JPS6119167Y2 - - Google Patents

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION The present invention relates to an apparatus for sorting copy sheets ejected from an electrophotographic apparatus.

In copying operations, there are cases in which separate originals are continuously copied, or so-called interrupt copying is performed in which priority is given to copying another original while copying one original. In such cases, it is necessary to sort the various copy sheets stacked on the output tray, but if the copy sheets are the same size or there are many copies, it is necessary to distinguish them by looking at the contents of each copy each time. occurs and requires a lot of effort. The device disclosed in Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 51-126153 attempts to solve the above-mentioned problem, and has a sorting device in which a plurality of recesses for storing copy sheets are arranged upward in a separate position from the copy sheet ejection section. However, with this device, the copy sheets once ejected to the paper ejection tray must be transferred by hand each time to be transferred to the above-mentioned recess, making sorting work extremely troublesome. In addition, since there are many vertical recesses, it is difficult to clean if dust accumulates at the bottom. If we were to make it possible to store large copy sheets, the sorting device would become larger.
It has the disadvantage that it cannot be attached to small-sized copying machines.

In view of these points, the present invention aims to provide a new sorting device that can sort copy sheets discharged onto a paper output tray as they are, regardless of their size, and is easy to maintain. The present invention will be explained in detail below based on the drawings.

Figure 1 shows an embodiment of the present invention, in which 1 is a copying machine body, 2 is a copy sheet discharge port opened on one side of the copying machine body 1, and 3 is detachably attached below this discharge port. The paper output tray 4 is a housing part for the sorting plate 5, which is a characteristic part of the present invention, and is provided at one end of the paper output tray 3, and the required number of sheet-like sorting plates 5 can be placed on the paper output tray 3. It is a sorting board that stands up so that it can be folded down individually by hand and taken out. That is, the storage section 4 has a box-like shape surrounded by side walls having a height that does not allow the sorting plate 5 to fall over. A slit 42 is formed that reaches up to the point. On the other hand,
The sorting plates 5 housed in this are made of a rectangular sheet material made of paper, resin film, etc., and have convex portions 51 on their upper ends whose positions are slightly shifted for each sorting plate 5. The convex portions 51 are provided with numbers, alphanumeric characters, etc. for convenience in sorting. Further, an inverted T-shaped piece 52 is provided at the bottom of the sorting plate 52 with the slit 42 as a guide.
When it is folded down, the horizontal portion 52a at the lower end prevents the sorting plate 5 from falling off. Note that by writing explanatory text on how to use the copying machine 1 on the front and back sides, the sorting board 5 can also serve as an instruction card.

In the embodiment described above, when copying several types of originals, the first sorting plate 5 is
Lift the copy sheet upward and fall it onto the paper output tray 3 using the slit 42 as a guide, and start copying in this state.
Layer on top. When the copying of the first original is completed, the second sorting plate 5 is folded down onto the stacked copy sheets to make a second copy.From then on, by repeating this procedure sequentially, the original Each copy sheet is neatly sorted on the paper output tray 3. When taking out copy sheets, support the lowest sorting plate 5 with your hand and lift it upwards. These sorting plates 5 can be removed through the slits 42 of the storage section 4, (Refer to Figure 1 B), each person should return to their desk and organize the copy sheets, sorted by the numbers written on the protrusions, page by page.

According to this embodiment, when the sorting plate 5 is laid down on the tray 3, the horizontal portion 52a at the lower end plays the role of a hinge within the storage section side wall 41 and remains engaged, so that the sorting plate 5 and the copy sheet are neatly stacked on the paper discharge tray 3, eliminating the need for alignment later.

In the second embodiment of the present invention shown in FIG. 2, a low rib 43 provided on the side of the paper output tray 3 allows the sorting plate 5 placed against the outer side wall 44 to be directed toward the paper output tray 3. In this embodiment, since there is no side wall on the paper discharge tray 3 side, the inside of the storage section 4 can be easily cleaned.

The embodiment shown in FIG. 3 has two support rods protruding toward the paper output tray 3 from below the outer side wall 44 on which the sorting plate 5 is placed.
By inserting the support rod 45 through the hole 54 bored downward, it is possible to prevent the sorting plate 5 from falling apart when not in use.

As described above, according to the present invention, a plurality of sorting plates 5 are provided in the storage section 4 provided at one end of the paper output tray 3.
Since the copy sheet is stored leaning against the sheet so that it can be folded down, it is easy to do so by simply folding the sorting plate 5 onto the tray 3 for each document, without having to manually transfer the ejected copy sheets each time. It can be sorted into Further, since the stacked copy sheets can be transferred from the tray with the sorting plate 5 sandwiched between them, the work of organizing the copy sheets after sorting becomes easy.

Furthermore, since multiple sorting plates are stored vertically in a single storage compartment in contact with each other,
Dust does not adhere to it, and the width of the storage section is relatively wide, so even if dust accumulates, it can be cleaned easily. Furthermore, since the size of the storage section can be made in any way depending on the size of the sorting plate, it can be fully applied to desktop copying machines and the like.

[Brief explanation of the drawing]

FIG. 1 shows an embodiment of the present invention, in which A is a perspective view showing the entire device of the present invention, B is a perspective view showing a state in which copy sheets are sorted, and FIGS. 2 and 3 are views of the present invention. FIG. 6 is a perspective view showing different embodiments of the invention. 1... Copying machine main body, 3... Output tray, 4...
Storage section, 42...slit, 43...rib, 45
... Support rod, 5 ... Sorting plate, 52 ... Inverted T piece, 53 ... Hole.

Claims (1)

[Scope of utility model registration request] A storage section is provided at one end of the paper output tray installed below the copy sheet output port of the electrophotographic apparatus, in which a plurality of sheet-like sorting plates can be individually folded and taken out against the paper output tray. A copy sheet sorting device in an electrophotographic apparatus, characterized in that: