JPS61243769A - Finishing device - Google Patents

Abstract

(57) [Summary] This bulletin contains application data before electronic filing, so abstract data is not recorded.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION Field of the Invention The present invention relates to an improved finishing apparatus and, more particularly, to an improved finishing apparatus incorporated into a high speed copying machine.

(Prior Art) With the advancement of copying machines, printing machines, etc., which have become faster and more complex, it is becoming increasingly important to consider how to optimally and most efficiently process the large number of copies produced. It has become. One approach has been to provide an input device in the form of a recirculating document handler. In this device, original sheets are fed from a collated set of original sheets, placed on an exposure platen, exposed once for each original sheet, and then Once placed back on top and all the original sheets have been circulated through the original handling device, the copy set is partially completed. The original sheet set is then cycled again to copy the second copy set.

The same applies below. After each copy set is produced in portions and collected at a collection station, a finishing device, such as a stitcher or stapler, is operated to bind the copy set. The above-mentioned apparatus is a pre-coiling type in which original sheets are pre-collated in a document handling device before copying is performed. The output of the copier will similarly be a pre-collated set corresponding to the sequentially paged original set in the document handling device. Since the copy sheets are assembled into collated sets as they are produced sequentially, binding can be done without the influence of additional equipment. Such a device is described in US Pat. No. 4,134.672.

A disadvantage of these devices, which circulate the entire document once for the production of each bound copy set, is that the production speed is limited by the mechanical constraints of the document handling device's document sheet handling speed. Furthermore, the input device, ie, the document handling device, is placed under severe stress due to the constant circulation of document sheets, and therefore needs to have extremely high reliability. As a practical matter, there appears to be a limit to the speed with which bound copy sets can be created with these devices. If the speed of document sheet movement in the document handling device is set too high, the failure rate of the device will be higher than the allowable limit.

To further speed up the production of bound copy sets, other copiers have been developed that use post-collation instead of pre-collation. Such a device is disclosed in US Pat. No. 4,444,491. The apparatus disclosed in this patent is such that a predetermined number of optical images are formed for each document sheet, e.g., one page of a multi-page document, and then the next document sheet, perhaps two pages of the document, are similarly imaged. . This imaging is repeated many more times when a significant portion of the copy cents has to be copied.

In this way, the mechanical movements involved in document handling are
kept to a minimum.

As the copy sheets are produced according to the imaging method described above, an array of vertical collection bins, or sorters, are arranged to collate the copy sheets into collated cents. It is moved both up and down to receive sheet output. The bin array, or sorter, effectively acts as a buffer in the production of bound copy cents. As these sets are being created, a finishing device, such as a stapling device, is activated to staple each set as each set is completed. This configuration provides higher processing speeds than previously available with various devices used in copying machines with finishing capabilities. However, to accommodate the varying positioning of the bin array, there is some machine pitch, or copy cycle loss, so this device does not provide complete and continuous throughput. In addition, the use of linear collection bin arrays limits copying devices to either stapling or adhesive binding devices, or, more appropriately, the production costs (too much) to incorporate both. , and more importantly, requires the use of complex copy sheet transport equipment that requires more sheet handling.

Various types of rotary sorters have been disclosed in the past, but they are primarily directed toward the sorter structure itself, with either stapling or adhesive binding devices, or with copiers or printing devices. The ability to select either stapling or adhesive binding in combination and, if used in combination, has not been directed to creating a system that achieves extreme throughput. U.S. Pat. No. 3,851,872 discloses a simple rotary sorter configured to collect single-sided or duplex sheets. There is no structural equipment for binding, and the sorter cannot be rotated continuously in sheet collection where all the bins are used continuously. U.S. Patent No. 2.876.00
No. 8 discloses a large rotary collating device which is adapted to be tilted at an angle so that all bins can be used continuously at one time. The device generates vibrations as the drum rotates, rocking the copy sheet into alignment along the two edges. U.S. Patent No. 4.145.038
No. 2, No. 1, No. 1, No. 1, No. 1, No. 1, No. 1, No. 1, No. 1, No. 1, 2003, 2003, discloses a rotary collator/sorter which is devised so that it can be selectively used as a collator or a sorter. West German Patent No. 1,436.096 (1
(January 30, 969) discloses a rotary sorter coupled to a single sheet feeder and an output feeder. A sorter coupled to a binding device is not found in these patents.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION Accordingly, a first object of the present invention is to produce bound copy sets or copy stacks of multi-page originals at the maximum speed possible for a copier.

A second object of the present invention is to increase the productivity of a finishing reproduction machine by collecting successive sheets at a collection station and stitching them simultaneously.

A third object of the invention is that successive bins of the sorter receive copy sheets at one location, collect sets of collated copy sheets, and place the collected sets at another location for binding. The method is to sequentially change the position of the collection bins in a certain direction so that the collection bins are arranged in a certain direction.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention provides a finishing station having a stapling device for selectively stapling successively received copy sheets at a sheet binding position, each finishing station having a stapling device for selectively stapling successively received copy sheets at a sheet binding position. a rotary sorter consisting of a series of individual bins having an inlet for receiving the sheets one by one; means for rotatably supporting the sorter for placing one of the bins selected to receive the sheets at a sheet receiving station; and means for rotatably supporting the sorter to collect the sheets; a drive means for rotating the sorter so that the sheets are collated; a means for holding the collected sheets as the sorter rotates; a stable binding means for binding each set before removal from the sorter; It is equipped with means to control.

This finishing station in the form of a sorter/finisher can also be used in the office as a stand-alone device. The finishing station concept of the present invention can be achieved at a very reasonable cost while maintaining a high degree of product quality.
It is characterized by its ability to hold, finish and automatically eject booklets.

Other objects and advantages of the invention will become apparent from the following description and drawings.

EXAMPLE For a general understanding of reproduction devices that may incorporate the present invention, reference is made to FIG. 1 in which the components of a typical electrostatic printing/finishing device are shown. The printing function of the apparatus is preferably a xerographic one-type including a xerographic processing device 1 and a document handling device 2. Processing device 1
is a commercially available Xerox copier, model 94, that uses flash full-frame exposure for very high speed production.
This is the same processing equipment as the 00 and 9500 (both US registered trademarks). Similarly, the document handling device 2 is preferably the same as the device used in the companion copying machine. Of course, it will be appreciated that other types of xerographic processing equipment or multiple exposure document handling equipment may be used. Used in conjunction with processing device 1 and document handling device 2 is finishing device 3 . These constitute the copying apparatus shown in FIG.

As with all xerographic reproduction machines, a light image of the original to be reproduced is projected onto the photoconductive surface of a xerographic set of photosensitive surfaces, forming an electrostatic latent image thereon. The latent image is then developed with toner particles, producing a powder image corresponding to the latent image on the photosensitive surface. The powder image is then transferred by electrostatic force to a recording material, such as a paper sheet, and then fixed by a fixing device to permanently fix the powder image to the surface of the recording material.

The xerographic processing apparatus 1 is configured as a self-contained unit in which all its processing stations are arranged in a single enclosure, ie, a cabinet. The processing apparatus 1 includes an exposure station where the original to be reproduced is placed on a glass exposure platen 4 and its light image is projected onto a photosensitive surface in the form of a xerographic belt 5.

The original, ie, a set of individual original sheets, is selectively conveyed sheet by sheet to the platen 4 by the original handling device 2 and exposed. Each original sheet is exposed a predetermined number of times and then returned to the top of the set until the entire set has been copied. A suitable document handling device of this type is described in US Pat. No. 3,944,794.

Each original sheet is flash-illuminated by an illumination device 6 with a suitable lamp 7, and the image beam reflected from the sheet is directed to the xerographic belt 5 by a lens system and mirrors.
is projected onto the Lamp 7 is connected to a suitable flash circuit (not shown). The flash circuits are controlled in a timed sequence by the programmer P of the processor, according to a program preset in the machine by the operator. Further details in this regard are omitted since the Xerox 9400(R) copier operates as described above and is well known. The xerographic belt 5 is mounted movably around three juxtaposed rollers 8.9.10 suitably mounted on the processing device 1. Belt 5 is continuously driven at a suitable speed by a suitable motor (not shown). Exposure of the belt to the image beam from the original document discharges the photoconductive layer in the areas hit by the light, leaving an electrostatic latent image on the belt corresponding to the light image projected from the original document. As the belt continues its movement, the electrostatic latent image passes a development station. A developing device 11 for developing the electrostatic latent image is arranged here.

After development, the powder image is advanced to image transfer station 12;
It is then transferred to a support surface, typically a copy sheet of paper carried from the main sheet tray 13 or the auxiliary sheet tray 14.

Each sheet is conveyed to the transfer stage tongue by a conveyor 15 that cooperates with sheet registration fingers 16 (only one shown). These fingers rotate counterclockwise and hook the leading edge of the sheet for precise timing and positioning of the sheet relative to movement of the developed image on belt 5 and other timed events in the copying process. It is now possible to do this.

Further details of timekeepers and related structures and phenomena are found in U.S. Pat. No. 3,790,270; U.S. Pat.
No. 6, and No. 3,917,396.

The sheet is advanced in synchronization with the movement of the belt 5 and passes between the transfer roller 17 and the belt 5 at the transfer station. After transfer, the sheet is peeled off from the belt 5 and conveyed upside down by a vacuum conveyor 18 to a fusing station where a fusing device 19 receives the sheet and fusing the powder image on the sheet. After fusing, the sheets are finally transported to a finishing station, described below, where they may be stapled, adhesively bound, or simply separated into sets without binding.

The reproduction apparatus, consisting of a processing unit 1, a document handling unit 2, and a finishing unit 3, allows various selections by the operator, i.e., turning the reproduction unit on and off, producing a predetermined number of copies of each original sheet or set. programming the copying device to make, selecting whether to make single-sided or duplex copies, the desired output method;
That is, selecting set or stacking, stable binding or adhesive binding, selecting one of multiple sheet trays, adjusting the machine for the type of document (single-sided or double-sided), It is controlled by a program device P that allows selection of copy size reduction mode and other necessary functions.

The programming device P is also a controller that provides the synchronization and all operational timing of the processing device 1 and all of its xerographic processing functions, as well as the device control functions and the automatic events described below. It is equipped with The controller may include a suitable microprocessor having a central processing unit (GPU) and a suitable mechanical clock;
l Corporation.

Preferably, the microprocessor is similar to the Intel 8080 microprocessor manufactured by 5anta C1ara, California) and has sufficient read-only memory (ROM) and random access memory (RAM) for all functions required by the reproduction device. .

As mentioned earlier, copy sheets are stored in main sheet tray 1.
3 or the auxiliary seat tray 14. The main sheet tray 13 has a suitable elevator platform 20 on which a supply stack is placed, the platform 20 bringing a sheet feed belt 21 into operative contact with the top sheet of the stack on the elevator platform 20. It is supported to be raised and lowered automatically by appropriate means (not shown) commanded to maintain the position. The feeding belt 21 is
Timed to the spacing of the images on the photosensitive belt 5, it is continuously driven and serves to advance the top sheet from the supply stack to the main sheet feed transport device 15.

In the illustrated apparatus, the auxiliary tray 14 is the main tray 13
It has a suitable elevator platform 22 on which the supply stack can be placed. Main tray 13
Similarly, in order to maintain the sheet feed belt 23 in operative contact with the topmost sheet, suitable steps are taken to raise the platform 22 of the auxiliary tray 14 as the platform supply stack is used. Means (not shown) are provided.

The sheet feed belt 23, like the main tray feed belt 21, is continuously driven and advances the sheets one by one to the auxiliary sheet feeding and conveying device 24. The conveying device 24 is suitably driven by a drive device (not shown) to transport the auxiliary tray 1.
The main sheet feeding and conveying device 15 is disposed so as to discharge the sheets picked up from the sheet onto the traveling section of the main sheet feeding and conveying device 15 . The sheets from auxiliary tray 14 are then sent to a transfer station. The guide 25 acts to bring the sheet into driving contact with the transport device 24 as the sheet moves along the auxiliary sheet supply transport device 24 .

In use, copy sheets leaving the processing device after exiting the fuser 19 are conveyed to the exit slot 26 by transport devices 27, 28 if the reproduction device is programmed for simplex copying. If the reproduction machine is programmed for duplex copying, the copy sheet is directed to auxiliary tray 14.

If the latter mode of operation is selected, the copy sheets conveyed by the transport device 27 are intercepted by a diverter 29 which is adapted to move in and out of the sheet path. When diverter 29 acts as a shutoff, the copy sheet is conveyed around roller 30 and passes through the nip formed by roller 30 and mating roller 31. The copy sheet is advanced by a pair of rollers 30.31 between an upper sheet guide baffle 32 and a lower sheet guide panfur 33 to a second pair of rollers 34.35. This pair of rollers 34.35 further transports the copy sheet to the conveying device 3.
6, the conveying device 36 conveys the sheet to the auxiliary tray 14. A predetermined number of single-sided copies are made and placed on the auxiliary tray 14.
, the sheet handling mechanism of the main tray 13 can be stopped and the sheet handling mechanism of the auxiliary tray 14 can be activated.

In the sheet path after passing around rollers 30 and between a pair of rollers 34,35, the copy sheet is turned over, ie, in tray 14 the printed information is on the top side of the sheet.

When the copying machine is operated again, the sheet in the auxiliary tray 14 is sent out by the feed belt 23 and the conveyor belt 24, passes through the processing device 1, and the blank side of the sheet is copied in the same manner as before. If the reproduction machine is programmed for duplex copying mode, after the programmed number of single-sided sheets have been fully produced, reactivation of the reproduction machine will cause the sheet stop device 37 to stop the upper guide panfel 32 and the lower guide baffle 33. be lifted into the seat passageway between the
A feed roller 34 is attached to the top baffle 32 so that it rises with the top panfle 32 during the duplexing phase. In this way, the feed roller 34 is separated from the lower feed roller 35, so that sheets fed between the two cannot be advanced.

The sheet stop device 37 is made of a link-shaped resilient material that is flexible enough to recover its circular shape and serves to insert the sheet into the nip formed between the rolls 31 and 38. The trailing edge of the sheet is conveyed into the nip by roll 31. The rolls 31.38 are made of high friction material such as polyurethane foam,
The function is to reliably feed a sheet moving toward the stop device 37, and to reliably feed a sheet away from the stop device 37 against the drag force generated between two sheets simultaneously moving in opposite directions in the reversing device area. do. The purpose of the cooperation of the stop device 37 and the rollers 31,38 is to turn each copy sheet over so that the odd page of the copy sheet that reaches the exit slot 26 is on the bottom side of the sheet when copy making is in duplex mode. That's true.

As shown in FIG. 2, the document handling device 2 serves to feed the document sheets one by one from a stack of document sheets D to the exposure position of the platen 4. At the exposure position, a single exposure can occur if only one copy set is programmed, or multiple exposures can occur otherwise. After one or more exposures, each original sheet is automatically returned to the original stack and the next original sheet, if any, is brought to the exposure position on platen 4. As can be seen, the original sheets returned to the original stack can be circulated again in the device 2 or can be removed by the operator once the copying program has finished.

Manuscript handling equipment! ! 2 has a base portion 40, the lower end of which supports a combination of left and right tray members 42 so as to be pivotable by a shaft 41. Training part 4
2 has an sl υ shape when viewed in cross section. Each tray member has a base 43, the upper end of which is cut out to accommodate a document separation/feed roll 44. The tray member can be adjusted along axis 41 to accommodate different sized documents.

Manuscript portion j! The l/feed roll 44 is rotatably supported on a drive shaft 45 below the platform portion 40, with a portion of the roll's outer circumference protruding into the document tray area. The base part 40 is 1 minute! Ii/feeding roll 44 is inserted
An appropriate opening is provided in each case. Shaft 45 is rotatably supported and continuously driven by motor M-1 via suitable pulleys and belts (not shown). Electromagnetic crank 5QL-1, in response to signals from the mechanical logic circuit, drives motor M-1 to separation/feed roll 44 in a timed sequence according to programming of the logic circuit.

A pair of document restriction rollers 46, 47 located downstream of the separation/feed roll 44 serve to prevent more than one document sheet from passing through at one time. roller 4
If the friction generated between 6 and 47 is greater than or equal to a predetermined set value, the lower limit roller 47 causes the upper limit roller 46 to
is now driven. When a reduction in roller friction occurs, such as when two overlapping original sheets attempt to pass therethrough, roller 46 is rotated in a direction to reject the original by suitable drive means (not shown). The original sheet emerging from the limit rollers 46, 47 is conveyed by intermediate rollers below the curved original guide 48 to the platen transport belt conveyor 4°9 and is conveyed onto the platen 4 by the belt conveyor 49.

An alignment edge 50 located on the entrance side of the platen 4 serves to align the original sheets, that is, to position them at a predetermined exposure position on the platen 4 . Therefore, after the original sheet has been conveyed past alignment edge 50, the movement of platen transport belt 49 is reversed. This reversal of the conveyor belt 49 has the effect of moving the document sheet rearward and abutting its trailing edge against the alignment edge 50. When the exposure is completed, the platen transport belt 49 operates in the opposite direction again to transport the original sheet backward from the platen 4. To this end, alignment edge 50 is retracted by suitable means (not shown). The document guide finger 51 deflects or guides the returned document sheet into the nip of a first pair of return transport rollers 52 .

The document sheet enters the nip between the pair of second return conveyance rollers 54 by the pair of conveyance rollers 52, and is returned to the tray member 42 by the pair of rollers 54.

The returned original sheet D' is kept separated from the waiting original sheet D, and following the feeding of the last original sheet, the feeding roller 44 keeps the returned original sheet D' separated from the waiting original sheet D.
To prevent accidental re-feeding of the feed roller 44, a removable crosspiece or separation bar 55 is installed opposite and above the feed roller 44. Separation rod 55
is supported from a swingable horizontal shaft 56 supported by a suitable bearing on the support frame of the document handling device 2.

Means (not shown) for selectively rotating the transverse shaft 56 to lift the bar 55 from beneath the document sheet D' resting thereon and then return it behind the top sheet of the document sheets being fed. ) is installed.

All the aforementioned rollers are driven by motor M-1 via suitable pulleys and belts (not shown). The document handling device 2 is a part of the product manufactured by Xerox Corporation under the trade name Xerox 9200 (registered trademark) and is described in detail in U.S. Pat. No. 3,944,794. Explanation will be omitted.

Further details of the printing device, ie the various processing stations of processing bag W1, are not necessary to understand the principles of the invention. However, various processing stations of the processing device 1,
A detailed description of the components and other structures can be found in US Pat. No. 4,054,380.

As previously mentioned, the document handling device 2 has a document tray adapted to support a stack of a plurality of document sheets in numerical order, with one page of a multi-page document at the bottom of the stack. .

The illustrated document handler is bottom-fed, so page 1 is the first document sheet to be imaged.

In either single-sided or double-sided copying mode, the copy sheet leaving the fixing device 19 is transferred to a transport device 27, 28.
directly to and passes through the exit slot 26 at one end of the housing of the xerographic processing device 1. Upon exiting the slot 26, the copy sheets are sent to finishing equipment 3, which consists of a rotary sorter, a stapling device, an adhesive binding device, and an output elevator conveyor device. After leaving the processing device 1, as shown in FIG.
Each sheet is guided to a transport device 60 within the finishing device 3. .

The conveyance device 60 has a function for each sheet and the next sorting.
An alignment device (not shown) is provided for trailing edge alignment of the sheets as programmed, ie, placed in a timed order. Sheet receiving station 62
The sheets leaving the alignment device in a timed order are
It is continuously guided into the bins 63 of a rotary sorter 64 driven by a motor drive M-2 connected to a support shaft 65. The drive control device for this purpose is configured to continuously provide indexing rotational motion to the sorter, as described below.

During a normal collation operation, sorter 64 rotates in the direction of arrow 66. While the sheet is being guided into the busi 63,
Sorter 64 is indexed to place the next successive bin near sheet receiving station 62 and the sheet or sheets in the preceding bin are manipulated by pusher device 67. Each sheet entering the bin is pressed by device 67 to corner register the complete copy set immediately prior to the stapling or adhesive binding operation described below.

After the push device 67, as the rotary sorter 64 continues its indexing rotation, the next operating station is the adhesive binding station. Here, an adhesive binding device 70 is installed, and if the operator has programmed this operation into the programming device P, when all the programmed copy sheets are collected in the bin, a complete copy set, i.e. Hot glue is applied to the spine of the booklet.

As the sorter 64 continues to rotate, the adhesive bound copy set, if programmed, will
Cooling system! 71, where the still hot adhesive is cooled. Cooling device 7
1 preferably includes a fan and a manifold having an outlet spanning the inlets of at least two bins 63 and extending in the axial direction of the sorter 64.

This device 71 can sufficiently cool the hot adhesive on the spines of copy sets, ie, booklets, in the bin. As the sorter continues to rotate, the bins are transported to a pick-up station 72 where they are stapled,
Alternatively, a completed adhesive bound copy set or an unbound copy set is removed.

The take-out station 72 includes a pair of nip rollers 73.
．． 74 and a belt 75 which is placed over a drive shaft 76 for driving a pair of rollers 73, 74 (see FIG. 5). roller 73.74
can print copies ranging from 2 to 50 sheets without ruining the copy set or wearing out the rollers excessively.
It is made of a very flexible foam material so that the set can be transported through the nip.

The copy sheet is conveyed from the pick-up conveyor to a platform or tray 77 of an elevator 78 which is configured to be movable in both up and down directions by a pair of elongated screws 79.

The last finishing station along the bin travel path is a stapling device 80 suitably mounted on the frame of the finishing device 3 so as to be pivotable in a plane inclined to the horizontal plane.
It is. A stapling device 80 is located at the end of the sorter 64 and, when actuated, pivots inward toward the corners of the copy sets or booklets registered in the bins 63.

The sorter 64 has bin plates 63 radially attached to circular front and rear end plates 81 and 82 (see FIG. 4). The inner edge of each bin plate 63 is formed with a bottom alignment edge 83 against which sheets are supported as they are inserted into the bin.

When each sheet is inserted into the bin, it is forced into the bin by the transport device 60 and is aligned against the registration edge 83 under the action of the pusher device 67. The pushing device 67 cooperates with the lip 83 to corner register each copy set, or booklet, grouped in the bin.

Each bin 63 is coupled to a copy set gripper bar mechanism for holding the copy sheets in the respective bin during rotation of the sorter 64. 72
, the gripper bar 84 is opened by the bin opening/closing actuation mechanism as the bin approaches its respective station so that sheets can be moved into and out of the bin.

The gripper bar mechanism serves to hold the copy sheets in alignment as the sorter rotates during copying and to prevent sheets from shifting when the bins are in the upside down position.

As shown in FIG. 3, each bin has a glyph bar 84 disposed therein extending in the axial direction of the sorter 64 the entire length of the bin. The gripper bars and their associated opening and closing mechanisms are all identical, so only one will be described in detail. Each bar 8
4 has a plate member 85 extending into the bottle. The lower end of the plate member 85 is rotatably attached to the bin plate 63, and the upper end is fixed to the gripper bar 84, so that when the gripper bar is moved, each plate member 85 smoothly moves. It can be translated into and out of contact with the sheets in each bin. The outer edge of each plate member is bent to form a gripper edge 86;
When in the holding state, it contacts the sheet along its longitudinal edge near the inlet of each bin. The bar 84 has a loft 8 parallel to the axis 65 which is pivotably mounted on a suitable bracket on the frame of the sorter so that the bar 84 can be rotated between a holding position and a non-holding position.
It is connected to 7. Each coil spring 88 at each end of rod 87 is connected at one end to a gripper bar and at the other end to bin plate 63, and typically biases bar 84, as shown in FIG. Then, attach the plate member 85 to the sheet S.
is pushed to place the gripper edge 86 in the sheet holding position, that is, in the holding position. The pivoting installation of the bar 84 is approximately 9 degrees from the edge.
Adjacent to the rear end plate 82 is a crank arm 89 extending at an angle of 0.06 and fixed to the bar 84.

At the end of the crank arm remote from the pivot rod 87 there is a roller 90 for rotation on a pin fixed to this end.
is supported.

All Greenbar bar n-sees 90, one for each bin in the sorter, are located at the rear of the copier, adjacent to the rear end plate 82 and spaced from the outer periphery of the sorter. It is adapted to contact the cam control device.

One cam control device 91, as shown in FIG.
The other cam control 92 acts on the gripper bar as it approaches the removal station 72, as shown in FIG.

The cam device 91 is formed with two cam surfaces 93,94 which can be contacted by the roller 90 and are separated by a projection or elevation 95 at the joint. Cam surface 93 acts to move gripper bar 84, and thus gripper green 86, counterclockwise through roller 90 against the bias of spring 88 and out of contact with the sheet. The order of this action is as follows.

As the sorter 64 rotates in the direction of arrow 66, the gripper actuating roller 90a contacts the cam surface 93 which is sloped towards the elevated point 95. With continuous rotation of the sorter,
Roller 90a is raised progressively higher by surface 93, causing associated gripper bar 84a to rotate counterclockwise. As a result, the gripper edge 86a is attached to the bin 63.
It is pulled away from the sheet in a. As the sorter rotates further beyond the position shown in FIG. 3, roller 90a moves above and beyond the elevated point 95 where gripper green 86a is most separated from sheet S.

When this inspection occurs, the sheet S1 begins its movement from the transport device 60 into the bin 63b to which the gripper bar is connected. As shown in FIG.
5 and above the cam surface 94. However, the return movement of the gripper edge 86b is just beginning, because the portion of the cam surface 94 from the high point 95 to the point of contact with the roller 90b is effectively a stagnant cam region, This is because it causes almost no movement. Therefore, in this position, S+ is bin 6
It's going pretty deep into 3b. As the sorter rotates further, roller 90c advances further along cam surface 94 and its configuration causes gripper bar 84c and green 86c to rotate back clockwise toward the sheets in bin 63c. Finally, as the sorter rotates further and roller 90d advances to the end of cam surface 94, the gripper
Bar 84d and gripper green 86d fully return to contact the sheet in bin 63d.

In the above sequence, the gripper bars of at least three bins 63 are pulled away from the sheets within the bins. This provides sufficient space and timing for the pusher 67 to perform corner alignment of the sheets in the bin. Having at least three unobstructed bin entrances ensures that each sheet has sufficient time to enter and align in each bin. In addition, this significantly longer sequence of mechanical actions reduces the occurrence of jams caused by mistiming of sheet arrival or as a result of machine tolerances.

The rotary sorter 64 continues to rotate in the direction of the arrow during the copy job and if the programmed number of copy sets or booklets is less than or equal to the number of bins (preferably 24 bins), the ship is completed. collate the flow of sheets entering the sorter until the end of the sorter, or stop collecting sheets when all 24 bins are occupied by complete booklets. As soon as this occurs, the sorter rotates in the same manner as it collates, binding each booklet to the adhesive binding device 70 or the It is carried to either side of the binding device 80.

To maintain productivity, the binding operation begins as soon as the booklets are completed and transported to the binding location, even if the last sheet of each booklet is still being inserted into the bin.

As previously mentioned, a cam device 92 is installed at the ejection station or retrieval station 72 to control the ejection of bound copy sets. Fifth
As shown, the cam device 92 has a cam surface 97 formed thereon. When the cam device 92 is in the path of travel of the roller 90 of the gripper mechanism and in a position to intercept the roller 90, the roller 90 is guided against the cam surface 97. The cam device 92 is rotatably attached to a pivot shaft 98, and is connected to a program device P of the copying machine.
The movable roller 900 is moved in and out of the path by a motor drive device M-3 controlled by the motor drive device M-3. Motor drive device M
A rotating eccentric cam 100 that can contact the end of the cam device 92 far from the pivot shaft 98 is attached to the driven shaft 99 of -3. When the cam 100 is rotated by a signal sent from the program device P to the motor drive device M-3, the round protrusion on the cam 100 rotates the cam device 92 and therefore the cam surface 9'7 with each rotation of the sorter 64. When the rotor 90 is moving, the rotor 90 is moved in and out of the moving path.

When in the camming position, as shown in FIG. 5, when gripper-actuation roller 90 rests on cam surface 97, cam surface 97 forces gripper bar 89e counterclockwise against the biasing force of spring 8B. It is designed to rotate in the direction.

To this end, roller 90e begins to rotate gripper bar 89e against cam surface 97. As the sorter 64 continues to rotate and the copy set moves close to the pick-up station 72 between the rollers 73, 74 of the pick-up transport, rotation of the gripper bar 898 and the corresponding gripper m86e from the copy set S. The backward movement stops. At this position, the copy set S falls from the bin 63 onto the conveyor belt 75, is conveyed by the belt 75, and is stacked on the elevator tray 77. As the sorter rotates further, the gripper-actuating roller 90f disengages from the cam surface so that the gripper bar can move the bin 6 that is empty, i.e. from which a copy set has been removed.
3 to the normal biased position.

Excitation of the motor drive M-3 for removing the bound copy set from the bin 63 is controlled by the programmer Hp.
controlled by During cent collation, the motor is de-energized so that the cam device 92 remains inactive as the rotary sorter 64 rotates to receive sheets.

When the collation of the set is finished, the signal for this result is
For example, a counter counts the sheets entering the sorter at transport 60 and divides the total number of sheets by the number of bins 63 or, if the number of bins is removed, by the programmed number of sets to be collated. It will be done. This signal is sent to programmer P, and motor M-3 is energized at an appropriate time, generally starting with the first bound set, and remains energized until the set is removed from sorter 64. Each revolution of the cam 100 is timed to one indexing motion of the sorter, or one revolution per bin, so that one bin revolution of the sorter and one revolution of the cam
In combination with rotation, the sets are removed from the sorter, one bin at a time, at the rotational speed used to insert the sheets into the bins.

In this way, since the sorter rotates at the same constant speed,
Receiving and unloading can occur simultaneously at fixed times during a copy job.

As the collated, stapled, and retrieved sets are stacked on the tray 77, the tray 77
For example, it may be lowered by a height sensor and by incrementally driving the motor driving the scree 79. Once tray 77 is full and reaches its lowest position, further removal is stopped and tray 77 automatically rises to its highest position, indicated by dashed line 110 (see Figure 1), allowing the operator to Completed sets can be removed. When the set is removed, the tray automatically returns to its removal position as shown.

The adhesive binding device 70 has a container 116 containing adhesive M.
The adhesive application roller 115 is partially immersed in the adhesive. The container 116 is mounted on a frame 117 which is movably mounted to the bed of the finishing device 3 by a pair of roller races 119. Similarly, the motor M-4 installed on the frame 117 is connected to the program device W1. When excited by a signal from P, it drives the rollers 11,5. This signal is automatically generated when the copy set S is completed and ready for binding, if an adhesive binding operation is programmed.

For example, a motor M-5 and a crank device 120 are used to move the roller 115 into and out of position for applying adhesive to the spines of the booklets, ie set S. When motor M-4, which drives roller 115, is energized and motor M-5 is energized by a signal from the programming device, adhesive binding device 70 is moved to its operative position, as shown in FIG. It will be done. A pair of heaters 122 are suitably placed below the container 116 to maintain the adhesive at the most suitable true melt temperature for entering and absorbing into the spine of each booklet. Programming device P for heating the adhesive
, which can be set to take effect when the adhesive binding mode of operation is programmed.

FIG. 7 is a schematic diagram showing the application of adhesive to the spine of a complete booklet, ie set S. As the sorter 64 rotates, the edge of the booklet to which the adhesive is to be applied traces a circular path of movement as indicated by dashed lines.

The applicator roller 115 can be moved toward this dashed line when in adhesive binding mode to apply the adhesive held within the outer periphery of the roller 115 to the spine of each booklet. Each booklet is finished with a thin layer of adhesive along the edges, as indicated by the reference symbol N.

The circular moving line is spaced a short distance from the outer periphery of roller 115 to allow a certain thickness of adhesive to adhere to the edges of the booklet. Additionally, this device 70 produces adhesive beads B at both corners of the spine. For best results, the peripheral speed of roller 115 is approximately equal to the linear speed of the booklet spine along the line.

The stapling device 80 is pivotally mounted on a pivot pin 130 suitably supported in the frame of finishing device f3, as shown in FIG. The pins 130 are at an angle to the horizontal so that the plane of pivoting motion of the stapler 80 and each plate to be stapled when in its radial direction within the sorter 64 are coplanar. (See Figure 1). Thus, the stapler's anvil 131 and stapling head 132 are configured to receive one corner of the booklet at the correct stapling angle and with sufficient clearance to avoid jamming. In order to accommodate the anvil 131 and head 132 of the stapling device 80 during the stapling operation, each plate member 85 connected to the gripper mechanism is provided with a notch 133 at its rear end. (See Figure 4).

The movement of the stapling device in its pivot plane is effected by a motor M-6 mounted on the frame of the finishing device 3. A crank mechanism 134 coupled between the stapling device and the frame pivots the stapling device into and out of the stapling position for each separate operation by the sorter 64. When energized by a signal from programming device P, motor M-6 rotates stapling device 80 to cause anvil 131 and head 13 to rotate, as shown by the dashed lines in FIG.
2 into the notch 133. After that, the solenoid 5QL attached to the stapling device 80
-3 is excited by a signal from the programming device P;
A stapling operation occurs. Motor M-6 is still energized and stapling device 80 is returned from the currently rotating sorter 64 to its inoperative position.

During operation, motor M-6 remains energized during the entire copying operation, including stapling of the complete booklet;
Solenoid 5QL-3 is continuously energized during each stapling operation. The index rotation movement of the sorter by the motor drive device M-2 is caused by the reciprocating movement between the operating position and the non-operating position of the stapling device 80 by the motor M-6, and the solenoid 5Q for performing stapling.
It is in a timed relationship with the excitation of L-3. In this way, productivity is maintained without pitch loss and very high speed production is possible.

FIG. 9 is a block diagram of a control device of the copying/finishing apparatus of FIG. 1. Programming device P includes four remote devices,
(1) Xerography processing, copy sheet feeding, movement,
A processing unit (1) for controlling timing and monitoring as well as all other parameters within the processing unit (21), an input device (21) consisting of a flash illumination device (6) and a line network, in which copy size reduction features are available; (3) an automatic It is operatively connected to the document handling device 2 and (4) the finishing device 3.

The finishing device 3 has an exciter operatively connected to the servo controller, which exciter is connected to a power amplifier that serves to excite and operate the indexing motor M-2 of the rotary sorter. . The remote device of the finishing device 3 further includes a take-out cam motor M-3 and an adhesive application motor M-3.
4. It has respective exciters for the connection stitching positioning motor M-5 and the stapling device positioning motor M-6.

The flowcharts of FIGS. 10a, 10b, and 10c illustrate the processing of the flow of copy sheets from processor 1 and operational control for document handling device 2 as the sheets enter finishing device 3. The flow of copy sheets is carried out by a rotary sorter 64.
Consists of a series of multiple copies of the same original sheet collected in a In Figures 10a and 10b, the collation is performed by device 2.
This continues until the original sheet within is finished, which depends on the number of copy sets or booklets programmed and the number of bins on the sorter. If the programmed number of sets is less than the number of bins, the binding operation begins after the last bin receives the last sheet, as shown in Figure 10c. If the programmed number is greater than the number of bins, the binding operation begins after the complete set has been collected in the bin. After the stapling operation is completed and the sets have been removed from the entire sorter, collation begins as before.

The same applies below. For operational tamming, suitable sensors and switches are located within the device for counting and positioning the sheets.

(Effects of the Invention) As described above, a collated set that is stapled or adhesive bound at a high production speed without loss of throughput and at a speed that virtually matches the entire processing speed of a copying processing device; It is clear that an electrostatographic apparatus has been described with a finishing device capable of producing unbound sets. Copying/finishing machines that use document handlers that recirculate document sheets one exposure at a time are limited in their copying speed by the mechanical constraints of the document handler, and the present invention minimizes these limitations. Using the principles of the present invention, even higher copying speeds can be achieved.

Although the invention has been described in a disclosed structure, the invention is not intended to be limited to the details described, but is intended to cover modifications and variations that may fall within the scope of the claims.

[Brief explanation of the drawing]

FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram showing the configuration of an electrophotographic printing/finishing device using the present invention. FIG. 2 is a front view of a document handling device used in the printing device of FIG. 1. FIG. FIG. 4 is a perspective view of the sheet gripper mechanism; FIG. 5 is a partial front view of the unloading station showing the release mechanism of the gripper mechanism; Figure 6 is a front view of the adhesive binding device; Figure 7 is a schematic representation of a portion of the sorter and the rollers applying adhesive to the spine of the booklet; Figure 8 shows the stapler in its two operating positions; FIG. 9 is a block diagram of the control method of the printing device of FIG. 1; FIGS. 10a, 10b, and 10c are flowcharts of the control function of the present invention. DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1... Xerography processing device, 2... Document handling device, 3... Finishing device, 4... Exposure platen, 5
... Xerography belt, 6... Flash illumination device, 7... Lamp, 8.9.10... Roller, 11... Developing device, 12... Transfer station,
13...Main seat/tray, 14...Auxiliary seat/
Tray, 15...Conveyor, 16...Sheet alignment finger, 17...Transfer roller, 18...Vacuum conveyor, 19...Fixing device, 20...Elevator type stand 1.21... - Feeding belt, 22... Elevator platform, 23... Feeding belt, 24... Sheet conveying device, 25... Guide, 26... Exit slot, 27.
28... Conveyance device, 29... Turning device, 30.31.
...Roller, 32.33...Seat guide baffle,
34.35... Pair of rollers, 36... Conveyance mechanism, 3
7... Sheet stop device, 38... Roll, 40...
・Base part, 41... Shaft, 42... Tray part, 43
...stand, 44...original separation/feeding roll, 45...
・Drive shaft, 46.47...Document limit roller, 49・
. . . Platen transport belt conveyor, 50 . . . Alignment edge, 51 . . . Document guide finger, 52 .
A pair of return conveyance rollers, 55...separation rod, 56...swingable horizontal shaft, 60...conveyance device, 62...sheet receiving station, 63...1.・Bin, 64゛...
- Rotary sorter, 65... Support shaft, 66... Rotation direction, 67... Pushing device, 70... Adhesive binding device, 71... Cooling device, 72... Taking out station, 73 .74...Pair of rollers, 75...Belt, 7
6...JJ axis? ? ... Tray, 78 ... Elevator, 79 ... Screw, 80 ... Stable binding device, 81.82 ... End plate, 83 ... Bottom alignment edge, 84 ... Gripper. Bar, 85... Plate member, 86... Gripper edge, 87... Rod, 88
...Coil spring, 89...Crank arm, 90...
Roller, 91.92...Cam device, 93.94...
・Cam surface, 95...High point, 97...Cam surface, 98...Pivot shaft, 99...Axis, 100...
Eccentric cam, 110...Highest position of tray 77, 115
... Adhesive application roller, 116 ... Container, 117
... Frame, 119 ... Roller lace, 12
0... Crank device, 122... Heater, 130.
... Pivot pin, 131 ... Anvil, 132.
...Stable binding head, 133...Notch, 13
4...Crank mechanism. 1', 'F/6.6 7' RG, 7 IG 8 F/6.9 FIG, 10σ FIG, 10b

Claims (1)

Claims: 1. A finishing device configured to receive sets of multiple sheets of the same information, comprising: a frame; receiving a stream of sheets at a receiving station;
a rotary sorter rotatably mounted to the frame with radially extending bins disposed in the path of the flow of sheets for collating them into booklets; means for imparting rotation to the sorter with respect to the receiving station adjacent to the rotary sorter for stapling booklets while they are in the bins when the bins of the sorter are moved to a stapling station; 1. A finishing device comprising: a stapling station having a stapling device adapted to approach and retract each booklet. 2. The finishing device according to claim 1, further comprising a take-out station at which the booklet is taken out of the bin after the binding operation. 3. The finishing device according to claim 1, wherein the stapling device is pivotably attached to the frame. 4. The finishing device according to claim 1, wherein the stapling device can approach and retreat from the corners of each booklet. 5. A processing device for copying the information to be copied onto a copy sheet, and a device for creating information in the form of individual light images for each copy sheet. Each light image is continuously created a predetermined number of times, and then A copying machine having means for producing an equal number of successive light images, the rotary copying machine having a sheet collection bin arranged to receive sheets from a processing device at a receiving station and collate them into a booklet. a type sorter, means for imparting rotation to said sorter relative to said receiving station where sheets are received into respective said bins;
and adjacent to said rotary sorter, such that as the bins of said sorter are moved to a binding station, each booklet can be approached and retracted for stapling while the booklet is in said bin. A copying machine comprising: a stapling station having a stapling device. 6. The copying machine according to claim 5, further comprising a take-out station for taking out the booklet from the bin after the binding operation. 7. The copying machine according to claim 5, wherein the stapling device is rotatably attached to the frame. 8. The copying machine according to claim 5, wherein the stapling device can approach and retreat from the corners of each booklet. 9. A document handling device configured to transport document sheets one by one from a supply stack to an exposure station, expose each document sheet multiple times, and then return it to the supply stack, and make copies of the exposed document sheets. a rotary sorter arranged to receive the output of copy sheets from the processor at a receiving station and collate them into a booklet; means for imparting an indexing rotation to said sorter relative to said receiving station for receiving each booklet, and adjacent said rotary sorter for stapling each booklet when the bins of said sorter are indexed to a stapling station; a stapling station, the stapling station having a stapling device arranged to be movable toward and away from the document sheet and operable in synchronization with multiple exposures of the original sheet;
A copying machine characterized by being equipped with a combination of. 10. The copying machine according to claim 9, further comprising control means for actuating the stapling device for each successive indexing movement of the bin in the finishing operation mode of the copying machine. Machine. 11. The method according to claim 9, further comprising control means coupled to the means for imparting index rotation and causing index rotation in synchronization with the operation of the stapling device. Copy machine.