WO2009066982A2 - A system for sorting printed materials - Google Patents

A system for sorting printed materials Download PDF

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Publication number
WO2009066982A2
WO2009066982A2 PCT/MY2008/000147 MY2008000147W WO2009066982A2 WO 2009066982 A2 WO2009066982 A2 WO 2009066982A2 MY 2008000147 W MY2008000147 W MY 2008000147W WO 2009066982 A2 WO2009066982 A2 WO 2009066982A2
Authority
WO
WIPO (PCT)
Prior art keywords
paper
printer
scanning
sorting
module
Prior art date
Application number
PCT/MY2008/000147
Other languages
French (fr)
Other versions
WO2009066982A3 (en
Inventor
Sheikh M. Shahrizal Bin Mohd Rafique
Original Assignee
Mimos Berhad
Priority date (The priority date is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the date listed.)
Filing date
Publication date
Application filed by Mimos Berhad filed Critical Mimos Berhad
Publication of WO2009066982A2 publication Critical patent/WO2009066982A2/en
Publication of WO2009066982A3 publication Critical patent/WO2009066982A3/en

Links

Classifications

    • G—PHYSICS
    • G03—PHOTOGRAPHY; CINEMATOGRAPHY; ANALOGOUS TECHNIQUES USING WAVES OTHER THAN OPTICAL WAVES; ELECTROGRAPHY; HOLOGRAPHY
    • G03G—ELECTROGRAPHY; ELECTROPHOTOGRAPHY; MAGNETOGRAPHY
    • G03G15/00—Apparatus for electrographic processes using a charge pattern
    • G03G15/50—Machine control of apparatus for electrographic processes using a charge pattern, e.g. regulating differents parts of the machine, multimode copiers, microprocessor control
    • G03G15/5062—Machine control of apparatus for electrographic processes using a charge pattern, e.g. regulating differents parts of the machine, multimode copiers, microprocessor control by measuring the characteristics of an image on the copy material
    • G—PHYSICS
    • G03—PHOTOGRAPHY; CINEMATOGRAPHY; ANALOGOUS TECHNIQUES USING WAVES OTHER THAN OPTICAL WAVES; ELECTROGRAPHY; HOLOGRAPHY
    • G03G—ELECTROGRAPHY; ELECTROPHOTOGRAPHY; MAGNETOGRAPHY
    • G03G2215/00—Apparatus for electrophotographic processes
    • G03G2215/00362—Apparatus for electrophotographic processes relating to the copy medium handling
    • G03G2215/00367—The feeding path segment where particular handling of the copy medium occurs, segments being adjacent and non-overlapping. Each segment is identified by the most downstream point in the segment, so that for instance the segment labelled "Fixing device" is referring to the path between the "Transfer device" and the "Fixing device"
    • G03G2215/00417—Post-fixing device
    • G03G2215/00421—Discharging tray, e.g. devices stabilising the quality of the copy medium, postfixing-treatment, inverting, sorting
    • G—PHYSICS
    • G03—PHOTOGRAPHY; CINEMATOGRAPHY; ANALOGOUS TECHNIQUES USING WAVES OTHER THAN OPTICAL WAVES; ELECTROGRAPHY; HOLOGRAPHY
    • G03G—ELECTROGRAPHY; ELECTROPHOTOGRAPHY; MAGNETOGRAPHY
    • G03G2215/00—Apparatus for electrophotographic processes
    • G03G2215/00362—Apparatus for electrophotographic processes relating to the copy medium handling
    • G03G2215/00367—The feeding path segment where particular handling of the copy medium occurs, segments being adjacent and non-overlapping. Each segment is identified by the most downstream point in the segment, so that for instance the segment labelled "Fixing device" is referring to the path between the "Transfer device" and the "Fixing device"
    • G03G2215/00417—Post-fixing device
    • G03G2215/0043—Refeeding path
    • G03G2215/00434—Refeeding tray or cassette

Definitions

  • the present invention relates to a sorting system for sorting printed materials, particularly it relates to an automated method for sorting unwanted or uncollected printed materials.
  • Printed materials such as paper are commonly left uncollected, intentionally or accidentally, by the user at the output tray of a printer. A user may accidentally pick up an other user's printing or send multiple printing instructions which may result in uncollected printed materials.
  • the solution to this problem is limited.
  • the user may be alerted by means of sound or display.
  • the user will still need to go to the printer to collect his printed materials to avoid them from being mixed up with another user's printed materials.
  • the problem of taking another user's printed materials may still occur.
  • the user may not able to go to other location or do another task until the printing is completed.
  • the above-mentioned limitations will become more apparent during bulk printing process or multiple printing jobs. Therefore, it is the object of the present invention to overcome the above-mentioned limitations by providing an automated sorting system for printer.
  • a system for sorting the uncollected printed materials on the output tray by retracting into the printer the printed materials wherein the system will decide whether the printed materials can be reused or disposed.
  • the sorting system will identify the printed materials and deposit them into its respective trays.
  • a mechanism for retracting into the printer the uncollected printed materials by detecting the duration of the printed materials being left on the output tray by the use of a plurality of sensors.
  • the retracting, scanning, and sorting process as mentioned above are automated by integrating a plurality of sensors and mechanisms.
  • Figure 1 illustrates the process flow of an automated sorting system for a printer.
  • the sorting system comprises of detection module (101), intake and Scanning module (102), sorting module (103) and output module (104).
  • the detection module comprises a plurality of sensors such as weight, pressure, optical and touch sensors placed on the output tray for detecting the presence of paper and the duration the paper being left on the output tray (1011).
  • the intake module comprising a roller mechanism (1021) for retracting the detected paper available at the output tray (1011) back into the printer for a scanning process.
  • the scanning module comprises a scanning mechanism (1022) for scanning and detecting the availability and the intensity of printed elements such as graphics and/or text on both sides of the paper.
  • a data processing unit is integrated into the scanning module for processing the scanned data and decide on the usability of the paper wherein the paper with one side printed will be reused as recycled paper and the paper with both side printed will be placed at disposal tray in the printer (1042). This information will be transferred to the sorting module (103) whereby a sorting mechanism (1031) will selectively pick and put the paper into its respective tray in the printer. Before the reusable paper is placed into the recycle tray (1041) the paper is collated with the printed side facing down or up by flipping the paper accordingly.
  • the application of the sorting system is automated whereby the system is integrated with a plurality of sensors and mechanisms.
  • the process for detecting the presence of paper at output tray is by means of detecting its load and measuring the duration the paper is left on the output tray.
  • the process for pulling back the detected paper into the printer is by a rolling means.
  • the process for scanning the detected paper is by scanning at least one side of the paper for printed elements wherein the scanned data is collected and transferred for sorting process. The reusability of the paper will then be decided according to scanned data.
  • the arranging process of the usable paper will be carried out before placing it into a recycle tray by a flipping process.

Landscapes

  • Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
  • Microelectronics & Electronic Packaging (AREA)
  • Physics & Mathematics (AREA)
  • General Physics & Mathematics (AREA)
  • Collation Of Sheets And Webs (AREA)
  • Handling Of Cut Paper (AREA)
  • Controlling Sheets Or Webs (AREA)
  • Pile Receivers (AREA)

Abstract

A system for printer to sort out the printed paper left at the output tray of a printer according to its reusability. The sorting process is automated without the need of user input.

Description

A system for sorting printed materials
Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a sorting system for sorting printed materials, particularly it relates to an automated method for sorting unwanted or uncollected printed materials.
Background of the Invention
Printed materials such as paper are commonly left uncollected, intentionally or accidentally, by the user at the output tray of a printer. A user may accidentally pick up an other user's printing or send multiple printing instructions which may result in uncollected printed materials.
This is a common scenario in the office where users share a printer or printers. The uncollected printed materials have to be sorted out manually. A user may separate printed materials accordingly: one -sided printed materials will be reused and two-sided printed materials will be disposed off. The reusable one-side printed materials will be loaded manually to the recycle tray in the printer.
The solution to this problem is limited. The user may be alerted by means of sound or display. However, the user will still need to go to the printer to collect his printed materials to avoid them from being mixed up with another user's printed materials. However, the problem of taking another user's printed materials may still occur. Further, the user may not able to go to other location or do another task until the printing is completed. The above-mentioned limitations will become more apparent during bulk printing process or multiple printing jobs. Therefore, it is the object of the present invention to overcome the above-mentioned limitations by providing an automated sorting system for printer.
Summary of the Invention
According to the first aspect of the present invention, there is provided a system for sorting the uncollected printed materials on the output tray by retracting into the printer the printed materials wherein the system will decide whether the printed materials can be reused or disposed. The sorting system will identify the printed materials and deposit them into its respective trays.
According to the second aspect of the present invention, there is provided a mechanism for retracting into the printer the uncollected printed materials by detecting the duration of the printed materials being left on the output tray by the use of a plurality of sensors.
According to the third aspect of the present invention, there is provided a system for scanning the printed materials and transferring the information on the unused/unprinted area on the printed materials to a sorting system.
According to the forth aspect of the present invention , there is provided that the retracting, scanning, and sorting process as mentioned above are automated by integrating a plurality of sensors and mechanisms.
Brief Description of the Drawings
The above description of the present invention is further described by way of example and with reference to the accompanying drawings in which:
Figure 1 illustrates the process flow of an automated sorting system for a printer.
Detailed Description of the Present Invention
The present invention will now be described more specifically with reference to the following embodiments. It is to be noted that the following descriptions of preferred . embodiments of the present invention are presented herein for purpose of illustration and description only.
Referring to Figure 1, the sorting system comprises of detection module (101), intake and Scanning module (102), sorting module (103) and output module (104). The detection module comprises a plurality of sensors such as weight, pressure, optical and touch sensors placed on the output tray for detecting the presence of paper and the duration the paper being left on the output tray (1011).
The intake module comprising a roller mechanism (1021) for retracting the detected paper available at the output tray (1011) back into the printer for a scanning process. The scanning module comprises a scanning mechanism (1022) for scanning and detecting the availability and the intensity of printed elements such as graphics and/or text on both sides of the paper. A data processing unit is integrated into the scanning module for processing the scanned data and decide on the usability of the paper wherein the paper with one side printed will be reused as recycled paper and the paper with both side printed will be placed at disposal tray in the printer (1042). This information will be transferred to the sorting module (103) whereby a sorting mechanism (1031) will selectively pick and put the paper into its respective tray in the printer. Before the reusable paper is placed into the recycle tray (1041) the paper is collated with the printed side facing down or up by flipping the paper accordingly.
The application of the sorting system is automated whereby the system is integrated with a plurality of sensors and mechanisms. The process for detecting the presence of paper at output tray is by means of detecting its load and measuring the duration the paper is left on the output tray. The process for pulling back the detected paper into the printer is by a rolling means. The process for scanning the detected paper is by scanning at least one side of the paper for printed elements wherein the scanned data is collected and transferred for sorting process. The reusability of the paper will then be decided according to scanned data. The arranging process of the usable paper will be carried out before placing it into a recycle tray by a flipping process.

Claims

Claims
1. A system for printer for sorting paper comprising a detection module located at the output tray of a printer for detecting the presence of paper; an intake module for feeding the paper back into printer; a scanning module for scanning the paper input; and a sorter module for determining the reusability of paper.
2. The system for printer according to claim 1 wherein the detection module comprising a combination of weight, pressure, optical and touch sensors, and a timer for measuring the load and the presence of the paper, and the duration of the paper is left at the output tray.
3. The system for printer according to Claim 1 wherein the intake module comprising a roller mechanism for pulling the detected paper back into the printer and flipping mechanism for collating the paper according to its printed side.
4. The system for printer according to Claim 1 wherein the scanning module comprising a scanning mechanism for detecting printed elements on at least at one side of paper.
5. The system for printer according to Claims 1 and 4 wherein the scanning module further comprising a data processing unit for processing data on the printed elements and deciding on the reusability of the paper.
6. A method for sorting paper on a printer comprising a process for detecting the presence of paper at output tray by measuring its load and the duration the paper is left on the output tray; retracting the detected paper into the printer by rolling means; scanning at least one side of the paper for printed elements; collecting data on the printed elements on the paper; processing the scanned data for sorting process; deciding the reusability of the paper; and placing the paper into a particular tray according to its reusability.
7. The method for sorting paper on a computer according to Claim 6 wherein the processes are automated by integrating a plurality of sensors and mechanisms.
PCT/MY2008/000147 2007-11-21 2008-11-21 A system for sorting printed materials WO2009066982A2 (en)

Applications Claiming Priority (2)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
MYPI20072058 2007-11-21
MYPI20072058A MY164861A (en) 2007-11-21 2007-11-21 A system for sorting printed materials

Publications (2)

Publication Number Publication Date
WO2009066982A2 true WO2009066982A2 (en) 2009-05-28
WO2009066982A3 WO2009066982A3 (en) 2009-07-23

Family

ID=40668016

Family Applications (1)

Application Number Title Priority Date Filing Date
PCT/MY2008/000147 WO2009066982A2 (en) 2007-11-21 2008-11-21 A system for sorting printed materials

Country Status (2)

Country Link
MY (1) MY164861A (en)
WO (1) WO2009066982A2 (en)

Cited By (1)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
JP2019188766A (en) * 2018-04-27 2019-10-31 京セラドキュメントソリューションズ株式会社 Image formation apparatus

Citations (4)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
KR19980015243A (en) * 1996-08-20 1998-05-25 김광호 Backing paper type printing apparatus and method
KR19990079459A (en) * 1998-04-06 1999-11-05 윤종용 Backing paper detector
JP2001226031A (en) * 2000-02-15 2001-08-21 Fuji Xerox Co Ltd Document sorting device
JP2004075283A (en) * 2002-08-19 2004-03-11 Kyocera Mita Corp Sheet sorting device and image formation device

Family Cites Families (1)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
JP3166039B2 (en) * 1991-08-27 2001-05-14 株式会社リコー Image-formed paper processing device

Patent Citations (4)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
KR19980015243A (en) * 1996-08-20 1998-05-25 김광호 Backing paper type printing apparatus and method
KR19990079459A (en) * 1998-04-06 1999-11-05 윤종용 Backing paper detector
JP2001226031A (en) * 2000-02-15 2001-08-21 Fuji Xerox Co Ltd Document sorting device
JP2004075283A (en) * 2002-08-19 2004-03-11 Kyocera Mita Corp Sheet sorting device and image formation device

Cited By (1)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
JP2019188766A (en) * 2018-04-27 2019-10-31 京セラドキュメントソリューションズ株式会社 Image formation apparatus

Also Published As

Publication number Publication date
MY164861A (en) 2018-01-30
WO2009066982A3 (en) 2009-07-23

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