JPS62161671A - Sorter - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To simplify a sorter in structure, by rotating a paper discharge roller in the inner part of a lifting member for a short time at a time when paper arrives at the inside of the lifting member going up and down along plural bins, while holding an end of the paper in between, lifting it up to a designated position, and rotating the discharge roller. CONSTITUTION:A lifting member 10, moving up and down, is made to assume a posture of standing by at a lowermost part of plural bins 9 vertically disposed, in advance. An inlet paper hole 5 of a sorter 1 is installed in a paper discharge port 3 of a copying machine 2 so as to be opposed. When the copied paper P is conveyed by feed rollers 6 and 7 and arrives at a tip of the lifting member 10, a sensor 23 detects it, and discharge rollers 15 and 21 inside the lifting member 10 are rotated for a short time, holding an edge of the paper P in between. A lift driving device 12 makes the lifting member 10 lift up to the designated bin 9 according to a select signal out of the copying machine 2. Then, the paper P is discharged to the designated bin 9 by these discharge rollers 15 and 21, while the lifting member 10 is returned to the stand-by position. with this constitution, the sorter is simplified in structure, making its automatic sorting so easy.

Description

TECHNICAL FIELD The present invention relates to a sorter that sorts recording sheets discharged from an image recording apparatus such as an electronic copying machine or a printer into a plurality of bins.

Prior Art Conventionally, a sorter has been constructed using a plurality of bins arranged at predetermined intervals in the vertical direction, a belt arranged near these bins to convey recording paper upward or downward, and a recording medium on this belt. A recording paper conveying means including a suction fan that sucks paper, an elevating member disposed between the recording paper conveying means and the bin so as to be movable up and down, an elevating drive means for elevating the elevating member, and an elevating means for elevating and lowering the elevating member. A direction switching member which is disposed on the member and which directs the moving direction of the recording paper being moved by the recording paper conveying means toward the bin; There are known devices that include a pair of paper ejection rollers that eject paper into a bin.

However, in this sorter, it is necessary to change the conveying direction of the recording paper in the recording paper conveying means depending on the height of the recording paper ejection position of the image recording device, and to change the configuration of the direction switching member accordingly. , and has the disadvantage of a complicated configuration.

OBJECT An object of the present invention is to provide a sorter that can easily accommodate changes in the recording paper ejection position 1d of a single-image recording apparatus and that has a simple configuration.

Structure The present invention provides: (1) a plurality of bins arranged at predetermined intervals in the vertical direction; an elevating member disposed near the bins so as to be movable; and an elevating drive means for elevating the elevating member; a pair of paper ejection rollers disposed on the elevating member and ejecting the recording paper to a bin after temporarily holding the recording paper;
It is equipped with a paper ejection roller driving means for rotating these paper ejection rollers, and a one-way clutch that rotatably supports the rotating shaft of the paper ejection roller so as to be rotatable only in the direction in which the recording paper is ejected, and the elevating member is Waiting at a predetermined position, the pair of paper ejection rollers are rotated for a short predetermined period of time, and the elevating member is moved forward at a predetermined position by 1 μm while the pair of paper ejection rollers is holding the recording paper being fed between them, and then the paper ejection roller is rotated for a short predetermined time. is rotated to discharge the recording paper into a bin by a paper discharge roller, and firstly, the elevating member is moved back to its original predetermined position Q2.

Next, embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail based on the drawings.

In FIG. 1, reference numeral 1 indicates a sorter.

An electronic copying machine 2 is arranged adjacent to the exterior plate 1a of the sorter 1. A paper discharge port 3 for discharging the recording paper P toward the sorter 1 is formed in the cover plate 2a of the electronic copying machine 2. A pair of paper ejection rollers 4 are arranged inside the exterior plate 2a near the paper ejection port 3.

A paper receiving port 5 is formed in the exterior plate 1a of the sorter 1, facing the paper discharge port 3 of the exterior plate 2a of the electronic copying machine 2. A pair of receiving rollers 6.7 are arranged in the filter portion of the exterior plate 1a near the paper receiving opening 5. These receiving rollers 6 , 7 are pressed together, and one receiving roller 7 is rotated by receiving roller drive means 8 . This receiving roller driving means 8 includes a motor 8a fixed to an exterior 51a and a pulley 8C fixed to a drive shaft 8b of the motor 8a.
and a pulley 8d fixed to the rotating shaft 7a of the receiving roller rough.
and a bell (8e) attached to these pulleys sc and sct.

A plurality of bins 9 are arranged at predetermined intervals in the vertical direction on the side of the receiving rollers 6 and 7 in the feeding direction of the recording paper P. These bottles 9 are supported by the exterior plate 1a, and most of the bottles 9 extend outward from the opening of the exterior plate 1a.

Between the receiving roller 6.7 and the bin 9, an elevating member 10 is arranged near the bin 9 so as to be movable up and down. A guide member 11 for guiding the recording paper P is arranged between the receiving roller 6.7 and the elevating member 10. The elevating member 10 is raised and lowered by an elevating drive means 12. This lifting/lowering driving means 12 includes two pairs of pulleys 12a, 121) arranged above and below, and a rotating shaft 12 of the upper pulley 12a.
A step motor 12d that can be rotated in forward and reverse directions and is placed near C, and a drive shaft 12 of the step motor 12d.
The worm gear 2f fixed to
Gear 12g fixed to 2C and the pulley 12a
, 12b, and a pair of wires 12h to which both side plates 10a of the elevating member 10 are fixed.

Both ends of the rotating shafts 12C2121 of the pulleys 12a and 12b are supported by bearings fixed to the exterior plate 1a. The step motor 12d is fixed to the exterior plate 1a.

The elevating member 10 includes one side plate 10a and a holding plate 100 integrally fixed to these plates.

On both sides 1flOa and retaining plate 10b.

Two guide members 10C910d are provided to guide the recording paper P sent from the receiving roller 6.7.

As shown in FIG. 4, two support members 13 are provided protruding from the guide member 10d. Bearings 14 are disposed in the long holes of these supporting members 13 so as to be movable up and down by a short distance, and a rotating shaft 15a of a paper discharge roller 15 is supported by these bearings 14. A holding member 16 is provided to protrude from the guide member 10d, and a spring 17 that presses the rotating shaft 15a of the paper ejection roller 15 downward is held in the holding member 16.

The guide member 10d is also provided with two supporting members 18 protruding from the one-way clutch 1.
9 and a bearing 20 are provided, and a rotating shaft 21a of a paper discharge roller 21 is supported by the one-way clutch 19 and bearing 20. This paper ejection roller 21 is rotated by a paper ejection roller drive means 22. This paper discharge roller driving means 22 includes a motor 22a fixed to the holding plate 10b of the elevating member 10, and a drive shaft 22 of the motor 22a.
Boo fixed on b! j22c and this boo! J22c
A pulley 22d fixed to the rotating shaft 21a of the paper ejection roller 21 so as to face the 7'-! J22C,2
It consists of a belt 22e attached to a belt 2d. The one-way clutch 19 does not prevent the paper ejection roller 21 from rotating in the direction in which the recording paper P is sent to the bin 9, and in the opposite direction to the direction in which the paper ejection roller 21 sends the recording paper P to the bin 9. prevent it from rotating.

A paper sensor 23 for detecting the recording paper P is arranged between the paper ejection roller 15.21 and the receiving roller 6.7 and near the paper ejection rollers 15, 21. This paper sensor 2
3 consists of a photo sensor.

It is fixed to the guide member 10d. Above paper ejection roller 1
A roller standby position sensor 24 is arranged at a predetermined position to detect when the rollers 5 and 21 are placed at a standby position to receive the recording paper P sent by the receiving roller 6.7. This roller standby position sensor 24 is composed of a photo sensor,
By detecting that the side plate 10a of the elevating member 10 is placed at a predetermined position, it is detected that the paper ejection rollers 15, 21 are placed at the standby position.

When the recording paper P is sent from the discharge roller 4 of the electronic copying machine 2 between the receiving rollers 6.7, the receiving roller 6.7 sends the recording paper P in the direction of the paper discharge rollers 15 and 21. In this case, the paper discharge rollers 15 and 21 are in a standby position for receiving the recording paper P (in the illustrated embodiment, a position corresponding to the lowest bin 9) in a non-rotated state. When the paper sensor 23 detects the leading edge of the recording paper P, the paper ejection rollers 15 and 21 move the recording paper P for a short predetermined period from this point on.
is rotated in the direction of feeding the recording paper P to the bin 9, and stops while clamping the leading end of the recording paper P.

When the paper ejection rollers 15, 21 grip the recording paper P, the elevating member 10 and the paper ejection roller 15.21 move forward in the direction of the selected bin 9 to be used, thereby corresponding to the selected bin 9. Stop in position.

When the elevating member 10 and the paper ejection rollers 15 and 21 move forward, the first paper ejection roller 21 is prevented from rotating in the direction opposite to the direction in which the recording paper P is sent to the bin 9 by the one-way clutch 19. The recording paper P never comes off from the paper ejection rollers 15.21.

The forward movement speed of the paper ejection rollers 15, 21 when moving the paper ejection rollers 15, 21 forward to the selected bin 9 is as follows:
This is the paper ejection roller 15.21, which is set to be almost the same as the ejection speed of the recording paper P of the ejection roller 4 of the electronic copying machine 2.
This is to prevent the recording paper P from being detached from the paper ejection roller 15.degree. 21 due to unnecessary resistance acting on the recording paper P when the recording paper P moves forward.

When the paper ejection rollers 15, 21 are placed at the position corresponding to the selected bin 9, the paper ejection rollers 15, 21 are rotated to eject the recording paper P to the bin 9, and the one paper sensor 23
After a short predetermined period of time has elapsed from the time when the rear end of the recording paper P is detected, the rotation of the paper ejection rollers 15 and 21 is stopped, and the elevating member 10 and the paper ejection rollers 15 and 21 are returned to the standby position. These elevating members 10 and 4 and the paper ejection roller 15°21
When moving backward, the elevating member 10 and the paper ejection roller 15
．． Since the recording paper P is not held between the first paper discharge rollers 15 and 21, the speed of the backward motion 21 may be made larger than the paper discharge speed of the electronic copying machine 2 (μm) and the fourth recording paper P feeding speed.

FIG. 5 shows the operation display panel 25 disposed on the upper surface of the exterior plate 2a of the electronic copying machine 2. This will be explained next. or OFF
a power key 26 to indicate whether the power is on or off, and a power indicator 27 which indicates whether the power is on or off. Start key to start copying 28. To set the number of original sheets, press the original number set key 29. Original sheet number cent display 30 for displaying whether or not this original sheet number set key 29 is turned on. Copy number set key 31 to set the number of copies. A copy number sector indicator 32 displays whether the copy number seven key 31 is turned on or not. A numeric keypad 33 for inputting the number of original sheets or the number of copies, a clear stop key 34 for clearing the input value using the numeric keypad 33 and stopping copying, and an original set number display 35 for displaying the number of original sheets. Original copy number display 36 that displays the number of copies of the original. Copy cent number display 37 for displaying the set number of copies. Copy execution number display 38 for displaying the number of sheets of recording paper P on which copying has been performed. Sort mode key 39 for setting the sort mode. Sort mode indicator 40 for displaying whether the sort mode is set or not. A stack mode key 41 for setting the stack mode, a stack mode indicator 42 for displaying whether the stack mode is set or not are provided.

After turning on the upper key 29 for the number of originals mentioned above, press the numeric key 3.
When inputting 3, the number of original cents is input, and when inputting using the numeric keypad 33 after turning on the copy number seven key 31, the number of copy cents is input. The above-mentioned sort mode refers to a mode in which a plurality of recording papers P are discharged one by one into separate bins 9. The above-mentioned stack mode refers to a mode in which a plurality of recording papers P are ejected into a plurality of bins 9. This is a mode in which the maximum possible number of sheets is sequentially ejected.

FIG. 6 shows the control device for the sorter 1 described above, which will be explained next.

Paper sensor 23, roller standby position sensor 24° power key 26. Start key 28. Original number set key 29.
Number of copies: cent key 31. Information such as a numeric keypad 331, a sort mode key 39, and a stack mode key 41 is provided to the input port of the microcomputer 43 in the RAM of the microcomputer 43.

Original sheet number set counter, copy set number counter,
A total copy set number counter, a discharged paper number counter, a sort mode flag, a used bin number counter, a lift flag, etc. are provided. The above root mode flag is
When the sort mode key 39 is turned on, it becomes "1" and becomes 2.
And when stack mode key 41'E=ON, "
0". The used bin number counter counts the number of bins used in the sort mode, and has the same value as the copy set sheet number counter. The elevation flag is set to “1” when the elevation member 10 is elevated;
Moreover, it is set to "0" when the elevating member 10 is lowered.

The output port of the microcomputer 43 is connected to a receiving roller driving means 8. An elevating drive means 12, a paper discharge roller drive means 22, and the like are connected.

An example of the operation of the sorter 1 described above will be explained in detail based on FIGS. 7 and 8. The flow shown in FIGS. 7 and 8 is for a case where the standby position (home position) of the paper ejection rollers 15, 21 for receiving the recording paper P is a position corresponding to the lowest bin 9.

The ON signal of the power key 26 is activated by the microcomputer 4.
3, the ROM of the microcomputer 43
The operations are executed according to the programs shown in the flows of FIGS. 7 and 8 stored in the computer. Fig. 7 shows the main routine of the flow, and Fig. 8 shows the main routine of the flow.
The subroutine is shown.

First, perform initial settings in step ①. In this initial setting, the RAM and input/output ports of the microcomputer 43 are cleared.

Next, in step (2), it is checked whether the start key 28 is ON. Start key 28 is turned on in step ■
If it is determined that this is the case, the receiving roller driving means 8 is turned on in step (2), and then the bin 9 selected in this usage bin selection routine is passed through the usage bin selection routine in step (2).
In response to this, the ON time of the lifting/lowering driving means 12 is set in step (3).

Next, in step (2), it is checked whether the paper sensor 23 is ON. If it is determined that the paper sensor 23 is ON in this step (2), that is, if the paper sensor 23 detects the leading edge of the recording paper P, the paper ejection roller driving means 2
2 is turned on, check with Rotep ■ whether jx≧t1. This tx is the elapsed time from the time when the paper sensor 23 was turned on, and tl is the elapsed time from the time when the paper sensor 23 was turned on (the time when the paper ejection roller driving means 22 was turned on) to the time when the paper ejection roller 15 was turned on.゜21 or recording paper P
This is the predetermined time required to clamp the tip of the

If it is determined that jx≧t1 in the above step (2), the ejection roller driving means 22 is turned off in step (1), the lift flag is set to "1" in step @, and the elevating and lowering drive means 12 is turned on in step 0 to eject the paper. Raise (forward) the paper roller 15.21. Next, in step 0, the paper ejection roller], 5
, 21 reaches the bin 9 selected in the use bin selection routine of step (2), that is, whether or not the lifting drive means 12 is turned on for the ON time of the lifting drive means 12 set in step (1). Check whether

If it is determined in the above step @ that the paper ejection roller 15.21 has not reached the selected bin 9, the process returns to step (2) and the elevating drive means 12 is kept ON.

When it is determined that the paper ejection roller 15.21 has reached the selected bin 9 in step ①, the elevating drive means 12
is turned OFF, and the paper ejection roller driving means 22 is turned ON in step @, and then the paper sensor 23 is turned OFF in step @.
Check whether it is FF.

If the paper sensor 23 is determined to be OFF and full in the above step @, that is, if the one-sheet sensor 23 detects the trailing edge of the recording paper P, then the [discharged sheet number counter] starts +1 in step [phase], and then (this step It is checked whether ty≧Rainbow 2.This ty is determined when the paper sensor 23 is off at step 0.
It is the elapsed time from the time when it was determined that F is 1, and
tl is a predetermined time required from the time when the paper sensor 23 is determined to be OFF in step @ until the recording paper P discharged by the paper discharge rollers 15, 21 is detached from the paper discharge rollers 15, 21.

If it is determined in step 0 that ty≧t2, the discharge roller driving means 22 is turned off in step O, and the lift flag is set to "0" in step [phase].

In step @, the elevating drive means 12 is turned on to lower the paper discharge rollers 15 and 21 (return movement). Next, in step (2), it is checked whether the roller standby position sensor 24 is ON. If it is determined in step (2) that the roller standby position sensor 24 is not ON, the process returns to step [phase] and the lifting drive means 12 is held ON.

If it is determined that the roller standby position sensor 24 is ON in step (2) above, the lifting drive means 12 is turned off in step (2).
After placing the paper ejection rollers 15 and 21 in the standby position as F, in step @, [total copy cents counter] = [
Check whether the output sheet number counter is 1 or not. If it is determined in this step @ that the [total copy set sheet number counter] is not equal to the [ejected sheet number counter], the process returns to step (2).

In step [phase], [total copy set number counter] = [
If it is determined that the number of ejected sheets is the number of sheets ejected, the operation is stopped.

Next, the usage bin selection routine in step (2) shown in FIG. 8 will be explained.

First, in step [phase], it is checked whether [sort mode flag]=1. If it is determined that [sort mode flag] = 1 at this step Φ, that is,
When it is determined that it is in sort mode.

In step [phase], calculate C and D when A-BC=D (0≦D<B). Here, A is the value of the paper discharge counter, B is the value of the used bin number counter, And C and D are 0 or positive integers. Based on D obtained in step @, the (D+1)th bin 9 from the bottom is selected as the bin 9 to be used in step (sand), and then the process returns to the main routine.

If it is determined that [sort mode flag] is not 1 in step @ above, A-EF=G (however, 0≦G) is determined in step
Find F and G in ≦E) 5 Here, E is the maximum number of recording sheets P that can be stored in one bin 9, and F and G are 0 or positive integers. be. In step @, the (F+1)th bin 9 from the bottom is selected as the bin 9 to be used based on F determined in step @, and then the process returns to the main routine.

Note that the paper ejection rollers 15 and 21 correspond to the paper ejection port 3 of the electronic copying machine 2, and correspond to any of the plurality of bins 9.

A standby position (home position) for receiving the recording paper P can be set to correspond to either of the two positions.

The present invention can also be applied to the case of classifying recording paper of an image recording device such as a printer.

Effects The sorter of the present invention can easily accommodate changes in the recording paper ejection position of a two-image recording device, and has a simple configuration.

[Brief explanation of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a schematic view showing a sorter of the present invention, and FIG. 2 is a partially cutaway perspective view showing the main parts of the same sorter. Figure 3 is a partially cutaway front view showing the main parts of the sorter, Figure 4 is a partially cutaway side view showing the main parts of the sorter, and Figure 5 is a partially cutaway side view showing the main parts of the sorter.
The figure is a plan view showing the operation display panel of an electronic copying machine that discharges recording paper to the sorter, FIG. 6 is a block diagram showing the control device of the sorter, and FIGS. 7 and 8 are examples of the operation of the sorter. 2 is a flowchart showing a flow for explaining. 9... Bin, 10... Lifting member, 12... Lifting drive means, 15.21... Paper ejection roller. 19...e one-way clutch, 22...-UP paper roller drive means, P...recording paper 8 Figure

Claims (1)

[Claims] A plurality of bins arranged at predetermined intervals in the vertical direction, an elevating member disposed near the bins so as to be movable up and down, and an elevating drive means for elevating the elevating member.
A pair of paper ejection rollers that are disposed on the elevating member and that temporarily hold the recording paper and then eject it into a bin, a paper ejection roller driving means that rotates these paper ejection rollers, and a rotation shaft of the paper ejection roller. and a one-way clutch that rotatably supports the recording paper only in the direction of ejecting the recording paper, and the elevating member waits at a predetermined position and rotates the pair of paper ejection rollers for a short predetermined time to eject the pair of paper. After the elevating member moves forward to a predetermined position while holding the recording paper fed by the rollers, the ejecting roller is rotated to eject the recording paper into the bin, and then the elevating member is moved back to its original position. A sorter characterized by returning to a predetermined position.