JPS6360873A - Sheet handling device - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To facilitate the maintenance work for the device by installing a memory means for memorizing the accumulative number of stored pieces in a sheet accommodating means and reading the content of memory on a recording part side and generating an alarm when the content of memory exceeds a prescribed value. CONSTITUTION:A pin transfer type sheet sorter connected with a copying machine 10 is controlled by a sorter controller, and the sheet discharged from the copying machine is accommodated into a sorter in a plurality of operation modes. For example, when any operation mode among nonsort mode, sort mode and correction mode is selected by operating the display and operation part 11 of the copying device 10, the operation of the sorter is controlled in accordance with the selected operation mode. In this case, the counting for the accumulative number of stored pieces in a back-up RAM in each time when a sheet passes through a paper detection sensor 14 is performed, and the content can be read in the operation part 11. Further, when the counted value exceeds a set value, an alarm is displayed in an operation part 9.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION [Technical Field] The present invention relates to a sheet handling device that performs predetermined processing on recorded sheets.

[Prior Art] Conventionally, a sheet handling device such as a sorter of a recording device such as a copying machine is sometimes connected and used. In such devices, it is necessary to perform maintenance such as replacement and inspection of parts at appropriate times, but it has been difficult to predict the timing.

〔the purpose〕

The present invention has been made in view of the above points, and an object thereof is to provide a sheet handling device that can facilitate maintenance work such as parts replacement.

〔Example〕

Examples according to the present invention are shown below.

As shown in FIG. 1, a pin movable sheet sorting device 13 (hereinafter referred to as a sorter) is connected to the copying apparatus 1o.

FIG. 2 shows a block diagram of serial communication between the copying machine and the sorter.

In a copying machine, the copying machine controller interacts with the operator, receives commands such as the desired number of copies, copy start/stop, and cassette size selection from the operation unit, controls the copying machine sequence, and communicates with the operator via serial communication. control the sorter.

The sorter controller transmits and receives data to and from the copying apparatus via serial communication, outputs various information to the display section, and controls the sorter operation sequence.

5REQ and 5ACK are a serial communication request signal between the copying machine and sorter, a serial communication start signal, and 5SOUT.

5STN is a serial communication line between the copying machine and the sorter.

As a sorter control microcomputer, a one-chip microcomputer (for example, NECμC0M87A) with functions such as an asynchronous serial interface function and built-in backup RAM is recommended.
D) is used.

FIG. 4 shows an asynchronous serial communication time chart and an asynchronous serial communication data format. The same field data is transmitted and received twice in one serial communication, and the data is compared and if they are equal, the data is confirmed, and next time, another field data is transmitted and received twice in the same way. If the received data is not finalized due to some error occurring during the process, the same field data will be transmitted and received in the same manner next time.

The structure of each field data and the control signal name, meaning, and role are shown in FIGS. 5 to 8. Further, serial communication control flows are shown in FIGS. 9-1 to 9-7. After turning on the power, the sorter control microcontroller initializes the RAM, initializes the input/output board, and sets internal interrupts, then determines whether or not the sorter operation priority mode is set, and if so, switches to the priority mode. Set to sorter operation mode,
If not, the operation mode with the maximum sorter operation mode counter value in the backup RAM area is set as the sorter operation mode. Thereafter, it sequentially executes operation sequence control, serial communication error check, and serial communication data storage while waiting for 5REQ input from the copying machine control microcomputer. (Steps 1 to 4) Also, a timer interrupt routine is executed at predetermined intervals by an internal timer interrupt of the microcomputer. In the timer interrupt routine, the contents of the microcontroller's input ports (various sensor input states, etc.) are stored in the input port buffer provided in the RAM, and
The contents of the internal output port buffer (various load drive information, etc.) are output to the microcontroller's output port. (Steps 101 and 102) The copying machine control microcomputer sends a 5REQ signal to the sorter control microcomputer at the start of serial communication.

When the sorter control microcomputer receives the 5REQ signal, it generates an internal interrupt and executes the 5REQ interrupt routine.

In the 5REQ interrupt routine, data reception interrupt and data reception are enabled and 5AC is sent to the copying machine control microcontroller.
Send K signal. (Steps 12 to 16) When the copying machine control microcomputer receives the S ACK signal, it transmits the first transmission data to the sorter control microcomputer. When the sorter control microcomputer receives the first data, it generates an internal interrupt and executes a data reception interrupt routine.

The data reception interrupt routine determines whether there is a parity error and whether the received data is an error code. If the received data is normal, it temporarily stores the received data in a verify register provided in the RAM. Set the same field data as the received data in the transmit register. If the received data is abnormal, an inter-main unit communication error counter provided in the RAM is counted, an error code is set in the transmission register, data transmission interrupts and data transmission are enabled, and the interrupt routine is terminated. (Steps 39 to 48) When the first data transmission is completed, the sorter control microcomputer executes a transmission interrupt routine. In the data transmission interrupt routine, when the first transmission is completed, the data reception interrupt and data reception are enabled, and the transmission interrupt routine is ended. (Step 57
~60) When the copying machine control microcomputer receives the first transmission data from the sorter control microcomputer, it performs an error check, and if there is no error, it sends the same data as the first transmission data to the sorter control microcomputer as the second transmission data. do. When the sorter control microcomputer receives the second data, it generates an internal interrupt and executes a data reception interrupt routine.

In the data reception interrupt routine, after determining whether there is a parity error and whether the received data is an error code, if the received data is normal, the received data is stored in the receive buffer provided in the RAM, and the data is stored in the transmit register. The same data as the first transmission data is set in the transmission register as the second transmission data.

If the received data is abnormal, an error code is set in the transmission register, data transmission interrupt and data transmission are enabled, and the reception interrupt routine is ended. (Steps 39 to 40 and 49 to 56) When the second data transmission is completed, the sorter control microcomputer executes a data transmission interrupt routine. In the data transmission interrupt routine, when the second transmission is completed, the received data processing flag is set, the communication error counter is decreased, the 5ACK signal is turned off, and the 5REQ interrupt is enabled in order to perform serial communication with the copying machine control microcomputer again. and end the data transmission interrupt routine. (Steps 57 to 58 and 61 to 65) Furthermore, the communication error check routine in the MAIN routine checks whether the serial communication has ended within the set time and whether the communication error counter has finished counting (communication abnormal state). To check. (Step 3) In the communication error 1 check, it is first determined whether the 5REQ signal has been received within a predetermined time and whether serial communication has been completed within a predetermined time. If not, count the communication error counter and enable the 5REQ interrupt in preparation for the next serial communication with the copying machine control microcomputer. (Steps 95 to 100) Furthermore, data received through serial communication is processed by a serial communication data store routine within the MAIN routine. (Step 4) If the received data processing flag is set, the flag is reset and the field designation of the received data is determined. In the case of the first and second fields, the received data is stored in a received data area provided in the RAM.

In the case of the third field, the received data is stored in a received data area provided in the RAM, and if the received data is copy setting number data, the lower four pits of the copy setting number data consisting of 12 bits are updated. If the received data is size data, the size data is updated.

In the case of the fourth field, the received data is stored in a received data area provided in the RAM, and if the received data is copy setting number data, the middle four pits of the copy setting number data consisting of 12 bits are updated.

In the case of the fifth field, the received data is stored in a reception data area provided in the RAM, and if the received data is copy setting number data, the upper four pits of the copy setting number data consisting of 12 bits are updated.

In the case of the sixth field, the received data is stored in a received data area provided in the RAM, and if it is RAM address data, the lower 4 pits of the RAM address data consisting of 8 bits are updated. 8 for WRITE data
Update the lower 4 bits of WR4TE data consisting of bits.

In the case of the seventh field, the received data is stored in a received data area provided in the RAM, and if it is RAM address data, the upper four pits of the RAM address data consisting of 8 bits are updated. 8 for WRITE data
Updates the upper 4 bits of WRITE data consisting of bits.

If the received data is RAM address data in the 6th and 7th fields, the RAM read mode is set and the received RAM
RAM data accessed by an I6-bit address (the upper 8 bits are a fixed value) with address data as the lower 8 bits is set as transmission data.

If the received data is WRITE data, the RAM write mode is set and the WRITE data is written to the RAM accessed by the previously received RAM address data. (Steps 66 to 94) Control signals are transmitted and received through the serial communication described above to operate the sorter, and the operation will be described below. (See Figures 10 to 13.
Figure) Operation The sorter operation modes are non-sort mode, sort mode,
There is collate mode.

1. Non-sort mode (1 original, 3 copies) (see Figure 11) When the copy key on the display/operation section 11 of the copying device 10 is pressed, the copy setting number data (3 copies) and the sorter are displayed on the copying device side. If it has an operation section, the operation mode (non-sort mode)
, when the sorter side has a sorter operation section 9, an operation mode confirmation signal is transmitted from the copying device 10 to the sorter 13 via serial communication. Upon receiving the operation mode confirmation signal, the sorter prohibits selection of the sorter operation mode from the operation unit 9, and operates based on the previously selected operation mode (in this case, non-sort mode). (Figure 9-2, Step 1
7-21) After that, BCR and 5STRT signals are transmitted.

The sorter 13 that received the BCR signal uses the backup RAM
The sorter operation mode counter (non-sort) in the area is counted, and the bin shift motor 15 is reversed to move the bins to the home position. When the bin movement is completed, the sorter 13 stops the bin shift motor 15 and sends a 5STBY signal to the copying machine io.

When the copying apparatus 10 receives the 5STEY signal from the sorter 13, it turns off the BCR signal and moves on to the copying operation. In addition, the sorter 13 detects that the BCR signal is turned off, so the transport motor 1
Operate 6. While the sheet is passing through the copying device discharge sensor 12, a PDP signal is transmitted from the copying device 10 to the sorter 13. Sorter 13 determines the copy paper size code when the first FDP signal is turned on.

In addition, the sorter 13 starts a delay jam timer every time the PDP signal changes from on to off, and the copying device paper discharge sensor 12
The arrival of the sheet from to the sorter paper detection sensor 14 is monitored. A retention JAM timer is started from the time when the sheet reaches the sorter paper detection sensor 14, and it is monitored that the sheet passes through the sorter paper detection sensor 14 and is correctly discharged to the bin. At this time, the retention JAM timer value is determined from the sorter conveyance speed setting data transmitted in the RAM write mode and the expected time for passage of the sorter paper detection sensor calculated from the FDP signal on time or the copy paper size data.

At this time, if the paper passing time is significantly different from the calculated predicted paper passing time, a 5PEED signal is sent to the copying device 10, and a conveyance speed abnormality display is lit on the sorter operation section to issue a warning. When the copying machine 10 receives the 5PEED signal, it lights up a sorter conveyance speed abnormality display on the display section to issue a warning. (Step 24 in FIG. 9-2 - Further, the sorter 13 counts the cumulative number of sheets stored in the sorter in the back-up RAM area each time a sheet passes through the sorter paper detection sensor 14.

The copying machine 10 turns off the 5STRT signal after completing the copying operation, and the sorter 13 turns off the 5STRT signal after confirming that the 5STRT signal is off.
After the sheet passes through the sorter paper detection sensor 14, the conveyance motor 16
Turn off.

During these series of operations, the bin does not return to the home position within a predetermined time, the bin movement sensor does not turn on even when the bin is shifted, and the paper does not reach the sorter paper detection sensor 14 even after the delay JAM timer count ends. Retention JAM
If a jam occurs, such as when the sorter paper detection sensor 14 remains on even after the timer count ends, each jam counter in the backup RAM area is incremented. (Figure 9-3 Steps 29 to 38) 2. Sort mode (3 copies of 1 original) (Reference No. 12)
Figure) When the copy key on the display/operation section 11 of the copying device 10 is pressed, the copy setting number data (3 copies), the operation mode (sort mode) if the copying device has a sorter operation section, and the sorter operation on the sorter side are displayed. When the copying machine 10 has the unit 9, an operation mode confirmation signal is transmitted from the copying machine 10 to the sorter 13 via serial communication. Upon receiving the operation mode confirmation signal, the sorter prohibits selection of the sorter operation mode from the operation unit 9, and selects the previously selected operation mode (sort mode in this case).
Operate based on. Furthermore, BCR and 5STRT signals are then transmitted.

The sorter 13 that received the BCR signal uses the backup RAM
The sorter operation mode counter (sort mode) in the area is counted, and the bin shift motor 15 is reversed to move the bin to the home position. When the bin movement is completed, the sorter 13 stops the bin shift motor 15 and sends a 5STBY signal to the copying apparatus 10.

When the copying apparatus 10 receives the 5STBY signal from the sorter 13, it turns off the BCR signal and moves on to the copying operation. In addition, the sorter 13 turns off the transport motor 1 because the BCR signal is turned off.
Operate 6. While the sheet is passing through the copying device discharge sensor 12, a PDP signal is transmitted from the copying device 10 to the sorter 13. Sorter 13 determines the copy paper size code when the first FDP signal is turned on.

In addition, the sorter 13 starts a delay jam timer every time the PDP signal changes from on to off, and the copying device paper discharge sensor 12
The arrival of the sheet from to the sorter paper detection sensor 14 is monitored. A retention JAM timer is started from the time when the sheet reaches the sorter paper detection sensor 14, and it is monitored that the sheet passes through the sorter paper detection sensor 14 and is correctly discharged to the bin.

Further, after the sheet passes through the sorter paper detection sensor 14, the bin shift motor 15 is rotated in the normal direction after a predetermined period of time to shift the bin by one bin. This operation is performed every time the sheet is reached.

Further, the sorter 13 counts the cumulative number of sheets stored in the sorter in the back-up RAM area each time a sheet passes through the sorter paper detection sensor 14, and counts the cumulative number of bin shifts in the back-up RAM area for each bin shift.

The copying machine 10 turns off the 5STRT signal after completing the copying operation, and the sorter 13 turns off the 5STRT signal after confirming that the 5STRT signal is off.
After the sheet passes through the sorter paper detection sensor 14, the conveyance motor 16
Turn off.

3. Collate mode (copying 3 sheets of 2 originals) (Fig. 13) Copy setting number data (3 sheets) when the copy key on the display/operation section 11 of the copying device 10 is pressed; the copying device has a sorter operation section. In this case, when the operation mode (collate mode) is provided and the sorter operation section 9 is provided on the sorter side, an operation mode confirmation signal is transmitted from the copying apparatus 10 to the sorter 13 via serial communication. Upon receiving the operation mode confirmation signal, the sorter prohibits selection of the sorter operation mode from the operation unit 9 and operates based on the previously selected operation mode (in this case collate mode). Furthermore, BCR and 5STRT signals are then transmitted.

The sorter 10 that receives the BCR signal stores the backup RAM
Sorter operation mode counter in area (collate mode)
After counting, the bin shift motor 15 is reversed to move the bin to the home position. When the bin movement is completed, the sorter 10 stops the bin shift motor 15 and sends a 5STBY signal to the copying apparatus 10.

When the copying machine IO receives the 5STBY signal from the sorter 13, it turns off the BCR signal and moves on to the copying operation. Also, the sorter 13 is activated by the transport motor 16 because the BCR signal is turned off.
make it work. While the sheet is passing through the copying device discharge sensor 12, a PDP signal is transmitted from the copying device 10 to the sorter 13. Sorter 13 determines the copy paper size code when the first FDP signal is turned on.

In addition, the sorter 13 starts a delay jam timer every time the PDP signal changes from on to off, and the copying device paper discharge sensor 12
The arrival of the sheet from to the sorter paper detection sensor 14 is monitored. A retention JAM timer is started from the time when the sheet reaches the sorter paper detection sensor 14, and it is monitored that the sheet passes through the sorter paper detection sensor 14 and is correctly discharged to the bin.

Further, the sorter 13 counts the cumulative number of sheets stored in the sorter in the back-up RAM area each time a sheet passes through the sorter paper detection sensor 14.

When the copying apparatus 10 finishes the copying operation, the 5STRT signal is turned off, and the sorter 13 confirms that the 5STRT signal is turned off, and then turns off the conveyance motor 16 after the third sheet passes through the sorter paper detection sensor 14.

At this time, if the copying machine 10 has an automatic document feeder, after replacing the original, if not, after pressing the next copy start key, copy setting number of copies data (3 copies), and if the copying machine has a sorter operation section, the operation mode (collate mode), when the sorter side has a sorter operation section, an operation mode confirmation signal is transmitted from the copying device 10 to the soak 13 via serial communication.

The sorter 13 that receives the BSFT signal outputs the backup RA.
The sorter operation mode counter (collate mode) in the M area is counted, and after a predetermined period of time, the bin shift motor 15 is rotated forward to shift the bin by one bin, and when the bin movement is completed, the bin shift motor 15 is stopped to copy. Send a 5STBY signal to device IO. Furthermore, the sorter counts the cumulative number of bin shifts in the backup RAM area. When the copying apparatus 10 receives the 5STBY signal from the sorter 13, it turns off the BCR signal and starts the copying operation again. Further, the sorter 13 operates the transport motor 16 when the BCR signal is turned off. When the copying apparatus 10 finishes the copying operation again, it turns off the 5STRT signal, and after confirming that the 5STRT signal is turned off, the sorter 13 turns off the conveyance motor 16 after the third sheet passes through the sorting paper detection sensor 14. During standby, the sorter stores each J in the backup RAM area.
If the values of the AM counter, sorter stored cumulative number of sheets counter, and bin shift cumulative number of times counter exceed the set values, a warning is displayed on the sorter operation unit, etc.

[Effects] As described above, according to the present invention, the cumulative number of stored sheets is stored and the stored contents can be read from the recording section, so the past state of the device can be easily known.

[Brief explanation of drawings]

Fig. 1 is a diagram showing a schematic configuration of a sheet handling device to which the present invention is applied, Fig. 2 is a block diagram showing a control section of the sheet handling device shown in Fig. 1, and Fig. 3 is a diagram showing a control section of the sheet handling device shown in Fig. 1. Figure 4-1 is a diagram showing the memory map, Figure 4-1 is a time chart of serial communication between the sorter controller and copying machine controller, Figure 4-2 is a diagram showing the serial communication data format, and Figure 5 is transmission from the copying machine to the sorter. Figure 6 is a diagram showing the meaning and role of signals sent from the copying machine to the sorter, Figure 7 is a diagram showing the data sent from the soak to the copying machine, and Figure 8 is from the sorter to the copying machine. A diagram showing the meaning and role of the signals sent,
9-1 to 9-7 are control flowcharts of serial communication, FIG. 10 is a diagram showing the storage state of sheets in each operation mode of the sorter, FIG. 11 is a timing chart in non-sort mode, and FIG. 12 is a timing chart in the sort mode, and FIG. 13 is a timing chart in the collate mode. 9... Sorter operation unit, 10... Copying device, 11...
- Copying device operation section, 13...sorter.

Claims (2)

[Claims] (1) A sheet handling device that distributes and stores sheets ejected from a recording unit into a plurality of storage units, including a storage unit that stores the cumulative number of sheets stored in the device, and the contents of the storage unit can be read from the storage unit. A sheet handling device characterized in that it has a means for (2) The sheet handling device according to claim 1, further comprising means for warning or displaying when the contents of the storage means exceed a predetermined value.