JPS62167172A - Sorter - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To permit a recording paper sheet to cope with a change of a discharge location, by causing the front end of the recording paper sheet to pass between a pair of separated paper discharge rollers and then making the rollers to contact by pressing them to grip the recording paper sheet between them so that the rollers are advanced to a required location by a lift member and then they are driven to discharge the recording paper sheet to a bin. CONSTITUTION:When a recording paper sheet P is supplied, receiving rollers 6, 7 supply the recording paper sheet toward the direction of paper discharge rollers 17, 23. When a paper sensor 26 senses it, roller separate means 25 separates the rollers 17, 23 so that the front end of the recording paper sheet passes between them. Then, the roller separate means 25 is turned off to permit the rollers 17, 23 to grip the front end of the recording paper sheet P. At the time, a lift member 10 and the rollers 17, 23 advance toward a selected bin 9 and stop at the location corresponding to the bin 9. Next, the roller 17, 23 rotate to discharge the recording paper sheet P to the bin 9, the roller 17, 23 stop their rotation in a prescribed period of time after the sensor 26 senses the rear end of the recording paper sheet P, and the lift member 10 and the rollers 17, 23 are returned to a waiting location. With such an arrangement, a recording paper sheet copes with a change of a discharge location.

Description

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

Prior Art Conventionally, a sorter has been equipped with a plurality of pins arranged at predetermined intervals in the vertical direction, a belt arranged near these pins to convey the recording paper upward or downward, and a recording device on this belt. A recording paper conveying means including a suction fan that sucks paper, an elevating member disposed so as to be movable up and down between the recording paper conveying means and a pin, an elevating drive means for elevating the elevating member, and the elevating member. What is the moving direction of the recording paper that is placed in and is being moved by the recording paper transport means? A device is known that includes a direction switching member that directs toward the pin, and a pair of paper ejecting rollers that are disposed on the elevating member and eject the recording paper whose direction has been switched by the direction switching member to the pin f.

However, with this sorter, it is necessary to change the conveying direction of the recording paper of 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.

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

Structure: The present invention comprises: a plurality of pins arranged at nine predetermined intervals in the direction of the store; an elevating member disposed near these pins so as to be movable; and an elevating drive means for raising and lowering the elevating member entirely; A pair of paper ejection rollers disposed on the elevating member and in elastic pressure contact for ejecting the recording paper to the pins, a paper ejection roller drive means for rotating these paper ejection rollers, and a paper ejection roller driving means for rotating these paper ejection rollers; and a paper discharge roller separating means for temporarily separating the paper rollers, and the elevating member waits at a predetermined position, and the paper is sent with the pair of paper discharge rollers separated by the paper discharge roller separating means. After passing the leading edge of the recording paper between a pair of paper ejection rollers, the pair of paper ejection rollers are brought into elastic pressure contact, and the elevating member is moved forward to a predetermined position with the recording paper being held between the pair of paper ejection rollers. After that, the paper ejection roller is rotated by the paper ejection roller drive means to eject the recording paper to the pin, and then the elevating member is moved back to the original predetermined position.

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

In FIG. 1, the symbol l indicates a sorter.

An electronic copying machine 2 is arranged adjacent to the exterior plate 1a of the sorter 1. On the exterior plate 2a of this electronic copying machine 2,
A paper discharge port 3 for discharging recording paper P is formed on the sorter 1 side. 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 and 7 are arranged inside the exterior plate 1a near the paper receiving opening 50. 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 the exterior plate 1a,
A pulley 8c fixed to the drive shaft 8b of this motor 8a
and a pulley 8d fixed to the rotating shaft 7a of the receiving roller 7.
and a belt 8e which is attached to these pulleys 8c, 8d4c.

A plurality of pins 9 are arranged at predetermined intervals in the upper F direction on the side of the receiving roller 6.7 in the feeding direction of the recording paper P. These pins 9 are supported by the exterior plate 1a, and most of the pins 90 extend outside from the opening of the exterior plate 1a.

Between the receiving roller 6.7 and the pin 9, an elevating member 10 is arranged near the pin 9 so as to be movable up and down. A paper guide member 11 for guiding the recording paper Pi is arranged between the receiving roller 6.7 and the elevating member 10. The elevating member 10 is raised and lowered by a driving means 12 . This elevating drive means 12 includes two pairs of pulleys 12a and 12b arranged above and below, and a rotation shaft 12 of the upper pulley 12H.
A step motor 12d that can be rotated in forward and reverse directions and is placed near C, and a drive shaft 12e of this step motor 12d.
The worm gear 12f is fixed to the worm gear 12f, and the rotation shaft 12 of the pulley 12a meshes with the worm gear 12f.
A gear 12g fixed to C, 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 12C91210 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 is composed of both side plates 10a and a holding plate 10b which is integrally fixed to both sides.

Two guide members 10c and 10d that guide the recording paper P sent from the receiving rollers 6 and 7 are disposed on the side plates 10a and the holding plate Job.

As shown in FIG. 2 and the fourth factor, the guide member 10
d, two holding members 13 are protruded, and a support member 15 is attached to a support pin 14 fixed to these holding members 13.
is rotatably supported. Bearings 16 are fixed to these support members 15, and a rotating shaft 17a of a paper discharge roller 17 is supported by these bearings 16. This paper discharge roller 17 is movable substantially in the vertical direction. Further, a holding member 18 is protruded from the guide member 10d, and a spring 19 that presses the rotating shaft 17a of the paper ejection roller 17 downward is held in the holding member 18.

As shown in FIG. 4, the guide member IOC also has two supporting members 20 protruding from the guide member IOC, and these supporting members 20
is provided with a one-way clutch 21 and a bearing 22, and these one-way clutch 21 and bearing 22
A rotating shaft 23a of the paper ejection roller 23 is supported on the holder. This paper ejection roller 23 is rotated by a paper ejection roller drive means 24.

This paper ejection roller driving means 24 includes a motor 24a fixed to the holding plate 10b of the elevating member IO, and a motor 24a fixed to the holding plate 10b of the elevating member
Boo 1) 24C fixed to the drive shaft 24b of
Boo IJ24d fixed to 3H and these pulleys 2
It consists of a belt 24e attached to 4C924d. The one-way clutch 21 does not prevent the paper ejection roller 23 from rotating in the direction of sending the recording paper P to the pin 9, and
The paper discharge roller 23 is prevented from rotating in the opposite direction to the direction in which the recording paper P is sent to the pin 9.

As shown in FIG. 2, on the guide member 10d,
A paper ejection roller separating means 25 is arranged to temporarily push the paper ejection roller 17 upward to separate the pair of paper ejection rollers 17 and 23. This paper ejection roller separating means 25 is connected to two lenses 2 fixed on the guide member 10d.
5a and the actuator 2 of these renoids 25a.
5b, is rotatably supported by a support member 25C fixed to the intermediate portion or guide member 10d, and has a rotating end located below the rotation shaft 17a of the paper ejection roller 17. It consists of

When the renoid 25a is turned on, the actuator 25b descends and rotates the push-up lever 25df, which pushes up the paper ejection roller 17 against the elastic force of the spring 19, and the pair of paper ejection rollers 17, 23
' to separate them. When the lens 25a is turned off, the elastic force of the spring 190 lowers the paper ejection roller 17, and the pair of paper ejection rollers 17 and 23 are brought into elastic pressure contact.

A paper sensor 26 for detecting recording paper P is arranged between the paper ejection rollers 17, 23 and the receiving roller 6.7 and near the paper ejection roller 17.23. This paper sensor 2
Reference numeral 6 is a photosensor, which is fixed to the guide member 10d. The paper ejection rollers 17 and 23 are the receiving rollers 6.
A roller standby position sensor 27 is arranged at a predetermined position to detect that the roller is placed at a standby position to receive the recording paper P sent by the roller 7. This roller standby position sensor 27
consists of a photosensor, and the side plate 10a of the elevating member 10
Detecting that the paper ejection rollers 17 and 23 are placed at a predetermined position is detected from the button.

When the recording paper P is sent between the receiving rollers 6, 7 from the paper ejection roller 4 of the electronic copying machine 2, the receiving roller 6.7 sends the recording paper P in the direction of the paper ejection rollers 17, 23. In this case, the paper ejection rollers 17 and 23 are waiting in a non-rotated state at a standby position (in the illustrated embodiment, a position corresponding to the lowest pin 9) for receiving the recording paper P1. When the paper sensor 26 detects the leading edge of the recording paper P, the paper ejection roller separating means 25 is turned ON for a short predetermined period from this point on.
Then, the pair of paper ejection rollers 17 and 23 are separated and the leading edge of the recording paper P sent by the receiving roller 6.7 passes between the pair of paper ejection rollers 17 and 23, and then the paper ejection roller l By turning off the mover stage 25 and lowering the paper ejection roller 17 by the elastic force of the spring 190, the pair of paper ejection rollers 1
7 and 23 clamp the leading end of the recording paper P.

When the paper ejection rollers 17, 23 clamp the recording paper Pi, the elevating member 10 and the paper ejection roller 17°23 move forward in the direction of the selected pin 9 to be used and reach the position corresponding to the selected pin 9. Stop.

When the elevating member 10 and the paper ejection rollers 17 and 23 move forward, the one-way clutch 21 prevents the paper ejection roller 23 from rotating in the direction opposite to the direction in which the recording paper P is sent to the pin 9. The recording paper P never comes off from the paper ejection rollers 17 and 23.

The forward movement speed of the paper ejection rollers 17, 23 when moving the paper ejection rollers 17, 23 forward to the selected pin 9 is as follows:
The speed is set to be approximately the same as the speed at which the recording paper P is discharged from the paper discharge roller 4 of the Seiko copying machine 2. This is the paper ejection roller 17, 23
This is to prevent the recording paper P from being detached from the paper ejection roller 17.degree. 23 due to unnecessary resistance acting on the recording paper P when the recording paper P moves forward.

When the paper ejection roller 17.23 is placed at a position corresponding to the selected pin 9, the paper ejection roller 7.23 is rotated to eject the recording paper P to the pin 9, and the paper sensor 2
After a short predetermined period of time has elapsed since the end of recording paper P is detected by printer 6, the rotation of paper discharge rollers 17 and 23 is stopped, and the elevating member 10 and paper discharge rollers 17 and 23 are moved back to the standby position. This elevating member 10 and paper ejection roller 17°23
When moving backward, the elevating member 10 and the paper ejection roller 17
.
The feeding speed of the recording paper P may be greater than the feeding speed of the recording paper P.

FIG. 5 shows the operation display panel 28 disposed on the upper surface of the exterior plate 2a of the electronic copying machine 2, which will be explained next.

The operation display panel 28 has information for turning the power ON or OFF.
a power key 29 to display power, a power indicator 30 to display whether the power is on or off, and a start key 31 to start copying. An original number set key 32 for setting the number of originals, an original number set indicator 33 for displaying whether or not this original number set key 32 has been turned on, a one copy ridge set key 34 for setting one copy at, and this A copy number set indicator 35 that displays whether or not the copy number set key 34 has been turned to UN, a numeric keypad 36 that inputs the number of originals or the number of copies, and a clear button that clears the input value using the numeric keypad 36 and stops copying. A stop key 37, an original set number display 38 that displays the set number of originals, an original executed number display 39 that displays the number of copied originals, a copy set number display 40 that displays the set number of copies, A copy execution number display 41 that displays the number of sheets of recording paper P that has been copied, a sheet mode key 42 for setting the sheet mode, a sheet mode display 43 that displays whether or not the sheet mode is set. A stack mode key 44 for setting the stack mode and a stack mode indicator 45 for displaying whether the stack mode is set are provided.

After turning on the original number set key 32, press the numeric keypad 3.
6 inputs the set number of originals, and after turning on the copy number set key 34, inputs using the numeric keypad 36 inputs the number of copies set. The sheet mode refers to a mode in which each sheet of a plurality of recording sheets Pe is discharged to a separate pin 9. The stack mode refers to a mode in which a plurality of recording sheets P are sequentially ejected to a plurality of pins 9 by the maximum number of sheets that each pin 9 can accommodate.

FIG. 6 shows a control device for the above-mentioned computer 1, which will be explained next.

The paper sensor 26, roller standby position sensor 27, power key 29, start key 31, original number set key 32,
Information such as the copy number set key 34, numeric keypad 36, sheet mode key 42, and stack mode key 44; is given to the input port of the microcomputer 46.

The RAM of the microcomputer 46 is provided with a document sheet number set counter, a copy set sheet number counter, a total copy set sheet number counter, a discharge sheet number counter, a sheet mode flag, a used pin number counter, a lift flag, and the like. The seat mode flag becomes "1" when the seat mode key 42f:ONL is selected, and becomes "0" when the stack mode key 44'frONL is selected. The used pin number counter counts the number of pins used in the sheet mode, and has the same value as the copy set sheet number counter. The above lift flag is
When the elevating member 10 is raised, it is set to "1", and when the elevating member 101 is lowered, it is set to rOJ.

The output boat pressure of the micro combinator 46 is connected to the receiving roller drive means 8, the elevating drive means 12, the paper ejection roller drive means 24, and the like.

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 17, 23 for receiving the recording paper P is a position corresponding to the lowest pin 9.

The ON signal of the power key 29 is the microcomputer 4
6, the ROM of the microcomputer 46
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 subroutine of the flow.

First, perform initial settings in step ①. In this initial setting, the RAM and input/output ports of the micro combinator 46 are cleared.

Next, in step (2), it is checked whether the start key 31 is turned on. Start key 31 is turned on in step ■
If it is determined that this is the case, the receiving roller drive means 84 is turned on in step (2), and then the lift drive means 12 is turned on in step (2) through the pin-to-use selection routine in step (2). Set the ON time.

Next, in step (2), it is checked whether the paper sensor 26 is ON. If it is determined that the paper sensor 26 is ON in this step (2), that is, if the paper sensor 26 detects the leading edge of the recording paper P, the paper ejection roller separating means 2
After 5t-ON, it is checked in step (2) whether tx≧11. At this tx, the paper sensor 26 is ON.
tl is the elapsed time from the time when the paper sensor 26 was turned on (the time when the paper ejection roller separating means 25
This is the predetermined time required for the paper ejection roller 17° 23 to grip the leading edge of the recording paper P from the time when the recording paper P is turned on.

If it is determined that tx≧t1 in the above step (■), the discharge roller separating means 25e is turned OFF in step (2), the elevation flag is set to "1" in step [phase], and step 0
The ejection rollers 17 and 23 serve as the elevating drive means 121oN.
to rise (go). Next, in step 0, the paper ejection roller 17
, 23 has reached the pin 9 selected in the pin-to-use selection routine of step (■), that is, whether or not the lifting/lowering driving means 12 has been turned ON for the ON time of the lifting/lowering driving means 12 set in step (■). Check whether or not.

If the paper ejection rollers 17 and 23 are selected in step @ above, 7
If it is determined that the value has not reached 9, the process returns to step 0 and is held in the elevation drive means 12iON.

When it is determined that the paper ejection rollers 17 and 23 have reached the selected pin 9 in step 0, the elevating drive means 12
is turned OFF, and the paper ejection roller driving means 24 is turned ON in step 2, and then the paper sensor 26 is turned OFF in step 0.
Check whether it is FF or not. If it is determined that the paper sensor 26 is OFF in the above step [phase], that is, if the paper sensor 26 detects the trailing edge of the recording paper P, then in step [phase] Output sheet number counter〕
After setting it to +1, it is checked in step O whether ty≧t2. This ty is the paper sensor 2 in step [phase].
6 is the elapsed time from the time when it is determined to be OFF, and t2 is the time when the paper sensor 26 is OFF in step [phase].
This is the predetermined time required from when it is determined that this is the case until the recording paper P discharged by the paper discharge rollers 17 and 23 detaches from the paper discharge rollers 17 and 23.

If it is determined that ty≧t2 in the above step [phase],
In step @, the paper ejection roller driving means 24 is turned OFF, in step 0, the elevation flag is set to rOJ, and in step [
phase], the elevating drive means 12 is turned on and the paper ejection roller 17,
23 is lowered (backward movement). Next, in step O, it is checked whether the roller standby position sensor 27 is ON. If it is determined in step 0 that the roller standby position sensor 27 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 27 is ON in step (3) above, the lifting drive means 12 is turned off in step O.
After placing the paper ejection rollers 17 and 23 in the standby position as F, in step (C) [total copy set number counter]
= [Discharged sheet number counter].

At this step 0, [total copy set number counter] = [
If it is determined that it is not 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 pin-to-use selection routine shown in FIG. 8 will be explained.

Check whether [sort mode flag] = 1 in step [Yes]. If it is determined that [sort mode flag] = 1 in this step [phase], that is, if it is determined that the sheet mode is set, then in step [phase] A-BC=D (however, C in O≦D(B) Find D. Here, A is the value of the paper ejection counter, and B
is the value of the used pin number counter, and C and D are O or positive integers. DK found in step [phase]
Based on this, in step [phase], the (D-)-1)th pin 9 from the bottom is selected as 79, and then returns to the main routine.

If it is determined that [sort mode flag] is not 1 in the above step [phase], then in step O, A-EF=G (however, O
≦G≦F) Find F and G.

Here, E is the maximum number of recording sheets P that can be stored in one pin 9, and F and G are O
or a positive integer. Based on the F obtained in step ◎, in step [phase], the (F+1)th pin 9 from the bottom is selected as the pin 9 to be used, and then the main routine returns.

Note that the paper ejection rollers 17 and 23 are at a standby position (home position) for receiving the recording paper P so as to correspond to the paper ejection port 3 of the electronic copying machine 2 and to correspond to one of the plurality of pins 9.
can be set.

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

Effects The printer of the present invention can easily respond to changes in the recording paper ejection position of the image recording apparatus, and has a simple configuration.

[Brief explanation of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram showing a computer according to the present invention, FIG. 2 is a partially cutaway perspective view showing the main parts of the above-mentioned computer, FIG. 3 is a partially cut-away front view showing the main parts of the same computer, and FIG. 4 5 is a partially cutaway perspective view showing the main parts of the sorter, FIG. 5 is a plan view showing the operation display panel of the electronic copying machine that discharges recording paper into the printer, and FIG. 6 is a block diagram showing the control device of the printer. FIG. 7 and FIG. 8 are flowcharts showing a flow for explaining an example of the operation of the same router.

Claims (1)

[Claims] a plurality of pins arranged at predetermined intervals in the vertical direction; an elevating member disposed near these pins 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 elastically pressed against each other for ejecting the recording paper to the pin; and a paper ejection roller driving means for rotating these paper ejection rollers;
and a paper ejection roller separating means for temporarily separating the pair of paper ejection rollers, and the ejecting roller separating means separates the pair of paper ejection rollers while the elevating member waits at a predetermined position. The leading edge of the recording paper being fed passes between a pair of paper ejection rollers, and then the pair of paper ejection rollers are brought into elastic pressure contact, and the elevating member is moved to a predetermined position with the recording paper being held between the pair of paper ejection rollers. After moving forward to the position, the paper ejection roller is rotated by the paper ejection roller drive means to eject the recording paper to the pin, and then the elevating member is moved back to the original predetermined position. Sorter to do.