US3744790A - Sorter for use in conjunction with photocopy machines - Google Patents

Sorter for use in conjunction with photocopy machines Download PDF

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Publication number
US3744790A
US3744790A US00183560A US3744790DA US3744790A US 3744790 A US3744790 A US 3744790A US 00183560 A US00183560 A US 00183560A US 3744790D A US3744790D A US 3744790DA US 3744790 A US3744790 A US 3744790A
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Prior art keywords
deflector
bins
sorter
sheets
reset
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US00183560A
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English (en)
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L Hoffman
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Pitney Bowes Sage Inc
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Pitney Bowes Sage Inc
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    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B65—CONVEYING; PACKING; STORING; HANDLING THIN OR FILAMENTARY MATERIAL
    • B65H—HANDLING THIN OR FILAMENTARY MATERIAL, e.g. SHEETS, WEBS, CABLES
    • B65H39/00—Associating, collating, or gathering articles or webs
    • B65H39/10—Associating articles from a single source, to form, e.g. a writing-pad
    • B65H39/115—Associating articles from a single source, to form, e.g. a writing-pad in juxtaposed carriers
    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B65—CONVEYING; PACKING; STORING; HANDLING THIN OR FILAMENTARY MATERIAL
    • B65H—HANDLING THIN OR FILAMENTARY MATERIAL, e.g. SHEETS, WEBS, CABLES
    • B65H33/00—Forming counted batches in delivery pile or stream of articles
    • B65H33/14—Forming counted batches in delivery pile or stream of articles by diverting batches to separate receivers
    • Y—GENERAL TAGGING OF NEW TECHNOLOGICAL DEVELOPMENTS; GENERAL TAGGING OF CROSS-SECTIONAL TECHNOLOGIES SPANNING OVER SEVERAL SECTIONS OF THE IPC; TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER USPC CROSS-REFERENCE ART COLLECTIONS [XRACs] AND DIGESTS
    • Y10—TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER USPC
    • Y10S—TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER USPC CROSS-REFERENCE ART COLLECTIONS [XRACs] AND DIGESTS
    • Y10S271/00—Sheet feeding or delivering
    • Y10S271/90—Stripper

Definitions

  • Deflector assemblies are sequentiallyactuated under the control of a switch actuated [56] References Cited by each copy sheet to route successive copy sheetsinto UNITED STATES T NT successive bins and are automatically reset at the con- 3 561 753 2H9. sneuman 271,64 x clusion of each multicopy run. Hold back members 2:919:91? l/1960 worswick :I111: :IIIIIILN. 271/64 COM”)!
  • Sorters for office photocopier machines are known in the art.
  • An additional object of the invention is to provide a sorter of the above character, which requires virtually no modification in the equipment to which it is functionally adapted.
  • Still another object of the present invention is to provide a sorter of the above character, which is equipped with control logic operating independently of, and thus requiring no electrical connection to, the control logic of the equipment to which it is functionally adapted.
  • a further object of the invention is to provide a sorter of the above character, which is economical to manufacture, efficient andflapid in operation, and is exceedingly compact in design to the point where it can be operatively adapted to desk-top sheet processing equipment without requiring additional floor space.
  • a sorter which, in the disclosed embodiment of the invention, is functionally added to a desk-top photocopying machine. It will be appreciated however, that the sorter of the invention may be functionally adapted to a wide variety of paper sheet processing equipment such as duplicating machines, printers, etc., where it is desired to sort the paper sheets issuing therefrom into separate collations.
  • the sorter of the present invention requires virtually no structural modification in the equipment to which it is added and has its own separate control logic, which requires no physical or electrical connection to the control logic of the paper sheet equipment. Rather, the sorter control logic is ac-. tuated by and operates under the control of the individual paper sheets issuing serially from the processing equipment.
  • the sorter is so designed and its various components so packaged as to permit its physical location beneath socalled desk-top paper sheet processing equipment pursuant to its functional adaptation thereto.
  • the sorter of the invention need not require additional floor space.
  • the sorter of the invention includes paper sheet conveying means for taking the sheets issuing from the equipment to which it is functionally adapted and conveying them along a generally horizontal path which may be physically located beneath the equipment.
  • a series of bins or pockets are distributed along this horizontal path beneath the conveying means.
  • Separate deflector assemblies situated between each bin and the horizontal path operate under the control of the sorter control logic, which is coordinated to the rate at which the paper sheets issue from the equipment during a sorting run, to inititiate the sequential actuation of the deflector assemblies pursuant to route successive sheets into successive ones of the bins.
  • the means for coordinating the sorter control logic to the cycling of production rate of the equipment issuing the paper sheets is a simple switch actuated by each sheet exiting the equipment. As long as the sheets issue at a normal rate, the switch actuations are effective to control the deflector assemblies in sequence to route the successive sheets into successive bins.
  • a timer is provided for timing the intervals between switch actuations. When the timer detects the expiration of a time interval in excess of the normal interval between successive sheets, it interprets this as the conclusion of V a sorting run and operates to reset the deflector assem blies preparatory for the next sorting run.
  • the deflector assemblies of the invention are provided with means not only to intercept a sheet conveyed along the horizontal path by the conveying means, but also includes means for controlling the trailing edges of the sheets deposited in the bins so that they will not interfere with the sorting of subsequent sheets.
  • These sheet control means are effectuated upon the resetting of the deflector assemblies in conjunction with the physically reciprocation of the bins, en masse, in order that the means can assume controlling physical relation to the sheets sorted during the last sorting run.
  • the conveying means for translating the sheets along the horizontal path is in the form of a vacuum conveyor.
  • the sheets are thus held from above for conveyance along the underside of the vacuum conveyor, thereby clearing the way for the routing of the sheets downwardly by the deflector assemblies into the various bins.
  • the bins are vertically oriented such that the sheets deposited therein are stacked on edge, thus contributing to the compact design of the sorter.
  • FIG. 1 is a longitudinal sectional view of a sorter constructed according to a preferred embodiment of the invention, illustrating its physical and functional adaptation to a desk-top photocopying machine;
  • FIG. 2 is an enlarged longitudinal sectional view of a transition conveyor included in the sorter of FIG. 1;
  • FIG. 3 is a perspective view of a deflector assembly included in the sorter of FIG. 1;
  • FIG. 4 is a framentary, longitudinal sectional view of several deflector assemblies, illustrating their operative and inoperative positions in relation to a vacuum conveyor and several bins included in the sorter of FIG. 1;
  • FIG. 5 is a side elevational view, partially broken away, of the mechanism for positioning the deflector assemblies to their operative and inoperative positions;
  • FIG. 6 is a perspective view of the several bins of the sorter movable as a unit laterally outward from under the vacuum conveyor and deflector assemblies for unloading;
  • FIG. 7a through 7f are a series of diagramatic views illustrating the operation of the sorter of FIG. 1;
  • FIG. 8 is a electrical circuit schematic diagram of the control logic for the sorter of FIG. 1.
  • the sorter of the invention is illustrated in FIG. 1 as operating in conjunction with a desk-top electrostatic photocopying machine, generally indicated at 12.
  • the sorter 10 is adaptable to sorting into a plurality of separate collations paper sheets issuing from a wide variety of sheet processing equipment, such as printers, duplicating machines, etc.
  • sorter 10 is mounted by or incorporated in a stand 14 having a top 15 supporting photocopier 12. It is thus seen that the sorter is located generally beneath the photocopier, and thus its functional and physical adaptation thereto does not take up additional floor space, a significant feature of the present invention.
  • Photocopier 12 may be of the type disclosed in the commonly assigned, copending application of Hoffman et al., Ser. No. 131,064, filed Apr. 5, 197].
  • photocopier 12 is of the roll paper type, wherein copy paper is withdrawn from a supply roll 16 and severed into separate sheets by a knife mechanism, generally indicated at 18.
  • the copy paper passes through a charging station, generally indicated at 20, from which it is picked up by a vacuum conveyor 22 for transport through an exposure station, generally indicated at 24.
  • the original to be copied is placed face down at an illuminating station 26, where it is illuminated to develop a-reflection of the image to be copied.
  • This reflected image is directed by a mirror 28 through a lens system, generally indicated at 30, for projection onto the copy sheet while it is passing through the exposure station 24.
  • the copy sheet then passes through a development station, generally indicated at 32, where the latent electrostatic image created at the exposure station is developed into a visible image on the copy sheet.
  • the developed copy sheet is then translated through a drying station 34 by a conveyor 35 deposited in a receiving compartment, generally indicated at 36.
  • tray 38 While the photocopier 12 is operating in a single copy mode, and thus not requiring the services of sorter 10, the copy sheets arriving at the receiving compartment 36 are collected on a tray 38, such as is illustrated in FIG. 2. However, when the photocopier 12 is operating in a multiple copy or multicopy mode, the forward end of tray 38 is swung upwardly, such that the copy sheets exiting from the drying station 34 on conveyor 35 pass under the tray onto a transition conveyor, generally indicated at 40, in FIGS. 1 and 2.
  • Conveyor 40 driven off the sorter drive train (not shown) translates the copy sheets out of the receiving compartment 36, from which they negotiate at arcuate feed path indicated at 42, and are picked up by a vacuum conveyor, generally indicated at 44, for translation along a generally horizontal feed path overlying a series of bins or pockets 46.
  • a switch 43 which, as will be seen, coordinates the operation of sorter 10 to the multicopy cycling rate of the photocopier l2.
  • Deflector assemblies generally indicated at 48 in FIG. 1, one stationed between each bin 46 and the vacuum conveyor 44, are operated in sequence under the control of switch 43 to strip successive copy sheets issuing from the photocopier 12 during a multicopy run or sorting run from conveyor 44 and route them into successive bins 46.
  • the deflector assemblies also include means, to be specifically described, for controlling the copy sheets sorted into the various bins 46 to clear the open upper ends or mouths thereof such that subsequent copy sheets may be deposited in the bins without intereference. In addition, this means also ensures a proper sequence or collation of copy sheets being collected in the various bins.
  • the series of bins 46 are mounted on a common base 50 to constitute a unitary bin unit, generally indicated at 52.
  • This bin unit is, in turn, mounted via slide tracks 54 to enable the bin unit to be pulled laterally outward from under the vacuum conveyor 44 for removing the collations from bins 46, as seen in FIG. 6.
  • Slide tracks 54 are, in turn, secured to slide tracks 56 carried by rails 57, in turn mounted by table 14, for longitudinal reciprocation of the bin unit 52 by a motor 58 coupled thereto by a crank 59, connecting rod 60 and member 61 (FIG. 1).
  • the reciprocation of the bin unit 52 is carried out at the conclusion of each multicopy run of the photocopier 12 or, in other words, at the conclusion of each sorting run, and is effective, in conjunction with the various deflector assemblies 48, to establish control over the copy sheets deposited into the various bins during the previous sorting run so as to clear the mouths of the bins for the next sorting run.
  • a tray 62 is provided to handle the surplus copy sheets as stripped from the left hand end of conveyor 46 beyond the last bin by stripper fingers 64. It will be appreciated that if the number of copy sheets in a sorting run exceeds the number of bins by more than one, the copy sheets accumulated in tray 62 will not be properly collated.
  • a second sorter module may be coupled to the left end of the one shown in FIG. 1, to increase the sorting capacity.
  • conveyor accommodated in the receiving compartment 36 of photocopier 12 includes a pair of side plates for journaling the ends of a transversely extending roller 72.
  • a second roller 74 is journaled by sorter side frames 75 and, in turn, pivotally mounts conveyor side plates 70. These longitudinally spaced rollers mount a series of side by side conveyor belt loops 76.
  • Roller 74 may be driven off the copier drive train, but is preferably driven off of the sorter drive train (not shown) in order to avoid modification of the photocopier drive train in adapting the sorter to the photocopier.
  • Tray 38 is mounted to the conveyor side plates 70 by depending lugs 78, such that the tray is mounted in spaced relation above the upper reach of the conveyor belts 76.
  • Tabs journal the ends of a transversely extending idler roller 82 lying in peripheral engagement with the conveyor belts 6.
  • the copy sheets conveyed by the conveyor 40 pass through the nip of idler roller 82 and the conveyor belts 76, and by virtue of this engagement are prevented from becoming skewed as they are conveyed from the receiving compartment 36.
  • the leading edge of a copy sheet exiting the receiving compartment passes through the nip of an idler roller 84 journaled between side plates 70 and the conveyor belts 76 tracked around driven roller 74.
  • the copy sheets are fed through the arcuate path 42 defined by a guide plate 88 and a perforated, arcuate lead-in section 90 of a vacuum chamber 92 included in vacuum conveYor 44.
  • the leading end portion of the copy sheets are held against the perforated arcuate surface of the lead-in section 90 as they are fed by conveyor 40 until they are picked up by a series of side by side endless conveyor belt loops 95 tracked around front and rear transversely extending rollers 96 and 98 (FIGS. 1 and 2) journaled by the sorter side frames.
  • the lower reaches of belt loops 95 move over a perforated lower plate 100 of vacuum chamber 92.
  • the copy sheets are held against the under surface of the perforated plate 100 by the relatively negative pressure within the chamber and are translated by the conveyor belts 95 along the horizontal path extending above the various of bins 46 of bin unit 52. It will be understood that one of the rollers 96 and 98, about which the conveyor belts 95 are tracked, is driven off the sorter drive train (not shown).
  • side plates 70 of conveyor 40 operating the photocopier receiver compartment 36 are pivotally mounted on the laterally extending stub shafts 74a of roller 74.
  • the left end of the conveyor 40 is capable of being swung upwardly and downwardly about the axis of roller 74 pursuant to positioning it between operative and inoperative positions.
  • transition conveyor 40 when transition conveyor 40 is in its lower position, the leading edge of tray 38 is below the plane of the sheets exiting the drying station 34. Consequently, the sheets are accumulated on tray 38.
  • the left end of conveyor 40 is tilted upwardly to the position shown in FIG. 1, a position sustained by feet 41 pivotally mounted to conveyor side frames 70, tray 38 is above the plane of the copy sheets exiting the drying station 34, and instead the copy sheets are deposited on the conveyor belts 76 for translation out of the receiving compartment 36 to sorter 10.
  • each deflector assembly 48 comprises a longitudinally extending shaft journaled adjacent each of its ends in the sorter side frames 75.
  • a pair of end plates 1 14 secured on shaft 110 serve to mount a elongated plate 116 having a series of upwardly extending stripper fingers 118 and curved depending guide portion 120.
  • End plates 114 also mount an elongated holdback plate 122.
  • Tab 121 between fingers 118 insure that the leading edge of a copy sheet does not snag on plate 116.
  • each deflector assembly 48 is independently rotated between an operative or reset position and an inoperative or actuated position.
  • a deflector assembly When a deflector assembly is in its operative position, its stripper fingers 118 are lodged in depressions or apertures 124 formed in the perforated bottom plate 100 of the vacuum chamber 92. In this position, the stripper fingers 118 are disposed to intercept the leading edge of a copy sheet translated by the vacuum conveyor 46 and in effect strip the sheet therefrom. The leading edge of the stripped copy sheet is guided by plate 116 downwardly between itself and shaft 110, while the guide portion serves to guide the copy sheets into the bin 46 situated immediately therebeneath.
  • FIG. 5 The mechanism for angularly positioning the various deflector assemblies 48 to their operative and inoperative positions is shown in FIG. 5.
  • the inner end of shaft 110 of each deflector assembly is passed through a mounting plate and has secured thereto an L- shaped latch 132.
  • a spring 134 is connected at its lower end to a post 136 secured to mounting plate 130 and at its other end to the shorter, horizontally extending leg 132a oflatch 132.
  • springs 134 acting through latches 132, tend to rotate their respective shafts 110, such as to angularly orient the deflector assemblies 48 to their inoperative positions, that is, with their stripper fingers 118 (FIGS. 3 and 4) removed from the vacuum conveyor 44.
  • each latch 132 To sustain the deflector assemblies 48 in their operative positions, the downwardly extending longer leg 132k of each latch 132 is caught in a notch 138a provided in separate arms 138 pivotally mounted by pivot posts 140 carried by mounting plate 130.
  • the free end of each arm 138 is linked to a plunger 142a of respective solenoids 142.
  • the plungers 142a are normally urged upwardly by springs 144, thereby maintaining the free end of arms 138 elevated such that the notches 138a therein are maintained in engaging relation with the associated latches 132.
  • each deflector assembly in assuming its inoperative or actuated position is determined by a series of stops 146 carried by common elongated bar 148 mounted for longitudinal reciprocating movement by mounting plate 130.
  • the solenoids 142 are pulsed in sequence under the control of the copy sheet entry switch 43 (FIGS. 1 and 2) to, in effect, trip the deflector assemblies 48 in corresponding sequence, allowing them to successively assume their inoperative position as the series of copy sheets are sorted into the bins 46.
  • the depending latch leg 132b of each tripped deflector assembly 48 abuts against the adjacent stop 146 cd by reciprocating bar 148. Since solenoid 142 are merely pulsed, their springs 144 are effective to return their associated arms 138 to their elevated, latched engaging positions. Motor 150 is then energized for a complete revolution and bar 148 is reciprocated first to the left as seen in FIG.
  • sorter 12 of the present invcntion can best be understood from a consideration of FIGS. 7a through 7f.
  • the two deflector assemblies 48 shown are in their operative positions with their stripped fingers 118 in intercepting relation to copy sheets being transported from right to left over bottom plate 100 by vacuum conveyor 44.
  • the first copy sheet 160 translated by the vacuum conveyor is stripped off by the stripper fingers 1 18 of the first deflector assembly and routed downwardly by its guide portion 120 into the first bin 46, as seen in FIG. 7b.
  • the copy sheet as it is directed into the first bin, passes between guide portion 120 and holdback plate 122.
  • the trailing or upper edge of the copy sheet lies to the left of the holdback plate.
  • the upper edge of the copy sheet in the first bin is above the lower edge of holdback plate 122.
  • the next copy sheet leaves the receiving compartment 36 of the photocopier 12, it actuates switch 43 which, as will be seen, is effective to control the pulsing of the solenoid 142 associated with the first deflector assembly 48.
  • the first deflector assembly is rotated to its inoperative position in advance of the arrival of the second copy sheet.
  • the second copy sheet passes by the first deflector assembly and is stripped from the vacuum conveyor 44 by the stripper fingers 118 of the second deflector assembly 48 and routed by guide portion 120 into the second bin 46, as is shown in FIG. 7c.
  • the second deflector assem bly is oriented to its actuated position in response to the actuation of switch 43 by the next copy sheet or, if it is the conclusion of a multicopy or sorting run, by logic to be described in connection with FIG. 8. It will be noted from FIG. 7c that the holdback plate 122 of the first deflector assembly, while oriented in its inoperative position, has its lower end disposed above the level of the copy sheet stacked in the first bin.
  • the bin unit 52 is reciprocated by motor 58 (FIG. 1) first to the right and then back to the left, as seen in FIGS. 1 and 7a-7f
  • motor 58 FIG. 1
  • FIG. 7d and 7e when the bin unit 52 is shifted to the right, the upper edges of the sheets just sorted into bins 46 pass under and to the right of the holdback plates 122 of the two deflector assemblies shown.
  • the deflector assemblies At the end of one-half a revolution of motor 58, whereupon the bin unit 52 has reached the limit of its movement to the right, the deflector assemblies are reset to their operative positions by motor (FIG. 5).
  • the holdback plates 122 are moved into intercepting relation with the upper edge of the copy sheets stacked in the bins 46.
  • the holdback plates engage the upper edges of the stacked copy sheets, moving them to the right as seen in FIG. 7f, to thereby clear the mouth or entry into bins 6.
  • the upper edge of the previously sorted copy sheets are no longer located between the holdback plates and the guide portions 120 of the deflector assemblies 48 and thus cannot interfere with the entry of copy sheets sorted during the next sorting run.
  • the bins 46 have a specific contour designed to control the copy sheets stacked on edge therein.
  • One sidewall 46a as seen in FIGS. 1 and 7a through 7 f, is essentially vertical, while the other sidewall 46b is somewhat slanted to provide a slight convergence toward the bottom of each bin. Adjacent the top of each bin, sidewall 46! slants away from sidewall 46a at an increased angle to provide a wide bin mouth for acceptance of the copy sheets.
  • Bottom 460 of each bin slopes downwardly away from vertical sidewall 46a to further assist in copy sheet stacking. The purpose of the slight convergence in the lower portion of each bin is to control the lower portions of the stacked sheet so as to prevent excessive bowing or curl thereof as they are stacked on edge.
  • the copy sheets due to their storage on supply roll 16, have a natural curl which is convex relative to vertical bin sidewall 46a.
  • the geometry of the bins is effective to limit this natural curl so as to ensure engagement of their upper trailing edges, as stacked in the bins, by the holdback plates 122.
  • the sloping bottom wall of the bins is effective to induce the lower edges of the copy sheets to fall away from the vertical sidewall 46a; thus clearing the way for the leading edge of the next copy sheet deposited therein.
  • the paper actuated entry switch 43 is electrically connected to index a a stepping switch 200.
  • This stepping switch is indexed one switch position each time the entry switch 43 is actuated by a copy sheet.
  • stepping switch 200 is indexed, it is connected to pulse the various solenoids 142 in a predetermined sequence.
  • switch position No. 1 of stepping switch 200 to which it is indexed from its reset or home position by the first copy sheet in a sorting run is dead, while the first solenoid 142 is connected to be pulsed when the stepping switch is indexed to switchposition No. 2. The reason for this can be seen from FIG. 1.
  • the first deflector assembly 48 is effective to route the first copy sheet in a run into the first bin 46.
  • the stepping switch 200 is indexed to switch position No. 2 to pulse the first solenoid.
  • the first deflector assembly is then oriented to its inoperative position, and the second sheet is thus routed by the second deflector assembly into the second bin, and so on.
  • Each entry switch actuation is also effective to trigger a timer 202.
  • Each triggering of timer 202 causes it to start a timing cycle having a duration slightly in excess of the interval between copy sheets issuing from the photocopier 12 during a normal multicopy run. As long as copy sheets issue from the photocopier 12 at the normal copy rate, timer 202 is in effect repeatedly reset to start a new timing cycle. However, at the end of a multicopy run, the interruption in the normal succession of entry switch actuations permits the timer 202 to complete a timing cycle. At the conclusion thereof, the timer develops a stepping pulse on output lead 204, which is effective to index stepping switch 200 one last step.
  • timer 202 resets stepping switch 200 to its home position over lead 206, preparatory for the next run.
  • the final function of timer 202 is to energize a relay 208 over output lead 210.
  • relay 208 pulls in, it closes relay contact 212, completing a relay holding circuit from an AC source 214 by way of a toggle-type limit switch 216 which is closed on its left fixed contact 218.
  • relay movable contact 220 breaks with its upper fixed contact 222 and makes its lower fixed contact 224, while movable relay contact 226 makes with its fixed contact 228, all as illustrated in phantom in FIG. 8.
  • the AC source 214 is connected also through a toggle-type limit switch 230, engaging its right contact 232, and relay contacts 226 and 228 to energize motor 58.
  • This motor begins a complete revolution effective to reciprocate bin unit 52 first to the right as seen in FIGS. 1 and 7d.
  • Motor 58 is also linked to a switch actuator 234 for limit switch 230, carried by the platform 56, such that it is also likewise reciprocated.
  • actuator 234 is moved to the left by motor 58.
  • actuator 234 releases limit switch 230 electrical contacting engagement is maintained with its contact 232 by virtue of its toggle action, thus maintaining the energization circuit for motor 58.
  • bin unit 52 reaches its right-most position, seen in FIG.
  • switch actuator 234 transfers limit switch 230 from its right contact 232 to its left contact 236, thereby breaking the energization circuit to motor 58.
  • the AC source 214 is connected to energize reset motor for the deflector assemblies 48 (FIG. 5) by way of limit switch 230, contact 236 and relay contacts 220 and 224.
  • Motor 150 begins reciprocating the reset bar 148, initially to the left as seen in FIG. 5.
  • a switch actuator 238 for limit switch 216 which may be carried by reset bar 148, is initially reciprocated to the right, as seen in FIG. 8, to ultimately transfer the limit switch 216 from its left contact 218 to its right contact 240. This breaks the holding circuit for relay 208 and it drops out to open its contact 212 ad to break the electrical contacting engagement between contacts 226 and 228.
  • relay contact 222 transfers from contact 224 to contact 222.
  • the AC source 214 is connected through limit switch 216 to continue the energization of motor 150 and is also connected through limit switch 230 and relay contacts 220 and 222 to re-establish energization of motor 58.
  • the bin unit 52 and the reset bar are thus jointly returned to their home positions, with switch actuator 238 returning to the left and switch actuator 234 returning to the right, as seen in FIG. 8.
  • switch actuator 238 returns limit switch 216 to its normal position in engagement with contact 218, the energization circuit for motor 150 is broken.
  • actuator 238 returns switch 230 to its right contact 232, thus breaking the energization circuit for motor 58.
  • both motors are disconnected from the AC source until such time as the relay 208 is again energized from time 202 or upon closure of a manual reset switch 242. It will be appreciated that closure of this manual reset switch simulates a relay energizing output from timer 202 to perform the reset functions described.
  • a sorter for use in conjunction with a photocopier operating in a multiple copy mode, said sorter comprising, in combination:
  • D. means mounting said transition conveyor to permit selective positioning of the upstream end of said conveyor and said tray relative to the output of the photocopier, whereby copy sheets are accumulated on said tray or transferred by said transition conveyor to said vacuum conveyor;
  • control means coordinated with the copy cycling rate of the photocopier for sequentially actuating said deflector assemblies to route successive copy sheets conveyed along said horizontal path segment downwardly into successive ones of said bins.
  • a sorter for use in conjunction with a photocopier operating in a multicopy mode, said sorter comprising, in combination:
  • A. sheet conveying means for conveying successive copy sheets along a path having a generally horizontal path segment extending beneath the photocopier;
  • transition conveying means positioned at the copy sheet output of the photocopier
  • control means coordinated with the copy cycling rate of the photocopier for sequentially actuating said deflector assemblies to route successive copy sheets conveyed along said horizontal path segment downwardly into successive ones of said bins;
  • G a stand mounting the above recited sorter components and having means for supporting the photocopier above said horizontal path segment.
  • a sorter for use in conjunction with a photocopier operating in a multicopy mode; said sorter comprising, in combination:
  • each said assembly including 1. a shaft extending transversely of said vacuum conveyor,
  • stripper fingers mounted by said shaft and distributed transversely of said vacuum conveyor, said stripper fingers adapted, when said deflector assembly is in its operative position, to extend above the plane of said horizontal path segment in intercepting relation with a copy sheet moving there-along, whereby to strip an intercepted copy sheet downwardly away from said horizontal path segment, said stripper fingers being disposed in non-intercepting relation to copy sheets moving along said horizontal path segment when said deflector assembly is in its inoperative position,
  • guide means mounted by said shaft in depending relation to said stripper fingers for routing a copy sheet stripped from said horizontal path segment into the open upper end of the one of said bins situated therebeneath, and
  • control means coordinated with the copy cycling rate of the photocopier for sequentially actuating said deflector assemblies to their operative positions.
  • control means includes:
  • control means further includes first reset means operating at the conclusion of a multicopy run to concurrently reengage said latches with the associated one of said detent means formed in said arms, whereby to reset said deflector assemblies to their operative positions.
  • control means further includes control logic circuitry for coordinating the operations of said first and second reset means such that said bins are first moved by said second reset means from a normal position to a reset position relative to said deflector assemblies, said deflector assemblies are then reset to their operative positions by said first reset means, and said bins are thereafter returned to their normal position by said second reset means.
  • control means includes timing means for timing the intervals between actuations of said switch and for initiating operation of said first and second reset means upon expiration of a period of time since the last switch actuation which exceeds the normal time interval between successive sheets issuing from the photocopier during a multicopy run.
  • Apparatus for sorting into a plurality of collations paper sheets issuing serially from sheet processing equipment; said apparatus comprising:
  • each said deflector means including 1. a shaft extending transversely of said vacuum conveyor,
  • stripper elements mounted by said shaft and distributed transversely of said vacuum conveyor, said stripper elements adapted, when said deflector means is in its operative position, to extend above the plane of said horizontal path in intercepting relation with a sheet moving therealong, whereby to strip an intercepted sheet downwardly away from said horizontal path for routing into the one of said bins situated there beneath, said stripper elements being disposed in non-intercepting relation to sheets moving along said horizontal path when said deflector means is in its inoperative position, and
  • control means coordinated with the rate at which sheets issue from the equipment during a sorting run for sequentially actuating said deflector means to their operative positions.
  • control means includes:
  • control means further includes first reset means operating at the conclusion of a sorting run to concurrently reengage said latches with said detent means formed in the associated ones of said arms, whereby to return said deflector means to their operative positions.
  • said first reset means includes an elongated reciprocating reset bar carrying separate means for engaging said latches and motive means for reciprocating said reset bar to return said latches into engaging relation with said detent means carried by said arms.
  • control means further includes sequence control circuitry for coordinating the operations of said first and second reset means, such that said bins are first moved relative to said deflector means by said second reset means from a normal position to a reset position, said deflector means are then returned to their operative positions by said first reset means, and said bins are thereafter returned to their normal position by said second reset means preparatory for the next sorting run.
  • sequence control circuitry includes limit switches for sensing the movement of said bins and the movement of a reset bar carrying separate means for engaging said latches to return them into engaging relation with said detent means carried by said arms.
  • control means further includes timing means for timing the intervals between sensor responses, and for initiating the operations of said first and second reset means upon expiration of a period of time since the last sensor response which exceeds the normal time interval between successive sheets issuing from the processing equipment during a sorting run.
  • Apparatus for sorting into a plurality of collations paper sheets issuing serially at a predetermined rate from sheet handling equipment during each sorting run; said apparatus comprising, in combination:
  • control means including 1. a sensor located in said path in advance of said bins and adapted to respond to each sheet issuing from the equipment,
  • timing means for timing the intervals between sensor responses and operating to signal the conclusion of a sorting run upon the expiration of a period of time since the last sensor response in excess of the time interval between sheets issuing at the predetermined rate
  • a stepping switch connected to be indexed by each sensor response from one switch position to the next switch position in sequence
  • a solenoid associated with each said deflector and individually electrically connected to the various switch positions for energization when said stepping switch is indexed thereto pursuant to actuating the associated one of said deflectors.
  • a stepping switch connected to be indexed by each said sensor response from one switch position to the next in sequence
  • a solenoid associated with each said deflector and individually electrically connected to the various switch positions for energization when said stepping switch is indexed thereto pursuant to initiating the actuation of the associated one of said deflectors to its actuated position.
  • each said deflector includes a depending holdback member positioned, while said deflectors are in their reset positions, to control the upper, trailing edges of sheets stacked in said bins so as not to interfere with sheets deposited therein during the next sorting run,
  • said holdback members being disposed in noncontrolling relation to the sheets stacked in said bins while said deflectors are in their actuated positions
  • control means further including means for reciprocating said bins as a unit in coordination with the resetting of said deflectors to their reset positions, whereby said holdback members regain control of the sheets in said bins, including those sorted during the preceding sorting run,
  • timing means further operating incident to the signalling of the conclusion of a sorting run to index said stepping switch to its next switch position, such as to energize the one of said solenoids associated with the last deflector responsible for routing the last sheet of the sorting run into the associated one of said bins,
  • said last deflector also moves to its actuated position enabling the holdback member associated therewith to regain control of the sheets stacked in the associated bin as the actuated ones of said deflectors are returned to their reset positions in conjunction with reciprocation of said bins.

Landscapes

  • Collation Of Sheets And Webs (AREA)
  • Separation, Sorting, Adjustment, Or Bending Of Sheets To Be Conveyed (AREA)
US00183560A 1971-09-24 1971-09-24 Sorter for use in conjunction with photocopy machines Expired - Lifetime US3744790A (en)

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US18356071A 1971-09-24 1971-09-24

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US (1) US3744790A (pt)
JP (1) JPS5832152B2 (pt)
AU (1) AU468079B2 (pt)
BR (1) BR7206598D0 (pt)
CA (1) CA967908A (pt)
DE (1) DE2246811A1 (pt)
FR (1) FR2154215A5 (pt)
GB (1) GB1409556A (pt)

Cited By (36)

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US3848867A (en) * 1972-09-20 1974-11-19 Norfin No-counter sorter-stacker
US3908978A (en) * 1972-12-29 1975-09-30 Xerox Corp Binless sorting apparatus
US3927878A (en) * 1974-04-03 1975-12-23 Apeco Corp Collator
US3937459A (en) * 1974-09-16 1976-02-10 Keith B. Stewart Sorting machine
US3967818A (en) * 1974-12-16 1976-07-06 Xerox Corporation Duplicating system
US3988018A (en) * 1975-02-25 1976-10-26 Van Dyke Research Corporation Paper sorter
US4006894A (en) * 1974-03-22 1977-02-08 Mathias Bauerle Gmbh, Firma Sheet distributing device
US4012032A (en) * 1975-11-28 1977-03-15 International Business Machines Corporation Document reproduction having output means with plural outputs operable in a plurality of modes
US4029309A (en) * 1975-10-29 1977-06-14 Xerox Corporation Set transport and stacker
US4030724A (en) * 1975-08-01 1977-06-21 Addressograph Multigraph Corporation High operator efficiency duplicating system
DE2710715A1 (de) * 1976-03-18 1977-09-22 Oce Van Der Grinten Nv Sortiervorrichtung
US4062534A (en) * 1976-01-30 1977-12-13 Rank Xerox Ltd. Stripper arrangement for removing various sized copy sheets from fuser roll
US4111410A (en) * 1977-03-31 1978-09-05 Xerox Corporation Sorting apparatus and reproducing machine
US4124204A (en) * 1977-04-04 1978-11-07 Xerox Corporation Sorting apparatus and reproducing machine
US4179115A (en) * 1975-04-15 1979-12-18 Kurt Ruenzi Sheet feeding and collating apparatus
US4203587A (en) * 1976-07-27 1980-05-20 Canon Kabushiki Kaisha Sheet sorter device
US4204727A (en) * 1979-05-03 1980-05-27 Xerox Corporation Multimode reproducing apparatus
US4221379A (en) * 1979-05-03 1980-09-09 Xerox Corporation Copy stacking tray
US4273439A (en) * 1979-07-09 1981-06-16 International Business Machines Corporation Document feeder system having a suspending/commencing mode with a judgment decision capability
US4297025A (en) * 1979-07-09 1981-10-27 International Business Machines Corporation Document feeder system having a suspending/commencing mode
US4318539A (en) * 1977-12-01 1982-03-09 International Business Machines Corporation Apparatus for and method of collating sorting and stacking sheets concurrently
EP0018781B1 (en) * 1979-04-25 1983-02-09 Westinghouse Electric Corporation Method for monitoring arc welding
US4382592A (en) * 1979-09-24 1983-05-10 International Business Machines Corporation Apparatus for collating sheets into sets and finishing thereof
US4494748A (en) * 1981-12-30 1985-01-22 Olympus Optical Co., Ltd. Collator
US4640604A (en) * 1982-04-04 1987-02-03 Mita Industrial Co., Ltd. Electrostatic photographic copying machine provided with a movable sorter
EP0219836A2 (en) * 1985-10-17 1987-04-29 Fuji Photo Film Co., Ltd. Radiation image read-out apparatus
US4723773A (en) * 1986-10-17 1988-02-09 Bell & Howell Company Sheet feeding methods and apparatus
US4741524A (en) * 1986-03-18 1988-05-03 Xerox Corporation Sorting apparatus
US4757356A (en) * 1987-09-21 1988-07-12 Xerox Corporation Copying with auto sort/stack selection
US5040783A (en) * 1990-09-10 1991-08-20 The Procter & Gamble Company Rotary stacker
US5176372A (en) * 1990-09-28 1993-01-05 Mita Industrial Co., Ltd. Paper processing apparatus
US5449168A (en) * 1994-03-31 1995-09-12 Eastman Kodak Company Sorting apparatus and sorting and processing apparatus
US5771056A (en) * 1995-04-03 1998-06-23 Eastman Kodak Company Digital image reproduction system including a programmable sorter
WO1998052855A1 (en) * 1997-05-22 1998-11-26 Troy Systems, Inc. Add-on modular paper mover
CN101269765B (zh) * 2008-05-05 2010-07-21 潍坊浩田印刷机械有限公司 单张纸配页机
US20160075516A1 (en) * 2014-09-12 2016-03-17 United States Postal Service Systems, devices and methods for receiving an item

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US3944217A (en) * 1973-11-23 1976-03-16 Emf Corporation Tower type sorting and collating apparatus
US4011952A (en) * 1975-01-16 1977-03-15 Xerox Corporation Manual sorter
JPS51122659A (en) * 1975-04-21 1976-10-26 Hokushin Kogyo Kk Apparatus for producing spiral finned heat transferring tube
JPS5242124A (en) * 1975-09-30 1977-04-01 Fuji Xerox Co Ltd Sorter for copy and printing machines
JPS5286668A (en) * 1976-01-13 1977-07-19 Shukosha Kk Collator
CH610862A5 (en) * 1976-07-21 1979-05-15 Ordibel Sprl Machine for stacking sheets into groups
US4068837A (en) * 1976-09-29 1978-01-17 International Business Machines Corporation Paper hold-down device for collector
US4235435A (en) * 1978-08-25 1980-11-25 Stewart & Shea Sheet sorter
JPS58140936U (ja) * 1982-03-16 1983-09-22 株式会社リコー ソ−タ−
JP2919716B2 (ja) * 1993-07-30 1999-07-19 東北リコー株式会社 画像形成装置

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US3500999A (en) * 1966-07-22 1970-03-17 Paul Lippke Pneumatic conveyor for depositing sheets
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US2241168A (en) * 1939-04-10 1941-05-06 Autocopy Inc Sheet distributing mechanism
US2492386A (en) * 1945-05-04 1949-12-27 Ditto Inc Sheet sorting device
US2919917A (en) * 1957-05-24 1960-01-05 Ronald J Worswick Sheet distributing machine
US3273882A (en) * 1963-05-23 1966-09-20 Norfin Sheet collating device
US3371926A (en) * 1965-10-24 1968-03-05 Eugene A. Anderson Document sorting and distributing sorter apparatus
US3500999A (en) * 1966-07-22 1970-03-17 Paul Lippke Pneumatic conveyor for depositing sheets
US3536401A (en) * 1968-04-22 1970-10-27 Polaroid Corp Paper transport system
US3561753A (en) * 1968-07-29 1971-02-09 Norfin Sheet collating device
US3580563A (en) * 1969-01-30 1971-05-25 Ernest D Bassett Collating machine feeding into or out of racks

Cited By (46)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US3848867A (en) * 1972-09-20 1974-11-19 Norfin No-counter sorter-stacker
US3908978A (en) * 1972-12-29 1975-09-30 Xerox Corp Binless sorting apparatus
US4006894A (en) * 1974-03-22 1977-02-08 Mathias Bauerle Gmbh, Firma Sheet distributing device
US3927878A (en) * 1974-04-03 1975-12-23 Apeco Corp Collator
US3937459A (en) * 1974-09-16 1976-02-10 Keith B. Stewart Sorting machine
US3967818A (en) * 1974-12-16 1976-07-06 Xerox Corporation Duplicating system
US3988018A (en) * 1975-02-25 1976-10-26 Van Dyke Research Corporation Paper sorter
US4179115A (en) * 1975-04-15 1979-12-18 Kurt Ruenzi Sheet feeding and collating apparatus
US4030724A (en) * 1975-08-01 1977-06-21 Addressograph Multigraph Corporation High operator efficiency duplicating system
US4029309A (en) * 1975-10-29 1977-06-14 Xerox Corporation Set transport and stacker
US4012032A (en) * 1975-11-28 1977-03-15 International Business Machines Corporation Document reproduction having output means with plural outputs operable in a plurality of modes
US4062534A (en) * 1976-01-30 1977-12-13 Rank Xerox Ltd. Stripper arrangement for removing various sized copy sheets from fuser roll
DE2710715A1 (de) * 1976-03-18 1977-09-22 Oce Van Der Grinten Nv Sortiervorrichtung
US4095782A (en) * 1976-03-18 1978-06-20 Oce-Van Der Grinten N.V. Collating apparatus
US4203587A (en) * 1976-07-27 1980-05-20 Canon Kabushiki Kaisha Sheet sorter device
US4111410A (en) * 1977-03-31 1978-09-05 Xerox Corporation Sorting apparatus and reproducing machine
US4124204A (en) * 1977-04-04 1978-11-07 Xerox Corporation Sorting apparatus and reproducing machine
US4318539A (en) * 1977-12-01 1982-03-09 International Business Machines Corporation Apparatus for and method of collating sorting and stacking sheets concurrently
EP0018781B1 (en) * 1979-04-25 1983-02-09 Westinghouse Electric Corporation Method for monitoring arc welding
US4204727A (en) * 1979-05-03 1980-05-27 Xerox Corporation Multimode reproducing apparatus
US4221379A (en) * 1979-05-03 1980-09-09 Xerox Corporation Copy stacking tray
EP0018786A1 (en) * 1979-05-03 1980-11-12 Xerox Corporation An output station for a reproducing apparatus and multimode reproducing apparatus incorporating same
DE3010788A1 (de) * 1979-05-03 1980-11-13 Xerox Corp Kopienablagekorb
US4297025A (en) * 1979-07-09 1981-10-27 International Business Machines Corporation Document feeder system having a suspending/commencing mode
US4273439A (en) * 1979-07-09 1981-06-16 International Business Machines Corporation Document feeder system having a suspending/commencing mode with a judgment decision capability
US4382592A (en) * 1979-09-24 1983-05-10 International Business Machines Corporation Apparatus for collating sheets into sets and finishing thereof
US4494748A (en) * 1981-12-30 1985-01-22 Olympus Optical Co., Ltd. Collator
US4640604A (en) * 1982-04-04 1987-02-03 Mita Industrial Co., Ltd. Electrostatic photographic copying machine provided with a movable sorter
EP0219836A2 (en) * 1985-10-17 1987-04-29 Fuji Photo Film Co., Ltd. Radiation image read-out apparatus
EP0219836A3 (en) * 1985-10-17 1987-11-25 Fuji Photo Film Co., Ltd. Radiation image read-out apparatus
US4741524A (en) * 1986-03-18 1988-05-03 Xerox Corporation Sorting apparatus
US4723773A (en) * 1986-10-17 1988-02-09 Bell & Howell Company Sheet feeding methods and apparatus
US4757356A (en) * 1987-09-21 1988-07-12 Xerox Corporation Copying with auto sort/stack selection
US5040783A (en) * 1990-09-10 1991-08-20 The Procter & Gamble Company Rotary stacker
US5176372A (en) * 1990-09-28 1993-01-05 Mita Industrial Co., Ltd. Paper processing apparatus
US5449168A (en) * 1994-03-31 1995-09-12 Eastman Kodak Company Sorting apparatus and sorting and processing apparatus
US5501449A (en) * 1994-03-31 1996-03-26 Eastman Kodak Company Sorting apparatus and sorting and processing apparatus
US5771056A (en) * 1995-04-03 1998-06-23 Eastman Kodak Company Digital image reproduction system including a programmable sorter
WO1998052855A1 (en) * 1997-05-22 1998-11-26 Troy Systems, Inc. Add-on modular paper mover
US5913513A (en) * 1997-05-22 1999-06-22 Troy Systems, Inc. Add-on modular paper mover
CN101269765B (zh) * 2008-05-05 2010-07-21 潍坊浩田印刷机械有限公司 单张纸配页机
US20160075516A1 (en) * 2014-09-12 2016-03-17 United States Postal Service Systems, devices and methods for receiving an item
US9505577B2 (en) * 2014-09-12 2016-11-29 The United States Postal Service Systems, devices and methods for receiving an item
US9840390B2 (en) 2014-09-12 2017-12-12 United States Postal Service Systems, devices and methods for receiving an item
US10273107B2 (en) 2014-09-12 2019-04-30 United States Postal Service Systems, devices and methods for receiving an item
US10899570B2 (en) 2014-09-12 2021-01-26 United States Postal Service Systems, devices and methods for receiving an item

Also Published As

Publication number Publication date
GB1409556A (en) 1975-10-08
CA967908A (en) 1975-05-20
BR7206598D0 (pt) 1973-07-24
FR2154215A5 (pt) 1973-05-04
JPS4841828A (pt) 1973-06-19
AU4705272A (en) 1974-04-26
DE2246811A1 (de) 1973-03-29
JPS5832152B2 (ja) 1983-07-11
AU468079B2 (en) 1975-12-18

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