JPS60118575A - Sorter - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To enable a sorter to perform even the copying work, by parallelly providing a conveying path, which equips a sequence change device, branching from a conveying path in the sorter and enabling these conveying paths to be suitably selected in accordance with a feed mode of copies. CONSTITUTION:A sorter 21 parallelly provides in its inside a paper conveying path 26, equipped with a paper sequence-change device 25, branching from a paper conveying path 24, provided from a paper inlet 22 to a sorter main part 23, and sets in the branch point a conveying path-switching device 27. In this way, a signal of whether or not an automatic copy feeder 3 is set in a copying machine 1, selecting the conveying path-switching device 27 to the paper conveying path 24 when the automatic copy feeder 3 is set while to the paper conveying path 26 when the automatic copy feeder 3 is removed, enables the sorter 21 to be used even when this copying machine performs the copying work by removing the automatic copy feeder 3.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION [Field of Industrial Application] The present invention relates to a sorter, and more particularly to a sorter suitable for a copying machine equipped with an automatic document feeder.

[Prior art]

The copying machine 1 shown in FIG. 1 has an automatic document feeder 3 installed above the apparatus main body 2, and a sorter 4 with a stapler 4a installed on the side of the apparatus main body 2. The original 5 is placed on the original placing table 6 of the automatic document feeder 3 as shown in FIG.
As shown, the left side edges of the originals 5 are set together, and the stacked originals 5 are sequentially taken out from the lowest one, inverted, and set on the platen 7. Therefore, the binding position 5a of the document 5 on the platen 7 is located on the right side as shown in FIG. 2(b).

When a copying operation is performed with the document set in this manner, the paper 9 conveyed from one of the feeders 8 is transferred by the photoreceptor 10 as shown in FIG. 2(C). Therefore, the binding position 9a of the paper 9 in this state is located on the right side.

The paper 9 copied in this way remains in the same position (
(see FIG. 2(d)) and is discharged onto the catch tray 11 or the bin 12 of the sorter 4. The document 5 on the platen 7 is then discharged onto the document discharge tray 6', and at the same time, the next document 5 is set on the platen 7. The sheets 9 that have been successively copied in this way are stacked on the catch tray 1 or the bin 12 in order from the later pages, as shown in FIG. 3(a). In FIG. 1, reference numeral 13 denotes a conveyance path switching device, and by operating this device 13, the paper 9 conveyed from the photoreceptor 10 is stored on the catch tray 11 or stored on the sorter 4. Select whether to place it on bin 12. Further, reference numeral 14 is a transport, and this transport is used for the paper 9 conveyed to the sorter 4.
are sequentially distributed to each bin 12 according to the set number of copies.

When the sheets 9 are conveyed to the sorter 4, the sheets 9 on each bin 12 are transported to the sorter 4 after all the originals have been copied.
A is sequentially bound by a.

Incidentally, in such a copying machine shop, the automatic document feeder 3 may be removed and used. In that case, the operator usually sets the original 5 directly on the platen 7 in order from the first page and copies it. Then, as is clear from the copying process described above, the copied paper 9 becomes as shown in FIG. 3(1)).
As shown in FIG.
Since the pages are stacked on top of each other and the order of the pages is reversed, the stapler 4a cannot be used as is.

Therefore, when performing manual operation on such a copying machine, it is necessary to change the order of the copied sheets 9 so that they are placed on the bin 12 of the sorter 4 in the reverse order.

[Purpose of the invention]

In view of these circumstances, it is an object of the present invention to provide a sorter that can be used in a copying machine equipped with an automatic document feeder and can also be applied when copying operations are performed with the automatic document feeder removed from the copier. It's about doing.

[Structure of the invention]

In order to achieve such an object, the present invention provides a conveyance system that is equipped with an order changing device that sequentially stacks and accommodates sheets conveyed from the upstream side on a tray and then conveys the sheets sequentially from the top to the downstream side. The conveyance paths within the sorter are branched and arranged in parallel, and these conveyance paths can be selected as appropriate depending on the document feeding mode in the copying machine, so that the copied documents are always placed on the bins of the sorter in an ideal manner. We are trying to accommodate them.

〔Example〕

The present invention will be described below with reference to embodiments shown in the drawings. FIG. 4 shows a state in which a sorter 21 according to the present invention is attached to a copying machine 1 with an automatic document feeder.

In this sorter 21, from the paper size 22 to the sorter main section 23,
A paper transport path 26 equipped with a paper order changing device 25 is branched and arranged in parallel with the paper transport path 24, and a transport path switching device 27 is installed at the branch point.

The paper order changing device 25 is a modified elevator tray used as an automatic paper feeding device.
moves upward in the case 29, keeps the paper on the tray in contact with the automatic paper feed roller 3o at all times, and in addition to the automatic paper feed device in which only the topmost paper is fed by the roller, for a certain period of time, That is, during the period when paper is being fed, the tray 28
It has a function as a storage device that waits at the bottom of the case 29, or gradually descends depending on the amount of paper loaded on the tray 28, and temporarily stacks the fed paper on the tray. There is.

The conveyance path switching device 27 switches the paper conveyance path 24 when the automatic document feeder 3 is installed, depending on a signal indicating whether or not the automatic document feeder 3 is installed in the copying machine 1, for example.
When the automatic document feeder 3 is removed, the switch is made to the paper conveyance path 26.

The operation of the sorter described above will be explained below, and the configuration will also be explained in more detail.

When an automatic document feeder 3 is installed in the copying machine 1, the documents 5 placed on the document table 6 are sequentially taken out starting from the lowest one, and then reversed and set on the platen 7. operates the conveyance path switching device 27 toward the conveyance path 24 side, that is, discharges the sheets 9 onto the bins 12 of the sorter 21 without passing through the sheet order changing device 25. The paper 9 ejected in this manner is ejected from the copying machine 1 with the copy side facing up, is conveyed in that position onto the bin 12 of the sorter 21, and is placed on the bin 12 as shown in FIG. 3(a). It is loaded in a similar manner.

Therefore, the sheets 9 stacked on the bin 12 of the second sorter are stapled by the stapler 4a as they are.

Also, remove the automatic document feeder 3 from this copying machine 1,
When copying is performed by setting the originals 5 on the platen 7 in order from the first page, the conveyance path switching device 27 is activated, and the sheets 9 are discharged onto the bins 12 of the sorter 21 via the sheet order changing device 25. let

The sheets 9 thus discharged are discharged from the copying machine 1 with the copy side facing up, and are sequentially stacked on the tray 28 of the sheet order changing device 25. When all the sheets are loaded on the tray 28 in this way, the sheet order changing device 25 starts the sheet feeding operation in response to a manual operation signal.
The stacked sheets are distributed to the bins 12 in order from the topmost sheet.

Therefore, in this case as well, the sheets 9 are stacked on the bins 12 of the sorter 21 in the manner shown in FIG. 3 (aJ).
It is stapled by the stapler 4a in that state.

Note that the conveyance path switching device 27 in the above embodiment may be operated in conjunction with the attachment/detachment of the automatic document feeder 3 (whether used or not used), or may be operated independently without being coupled therewith. You can do it like this. These actuation mechanisms may be purely mechanical using linkages or electrical using long electromagnets.

〔Effect of the invention〕

As described above, the sorter according to the present invention prevents copies from being made even when used in conjunction with a copying machine equipped with an automatic document feeder, and when copying is performed with the automatic document feeder removed. This is extremely advantageous when using a stapler because the sheets are loaded onto the bin in exactly the same manner as when using an automatic document feeder.

[Brief explanation of the drawing]

Figure 1 is a vertical sectional view schematically showing a copying machine equipped with an automatic document feeder and a conventional sorter; Figure 2 (a)
, (+)) is a plan view showing the orientation of the original, and Figures 2 (C) and (d) are the orientation of the copied paper immediately after it has been transferred from the photoreceptor, and the orientation of the original when it is ejected from the copying machine. Fig. 3(a) is a plan view showing the posture of the sorter when the automatic document feeder is used, Fig. 3(b) is a perspective view showing the state of sheets loaded on the sorter when the automatic document feeder is used. FIG. 4 is a perspective view showing the state of sheets placed on the sorter when the document feeder is removed, and FIG. FIG. 1. Copying machine, 3. Automatic document feeder, 4a. Stapler, 5. Original, 5a. Binding position, 6. Document mounting table, 7. Platen, 9. - Paper, 9a... Binding. position, 1
0. Photoreceptor, 12.. Bin, 21.. Sorter, 22
Population, 23... Sorter main part, 24... Conveyance path, 25... Paper order changing device, 26... Paper conveyance path, 27... Conveyance path switching device, 28... Tray, 29... Case, 30
Automatic paper feed roller.

Claims (1)

[Claims] Copy sheets are sequentially stacked and accommodated on a tray in the conveyance path from the copy paper inlet to the main part of the sorter, and the order is changed to feed the copy sheets on the tray in order from the top in response to a copy completion signal for all the copies. A sorter characterized in that conveyance paths equipped with devices are branched and arranged in parallel, and a conveyance path switching device is installed at the branch point.