JPS6360870A - Printer equipped with sorter - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To improve the assortment efficiency by connecting a plurality of host computers which output the image information with the CPU of a printer control circuit and assorting and accommodating the sheets into each designated bin of each sorter for each host computer according to the image information. CONSTITUTION:A laser beam printer is equipped with a stacker having a plurality of pins for assorting and accommodating the paper sheets on which each image is formed, and said stacker is equipped with a plurality of pawls ST1, ST2... driven by solenoids SL (SL1, SL2...) for assorting and feeding the paper sheets into each bin. Each solenoid SL is controlled by a CPU for controlling the operation of the printer through a driving circuit 24. In this case, a plurality of host computers H(H1-H3) for outputting the image information are provided, and connected with the CPU through each interface IF1-IF3. The paper sheet can be accommodated into the bin designated for each host computer.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION (A) Field of Industrial Application This invention relates to a printer with a sorter that automatically sorts and sorts printed sheets.

(b) Conventional technology and its problems In a page printer that uses cut paper, when image information from multiple host computers is printed by a single printer, the printed sheets are sorted for each connected computer. This is troublesome and requires time and effort.

This invention was made in consideration of these circumstances,
The present invention provides a printer with a sorter that automatically performs sorting by installing a sorter in the printer.

(C) Means for Solving the Problems This invention provides a plurality of interfaces to which a plurality of host computers can be connected that output image information, a printer that prints image information input through the interfaces on a sheet, A printer with a sorter comprising: a sorter capable of sorting and storing printed sheets into a plurality of bins; and specifying means for specifying a bin of the sorter in correspondence with a computer connected to each of the interfaces. .

The above can be easily realized by making the "copy" signal in the copier correspond to the "form feed" signal in the printer.

Further, the printer configured as described above is capable of a "bin designation" operation in addition to the general operations as a sorter, that is, "sort", "non-sort", and "group" operations.

The bin designation operation may be performed using a control code signal from a connected computer.

(e) Operation When image information is input from a plurality of host computers, the designating means designates a bin for each host computer, so printed sheets are automatically classified and stored in the designated bins. Therefore, outputs from a large number of host computers can be efficiently classified and printed out using one printer.

(f) Examples Hereinafter, the present invention will be described in detail based on examples shown in the drawings. Note that this invention is not limited to this.

FIG. 1 is a configuration explanatory diagram showing one embodiment of the printer of the present invention, in which 1 is the printer main body, 2 is a laser light source that emits laser light modulated by image information, and 3 is a device for scanning the laser light. Rotating polygon mirror, 4 is an imaging lens, 5 is a mirror, 6 is a cylindrical lens, 6a is a filter,
Reference numeral 7 denotes a photoreceptor drum that rotates in the six directions of arrows, 8 a main charger that uniformly charges the surface of the photoreceptor drum 7, and 9 a charger on the photoreceptor drum 7 formed by the laser beam scanned by the rotating polygon mirror 2. A developing device that develops an electrostatic latent image, 10 a tray that stores print paper, 11 a delivery roller that sends out the paper in the tray 10, 12 a transport roller that transports the paper, and 13 a resist that determines the paper transport timing. 14 is a transfer charger that transfers the developed image on the photoreceptor drum 7 to paper; 15 is a separation roller that separates the paper from the photoreceptor drum; 16 is a transport roller; 17 is a fixing roller; 18 is a discharge roller; 19 is the sorter body, 2
0 is a bin for sorting and storing sheets, 21 is a belt for conveying the sheets, 22 is a support roller for pressing and supporting the sheets on the belt 21, 23 is a driving roller for driving the belt, and ST is conveyed by the belt 21 and the rollers 22. SL is a solenoid that drives the pawl (the pawl ST and the solenoid SL are STt, ST2..., SLt, SL2 for each of the bins 20).
. . ., but it is omitted in Fig. 1 to avoid complication).

FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing the main parts of the control circuit shown in FIG. 1, and IFr, IF2, IFs... connect host computers H1, H2, H3, etc. Interface, 24 is solenoid SL
I, SL2, SLs... 25 is an interface IF1. IF2゜IFs・
Controls the printer to print in response to image information from..., and also controls the printer to print according to image information from...
, SL2. This is a CPU that operates SL3...

FIG. 3 is a chart 70 showing the main operation of such an embodiment, and the main operation of this embodiment will be explained using FIG.

When image information (data) is inputted in step 101, the host computer to which the inputted image information was interrupted is detected in step 102, and if it is the host computer H1, the solenoid SLi is energized. When the corresponding claw ST1 is activated (step 103), the paper (sheet) printed according to the data from the interface IFi is activated (step 104).
) are all stored in the bin 20 corresponding to the nail STi (step 105).

Similarly, if image information can be input from the host computer H2 or H3 (steps 101 and 102),
When the solenoid SL2 or SLa is energized and the corresponding pawl ST2 or ST3 is activated (step 106 or 109), the sheet printed according to the data from the interface IF2 or IFs is printed (step 10).
7 or 110), all of which are stored in the bins 20 corresponding to the nails ST2 or ST3, respectively (step 108 or 1).
11).

In this way, even if multiple computers are connected,
The printed sheets are sorted and stored in bins designated for each computer.

It goes without saying that this sorter can also be used to perform various sorting operations similar to those of conventional copying machines.

(G) Effects of the Invention According to this invention, a printer is equipped with an easy-to-use sorter that connects multiple host computers that output image information to a single printer, and sorts and prints out each image information for each host computer. A printer is provided.

[Brief explanation of the drawing]

FIG. 1 is a configuration explanatory diagram showing one embodiment of the printer of the present invention, FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing the main part of the control circuit shown in FIG. 1, and FIG. 3 is a flowchart showing the operation of FIG. 2. . 1... Printer body, 19... Sorter body, 20... Bin, 25... CPU
lHt, H2, H:l...Host computer, IFl, IF2, rF3...Interface, 811, SL2, SL3...Solenoid.

Claims (1)

[Claims] 1. Multiple interfaces to which multiple host computers can be connected to output image information, a printer that prints the image information input through the interfaces onto sheets, and the printed sheets can be sorted and stored in multiple bins. 1. A printer with a sorter, comprising: a sorter; and specifying means for specifying a bin of the sorter in correspondence with a computer connected to each of the interfaces.