JPS59153764A - Control device for sorter - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To prevent the generation of paper jamming in a sorter after a paper folder by converting the number of folded papers stored in a bin into that of unfolder papers for counting on the basis of signals of a paper folding mode and paper detection. CONSTITUTION:Now, when a paper folding mode signal is outputted from a paper folding mode assignment means A, the output signal thereof is inputted to a paper-folding machine 1 and a bin-stored paper converting/counting means D. Then, various kinds of papers from a duplicating machine and the like are folded by the paper-folding machine 1, and sent to a sorter 2 to be stored in corresponding bins. When this storage is detected by a detecting means C, the bin-stored paper converting/counting means D, on the basis of signals of means A and C, converts the number of folded papers stored in the bin into that of unfolded papers for counting. When the number reaches to a set value of a storable number setting means B, the sorter 2 is controlled by a paper- sorting control means E to change the bin. This construction permits to prevent the paper jamming in the bin.

Description

TECHNICAL FIELD The present invention relates to a sorter control device for sending various types of paper from copying machines, printing machines, etc. to a sorter via a paper folding machine.

If more sheets of paper than can be stored in the bins of a prior art sorter occur, paper jams occur.

Therefore, conventionally, as a sorter control device, the number of sheets of paper that can be stored in a bin is set in advance, and the number of sheets of paper that can be stored in a bin is detected by a paper detection means, and the paper that can be stored in a bin is detected based on an output signal from now on. The number of sheets is counted by a bin storage paper counting means, and the value of this bin storage paper counting means is compared with a preset storable number of sheets, and if these values match, the paper is stored in the next bin. It has been known. but,
This sorter control device has poor storage efficiency because when sheets of different thicknesses are sent to the sorter, the number of sheets that can be stored in the bin must be set based on the paper with the maximum thickness.
Moreover, it cannot handle the case where folded paper is sent to the sorter, so it has the disadvantage that too many paper jams occur.

It is also known that a sorter control device is equipped with a detection means for detecting the number of sheets that can be stored in each bin of the sorter. The drawback is that there are a lot of them because they are necessary.

Purpose An object of the present invention is to prevent paper jams from occurring in a bin even when paper folded by a paper folding machine is sent to a sorter, and to detect the number of sheets that can be stored in a bin. The object of the present invention is to provide a sorter control device that requires only one detection means.

Structure As shown in FIG. 1, the present invention provides a method for specifying the paper folding mode of the paper folding machine 1 when various types of paper are sent from a copying machine or a printing machine to a sorter 2 via a paper folding machine 1. a folding mode specifying means A; a bin storable number setting means B for presetting the number of unfolded sheets that can be stored in each bin of the sorter 2; and a paper detector for detecting the paper stored in the bins of the sorter 2. means C, and a bin storage paper for converting and counting the number of folded sheets of paper stored in the bin into the number of unfolded sheets based on the output signals of the paper folding mode specifying means A and the paper detection means C. It consists of a conversion counting means, and a sorting control means E for storing paper in the next bin when the value of the bin storage paper conversion counting means reaches the setting value of the pin storable number setting means B.

Next, an embodiment of the present invention will be described based on FIGS. 2 to 5.

In FIG. 2, reference numeral 3 indicates the outer frame of the sorter 2. As shown in FIG.

A paper inlet 4 is formed in the upper part of the outer frame 3 for inputting paper sent from the paper folding machine 1 into the outer frame 3. A plurality of horizontal conveyance rollers 6 are arranged at the upper part of the outer frame 3 to horizontally convey the paper 5 that has entered from the paper entrance 4.

A plurality of horizontal guide plates 7 are arranged between these horizontal conveyance rollers 6. A plurality of bins 8 are arranged below the horizontal conveyance roller 6 at predetermined intervals in the vertical direction. Curved guide plates 9 are arranged on the side in the traveling direction of the paper 5 that is fed from the rightmost one of the horizontal conveyance rollers 6, and these guide plates 9 are fed horizontally to the paper 5. point downward.

Below these guide plates 9, a plurality of vertical conveyance rollers 10 are arranged at predetermined intervals.

These vertical transport rollers 10 transport the paper 5 downward. A vertical guide 11 is arranged between each of the vertical transport rollers 10 on the side far from the bin 8.

The vertical conveyance roller 10 is arranged at a predetermined distance from the entrance of the bin 8. A bin switching member 12 is disposed between the vertical conveyance rollers 10 located on the bin 8 side. These bin switching members 12
are rotated by the lenoid 13, as shown in Fig. 3, except for the lowest one.
As shown in FIG. 3, only when power is supplied to the filter paper 5, the filter paper 5 is sent downward by the vertical conveyance roller 10 (it is placed in a position where the filter paper 5 can be guided in the direction of the bin 8. The member 12 is placed in a position where it can always guide the paper j into the bin 8.

Below the lowest one of the bins 8, a light emitting element CI is positioned between the bin 8 and the vertical conveyance roller 10, as shown in FIG. A light receiving element C2 is arranged above the uppermost bottle 8 to receive the light from the light emitting element C1. These light-emitting element C1 and light-receiving element C2 constitute a paper detection means C that detects paper 5 entering the bin 8.

The bottle 8 has holes (
(not shown) are formed below these holes, and a light emitting element 14 is arranged to emit light upward, that is, in the direction indicated by the arrow, and a light receiving element 15 is arranged above these holes to emit light. It is arranged to receive light from the element 4. These light-emitting elements 14 and light-receiving elements 15 constitute empty bottle detection means that detects whether or not all the bins 8 contain paper 5.

As shown in FIG. 4, the light receiving element C2 of the paper detecting means C
The output signal is applied to the input circuit of the °C microcomputer 17 via the amplifier circuit 16.

Further, the output signal of the light receiving element 15 is also given to the input circuit of the microcomputer 17 via the amplifier circuit 18. The microcomputer 17 shown here includes a CPU, R
It consists of OM, RAM, input/output circuits, etc. The input circuit of the microcomputer 17 is connected to an operating means 19 for inputting a start signal etc. to the microcomputer 17, and a paper folding mode specifying means A for specifying the paper folding mode of the paper folding machine l using a selection key. There is. This paper folding mode specifying means A is capable of specifying, for example, four-sheet folding, three-sheet folding, two-sheet folding, and no-folding mode. The setting value of the bin storable number setting means B is stored in advance in the ROM.

The microcomputer 17 has the upper E l:”:/
The sorting operation is started on the condition that an output is received from a light receiving element 15 of an empty pin detecting means consisting of a light emitting element 14 and a light receiving element 15 which detect that paper 5 is not stored in all of the pins 8. A decoder 2° is connected to the output circuit of the microcomputer 17. The output terminal of this decoder 20 is connected to the bases of a plurality of transistors 21 that open and close a drive circuit that supplies current to the coil 13a of the renoid 13. This decoder 20 is
In response to the output signal from the microcomputer 17, any one of the transistors 21 is turned on, and power is supplied to the coil 13a of the renoid 13 to switch the bin switching member 12.
The bin switching member 12 is placed at a position where it can guide the paper 5 to the bin 8 by rotating the bin.

Next, an example of the operation of the sorter control device configured as described above will be explained.

Here, four-sheet folding mode, three-sheet folding mode, two-sheet folding mode, and no-folding mode can be specified by the paper folding mode specifying means AK, and in the case of the non-folding mode, N is set in the bin 8. An example in which sheets of paper can be stored will be explained.

When the start button of the operating means 19 is pressed, the paper sorting operation is started according to the program procedure shown in the flowchart of FIG. 5 stored in the ROM of the microcomputer 17.

First, as shown in the flowchart in Figure 5, step ■
Then, a value 1 is set in the first counter of the microcomputer 17 for controlling the power supply to the lenoid 13. When the number 1 is set in the first counter, the decoder 20
is decoded and power is supplied to the topmost nlenoid 13, so that paper can be stored in the topmost bin 8.

Next, in step (2), the number N of unfolded sheets of paper that can be stored in the bin 8 of the sorter 2, which is stored in the ROM, is set in the second counter.

Next, in step (2) it is determined whether the paper folding mode is folding, in step (2) it is determined whether the paper folding mode is folding two sheets, and then in step (2) it is determined whether the paper folding mode is folding three sheets.

If it is determined in step (2) that the paper folding mode is not folding, the value 1 is set in the subtraction memory in step (2). When it is determined in step (2) that the paper folding mode is two-sheet folding, the value 2 is set in the subtraction memory in step (2). If it is determined that the paper folding mode is three-sheet folding in step ■, the subtraction memo IJ y (value 3 is set) in step ■.In step ■■, the paper-folding mode is not three-folding, that is, four If it is determined that it is a fold, the value 4 is set in the subtraction memory in step (3).

Next, in step ■, the paper 5 entering the bin 8 is detected by the paper detection means C.
When detected, the value in the subtraction memory is subtracted from the second counter 6 value in step (3). Next, in step @, it is determined whether the classification operation is completed, and if the classification operation is not completed, it is determined in step 0 whether the value of the second counter is 0 or negative.

If the value of the second counter is positive in step O, that is, if it is determined that the number of sheets of paper 5 stored in the bin 8 has not reached the storable number, steps [stock] ~ @ are executed. Paper 5 is stored in the topmost bin 8.

Next, in step 0, if the value of the second counter is 0 or negative, that is, if it is determined that the number of sheets of paper 5 stored in the bin 8 has reached the storable number, then in step 0, the lowest bin It is determined whether

Step 0 is executed by comparing the number of bins previously stored in the ROM with the value of the first counter. If it is determined in step 0 that the bin is not the lowest bin, the value 1 is added to the value of the first counter in step [phase]. When the value of this first counter changes, this value is transferred to the decoder 20.
This value is decoded and power is supplied only to the renoids 13 corresponding to this value.

After adding 1 to the value of the first counter in step [phase], steps 2 to 0 are repeated again. Such steps ① to 0 are repeatedly executed, and when the number of sheets stored in one bin 8 reaches the maximum number of sheets, step 0. (2) is executed and the operation of storing the paper 5 in the next bin 8 is started.

When it is determined in step (2) that the classification operation is finished, the classification operation is finished. Further, if it is determined in step 0 that the bin is the lowest bin, feeding of the paper 5 to the sorter 2 is prohibited in step [stock], and the sorting operation is also terminated.

Effects The sorter control device of the present invention can prevent paper jams in bins even when paper folded by a paper folding machine is sent to a sorter, and can reduce the number of sheets that can be stored in a bin. One detection means is sufficient for detection.

[Brief explanation of the drawing]

FIG. 1 is a diagram showing the configuration of the present invention, FIG. 2 is a partially cutaway front view showing the configuration of a sorter as an embodiment of the present invention, and FIG. 3 is a partially enlarged view of a part of the same sorter. FIG. 4 is a cutaway front view, FIG. 4 is an electric circuit diagram showing an electric circuit as an embodiment of the present invention, and FIG. 5 is a flowchart showing an example of a program for sorting operation of the sorter. 1...paper folding machine, 2...sorter, 8...bin, 1
2... Bin switching member, 13... Renoid, 13a
...Nlenoid coil, 17...Microcomputer, 20...Accorder

Claims (1)

[Claims] a paper folding mode specifying means for specifying the paper folding mode of the paper folding machine; a bin storable number setting means for presetting the number of sheets of unfolded paper that can be stored in each bin of the sorter; a paper detecting means for detecting which paper is folded, and converting the number of folded sheets of paper stored in the bin into the number of unfolded sheets based on the output signals of the paper folding mode specifying means and the paper detecting means. The present invention is characterized by comprising a bin storage paper conversion counting means for counting, and a sorting control means for storing paper in the next bin when the value of the bin storage paper conversion counting means reaches the setting value of the bin storage number setting means. sorter control device.