KR20030042363A - Paper sorting apparatus of laser printer and cotrolling method for the same - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE: A paper sorting apparatus for a laser printer and a control method thereof are provided to distribute and stack printing papers using a device installed in the laser printer by varying an axial direction of a paper distributing roller according to a printing order. CONSTITUTION: A paper sorting apparatus(1) includes a paper distributing roller(40) and a moving device. Backup rollers(50) are installed at a lower portion of the paper distributing roller(40). A paper(2) is introduced between the backup rollers(50) and discharged out of the paper sorting apparatus(1) by means of the paper distributing roller(40). The paper distributing roller(40) is installed on a body of a laser printer in such a manner that the paper distributing roller(40) is axially movable on the backup rollers(50). A connecting part(41) is formed at the center of the paper distributing roller(40) in order to allow a connection member(30) to be coupled to the paper distributing roller(40). The moving device moves the paper distributing roller(40) in left and right directions. The moving device includes a cam roll(10), the connection member(30) and a sensor unit(20).

Description

Paper sorting apparatus of laser printer and cotrolling method for the same}

The present invention relates to a laser printer, and more particularly, to a paper sorting apparatus and a control method of a laser printer for discharging by changing the stacking position of the paper according to the user's selection when discharging the printed paper.

In general, a laser printer scans a laser beam to a photosensitive member according to print data transmitted from a computer to form an electrostatic latent image, develops the electrostatic latent image with a developer, transfers it onto printing paper, and prints it by fixing with heat and pressure. to be.

Therefore, when a user performs a desired work such as a document work on a computer and sends the content to be printed to a laser printer, a paper on which desired characters or figures are printed is discharged to a discharge tray to obtain a desired printed matter.

However, such a typical laser printer is printed on each other when necessary to sort and load paper, for example, when printing a large number of multiple documents, or when multiple users using a single printer at the same time on a network printer There is a problem that the user has to classify one by one because they are mixed and loaded.

In order to solve this problem, a separate paper sorting loader has been developed. However, in order to use such a paper sorting loader, it must be purchased separately and installed outside of the laser printer, thus taking up a lot of installation area and having a high purchase cost.

The present invention has been made to solve the above problems, by changing the axial position of the discharge roller in accordance with the printing command so that the paper is discharged to another position on the discharge tray, do not install a separate paper sorting device outside It is an object of the present invention to provide a paper sorting apparatus for a laser printer and a control method thereof capable of classifying, discharging, and stacking paper using only a device embedded in the laser printer.

1 is a perspective view showing a paper sorting apparatus of a laser printer according to the present invention;

Figure 2 is a plan view showing a state in which the discharge roller of Figure 1 located on the right,

3 is a schematic view showing a state in which paper is classified by the paper classification apparatus of FIG. 1;

4A is a conceptual diagram showing the position of a paper at time A in the paper sorting apparatus of FIG. 1;

4B is a conceptual diagram showing a paper position at a point B in the sheet sorting apparatus of FIG. 1;

5 is a control block diagram illustrating a control device for controlling the paper classification apparatus of FIG. 1;

6 is a flowchart illustrating a control method of controlling the paper sorting apparatus of FIG. 1;

7 is a flow chart showing in detail the paper classification step of FIG.

8 is a flow chart showing in detail the step of moving the standby position of the discharge roller of FIG.

* Description of the symbols for the main parts of the drawings *

One; Paper sorting apparatus 2; paper

5; Drive source 10; Camroll

11; Cam groove 20; Sensor unit

21; Sensor cam 22; lever

23; Spring 24; Dog

26; Sensor 30; Connecting member

40; Medium roller 50; Backup Roller

90; Controller 91; Data processing unit

93; Classification controller 95; Print control part

The paper sorting apparatus of the laser printer according to the present invention is to discharge the printed paper to the discharge tray, and to move the discharge roller and the discharge roller installed in the axial direction to the rotary roller and the sliding roller in the axial direction thereof. It characterized in that it comprises a left and right moving means for allowing the paper to be discharged is sorted in the discharge tray.

Here, the left and right movement means, the cam roll is rotated by the drive source, the cam groove is formed on the surface, one end is inserted into the cam groove and the other end is coupled to the discharge roller and the cam roll is rotated is guided to the cam groove It characterized in that it comprises a connecting member for moving the discharge roller in the axial direction and a sensor unit for detecting the axial position of the discharge roller.

In addition, the connection member preferably includes a cam follower inserted into the cam groove for relative movement.

In addition, the sensor unit includes a sensor cam coaxially coupled to the cam roll, one end is in contact with the sensor cam and the other end of the lever swings up and down according to the rotation of the sensor cam and a sensor for detecting the other end position of the lever. Characterized in that.

In addition, the method for controlling a paper sorting apparatus of a laser printer according to the present invention includes the steps of receiving a print data transmitted from a computer by a data processor of a control device, and assigning a command to classify the print data received by the data processor by page. And transmitting, by the data processing unit, a print signal and a classification command of one page to which the classification command is assigned, and the paper classifying apparatus classifying and outputting the printed page according to the contents of the classification command for each page. Characterized in that it comprises a.

The paper sorting discharging step may include receiving a sorting command from the data processing unit, checking whether the received sorting command is in sorting mode, and checking whether the position of the paper being moved in the laser printer is A time point. Confirming, moving the discharge roller to the standby position when the position of the paper is A, checking whether the position of the paper is at the B time, and when the position of the paper is the B time, And moving the roller to a paper sorting position, and sending a discharge completion signal to the control device when the paper is discharged.

Hereinafter, with reference to the accompanying drawings will be described an embodiment of a paper sorting apparatus of a laser printer according to the present invention.

1 to 3, the paper sorting apparatus 1 of the laser printer according to the present invention includes a discharge roller 40 and a left and right moving means.

The discharge roller 40 discharges the paper 2 drawn into the space between the backup rollers 50 installed at the lower side of the printer body, and is generally the same as that used in a general laser printer. However, it is installed in the laser printer body to be movable in the axial direction on the backup roller 50, the connector 41 for coupling with the connecting member 30 is installed in the center thereof.

At this time, the backup roller 50 should have a length enough to support the discharge roller 40 even when the discharge roller 40 is transferred in the axial direction.

In addition, the left and right moving means to move the discharge roller 40 in the axial direction, and includes a cam roll 10, the connecting member 30 and the sensor unit 20.

The cam roll 10 is cylindrical in shape, and the cam groove 11 is formed in the outer periphery of the cam roll 10. As shown in FIG. The cam groove 11 is formed so that the connecting member 30 inserted into the cam groove 11 can perform a linear reciprocating motion in the axial direction of the cam roll 10 while the cam roll 10 rotates 360 degrees. That is, the cam groove 11 converts the rotational movement of the cam roll 10 into linear movement by interaction with the connecting member 30.

In addition, one end of the cam roll 10 is connected to the drive source 5. In the present embodiment, it is shown that a separate drive source is used, but a power transmission device such as a gear or a clutch to a drive source for the cam roll 10 to drive the discharge roller 40 or the like of the laser printer instead of the separate drive source 5. It can also be configured to connect.

One end of the connection member 30 is inserted into the cam groove 11 of the cam roll, and the other end is coupled to the connector 41 of the discharge roller 40. Therefore, the connecting member 30 causes the rotation of the cam roll 10 to be converted into the axial linear reciprocating motion of the discharge roller 40. Here, it is preferable to install a cam follower 31 at one end inserted into the cam groove 11 so as to smooth the relative movement with the cam groove 11.

The sensor unit 20 includes a sensor cam 21, a lever 22, and a sensor 26.

The sensor cam 21 is coaxially coupled with the cam roll 10, and the cam curve can operate the sensor 26 when the connecting member 30 is located at either the left side P1 or the right side P2. So that it is formed. In this embodiment, the cam groove 11 so that the lever 22 can operate the sensor 26 when the connecting member 30 is located on the left side, that is, when the discharge roller 40 is located on the left side P1. The protrusion 21a is formed at the position of the sensor cam 21 corresponding to the.

The lever 22 is supported by the hinge shaft 25 fixed to the printer main body 3 at the center part, one end is in contact with the sensor cam 21, and the other end is supported by the spring 23. Accordingly, one end of the lever 22 is always in contact with the sensor cam 21 by the spring 23. In addition, around the other end of the lever 22 is provided with a sensor 26 that can detect the movement of the other end.

In the present embodiment, the dog 24 is attached to the other end of the lever 22, so that the dog 24 can be inserted into the sensor 26 by the up and down swing of the lever 22. Is installed. Therefore, when one end of the lever 22 is in contact with the protrusion 21a of the sensor cam, the other end of the lever 22 moves downward so that the other end dog 24 is inserted into the sensor 26 and one end of the lever 22 is inserted. When the protrusion 21a is released, the other end of the lever 22 moves upward, so that the dog 24 is released from the sensor 26. In the case of the present embodiment, when the dog 24 is located inside the sensor 26, it is in an ON state, and when the dog 24 is out of the sensor 26, it is in an OFF state.

Referring to the operation of the sheet sorting apparatus 1 of the laser printer according to the present invention having the configuration as described above is as follows.

When the cam roll 10 is rotated by the driving source 5, the cam follower 31 inserted into the cam groove 11 moves along the cam groove 11, whereby the connecting member 30 moves the cam roll 10 shaft. Sliding right and left in the direction. Subsequently, the discharge roller 40 coupled to the other end of the connection member 30 moves left and right in the axial direction on the backup roller 50. Therefore, when the discharge roller 40 is moved from the left side P1 to the right side P2 by the cam roll 10, the paper 2 drawn into the center between the discharge roller 40 and the backup roller 50 is the backup roller. It is pushed to the right on 50 and discharged to the R2 position of the discharge tray 60.

In addition, when the cam roll 10 rotates, the sensor cam 21 coaxially coupled to the cam roll 10 also rotates together. When the discharge roller 40 is located at the left side P1, one end of the lever 22 is connected to the sensor cam ( The other end of the lever 22 is moved downward in contact with the protrusion 21a of the 21 so that the dog 24 is positioned inside the sensor 26. When the dog 24 is positioned inside the sensor 26, the sensor 26 outputs an ON signal. When the cam roll 10 continues to rotate again and one end of the lever 22 falls from the protrusion 21a of the sensor cam 21, the other end of the lever 22 is raised so that the dog 24 at the other end is moved to the sensor 26. ) To get out. When the dog 24 is out of the sensor 26, the sensor 26 outputs an OFF signal. Therefore, the case where the discharge roller 40 is located in the left side P1 can be recognized.

In addition, with reference to the accompanying drawings will be described a method for controlling a sheet sorting apparatus of a laser printer according to the present invention.

Although not shown in the drawings, the laser printer is provided with a control device for controlling the printing operation in accordance with a computer command.

Referring to FIG. 5, a control device 90 that performs a method for controlling a paper sorting device of a laser printer according to the present invention includes a data processor 91, a classification controller 93, and a print controller 95.

The data processing unit 91 receives print data from a computer, assigns a classification command for each page, and then sends a print command for each page to the print control unit 95, and transmits a classification command for each page to the classification control unit 93.

The sorting control unit 93 moves the sheet sorting device 1 so that the discharge roller 40 of the sheet sorting device 1 is moved to the left side P1 or the right side P2 according to the sorting command sent from the data processing unit 91. To control.

The print control unit 95 is the same as a control device of a general laser printer, and controls a laser scanning device, a paper feeder, a developing device, etc. according to the received print data, and prints page by page.

Hereinafter, with reference to the accompanying drawings will be described a method in which the control device 90 having the configuration as described above controls the sheet sorting device.

Referring to FIG. 6, the data processing unit 91 of the control device 90 receives print data from a computer (S10). The data processor 91 assigns a classification command for each page to the received print data (S20). After the classification command is provided for each page, the print control unit 95 transmits a command to print one page, and the classification control unit 93 transmits the classification command of the corresponding page (30).

The classification control unit 93 controls the discharge roller 40 according to the contents of the received classification command to discharge the paper 2 to any one of R0, R1, and R2 of FIG. 3 of the discharge tray 60 (S40). ). In other words, when the sorting command is not in the sorting mode, the paper 2 is discharged and loaded in the same manner as in the normal case, and in the case of the left moving command, the paper is discharged to the R1 position and in the right moving command, the paper is loaded into the R2 position. do.

If the data processing unit 91 receives the discharge completion signal and the page to be printed remains, the data processing unit 91 transmits a signal to the print control unit 95 and the classification control unit 93 so as to perform the above-described process again. If not left, the printing ends (S50).

7 and 8, the classification control unit 93 controls the paper classification apparatus 1 to classify the paper 2 as follows.

The classification command sent from the data processing unit 91 is checked to confirm whether the classification mode is present (S41). In the case of the classification mode, it is confirmed whether or not the time A (S42). Here, the time A point is referring to Fig. 4A, the time from immediately after the trailing edge of the preceding sheet 2 'passes through the discharge roller 40 until the leading edge of the trailing sheet 2 enters the discharge roller 40. At some point in time. Preferably, the A time point is set as the middle of the time. For example, if it takes one second from immediately after the trailing edge of the preceding sheet 2 'passes through the delivery roller 40 and the leading edge of the trailing sheet 2 enters the exit roller 40, then the time A is the leading sheet (2). After the end of ') passes through the discharge roller 40, the time is added to 0.5 second.

When the time A arrives, the classification control unit 93 drives the drive source 5 of the sheet sorting apparatus 1 to move the discharge roller 40 to the standby position (S43).

Referring to FIG. 8, the classification control unit 93 moves the discharge roller 40 to the standby position in more detail with reference to FIG. 8.

The classification control unit 93 checks whether the position of the discharge roller 40 is on the left side P1 (S431). That is, it is checked whether the sensor 26 of the sensor unit 20 is in an ON state.

If the discharge roller 40 is on the left side P1, it is determined whether the sorting command is a left moving command (S432). In the case of the left shift command, the drive source 5 of the sheet sorting apparatus is driven (S433). When the driving source 5 is driven, the cam roll 10 is rotated so that the discharge roller 40 moves to the right side P2 through the connecting member 30. When the cam roll 10 starts to rotate, the sensor cam 21 also rotates together, so that one end of the lever 22 is out of the protrusion 21a of the sensor cam. Thus, the sensor 26 is turned off. If a predetermined time elapses after the sensor 26 is turned off, the drive source 5 is stopped. Here, the predetermined time is a time taken until the discharge roller 40 is located on the right side P2 after the sensor 26 is turned off and is determined according to the moving distance of the discharge roller 40.

If it is not the left moving command, the process proceeds to step S44 to determine whether it is time B (S432).

In step 431, when the position of the discharge roller 40 is not the left side P1, that is, when the sensor 26 is in the off state, it is checked whether the classification command is the left moving command (S436). If it is not the left shift command, the drive source 5 is driven (S437). When the driving source 5 is driven, the cam roll 10 rotates so that the discharge roller 40 moves to the left side P1. After that, it is checked whether the discharge roller 40 is positioned on the left side P1 (S438), and the driving source 5 is stopped (S439). Here, it is determined whether the discharge roller 40 is located on the left side P1 by checking whether the sensor 26 of the sensor unit 20 is turned on. If it is the left shift command, the process proceeds to step S44 (step S44).

If the discharge roller 40 is in the standby position, the classification control unit 93 determines whether it is the B time point (S44). Here, with respect to the time point B, referring to FIG. 4B, the rear end of the paper 2 is discharge roller 40 from the time when the leading edge of the paper 2 entering the discharge roller 40 passes the discharge roller 40. It refers to a certain point of time before passing. At this point in time B, the paper 2 in which the time taken for the delivery roller 40 to move on the backup roller 50 from the left side P1 to the right side P2 (or vice versa) is passing through the delivery roller 40. It is preferable to set so that the rear end of is smaller than the time taken to pass through the discharge roller 40.

If it is the time point B, the classification control unit 93 moves the discharge roller 40 to the left or the right so that the paper is classified and loaded at the P1 or P2 position (S45).

The process in which this step S45 is performed is described in detail as follows.

At the time point B, the classification control unit 93 drives the drive source 5 to rotate the cam roll 10. When the cam roll 10 rotates, the discharge roller 40 moves to the left side P1 or the right side P2 by the cam groove 11 and the connecting member 30. At this time, the paper 2 passing between the discharge roller 40 and the backup roller 50 is discharged in the rotational direction of the discharge roller 40 by the frictional force of the discharge roller 40 and at the same time the discharge roller 40 slides. Is transported in the direction.

The classification control unit 93 continuously checks whether the discharge roller 40 has reached the left side P1 or the right side P2. When the discharge roller 40 is reached, the discharge roller 40 is moved from the right side P2 to the left side P1 by checking the timing at which the sensor 26 turns on in the off state. When 40 moves from the left side P1 to the right side P2, it is determined by checking whether a predetermined time has elapsed since the sensor 26 is turned off in the on state.

When the discharge roller 40 reaches the left side P1 or the right side P2, the classification control unit 40 stops the drive source 5. The paper 2 printed by the rotation of the discharge roller 40 and the sliding movement in the left and right directions is classified into the left P1 or the right P2 and discharged.

When the discharge of the paper 2 is completed, the existing discharge sensor sends a discharge confirmation signal to the control device (S46).

Therefore, according to the paper sorting apparatus and control method thereof according to the present invention, the user can sort and stack the paper into two positions (P1, P2) according to the selection without installing a separate paper sorter. When printing a large number of documents or using a network printer, it is easy to classify by user.

As described above, according to the paper sorting apparatus and the control method of the laser printer according to the present invention, the discharge roller for discharging the paper is moved left and right according to the user's selection so that the paper can be discharged and stacked in two places on the left and right sides. As a result, the paper can be classified and loaded as necessary without installing a separate paper sorter.

The present invention is not limited to the above-described specific embodiments, and various modifications can be made by those skilled in the art without departing from the gist of the present invention as claimed in the claims. Of course, such changes will fall within the scope of the claims.

Claims (8)

Discharging the printed paper to the discharge tray, the discharge roller installed to allow the rotational movement and the sliding movement in the axial direction; And horizontally moving means for moving the discharge roller left and right in the axial direction so that the discharged paper is classified in the discharge tray. According to claim 1, wherein the left and right moving means, Drive source; A cam roll rotating by the drive source and having a cam groove formed on a surface thereof; One end is inserted into the cam groove and the other end is coupled to the discharge roller, and the cam roll rotates to guide the cam groove to move the discharge roller in the axial direction; And And a sensor unit for detecting an axial position of the discharge roller. The method of claim 2, wherein the connection member, And a cam follower inserted into the cam groove for relative movement. The method of claim 2, wherein the sensor unit, A sensor cam coaxially coupled with the cam roll; A lever in contact with one end of the sensor cam and the other end swinging up and down according to the rotation of the sensor cam; And And a sensor for sensing the other end position of the lever. 5. The paper sorting apparatus of a laser printer according to claim 4, wherein the other end of the lever is supported by a spring. Receiving, by the data processing unit of the control device, the print data transmitted from the computer; Granting a classification command for each page of the print data received by the data processor; Transmitting, by the data processor, a print signal of one page to which the classification command is assigned and a classification command; And classifying and discharging the printed paper according to the contents of the sorting command for each page, by the paper sorting device. 2. According to claim 6, wherein the paper sorting step, Receiving a classification command from the data processor; Checking whether the received classification command is in classification mode; Confirming whether the position of the paper being moved in the laser printer is A time point; If the position of the paper is at time A, moving the discharge roller to a standby position; Confirming whether the position of the paper is at time B; If the position of the paper is at time B, moving the discharge roller to a paper sorting position; And And discharging the discharge completion signal to the control device when the discharge of the paper is completed. The method of claim 7, wherein the time point B is And the time taken for the paper to pass through the delivery roller is longer than the time taken for the delivery roller in the standby position to move to the paper sorting position.