JPH11246108A - Finisher device - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To improve operability of changing modes by accepting selecting operation of a selecting means to select a stack mode in sorting operation or after finishing the sorting operation in a finisher device having the sorter part and the stack part. SOLUTION: A staple sorter 10 can process a paper sheet discharged from a copying machine in plural modes. That is, a mode of housing the paper sheet on a nonsort tray 20 without sorting the paper sheet, a mode of sorting the paper sheet in page order in respective bins 31, a mode of stapling a sorted paper sheet bundle and a mode (a manual stack) of housing the paper sheet bundle discharge to the respective bins 31 in the tray 20 can be performed. Here, a selecting switch to select a manual stack mode is arranged on an operation panel. Manual stack processing by the selecting switch can be accepted in sorting operation and even after finishing the sorting operation to easily change the modes.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a finisher capable of distributing sheets discharged from a copying machine or the like and stacking the distributed sheet bundle in a stack unit.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art In recent years, in response to a demand for automation of paper handling of a copying machine, various options such as an automatic document feeder and a sorter for sorting or grouping copied sheets have been developed and put to practical use.
As one of the final forms, a finisher device that automatically stacks sheets distributed and accommodated in a sorter has been proposed.

[0003]

In this type of finisher, however, the stack processing is required during the copy processing without selecting the stack mode in which the stack processing is performed when the operator sets the first mode. In the past, if you noticed the nature, you had to cancel the copy process once, reset the mode, and start the copy process again from the beginning. Therefore, in such a case, the resetting of the mode is complicated, and the copied paper is wasted until it is canceled halfway, which is extremely uneconomical. Accordingly, it is an object of the present invention to provide a finisher device in which the operability of changing the mode is improved by enabling the stack mode to be changed even during the sorting operation or after the sorting operation is completed.

[0004]

According to the present invention, there is provided a sorter for receiving sheets discharged from a copying machine or the like and sorting the sheets into a plurality of bins. In a finisher device having a stack unit for stacking and storing, a selection unit for selecting a stack mode in which stack processing is performed, and a stack operation receiving a selection operation of the stack mode selection unit during or after a sorting operation, and And control means for controlling the processing to be performed.

[0005]

According to the finisher of the present invention,
Since the selection operation of the stack mode selection means is accepted even during the sorting operation or after the sorting operation is completed, the process can be shifted to the stack processing without interrupting the copying operation or the sorting operation. Therefore, the waste of re-selecting the stack mode and restarting the copy process can be eliminated, and the waste of paper and toner can be eliminated, which is economical and improves the operability of mode change.

[0006]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS An embodiment of a finisher 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 is for roughly drawing out a large-capacity non-sort tray 20, a bin assembly 30 having 20 stages of bins 31, and a sheet bundle stored in each bin 31. , A staple unit 70, a paper transport unit 80, and a paper 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 2 without sorting paper
0 (non-sorting), sorting paper into the bins 31 in page order (sorting), stapling the sorted bundle of sheets (sort / staple), and removing the stapled bundle of sheets from each bin 31. The process of taking out and stacking and storing it in the non-sort tray 20 (sort / stack), the process of sorting paper into each bin 31 for each page (group), the process of stapling the sheet bundle sorted for each page (group / Stapling), a process of taking out a stapled sheet bundle from each bin 31 and stacking and storing it on the non-sort tray 20 (group / stack), and sorting and stacking the sheet bundle discharged to each bin 31 on the non-sort tray 20 Processing for loading and storing (manual stack) can be executed.

Most of these processing modes are set on an operation panel provided in the copying machine 1. FIG. 3 shows a main part of the operation panel 150. 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. 4 shows one screen of the touch panel 151. Here, a sort mode selection key 161, a sort /
A staple mode selection key 162, a sort / stack mode selection key 163, a group mode selection key 164,
A group / staple mode selection key 165, a group / stack mode selection key 166, and a non-sort mode selection key 167 are displayed.

Next, returning to FIG. 2, the staple sorter 10
Will be described in detail. First, the paper transport unit 80
Is a pair of receiving rollers 81 for receiving the sheet discharged from the copying machine 1, a switching claw 82 for switching a sheet conveying direction, a first conveying path 83 extending in a substantially vertical direction, and the first conveying path 83. And a second transport path 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 the on / off state of the solenoid SL50. When the solenoid SL50 is off, the switching claw 82 is set to the position shown by the solid line in FIG. At this time, the sheet received by the receiving roller pair 81 is guided by the curved right side surface of the switching claw 82 and sent to the first transport path 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 sheet is transported by a sheet transport gate 100 described below.
Is fed onto the non-sort tray 20 through the.

The first transport path 83 includes guide plates 84, 85, 8
6, 87, a punch mechanism 120 for forming a binding hole at the leading end or the trailing end in the sheet conveying direction is provided at the middle stage. The details of the punch mechanism 120 are omitted.

The second conveying path 90 includes conveying roller pairs 91 and 9.
2 and guide plates 93 and 94, which are rotatable by about 90 ° about a support shaft 95 as a fulcrum. At the time of the sort mode or the group mode processing, the second transport path 90 is set at the transport position indicated by the solid line in FIG. 2, and the paper sent from the first transport path 83 is sent to each bin 31. During the sheet take-out process described below, the second transport path 90
Is rotated clockwise by approximately 90 ° to stand up (see FIG. 8), and is retracted from the sheet transport position.

The sheet transport section 80 has a transmission type sensor SE21 for detecting a sheet, and a sensor SE53 for detecting that the second transport path 90 has been set at the retracted position.
Is installed. The roller pairs 81, 91 and 92 are driven to rotate by a motor M50.

The bin assembly 30 has 20 stages of bins 31.
₁ ...... 31 consist _20, each bin 31 is disposed inclined at a predetermined interval, a spiral groove pins 32 provided at the lower side is formed on the outer peripheral surface of the drive shaft (not shown) located in the vertical direction Is engaged. By rotating the drive shaft forward / reversely by the motor M60, each rotation of the drive shaft causes each bin 3
1 goes up and down one pitch. Bin assembly 30 is the lower limit position is a position indicated by a solid line in FIG. 2 (home position), this time, the first bin 31 ₁ staple unit 7
0. Hereinafter, when the bin assembly 30 is set at the home position, the first bin 31 ₁
Position referred to as level X ₁ of. When the drive shaft rotates once more (forward rotation), the first bin 31 ₁ rises to the level X ₂ ,
In this level X ₂ is fed sheets from the sheet transport unit 80. Further the drive shaft rotates 1, first bin 31 ₁ rises to the level X _3, is taken out of the sheet bundle at this level X _3. The sheet bundle removal process will be described later in detail.

The bin assembly 30 has a sensor (not shown) for detecting that each bin 31 is set at the lower limit position (home position) and the drive shaft makes one rotation so that each bin 31 A sensor (not shown) for detecting the rise of one pitch is provided. Further, a transmission sensor SE34 for detecting the presence or absence of a sheet on each bin 31 is provided.

On the other hand, the bin assembly 30 is provided with first and second chucking units 40 and 40a for pulling out or returning from the bin 31 across the sheet bundle. First chucking unit 40 is attached to a position corresponding to a bin 31 set on the level X _1. The second chucking unit 40a is at the level X
It is attached at a position corresponding to the bin 31 set at ₃ . The chucking units 40 and 40a are shown in FIG.
As shown in the figure, the guide groove 57 is attached to the single movable frame 55 in two steps,
(See FIG. 5).

In FIG. 6, the lower chucking unit 40 has a pair of upper and lower chucking claws 41 and 42 having an elastic material 43 at the end thereof.
5 and 48, and links 44 and 47 are connected to the solenoid SL30. Link 4
Reference numerals 4 and 47 are rotatable about support shafts 46 and 49 as fulcrums. The chucking claws 41 and 42 are supported by a guide member (not shown) so as to be movable in the vertical direction. When the solenoid SL30 is off, as shown by a solid line in FIG.
Located above the bin 31 the claw 41 is set to level X _1, pawl 42 is located immediately below the bin 31. When the solenoid SL30 is turned on, the link 44 rotates counterclockwise about the support shaft 46 and the link 47 rotates.
Rotates clockwise about the support shaft 49 as a fulcrum. As a result, the claw 41 is lowered and the claw 42 is raised, so that the bin 31
Hold the side of the upper sheet bundle. A notch 33 is formed on the side of each bin 31 so as to be able to be sandwiched by claws 41 and 42 and to move the sheet bundle by a predetermined distance.

The upper chucking unit 40a is intended to clamp the stack of sheets on the bin 31 set at the level X _3, made of the same configuration as the lower chucking unit 40 described above, the same reference numerals to the same members in the drawings Are marked with "a".

The chucking units 40,40a, as shown in FIG. 5, is movable into a home position Y ₁ and chucking position Y ₂ and the extraction position Y ₃ retracted from the bin 31. Therefore, fixed frame 5
6, a guide groove 57 is formed in the chucking unit 4.
A roller 58 attached to a movable frame 55 that holds 0 and 40a is engaged with a guide groove 57.

Further, a belt 62 is stretched endlessly over pulleys 60 and 61 rotatably provided on the fixed frame 56, and a part of the belt 62 is connected to the movable frame 55. The pulley 60 is driven forward / reversely via a speed reduction mechanism 63 by a motor M30 provided on the back surface of the fixed frame 56. The guide groove 57 is composed of a curved portion and a straight portion, when the roller 58 is positioned at the left end of the curved section (see FIG. 5) is chucking units 40,40a is set at the home position Y _1. When the belt 62 rotates clockwise based on the forward rotation of the motor M30, the roller 58 moves rightward on the curved portion, and the chucking units 40 and 40a move in an arc shape. When the roller 58 is moved to the boundary point of the curved portion and a straight portion, chucking units 40,40a is located chucking position Y _2. Chucking units 40,40a will sandwich the sheet bundle at this position Y _2. Further, when the motor M30 rotates forward, the roller 58 moves to the right in the linear portion and moves to the right end of the linear portion, and then the motor M30 is stopped. At this time, the chucking unit 40,40a moves into the extracted position Y _3, and conveys the sheet bundle by the stroke of the Y ₂ -Y _3, drawn from the bin 31 (see FIG. 9). The pull-out position Y ₃ is a stapling position by the stapling unit 70 at the level X ₁ ,
Sheet conveyer gate 1 to be described In the level X ₃ below
The transfer position of the sheet bundle with respect to 00.

On the other hand, the lower end of each bin 31
Stopper 3 for regulating the lower end of the paper stored above
4 is attached (see FIG. 2). Each stopper 34
Is always set to an upright position indicated by a solid line in FIG. 2 by a spring member (not shown). The chucking the King unit 40,40a and a rod (not shown) is attached, when the chucking units 40,40a moves from the chucking position Y ₂ to the extraction position Y _3, stopper 34 is brought down by the tip of the rod Thus, the sheet bundle can be taken out of the bin 31.

The chucking units 40 and 40a
There home position Y ₁ sensor for detecting that it is set to SE30, chucking position Y
Sensor for detecting that it has moved to a ₂ SE31, the sensor SE32 for detecting is installed that it has moved to the extraction position Y _3.

The chucking units 40 and 40a having the above-described structures are arranged at the respective positions Y ₁ -Y ₂ -Y _3.
And to move in the same direction, from the bottle 31 set on the level X ₁ and X ₃ moves the sheet bundle. Therefore, the moving guide means (the guide groove 57 and the like) need only have a single configuration, and can be simplified. Moreover, only a single motor M30 needs to be installed, and the driving mechanism can be simplified.
In each chucking unit 40, 40a, a pair of chucking claws 41, 42 and 41a, 42a
Are arranged on the same axis, so that the sheet bundle is sandwiched well, and the operability by the solenoids SL30 and SL30a is also good.

Next, the paper transport gate 100 will be described. As shown in FIGS. 2 and 7, the paper transport gate 100 has a box 101 provided with a pair of rollers 102 and 103 and paper guide plates 104 and 105. The rollers 102 and 103 can be driven forward / reversely by a motor M21. The sheet transport gate 100 can be moved up and down by being guided by a guide member (not shown), and a motor M20 is provided as a driving source. The home position of the sheet transport gate 100 is the position shown in FIG. 2, and in this home position, the gate 100 rotates the rollers 102 and 103 by rotating the rollers 102 and 103 while the sheet transported from the receiving roller pair 81 is guided by the upper surface of the switching claw 82. Is transported to the left in FIG.

On the other hand, the sheet conveying gate 100 for receiving a sheet bundle that is not stapled or staple, can be lowered to a position corresponding to the bin 31 set at the level X ₃ (see FIG. 8). At this transfer position, the gate 100 sandwiches the bundle of sheets pulled out of the bin 31 by the second chucking unit 40a between the rollers 102 and 103 (see FIG. 9). At this time, the second chucking unit 40a releases the sheet bundle from being pinched, and
103 is driven to rotate forward to take out the sheet bundle from the bin 31 (see FIG. 10). When the sheet bundle completely comes out of the bin 31, the normal rotation of the rollers 102 and 103 is stopped, and at the same time, the gate 100 is raised (see FIG. 11). Gate 100
Rises to a predetermined height, the rollers 102 and 103 reversely rotate, and the sandwiched sheet bundle is removed from the non-sort tray 20.
Discharge upward (see FIG. 12). Next, the gate 100 is lowered to the transfer position (see FIG. 13), and the stack operation is repeated.

In the above-described stacking operation, the bin assembly 30 goes up by one pitch. Further, the sheet bundle stack operation may be performed in parallel with the staple processing on the sheet bundle on the bin 31 set at the level X _1.

The sheet transport gate 100 normally discharges a sheet bundle to the non-sort tray 20 at a home position indicated by a solid line in FIG. The non-sort tray 20 can load and store a large amount of sheets, and the gate 100 is moved further upward from the home position in order to secure sheet consistency.
It can be raised to an arbitrary height and stopped up to the upper limit position indicated by the chain line. The ascending / stopping position corresponds to a position where the sheet discharge height from the rollers 102 and 103 keeps a certain distance 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.

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.

On the other hand, a cover 21 is provided at a position facing the lower end of the non-sort tray 20, as shown in FIG. The cover 21 is for regulating the trailing end of the paper discharged on the non-sort tray 20 in the discharge direction, and rises in synchronization with the paper transport gate 100, and when the gate 100 descends, It is configured to be held at the raised position. That is, the cover 21 has a vertical frame part 22a and a horizontal frame part 22b,
These are integrally guided by a guide member (not shown) so that they can be moved up and down. The main frame 11 of the staple sorter 10 has a frame 2 on which a ratchet 29a is formed.
9 is fixed, and the claw member 24 attached to the cover 21 via the bracket 23 is engaged with the ratchet 29a. The claw member 24 is rotatable counterclockwise with the pin 24a as a fulcrum, and the rotation is regulated clockwise.

When the sheet transport gate 100 is set at the home position, the cover 21 is set at the lower limit position shown by a solid line in FIG. 7, and the claw member 24 is engaged with the lowermost ratchet 29a. Non-sort tray 2
When the number of sheets stored on the sheet 0 increases, the gate 100 rises above the home position. At this time, the horizontal frame 22b is pushed up by the box 101, so that the cover 21 rises. At this time, the claw member 24 rotates counterclockwise with the pin 24a as a fulcrum, and moves over the ratchet 29a one step at a time. When the ascent of the gate 100 stops, the ratchet 29 against which the claw member 24 faces
a when the gate 100 descends, the cover 2
1 holds the state stopped at that position. With the above operation, the rollers 102 and 103 are discharged when the sheet bundle is discharged.
Of the cover 21 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.

Next, the staple unit 70 will be described. The staple unit 70 has a well-known electrically driven structure, and as shown in FIG. 2, a head unit 71 for detachably mounting a cartridge containing a staple, and an albin unit for receiving and folding a staple punched out of the head unit 71. 72. The staple unit 70, as shown in FIG. 14, the level X ₁
The end of the sheet bundle pulled out from the bin 31 set by the first chucking unit 40 is placed at one location S ₁ at the front corner, two locations S ₂ , S _{3 at} the center, or one at the rear corner. drive staples at the point S _4. Therefore,
The staple unit 70 has the front side of the staple sorter 10 shown by a broken line in FIG. 14 as a home position, is movable in the direction of arrow f toward the back side, stops at a predetermined position, drives in staples, and returns to the home position. .

FIG. 15 shows an operation panel 158 for manual stack provided on the staple sorter 10. A manual stack execution switch SW is provided on the operation panel 158.
5 are provided. Of course, the manual stack execution switch SW5 may be incorporated in the operation panel 150 (FIG. 3) on the copying machine 1.

FIG. 16 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 so that the motors M20, M21, M30, M41,
M50, M60, solenoid SL30, SL30a, S
L50 and the like are controlled. Signals from the switches, sensors, and the like are input to the CPU 170. Furthermore, CP
U170 communicates with another CPU, for example, CPU173 which controls automatic document feeder 5, 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.

A sort flag F1: indicates that the sort mode is set. 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 sorted sheet bundle 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.

A chucking flag F6: permits a chucking operation on a sheet bundle. Chucking unit operation flag F7: Allows the chucking units 40 and 40a to move from the home position. Staple unit operation flag F8: Permits stapling by the staple unit 70.

Take-out operation flag F 9: Permits the take-out operation of the sheet bundle by the sheet transport gate 100. One bin removal end flag F15: paper transport gate 100
Indicates that the operation of taking out / stacking the sheet bundle from one bin is completed. Manual stack permission flag F16: switch SW5
Is set to "1" when is turned on, and execution of the manual stack process is permitted.

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, when the number of set is 21 or more, the document is circulated a plurality of times and the copy processing is performed for every 20 copies. For example, if the number of copies is "50", first, 20 copies are made for each document and the sheets are 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 and stacked and stored on the non-sort tray 20 by the sheet transport gate 100. Thereafter, 20 copies of each original are further copied to form bins 31 ₁ to 31 ₁ .
31 ₂₀ distributes paper (second round), staple / stack. Further, in the third round, 10 copies of each document are copied, and sheets are distributed to bins 31 _{1 to} 31 ₁₀ and stapled / stacked.

Bin number counter C: Displays the number of bins used in one job. For example, if the set number is “30”, the first job is “20” and the second job is “10”. Unloading remaining counter D: counts the number of bins from which a sheet bundle has not been extracted in the stack mode. Movement integration counter E: counts the ascending and descending distance of the gate 100 in the stack mode.

Moving constant counter F: counts the gate moving distance from the home position to the sheet bundle transfer position. Is a constant. Total movement counter G: counts the gate movement distance from the sheet bundle transfer position to the sheet bundle discharge position to the non-sort tray 20. Stapled bin number counter H: counts the number of stapled bins.

Group accommodation bin number counter I: In the group mode, counts the number of bins accommodating paper. This count value corresponds to the number of documents. Movement amount counter K: counts the movement amount of the staple unit 70. Movement amount correction counter P: counts a value for correcting the position at which the gate 100 is raised in proportion to the thickness of the sheet bundle.
In the case of the sort mode, it is “the number of documents × the thickness of one sheet”, and in the case of the group mode, it is “the number of placed sheets × the thickness of one sheet”.

FIG. 17 shows a main routine of the CPU 170. When the power is turned on and the program starts,
First, in step S0, initial setting of various control parameters,
Initial setting of various devices is performed, an initial operation of the gate is performed in step S1, and an internal timer is started in step S2. The internal timer determines the time required for one routine, and the time is set in advance in step S0. Subsequently, in steps S3, S4, S5, S6, S7, and S8, the respective subroutines are sequentially called to perform necessary processing, and when the end of the internal timer is confirmed in step S9, the process proceeds to step S2.
Return to

FIG. 18 shows a gate initial operation subroutine executed in step S1 of the main routine. Here, the paper transport gate 100 is set to the home position.

First, in step S111, it is determined whether or not the gate initial movement flag F5 is "0". If it has been reset to "0", it is determined in step S112 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 it is on, the gate moving motor M20 is rotated forward in step S113. As a result, the gate 100 starts descending. Next, in step S114, the sensor SE20 determines whether or not there is an off-edge. If it is off-edge, that is, if the gate 100 has reached the home position, the flag F5 is set to "1" in step S115, and in step S116 The motor M20 is stopped. On the other hand, if the sensor SE20 is off (NO in step S112), since the gate 100 is below the home position, the motor M20 is reversed in step S117. Thus, the gate 100 starts to rise. Next, in step S118, the sensor SE
It is determined whether or not 20 is an on-edge. If it is on-edge, the motor M20 is stopped in step S116. Thereafter, the gate 100 is set to the home position through steps S112 to S116.

FIG. 19 shows a subroutine of the input process executed in step S3 of the main routine. here,
The operator's mode selection information 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, a mode switching process 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, it is determined whether or not the stack flag F4 is "0" in step S25, and whether or not the sort flag F1 is "1" in step S26. If both are YES, step S27
After confirming that the set number is greater than "20", it is determined in step S28 whether the staple flag F3 is "1". If the flag F3 has been set to "1", the stack flag F4 is set to "1" in step S29. That is, if the setting number is larger than "20", the number of bins exceeds 20, so that the job cannot be processed in one job.
The flag F4 is set to "1" in order to automatically load and store it at "0". In this case, even if the operator has not selected the stack mode, the stack mode is forcibly set, and the continuous processing in the sort / staple mode with the set number of "21" or more is executed. On the other hand, if the flag F3 has been reset to “0” (N in step S28)
O) Since the unstacked sheet bundle cannot be automatically removed from the bin 31 and conveyed to the non-sort tray 20, the bin number over process is executed in step S30.

FIG. 20 shows a subroutine of the mode switching process executed in step S22. Here, when it is confirmed in step S31 that the stack flag F4 is "0" and that the group flag F2 is "1" in step S32, the number of documents is set to "2" in step S33.
It is determined whether the document is greater than 0 ". The number of documents is counted each time the document is conveyed onto the platen glass by the automatic document feeder 5. Specifically, during the copying of the nineteenth document, The presence or absence of a document on the document tray of the automatic document feeder 5 is detected.
This is the first sheet, and YES is determined in step S33. In this case, since the number of bins is 20, the copy paper cannot be distributed to the bins 31 for the 21st document.
Therefore, it is determined in step S34 whether or not the staple flag F3 is "1". If the staple flag F3 is set to "1", the stack flag F4 is set to "1" in step S35. That is, if stapling is performed,
The stapled sheet bundle is conveyed / accommodated onto the non-sort tray 20 using the sheet conveyance gate 100, and the copying process (group / staple mode) of the 21st and subsequent documents is continued.

On the other hand, if the flag F3 is reset to "0" (NO in step S34), a sheet bundle that has not been stapled cannot be automatically taken out of the bin 31 and conveyed to the non-sort tray 20, so that it cannot be accommodated. In step S36, a bin number over process is executed.

FIG. 21 shows a subroutine of the mode input process executed in step S23. Here, steps S41, S43, S45, S47, S49, S51
To determine whether the mode selection keys 161 to 166 on the touch panel 151 are on or off, respectively. Based on the turned-on keys, each of steps S42, S44, S46,
In S48, S50, S52, and S57, the flags F1 to F4 are set / reset to “1” or “0”.

FIG. 22 shows a subroutine of the bin number over process executed in steps S30 and S36. This subroutine is executed when the set number exceeds "20" in the sort / non-staple mode (see step S30), or when the number of documents exceeds "20" in the group / non-staple mode (see step S36). Is done.

First, in step S61, the touch panel 15
1. A warning is displayed on the display. As shown in FIG. 23, the warning display shows a YES key 156 or a NO key 157 together with the text "The number of bins is over in this state. Do you want to perform stapling and perform automatic removal?" . Here, the operator turns on either the key 156 or 157. YES in step S62
When it is confirmed that the key 156 has been turned on, step S
At 63, the staple flag F3 and the stack flag F4 are set to "1".

Next, the manual stack processing in step S4 of the main routine will be described. FIGS. 24 to 32 show a subroutine of the manual stack process executed in step S4. Here, first, step S
At 10, the count value of the state counter is checked, and the following processing is executed according to the count value (0, 11, or 12, initially reset to 0).

As shown in FIG. 25, when the state counter is 0, it is determined in S66 whether the manual stack execution switch SW5 is on or off. If the switch SW5 is on, the manual stack permission flag F16 is set to "1" in step S67, and the state counter is set to 11 in step S68.

As shown in FIG. 26, when the state counter is 11, the gate initial operation is performed in steps S411 to S418 as described with reference to FIG. 18, and the sheet transport gate 100 is set to the home position. Then, the state counter is set to 12 in step S419.

FIGS. 27 to 32 show subroutines of manual stack gate control, manual stack chucking control, and manual stack bin control executed when the state counter is 12. Here, first,
In step S440, the count value of state SC5 is checked, and the following processing is executed according to the count value.

As shown in FIG. 27, state SC5 is 0
In step S441, the moving integration counter E is set to 0 in step S441.
And it is determined in step S442 whether or not the sensor SE33 is on. The sensor SE33 detects the presence or absence of a sheet on the non-sort tray 20, and if it is on (if sheets are stored on the tray 20), the state SC5 is set to 1 in step S443. If it is off (if the tray 20 is empty), the value of “E + F” is set to the total movement counter G in step S444. E is the value of the movement integration counter, and F is the value of the movement constant counter. Next, step S445
Sets the state SC5 to 2.

If the state SC5 is 1, step S
At 446, it is determined whether or not the sensor SE23 is on. The sensor SE23 detects the top surface of the sheet on the non-sort tray 20, and if it is on, the gate moving motor M20 is reversed in step S447. As a result, the paper transport gate 100 moves up. Next, step S448
Increments the movement integration counter E by "1". Here, the counter E is incremented based on the rotation of the motor M20.
Then, when the sensor SE23 is turned off, step S44
At step S9, the motor M20 is stopped, and the value of "E + F" is set to the total movement counter G at step S450. Next, the state SC5 is set to 2 in a step S451. Thus, the descending distance of the gate 100 is determined.

As shown in FIG. 28, state SC5 is 2
In step S452, the total movement counter G
Is not 0, the motor M20 is rotated forward in step S453. As a result, the gate 100 moves down. Next, in step S454, the total movement counter G
Is subtracted by "1". Here, the counter G is a motor M20.
Is subtracted based on the rotation of. And the counter G
Has been subtracted to 0 (step S45).
In step S455, the motor M20 is stopped. Next, in step S456, the bin 31 has the level X ₃
After confirming that it is set to
At 7, the state SC5 is set to 3. Then, in step S460, the chucking unit operation flag F7 is set to "1".

When the state SC5 is 3, a manual stack chucking control subroutine is first called and executed in step S400. Although sheet bundle taken out from the bin 31 in the level X ₃ by the execution of this subroutine is inserted between the rollers 102 and 103 of gate 100 will be described later in detail of the control. next,
In step S461, it is determined whether the sensor SE21 is on. The sensor SE21 detects a sheet bundle immediately before the gate 100. If sensor SE21 is turned on, i.e., the sheet bundle is drawn from the bin 31 in the level X _3, if the inserted between the rollers 102 and 103, sets the state SC5 to 4 in step S462.

As shown in FIG. 29, state SC5 is 4
In step S463, the roller drive motor M21
To rotate forward. As a result, the rollers 102 and 103 rotate forward and take out the sheet bundle from the bin 31. Next, step S
When the off edge of the sensor SE21 is confirmed in 464, that is, when the sheet bundle is completely taken out by the gate 100, the motor M21 is stopped in step S465. Next, in step S466, the value of the movement amount correction counter P is added to the movement integration counter E. The value of the counter P is set to the thickness of the sheet bundle. Next, in step S467, the value of “E + F” is set in the total movement counter G,
In step S468, the state SC5 is set to 5.

When the state SC5 is 5, step S
If it is determined at 469 that the total movement counter G is not 0, the gate movement motor M20 is reversed in step S470. This raises the gate 100. next,
In step S470, the counter G is decremented by "1". Here, the counter G is decremented based on the rotation of the motor M20. Then, when it is confirmed that the counter G has been reduced to 0 (NO in step S469), the process proceeds to step S469.
At 472, the motor M20 is stopped. Further, the state SC5 is set to 6 in step S473.

When the state SC5 is 6, step S
At 401, the motor M21 is rotated in the reverse direction to
Reverse 3 Thus, the sheet bundle is discharged onto the non-sort tray 20. Next, in step S402, the sensor S
It is determined whether E22 is an off-edge. Sensor SE22
Is for detecting the presence / absence of a sheet bundle in the sheet transport gate 100, and OFF indicates that the sheet bundle has been discharged from the gate 100. If the sensor SE22 is off-edge, the motor M22 is stopped in step S403, and the state SC5 is set to 7 in step S404.

As shown in FIG. 30, state SC5 is 7
, The gate 100 is returned to the home position. That is, when it is confirmed in step S492 that the home position sensor SE20 is off, the gate moving motor M20 is rotated forward and the gate 100 is lowered in step S493. Then, when the sensor SE20 is turned on (NO in step S492), the motor M20 is stopped in step S494. Next, in step S495, the take-out operation flag F9 is reset to "0", and in step S496, the one-bin take-out end flag F15 is set to "1".
Set to. Further, in step S497, state S
C5 is reset to 0, and the manual stack permission flag F16 is reset to "0" in step S498. Then, in step S405, a subroutine for manual stack bin control is called and executed, the details of which will be described later.

FIG. 31 shows a subroutine of manual stack chucking control executed in step S400. Here, first, in step S500, state S
The count value of C0 is checked, and the following processing is executed according to the count value.

When the state SC0 is 0, step S5
At 01, the chucking unit moving motor M30 is rotated forward. This in chucking unit 40,40a moves toward the home position Y ₁ to the chucking position Y _2. Next, the state of the sensor SE31 is confirmed in S502, i.e., when the chucking units 40,40a reaches the chucking position Y ₂ is confirmed, the motor M30 at step S503
To stop. Subsequently, when turning on the solenoid SL30a in step S504, to sandwich the stack of sheets on the bin 31 upper chucking unit 40a has been set at the level X _3. Then, in a step S505, the state SC0 is set to 1.

When the state SC0 is 1, step S5
At 06, the motor M30 is rotated forward. As a result, the chucking units 40 and 40a are moved to the chucking position Y.
₂ from toward the drawer position Y ₃ moves. Next, when it is confirmed in step S507 that the sensor SE32 is on, that is, the chucking units 40 and 40a
There it is confirmed that has reached the lead-out position Y _3, stops the motor M30 at step S508. Next, when the solenoid SL30a is turned off in step S509, the upper chucking unit 40a releases the sheet bundle from being pinched, and the sheet bundle is
Passed to 0. Then, in a step S510, the state SC0 is set to 2.

When the state SC0 is 2, step S5
At 11, the motor M30 is reversed. This in chucking unit 40,40a moves toward the home position Y _1. Next, when it is confirmed in step S512 that the home position sensor SE30 has been turned on, the motor M30 is stopped in step S513.

FIG. 32 shows a subroutine for manual stack bin control executed in step S405. In this process, if it is confirmed in step S514 that the bin empty sensor SE34 is ON, that is, if a sheet bundle remains on the bin 31, the process proceeds to step S5.
At step 15, the motor M60 is rotated forward to raise the bin 31 by one pitch. Then, when it is confirmed in step S516 that the movement of the bin 31 is completed by a sensor (not shown),
In step S517, the motor M60 is stopped.

In this manner, the above-described operation is repeated until the entire sheet bundle on the bin 31 is conveyed to the non-sort tray 20, and the manual stacking operation is executed.

FIG. 33 shows a step S6 in the main routine.
Shows a subroutine of the finishing process executed by the subroutine.
Here, when the various flags are set to “1”, the processing specified by the flags is executed.

That is, if the sort flag F1 is "1" (YES in step S71), sort control is performed in step S72. If the group flag F2 is "1" (YES in step S73), group control is performed in step S74. If the staple flag F3 is "1" (YES in step S75), bin control for raising the bins by one pitch for stapling in step S76 is performed. If the chucking unit operation flag F7 is "1" (YES in step S77), chucking control is performed in step S78. If the staple unit operation flag F8 is "1" (Y in step S79)
ES), staple unit control is performed in step S80. If the take-out operation flag F9 is "1" (YES in step S81), gate control for moving the sheet transport gate 100 up and down and stacking the sheet bundle is performed in step S82. If all of the flags F1 to F4 are “0” (YES in step S83), control is performed to directly store sheets in the non-sort tray 20 in step S84.

The sort control and group control executed in steps S72 and S74 are controls for sequentially storing copied paper in each bin 31, and are well known, and therefore, description thereof will be omitted. Further, the staple unit control executed in step S80 is control for driving staples into a sheet bundle by the staple unit 70, and is well known in this type of staple sorter 10, and therefore the description thereof is omitted.

FIGS. 34 to 42 show a bin control subroutine executed in step S76. Here, first, in step S100, the count value of state SC1 is checked, and the following processing is executed according to the count value.

As shown in FIG. 34, state SC1 is 0
In step S101, when the start of the copying operation is confirmed in step S101, it is determined in step S102 whether 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 H is reset to 0 in step S104, and the state SC is set to 1 in step S105. . On the other hand, if the flag F1 has been reset to “0” (NO in step S103), the counter H is reset to 0 in step S106, and the state SC1 is set to 3 in step S107.

If the state SC1 is 1, step S
At 108, it is determined whether or not “A−20B> 20”. That is, in the copying operation to be performed, the number of copies is "20".
It is determined whether it is greater than or equal to. Y in step S108
If it is ES, the bin number counter C is set to 20 in step S109. 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 extraction remaining bin counter D. Next, step S112
Sets the state SC1 to 2.

As shown in FIG. 35, state SC1 is 2
In step S113, when it is confirmed that the operation of one job has been completed in step S113, the value of "B + 1" is set in the job counter B in step S114, 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 I 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
First move the bin 31 ₁ to level X ₁ at 119. Here, the bin assembly 30 is returned to the home position. In this subroutine, the stapling process is sequentially started from the first bin 31 ₁ and each bin 31 is set to the level X.
_The stapled sheet bundle will be taken out when it rises to ₃ . First bin 31 ₁ When it has moved to the level X ₁ is confirmed at step S120, step S1
At 21, the chucking flag F6 and the chucking unit operation flag F7 are each set to "1". Next, state SC1 is set to 5 in step S122. By setting the flags F6 and F7 to “1” in step S121, the chucking unit 40,
The sheet bundle is sandwiched / pulled out by 40a.

As shown in FIG. 36, state SC1 is 5
In step S123, if it is confirmed in step S123 that the chucking unit operation flag F7 has been reset to "0", the respective counter values of the stapled bin number counter H and the bin number counter C are compared in step S124. If “H <C”, the state SC1 is set to 6 in step S125. If not “H <C”,
In step S126, the state SC1 is set to 10.

When state SC1 is 6, step S
The second bin 31 ₂ is moved to the level X ₁ at 127, when the movement completion is confirmed in step S128, step S
At 129, the chucking flag F6 and the chucking unit operation flag F7 are each set to "1". Next, state SC1 is set to 7 in step S130.

As shown in FIG. 37, the state SC1 is 7
In step S131, if it is confirmed in step S131 that the chucking unit operation flag F7 has been reset to "0", the respective counter values of the stapled bin number counter H and the bin number counter C are compared in step S132. If "H <C", it is determined in step S133 whether or not the stack flag F4 is "1". If it is set to "1", the state SC1 is set to 1 in step S134.
Set to 3. That is, a sheet bundle taking-out process by the sheet transport gate 100 is prepared. If the flag F4 is "0", the state SC1 is set to 8 in step S135.
Set to. In this case, the sheet bundle removal process is not executed. On the other hand, if not “H <C” (step S1
32, NO), and state SC1 is set to 1 in step S136.
Set to 0.

When state SC1 is 8, step S
At 137, the bin 31 is raised by one pitch. Then, 1 confirms that the increase in pitch is completed in step S138 (in this case means confirmation that one bin 31 is set to the stapling position of the level X _1), the chucking flag in step S139 F6 and the chucking unit operation flag F7 are set to "1", respectively. Next, the state SC1 is set to 9 in step S140.

As shown in FIG. 38, the state SC1 is 9
In step S141, if it is confirmed in step S141 that the chucking unit operation flag F7 has been reset to "0", the respective counter values of the stapled bin number counter H and the bin number counter C are compared in step S142. If "H <C", the state SC is set to 8 in step S143, and the bin 31 is further raised by one pitch. If not “H <C”, the state SC1 is set to 16 in step S144, and execution of the next job is permitted in step S145.

If the state SC1 is 10, it is determined in step S146 whether or not the stack flag F4 is "1". If it is set to "1", the second transport path 90 is retracted from the paper transport position in step S147, and the paper transport gate 100 can be lowered. Next, the take-out operation flag F9 is set to "1" in step S148, and the state SC1 is set to 11 in step S149. On the other hand, if the stack flag F4 has been reset to “0” (NO in step S146), step S1
In step 50, the state SC1 is set to 16, and in step S1
At 51, execution of the next job is permitted.

As shown in FIG. 39, the state SC1 is 1
If it is 1, the bin 31 is raised by one pitch in step S152. Next, at step S153, it is confirmed that the ascending of one pitch has been completed (in this case, one bin 31
There means confirmation that has been set to the take-out position of the level X _3), the state SC1 1 in step S154
Set to 2.

When the state SC1 is 12, it is confirmed in step S155 that the one-bin extraction end flag F15 has been set to "1".
Resets the flag F15 to "0". Next, in step S157, it is determined whether or not the count value of the remaining bin number counter D is greater than zero. If "D>0", the state SC1 is set at 11 in step S158, it raises the next bin 31 into the level X _3. "D =
If it is "0", that is, if the sheet bundle has been taken out from all the bins where the sheets have been sorted, step S
In step 159, the state SC1 is reset to 0, and step S
At 160, execution of the next job is permitted. Next, step S
At 161, the second transport path 90 is returned to the paper transport position.

As shown in FIG. 40, state SC1 is 1
In the case of 3, the second transport path 90 is retracted from the paper transport position in step S162, and the take-out flag F9 is set to "1" in step S163. Next, step S16
In step 4, the state SC1 is set to 14.

If the state SC1 is 14, the bin 31 is raised by one pitch in step S165. Next, when confirming that the increase of one pitch at step S166 is completed, i.e., the next bin 31 is raised to the take-out position of the level X _3, state SC1 in step S167
Is set to 15.

As shown in FIG. 41, the state SC1 is 1
In the case of 5, when it is confirmed in step S168 that the one bin take-out end flag F15 is set to "1", the flag F15 is reset to "0" in step S169. Next, in step S170, it is determined whether the count value of the remaining bin number counter D is greater than zero. The state SC1 is set 14 at step S171, if "D>0", raising the next bin 31 into the level X _3. If “D = 0”, that is, if the paper has been taken out from all the bins 31 that have been sorted, it is determined in step S172 whether or not the sort flag F1 is “1”. If “1” is set, it is determined in step S173 whether “A> 20B”. "A> 2
0B ", that is, if copying has not been completed for the number of copies, the state SC1 is set to 1 in step S174.
Set to. If not “A> 20B”, that is,
If copying of the set number has been completed, step S17
In step 6, the state SC1 is reset to 0.

On the other hand, if the sort flag F1 is "0" (NO in step S172), it is determined in step S175 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 advance document, state SC1 is set to 3 in step S177, and if not, state SC1 is reset to 0 in step S176. Next, the execution of the next job is permitted in step S178, and the second transport path 90 is returned to the paper transport position in step S179. Further, in step S180, the stapled bin number counter H is reset to 0.

As shown in FIG. 42, state SC1 is 1
In the case of 6, the timer Ts is started in step S181, and the state SC1 is set to 17 in step S182. The timer Ts is used to start a process of automatically transporting / storing the bundle of sheets onto the non-sort tray 20 when a predetermined time elapses while the stapled sheet bundle remains on the bin 31. It is a timer.

If the state SC1 is 17, it is determined in step S183 whether or not the copy start key 155 has been turned on. If the copy start key 155 has been turned on, that is, if the next copy operation has been started, the flow proceeds to step S184. State SC
Reset 1 to 0. If it has not been turned on and the next copying operation has not yet started, it is determined in step S185 whether or not the timer Ts has expired. Upon completion, the stack flag F4 is set to "1" in step S186, and the state SC1 is set to 10 in step S187. As a result, the stapled sheet bundle left on the bin 31 is conveyed / stored on the non-sort tray 20.

FIGS. 43 and 44 show a chucking control subroutine executed in step S78. Here, first, in step S200, the count value of state SC2 is checked, and the following processing is executed according to the count value.

As shown in FIG. 43, state SC2 is 0
In step S201, the chucking unit moving motor M30 is rotated forward in step S201. This in chucking unit 40,40a moves toward the home position Y ₁ to the chucking position Y _2. Next, the state of the sensor SE31 is confirmed in step S202, i.e., when the chucking units 40,40a reaches the chucking position Y ₂ is confirmed, the motor is stopped M30 in step S203.

Next, the take-out operation flag F9 is set to "1" in step S204 (step S204).
148 and S163), the process proceeds to step S20.
At 5, the solenoid SL30a is turned on. This in, clamp the stack of sheets on the bin 31 upper chucking unit 40a has been set at the level X _3. Also, the chucking flag F6 is set to "1" in step S206 (steps S121, S129, S13
9), the solenoid SL30 is turned on in step S207. This in, clamp the stack of sheets on the bin 31 the lower chucking unit 40 has been set at the level X _1. Next, state SC2 is set to 1 in step S208.

When the state SC2 is 1, step S
At 209, the motor M30 is rotated forward. This in chucking unit 40,40a moves toward the chucking position Y ₂ into the extracted position Y _3. Next, when the sensor SE32 is turned on in step S210, that is, when the chucking units 40 and 40a are turned on.
There When it has reached the lead-out position Y ₃ is confirmed, the motor is stopped M30 in step S211. Next, in step S212, the solenoid SL30a is turned off. As a result, the upper chucking unit 40a releases the sheet bundle from being pinched, and the sheet bundle is transferred to the sheet transport gate 100. Incidentally, the lower chucking unit 40 without releasing the pinching stack of sheets, staple processing by the staple unit 70 in a state of sandwiching the sheet bundle in the lead position Y ₃ is performed (see step S215).

Next, it is determined whether or not the chucking flag F6 is "0" in a step S213. If it has been reset to "0", state SC2 is set to 4 in step S214.
Set to. If it is set to "1", the staple unit operation flag F8 is set to "1" in step S215.
And the state SC2 is set to 2 in step S216. By setting the flag F8 to "1" in step S215, the staple unit 70 is activated in step S80, and the sheet bundle is bound.

As shown in FIG. 44, state SC2 is 2
In step S217, it is determined whether the staple unit operation flag F8 is "0". Although not shown in the flowchart, the flag F8 is reset to "0" when the stapling operation ends in the subroutine of step S80. Accordingly, in this routine, when the stapling operation is completed (YES in step S217), the process proceeds to step S2.
At 18, the motor M30 is reversed. This at the chucking unit 40 is in a state sandwiching the stapled sheet bundle, moves toward the chucking position Y _2. Next, when it is confirmed in step S219 that the chucking position sensor SE31 has been turned on, the motor M30 is stopped in step S220, and step S221 is performed.
To turn off the solenoid SL30. This at the chucking unit 40 to release the stapled sheet bundle in the chucking position Y _2. Next, step S
At step 222, the chucking flag F6 is reset to "0", and at step S223, the state SC2 is set to 3.

When the state SC2 is 3, step S2
At 24, the motor M30 is reversed. This at the chucking unit 40 (chucking unit 40a at the same time) moves toward the home position Y _1. Next, in step S225, the home position sensor SE3
When it is confirmed that 0 has been turned on, the motor M30 is stopped in step S226. Further, the chucking unit operation flag F7 is reset to "0" in step S227, and the state SC2 is reset to 0 in step S228.

When the state SC2 is 4, that is,
When executing only the extraction process of the stack of sheets from the bin 31 in the level X _3, the sensor SE in step S229
It is determined whether or not 22 is on. The sensor SE22 detects the presence or absence of a sheet bundle in the sheet transport gate 100. When the sensor SE22 is turned on, the stapled sheet bundle is
00 means it was taken out. Therefore, the sensor S
If E22 is on, the state S is determined in step S230.
Set C2 to 3. Thereafter, steps S224 to S22
8 is executed, the chucking unit 40a is (the chucking unit 40 at the same time) to return to the home position Y _1.

FIGS. 45 to 49 show a gate control subroutine executed in step S82. Here, first, in step S240, the count value of the state SC3 is checked, and the following processing is executed according to the value.

As shown in FIG. 45, state SC3 is 0
In step S241, the movement integration counter E is reset to 0 in step S241, and it is determined in step S242 whether the sensor SE33 is on. The sensor SE33 detects the presence or absence of a sheet on the non-sort tray 20, and if it is on (if a sheet is stored on the tray 20), the state SC3 is set to 1 in step S243. If it is off (if the tray 20 is empty), the value of “E + F” is set to the total movement counter G in step S244. E is the value of the movement integration counter, and F is the value of the movement constant counter. Next, state SC3 is set to 2 in step S245.

When state SC3 is 1, step S
At 246, it is determined whether or not the sensor SE23 is on. The sensor SE23 detects the top surface of the sheet on the non-sort tray 20, and if it is on, the gate moving motor M20 is reversed in step S247. As a result, the paper transport gate 100 moves up. Next, step S248
Increments the movement integration counter E by "1". Here, the counter E is incremented based on the rotation of the motor M20.
When the sensor SE23 is turned off, step S24
At step S9, the motor M20 is stopped, and the value of "E + F" is set to the total movement counter G at step S250. Next, state SC3 is set to 2 in step S251. Thus, the descending distance of the gate 100 is determined.

As shown in FIG. 46, state SC3 is 2
In step S252, the total movement counter G
Is not 0, the motor M is determined in step S253.
Turn 20 forward. As a result, the gate 100 moves down. Next, in step S254, the total movement counter G
Is subtracted by "1". Here, the counter G is a motor M20.
Is subtracted based on the rotation of. And the counter G
Has been subtracted to 0 (step S25).
In step S255, the motor M20 is stopped. Next, in step S256, the bin 31 has the level X ₃
After confirming that it is set to
At 7, the state SC3 is set to 3. Next, in step S258, it is determined whether or not “H <C”. If “H <C”, that is, the stapled sheet bundle is still in bin 3
If it remains, the chucking flag F6 and the chucking unit operation flag F7 are set to "1" in step S259. If "H <C" is not satisfied, that is, if the stapled sheet bundle has been taken out from all bins 31, the chucking unit operation flag F7 is set to "1" in step S260.

If the state SC3 is 3, step S
At 261 it is determined whether the sensor SE21 is on. The sensor SE21 detects a sheet bundle immediately before the gate 100. If the sensor SE21 is on, ie,
Sheet bundle is drawn from the bin 31 in the level X _3, if the inserted between the rollers 102 and 103, the state SC3 is set to 4 in step S262.

As shown in FIG. 47, state SC3 is 4
In step S263, the roller drive motor M21
To rotate forward. As a result, the rollers 102 and 103 rotate forward and take out the sheet bundle from the bin 31. Next, step S
When the off edge of the sensor SE21 is confirmed in H.264, that is, when the sheet bundle is completely taken out to the gate, the motor M21 is stopped in Step S265. Next, in step S266, the value of the movement amount correction counter P is added to the movement integration counter E. The value of the counter P is set to the thickness of the sheet bundle. Next, the value of “E + F” is set to the total movement counter G in step S267, and the state SC3 is set to 5 in step S268.

If the state SC3 is 5, step S
If it is determined at 269 that the total movement counter G is not 0, the gate movement motor M20 is reversed in step S270. This raises the gate 100. Next, in step S271, the counter G is decremented by "1". Here, the counter G is decremented based on the rotation of the motor M20. Then, when it is confirmed that the counter G has been decremented to 0 (NO in step S269), step S2 is performed.
At 72, the motor M20 is stopped. Further, step S
At 273, the state SC3 is set to 6.

If the state SC3 is 6, step S
At 274, the roller drive motor M21 is reversed. As a result, the rollers 102 and 103 rotate in the reverse direction and discharge the sheet bundle to the non-sort tray 20. Next, when the off edge of the sensor SE22 is confirmed in step S275, that is, when the sheet bundle is discharged from the gate 100, step S27 is performed.
At 6, the motor M21 is stopped. Next, step S27
At 7, the remaining bin counter D is decremented by "1", and the state SC3 is set to 7 at step S278.

As shown in FIG. 48, state SC3 is 7
In step S279, it is determined in step S279 whether or not the remaining bin counter D is 0. If 0, step S28
At 0, it is determined whether or not the sort flag F1 is "1". If the flag F1 has been set to "1", the process proceeds to step S28.
At 1, it is determined whether or not “A> 20B”. "A>20B"
If this is the case, that is, if copying is to be continued, the value of “E + F” is set to the total movement counter G in step S285. Next, step S286
To set the 1 bin take-out end flag F15 to "1", and reset the take-out operation flag F9 to "0" in step S287. Further, the state SC3 is set to 2 in step S288. If “A> 20B” is not satisfied (NO in step S279), that is, if copying of the set number has been completed, state SC3 is set to 8 in step S282.

In the case of the group mode (step S28)
In step S283, it is determined whether or not there is an advance document (see step S175). If there is a first-out original, the copying is continued.
To S288. If there is no advance document, state SC3 is set to 8 in step S284.

On the other hand, when the remaining bin number counter D is 0,
Otherwise, to take out the next bundle of sheets, step S2
At 89, the value of "E + F" is set to the total movement counter G. Next, in step S290, the 1-bin take-out completion flag F15 is set to "1", and in step S291, the state SC3 is set to 2.

As shown in FIG. 49, state SC3 is 8
, The gate 100 is returned to the home position. That is, when it is confirmed in step S292 that the home position sensor SE20 is off, the gate moving motor M20 is rotated forward in step S293, and the gate 100 is lowered. Then, when the sensor SE20 is turned on (NO in step S292), the motor M20 is stopped in step S294. Next, in step S295, the take-out operation flag F9 is reset to "0", and in step S296, the 1 bin take-out end flag F15 is set to "1".
Set to. Further, in step S297, state S
Reset C3 to zero.

FIG. 50 shows a non-sort control subroutine executed in step S84. Here, first, in step S300, the count value of state SC4 is checked, and the following processing is executed according to the count value.

If the state SC4 is 0, step S
When the start of the copying operation is confirmed in 301, step S30
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 in step S303 to that effect. If the non-sort tray 20 becomes empty (NO in step S302), the gate 100 and the bin assembly 30 in step S304.
To the home position. Next, step S3
05, the return to these home positions is confirmed, the copying operation is permitted in step S306, and the
At 307, the solenoid SL50 is turned on, and the transfer motor M5 is turned on.
0 is rotated forward and the roller drive motor M20 is rotated reversely. As a result, the switching claw 82 sets the sheet at the guide position 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, the state SC4 is set to 1 in step S308. While the gate 100 and the bin assembly 30 do not return to their home positions (N in step S305)
O), copying is stopped in step S309.

When state SC4 is 1, step S
After confirming that all copying operations have been completed at 310,
In step S311, the solenoid SL50 is turned off, and the motors M50 and M20 are stopped. Next, the state SC4 is reset to 0 in step S312.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a front view showing the appearance of a staple sorter and a copying machine according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a schematic configuration diagram showing the staple sorter.

FIG. 3 is a plan view showing an operation panel of the copying machine.

FIG. 4 is a plan view showing one screen of a touch panel in the operation panel.

FIG. 5 is a plan view showing a chucking unit in the staple sorter.

FIG. 6 is an elevational view showing the chucking unit, a part of which is a cross section.

FIG. 7 is an elevation view showing the upper part of the staple sorter.

FIG. 8 is an operation explanatory diagram of staples and sheet bundle removal / stacking in a staple sorter.

FIG. 9 is an explanatory diagram of the operation of staples and sheet removal / stacking in the staple sorter, and is a continuation of FIG. 8;

FIG. 10 is an explanatory diagram of the operation of staples and sheet removal / stacking in the staple sorter, continued from FIG. 9;

FIG. 11 is an explanatory diagram of the operation of staples and sheet removal / stacking in the staple sorter, continued from FIG. 10;

FIG. 12 is an explanatory diagram of the operation of staples and sheet removal / stacking in the staple sorter, continued from FIG. 11;

FIG. 13 is an explanatory diagram of the operation of staples and sheet removal / stacking in the staple sorter, continued from FIG. 12;

FIG. 14 is a plan view showing staple positions on a sheet bundle.

FIG. 15 is a plan view showing an operation panel on the staple sorter.

FIG. 16 is a block diagram showing a control circuit of the copying machine.

FIG. 17 is a flowchart showing a main routine of a CPU of the control circuit.

FIG. 18 is a flowchart showing a subroutine of a gate initial operation.

FIG. 19 is a flowchart illustrating a subroutine of an input process.

FIG. 20 is a flowchart illustrating a subroutine of a mode switching process.

FIG. 21 is a flowchart illustrating a subroutine of a mode input process.

FIG. 22 is a flowchart showing a subroutine of a bin number over process.

FIG. 23 is a plan view showing a screen displayed on the touch panel of the operation panel of the copying machine in the bin number over process.

FIG. 24 is a flowchart illustrating a subroutine of a manual stack process.

FIG. 25 is a flowchart showing a subroutine of manual stack processing, and is a continuation of FIG. 24;

26 is a flowchart showing a subroutine of manual stack processing, and is a continuation of FIG. 25.

FIG. 27 is a flowchart showing a subroutine of manual stack processing, and is a continuation of FIG. 26;

FIG. 28 is a flowchart showing a subroutine of manual stack processing, and is a continuation of FIG. 27;

FIG. 29 is a flowchart showing a subroutine of manual stack processing, and is a continuation of FIG. 28;

30 is a flowchart showing a subroutine of manual stack processing, and is a continuation of FIG. 29.

FIG. 31 is a flowchart showing a subroutine of manual stack chucking control.

FIG. 32 is a flowchart showing a subroutine of manual stack bin control.

FIG. 33 is a flowchart showing a subroutine of a finishing process.

FIG. 34 is a flowchart showing a subroutine of bin control.

FIG. 35 is a flowchart showing a subroutine of bin control, and is a continuation of FIG. 34.

FIG. 36 is a flowchart showing a bin control subroutine, and is a continuation of FIG. 35;

FIG. 37 is a flowchart showing a bin control subroutine, and is a continuation of FIG. 36;

FIG. 38 is a flowchart showing a subroutine of bin control, and is a continuation of FIG. 37.

FIG. 39 is a flowchart showing a bin control subroutine, and is a continuation of FIG. 38.

40 is a flowchart showing a subroutine of bin control, and is a continuation of FIG. 39.

FIG. 41 is a flowchart showing a subroutine of bin control, and is a continuation of FIG. 40;

42 is a flowchart showing a subroutine of bin control, and is a continuation of FIG. 41.

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

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

FIG. 45 is a flowchart showing a subroutine of gate control.

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

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

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

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

FIG. 50 is a flowchart showing a subroutine of non-sort control.

[Explanation of symbols]

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 ... Copier, 10 ... Staple sorter (finisher apparatus), 30 ... Bin assembly (sorter), 31 ... Bin, 20 ... Non-sort tray (stack part), 170 ...
CPU (control means), SW5 ... Manual stack execution switch (selection means).

Claims (1)

[Claims] 1. A finisher device comprising: a sorter section for receiving sheets discharged from a copying machine and sorting the sheets into a plurality of bins; The apparatus further includes a selection unit that selects a stack mode in which processing is performed, and a control unit that controls so as to receive a selection operation of the stack mode selection unit and perform stack processing even during or after the sorting operation. A finisher device.