JPS60232369A - Sheet distribution device - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To prevent a support member from getting out of place by disposing two kinds of bin trays, the first bin tray in which a cam-like support member is fixed to both side portions of the forward end of the bin tray and the second bin tray having a sliding contact portion which can slidably contact the cam-like portion of the support member. CONSTITUTION:Bin trays 3b, 3d having support members 43, 43' fixed thereto may be alternately disposed. All bin trays are adapted to expand the forward end portion of the bin tray by cam action to easily and reliably receive and accumulate sheets. The number of support members can be reduced to half or less, and the weight of piled bin trays working upon the support members can be lessened, so that the support members can be remarkably prevented from getting out of place. Furthermore, as the forward end portion of the bin tray has a designated thickness at both surfaces thereof, the support member is firmly fixed to further reliably prevent the support member from getting out of place and to eliminate play at the fixing portion. Thus, the variations in interval of the trays can be decreased in cooperation with a decrease in the number of the support members to half.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention (a) Industrial Application Field The present invention relates to a sheet distributing device that distributes and stacks sheets discharged from an image forming apparatus, and particularly a small sorter used attached to a copying machine. In particular, the present invention relates to a pin tray stacking portion in a sheet distributing device configured by stacking the leading end portions of pin trays.

1) Prior Art Recently, a small and low-cost sheet dispensing device has been devised to be attached to an image forming apparatus, especially a copying machine. The tip portions are stacked and disposed so as to be freely conveyable up and down, and the hook pin trays are sequentially transferred upward so that the trays are expanded and expanded at the sheet ejection port position of the image forming apparatus, and the ejected sheets are placed in the expanded trays. They were being accepted and accumulated one after another. In addition, supporting members made of synthetic resin or the like were fixed to both sides of the tip of each bin tray to maintain the spacing between each bin tray and to smooth the relative movement of each pin tray (for example, JP-A-56 (Refer to Publication No.-78770).

Furthermore, the support member is formed into a predetermined cam shape, and by utilizing the movement of the tray in the front-rear direction (sheet conveyance direction) as the bin tray is transferred upward, the cam-shaped support is simultaneously expanded and expanded by the transfer member at the base end of the tray. A sheet distributing device has been devised in which the tip of the tray is also expanded by a member to facilitate the accumulation of sheets (see Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 141357/1983).

(C) Problems to be Solved by the Invention However, if a supporting member is fixed to each of the bin trays, the weight of the bin tray becomes considerably large, and the weight of all the upper trays is superimposed on the lower tray, and the support member is The action concentrates on the member, and as a result, the supporting member often comes off. In addition, each bin tray is prone to looseness when the supporting member is installed, and the looseness of the supporting members attached to both sides of the tip of all pin trays is accumulated, resulting in large variations in the spacing between each tray. There was a risk that the reliability of the system would be lacking.

(D) Means for Solving the Problems The present invention aims to solve the above-mentioned problems, and has a bin tray having a predetermined wall thickness on both upper and lower sides of both sides of its tip and protruding in an inclined direction. A first bin tray to which a supporting member having a cam shape is fixed; and a second bin tray having sliding contact portions formed integrally with the bin tray and having a shape capable of slidingly contacting the cam shape of the supporting member on both sides of the distal end thereof. There are two types of bin trays, and the first bin tray and the second bin tray are arranged alternately so that the supporting member and the sliding contact portion are in contact with each other.

(E) Operation Based on the above-mentioned means, as the bin tray is moved upward, the supporting member or the sliding contact portion slides into sliding contact with the sliding contact portion of the lower tray or the cam shape of the supporting member and moves upward, and the first bin tray and the first bin tray are moved upward. The space between the tray and the second bin tray is widened and widened to receive and accumulate sheets.

(F) Embodiment Hereinafter, an embodiment in which the present invention is applied to a sorter attached to a copying machine will be described with reference to the drawings.

As shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, the sorter 1 has a sorter main body 2, a multi-stage bin tray 3, and upper and lower carry-in guides 5, 6. The paper ejection section 8 of the copying machine is aligned with the pair of paper ejection kick rollers 7.
attached to. Further, a rotary arm type micro switch 9 for detecting the passage of the paper S is installed on the lower carry-in guide 5, and a pair of upper and lower conveyance kick-out rollers 10 are installed at the ends of both guides 5 and 6. ing. In addition, the sorter main body 2 has cases 11 and 11' disposed on both the left and right sides of the trays 3 and carry-in guides 5 and 6. A transfer device 13, 13' for transferring in the direction is built in, and the retransfer device 13, 13' is connected by a transmission shaft 14. Further, the trunnions 15 installed at the base end portions of the multi-stage bin trays 3 are guided to be movable in the vertical direction by both cases 11 and 11' of the sorter main body 2, and their tips are stacked on top of each other. Further, the lowest tray 3e is supported by a support rod 16 fixedly provided across the cases 11, 11'. In the figure, numeral 17 denotes a paper press plate, which is made of a flexible synthetic resin such as polypropylene. Reference numeral 19 denotes a tongue-shaped rising portion formed at the inlet end of the bin tray, which is located inside (upstream side of feeding) from the perpendicular line of the outer circumferential surface of the conveyance kicking roller 10 in the lower standby position, and is located at the lower standby position. As shown in FIG. 2, they are arranged alternately in adjacent trays, that is, in a staggered manner.

The right-side transfer device 13' has a motor 25, as shown in detail in FIG. 27' are engaged. Furthermore, a similar gear 27 is fixed to the left side transfer device 13 portion of the transmission shaft 14, and these gears 27 and 27' are connected to a transfer section 29 like a Seneba mechanism.
, 29', respectively.

Note that these left and right transfer devices 13, 13' are configured symmetrically, except for the motor portion mentioned above.
Hereinafter, only the left side transfer device 13 will be explained, and the explanation of the right side transfer device 13' will be omitted. As shown in FIG. 3 and FIG. 4 in detail, the transfer section 29 includes two slots 29a, 29a and a transfer groove formed at 180-degree intervals, and faces one side of the thrower l-29a. The formed scooping protrusion 29b.

29b, and the gear 30 is integrally fixed or integrally molded with resin. Further, the transfer section 29 is rotatably supported by a support shaft 32 fixed to the side plate 1.1a of the case 11, and a spring receiver collar 33 is fixed to the tip of the support shaft 32. Side plate 11a
An end cam 34 is fixed in contact with. The end cam 3
4 has two chevron-shaped protrusions 34a, 34a provided at 180 degree intervals, as shown in detail in FIG. A concave portion 29c having a shape is formed. And transfer section 2
9 and the spring holder is between the spring 3 and the collar 33.
5 is compressed, and the spring 35 urges the transfer portion 29 so that one side surface having the recessed portion 29c comes into sliding contact with the end surface cam 34. Furthermore, the outer peripheral edge of the transfer portion 29 is formed from a wide arcuate surface 29d;
The scooping projection 29b is formed to protrude in the outer circumferential direction at approximately φ portion on the outside in the width direction of d, and therefore, based on the sliding contact with the end cam 34, the transfer portion 29 is positioned at a position where the trunnion 15 engages with the projection 29b. (Fig. 4(a)) and the protrusion 29b
The position where it comes off from the arc surface 29d and comes into contact with the arcuate surface 29d (Fig. 4(b))
).

On the other hand, as shown in detail in FIG. 3, the case side plate 11a is formed with a guide groove 36 extending in the vertical direction, and the guide groove 36 is partially deflected at the middle portion facing the transfer section 29.
Therefore, the deflection oblique portion 36b causes the upper portion 36a to
is slightly shifted in the tray direction with respect to the lower portion 36c. Further, as shown in FIG. 2, a slide cover 37 made of resin is fitted into the guide groove 36, and the cover 37 smoothly guides the 1-runion 15 into the guide groove 36. At the same time, a rectangular support frame 39 is guided on the cover 37 so as to be movable in the vertical direction. Support frame 39
As shown in FIGS. 1 and 5, the long hole 39a has a long hole 39a through which a large number of trunnions 15a to 15ete are passed through and accommodated, and the long hole 39a has a hole 39a that is opened by the amount of the trunnion 15 moved upward. Its length is defined to push the lower trunnion upward.

Each bin tray 3 is made of a thin steel plate or synthetic resin plate, as shown in FIGS. A notch 41 for removing paper is formed in the bin tray, and ears 42, 42 projecting laterally are integrally formed on both sides of the tip of the bin tray.

Then, the second and fourth bin trays 3b and 3 from the top
A support member 43 made of synthetic resin having a predetermined wall thickness is fixed to the ear portion 42 of the cl on the upper and lower surfaces of the tray, and the support member 43 is oriented toward the base end of the tray, as shown in detail in FIG. The cam shape 43a protrudes in the direction of the downward slope.
have. Additionally, a cam portion 45 having a downward slope toward the base end of the 1-lay is integrated into the ear portion 42 of the first, third, and fifth bin trays 3a, 3c, and 3e. The cam portion 45 has a shape that can be aligned and slidably contacted with the cam shape 43a of the support member 43. Then, so that the support member 43 and the cam portion 45 are in contact with each other,
A bin having a support member 43 and a bin tray 3a, 3c, 3e having a cam portion 45 integrally formed on the tray itself)
- The trays 3b and 3d are arranged alternately and stacked so that the tray tip end is higher than the base end portion based on the support rod 16 that supports the lowest pin tray 3e.

In addition, 46 in FIG. 2 is a microswitch that detects the rotational position of the transfer section 29 every 180 degrees, and 46 in FIG.
Reference numeral 7 designates a microswitch that detects that the bin tray 3 is at a reference position, that is, a home position, where all bin trays 3 are located below, and 49 designates a sensor arm thereof.

Since this embodiment has the above-described configuration, the sorter 1 first loads all bin trays 3a to 3e before collating work.
is set to the home position, which is located at the bottom. In this state, when the copy paper S is kicked out by the kick-out roller 7 of the copying machine paper ejection section 8, the copy paper S is pushed out by the carry-in guide 5.
. At this time, the paper press plate 17 prevents the copy paper S from curling, and the rising portion 19 is located inside the vertical line of the outer peripheral surface of the roller 10, so that the paper S is prevented from being caught on the rising portion 19. The pin tray 3a is prevented from being placed on the pin tray 3a at a specified position.

When the copy paper S is placed, the motor 25 rotates based on the detection by the paper passage detection switch 9, and the left and right transfer devices 13, 13' rotate at the same speed. Then, due to the meshing of the gears 27 and 30, the transfer section 29 rotates in the direction of arrow A, as shown in FIG. is scooped up by the scooping protrusion 29b and engaged with the slot 29g, and further
As shown in llcl, as the transfer portion 29 rotates, the trunnion 15a is fitted into the guide groove 36 by the slot 29a and transferred upward. At this time, at the starting position of the transfer portion 29 shown in FIG. 6(a), the recess 29c on the side surface of the transfer wheel is in a position where it matches the protrusion 34a of the end cam 34, as shown in FIG. 4(a). However, as the transfer portion 29 rotates and the recess 29c comes off the protrusion 34a of the end cam 34, as shown in FIG. The portion 29 is slid in the direction of arrow B against the spring 35, and the scooping projection 29b is removed from the end surface of the trunnion 15a. As shown in FIG. 6(d), when the trunnion 15a is rotated approximately 90 degrees and removed from the slot 29a of the transfer section 29, the trunnion 15 is removed from the protrusion 29b and positioned on the circular arc surface 29d. It is held in the upper position by the surface 29d.

In addition, as the uppermost bin tray 3a is moved upward, the support member 43 of the second bin tray 3b is moved as shown by the solid line in FIG.
The cam portion 45 of the tray 3a that was aligned above is now aligned with the cam shape 4 of the support member 43, as shown in chain lines in FIG. 1 and in FIG.
3a, and the tip portion of the bin tray 3a is also transferred upward. As a result, the top bin tray 3
The space between the bin tray 3a and the second bin tray 3b is widened in preparation for stacking the next copy paper.

At this time, since the upper part 36a of the guide groove 36 is located closer to the tray than the lower part 36c, the bin 1-ray 3a is also moved backward as it is moved upward, and the cam part 4
In addition, even though the rising portion 19 of the bin tray 3a is inside the roller 10 in the lower portion 36c, the rising portion 19 of the bin tray 3a is 19 is transferred upward without interfering with the roller 10.

When the trunnion 15a is moved upward, the trunnion 15a contacts the upper surface of the support frame 39 and moves the support frame 39 upward by the diameter of the trunnion. Then, the lower trunnions 15b to 15e are also lifted up by the support frame 39, and the trunnions 15 of the second bin tray 3b are lifted up.
b is held in a position close to the transfer section 29. and,
The transfer section 29 rotates 180 degrees, and the other slot 29b
When it reaches the position facing the trunnion 15b, the rotation of the left and right transfer devices 13, 13' is stopped based on the microswitch 46. In this state, when the next copy sheet S is conveyed and placed on the second bin tray 3b by the kick-out rollers 7 and 10, the transfer section 29 rotates in the same manner as described above, and the trunnion of the second bin tray 3b is rotated. 15b is transferred upward, and at the same time the cam shape 4 of the support member 43 of the second bin tray 3b is moved upward.
3a is in sliding contact with the cam part 45 of the third bin tray 1-lay 3c and is transferred upward, and furthermore, the support frame 39 holds the runions 1 to 15c of the third bin tray 3c in a position close to the transfer part 29. . In this way, focus sequentially and
are transported upward, and predetermined copy sheets S are transported and placed on each bin tray 3 from kick-out rollers 10, respectively.

When the predetermined number of copies have been collated, the motor 25
is reversed to rotate the left and right transfer devices 13, 13' in the opposite direction. Then, the transfer section 29 is also reversed, and the transfer section 29 is moved by gravity.
The ■-runions 15 in contact with the arcuate surfaces 29d of the bins 9 are sequentially engaged with the slots 29a and transferred downward, and the trunnions 15a to 15b of all bins 3a to 3e are
When the motor 25 is moved downward, the microswitch 47 is activated via the sensor arm 49, and the reverse rotation of the motor 25 is stopped. l The bin trays 3a to 3e ahead of the bin return to their lower home positions and prepare for the next collation operation.

In the above embodiment, the lower trunnion is lifted by the support frame 39, and the uppermost one of the lower trunnions is scooped up by the scooping protrusion 29b provided on the transfer section 29. Japanese Unexamined Patent Publication 1978-1978
No. 770 publication), that is, the transfer portion 29 is not provided with a scooping projection, and the lowermost trunnion 15e is urged upward by a spring to engage the trunnion with the transfer groove 29a of the transfer portion. Of course, it is also possible to use a lead cam similar to a feed screw, which is conventionally known (for example, see Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 1569/1983).

Next, a partially modified embodiment will be described based on FIG. 8.

The support member 43' supports the second and fourth bin trays 3b.
, 3d, and has a cam shape 43'a having a predetermined wall thickness on the upper and lower surfaces of the tray and protruding in an upward slope direction toward the tray tip side. In addition, on both sides of the tips of the first, third, and fifth bin trays 3a, 3c, and 3e, an upward slope is provided toward the tray tips along the supporting member cam shape 43'a. A protruding cam portion 45' is integrally formed.

Therefore, as the bin tray 3a is moved upward, the cam portion 4
5' moves upward along the cam shape 43'a of the support member 43', widening the space between the two bins 1-lays 3a and 3b. At this time, since a flat surface p is formed at the tip of the cam shape 43'a, the bottom surface of the bin tray 3a rests on the flat surface p and is stably supported. In addition, in this embodiment, since it is not necessary to form ears, the support member 43' can be firmly fixed, and the strength of the bin tray 3 itself, especially the end stacked portions such as the cam part 45', can be strengthened. can be improved.

(G) As described in detail, according to the present invention, the support member 43.4
Only one bin tray 3b, 3d may be provided with the bin tray 3' fixed, and in all of the bin trays, the front end portion of the bin tray can be widened by a cam action to easily and reliably accept and accumulate sheets. The number of supporting members can be reduced to less than half, and together with the ability to reduce the weight of the stacked bin trays acting on the supporting members, it is possible to significantly reduce the possibility of the supporting members coming off. . Furthermore, since the supporting members 43, 43' have a predetermined thickness on both sides of the tip of the bin tray, the mounting of the supporting members can be made strong, and the prevention of the supporting members from coming off can be further ensured. Eliminates the occurrence of rattling,
Combined with the fact that the number of supporting members has been halved, it is possible to reduce variations in tray spacing and improve the reliability of the bin trays. Further, the work required to install the supporting members 43, 43' is less than half, and the work required to install the supporting members 43, 43' is only required for the other bin trays 3a, 3c.

3e, it is sufficient to integrally form the sliding contact parts 45, 45' such as the cam part, so manufacturing of the bin tray 3... can be facilitated,
It is possible to significantly reduce the cost.

[Brief explanation of the drawing]

FIG. 1 is a partially cutaway front view showing one embodiment of the present invention;
Figure 2 is a partially cutaway plan view, Figure 3 is a front view of the transfer device, and Figures 4 (a) and (b) are partially cutaway side views of the transfer device showing different states. figure,
Figure 5 is a perspective view showing the end cam, Figure 6 (al, (
bl, (c), and (d) are schematic front views showing the action, and FIG. 7 is a sectional view showing the stacked portion at the tip of the bin tray.
FIG. 8 is a sectional view showing another embodiment. 1 sheet distribution device (sorter), 3a to 3e° bin tray, 3a, 3c, 3e second bin tray,
3b, 3d...First bin tray, 8...Paper discharge section of image forming apparatus (M copying machine), 13, 13' Transfer device, 15a to 15e Trunnion, 29. Transfer member (transfer shaft), 43.43 'Supporting member, 43e,
, 43'a...cam shape, 45.45' sliding contact part (
Cam part) Applicant Canon Co., Ltd. fo-) Figure 4 (a) ' (b) Figure 5 3B Figure 6 (a) (b) (C) (d)

Claims (1)

[Claims] (1) A large number of bins I/rays are movably arranged, and a trunnion provided at the base end of each bin 1 is used as a transfer member so as to expand the position facing the sheet discharge section of the image forming apparatus. In a sheet distributing device configured by stacking tip portions of each bin and tray when engaged and sequentially transferred, the pin tray has a predetermined wall thickness on both sides of the tip portion thereof and protrudes in an inclined direction. a first pin tray to which a support member having a cam shape is fixed; and a second pin tray having a sliding contact portion formed integrally with the pin tray at its tip and having a shape capable of slidingly contacting the cam shape of the support member. and so that the supporting member and the sliding contact portion are in contact with each other,
A sheet distribution device in which first pin trays and second pin trays are arranged alternately.