JPS61130167A - Sheet processing device - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To grasp the processing capability of a device by calculating the processing capability of the succeeding stage sent via serial communications and the processing capability of its own stage and sending them to the preceding stage. CONSTITUTION:The control circuit of a copying machine receives display and operation commands of various information, controls them, and controls a sorter 1 via serial communications. The control circuit of the sorter 1 performs the data transmission/reception with the copying machine and a sorter 2 via serial communications, feeds various information to a display unit, and performs the operation sequence control of the sorter 1. The control circuit of the sorter 1 calculates the processing capability of the sorter 2 and the processing capability of its own stage and sends them to the copying machine.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION Technical Field The present invention relates to a sheet processing apparatus that performs serial communication between a plurality of sheet processing sections to send and receive data.

2. Description of the Related Art In general, additional devices such as a sorting device for sorting and storing recorded sheets and an automatic document feeder for handling copied documents are sometimes connected to an image recording device such as a copying machine.

If such an additional device, for example a sorting device, is connected and you instruct to copy a number of sheets that exceeds the processing capacity of the additional device, the amount exceeding the processing capacity will be processed in the same way as if there was no sorting device. Sisters.

This amount must be classified manually, and the Type 9 device will not contribute to improving the efficiency of office work.

Purpose The present invention has been made in view of the above-mentioned points, and has the following features: (1) A system that enables the processing capacity of a device to be grasped with certainty.

As shown in FIG. 1, the copying machine 16 has a bin movable sheet sorter 19.20 (hereinafter referred to as a sorter 1).

Two sorters 2) are connected, and the sorter 119 has the first to twenty-fifth bins 8 fixed to the bin frame 6, and the sorter 220 has the fS26 bins 11 to 50 bins fixed to the bin frame 6. 12, each of which can classify 25 sheets.

Further, an automatic document feeder 21 is connected to the copying unit 2116.

Figure 2-1 shows a block diagram of serial communication between the copying machine and the sorter. In the copying bag, the copying machine control circuit notifies the operator of the interaction with the operator, i.e., the desired number of copies input by means such as a key. The number of copies set and the number of copies per copy can be displayed on the display.
Copy start/stop, cassette size selection, importing commands from the operation panel, copy sequence control,
It controls the automatic document feeder and also controls the sorter 1 via serial communication. The sorter l control circuit sends and receives data to and from the copying machine and the sorter 2 via serial communication, and outputs various information to the display section and the sorter l! tlJ
The sorter 2 control circuit, which controls the operation sequence, sends and receives data to and from the sorter I via serial communication, outputs each 5tet information to the display section, and controls the sorter 2 operation sequence.

5REQI and 5ACKl are copying devices.

Serial communication request signal between sorter 1, serial communication start signal, 5SOUTI, 5SINI are copying machine, sorter 1
5CNNTI is the sorter l connection signal, and SONl is the sorter l power supply remote signal. 5
REQ2.5ACK2 is a serial communication request signal between sorter 1 and sorter 2, serial communication start signal, and SSO, respectively.
υT2, SS I N2 is the serial communication line between sorter 1 and sorter 2, 5CNNT2 is the sorter 2 connection signal, 5
ON2 is a sorter 2 power supply remote signal. Immediately after the copying machine δ turns on the power, it immediately turns on the 5ONI signal. When the SON 1 signal is turned on, the switching power supply of the sorter 1 is turned on, and the sorter 1 control circuit is turned on. Therefore, sorter 1 immediately turns on No. 5ONZi. In the sorter 2, the 5ON2 signal is turned on. : The switching power supply is turned on and the sorter 2 control circuit is turned on.

The copying apparatus starts serial communication with the sorter I after a certain period of time in anticipation of the rise of the switching power supply of the sorter I connection signal 2.

FIG. 3-1 is an example of a sorter serial communication interface circuit. As a sorter control microcontroller, it has an asynchronous serial interface function, built-in backup RAM, and A/D conversion function.

A one-chip microcomputer (for example, NECJLCOM87AD) equipped with a programmable square wave output function can be used. The asynchronous serial communication speed (baud rate) is
Internal clock of microcomputer and external clock transmitter OCR
The baud rate selection switch BS (Figure 3-1) is set to select which one to use within the microcomputer. Therefore, acyclic serial communication can be selectively performed using a plurality of baud rates. In addition, in asynchronous serial communication, it is necessary to set the baud rate to the same jQ constant on the transmitting side and the receiving side.

FIG. 3-1 also shows an example of a sorter transport motor drive circuit, in which PO2 is a programmable rectangular wave output terminal, AVcc is an A/D conversion reference voltage input terminal, and ANo is an A/D conversion nested terminal. The voltage value set by the transport speed setting volume Sv is input to the terminal ANo, and the transport motor (DC motor) is pulse-driven by outputting from Po2 a pulse with a duty ratio slightly corresponding to the ANo input. The effective value of the voltage is changed to change the rotation speed of the transport motor, and the transport speed is varied.

FIG. 3-2 shows the relationship between the transport speed setting volume voltage value and the transport motor drive pulse duty ratio.

Figure 4 shows the asynchronous serial communication time chart and the asynchronous serial communication data format. Time and field data is transmitted and received twice in one serial communication, and the data is compared and determined if it is equal to 1. year.

Next time, another field data will be transmitted and received twice in the same way. If the received data is not determined due to some error occurring during the process, the same field data will be transmitted and received in the same way next time.

Figure 5-1, Figure 5-2, Figure 6-1, ? Figure 16-2 shows the structure of each field data and the control signal names, meanings, and roles.

A serial communication control flowchart is shown below in FIG. 7-1, and the operation will be explained below according to this flowchart.

After turning on the power, the sorter 1 control microcomputer performs RAM initialization, input/output board initialization, etc., and then sequentially executes operation sequence control 1, serial communication error check, and serial communication data store, while waiting for 5REQ1 input from the copying device control microcomputer. (Step 1-4
).

Also, a timer interrupt routine is activated at predetermined intervals by an internal type interrupt of the microcomputer.

In the timer interrupt routine, the contents of the microcomputer's input ports (various sensor input states, etc.) are stored in the input ports provided in the RAM, and the contents of the output ports provided in the RAM ( 8 types of load drive information, etc.) is output to the output port of the microcomputer (steps 151-152). The copying machine control microcomputer sends a 5REQI signal to the sorter 1 control microcomputer at the start of serial communication. When the sorter 1 control microcomputer receives the S REQ l signal, it immediately generates an internal interrupt and
Execute the import routine. In the 5REQI interrupt routine, the data reception interrupt and data reception are enabled, and the 5ACKI signal is sent to the copying machine control microcomputer (steps 5 to 9). When the copying machine control bucon receives the 5ACK l signal, it transmits the first transmission data to the sorter 1 control microcomputer. When the sorter 1 control microcomputer receives the first data.

It immediately generates an internal interrupt and executes the data reception and information routine (Figure 7-2.7-3).

In the data reception interrupt routine, after determining whether there is a parity error or not, and whether or not the received data is an error code, if the received data is IE, the reception (ij data is temporarily stored in the verify register provided in the RAM). , and set the same field data as the received data in the transmit register.

If the received data is abnormal, count the inter-main unit communication error counter provided in the RAM, set the error hood in the transmission register, enable the data transmission interrupt and data transmission, and end the interrupt routine ( Steps 15 to 24) When the first data transmission is completed, the sorter 1 control microcomputer executes a transmission interrupt routine (steps 7-4).
Execute (Figure). In the data transmission interrupt routine, when the first transmission is completed, the data reception interrupt and data reception are enabled.

Ending the transmission interrupt routine (steps 48-51);
When the copying machine control microcomputer receives the first [J send i data from the sorter L city 11 microcomputer, it performs an error check, and if there is no error, it sends the same data as the first transmission data to the second transmission data. It is sent to the sorter 1 control microcomputer as The sorter 1IJII control microcontroller is the second one.
When the data is received for the first time, an internal interrupt is immediately generated and the data reception interrupt routine is executed.

The data reception interrupt routine checks whether there is a parity error or not.
Whether the received data is an error code or not.

After determining whether the received data is equal to the first data, if the received data is normal, the received data is stored in a receive buffer provided in the RAM.

The same data as the first transmission data is stored in the transmission register for the second transmission.
Set it in the transmission register as the first transmission data, and if the received data is abnormal, set an error code in the transmission register, enable the data transmission interrupt and data transmission, and end the reception interrupt routine (steps 15 and 1).
6°25-32).

When the second data transmission is completed, the sorter 1 control microcomputer executes the data transmission 4A 1't'l inclusion routine. In the data transmission interrupt routine, the second 1-1 transmission a, 4, 4
? When r, the 1 main body reception data processing flag is set, the inter-main body communication error counter is decreased, and the 5ACKI signal is turned off. Furthermore, if sorter 2 is connected, 5AC is required for serial communication with the sorter 2 control microcomputer.
Enable the K2 interrupt, turn on the 5REQ2 signal, and end the data transmission interrupt routine.

If the sorter 2 is not connected, serial communication with the copying machine control microcomputer is performed again.

Set the sorter 2 communication error counter to 0FFH.

Enable the 5REQI interrupt and end the data transmission interrupt routine (steps 48°49.52 to 60).
).

The sorter 2 control microcontroller is the sorter l control microcontroller/5
Upon receiving the REQ2 signal, it immediately becomes ready to receive data and turns on the 5ACK2 signal. When the sorter 1 control microcomputer receives the 5ACK2 signal, it generates an internal interrupt and
Execute the ACK2 interrupt routine (Figure 7-1). 5A
In the CK2 interrupt routine, field data to be transmitted is set in the transmission register, and data transmission interrupt and data transmission are enabled (steps 10 to 14). When the sorter 1 control microcontroller completes the first data transmission, it immediately executes a data transmission interrupt (Fig. 7-4).

In the data transmission interrupt, the data reception interrupt and data reception are enabled and the process ends (steps 48, 49, 52).
．． 61) When the sorter 2 control microcomputer/ receives the first data, it performs an error check and, if there is no error, sends the same field data to the sorter 1 control microcomputer.

When the sorter 1 control microcomputer receives the first data, it generates an internal interrupt and executes a data reception interrupt. In the data reception interrupt routine, after determining whether there is a parity error and whether or not the received data is an error code, if the received data is normal, the received data is temporarily stored in a file register provided in the RAM, and then transmitted. 1st in register
The same data as the first time is set, the data transmission 11r interrupt and data transmission are enabled, and the interrupt routine is ended. If the received data is normal, it is recommended to count the communication error count between the two sorters provided in the RAM.
Turn off the 5REQ2 signal and prepare for the 5th serial communication.
The 5REQI interrupt is enabled and the process ends (steps 33 to 38, 46 and 47).

As soon as the sorter 1 control microcomputer finishes the second data transmission, it generates an internal interrupt and executes the data transmission interrupt routine. In the data transmission interrupt routine, the data reception interrupt is enabled and the interrupt routine is ended (steps 48, 49, 52, and 61).

When the sorter 2 control microcomputer receives the second data, it performs an error check, and if there is no error, it transmits the same data as the first transmission data to the sorter 1 control microcomputer.

When the sorter 1 control microcomputer receives the second data, it generates an internal interrupt and executes a data reception interrupt. In the data receive 5 interrupt routine, after determining whether there is a parity error, whether the received data is an error code, and whether it is the same as the first (ijJ j-1 data), if the received data is normal, the received data is transferred to the RAM. 5R
The EQ2 signal is turned off, serial communication with the sorter 2 is terminated, preparation is made for the first serial communication with the copying machine control counter, the 5REQ1 interrupt is enabled, and the interrupt routine is terminated. If the received data is abnormal, we recommend counting the sorter 2 communication error counter.

Terminate any serial communication with the sorter 2 and prepare for the next serial communication with the copying machine control microcomputer S REQ 1'
Enable the M interrupt and end the interrupt routine (
Steps 39-47).

Furthermore, the communication error check routine in the MAIN routine checks whether the communication has ended within the set time and whether the communication error counter has finished counting (communication abnormal state) (step 3). First, 5RE is sent from the copying machine control microcomputer within a predetermined time.
It is determined whether the QI signal has been received or not, and if it has been received within a predetermined time, the process moves to a step of determining whether the serial communication has been completed within the set time.

If it is not received within a predetermined time, the inter-body communication error counter is counted, and serial communication with the sorter 2 control microcomputer is performed.

First, it is determined whether or not sorter 2 is connected, and if it is, the 5ACK2 interrupt is enabled in order to perform serial communication with the sorter 2 control microcomputer.
Turn on the REQ2 signal. If the sorter 2 is not connected, set the inter-sorter 2 communication error counter 2 to 0FFH and send 5REQ in preparation for the next serial communication with the copying machine control microcomputer.
Enable I interrupt. If the serial communication has not finished within the set time, first disable data transmission/reception interrupts, first determine whether the communication is with the copying machine control microcomputer, and if so, first send the 5ACK1 signal. It is turned off, the inter-body communication error counter is counted, and then it is determined whether the sorter 2 is connected. If sorter 2 is connected, enable 5ACK2111 to perform serial communication with the sorter 2 control microcomputer.

Turn on the 5REQ2 signal. If sorter 2 is not connected, set the sorter 2 communication error counter to 0FFH and set 5R in preparation for the next serial communication with the copying machine control microcomputer.
Enable EQI interrupt. If serial communication is in progress with the sorter 2 control buoy controller, turn off the 5REQ2 @ signal, count the sorter 2 communication error counter, and enable the 5R EQI interrupt in preparation for the next serial communication with the copying machine control microcontroller. (step 114~
126), then check the communication error counter. If the inter-main unit communication error counter reaches the end of count 7 (O
FFH,) l, if only.

It determines that there is an abnormality in serial communication with the copying machine control microcomputer, and turns off the normal communication between main units display. Similarly, the communication error counter between two sorters has finished counting (OF
FH), it is determined that the serial communication with the sorter 2 control microcomputer is in an abnormal state, and the normal communication between the sorters 2 display is turned off (steps 127 to 132).

Furthermore, the data received by serial communication is
Processed by the serial communication data store routine in the N routine (step 4), details of which are described in Sections 7-5 to 7-
If the 6 main unit received data processing flag shown in FIG. 8 is set, the flag is first reset and the field designation of the received data is determined. In the case of the 1st and 2nd fields, the received data is stored in the received data area provided in the RAM. In the case of the third field, the received data is stored in the reception data area provided in the RAM, and if the sent data is copy setting number data, the lower 4 bits of the copy setting number data consisting of 12 bits are updated. do. If not, update the size data. :it
, 4 fields, the received data is stored in the received data area provided in the RAM.

1 if the sent data is copy setting number data
The middle 4 bits of the copy setting number data consisting of 2 bits are updated. In the case of the 5th field, the received data is R
It is stored in the reception data area provided in the AM, and if the sent data is copy setting number data, the copy setting number data E rank 4 hit consisting of 12 bits is updated. In the case of the sixth field, the received data is stored in the received data area provided in the RAM, and the lower 4 bits of the RAM address consisting of 8 bits are updated. In the case of the seventh field, the received data is stored in the received data area provided in the RAM, and the R
Update the 4 bits of AM address E.

The process ends (steps 62 to 76). Here, the RAM address sent via serial communication is determined in advance by the RAM address on the sorter 1 control microcomputer side that can be read on the copying machine side (in this embodiment, 0FFOOH to 0FFFF).
H256 byte) The lower 8 bits of the 16-bit address are set on the copying machine side and transmitted along with the serial data. Sorter 1. The same is true for sorter 2 (steps 62 to 76).

If the sorter 2 received data processing flag is set,
Reset the flag and determine the field designation of the received data. In the case of the 1st and 2nd fields, the received data is stored in the received data area provided in the RAM. In the case of the third field, the received data is stored in the received data area provided in the RAM, and if the sent data is total bin number data, the lower 4 bits of the total bin number data consisting of 12 bits are updated. , otherwise, the first 4 bits of the sorter storage sheet count data consisting of 12 bits are updated. Fourth
In the case of a field, the received data is stored in the received data area provided in the RAM, and if it is data with a total number of bins, it is stored as 1.
The middle 4 bits of the total bin number data consisting of 2 bits are updated, otherwise the middle 4 hints of the sorter storage number data consisting of 12 bits are updated. In the case of the 5th field, the received data is stored in the received data area provided in the RAM, and if it is total pin failure data, the total number of bins data consisting of 2 bits is updated with 4 bits, otherwise it is 2 bits. The upper 4 bits of the sorter storage number data consisting of are updated.

In the case of the sixth field, the received data is stored in a received data area provided in the RAM, and the lower 4 bits of the RAM data consisting of 8 bits are updated. In the case of the seventh field, the received data is stored in the received data area provided in the RAM, and the first 4 bits are updated in the RAM data consisting of 8 bits. The total pinout data mentioned here is data indicating the number of bins that can be sorted by each sorter. In the Thursday example, the number of sortable bins, 25, is sent from sorter 2 to sorter 1.

Sorter 1 further adds 25 sorting bins.

Send the number of sortable bins, 50, to the copying machine.

However, if the communication between sorter L and sorter 2 is abnormal, sorter L
ignores sorter 2's sortable bin number 25 and copies sorter l's own sortable bin number 25! Send to lt position. Further, data on the number of sheets stored in the sorter is stored in the backup area of the RAM (on the hour), and a REQ signal is sent to the sorter 1.

When sorter 1 receives the REQ signal, it transmits the REQ signal to sorter 2. When the sorter 2 receives the REQ signal from the sorter 1, it transmits to the sorter 1 data on the number of sheets stored in the sorter 2 so far.

The sorter l adds the number of sheets stored in the sorter l itself to the sheet count data and transmits the result to the copying apparatus.

Therefore, the copying machine can keep track of the number of sheets stored in the sorter via serial communication.

Therefore, even if the power of the sorter is turned off for JAM processing, the number of sheets stored in the sorter up until the time the JAM occurs can be known, so the copying apparatus can correct the number of copies remaining after the JAM. In addition, there is bin position data as other data stored in the backup area of the RAM. RAM
By storing the bin position data in the backup area of You can move to Further, the above-mentioned RAM data is the 8-bit data designated by the RAM address transmitted from the copying machine to the sorter 1 and from the sorter 1 to the sorter 2.

RA from copying machine to sorter 1 and from sorter 1 to sorter 2
By transmitting the M address, the 8-bit data designated by the RAM address is transmitted from sorter 1 to the copying machine and from sorter 2 to sorter 1. By doing so, the copying machine is able to read the RAM contents of sorter 2 in sorter operating mode 1.

Next, the display output in the copying machine control device microcomputer is
The person routine (Figures 7-10) will be explained. First, if the copying machine is in the process of copying, check to see if the copy stop key is pressed. If it is, it will stop the copying operation, otherwise it will continue to accept other keys. Continue operation Pan <End display output/key manual routine (steps 133 to 1)
35) If the copy operation is not in progress, check each key. First, if the copy start key is pressed,
Starts the copy operation sequence, prohibits other key inputs, and ends the display output number key operator routine (stop 1).
33, 136, 137), if the reset key is pressed, the number of sheets will be displayed 1. Outputs the RAM address display oO to the display section. If the set number clear key is pressed, the number display l is output to the display section.

If the numeric keypad is pressed, input the set number of sheets and output it to the number display section (steps 133, 136, 13).
8 to 138), if the country key is pressed, then the numeric keypad is used to input the address in RAM7 and input the te/key setting value in RAM7.
Output to the display unit as a Dray input. If the prisoner key is pressed again, the RAM address input is output and the 6th data to be sent to sorter I is output. Set the RAM address input in the i7 field, and read the received data from sorter 1 No. 6. The RAM data of the seventh field is output to the RAM data display section (steps 144 to 150).

Next, the conveyance motor control routine will be explained. In the @feed motor control routine (Figures 7-11), the conveyance speed is varied by driving the sorter's conveyance motor in pulses.

When operating or stopping the sorter transport motor 2,
Start this routine. First, the pulse output is turned off, and it is determined whether the 1112 feed motor 2 is to be operated or stopped, and if it is to be stopped, the transfer motor control routine is immediately terminated.

To operate the transport motor 2, first set the pulse period in the internal timer of the microcomputer. Next, set the pulse low level time in the internal type of the other microcomputer according to the value set by the transport speed setting volume Sv. ,
Turn on/off the pulse output. Then, the programmable rectangular wave output terminal of the microcontroller outputs a low level for the pulse low level time set from the pulse start, and then outputs a high level for the difference of the low level time from the pulse period. This operation continues until the pulse output is turned off (steps 153 to 158).

Control signals are transmitted and received through the serial communication described above to operate the sorter. Below is section 8 regarding its operation.
This will be described with reference to Figures-1 to 9-2. The sorter operation mode is non-sort mode.

There is a sort mode (reverse sort mode).

1. Non-sort mode (2 copies of original, 3 copies) (Reference section 8-1.8-2 [1) Display of copying device 16 - When the copy key of operation section 17 is pressed, copy setting number of copies data (3 copies) The operation mode (non-sort mode) is sent from the copying device 16 to the sorter 119 via serial communication, and then the BCR and 5STRT signals are sent. The sorter 119 that received the BCR signal //
Move to bin t-o to sort home Bonjon.

The sorter 119 copies "jc 11" when the pinot movement is completed.
Send 5STBY signal to 6. The copying device 16 is a sorter 11
When receiving the 5STBY signal from 9, the sorter 119 turns off the BCR signal and starts copying, and since the BCR signal is turned off, the sorter 119 switches the low deflection plate 3 to the non-sorting side.
Operate the transport motor 2. While the sheet is passing through the copying device paper discharge sensor 18, a PDP signal t) is sent to the sorter 119.

The sorter 119 starts a JAM timer from the time this FDP signal changes from on to off, and monitors whether the FDP signal reaches the non-sort paper sensor 13 of the sorter 119. Sorter 1
19 does not raise the bottle even if a note is sent to him.

After copying and discharging the set number of sheets, the copying device 16 sets the next document from the automatic document feeder 21 at the exposure position of the plate/17, sends the number of sheets data and operation mode (non-sort mode) to the sorter 119, and then outputs the BCR, Send 5STRT signal.

When the sorter 119 receives the BCR signal from the copying device 16, it turns off the 5STBY signal, and the previous original sheet is transferred to the sorter 1.
The 05RT signal is sent to the copying machine 16 until the copying machine 19 is completely loaded. At this time, when the last copied sheet of the previous original is stored in the sorter 119, the 05RT signal is turned off and the 5STBY
Turn on the signal. The copying device 16 has sorters 119 to 5.
When it receives the STBY signal, it turns off the BCR signal and starts copying onto the sheet that was previously fed. When the copying device 16 completes the copying operation, it discharges the original onto the tray and processes it at 5STR.
After turning off the T signal and confirming that the 5STRT signal is off, the sorter 119 turns off the 5STBY signal to the copying device 16 after the third sheet passes the non-sort paper sensor 13, and turns off the transport motor 2.

Switch the low deflection plate 3 to the sorting side.

2) Note mode (reverse sort mode) (2 originals, 3
0 copies) (Geisho Figure 9-1.9-2) Complex i) When the copy key on the display/operation section 17 of the device 16 is pressed, the copy setting number data (30 copies) and operation mode (
The sort mode) is sent from the copying device 16 to the sorter 119 via serial communication, and then the BCR, 5STRT signals are sent. In response to the BCR signal, the sorter 119 sends the number data of 5 sheets exceeding the number of sortable sheets, 25, to the sorter 220, and then sends the BCR, 5STRT signal to the sorter 220. Sorter 119 that received the BCR signal. Sorter 220
each moves the bin to the sort home bondion (see section 9-1 in Figure 1). When the bin movement of the sorter 220 is completed, a 5STBY signal is sent to the sorter 119. When the sorter 119 completes the bin movement and receives the 5STBY signal from the sorter 220, it sends the 5STBY signal to the copying device 16. The copying device 16 is a sorter, * ^-c+ c+ Tl1ll
v13=LQl+SJ-RCR+,-r%
is turned off and the copy operation starts, and the sorter 119 also turns off the BCR.
When the signal is turned off, the conveyance motor 2 of the sorter 1 is operated and the 1-paper deflection plate 3 is switched to the sorting side. While the sheet is passing through the copying device paper output processor 18, the sheet is sent to the sorter 119.
p 4t; Send 5+. Sorter 119 is this FDP
A JAM timer is activated from the time when the signal changes from on to off, and the arrival of sheets to the sorted paper sensor 14 of the sorter 119 is monitored. Each time a sheet passes through the sorting paper sensor 14, the bin motor 5 is operated to raise the bin by 1 bin until 25 sheets arrive at the sorting paper sensor 14 of the sorter 119 (see Figure 9-1). After storing 25 sheets, the sorter 119 moves to the bridge 10 and turns off the BCR signal to the sorter 220 to operate the conveyance motor 2 of the sorter 220. The 266th sheet from the copying device 16 is this bridge 10.
is sent to the sorter 220 via the . At this time, sorter 220 starts a JAM timer to detect a JAM between sorter 119 and sorter 220 by sending an FDP signal from sorter 119 to sorter 220 (
Reference cylinder 9-1 figure + 3i).

The sorter 220 operates the bin motor 5 to raise the 26th to 29th sheets by 1 bin each time the sheet passes the sorted paper sensor 14 (see Figure 9-1, 4)).
, when 30 sheets 11 pass through the sorter 220, the sorter 119
Since the number data of 5 sheets sent from the bin matches the number of 5 sheets sorted by the sorter 220, lifting of the bin is prohibited. Does the copying device 16 automatically feed documents after copying the set number of sheets? After setting the next original from the sorter 119 and sending the sheet number data and operation mode (sort mode) to the sorter 119,
Send CR, 5STRT signal. Sorter 119 is 5STB
At the same time as turning off the Y signal, the previous original sheet is transferred to the sorter 22.
The 03RT signal is sent to the copying device 16 until the copying device 0 is completely loaded. At this time, when the last sheet of the previous document passes through the sorter 119, data on the number of surplus sheets to be sorted and the operation mode (sort mode) are sent to the sorter 220, and then the BCR, 5STR
Send T signal.

The sorter 119 confirms that the set number of copies for +tif times and the number of copies sent match, that the bridge IO has a bin position, and there is a 5STRT signal! After transmitting the data on the number of classified surplus sheets to the sorter 220, the operation mode is set to reverse sort mode. The sorter 220 transfers the 5ST to the sorter 119 until the last sheet of the previous document is stored.
Turn off the BY signal and transmit the 05RT signal. When the last sheet is stored, the bin position of the sorter 220 (5th bin)
The number of sheets of the next original (5 sheets) matches the number of stored sheets of the previous original (5 sheets).

And because the 5STRT signals are continuous.

The operation mode is set to reverse sort mode, the 0SRT signal is turned off, and the 5STBY and R5RT signals are sent to the sorter 119. When the sorter 119 receives the 5STBY signal from the sorter 220, it confirms that the reverse sort mode of the sorter 119 has been established, and then sends the 5STBY and R3R signals to the copying device 16.
Send T signal. The copying device 16 starts copying onto the paper previously fed, and first starts sorting from the sorter 220. The sorter 220t lowers one sheet one bin at a time in the opposite direction to the sort mode (reference cylinder 9).
-1 Figure ■).

When the copying device 16 finishes copying the surplus number of sheets (5 sheets), if there is an R, SRT signal ζ from the sorter 119, the sorting passes through the bridge 10 and is stored in the sorter 220, and the sorter 119 force ζ bridge The copying operation is stopped for a certain period of time longer than the time taken to move from bin 25 to bin 25, and the fifth sheet is completely sent to the sorter 119. When the sorter 119 sends the fifth sheet to the slot 10, it sends the BCR and 5STRT signals to the sorter 220. When the sorter 220t±BCR signal is received, the 05RT signal is turned on until the sheets on the bridge 10 are stored, and the 5ST
Turn off the BY signal. Sorter 220 (since it is in ±reverse sort mode, when it receives the BCR signal, it switches the operation mode to sort mode, and since there is a bin in the sort home position, when the fifth sheet is stored, it resets the 05RT signal and sends the 5STBY signal to the sorter. Sorter 119 sends the BCR and 5STRT signals to sorter 220, and then prohibits bin movement until the 05RT signal from sorter 220 turns off.
After confirming that the 05RT signal is turned off, the 20 moves to the 25th bin and operates the bin motor 5 every time the 6th to 30th sheets pass the sort paper sensor 14.
Sheets are sorted while lowering the bins one by one (see Φ and ■ in Figure 9-1). The copy bag M16 is used to eject the original to the tray of the automatic document feeder 21 after copying is completed and then to the sorter 1.
Turn off the 5STRT signal to 19. Sorter 119 is 3
After the 0th sheet passes the sort paper sensor 14, the R5RT and 5STBY signals to the copying device 16 are turned off, and the conveyance motor 2 is stopped.

3. Collate mode (2 originals, 3 copies) (Reference tube 10-1.10-2) When the copy key on the display/operation section 17 of the copying device 16 is pressed, the copy setting number data (3 sheets) and The operation mode (collate mode) is sent from the copying device 16 to the sorter 119 via serial communication, and then the BCR, 5STRT signals are sent. Upon receiving the BCR signal, the sorter 119 moves the bins to the sort home position (see Figure 10-1 ■), and when the bin movement is completed, the sorter 119 transfers the copy bag aI.
Send S S TB Y@ number to l16.

When the copying device 16 receives the 5STBY signal from the sorter 119, it turns off the BCR signal and starts the copying operation again.
9 switches the paper damage direction plate 3 to the sorting side as the BCR signal is turned off, and operates the conveyance motor 2. While the sheet is passing through the copying device paper ejection sensor 18, the FDP is sent to the sorter 119.
send a signal. The sorter 119 starts a JAM timer from the time this FDP signal changes from on to off, and monitors the arrival of the sorted paper sensor 14 of the sorter 119.

After copying the set number of sheets, the copying device 16 sets the next document from the automatic document feeder 21 and sends the sheet count data and operation mode (collate mode) to the sorter 119.
Send B S F T , S S T RT signals.

When the sorter 119 receives the BSFT signal from the copying device 16, it turns off the 5STBY signal, and the sheet of the previous original is transferred to the sorter 1.
The O5RT signal is sent to the copying machine 16 until the copying machine 19 is completely loaded. At this time, when the last sheet of the previous document is stored in the sorter 119, the 05RT signal is turned off and the 5STBY signal is turned on. The copying device 16 is 5 STB from the sorter 119.
When it receives the Y signal, it turns off the BS FT signal and starts copying onto the sheet that was previously fed. Sorter 119 is B
After confirming that the SFT signal is off, raise it by one bin (reference 1st
When the copying device 16 finishes the copying operation, the copying device 16 ejects the original to the tray of the automatic document feeder 121, and
The STRT signal is turned off, and after confirming that the 5STRT signal is off, the sorter 119 turns off the 5STBY signal to the copying device 16 after the third sheet passes the sorted paper sensor 14, and turns off the conveyance motor 2.

In this embodiment, a sorter is used as an example of the sheet processing apparatus, but the present invention is not limited to this; for example, an automatic document feeder, a stapler, a folding apparatus, etc. may be used.

Further, in this embodiment, a dedicated display is provided as a RAM address and data display section, but a display with functions such as a sheet number display may also be used.

Effects As described above, according to the present invention, the processing capacity of the subsequent stage sent via serial communication and the processing capacity of the own stage are calculated and sent to the previous stage, so it is possible to grasp the processing capacity of the device. This makes it possible to prevent unnecessary effort from the operator.

[Brief explanation of the drawing]

Fig. 1 is a diagram showing the connection relationship between a copying machine having an automatic document feeder and a sorter, and Fig. 2-1 shows a copying machine and a sorter 1.
．． A block diagram showing the control section of No. 2, a plan view showing the control section of No. 2, and a plan view showing the control section of No. 2.
Figure 1 is a block diagram showing the sorter control section in detail, Figure 3
Figure-2 is a diagram showing the relationship between the conveyance motor drive duty ratio and the conveyance speed setting volume value, Figure 4 is a control flowchart of asynchronous serial communication, and Figure 8-1 explains the operation of the sorter in non-sort mode. Figure 8-2 is a timing chart in non-sort mode, Figure 9-1 is a diagram explaining sorter operation in sort mode, Figure 9-2 is a timing chart in sort mode, Figure 10-1. 10-2 is a diagram explaining the operation of the sorter in the collate mode, and FIG. 10-2 is a timing chart in the collate mode. In the figure, 2 is a transport motor, 3 is a low deflection plate, 1O is a bridge, 15 is a sorter, 16 is a copying device, 17 is a display and operation section, and 21 is an automatic document feeder.

Claims (5)

[Claims] (1) In a sheet processing apparatus in which a plurality of sheet processing units each having a processing unit for processing a sheet and a control unit for controlling the processing unit are connected in multiple stages, the control unit receives serial communication from the control unit of a subsequent sheet processing unit. calculates the data related to the processing capacity of the sheet processing unit in the subsequent stage and the data related to the processing capacity of the own stage sent by the system, and transmits the result of the calculation to the control means of the sheet processing unit in the previous stage via serial communication. Characteristic sheet processing equipment. (2) In claim 1, the preceding sheet processing section has a recording means for recording an image on the sheet, and the own sheet processing section and the subsequent sheet processing section classify and store the sheets recorded by the recording means. A sheet processing device characterized by having a classification means for classifying. (3) The sheet processing apparatus according to claim 2, wherein the sorting means has a plurality of storage means, and the processing capacity is the number of the storage means. (4) The sheet processing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the operation is addition. (5) The sheet processing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the serial communication is an asynchronous serial communication.