JPS5825628B2 - Single-sided and double-sided copying equipment - Google Patents

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION The present invention relates to a reproduction apparatus for producing a complete set of document information for both simplex and duplex modes of operation.

With the advent of high speed/duplex copying machines, there is increasing concern regarding the rapid and reliable dispensing and handling of copy sheets in single-sided and duplex sorting modes of operation.

In the past, it has been used primarily in the handling of documents for double-sided recording, as described, for example, in U.S. Pat. No. 3,408,140; Inversion devices have been used.

For example, U.S. Patent Nos. 2.549,772 and 2.90
It is also known to rotate cards, plates, and the like, as recorded in No. 1,246.

This system is not entirely satisfactory with respect to high speed conventional reproduction machines capable of operating in single-sided and double-sided sorting modes of operation.

The present invention relates to a reproduction machine for producing a complete set of document information on one or both sides of a copy sheet at the option of the machine operator.

Generally speaking, this involves copying document information by dispensing copies face up or down onto a conveyor to make single-sided or double-sided copies, depending on a particular mode of operation, and then assembling the copy sheets into an assembled set. This is achieved by sorting them into trays as follows.

``The general object of the present invention is to improve reproduction apparatus.

Another object of the invention is to create a complete set of document information on one or both sides of a copy sheet.

Yet another object of the present invention is to improve the introduction of copy sheets in single-sided and double-sided sorting modes.

Yet another object of the present invention is to accomplish sheet inversion in a manner that minimizes the effects of sheet characteristics that affect sheet handling, such as curvature and stiffness.

The above and attendant advantages of the present invention will become apparent after reading the following detailed description taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings.

FIG. 1 shows a copying machine, generally designated 2, including a copier 3, which is a high-speed copier/duplex copier capable of making single-sided or double-sided copies at the option of the machine operator. It is.

The copier 3 includes a platen 4 for receiving the books to be copied, and various control knobs for selecting various operating modes such as single-sided and double-sided type of copies and the quantity of copies to be copied.
It has a control panel 5 including pushbuttons and switches.

According to the invention, the copying apparatus includes a sheet reversing device 8;
This has a tray assembly to direct copies to a sorting device generally designated 6.

As best shown in FIG. 2, the reproduction apparatus includes an automatic electrophotographic reproduction apparatus that includes a photosensitive plate including a photoconductive layer 10 coated on a conductive backing.

This plate is formed in the form of a drum 11, which is mounted on a shaft 12 which is rotatably supported in the machine frame.

Essentially, the electrophotographic drum is rotated in the direction shown and sequentially passes through a series of electrophotographic processing stations.

The photosensitive drum and the electrophotographic processing equipment are driven by a drive system (not shown) at relatively predetermined speeds, and their operation is adjusted to produce proper cooperation of the various processing equipment. .

The original to be reproduced is placed on a transparent horizontally supported platen 4, and the original is scanned by a moving optical scanning device to produce a scan line image of the original.
g light image).

The scanning device includes an elongated horizontally extending aperture lamp 15 and a movable lens element 18.

A lamp and lens element is moved in alignment across an object supported on a platen to image successive incremental images of illumination light reflected from the object onto a drum surface moving at a synchronous speed. It is made to be tied.

The optical path is refracted by a pair of telescopic mirrors 19 and 20 interposed between the lens and the drum surface, and the drum is first uniformly charged by a corona generator 13 located at charging station A.

Under the action of a scanning image, the uniformly charged photoconductive surface is selectively discharged in non-image areas to form an image commonly known as an "electrostatic latent image."

The electrostatic latent image is conveyed from the exposure station to the development station C while being supported on the drum surface.

The development station consists primarily of a developer housing 22 adapted to support a supply of two-component developer material 21 therein.

This developer material is conveyed by a packet device 23 to a raised position from the bottom of the developer housing where it is directed to the development area.

The developer material is closely controlled and forced downwardly into contact with the upwardly moving drum surface, where the charged toner particles adhere to the image area of the plate surface from the developer mixture and render the image visible. .

The moving drum surface then transports this developed electrophotographic image to transfer station D.

The cut sheet of final support material is also transferred into this transfer station and the back side of the copy sheet is sprayed with ions emitted by the transfer corotron 25 to prevent toner material from adhering to the final support material from the drum surface. A charge of sufficient polarity and strength is induced.

This induced charge also causes the final support material to electrostatically adhere to the drum surface.

A stripping finger 28 is located rearward of the transfer corotron for removing the copy sheet from the drum surface.

The finger is arranged to move between the drum surface and the copy sheet to lift the sheet above the drum surface and move the copy sheet along a predetermined transfer path to a stationary vacuum transfer device 2.
Directed to contact 9.

Although most of the toner material is transferred from the drum surface to the copy sheet during the transfer process, some residual toner always remains on the drum surface after transfer.

This residual toner is transferred onto the drum surface to cleaning station E where it is brought under the action of a cleaning corotron 300 to neutralize the electrostatic charge that holds the residual toner to the drum surface.

The neutralized toners are mechanically removed from the drum surface by a brush or the like, and these toners are removed from the housing 3.
collected within 1.

A conveyor moving in an endless loop through tube 32 transports the collected residual toner back into the developer housing where it is stored in the developer mixture for reuse in the electrophotographic development process.

After the transfer operation, the copy sheet removed from the drum surface is transported along fixed transport device 29 to fusing station F.

The melting device 33 essentially consists of an upper melter roll 34 and a lower melter roll 35, which rolls are mounted in operative relationship with each other and work together to melt the material with pressure-driven contact therebetween. Arranged to support the seat.

The lower roll is heated.

When this heated roll is rotated in the direction shown, the heated side of the lower roll is pressed into intimate contact with the image surface of the support sheet.

Mechanical and thermal energy transferred from the roll surface to the support sheet permanently adheres the toner particles to the support material.

Upon leaving the fusing station, the fused copy sheet is conveyed entirely through a curved straight sheet guiding device indicated at 39 into cooperating feed rolls 43 and 44.

In this regard, depending on the operating mode selected, the copy sheets are either advanced toward the sorter or advanced into the upper supply tray 52 by the movable sheet guide 45 prior to entering the sorter.

For single-sided copying, the copy sheets are advanced directly to a sorter which serves to invert the sheets before directing them to one of its tray assemblies.

The foregoing description is believed to be sufficient to illustrate the general operation of an electrophotographic reproduction apparatus for purposes of the present invention.

For a more detailed description of the electrophotographic components of a copying machine/duplex copying machine, see U.S. Pat.
No. 645,615 is referenced.

Inverter (FIGS. 3-5) Inverter 8 includes a horizontal transfer assembly 103 that receives copy sheets from a reproduction device and inverts the copy sheets before being advanced to the tray assembly according to the mode of operation. or advance these copy sheets directly into the tray assembly.

The transfer assembly 103 includes a series of belts 105 having holes approximately 6.35 inches in diameter through which a vacuum is applied to the blower 108.
The transfer belt 105 is provided through a manifold 107 extending along the length of the transfer belt 105, such as provided by a manifold 107.

Belt 105 is mounted on rolls 109 and 110.

The roll 110 is connected to the belt 11 by a drive motor 111.
3 and 114 and the associated pulleys.

Above the horizontal transfer assembly 103 is a vertical transfer assembly having a belt 117 overlying the manifold 119 and formed with an aperture to provide a vacuum;
It is adapted to transport copy sheets in the same manner as in the horizontal transport assembly.

Vacuum is provided by blower 108.

Belt 117 is mounted on rolls 120 and 121.

Roll 120 is driven by motor 123 via belts 125 and 127 and associated pulleys.

At the entrance to the vertical transfer assembly 115 there is a deflection assembly 1
30, which includes a number of deflection members 131 pivoted on pin members 135.

It is noted that the deflection member 131 has an upwardly curved side 131 and a downwardly curved side 139, each for the purposes described below.

The deflection member 131 is activated by the plunger 1 of the solenoid 145 in response to an electrical signal supplied from the machine control device by selecting the type of single-sided copying on the MLJ control panel 5.
The pin member 135 is pivoted on its axis by moving the lever member 139 actuated by 43 .

With this arrangement, a copy sheet moving along the horizontal transport assembly 103 is directed upwardly by the upwardly curved surface 137 of the deflection member 131, i.e., onto the vertical transport assembly 115, as will be seen below. It will be passed.

The vertical transfer assembly 115 is of a two-way type and rotates counterclockwise except in the simplex copy sorting mode of operation.

During the simplex copy mode of operation, the presence of a copy sheet as it passes through the lamp and photovoltaic sensing unit 147 and reflector 149 provides a signal to the machine's controller to reverse the direction of the transfer assembly 115 clockwise.

The fingers of the deflection member direct the leading edge of the copy sheet onto the transfer assembly 115 (FIG. 4a).

The force provided by the vacuum ensures that the trailing edge of the copy sheet is positioned relative to belt 117.

With this arrangement, the trailing edge of the copy sheet is controlled such that its movement from the transport assembly 103 is directed through the deflection fingers and toward the transport assembly 115.

Furthermore, effects on copy sheet properties such as rollability, stiffness, electrostatic charge, etc. are minimized.

The vertical transport assembly 115 is controlled by a lamp and photovoltaic sensing unit having a reflector 152 or after a scheduled time when the trailing edge of the copy sheet passes the end of the deflection member 131 and the belt 117 is operated. Continue moving the copy sheet upward until it is detected by a signal from the device.

By reversing the belt, the copy sheet is deflected downward by the deflecting member 13.
horizontal transfer assembly 10 guided on a curved surface 139 of
Returned to 3.

Here, when a copy sheet fed into the horizontal transport assembly 103 is actuated by the deflection member and the vertical transport assembly according to the mode of operation depending on whether single-sided or duplex copying is desired, at the end of the transport assembly. It turns out that it can be reversed.

Sorter Device Sorter device 6 receives copy sheets face up or down, depending on the mode of operation, from horizontal transport assembly 103 and advances these sheets to a number of tray assemblies 7.

The drive is adapted to vertically move the tray assembly to receive copy sheets advanced along the transport path as described below.

The tray assemblies 7 are arranged in groups of approximately five trays, each tray being adapted to take multiple boxes, as will be seen below.

Each tray assembly has a tray portion 205 that is inclined relative to the horizontal plane to receive the side edges of the copy sheet.

This angle of inclination is in the range of approximately 5° to 50°, with approximately 20°
It is desirable to minimize sheet scratching and to allow multiple boxes to be taken out.

End 207 is substantially perpendicular to tray portion 205.

The tray assembly extends horizontally at the trailing portion 209.

The tray portion 205 and trailing portion 209 are mounted on a cam follower that engages a helical groove formed in the cylindrical surface of the cam member described below.

Trailing portion 209 has an attached cam follower 213 that includes a spring member 215 that allows movement of cam follower 213 relative to tray assembly 203.

Tray portion 205 has a pair of cam followers 211 pivotally mounted on link members 212 proximate leading corners of the tray assembly.

Cam followers 211 are received within helical grooves 221 of engagement members 223 and 224 located on opposite sides of the inlet to the tray assembly.

A third cam member 225 is provided having a helical portion 221 that receives the cam follower 213.

This arrangement creates a three point suspension system with the tray assembly.

Each cam member 223 and 224 at the entrance of the tray assembly
and the rear cam member 225 of the tray assembly have the same track shape.

This trajectory shape consists of a series of closely spaced or low pitch surfaces 231 separated by high pinch surfaces 233.
The tray assembly is separated into groups, making it possible to take out multiple boxes.

With this arrangement, the number of boxes removed is approximately 6.35M (' i
n) It is noted that the sets of copies are formed in the vicinity of the tray assemblies in a staggered manner, and that the sorting of these sets or books is effected by simultaneous removal of the groups of tray assemblies.

The arrangement described above also causes the drive motor 250 to be intermittently activated by electrical signals supplied by the machine controller when a sheet on the transfer assembly 105 is detected by the lamp and photovoltaic sensing unit 253 by the reflector 255 (FIG. 9). will be energized.

In operation, a number of switches 258 serve to position the tray assembly relative to the sheet ejection area by contacting tab portions 259 (FIG. 7) of the tray that serve as tray cord devices.

These switches 258 provide a signal to the machine controller indicating that the tray assembly is ready to accept a sheet and also indicating when the drive motor 250 is to be reversed.

Another function of these switches is to prevent further indexing of the tray assembly beyond its normal range by providing a signal to the machine controller.

One or more switches 256 are connected to cam member 2230
It is installed nearby and controls the motor 2500 deenergization for each revolution of this cam member.

In this manner, the tray assemblies are advanced together so that each tray assembly receives one sheet at the discharge area.

A limit switch 257 is provided as an auxiliary device to detect the upper and lower limits of the path of the tray assembly, and
50 to prevent damage from occurring in the event of component failure.

With the above-described copying machine, a complete set of book information is produced on one or both sides of a copy sheet at the option of the machine operator.

Furthermore, the complete set is identifiably separated.

It will be apparent that the apparatus facilitates copying and distributing book information.

While the essential novel features of the invention have been preferably illustrated, explained and pointed out, many omissions, substitutions and changes in the form and details of the illustrated apparatus and its operation have been made. It will be understood that what can be done by one skilled in the art without departing from the spirit of the invention.

[Brief explanation of the drawing]

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a high-speed copying apparatus according to the present invention, FIG. 2 is a schematic diagram showing electrophotographic components of a copying apparatus/double-sided copying apparatus, FIG. 3 is a side view of a reversing device, and FIGS. 4a-c The figure is an explanatory diagram of the reversing device showing the subsequent different operations when reversing the sheet.
5 is an isometric view of the inverter, FIG. 6 is an elevational view of a tray assembly according to the invention, FIG. 7 is a plan view of the tray assembly, and FIGS. ga-c show details of the tray opening operation. FIG. 9 is an isometric view of the sorter/sorter drive assembly; FIG. 10 is an exploded view of the tray showing coarse separation by removal; FIG. 2... Copying device, 3... Copying machine, 6.
... Sorting device, 7 ... Tray assembly, 8
...Sheet reversing device, 103.115...
... Transfer assembly, 130 ... Deflection assembly or gate device, 223, 224.225 ... Retention member, 231 ... Low pinch surface, 233 ...・・・
・High pitch surface, 253... Photocell sensing unit.

Claims (1)

[Scope of Claims] 1. A copying device that creates a complete set of document information in both single-sided and double-sided copy formats, and a processing device that creates single-sided and double-sided copies from the document information according to a desired operating mode. a first transport device for receiving copy sheets from the processing device and transporting the sheets through a generally horizontal sheet path to a sheet ejection area; and a sheet inverting device disposed above the sheet path of the first transport device. The sheet reversing device includes a second sheet reversing device that extends substantially perpendicularly to the sheet path and that can be driven in forward and reverse directions.
a transfer device; and a deflection assembly disposed between the first transfer device and the second transfer device, the deflection assembly configured to deflect a sheet traveling through a sheet path of the first transfer device. a first position operative to direct the sheet to a second transport device and then return the sheet from the second transport device onto the sheet path of the first transport device such that the trailing edge of the sheet becomes the leading edge;
a second position for allowing sheets to move directly along the sheet path of the transfer device; and further arranged to move across said sheet discharge area to receive sheets. a tray assembly having a plurality of tray members; and actuating the sheet inverting device depending on whether copies are made in a single-sided or double-sided operating mode, and copy sheets being received and received within the tray members; a control device for moving said tray assembly in a predetermined time relationship in a sheet ejection area so that a complete set of copy sheets is produced.