JPS61178369A - Automatic sort system in duplicator - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To improve operability, by a method wherein, when it is detected that plural documents are set in an automatic document feeding device and a number of copying papers setting means is set, setting is automatically effect to a sort mode. CONSTITUTION:When a document presence detecting signal is input from a sensor S of an automatic document feeding device B to a control device X consisting mainly of a CPU, and 2 or more numerals are input from a ten key 22A of a number of copying papers setting means 22, the control device X outputs a sort mode instruction signal to a distributing mode setting means 24 of a sorter C, and ion other case, a non-sort mode instruction signal is outputted. The setting means 24, if distributing mode selection control by manual operation is not effected, transmits an instruction from the control device X to the sorter C as it is. Meanwhile, during control of distributing mode selection through manual operation, the distributing mode is transmitted to the sorter C in prior to an instruction signal from the control device X.

Description

[Detailed Description of the Invention] [Industrial Application Field] The present invention relates to an automatic sorting system in a copying machine, and more specifically, to a copying machine body and a document setting position of the copying machine body. Bringing in manuscript paper.

an automatic document feeder configured to set and unload sheets, and a sorter configured to automatically distribute copied sheets sent out from the copying machine main body sequentially to predetermined sorting turbines according to a set distribution mode. In addition, it is equipped with a reciprocal section for the main body of the copying machine! The present invention relates to an automatic sorting system in a copying machine, which is provided with distribution mode setting means for the sorter.

[Conventional technology]

First, a supplementary explanation will be given of the specific operation of the copying machine having the above-mentioned configuration, with reference to the partial cross-sectional schematic front view of FIG.

That is, an appropriate number of sheets of manuscript paper D... are set (placed) on manuscript tray b of automatic document feeder B (referred to as ADF in -FIQ), and a control panel ( After setting the number of copies by manual operation on the numeric keypad as means for setting the number of copies in the sorter C (not shown), and manually selecting and pressing the mode selection button as means for setting the distribution mode for sorter C, a copying operation start command is issued. When the print button as a means is manually pressed, the automatic document feeder B sequentially carries and sets the document sheets D on the document tray b one by one into the document setting position a of the copying machine main body A.
In this state, the copying machine main body A continuously performs the copying operation of the set number of copies. Then, the copied copy paper P... is conveyed to the sorter C attached to the side of the copying machine main body A, and is sorted through the sorter CO+ CI+ C2+...C7 according to the set distribution mode.
are sequentially distributed and stored.

By the way, there are usually three types of distribution modes executed by the sorter C: non-sort mode, sort mode, and group mode.

Among these, the non-sort mode is a mode that is selected when there is literally no need to sort, and in this case, the copied copy sheets P conveyed from the copying machine main body A are All of them are sequentially stored in the main sorting turbine C0, which is located at the lowest stage and has a relatively large storage capacity, and this corresponds to the conventional method of taking out copied copy sheets.

In addition, the sort mode is, for example, the document paper D.
There are 5 copies of ..., and there are 10 locations where copies will be distributed.
This mode is selected when a total of 10 copies (50 sheets) are required, and in this case, first the 10 sheets of copied copy paper P.
・ is distributed and stored one by one from the second sub-sorting turbine C0 from the bottom to the upper sub-sorting turbine cZ+ C3...C1°, and each 10 sheets created for the next two-page document are stored one by one. For sheets of copied copy paper P..., in the opposite direction, that is, in this case, the top sub-soak bin CI
Sub sorting turbine C9+C8...C sequentially downward from G
The same operation as above is performed for each of the 10 sheets of copied copy paper P... created for the next 3 sheets, 4th sheet, and subsequent originals.
In addition, there are two tickets.

The first copy of the 10 copies of copy paper P... created for the fourth manuscript.

As in the case of two-sheet originals, the sub-sorting turbine C1 is placed sequentially upward from the second sub-sorting turbine c1 from the bottom.
2, C3...C1°), in the end, the same number of copied copy sheets P (5 sheets in this case) as the number of sheets in each of the sub-sorters are used to store the original. The items are distributed and stored in the same order as the original, eliminating the need for collating them after copying.

The group mode is a mode selected when, for example, the number of sheets of manuscript paper D is 5 and 10 copies of each manuscript are required to be made separately. , First, the 10 sheets of copied copy paper P created for the first original are all distributed and stored in the second sub-sorting turbine C from the bottom, and then the next two-sheet original is stored. All of the 10 sheets of copied copy paper P... created for the document are distributed and stored in the third sub-sorter turbine c2 from the bottom, and each of the copies created for the next two-page original is The same operation is performed for the 10 sheets of copied copy paper P..., and in the end, each of the sub-sorting turbines CI+C! +... C2 stores a predetermined number of copies (in this case 10 sheets) of copied copy paper P... divided for each manuscript. Aha Gesu 2 children - ^.

[Problem that the invention seeks to solve]

However, in the copying machine having the conventional configuration, when the power is turned on, the distribution mode for the sorter C is first automatically set to the non-sort mode. In other words, when it is desired to set the sort mode or group mode, manual operation must be performed on the distribution mode setting means, which is troublesome.

Therefore, the inventor of the present invention conducted a detailed investigation into the actual usage of copying machines equipped with the above-mentioned basic configuration in an attempt to find a way to eliminate such troubles, and found the following remarkable trends. I came to realize something.

That is, in the case of a copying machine having the above configuration, a plurality of manuscript papers D... are set in the automatic document feeder B, and two or more (plural) copies are set by the copy number setting means for the copying machine main body A. When the number of copies is set, it is almost always (at least 90% of the time)
, the sort mode is selected and set as the distribution mode for the sorter 〇, and the actual situation is that the frequency at which the sort mode is selected and set is much higher than other modes (that is, group mode or non-sort mode). It is in.

Therefore, an object of the present invention is to reduce the effort required to set the distribution mode for the sorter by utilizing the knowledge obtained through the above investigation.

[Means for solving problems]

In order to achieve the above object, the present invention provides a copying machine having the basic configuration described at the beginning, in which it is detected that a plurality of manuscript sheets are set in an automatic document feeder, and a number of copies setting means is provided. If multiple copies have been set by force < I, do not manually set the mode for the sorter's distribution mode setting means (
However, the present invention is characterized in that it employs an automatic sorting system configured to automatically set the distribution mode of the sorter to the sorting mode.

[Effect]

The effects achieved by this characteristic configuration are as follows.

That is, according to the copying machine to which the automatic sorting system according to the present invention is applied, a plurality of manuscript sheets are set in the automatic document feeder, and two or more (plural) copies are set by the copy number setting means for the copying machine main body. In a situation where there is an extremely high probability that the sort mode will be selected as the distribution mode for the sorter, such as when the number of copies is set, there is no need to manually set the mode on the distribution mode setting means of the sorter. , the distribution mode of the sorter is configured to be automatically set to sort mode, so the user selects a mode other than sort mode (i.e., group mode or non-sort mode, which is used relatively infrequently). Only if you want to set
It is only necessary to manually set the mode on the distribution mode setting means.On the other hand, when selecting a sorting mode that is used very frequently, there is no need to set the mode manually at all. The effort required to set the distribution mode has been significantly reduced.

〔Example〕

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS A specific embodiment of a copying machine to which an automatic sorting system for a copying machine according to the present invention is applied will be described below with reference to the drawings (FIGS. 1 to 4).

That is, as shown in FIG. 1, original sheets D and D are automatically placed on the upper part of a copying machine main body A having a copying function, in order with respect to the original setting position E (on the contact glass surface) of the copying machine main body A. An automatic document feeder B is attached, which is configured to carry in, send, and take out copies of sheets P, which are sent out from the copying machine main body A, and sequentially feed them into a predetermined sorter according to a set distribution mode. Turbine C,,C,,C
, . . . A sorter C configured to automatically distribute paper to C1 is attached to the side of the copying machine main body A, and feeds original paper D and sorts copied copy paper P. The copying machine is configured to automatically perform the following steps.

The copying machine main body A has a charging device 2. Developing device 3゜Paper feed conveyance device 4
．． Transfer device5. Copy paper separation device 6゜Copy paper conveyance device 7.
A cleaning device 8 and the like are disposed in that order along the rotation direction R of the photosensitive drum 1, and
An exposure device 9 with a moving optical system is provided in a space above the copy paper transport device 7, and a fixing device 10 and a pair of copy paper delivery rollers 11 are provided on the downstream side of the copy paper conveyance device 7.

Further, the automatic document feeder B (generally ADF: Au
(referred to as the Document Feeder) consists of a main document tray 12 that is used to place a plurality of document sheets D during continuous automatic paper feeding, and a sub-document tray that is used to manually feed document sheets one by one. A document tray] 3 is provided, and in a casing 14 provided over the entire road of the copying machine main body A, a document sheet is placed at the document setting position E prior to the start of the copying operation of the copying machine main body A. an endless document conveyance heddle 15 for carrying in and feeding documents; a pair of guide rollers 16 for taking out document sheets one by one from the main document tray I2 and conveying them to the endless document conveyance belt 15; A pair of guide rollers 17 for conveying the original sheet inserted into the original tray 13 to the endless original conveying belt 15 cooperates with the endless original conveying belt 15 every time the copying operation of the copying machine main body A is completed. Then, the document center position E
A pair of guide rollers 18 for feeding the upper original sheet to a copied original sheet mounting table 14A formed on the outer upper surface of the casing 14 are installed inside.

The main document tray 12 is provided with a sensor S for detecting the presence or absence of a document for detecting whether or not a document is placed thereon.

Further, the drive members such as the endless document conveyance belt 15° and the pair of guide rollers 16, 17, and 18 described above are driven and controlled according to a predetermined sequence by a control device (not shown) whose main part is a CPU. ing.

Z, the sorter C is in a state where the copied copy paper P sent out via the copy paper delivery roller pair 11 of the copying machine main body A is conveyed downward as it is, and in a state where the path is bent upward. The swinging guide piece 19a
The conveyance path switching device 19 is switched and controlled by
A sorting turbine Co for storing a plurality of upper and lower copy sheets is installed in the lower part of the sorter case 20, and on the opposite side of the sorter case 20 from the copying machine main body A, with the outer free end facing slightly upward; C+, C!・・・・・・
C7 is installed, and the main sorting turbine CO at the bottom stage is installed.
(This is used in the non-sort mode as described above), a guide for storing the copied copy paper P conveyed from above by the conveyance path switching device 19 as it is into the main sorting turbine C0. A pair of rollers Q0 is provided, and a roller pair Q0 is provided to correspond to each of the second or higher sub-sorting turbines C, CZ...C11 from the bottom (these are used in the sort mode or group mode as described above), A state in which the copied copy paper P conveyed from below by the path switching device 19 is conveyed upward as it is, and a predetermined sorting turbine C1
The conveying path switching roller pair Q + , Q ! is controlled to be switched by the swinging guide piece 21a to a state in which the path is bent in the horizontal direction so as to be stored in the interior of the vehicle. ...
It is configured by disposing C7.

The drive members such as the conveyance path switching device 19 and the conveyance path switching roller pairs Q, Q, Q, . . . Ql are controlled by a control device (not shown) whose main part is the CPU The drive is controlled according to a predetermined sequence depending on the selected distribution mode.

Further, a copy number setting means for the copying machine main body A, a copying operation start command means, and a distribution mode setting means for the sorter 〇 (both not shown) are provided in conjunction with the control device having the CPU as a main part. As shown in FIG. 2, the control panel CP provided on the upper surface of the front side of the main body A of the copying machine includes a numeric keypad 22A for inputting the number of copies, which constitutes a part of the number of copies setting means, and a numeric keypad 22A for inputting the number of copies. A display section 22B, a print button 23 constituting a part of the copying operation start command means. A non-sort mode setting button 24A and a sort mode setting button 24B constitute a part of the distribution mode setting means for the sorter C.
, a group mode setting button 24C, etc. are provided.

In the above-mentioned copying machine, the fact that a document sheet is set on the side of the automatic document feeder is detected by the document presence/absence detecting sensor S, and the number of copies is set by the number of copies setting means. If it is detected that the distribution mode of the sorter C is set, the distribution mode of the sorter C is set by the control device mainly including the CPU without manual mode setting operation on the distribution mode setting means of the sorter C. It is configured to automatically set to sort mode.

That is, as schematically shown in FIG. 3, a document presence detection signal is input from the sensor S of the automatic document feeder B to the control device When a value of 2 or more is input from the numeric keypad 22A, the control device . The distribution mode setting means 24 transmits the command signal from the control bag WX as it is to the sorter 〇 unless a manual distribution mode selection operation is performed, but if a manual distribution mode selection operation is performed. is configured so that the manually set distribution mode is given priority over the automatically set command signal from the control device X and transmitted to the sorter 0.

FIG. 4 is a flowchart showing more specifically the sequence executed by the control device X, which will be briefly explained next.

That is, in this sequence, when the power is turned on and the copying machine goes into standby mode, 5TARTL begins with step ■
Initial settings of various parameters are made in . Then, in the next step (2), the automatic document feeder B
It is determined whether or not the original paper is set in the ADF (ADF), that is, whether the sensor S for detecting the presence/absence of the original detects the original paper. If YES (original exists), proceed to the next step ■ If the answer is No (no manuscript exists), proceed to step @. In step (2), it is determined whether 2 or more (plural) numbers have been input from the numeric keypad 22A of the copy number setting means, and YES (2 or more).
If so, proceed to the next step ■, and if No (less than 2), proceed to the step @.

In step (2), it is determined whether or not the user has manually performed a selection setting operation on the distribution mode setting means 24 of the sorter C. If the answer is No (not done), the process proceeds to the next step (2) and YES is selected. If (done), proceed to the step @.

In step (2), it is determined whether or not the print button has been manually pressed, and if YES (has been done), the process proceeds to the next step (2), and if No (has not been done), the process returns to step (2). Then, in step (2), the paper is carried and fed to the original setting position E of the automatic original copying machine A, and in this state, in the next step (2), the sensor S for detecting the presence or absence of the original detects whether the original paper is present or not. By re-judging whether or not the original paper was set in the main original tray 12 of the automatic document feeder B (ADF), it is determined whether or not there was only one original paper set in the main original tray 12 of the automatic document feeder B (ADF). If the answer is YES (only one sheet was set), proceed to step ■ and automatically set the distribution mode of the sorter automatically sets the distribution mode to non-sort mode, executes a sequence of copy operations for a predetermined number of sheets in the next step [phase], and then waits for a certain period of time (relatively short time) as shown in step 0. Then, return to step ■.

Note that the routine from steps ■, ■, ■, ■ to step [phase] via step @ is based on the sub-document in the automatic document feeder B (ADF) or the distribution mode setting means of the sorter 〇. This corresponds to a copy operation when a user manually performs a selection setting operation for 24. Moreover, this sequence becomes END when the power is turned off.

〔Effect of the invention〕

As is clear from the detailed explanation above, according to the automatic sorting system in a copying machine according to the present invention, the user selects the group mode ' or the non-sort mode, which is a mode other than the sort mode, which is relatively infrequently used. It is sufficient to manually set the mode on the distribution mode setting means only when you want to set the mode.In general, when selecting a sort mode that is used very frequently, you do not need to set the mode manually at all (but Therefore, an excellent effect can be achieved in that the effort required to set the distribution mode for the sorter can be significantly reduced compared to the conventional method.

[Brief explanation of drawings]

1 to 4 show a specific embodiment of a copying machine to which an automatic sorting system in a copying machine according to the present invention is applied, FIG. 1 is an overall longitudinal sectional front view of the copying machine, and FIG. 2 is a control panel. FIG. 3 is a schematic block diagram of the control configuration, and FIG. 4 is a flowchart of the control sequence. Further, FIG. 5 shows a partially sectional schematic front view of a copying machine used to explain the technical background of the present invention and the prior art. A: Copying machine body, E: Original setting position, B
...Automatic document feeder, C...Sorter, Co
, Cr, Cz...C,l...sorting turbine, D...manuscript paper, P...copied paper, 22
(22A>... Copy number setting means, 23...
Copying operation start command means, 24 (24A, 24B, 24C)...Distribution mode setting means.

Claims (2)

[Claims] (1) A copying machine main body, an automatic document feeder configured to automatically carry in, set, and carry out document sheets sequentially to and from the document setting position of the copying machine main body, and an automatic document feeder configured to sequentially automatically carry in, set, and carry out manuscript paper from the copying machine main body. a sorter configured to automatically distribute the copied sheets sequentially to predetermined sorting turbines according to a set distribution mode, a copy number setting means for the copying machine main body, a copying operation start commanding means, and the sorter. A copying machine is provided with a distribution mode setting means for setting a plurality of copies, in which it is detected that a plurality of sheets of manuscript paper are set in the automatic document feeder, and a plurality of copies is set by the number of copies setting means. If it is detected that the sorter does not have to manually set the mode on the distribution mode setting means of the sorter,
An automatic sorting system for a copying machine, characterized in that the distribution mode of the sorter is configured to be automatically set to a sorting mode. (2) When a manual mode setting operation is performed on the distribution mode setting means of the sorter, the distribution mode set by the manual operation is changed to the distribution mode automatically set as described above. An automatic sorting system in a copying machine according to claim 1, wherein the automatic sorting system is configured to give priority to the following items.