JPS61145068A - Sheet piling device - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To enable a sheet piling device equiped with a sheet classification unit to be miniaturized by classifying and piling sheets into each of bin trays based on the stated pattern allowing the sheet to be supplied in order to a copying machine starting from the sheet stored in the upstream bin tray. CONSTITUTION:A sheet piling device 60 includes a sheet classification unit 57 where a number of sheet storing bin trays 611 through 61n are provided. Sheets are classified and stored into each of bin trays 611 through 61n. And in front of each of these bin tray 611 and 61n, sheet resupply means 1351 through 135n are arranged so as to enable sheets stored in these bin trays 611 and 61n to be resupplied starting from the sheet stored in the upstream bin tray 611 in order. Accordingly, this configuration enables the sheet classification unit 57 to classify and pile sheets into each of bin trays based on the stated pattern allowing the resupply to be effected from the sheet stored in the upstream bin tray in order so as to forward the sheet to a copying machine 50.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION (4) Fields of Industrial Application The present invention relates to a sheet stacking device equipped with a sheet sorting section capable of sorting and collecting sheets such as transfer paper, and specifically relates to an image forming device such as a copying device. The present invention relates to a sheet stacking device that is used with the device and can perform multiple functions such as sorting and collecting sheets on which images have been formed, forming images on both sides of the sheet, and forming multiple images on one side of the sheet.

(B) Conventional technology In recent years, image forming devices such as copying machines (hereinafter referred to as copying machines) have a sheet sorting function for sorting and collecting copied sheets, a duplex function for forming images on both sides of the sheet, and a duplex function for forming images on both sides of the sheet. Too many! There is a demand for multi-functional copying and systemization, and conventionally these multi-functions have been built into the main body of the copying machine in advance, or separate from the main body of the copying machine with a sorting device, duplex device, etc. This makes it compatible with multi-functionality.

For example, as shown in FIG. 5, the copying apparatus 1 is moved with a document M placed thereon. It has two cassettes C□ and C2 that can place sheets of paper and that can be attached and detached from the main body of the apparatus, and further includes a cylindrical photoreceptor 3 having a central axis extending perpendicularly to the sheet surface, and its surroundings. A developing device 5, a printer 6, and a charger 7 placed nearby
are integrally arranged in a frame 9, and these photoreceptor 3, developer 5, cleaner 6, and charger 7 constitute a unit 10 that can be inserted into and removed from the main body support member S. Further, below the unit 10, a transfer charger 11,
A conveyance device 13 having separation rollers 12 and the like is provided, and the conveyance device 13 is provided with paper feed rollers 15 and registration rollers 16 for feeding the sheets on the cassettes C and C. A fixing device 17 is provided for feeding the transferred sheet. A flapper 19 for changing the sheet feeding direction is disposed at the exit portion of the fixing device 17, and the flapper 19 moves the sheets into a sheet sorting device 20 separate from the copying apparatus main body 1 or into the apparatus main body 1. It is selected and fed to a conveyor belt 23 that leads to an intermediate tray 22 arranged therein. The sheet sorting device 20 has a large number of sheet storage pin trays 25 .
7, the sheets are discharged and harvested onto a predetermined tray 25.

On the other hand, the intermediate)-ray 22 is at the lower position of the device body.
In addition, the intermediate tray 22 is installed at an angle to ensure stackability and refeedability during sorting, and a feed roller 29 and a delivery roller 30 are provided to eject sheets from the intermediate tray 22.

Based on the above configuration, when the document table 2 moves, the document table 2
The document M placed on top is irradiated by a light source, and the reflected light passes through the lens system LE and forms an image on the surface of the photoreceptor 3, which has been uniformly charged by the charger 7 in advance, forming an electrostatic latent image. Then, based on the rotation of the photoreceptor 3 in the direction of the arrow, the electrostatic latent image forms a toner image at the developing device 5 position. On the other hand, the sheets loaded in the cassette C1 or C2 are fed to the paper feed roller 1.
5, and is aligned with the toner image on the surface of the photoreceptor by a registration roller 16, and further transferred to the sheet surface by a transfer charger 11. Furthermore,
The sheet carrying the toner image is separated from the photoreceptor 3 by a separation roller 12, sent to a fixing device 17 by a conveying device 13, and fixed therein. In the case of single-sided copying; the flapper 19 is switched to the sheet sorting device side, the copied sheet is ejected to a predetermined tray 25 by the paper feed roller 27, and the tray 25 is designated in advance by the conveyor 26. The sorted items are moved by the method,
The sheets are sorted according to a predetermined pattern.

On the other hand, in the case of double-sided copying, the flapper 19 is switched to the intermediate tray side. Therefore, the sheets copied on one side are guided to the intermediate tray 22 by the conveyor belt 23, and a predetermined number of sheets are stacked and accumulated on the tray 22. When the single-sided copying is completed, the sheet on the intermediate tray 22 is fed by the feed roller 29 from the 1st and end surfaces of the sheet, that is, switched back, and then exposed to light by the feed roller 30 with the uncopied side facing upward. Body 3 and transfer charger 11
The sheet is copied onto both sides of the sheet, and is sent to the sheet sorting device 20 by the flapper 19 via the fixing device 17 in the same manner as described above, and is sorted by the sorting device 20 in a predetermined pattern.

Further, as another example of the conventional copying apparatus 1', there is one shown in FIG. Like the copying apparatus 1, the copying apparatus 1' also includes a document table 2, a cassette C1°C2, a lens system LE, a photoreceptor 3, a developing device 5, a cleaner 6, and a charger 7.
Unit 10 consisting of Further, a conveying device 13 and a fixing device 1
It has a rank of 7. A path 31 from the fixing device 17
a reversing guide path 3 having a paper feed roller 34;
2, which is further switched by a flapper 33 into the reversing guide path 32 and a path 35 to the sheet sorting device 20'. Furthermore, the flapper 3 is
A path 37 is provided which is guided through a sheet 6, and the path 37 is guided to the intermediate tray 22' according to the sheet size by a number of discharge ports 37a... On the other hand, the sheet sorting device 20' is constructed separately from the main body of the copying apparatus 1', and is secured by screws or the like.

Fixed to the main body of the device. Further, the sorting device 20' has a large number of trays 25' fixed thereto, and each tray 25' is placed in a position corresponding to the tray 25' on a path 40 communicating with the discharge roller 39 of the device main body 1'. flapper 4
1... and paper feed rollers 42... are arranged.

Based on the above configuration, the note transferred by the light body 3 and fixed by the fixer 17 is guided to the path 31. In the case of one-sided copying, the flapper 33 is transferred to the path 35@
The sheet is sorted and loaded 20 from the ejection roller 39.
’. And the flapper 41 of the classification attachment 20'
Then, the sheets are sorted in a predetermined manner by the paper feed roller 42 and are collected in a predetermined tray 25'. On the other hand, in the case of double-sided copying, the flapper 33 is switched to the reversing guide bus 32 side to guide the single-sided copied sheet sent from the ts31 to the guide bus 32, and then the sheet is switched back by reversing the paper feed roller 34. do. Then, the flapper 36 discharges the reverse sheet through a path 37 to the intermediate tray 22', and a predetermined number of single-sided copy sheets are dropped onto the tray 22'. Further, the sheet on the intermediate tray 22' is sent to the photoreceptor 3 portion with the non-copied side facing up by a feeding roller 29 and a sending roller 30,
The sheet that is transferred onto the upper surface of the sheet at this location and thus double-sided copied is then sent to the sheet sorter W20' and sorted into each tray 25' by the sorting nib 11.

(c) Problems to be Solved by the Invention Therefore, the main body of the copying machine (also: a special 100-sided reproduction machine'f
In 1), special intermediate trays 22, 22' are required, and furthermore, the intermediate tray 22 is installed at an angle to ensure sheet loading, or a reversing guide bus 32 or the like is installed outside the intermediate tray. Because it is necessary to install a reversing mechanism,
This will create a large dead space in the main body of the device.
The double-sided copying device has become quite large, and the entire unit including the sheet sorting device fi20.20' has become quite large. Furthermore,
As shown in FIGS. 5 and 6, when a double-sided copying device part is incorporated into the main body of the copying apparatus a1, it is necessary to have a fairly robust structure in terms of strength as the main body of the apparatus becomes larger. This also causes an increase in the amount of fr.

Furthermore, when troubleshooting problems such as paper jams, paper jams can occur over a wide range of areas (such as paper jams, etc. It takes time to find the hot water spot, and since the intermediate tray and conveyance part of the double-sided copying device are built inside the machine, the paper jam location cannot be seen from the outside, making it difficult to open the cover, etc. This requires a lot of work effort, making troubleshooting very troublesome.Furthermore, as shown in the conventional example mentioned above, in general,
The intermediate trays 22, 22' are installed in the lower part of the apparatus, that is, near the floor surface, and the user must bend down to clear paper jams, making it extremely inconvenient to use.

In addition, m single-sided copies are placed on the intermediate trays 22 and 22', but the sheets L often curl due to the pressure and heat received during the fixing process (
When refeeding the curling sheet from the intermediate tray,
Misfeeding such as double feeding is likely to occur, and together with the increasing size and complexity of the copying apparatus, this is a factor that reduces the reliability of the entire apparatus.

In addition to the multi-functionalization and system development of copying machines mentioned above, there has recently been a trend towards t<-"nonaluhihi.
Copying devices that meet this personalization need to be equipped with many functions due to limitations such as size, weight, and price, and even if a single It is common to use devices that only have a manual feeding function.Therefore, in such small-sized copying devices, mini-sorters, obscuits, cassettes, document feeders, etc. ζ to be added according to
The force of
Next, the main body of the device ζζ is small and inexpensive: Regardless of this, the unit device as a whole;
), it has become larger and more expensive.
-'The merits of the nonal machine are not fully utilized.

The present invention is aimed at solving the above-mentioned problems, and includes a sheet sorting section having a large number of sheet storage pin trays, and a method for sorting and resolving sheets into each of these pin trays.
In the sheet stacking device capable of stacking sheets, a sheet refeeding means is disposed facing each of these pin trays and capable of refeeding the notes stacked on the pin tray, and a sheet refeeding means is disposed in front of each of these pin trays, and a sheet refeeding means is disposed in front of each of these pin trays, and a sheet refeeding means is disposed in front of each of these pin trays, and a sheet refeeding means is provided for refeeding the notes accumulated in the pin trays. On the other hand, the present invention is characterized in that it is configured such that the sheet refeeding means can sequentially refeed the sheets starting from the sheets accumulated in the upstream pin tray.

(f) Function Based on the above configuration, the sheet sorting section sorts and stacks sheets into each pin tray according to a predetermined pattern, and also collects sheets with one side copied by the copying device into each pin tray, and then from each pin tray. By the sheet refeeding means,
In this re-feeding, the sheets accumulated in the pin tray on the upstream side with respect to the sheet conveyance direction are sequentially fed again to the copying apparatus to perform multi-functional processing such as double-sided copying.

(F) Embodiments Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings.

As shown in FIG. 1, the copying device 50 is equipped with a document table 2, a light source L lens system LE, and two cassettes C1 and C2, and a cylindrical photoreceptor 3 is disposed within the main body of the device. ing. Further, near the periphery of the photoconductor 3, there are two developing units 5 and 5' each containing toner of a different color, and a cleaner 6.
A primary charger 7, a transfer charger 11 and a separation roller 12 installed at the tip of the conveyance device 13 are provided. In addition, paper feed rollers 15 and 15 are arranged in the cassettes C1 and C2, and the paper feed rollers 15 and 15 are provided with paths 51 and 52, respectively.
It is guided to the pair of registration rollers 16 via a path 55 from a guide opening 53 opened on the lower surface of the apparatus main body 50 .

Further, a fixing device 17 is disposed at the rear end portion of the conveying device 13, and a pair of discharge rollers 56 are disposed in the fixing device 17 to discharge the sheet to the outside of the machine. A sensor S0 is installed to detect.

On the other hand, a sheet stacking device 60 consisting of a sheet sorting section 57 and a sheet conveying section 59 is arranged facing the copying machine 50. - The sheet sorting section 57 has a large number of sheet storage pins 1
．． ~61. ．． are installed, and upper and lower pulleys 115 are rotatably supported by both side plates constituting the frame.
, 116 are arranged, and these pulleys 115, 11
A belt 117 is wound around the belt 6. Further, as shown in detail in FIG. 2, around the belt 117 there are a number of transport rollers 119, 120, 1211-121 . are arranged at a predetermined interval so as to be elastically pressed against the belt and rotated accordingly, and a guide plate 122 is arranged between these rollers to form a sheet conveyance path 123. Furthermore, a path 125 for receiving sheets from the pair of ejection rollers 56 of the copying apparatus main body 50 extends so as to communicate with the transport path 123, and facing the transport path 123, each tray 61L to 61. A large number of flappers 126 that can select and branch sheets in different directions. ~1261 are arranged. As shown in FIG. 3, each flapper 126 is fixed to a shaft 127 that is rotatably indicated on both side plates 75, and is further fixed to both ends of an arm 129 that is fixed to the end of the shaft 127. A spring 130 and a solenoid 131 are connected, and normally the urging force of the spring 130 restricts the entry of sheets into the tray 111Mg 132 and guides them to a path 123 along the belt 117.
The solenoid 131 is energized to guide the tray path 132. In addition, each path 132 .conducts sheets to each tray. ~13
2. , a light emitting element 133a and a light receiving element 13, respectively.
A sheet detection sensor 133 consisting of 3b is installed, and each route 1321 to l32. , a pair of ejection rollers 135 to 1 that can carry out the sheet toward each tray.
35, are arranged. As shown in FIG. 4, these discharge roller pairs 135 are composed of an upper roller 135a and a lower roller 135b, and the lower roller 135b is fixed to a shaft 136 supported by both side plates, and is in pressure contact with the lower roller 135b and rotates accordingly. Furthermore, each lower roller shaft 136 is connected to a forward/reverse geared motor 140 via a gear 139, so that it can rotate in forward and reverse directions, and each pin tray roller 1. This constitutes a note refeeding means for refeeding the sheets accumulated in ~61rl. Further, a drive source such as a motor is directly connected to the shaft that fixes the lower pulley 116, and the drive source such as a motor is directly connected to the shaft that fixes the lower pulley 116. The J source is used at the same time for the sheet conveying section 59! It is also a J source.

The sheet conveyance section 59 has a conveyance path 141 that is aligned with a discharge path 144 extending from the conveyance path 123, and the sheet conveyance section 59 has a conveyance path 141 that is aligned with a discharge path 144 extending from the conveyance path 123. Roller pair 142.~1425
And guide plates 143, 1434 are arranged therebetween. Note that among these pairs of conveying rollers, the intermediate pair of conveying rollers 142 and 1434 are so-called oblique rollers, and are configured to correct the position of the sheet in a direction perpendicular to the conveying direction of the sheet with respect to a reference. Furthermore, the final transport roller pair 142s is aligned with the guide port 53 of the copying apparatus main body 50. Further, a third cassette C3 can be attached to the other end of the sheet conveyance section 59, and the sheet is guided from the cassette C3 by a paper feed roller 15' via a path 1s145 to a final conveyance roller pair 142s.

Now, the truth! ′! I will explain in Example 4, Part 3)
- Regarding the so-called sheet sorting (sorter) function for sorting the copied sheets using predetermined filters: j. Since this is the same as a known function, the explanation will be omitted.

First, a case will be described in which a document of m pages is copied onto both sides of a sheet to produce one double-sided copy sheet.

Did the operator give an instruction to make n copies of both sides? (When the activation switch of the ear device 50 is activated, the first page of the document placed on the document table 2 is copied by the device main body 50, and from the ejection roller pair 56 to the sheet stack M and the path 125 of the device M60.
will be introduced in At this time, when the passage of the leading edge of the sheet is detected by the sheet detection sensor S0 located near the pair of discharge rollers 56 in the scanner 17, the sensor signal is input to the microprocessor unit (hereinafter abbreviated as MPU), and the Solenoid 1 of first stage flapper 1261 from PU
31 is output, and the flapper 126,
The tray side path 132. It is switched and held at the sub line position in the second figure, which communicates with
351 forward/reverse motor 40 [This sends a forward rotation signal,
The pair of rollers 1351 rotates in the normal rotation direction to discharge the sheet in the tray direction ζ. Therefore, the first sheet is conveyed by the belt 117 and the conveying rollers 19, 120 and 1i1, and then guided by the first stage flapper 26 and sent to the discharge roller pair 35. The first stage tray 61. discharged in the direction. And the tray path 13
At step 21, when the sheet detection sensor 33 detects the force τ of the sheet, after a time corresponding to the sheet length ζ has elapsed, the MPU issues a signal to stop the forward and reverse rotation motor 40, and therefore the first stage discharge Roller vs. 135. stops with the sheet and end portions sandwiched. Next, when the second sheet is detected by the τ detection sensor S, the first
Step flat <135 is tray @ route 132. It is returned to the solid line position in Figure 2 where the communication force τ is blocked, and the
The stage flapper 135□ is connected to the tray side path 132. The second stage discharge roller pair 135 is then rotated in the normal rotation direction. As a result, the second sheet is held with its rear end held between the second fi-th discharge roller pair 1352, similar to the first sheet. Similarly, the third sheet is sent to the third stage discharge roller pair 135. The n-th sheet is further clamped and held by the n-th discharge roller pair 1351. Next, when the second page of the original is placed on the original platen 2 and a copying operation is started, the focus tray 1. The sheets that are being held and held are re-fed sequentially. That is, first, the first stage flapper 126. is cut at the chain line position in Figure 2! I! :
The forward and reverse rotation motor 140 of the first stage discharge roller pair 135□ is rotated in the reverse direction. Then, the first sheet held between the pair of discharge rollers 135& is transferred to the conveyance path 1.
23 and 140 to the sheet conveyance gS59,
Furthermore, the conveying roller pair 142 of the conveying section 59. 1455 leads to the guide port 53 of the copying apparatus main body 50. Then, the second page of the original is copied onto the uncopied side by the copying device main body 50, and the double-sided copy sheet is
Discharge: - Delivered from rack 56 to load loading device 2260.

At this time, as described above, the first stage discharge roller pair 1351 is rotated in the normal rotation direction by the sheet passage detection by the detection sensor S00, and the first stage flat i<126 is rotated in the tray side path 132. Hold it so that it guides you. Therefore,
The sheet that has been copied on both sides is guided by a flannel (126) and then led to a pair of discharge rollers 1351, and then the pair of rollers 135
．． The paper is discharged onto the first tray 61°. In addition,
This time, the sheet detection sensor 133 detects that the sheet has completely passed through the discharge roller pair 135□, and the sheet is transferred to the first tray 61. After the paper is completely discharged and loaded on the top, the rotation of the pair of rollers 135 is stopped. Similarly, the uncopied side of the second sheet held between the second-stage ejection roller pair 1352 is copied, and the second sheet with both sides copied is transferred to the second-stage discharge roller pair 1352. It is discharged and loaded onto the tray 61. Similarly, the nth double-sided sheet is
It is discharged and stacked onto the tray 61 of the tier. Thereafter, copying from page 3 to page m is repeated sequentially in the same way as double-sided copying of pages 1 and 2, and finally both sides of page m and 8 copies of the copied notebook are printed in each tray. 61. ~61. All copying operations are completed.

Next, multi-f
The case of performing fi [copying] will be explained.

As in the case of double-sided copying, first, a sheet with the first original copied on one side is passed through each ejection roller pair 135. ~135, to hold and hold. In addition, when multiple copies are made, the lowest tray 61
Since the tray 61. It is necessary to leave it open.

Then, when the second document is placed on the document table 2 and the activation switch is actuated to make multiple copies, the pin tray 1. The sheets that are being held and held are re-fed sequentially. That is, the first stage flapper 126. is switched to the position indicated by the chain line in FIG. 2, and the first F1 discharge roller pair 13
5. is reversely rotated to feed the sheet held between the pair of rollers 1351 to the conveying section 1Ii123. Simultaneously with the actuation of the start switch, the n-th stage seventh wrapper 126o is switched to the FA line position in FIG. 2, and the n-th stage ejection roller pair 135o is maintained in the normal rotation state. Therefore, the sheet conveyed through the conveyance path 123 by the belt 117 is guided to the discharge roller pair 1356 by the n-th stage-y wrapper 126°, and further to the discharge roller pair 1356. ．． Based on the forward rotation of tray 61. , sent in the direction. Then, in the same manner as described above, after the leading edge of the sheet is detected by the sheet detection sensor 133 and a time corresponding to the length of the sheet has elapsed (t-), the forward/reverse motor 140 is stopped, and the ejection roller pair 135 It stops with the rear end portion held in place. Continuing further,
The forward and reverse rotation motor 140 is reversely rotated, and the discharge roller pair 135.
The sheet sandwiched between the sheets is sent out again to the conveying path 123, whereupon the sheet is reversed once, and the sheet is conveyed from the sheet conveying section 59 through the sheet conveying section 59 through the path 144 with its copy side facing down and its trailing edge facing forward (switch pack). is sent to the transport section 1ii141. Then, ~14, 2. The single-sided copy sheet is guided to the guide port 53 of the main body 50 of the copying apparatus, and the second original is superimposed on the image being copied in the main body 50 of the apparatus. Furthermore, similarly to double-sided copying, the multiple copied sheets are transferred to the first tray 61. The sheets discharged and stacked on the second stage tray 61. and thereafter similarly held between the second stage discharge roller pair 1352 are copied in multiples 11L and transferred to the second stage tray 61. Discharged to 8
I, and this is repeated one after another.

(g) As described in detail, according to the present invention, the sheet classification section 57
Each seat storage pin reiro 1. -61°, sheet refeeding means 135,1 to 135. which can refeed the sheets collected in the pin tray. In addition to sheet sorting function, double-sided copying function and/or multi-function! Although it has multiple functions such as a copying function, it does not require the intermediate tray and reversing path that were conventionally required, and it also reduces the dead space caused by these intermediate trays and reversing path. Therefore, it is possible to significantly reduce the size, simplify the structure and reduce the weight, and manufacture it at low cost. In addition, sheet classification function, double-sided copying function, multiple copying function::, Pintreiro 1. ~61. Since it can be used commonly for all functions, the flow of sheets can be easily checked from the outside, and troubleshooting work such as sheet jams can be done almost the same for each function, and the handling work itself is also simple. This can improve usability. Furthermore, Pintreiro 1. ~61. ．． Since sheets are re-fed by the sheet stacking device 60 having a The reliability of the unit itself can be improved, and the usability can be further improved. Also,
It can be easily added to a personal type copying apparatus, and a single sheet stacking device Heo according to the present invention can be provided with multiple functions, and each pin tray 11 to 61. It can also be used as a sheet feeding means (cassette), and multifunctionality can be achieved while taking advantage of the advantages of a personal machine. In particular, since the sheet refeeding means 1351 to 135 are configured to perform tenth refeeding from the sheets accumulated in the upstream pin tray with respect to the sheet conveying direction A of refeeding, the sheet refeeding means 1351 to 135 The sheet is re-fed from the stacking device 60 and double-sided or multiple copied in the copying device 50 is conveyed to the pin tray of the sheet sorting device 57, and the sheet is newly transferred from the pin tray to be double-sided or multiple copied. As much as possible, the conveyance path of the sheet to be re-fed will not intersect with the conveyance path of the sheet, and therefore,
Since the refeeding operation of the sheet to the copying device 50 is not hindered due to the conveyance of the sheet after double-sided copying or multiple copying, the time required for refeeding can be shortened, and the copying Sheets can be re-fed in accordance with the copying process interval time in the apparatus 50.

[Brief explanation of the drawing]

1 to 4 are diagrams showing embodiments according to the present invention,
Fig. 1 is an overall front view, Fig. 2 is a front view showing the sheet sorting section of the sheet stacking device, Fig. 3 is a perspective view showing the sheet path switching section, and Fig. 4 is a front view showing the sheet refeeding means. It is. FIGS. 5 and 6 are overall front views showing different conventional examples.

Claims (1)

[Claims] (1) In a sheet stacking device that is equipped with a sheet sorting section that has a large number of sheet storage pin trays and is capable of sorting and stacking sheets on each of these pin trays, facing each of the pin trays, the sheets placed on the pin trays can be recycled. A sheet refeeding means capable of feeding the sheet is provided, and the sheet refeeding means sequentially refeed the sheets starting from the sheets placed on the upstream pin tray with respect to the sheet conveyance direction in the refeeding. A sheet loading device characterized in that it is configured to obtain.