet bundle on the bin 31. The push-back lever 41, the lower roller 43, and the lower arm 46 are provided at the lower end of each bin 31 and the stopper 34, respectively.
Is formed so that a notch can enter.

The upper arm 45 holding the upper roller 42 is
When the second transport unit 90 is set at the paper distribution position, the second transport unit 90 is erected by the projecting piece 93b of the guide plate 93 and stands up. When the second transport unit 90 rotates in the direction of arrow a during the sheet bundle removal process, the urging of the protruding piece 93b is released, and the upper arm 45 is supported by the support shaft 95 as a fulcrum. To the direction of arrow a by its own weight. The upper roller 42 is pressed against the upper surface of the sheet bundle S by lifting the sheet bundle S on the bin 31 by the lower roller 43, and pinches the sheet bundle S with the lower roller 43. When the rollers 42 and 43 are driven to rotate in this state, the sheet bundle S is moved in the direction of arrow d in FIG.
Will be drawn from. After that, the sheet bundle S is lowered to the take-out position by the rollers 10
2,103.

The transport of the sheet bundle S from the take-out rollers 42 and 43 to the gate rollers 102 and 103 is performed.
Is not stapled, the take-out roller 4
When the driving of the sheets 2 and 43 starts or when the sheet bundle S enters the gate rollers 102 and 103, the alignment of the sheet bundle S may be disturbed. Specifically, as shown in FIG. 9A, a driving force is applied to the lower roller 43 as shown in FIG. 9B with respect to the sheet bundle S sandwiched between the rollers 42 and 43 from above and below. Is transmitted, the entire sheet bundle S cannot follow the acceleration of the conveying force applied from the lower roller 43, and the sheets in the lower side in contact with the lower roller 43 are sequentially advanced. The sheet bundle S
When the leading end of the sheet enters the gate rollers 102 and 103 (see FIG. 10), the sheet closer to the nip portion N is in the advanced state.

It is necessary to take at least the following countermeasures in order to prevent the above-mentioned paper displacement. (1) Set the conveying speed (rotational peripheral speed) of the gate rollers 102 and 103 higher than that of the take-out rollers 42 and 43; (2) Use a material having a low friction coefficient for the take-out rollers 42 and 43; (3) The sheet bundle pressing force of the take-out rollers 42, 43 is set to be larger than that of the gate rollers 102, 103.

More specifically, the take-out rollers 42 and 43 are made of silicone rubber (having a friction coefficient of 0.3),
2,103 was ethylene / propylene diene monomer (friction coefficient 1.1). Regarding the pressing force, the take-out rollers 42 and 43 are about 350 gf, and the gate rollers 102 and 10
3 was set to about 100 gf. Regarding the transport speed, the take-out rollers 42 and 43 were set at about 350 mm / sec, and the gate rollers 102 and 103 were set at about 450 mm / sec. Note that these numerical values are merely examples.

Next, the sheet bundle transport gate 100 will be described. As shown in FIGS. 2 and 11, the sheet bundle transport gate 100 includes a pair of gate rollers 10 in a box 101.
2 and 103 and paper guide plates 104 and 105 are provided. The rollers 102 and 103 can be driven forward / reversely by a motor M21. This sheet bundle transport gate 1
00 can be moved up and down by being guided by a guide member (not shown), and a motor M20 is installed as a drive source thereof. The home position of the sheet bundle transport gate 100 is shown in FIG.
In this home position, the gate 100 is moved from the receiving roller pair 81 to the switching claw 8.
Roller 1 feeds the sheet guided and transported on the upper surface of
By rotating 02 and 103, the sheet is conveyed to the left in FIG.

On the other hand, the sheet bundle conveying gate 100, for receiving a sheet bundle that is not stapled or staples, lowered to a position corresponding to a bin 31 set at the level X ₂ (see FIG. 13). In this take-out position, the gate 100 holds the sheet bundle S pulled out of the bin 31 by the take-out rollers 42 and 43, by the rollers 102 and 103 (see FIG. 14), and the rollers 102 and 103 rotate forward. The sheet bundle S is taken into the gate 100 based on the driving (see FIG. 15). When the sheet bundle S is completely taken into the gate 100, the normal rotation of the rollers 102 and 103 is stopped, and at the same time, the gate 100 is raised (FIG. 1).
6). When the gate 100 rises to a predetermined height,
The rollers 102 and 103 are rotated in the reverse direction, and the sandwiched sheet bundle S
Is discharged onto the non-sort tray 20 (see FIG. 17).
Next, the gate 100 is lowered to the take-out position (FIG. 1).
8), and the stack operation described above is repeated.

As shown in FIG. 16, when the sheet bundle S is sandwiched between the rollers 102 and 103 and rises, the sheet bundle S hangs downward, and the hanging portion is guided by the guide plate 86. Thus, the sheet bundle S can be transported upward in a narrow space, and the internal space of the sorter 10 can be used efficiently. In particular, if the staple unit 70 is installed below the gate 100 and the guide plate 86, the space for raising the sheet bundle and the installation space for the staple unit 70 can be compactly arranged.

In this embodiment, the rear end of the sheet bundle distributed to the bin 31 in the distribution direction is stapled, and the front end of the distribution direction is rollers 102 and 103.
To be lifted up and stored on the non-sort tray 20 from the front end. In this case, since the staple position of the sheet bundle already stored on the tray 20 is located at the lower end of the tray 20, the leading end of the sheet bundle to be stored next is caught by the staple position of the stored sheet bundle. Therefore, the sheet bundle can be smoothly accommodated in the tray 20.

The sheet bundle transport gate 100 also serves as a non-sorted sheet discharge path and a sheet bundle discharge path, and the interval between the sheet guide plates 104 and 105 is set to a size that allows a sheet bundle to pass. Further, the movable guide plate 79 installed in the first transport unit 83 is lifted by the sheet bundle S raised by the gate 100 and retracts upward with the support shaft 78 as a fulcrum.

By the way, as shown in FIG. 19, the gear 124 is
6, through the gear 124 to the gate roller 103.
, And the driving force is transmitted via the gear 127.
The link 128 holding the roller 102 and the link 129 holding the roller 103 are the support shaft 12 holding the gear 124.
They are connected at 1. Accordingly, when the sheet bundle is clamped, the rollers 102 and 103 expand in the vertical direction according to the thickness of the sheet bundle with the support shaft 121 as a fulcrum. As shown in FIG. 20, the sheet bundle S hangs rightward, and the rollers 102, 1
When the transmission of the rotational force to the sheet bundle 03 is interrupted (corresponding to the time when the sheet bundle S is lifted from the take-out position to the non-sort tray 20), the rollers 102, 1 are driven by the weight of the sheet bundle S.
03 receives a force to rotate in the directions of arrows g and g ′. At this time, a force to rotate the link 128 downward and the link 129 to rotate upward with the support shaft 121 as a fulcrum acts, and the rollers 102 and 103 pinch the sheet bundle S with a stronger force. I do. As a result, displacement of the sheet bundle S when the gate 100 moves up, and in particular, in the case of a sheet bundle that has not been stapled, disturbance of alignment and falling off can be prevented.

The rollers 102 and 103 are provided so as to be able to contact and separate from each other as described above, and as shown in FIG.
A guide plate 111 extends between the lower rollers 103, and a guide plate 115 is disposed between the lower rollers 103. Guide plate 111
21 is rotatable about a support shaft 112, is urged in a counterclockwise direction in FIG. 21 by a coil spring 113, and is regulated at a position shown in the counterclockwise direction. The guide plate 111 is used by the lower surface 111a to roll one sheet of paper conveyed in the direction of arrow f during non-sort discharge.
It guides to the nip part of 2,103. On the other hand, the guide plate 1
Reference numeral 11 denotes an upper roller 4 by a sheet bundle carried in the direction of arrow d between the rollers 102 and 103 when the sheet bundle is taken out.
2 and lifted upwards. In this case, first, the upper roller 42 is lifted by the sheet bundle, and the tip of the guide plate 111 is lifted by the support shaft 122 against the coil spring 113. As a result, the guide plate 111 retracts upward with respect to the sheet bundle and has a guide function for the sheet bundle, but does not act as a large resistance.

Another guide plate 115 is a support shaft 116.
, And is urged in a counterclockwise direction by a coil spring 117, and is regulated at a position shown in the counterclockwise direction. At the time of non-sort discharge, as shown in FIG. 22, the guide plate 115 exerts a spring force of the coil spring 117 as a resisting force on one sheet of paper s, and discharges the paper s with the waist. On the other hand, the coil spring 1
As shown in FIG. 23, when the sheet bundle S enters the nip portion of the rollers 102 and 103, the guide plate 115 retreats downward with the support shaft 116 as a fulcrum. I do. The spring force of the coil spring 117 is set such that the guide plate 115 does not retreat even when special paper such as thick paper or OHP paper is passed during non-sort discharge.

When stacking unstapled sheets on the non-sort tray 20 using the sheet bundle transport gate 100, the sheet bundles S ₁ , S ₂ and S ₃ are stacked.
.. Are alternately shifted in a direction orthogonal to the transport direction. This shift is performed by moving the sheet bundle of the even-numbered copy to the gate roller 1.
When the gate rollers 02 and 103 are pinched and rise from the take-out position to the discharge position (see FIG. 16), the gate rollers 102 and 10
3 is shifted by a dimension W (see FIG. 25).

In order to enable the above operation, a fixed frame 130 and a movable frame 133 for holding the rollers 102 and 103 are provided in the gate 100 as shown in FIG. The fixed frame 130 is fixed in the box 101. The movable frame 133 includes side plates 133a, 13
3b are connected by a connecting plate 133c.
22 and 123 are held by the side plates 133a and 133b. The movable frame 133 includes side plates 133a and 133b.
Is slidably mounted on a guide shaft 131 provided on the fixed frame 130, and is constantly urged in the direction of arrow h by the coil spring 132 being pressed against the side plate 133a.

Further, a guide member 135 having a concave cross section is provided on the path of elevation of the sheet bundle conveying gate 100, and two guide grooves 135a and 135b extending in the vertical direction by a rail member 136 fixed at the center. Is formed. A switching claw 137 is provided at the lower end of the rail member 136 with a pin 1.
38, the switching pawl 137
Is connected to the solenoid SL51. Solenoid S
When L51 is off, the switching claw 137 is located at the center of the guide member 135 as shown by the solid line in FIG. 24, and swings rightward as shown by the two-dot chain line when the solenoid SL51 is turned on. A pin 134 is fixed to the side plate 133a. The pin 134 is located in the guide member 135 and is movable in the guide grooves 135a and 135b.

In the above configuration, usually, the solenoid S
L51 is turned off, and the movable frame 133 is urged by the coil spring 132 to move the pin 134 into the guide groove 135a.
The gate 100 moves up and down in a state where the gate 100 is engaged. At this time,
The movable frame 133 does not shift. On the other hand, when the gate 100 ascends and raises the even-numbered sheet bundle S that has not been stapled by the rollers 102 and 103, the solenoid SL51 is turned on. As a result, the switching claw 137 swings rightward, and the pin 134 is guided by the switching claw 137 during the ascent and enters the guide groove 135b.
The movable frame 133 shifts by the dimension W together with the rollers 102 and 103. In this state, the gate 100 moves up to the sheet bundle discharge position, and discharges the sheet bundle onto the non-sort tray 20. When the odd-numbered sheet bundle is conveyed, the solenoid SL51 is kept in the off state, and the non-sort tray 20
The sheet bundles S ₁ , S ₂ , S ₃ ...
As shown in (2), sorting is performed in a state of being shifted by the dimension W alternately.

In this embodiment, the sheet bundle is alternately shifted only in the non-staple mode,
Although the sheets are stored on the tray 20, it is needless to say that the sheets may be stored on the tray 20 by being alternately shifted even in the staple mode.

Next, a description will be given of the holding plate 140 for holding the trailing end of the sheet bundle discharged onto the non-sort tray 20 by the gate rollers 102 and 103. Holding plate 1
40 is disposed at the position shown in FIG. 26 with respect to the direction perpendicular to the sheet bundle conveyance direction, as shown in FIG. 29, rotated in the arrow i direction when discharging the paper stack S ₂ on the non-sort tray 20 and, press down the rear end of the sheet bundle S ₁ that has already been accommodated. When the sheet bundle S ₂ is discharged onto the paper stack S _1, there is a case where the sheet stack S ₂ that has been granted a conveying force from the gate rollers 102 and 103 push the sheet bundle S ₁ forward. In particular, in the present embodiment, the unstapled sheet bundle can be stacked on the tray 20.
In an unstapled sheet bundle, the upper sheet is easily pushed out. The holding plate 140 is provided to prevent such extrusion.

More specifically, as shown in FIGS. 27 and 28,
The holding plate 140 includes a rubber member 140a having a large coefficient of friction protruding at a tip thereof, and is protruded from a pipe 141 provided in parallel with the roller support shafts 122 and 123. The support shaft 142 is inserted into the pipe 141. . Pipe 141 and spindle 1
Reference numeral 42 is rotatable with respect to each other, and both are connected via torque limiters 143 and 144. The gear 146 fixed to the support shaft 142 meshes with the gear 127 fixed to the lower roller support shaft 123 via the idle gear 145.

The pressing plate 140 is normally set upright as shown in FIG. For discharging the sheet bundle S ₂ on the non-sort tray 20, the gate rollers 10
2 and 103 are rotationally driven, respectively, as shown in FIGS.
9, the gear 127 to the idle gear 145,
Rotational force is transmitted to the pipe 141 via the gear 146, the support shaft 142, and the torque limiter 143. At this time, the pressing plate 140 is rotated in the arrow i direction together with the pipe 141, holds down the rear end of the sheet bundle S ₁ of rubber material 140a is housed on the tray 20. Pressing after the gate rollers 102 and 103 of the pressing plate 140 is rotated to discharge the sheet bundle S _2, but the gear 146 and the shaft 142 continues to rotate, the pressing plate 140 by the action of the torque limiter 143 is pressed Keep state. This in, that the paper stack S ₁ is pushed out in the discharge direction is prevented.

When the sheet bundle S ₂ is discharged onto the non-sort tray 20, the gate rollers 102 and 103 are driven to rotate for a short time in a direction opposite to the direction at the time of discharging. At this time, gear 1
27, the torque is transmitted to the pipe 141 via another torque limiter 144, and as shown in FIG.
Pressing plate 140 is rotated in the arrow i 'direction together with the pipe 141, to release the pressing against the sheet bundle S _1. Holding plate 1
When the reference numeral 40 rotates to the standing position shown in FIG. 30, the rotation in the direction of the arrow i 'is restricted by a stopper (not shown), and the standing position is maintained.

In the case of non-sorted discharge, the torque limiter 143 is turned off, and the holding plate 140 does not operate and maintains the state where it is held at the upright position.

The pushing of the sheet bundle is prevented by the two pressing plates 140 (a) located substantially at the center shown in FIG.
Performs its function exclusively. The rightmost holding plate 14 in FIG.
0 (b) presses the sheet bundle S on the concave portion 20a formed at the corner of the non-sort tray 20. When the sheet bundle stapled at the corner is stored on the non-sort tray 20, the staples overlap the concave portion 20a, and this portion becomes bulky. By forming a concave portion 20a on the tray 20 and pressing the stapled portion with the pressing plate 140 (b), the upper surface of the sheet bundle already stored at the time of discharging the next sheet bundle is held flat, and It is possible to prevent interference and ensure consistency during stacking.

By the way, in the above-mentioned sheet stack stacking operation, the bin assembly 30 is raised by one pitch.
Furthermore, the stack operation of the sheet bundle to the staple processing is performed in parallel with the staple processing on the sheet bundle on the bin 31 set at the level X _1.

The sheet bundle transport gate 100 is normally
The non-sorted sheets are discharged onto the tray 20 one by one at the home position shown in FIG. 12, and the sheet bundle is discharged to the tray 20 at the second position shown in FIG. The tray 20 is capable of storing a large amount of paper, and the gate 100 is located at the second position shown in FIG.
The sheet bundle can be raised to an arbitrary height from the position to the upper limit position indicated by the dashed line and stopped, and the sheet bundle can be discharged. The ascent / stop position is determined by the rollers 102 and 103
Corresponds to a position where a certain distance is maintained from the top surface of the sheets stacked and stored on the non-sort tray 20. That is, the gate 100 rises to a height at which the next sheet bundle can be discharged at a predetermined drop from the top surface of the sheet.

In the present embodiment, the second position for starting the discharge of the sheet bundle is set lower than the home position for discharging the non-sorted sheets for the following reason. That is, since the height of the gate 100 is fixed at the time of non-sort discharge, it is necessary to set a certain sheet drop height in advance for the tray 20 and secure a certain non-sort storage capacity. On the other hand, when stacking the sheet bundle, the sheet bundle is likely to curl when discharged to the tray 20, and it is preferable that the height at which the sheet falls onto the tray 20 is small. Therefore, the second position is set lower than the home position, and the gate 100 is gradually raised as the stack amount increases.

In order to enable the above operation, as shown in FIG. 2, a sensor S for detecting the presence or absence of a sheet on the non-sort tray 20 is provided above the non-sort tray 20.
E33, a sensor SE23 for detecting the uppermost surface of the sheet on the non-sort tray 20 (the upper surface of the tray 20 when there is no sheet) is provided. Further, a sensor SE20 for detecting the home position of the gate 100 and a sensor SE22 for detecting the presence or absence of a sheet bundle in the gate 100 are provided. Further, a sensor SE24 (FIG. 12) for detecting that the gate 100 has risen to the upper limit.
See)

On the other hand, as shown in FIGS. 11 and 12, the cover 2 is located at a position facing the lower end of the non-sort tray 20.
1 is installed. The cover 21 is for regulating the trailing end of the paper discharged on the non-sort tray 20 in the discharge direction. When the cover 21 rises in synchronization with the paper bundle transport gate 100 and the gate 100 descends, It is configured to be held at the raised position. That is, the cover 2
1 has a vertical frame portion 22a and a horizontal frame portion 22b, which are integrally guided by a guide member (not shown) so as to be able to move up and down. A frame 29 having a ratchet 29 a is fixed to the main body frame 11 of the staple sorter 10.
Is engaged with the ratchet 29a. The claw member 24 is rotatable counterclockwise with the pin 24a as a fulcrum, and its rotation is regulated clockwise.

When the sheet bundle conveying gate 100 is set at the second position, the cover 21 is set at the lower limit position shown by a solid line in FIG. I have. When the number of sheets stored on the non-sort tray 20 increases, the gate 100 rises higher than the second position, and the horizontal frame 22
When the box b is pushed up by the box 101, the cover 21 moves up. At this time, the claw member 24 rotates counterclockwise around the pin 24a, and the ratchet 29a
Step by step. When the ascent of the gate 100 stops, the claw member 24 engages with the opposing ratchet 29a, and when the gate 100 descends next, the cover 21 holds the stopped state at that position. By the above operation,
At the time of stacking the sheet bundle, the nip portion between the rollers 102 and 103 and the upper end 21a of the cover 21 maintain a certain distance.

The upper limit of the cover 21 is the position indicated by the dashed line in FIG. When the sheet is removed from the non-sort tray 20 by the operator, the clockwise rotation regulation of the claw member 24 is released (for example, the regulation member (not shown) is retracted from the regulation position by driving the solenoid), and the cover is removed. 21 descends to the lower limit position.

FIG. 31 shows an operation panel 15 provided in the copying machine 1.
0 indicates a main part. On the operation panel 150, a touch panel 151 of a liquid crystal display, a numeric keypad 152 for setting the number of copies (number of copies), a reset key 153, an interrupt processing key 154, a copy start key 155, and the like are provided.

FIG. 32 shows one screen of the touch panel 151. Here, a sort mode selection key 161, a sort / staple mode selection key 162, a sort / stack mode selection key 163, a sort / staple / stack mode selection key 164, a group mode selection key 165, a group / staple mode selection key 166, a group /
A stack mode selection key 167, a group / staple / stack mode selection key 168, and a non-sort mode selection key 169 are displayed.

FIG. 33 shows another screen of the touch panel 151. Here, a key 156 is displayed to limit the number of stacks in the staple / stack mode to 40.

FIG. 34 shows a copying machine 1 and a staple sorter 1.
0 shows a control circuit. The control circuit is ROM 171 and RA
It is configured around a CPU 170 having M172,
The CPU 170 operates according to the program stored in the ROM 171 according to the motors M20, M21, M50, M6.
0, M70, solenoids SL50 and SL51, a staple unit moving motor, a staple unit drive motor, and the like. Further, CPU 170 receives detection signals from the various sensors. Further, the CPU 170
Is a C that controls another CPU, for example, the automatic document feeder 5
It communicates with the PU 173 and exchanges necessary data.

Hereinafter, a control procedure by the CPU 170 will be described with reference to flowcharts shown in FIGS. First, various flags and counters used in the flowchart will be described. Sort flag F1: indicates that the mode is set to the sort mode. Group flag F2: Indicates that the group mode is set. Staple flag F3: Indicates that the staple mode is set. Stack flag F4: indicates that the stack mode in which the sheet bundle on each bin 31 is stored on the non-sort tray 20 is set. Gate initial operation flag F5: Indicates that the gate 100 is set at the home position.

Stapling unit operation flag F6: The stapling process by the stapling unit 70 is permitted. Take-out operation flag F7: Permits taking-out / stacking of a sheet bundle by the take-out unit 40 and the sheet bundle transport gate 100. Take-out unit operation flag F8: Permits the take-out unit 40 to take out a sheet bundle. One bin take-out end flag F9: Indicates that the take-out unit 40 and the sheet bundle transport gate 100 have finished taking out / stacking a sheet bundle from one bin.

Number counter A: Stores the number of copies (number of copies) set by the operator. Job counter B: counts the number of document circulations in the automatic document feeder 5. That is, since the number of bins is 20, in the case of the sort mode, if the number of sets is 21 or more, the document is circulated a plurality of times and the copy processing is performed for each of 20 copies. For example, if the number is "5
If it is 0 ", first, 20 copies of each document are made and paper is distributed to bins 31 _{1 to} 31 ₂₀ (document 1
Tour). This is called one job, and the counter B is set to "1". After the completion of one job, the sheet bundle on each bin 31 is sequentially stapled if necessary, and the sheet bundle transport gate 1
00 is loaded and stored on the non-sort tray 20. Then further, for each document by performing the copying of the 20 parts of distributing paper bin 31 _{1-31 20} (second round), the tray 20 is stacked on. Further, in the third round, 10 copies of each document are copied, the sheets are distributed to bins 31 _{1 to} 31 _10, and the sheets are stacked on the tray 20.

Bin number counter C: Displays the number of bins used in one job. For example, if the number is "30", 1
The job number is “20”, and the second job is “10”. Remaining unloading bin number counter D: counts the number of bins from which a sheet bundle has not been unloaded in the stack mode. Movement integration counter E: counts the ascending and descending distance of the gate 100 in the stack mode.

First movement constant counter F: counts the gate movement distance from the home position to the sheet bundle take-out position. Is a constant. Second movement constant counter G: counts the gate movement distance from the home position to the second position. Is a constant. Total movement counter H: counts the gate movement distance from the sheet bundle take-out position to the sheet bundle discharge position to the non-sort tray 20.

Stapled bin counter I: counts the number of stapled bins. Group accommodation bin counter J: counts the number of bins accommodating paper in the group mode. This count value corresponds to the number of documents. Stack start position counter K: counts the gate position at the start of stack operation.

In the following description, on-edge means that a sensor, signal, or the like has been switched from an off state to an on state, and off-edge means that a sensor, a signal, or the like has been switched from an on state to an off state. Means

FIG. 35 shows a main routine of the CPU 170. When the power is turned on and the program starts,
First, in step S1, various control parameters and various devices are initialized, and in step S2, a gate initial operation is performed. Next, the internal timer is started in step S3. The internal timer determines the time required for one routine, and the time is set in advance in step S1. Subsequently, the respective subroutines of steps S4, S5, S6, S7, and S8 are sequentially called to perform necessary processing.
When the end of the internal timer is confirmed in step 9, the process returns to step S3.

FIG. 36 shows a gate initial operation subroutine executed in step S2 of the main routine. Here, the sheet bundle transport gate 100 is set to the home position.

First, in step S11, it is determined whether or not the gate initial operation flag F5 is "0". If it has been reset to "0", it is determined in step S12 whether or not the sensor SE20 is on. The sensor SE20 is on when the gate 100 is above the home position, and is off when the gate 100 is below. Therefore, if the sensor SE20 is on, the elevation motor M20 is rotated forward in step S13. As a result, the gate 100 starts descending. next,
In step S14, it is determined whether or not the sensor SE20 is off-edge. If it is off-edge, that is, if the gate 100 reaches the home position, the flag F5 is set to "1" in step S15, and the motor M2 is turned on in step S16.
Stop 0. On the other hand, if the sensor SE20 is off (NO in step S12), since the gate 100 is below the home position, the motor M
Reverse 20. Thus, the gate 100 starts to rise. Next, in step S18, it is determined whether or not the sensor SE20 is on-edge.
At 16, the motor M20 is stopped. Then, step S
After 12 to S16, the gate 100 is set to the home position.

FIG. 37 shows a subroutine of the input process executed in step S4 of the main routine. here,
The mode selection information by the operator input from the operation panel 150 is taken into the CPU 170.

First, it is determined in step S21 whether or not copying is in progress. If copying is in progress, mode switching processing is executed in step S22. If copying is not in progress, a mode input process is executed in step S23, and in step S24, other input processes, for example, the number set by the operator using the ten keys 152 are taken into the CPU 170. next,
In step S25, whether or not the stack flag F4 is "0"
In step S26, it is determined whether or not the sort flag F1 is "1", and in step S27, whether or not the set number is greater than "20". If both are YES, step S
At 28, the stack flag F4 is set to "1". That is, if the setting number is larger than "20", the job cannot be processed in one job because the number of bins exceeds 20, and the flag F4 Is set to “1”. In this case, even if the operator does not select the stack mode, the stack mode is forcibly set, and the continuous processing in the sort mode when the set number is “21” or more is executed.

Next, in step S29, it is determined whether the staple flag F3 is "1". If the flag F3 is set to "1" and it is determined in step S30 that the number is greater than "40", the stack number excess processing is executed in step S31. That is, if the stapled sheet bundle is stored on the non-sort tray 20 in an amount of more than 40 copies, the staple processing location may be particularly bulky and may exceed the tray 20 storage height. In stack mode, limit the number of stacks.

On the other hand, if the stack mode is selected (NO in step S25), it is confirmed in step S32 that the sort flag F1 is set to "1", and steps S29 and S30 are executed in the same manner as described above. If the number of copies stacked on the tray 20 in the staple mode exceeds 40 copies, step S31 is executed to limit the number of stacks.

In the sort / staple / stack mode, if the number of stacks exceeds 40, the number is forcibly changed to 40. Sort / staple processing itself is possible. Therefore, only the stack processing is 40
Copy / staple processing, and another 20 copies may be possible.

FIG. 38 shows a subroutine of the mode switching process executed in step S22. Here, when it is confirmed in step S41 that the stack flag F4 is "0" and in step S42 that the group flag F2 is "1", the number of documents is set to "2" in step S43.
It is determined whether the number of originals is greater than 0 ". The number of originals is counted each time the original is conveyed onto the platen glass by the automatic original feeder 5. Specifically, during the copying of the nineteenth original, The presence or absence of a document on the document tray of the automatic document feeder 5 is detected, and if there is a document at this time, the document is the twenty-first document, and YES is determined in step S43 because the number of bins is 20. The copy sheet cannot be distributed to the bin 31 for the 21st document, so the stack flag F4 is set to "1" in step S44. That is, the sheet bundle sorted for each page in each bin 31 is transported / accommodated on the non-sort tray 20 using the sheet bundle transport gate 100, and the sheet bundle 21 in the group mode
Copy processing of the original after the first sheet is enabled.

Next, it is determined at a step S45 whether or not the staple flag F3 is "1". The flag F3 is set to “1”, and the number of documents is “4” in step S46.
If it is determined that the number has exceeded "0", the stack copy number excess process is executed in step S47.
As in the case of the ES determination, the number of stacks is limited in order to avoid exceeding the storage height limit when the stapled sheet bundle is stored on the non-sort tray 20 in more than 40 sets.

On the other hand, if the stack mode is selected (NO in step S41), it is confirmed in step S48 that the group flag F2 is set to "1", and steps S45 and S46 are executed in the same manner as described above. If the number of copies stacked on the tray 20 in the staple mode exceeds 40 copies, step S47 is executed to limit the number of stacks. In the group / staple / stack mode, if the number of stacks exceeds 40, subsequent stack processing is prohibited.

FIG. 39 and FIG. 40 show a subroutine of the mode input process executed in step S23. Here, steps S51, S53, S55, S57, S5
In steps S9, S61, S63, and S65, it is determined whether the mode selection keys 161 to 169 on the touch panel 151 are on or off, and based on the turned on keys 161 to 169, steps S52, S54, S56, S58, S
At 60, S62, S64, S66 and S67, each flag F1 is set.
F4 is set / reset to "1" or "0". In the initial state, a non-sort mode is set.

FIG. 41 shows a subroutine of the stack number excess processing executed in steps S31 and S47. This subroutine is executed when the set number exceeds "20" in the sort / staple / stack mode (see steps S28, S29, S30, S32), or when the number of documents is "4" in the group / staple / stack mode.
0 "(steps S44, S45, S46, S46).
48) is executed.

First, in step S71, the touch panel 15
1. A warning is displayed on the display. As shown in FIG. 33, this warning display shows a key 156 together with a sentence "The number of stacks at the time of stapling is up to 40 copies. Are you sure to change to 40 copies?" After confirming that the operator has turned on the key 156 in step S72, it is determined in steps S73 and S75 whether the flag F1 or the flag F2 is "1". In the case of the sort mode, the set number is changed to 40 in step S74, and in the case of the group mode, the takeout operation flag F7 is reset to "0" in step S76.

FIG. 42 shows a subroutine of the finishing process executed in step S5 of the main routine. Here, the process specified by the various flags is executed. That is,
If it is confirmed in step S81 that the sort flag F1 is "1", the sort control is performed in step S82, and if it is confirmed that the group flag F2 is "1" in step S83, the group control is performed in step S84.
In step S85, the elevation of the bin 31 is controlled. Further, in step S86, the staple unit operation flag F
When it is confirmed that 6 is "1", stapling unit control is performed in step S87. When it is confirmed in step S88 that the unloading operation flag F7 is "1", the unloading unit control and step S90 are performed in step S89.
Performs gate control. In step S91, the flags F1 to F
When it is confirmed that all of the bits 4 are "0", step S9 is executed.
2 performs non-sort control.

Note that the sort control and group control executed in steps S82 and S84 are performed by
The control is sequentially distributed to 1, and the description is omitted because it is well known. Further, the staple unit control executed in step S87 is control for driving the staples into the sheet bundle by the staple unit 70, and the description thereof is omitted because it is well known.

FIGS. 43 to 49 show a bin control subroutine executed in step S85. Here, first,
In step S100, the count value of state SC1 is checked, and the following processing is executed according to the count value. When the state SC1 is 0, when the start of the copying operation is confirmed in step S101, it is determined in step S102 whether or not the sort flag F1 is "1". If the flag F1 is set to "1", the job counter B is reset to 0 in step S103, the stapled bin number counter I is reset to 0 in step S104, and the state SC1 is set to 1 in step S105. . On the other hand, if the sort flag F1 has been reset to "0" (NO in step S102), the counter I is reset to 0 in step S106, and the state SC1 is set to 3 in step S107.

When the state SC1 is 1, step S
At 108, it is determined whether or not “A−20B> 20”. That is, it is determined whether or not the number of copies to be performed from now on is greater than "20". YES in step S108
If so, the bin number counter C is set to 20 in step S109.
Set to. If NO, the bin number counter C is set to "A-20B" in step S110. In steps S109 and S110, the number of bins to be used in one job to be executed is input to the counter C, and in step S111, the value of the counter C is set in the remaining bin number counter D to be taken out. Next, state SC1 is set to 2 in step S112.

When state SC1 is 2, step S
After confirming that the operation of one job has been completed at 113,
In step S114, the value of "B + 1" is set in the job counter B, and the state SC1 is set to 4 in step S115.

If the state SC1 is 3, step S
After confirming that the operation of one job has been completed at 116,
In step S117, the value of the group accommodation bin number counter J is set in the bin number counter C. Next, step S1
At 18, the state SC1 is set to 4.

When state SC1 is 4, step S
At 119, it is determined whether the staple flag F3 is "1". If the flag F3 has been set to "1", first to move the bin 31 ₁ to level X ₁ at step S120.
Here, the first bin 31 ₁ is set at the stapling position, and preparations are made to start the stapling process sequentially from the first bin 31 ₁ . Next, when the completion of the movement is confirmed in step S121, the state SC1 is determined in step S122.
Is set to 5.

On the other hand, if the staple flag F3 has been reset to "0", the first bin 31
Moving ₁ to level X _2. Here, the first bin 31 ₁
It was set to the take-out position of the sheet bundle, and prepares to start the sequential extraction process from the first bin 31 _1. Next, when the completion of the movement is confirmed in step S124, the process proceeds to step S124.
At step 125, the state SC1 is set to "11".

When state SC1 is 5, step S
If it is confirmed at 126 that the staple unit operation flag F6 has been reset to "0", the process proceeds to step S12.
At step 7, the respective count values of the stapled bin number counter I and the bin number counter C are compared. If “I <C”, the stack flag F4 is set to “1” in step S128.
It is determined whether or not it is, and if it is set to “1”, the state SC1 is set to 12 in step S129. If the flag F4 has been reset to "0", step S13
At 0, the state SC1 is set to 6. On the other hand, "I <
If not "C" (NO in step S127, that is, if all the sheet bundles on the bin 31 have been stapled), the state SC1 is set to 8 in step S131.

When state SC1 is 6, step S
In step 132, the bin 31 is raised by one pitch, and
When it is confirmed in step 3 that the pitch has been raised by one pitch, step S1
At step 34, the staple unit operation flag F6 is set to "1". Next, the state SC1 is set to 7 in a step S135.

If the state SC1 is 7, step S
If it is confirmed at step 136 that the staple unit operation flag F6 has been reset to "0", the process proceeds to step S13.
At step 7, the respective count values of the stapled bin number counter I and the bin number counter C are compared. If “I <C”, the state SC1 is set to 6 in step S138. On the other hand, if "I <C" is not satisfied, that is, if all the sheet bundles on the bin 31 are stapled, step S1 is executed.
In step 39, the state SC1 is set to 15, and in step S1
At 40, execution of the next job is permitted.

If the state SC1 is 8, step S
At 141, it is determined whether or not the stack flag F4 is "1". If the flag F4 is set to "1", the take-out operation flag F7 is set to "1" in step S142, and the take-out unit operation flag F8 is set in step S143.
Is set to “1”. Here, a process of taking out the sheet bundle from the bin 31 and storing it in the non-sort tray 20 is prepared. Next, in step S144, state SC1 is set to 1
Set to 0. On the other hand, if the stack flag F4 has been reset to "0" (NO in step S141), the state SC1 is set to 14 in step S145, and execution of the next job is permitted in step S146.

If the state SC1 is 9, step S
At 147, the bin 31 is raised by one pitch. Next, when confirming that the increase of one pitch at step S148 is completed, i.e., when it is confirmed that one of the bottles 31 has been set to the take-out position of the level X _2, the state SC1 is set to 10 in step S149 .

When the state SC1 is 10, when it is confirmed in step S150 that the one-bin take-out end flag F9 is set to "1", the flag F9 is reset to "0" in step S151. Next, step S1
At 52, it is determined whether or not the count value of the remaining take-out bin counter D is larger than zero. If "D>0", the state SC1 is set at 9 in step S153, it raises the next bin 31 into the level X _2. Further, in step S154, the take-out unit operation flag F8 is set to "1". If “D = 0”, that is, if the sheet bundle has been taken out from all the bins 31 into which the sheets have been sorted, the state SC1 is reset in step S155, and the execution of the next job is permitted in step S156. I do.

If the state SC1 is 11, it is determined in step S157 whether or not the stack flag F4 is "1". If the flag F4 is set to "1", the take-out operation flag F7 is set to "1" in step S158, and the take-out unit operation flag F8 is set in step S159.
Is set to “1”. Here, a process of taking out the sheet bundle from the bin 31 and storing it in the non-sort tray 20 is prepared. Next, in step S160, the state SC1 is set to 1
Set to 4. On the other hand, if the stack flag F4 has been reset to "0" (NO in step S157), the state SC1 is set to 15 in step S161, and execution of the next job is permitted in step S162.

If the state SC1 is 12, the take-out operation flag F7 is set to "1" in step S163.
In step S164, the take-out unit operation flag F8 is set to "1". Here, the stapled sheet bundle is taken out of the bin 31 and the non-sort tray 20
Prepare the processing to be accommodated. Next, the state SC1 is set to 14 in step S165.

If the state SC1 is 13, the bin 31 is raised by one pitch in step S166. Next, when it is confirmed in step S167 that the ascending of one pitch has been completed, that is, when the next bin 31 has risen to the take-out position of level X2, the take-out unit operation flag F8 is set to "1" in step S168. Next, step S16
In step 9, the state SC1 is set to 14.

When the state SC1 is 14, when it is confirmed in step S170 that the one bin take-out end flag F9 is set to "1", the flag F9 is reset to "0" in step S171. Next, step S1
At 72, it is determined whether or not the count value of the remaining take-out bin number counter D is larger than zero. The state SC1 is set 13 at step S173, if "D>0", raising the next bin 31 into the level X _2. If “D = 0”, that is, if the sheet bundle has been taken out from all the bins 31 where the sheets have been sorted, it is determined in step S174 whether or not the sort flag F1 is “1”. If the flag F1 is set to “1”, “A” is determined in step S175.
> 20B ". If “A> 20B”, that is, if copying has not been completed for the number of copies, the state SC1 is set to 1 in step S176.
If “A> 20B” is not satisfied, that is, if copying of the set number has been completed, the state SC1 is set in step S178.
Is reset to 0.

On the other hand, if the sort flag F1 is "0" (NO in step S174), it is determined in step S177 whether or not there is an advance original. Here, the advance document refers to the 21st document fed immediately before the platen glass by the automatic document feeder 5. If there is an original, the state SC1 is set to 3 in step S179, and if not, the state SC1 is reset to 0 in step S178. Next, execution of the next job is permitted in step S180, and the stapled bin number counter I is reset to 0 in step S181.

If the state SC1 is 15, the timer Ts is started in step S182, and the process proceeds to step S18.
In step 3, the state SC1 is set to 16. When a predetermined time elapses when the sheet bundle is left on the bin 31, the timer Ts automatically removes the sheet bundle from the non-sort tray 20.
This is a timer for starting the process of transporting / housing above.

If the state SC1 is 16, it is determined in step S184 whether or not the copy start key 155 has been turned on. Reset the state SC1 to 0. If it has not been turned on and the next copying operation has not yet started, it is determined in step S186 whether or not the timer Ts has expired. Upon completion, the stack flag F4 is set to "1" in step S187, and the state SC1 is set to 8 in step S188. As a result, the sheet bundle remaining on the bin 31 is conveyed / contained on the non-sort tray 20.

FIGS. 50 and 51 show a subroutine for controlling the take-out unit which is executed in step S89. Here, first, in step S200, the count value of state SC2 is checked, and the following processing is executed according to the count value.

When state SC2 is 0, step S
At 201, the motor M70 is rotated forward. As a result, the second transport unit 90 retracts upward, and the upper arm 45 and the upper roller 4
2 is located immediately above the sheet bundle on the bin 31. Next, when it is determined in step S202 that the sensor SE54 is on-edge, that is, when the retreat of the second transport unit 90 is completed,
In step S203, the motor M70 is stopped. next,
In step S204, the state SC2 is set to 1.

If the state SC2 is 1, step S
At 205, the take-out unit operation flag F8 is set to "1", and at step S206, the take-out remaining bin number counter D
It is determined whether the count value is not 0. "D = 0"
In other words, if the sheet bundle has been taken out from all the bins 31 to which the sheets have been distributed, the state SC2 is set to 5 in step S213. If “D ≠ 0”, it is determined in step S207 whether the sensor SE35 is on or off. Sensor SE35 is intended to detect the presence or absence of a sheet bundle on the bin 31 are set to level X _2, if it is off (no paper), and resets the take-out unit operation flag F8 at step S208 to "0" . If it is on (there is paper), the motor M70 is reversed in step S209. Thus, the lower arm 46 rotates in the direction of arrow c (see FIG. 3), and the lower roller 43 lifts the sheet bundle on the bin 31. Next, in step S210, the sensor SE5
6 is determined to be on-edge, that is, the roller 4
When the sandwiching of the sheet bundle is completed in steps 2 and 43, step S21 is performed.
In step 1, the motor M70 is stopped. Next, step S21
In step 2, the state SC2 is set to 2.

If state SC2 is 2, step S
At 214, the transport motor M50 is reversed. As a result, the rollers 42 and 43 rotate to pull out the sheet bundle from the bin 31 and deliver it to the sheet bundle transport gate 100. Step S
When it is confirmed that the sensor SE21 is turned on at 215,
That is, when the sheet bundle is being delivered to the gate 100,
In step S216, the state SC2 is set to 3.

If the state SC2 is 3, step S
If it is determined at 217 that the sensor SE21 is off-edge, that is, the sheet bundle pulled out from the bin 31
When the transfer motor M50 is transferred to the rollers 102 and 103, the transport motor M50 is stopped in step S218. Next, the state SC2 is set to 4 in a step S219. If the state SC2 is 4, the motor M70 is reversed in step S220. Thus, the lower arm 46 and the lower roller 43 start returning. Next, when it is determined in step S221 that the sensor SE55 is on-edge, that is, when the return of the lower arm 46 and the lower roller 43 is completed, the motor M70 is stopped in step S222. Further, in step S223, the take-out unit operation flag F
8 is reset to "0", and the state SC2 is set to 1 in step S224.

If state SC2 is 5, step S
At 225, the motor M70 is rotated forward. Thus, the second transport unit 90 starts returning. Next, when it is determined in step S226 that the sensor SE53 is on-edge, that is, when the return of the second transport unit 90 is completed, the process proceeds to step S2.
At 27, the motor M70 is stopped. Further, step S
At 228, the state SC2 is reset to 0.

FIGS. 52 to 59 show a gate control subroutine executed in step S90. Here, first, in step S230, the count value of state SC3 is checked, and the following processing is executed according to the count value.

When the state SC3 is 0, step S
In step 231, the movement integration counter E is reset to 0, and in step S232, it is determined whether the sensor SE33 is on.
The sensor SE33 detects the presence / absence of paper on the non-sort tray 20, and if it is on (if paper is stored on the tray 20), the state SC3 is set to 3 in step S233. If it is off (Tray 2
If 0 is empty), the state SC3 is set to 1 in step S234.

When the state SC3 is 1, step S
At 235, it is determined whether the gate home position sensor SE20 is on. If it is on, that is, the gate 10
If 0 is above, the lift motor M2 is set in step S236.
0 is rotated forward, and the gate 100 is lowered. Then, when the off-edge of the sensor SE20 is confirmed in step S237, the motor M20 is stopped in step S240.
On the other hand, if the sensor SE20 is off, that is, if the gate 1
If 00 is below, in step S238 the motor M20
Is reversed, and the gate 100 is raised. When the on-edge of the sensor SE20 is confirmed in step S239, the motor M20 is stopped in step S240. Next, in step S241, the total movement counter H is set to the second value.
The value of the movement constant counter G (corresponding to the movement distance of the gate 100 to the second position) is set. Further, the state SC3 is set to 2 in step S242.

When the state SC3 is 2, the gate 10
0 is lowered to the second position. First, step S2
At 43, the lifting motor M20 is rotated forward. As a result, the gate 100 moves down. Next, in step S244, it is determined whether the total movement counter H has been reduced to 0 or not.
If not, the counter H is decremented by "1" in step S249. Here, the counter H is the motor M
It is subtracted based on 20 rotations. Counter H is 0
Is subtracted, the lifting motor M20 is determined in step S245.
To stop. At the same time, the value of “FG” is set in the stack start position counter K in step S246.
The value “FG” corresponds to the distance that the gate 100 moves from the second position to the sheet bundle take-out position. And
In step S247, the value "FG" of the counter K is set in the total movement counter H, and the state SC3 is set to 4 in step S248.

If the state SC3 is 3, step S
At 250, it is determined whether or not the sensor SE23 is on. The sensor SE23 detects the uppermost surface of the sheet on the non-sort tray 20, and if it is on, the motor M20 is reversed in step S251. As a result, the paper transport gate 100 moves up. Next, in step S252, the movement integration counter E is incremented by "1". Here, the counter E is incremented based on the rotation of the motor M20. When the sensor SE23 is turned off, the motor M20 is stopped in step S253, and the value of "E + F" is set in the stack start position counter K in step S254.
Here, the value of “E + F” corresponds to the distance that the gate 100 descends to the sheet bundle take-out position. Next, step S2
At 55, the value of the counter K “E +
F "is set, and the movement integration counter E is reset to 0 in step S256. Further, the state SC3 is set to 4 in a step S257.

If the state SC3 is 4, step S
If it is determined at 258 that the total movement counter H is not 0, the elevation motor M20 is rotated forward at step S259. As a result, the gate 100 moves down. Next, "1" is subtracted from the total movement counter H in step S260. Here, the counter H is decremented based on the rotation of the motor M20. Then, when it is confirmed that the counter H has been reduced to 0 (NO in step S258), the motor M20 is stopped in step S261. Then, after confirming that the bottle 31 has been set at the level X ₂ at step S262, the sensor SE in step S263
It is determined whether 35 is on or off. Sensor SE35 is intended to detect the presence or absence of the sheet bundle in the upper bin 31 that is set at the level X _2, if it is on (Yes paper), the state SC3 is set to 5 in step S264. If it is off (there is no paper), the value of “E + K” is set in the total movement counter H in step S265, and
At step 266, the state SC3 is set to 9. here,
The value of “E + K” corresponds to the distance that the gate 100 rises to the sheet bundle discharge position. That is, if there is no sheet bundle on the bin 31, the gate 100 once rises to the original discharge position.

When state SC3 is 5, step S
At 267, ON / OFF of the sensor SE21 is determined. The sensor SE21 detects that the sheet bundle has been pulled out of the bin 31 by the take-out unit 40.
Set to 6.

If the state SC3 is 6, step S
At 269, the roller drive motor M21 is rotated forward at the speed A. The speed A is a speed at which the transport speed of the rollers 102 and 103 is higher than the transport speed of the rollers 42 and 43 of the take-out unit 40. With this, the rollers 102 and 103
Rotates forward and takes out the sheet bundle from the take-out unit 40.
Next, when the off edge of the sensor SE21 is confirmed in step S270, that is, when the sheet bundle is completely taken out by the gate 100, the timer Tg is started in step S271. At the same time, the motor M21 is decelerated to the speed B in step S272, and the state SC3 is set to 7 in step S273.

When the state SC3 is 7, step S
When it is confirmed at 274 that the timer Tg has finished counting,
In step S275, the motor M21 is stopped. The timer Tg counts the time until the sheet bundle is clamped between the rollers 102 and 103 until the state shown in FIGS. Next, in step S276, the total movement counter H
Is set to “E + K”, and the state SC3 is set to 8 in step S277. Here, the value of “E + K” corresponds to the distance by which the gate 100 rises to the sheet bundle discharge position.

If the state SC3 is 8, step S
After confirming at 278 that the staple flag F3 has been reset to "0",
If the bundle of sheets discharged to is not stapled, it is determined in step S279 whether the value of "CD" is an even number. The value of “CD” indicates the number of bins in which a sheet bundle to be stacked on the tray 20 is currently stored. If this value is an even number, the solenoid SL51 is turned on in step S280, and the movable frame 133 (see FIG. 24) is shifted when the gate 100 rises.
The sheet bundle is shifted and sorted on the tray 20.
Further, the state SC3 is set to 9 in a step S281.

When the state SC3 is 9, step S
If it is determined at 282 that the total movement counter H is not 0, the elevating motor M20 is reversely rotated at step S283. This raises the gate 100. Next, in step S284, the counter H is decremented by "1". Here, the counter H is decremented based on the rotation of the motor M20. Then, when it is confirmed that the counter H has been decremented to 0 (NO in step S282), step S285
To stop the motor M20 and turn off the solenoid SL51 in step S286. Further, the state SC3 is set to 10 in step S287.

If the state SC3 is 10, the roller drive motor M21 is rotated in the reverse direction in step S288. As a result, the rollers 102 and 103 rotate in reverse to discharge the sheet bundle to the non-sort tray 20. Next, when it is confirmed in step S289 that the paper upper surface detection sensor SE23 is ON, the elevation motor M20 is reversed in step S290 to raise the gate 100, and in step S291, the movement integration counter E is incremented by "1". And the sensor SE2
When 3 is turned off, the motor M20 is stopped in step S294, and the state SC3 is set to 11 in step S295. That is, the discharge position of the gate 100 is increased as the sheet stacking amount on the non-sort tray 20 increases.

On the other hand, when the gate 100 is raised, it is determined in step S292 whether the gate lift detection sensor SE24 is on or off. If the gate lift detection sensor SE24 is on, the tray 20 has reached the stacking limit. Reset to "." As a result, subsequent stacking of the sheet bundle is prohibited.

When the state SC3 is 11, the off-edge of the sensor SE22 is confirmed in step S296.
That is, when the sheet bundle is discharged from the gate 100, the motor M21 is stopped in step S297. Next, in step S298, the number of remaining bins to be taken out D is decremented by "1", and in step S299, the state SC3 is set to "12".

If the state SC3 is 12, it is determined in step S300 whether or not the remaining take-out bin number counter D is 0. If 0, the sort flag F is set in step S301.
It is determined whether 1 is "1". If the flag F1 is set to “1”, “A> 20B” in step S302
It is determined whether or not. If “A> 20B”, that is, if copying is to be continued from now on, step S305
To set the value of "E + K" in the total movement counter H. Next, in step S306, the 1-bin take-out end flag F9 is set to "1", and in step S307, the take-out operation flag F7 is reset to "0". Further, the state SC3 is set to 4 in step S308. "A>
20B "(NO in step S302), that is, if copying of the set number has been completed, step S302
At 303, the state SC3 is set to 13.

In the case of the group mode (step S30)
1 is NO), it is determined in step S304 whether or not there is an advance document (see step S177). If there is an advance document, the copying is continued, so that step S305 is performed.
Through S308. If there is no advance document, state SC3 is set to 13 in step S309.

On the other hand, if the remaining take-out bin number counter D is not 0 (NO in step S300), the value of "E + K" is set in the total movement counter H in step S310 in order to take out the next sheet bundle. Next, step S
In 311, the 1-bin take-out end flag F 9 is set to “1”, and in step S 312, the state SC 3 is set to 4.

When the state SC3 is 13, the gate 1
00 is returned to the home position. That is, when it is confirmed in step S313 that the home position sensor SE20 is off, in step S314, the lifting motor M
20 is rotated forward, and the gate 100 is lowered. And
If the sensor SE20 is turned on (N in step S313)
O) In step S315, the motor M20 is stopped.
Next, in step S316, the take-out flag F7 is reset to "0", and in step S317, the one-bin take-out end flag F9 is set to "1". Further, step S31
At step 8, the state SC3 is reset to 0.

FIG. 60 shows a non-sort control subroutine executed in step S92. Here, first, in step S320, the counter value of state SC4 is checked, and the following processing is executed according to the counter value.

If state SC4 is 0, step S
If the start of the copying operation is confirmed in step S321, the flow proceeds to step S32.
At 2, it is determined whether or not the sensor SE33 is on. Sensor S
If E33 is on, since sheets are stored on the non-sort tray 20, a warning is displayed on the touch panel 151 in step S323. If the non-sort tray 20 is empty (N in step S322)
O) In step S324, the gate 100 and the bin assembly 30 are returned to the home position.

Next, when it is confirmed in step S325 that these home positions have been returned, step S326 is performed.
To permit the copying operation, and at step S327, the solenoid S
L50 is turned on, the transport motor M50 is rotated forward, and the roller drive motor M20 is rotated reversely. As a result, the switching claw 82 is set to the position where the sheet is guided to the non-sort tray 20, and the sheet discharged from the copying machine 1 is directly stored in the non-sort tray 20. Next, step S32
At step 8, the state SC4 is set to 1. Unless the gate 100 and the bin assembly 30 return to the home position (NO in step S325), step S329 is performed.
To stop the copying operation.

When state SC4 is 1, step S
When it is confirmed at 330 that all copying operations have been completed, the solenoid SL50 is turned off and the motors M50 and M20 are stopped at step S331. Next, step S332
Resets the state SC4 to 0.

The sheet bundle conveying device according to the present invention is not limited to the above embodiment, but can be variously modified within the scope of the invention. In particular, other than the copying machine 1,
The present invention may be applied to a staple sorter connected to a printer that outputs a hard copy of image information transferred from a host computer.

Further, the configurations of the bin assembly 30 and the paper transport section 80 are arbitrary. For example, if the copying machine or printer has an image memory function and forms a desired number of images in page order, only one bin 31 may be provided. Alternatively, a bin dedicated to stapling may be provided separately from the sort bin. Further, as a means for binding the bundle of sheets, a method using a clip or a method of gluing may be used instead of using a staple.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a front view showing the appearance of a staple sorter provided with a sheet bundle conveying device according to an embodiment of the present invention and a copying machine.

FIG. 2 is an elevation view showing a schematic configuration of the staple sorter.

FIG. 3 is a front view showing a second transport unit and a take-out unit in the staple sorter, showing a state in which paper is distributed to bins.

FIG. 4 is a front view showing the second transport unit and a take-out unit, showing a state in which a sheet bundle is taken out.

FIG. 5 is a schematic configuration diagram showing a drive system of the take-out unit.

FIG. 6 is a sectional view showing the drive system.

FIG. 7 is a front view showing the drive system, showing when paper is distributed.

FIG. 8 is a front view showing the drive system, showing a state in which a sheet bundle is taken out.

FIG. 9 is an explanatory diagram of a state of taking out a sheet bundle.

FIG. 10 is an explanatory diagram of a state of taking out a sheet bundle.

FIG. 11 is an elevation view showing the upper part of the staple sorter;
Indicates the home position of the gate.

FIG. 12 is an elevation view showing an upper part of the staple sorter;
3 shows a second position of the gate.

FIG. 13 shows staples / sheet bundles in a staple sorter.
Operation | movement explanatory drawing of a removal / stack.

FIG. 14 shows a sheet bundle staple / in a staple sorter.
Operation | movement explanatory drawing of the removal / stacking, continuation of FIG.

FIG. 15 shows staples / sheet bundles in a staple sorter.
FIG. 14 is an explanatory view of the operation of taking out / stacking, continued from FIG.

FIG. 16 shows staples / sheet bundles in a staple sorter.
Operation | movement explanatory drawing of a removal / stack, continuation of FIG.

FIG. 17 shows staples / sheet bundles in a staple sorter.
Operation | movement explanatory drawing of a removal / stack, continuation of FIG.

FIG. 18 shows staples / sheet bundles in a staple sorter.
Operation | movement explanatory drawing of a removal / stack, continuation of FIG.

FIG. 19 is a side view showing a gate roller.

FIG. 20 is an explanatory diagram of the operation of the gate roller.

FIG. 21 is a side view showing a guide plate attached to the gate roller.

FIG. 22 is a diagram illustrating a state in which a sheet is conveyed by a gate roller.

FIG. 23 is an explanatory diagram of a state in which a sheet bundle is conveyed by a gate roller.

FIG. 24 is an elevation view showing a shift mechanism of the gate roller.

FIG. 25 is an explanatory diagram of a state in which a sheet bundle is stacked on a non-sort tray.

FIG. 26 is an explanatory diagram of a state in which a sheet bundle is stacked on a non-sort tray.

FIG. 27 is a cross-sectional view illustrating a mounting structure of a paper pressing plate.

FIG. 28 is an explanatory diagram of the operation of the paper pressing plate.

FIG. 29 is an explanatory view of the operation of the sheet pressing plate, continued from FIG. 28;

FIG. 30 is an explanatory view of the operation of the sheet pressing plate, continued from FIG. 29;

FIG. 31 is a plan view showing an operation panel of the copying machine.

FIG. 32 is a plan view showing one screen of a touch panel in the operation panel.

FIG. 33 is a plan view showing another screen of the touch panel.

FIG. 34 is a block diagram showing a control circuit of the copying machine.

FIG. 35 is a flowchart showing a main routine of the CPU of the control circuit.

FIG. 36 is a flowchart showing a subroutine of a gate initial operation.

FIG. 37 is a flowchart showing a subroutine of an input process.

FIG. 38 is a flowchart showing a subroutine of a mode switching process.

FIG. 39 is a flowchart showing a subroutine of a mode input process.

40 is a flowchart showing a subroutine of a mode input process, and is a continuation of FIG. 39.

FIG. 41 is a flowchart showing a subroutine of stack number excess processing.

FIG. 42 is a flowchart showing a subroutine of a finishing process.

FIG. 43 is a flowchart showing a subroutine of bin control.

FIG. 44 is a flowchart showing a subroutine of bin control, and is a continuation of FIG. 43.

FIG. 45 is a flowchart showing a bin control subroutine, and is a continuation of FIG. 44.

FIG. 46 is a flowchart showing a bin control subroutine, and is a continuation of FIG. 45.

FIG. 47 is a flowchart showing a subroutine of bin control, and is a continuation of FIG. 46.

FIG. 48 is a flowchart showing a subroutine of bin control, and is a continuation of FIG. 47.

FIG. 49 is a flowchart showing a bin control subroutine, and is a continuation of FIG. 48.

FIG. 50 is a flowchart showing a subroutine for controlling the take-out unit.

FIG. 51 is a flowchart showing a subroutine for controlling the take-out unit, and is a continuation of FIG. 50;

FIG. 52 is a flowchart showing a subroutine of gate control.

FIG. 53 is a flowchart showing a subroutine of gate control, and is a continuation of FIG. 52;

54 is a flowchart showing a subroutine of gate control, and is a continuation of FIG. 53.

FIG. 55 is a flowchart showing a subroutine of gate control, and is a continuation of FIG. 54.

FIG. 56 is a flowchart showing a subroutine of gate control, and is a continuation of FIG. 55;

FIG. 57 is a flowchart showing a gate control subroutine, and is a continuation of FIG. 56;

FIG. 58 is a flowchart showing a subroutine of gate control, and is a continuation of FIG. 57;

FIG. 59 is a flowchart showing a subroutine of gate control, and is a continuation of FIG. 58;

FIG. 60 is a flowchart showing a subroutine of non-sort control.

[Explanation of symbols]

 DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 10 ... Staple sorter 31 ... Bin 100 ... Sheet bundle conveyance gate 102, 103 ... Gate rollers 124, 125, 126, 127 ... Gear 128, 129 ... Link S ... Sheet bundle

Claims (1)

[Claims] 1. A sheet bundle conveying device for clamping a sheet bundle accumulated on a bin between an upper roller and a lower roller and conveying / accommodating the sheet bundle to an upper stacking tray, wherein the upper roller and the lower roller are Linked by a link, the rotational force of rotating the upper roller and the lower roller by the own weight of the pinched sheet bundle acts in the direction in which the upper roller and the lower roller press the sheet bundle through the link, A sheet bundle conveying device characterized by the above-mentioned.