Information
-
Patent Grant
-
6341934
-
Patent Number
6,341,934
-
Date Filed
Friday, July 14, 200023 years ago
-
Date Issued
Tuesday, January 29, 200222 years ago
-
Inventors
-
Original Assignees
-
Examiners
- Ellis; Christopher P.
- Mackey; Patrick
Agents
- Nath & Associates PLLC
- Nath; Gary M.
- Berkowitz; Marvin C.
-
CPC
-
US Classifications
Field of Search
US
- 270 5823
- 270 5825
- 270 5801
- 414 7912
- 414 7925
- 414 7915
- 414 7916
- 414 791
- 414 7905
- 414 7908
- 271 213
- 271 214
- 271 215
- 271 217
- 271 218
- 271 219
- 271 223
- 271 911
- 271 913
-
International Classifications
-
Abstract
A collating apparatus according to the present invention comprises a plurality of paper feed trays; a paper feed section for conveying a plurality of sheets stacked on the plurality of paper feed trays one by one at predetermined timing; a collating and conveying section for collating the plurality of sheets conveyed from the respective paper feed trays of the paper feed section to provide collated matters and for conveying the collated matters to a discharge section; the discharge section for discharging the collated matters conveyed from the collating and conveying section to a stacker section; and the stacker section provided with a paper discharge tray for stacking the collated matters conveyed from the discharge section, provided with a pair of side fences positioned at both outer sides of the collated matters discharged onto the paper discharge tray and restricting an orthogonal direction to a discharge direction of the collated matters, and having a sorting unit for alternately offsetting the collated matters sequentially discharged from the discharge section to the orthogonal direction to the discharge direction and for stacking the collated matters on the paper discharge tray. The sorting unit has a paper discharge wing, displaced between a wait position at which the paper discharge wing does not interfere with the collated matters discharged from the discharge section and an interference position at which the paper discharge wing interferes with the collated matters discharged from the discharge section to offset the discharge direction of the collated matters to almost the orthogonal direction to the discharge direction, and moves the paper discharge wing between the wait position and the interference position alternately in accordance with discharge timing at which the collated matters are discharged from the discharge section, thereby sorting the collated matters.
Description
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION
This application is based upon and claims the benefit of priority from the prior Japanese Patent Applications No. 11-210871 and 11-210904 filed Jul. 26, 1999 and 11-375834 filed Dec. 28, 1999; the entire contents of which are incorporated by reference herein.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to a paper collating apparatus for stacking a plurality of types of paper sheets in a predetermined order and for discharging them as a collated matter. The present invention relates, in particular, to alternately offsetting collated matters sequentially discharged and stacking them on a paper discharge tray.
A collating apparatus which the present inventor assumed as a study target will be described.
FIG. 1
is an overall perspective view of the collating apparatus.
FIG. 2
is a perspective view of the neighborhood of a stacker section of the collating apparatus. The collating apparatus shown in
FIGS. 1 and 2
is provided with (1) a plurality of paper feed trays
70
a
to
70
j
which are vertically arranged, (2) a paper feed section
71
conveying many sheets
72
stacked on the respective paper feed trays
70
a
to
70
j
one by one at predetermined timing, (3) a collating and conveying section (not shown) collating the plural sheets
72
conveyed from the respective paper feed trays
70
a
to
70
j
of the paper feed section
71
to provide collated matters
73
(shown in
FIG. 3B
) and conveying the collated matters
73
to a discharge section
74
, (4) the discharge section
74
discharging the collated matters
73
conveyed from the collating and conveying section (not shown), and (5) a stacker section
75
stacking the collated matters
73
discharged from the discharge section
74
.
The stacker section
75
has (1) a paper discharge tray
76
provided at the falling position of the collated matters
73
discharged from the discharge section
74
, and (2) a pair of side fences
77
and
78
positioned on both outer sides of the collated matters
73
discharged onto the paper discharge tray
76
and restricting an orthogonal direction to the discharge direction of the collated matters
73
. The widths of paired side fences
77
and
78
are variable according to the width of the sheets
72
to be collated. Also, the stacker section
75
is provided with sorting means
79
. This sorting means
79
consists of (1) a fixed base tray
76
a
, (2) a movable paper discharge tray
76
b
horizontally movable on the fixed base tray
76
a
, and (3) a driving unit (not shown) applying a driving force to horizontally move the movable paper discharge tray
76
b.
With the above configuration, many sheets
72
sorted according to paper types are stacked on, for example, the uppermost paper feed table
70
a
to the lowermost paper feed table
70
j
, respectively. One unit of a collated matter
73
obtained by stacking sheets in the vertical order of these paper feed trays
70
a
to
70
j
will be described. When a start mode is selected, respective sheets
72
from the uppermost paper feed tray
70
a
to the lowermost paper feed tray
70
j
are sequentially conveyed with predetermined timing delays. The conveyed sheets
72
are collated by a collating and conveying section (not shown) to thereby provide collated matters
73
. The resultant collated matters
73
are discharged to the stacker section
75
through the discharge section
74
. By executing the series of operations continuously, many collated matters of paper sheets
72
are stacked on the stacker section
75
.
In a normal mode, the movable paper discharge tray
76
b
is not moved and, as shown in
FIG. 3A
, the units of collated matters
73
are stacked without being horizontally offset.
In a sort mode, on the other hand, the movable paper discharge tray
76
b
is moved horizontally in synchronization with the discharge timing of the sheets from the discharge section
74
and, as shown in
FIG. 3B
, collated matters
73
are horizontally offset and stacked according to units. The sort mode is convenient for sorting sheets in units of collated matters
73
.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
However, the sorting means
79
of the collating apparatus has a disadvantage in that heavy load is applied to a motor (not shown) serving as a driving source due to the movement of the movable paper discharge tray
76
b
itself onto which the sheets
72
are stacked. The moving load particularly increases proportionately with the quantity of sheets
72
to be stacked. In view of this, it is required to prepare a heavy load motor.
Furthermore, it is required to provide the movable paper discharge tray
76
b
with notch holes
80
so as to avoid interference of the side fences
77
with the sheets. It is, therefore, necessary for an operator to take care not to insert his or her fingers or the like into the notch holes
80
.
The present invention has been made after the above-stated consideration and study. It is, therefore, an object of the present invention to provide a collating apparatus which can reduce the load on a driving source used in sorting and which can ensure safety in operation.
A collating apparatus according to the present invention comprises (1) a plurality of paper feed trays; (2) a paper feed section for conveying a plurality of sheets stacked on the plurality of paper feed trays one by one at predetermined timing; (3) a collating and conveying section for collating the plurality of sheets conveyed from the respective paper feed trays of the paper feed section to provide collated matters and for conveying the collated matters to a discharge section; (4) the discharge section for discharging the collated matters conveyed from the collating and conveying section to a stacker section; and (5) the stacker section provided with a paper discharge tray for stacking the collated matters conveyed from the discharge section, provided with a pair of side fences positioned at both outer sides of the collated matters discharged onto the paper discharge tray and restricting an orthogonal direction to a discharge direction of the collated matters, and having sorting means for alternately offsetting the collated matters sequentially discharged from the discharge section to the orthogonal direction to the discharge direction and for stacking the collated matters on the paper discharge tray, and the storing means wherein
the sorting means has a paper discharge wing, displaced between a wait position at which the paper discharge wing does not interfere with the collated matters discharged from the discharge section and an interference position at which the paper discharge wing interferes with the collated matters discharged from the discharge section to offset the discharge direction of the collated matters to almost the orthogonal direction to the discharge direction, and moves the paper discharge wing between the wait position and the interference position alternately in accordance with discharge timing at which the collated matters are discharged from the discharge section, thereby sorting the collated matters.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
FIG. 1
is an overall perspective view of a collating apparatus relating to the study of the inventor of the present invention;
FIG. 2
is a perspective view of the neighborhood of a stacker section of the collating apparatus relating to the study of the inventor of the present invention;
FIG. 3A
is a perspective view showing a state in a normal stacking and
FIG. 3B
is a perspective view showing a state in a sorting mode;
FIG. 4
is an overall perspective view of a collating apparatus in the first embodiment of the present invention;
FIG. 5
is a block diagram showing a paper feed section, a discharge section and a stacker section in the first embodiment of the present invention;
FIG. 6
is a side view showing a drive transfer system for transferring a driving force to the paper feed section, a collating and conveying section and the discharge section in the first embodiment of the present invention;
FIG. 7
is a perspective view showing the distribution of a driving force to the respective paper feed sections in the first embodiment of the present invention;
FIG. 8
is a perspective view of the stacker section in the first embodiment of the present invention;
FIG. 9
is a partial front view of the stacker section in the first embodiment of the present invention;
FIG. 10
is a perspective view of a paper discharge wing driving unit in the first embodiment of the present invention;
FIG. 11
is a circuit block diagram of a paper discharge wing in the first embodiment of the present invention;
FIG. 12
is a flow chart of a sorting mode in the first embodiment of the present invention;
FIG. 13
is timing charts for the respective parts in the sorting mode in the first embodiment of the present invention;
FIGS. 14A and 14B
are schematic front view for describing the operation of the paper discharge wings in the first embodiment of the present invention;
FIG. 15
is a perspective view of a stacker section in the second embodiment of the present invention;
FIG. 16
is a partial front view of the stacker section in the second embodiment of the present invention;
FIGS. 17A and 17B
are schematic front views for describing the operations of paper discharge wings, an intermediate horizontal arm and an auxiliary arm member in the second embodiment of the present invention;
FIG. 18
is a perspective front view of a stacker section in the third embodiment of the present invention;
FIG. 19A
is a perspective view of a sorting base tray in the third embodiment of the present invention, and
FIG. 19B
is a perspective view of a modification of the sorting base tray;
FIG. 20
is a front view of a stacker section for describing the operation of a sorting base tray in the third embodiment of the present invention;
FIGS. 21A and 21B
are schematic front views for describing the operations of paper discharge wings, an intermediate horizontal arm and an auxiliary arm member and for the function of the sorting base tray in the third embodiment of the present invention;
FIG. 22
is a perspective view of a stacker section in the fourth embodiment of the present invention;
FIG. 23
is a perspective view of a central interference member in the fourth embodiment of the present invention;
FIG. 24
is a partial front view of the stacker section for describing the displacement state of the central interference member in the fourth embodiment of the present invention;
FIGS. 25A and 25B
are schematic front views of the stacker section for describing the operations of the paper discharge wings and the central interference member in an early period of a sort mode in the fourth embodiment of the present invention; and
FIGS. 26A and 26B
are schematic front views of the stacker section for describing the operations of the paper discharge wings and the central interference member in middle and the following periods of the sort mode in the fourth embodiment of the present invention.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS
The embodiments of a collating apparatus according to the present invention will be described hereinafter with reference to the accompanying drawings.
As shown in
FIGS. 4
to
7
, the collating apparatus consists of a paper feed section A conveying a plurality of types of sheets
1
at predetermined timing one by one for each type, a collating and conveying section B collating the plural sheets conveyed from the paper feed section A and conveying them as collated matters
2
to a discharge section C, the discharge section C discharging the collated matters
2
from the collating and conveying section B to a stacker section D, and the stacker section D stacking thereon the collated matters
2
discharged from the discharge section C.
The paper feed section A has ten paper feed trays
3
a
to
3
j
which are vertically arranged. Each of these paper feed trays
3
a
to
3
j
consists of a fixed paper feed tray section
4
and a movable paper feed tray section
6
having a conveying tip end side vertically moving with a support shaft
5
used as a fulcrum as shown in
FIG. 5
in detail. The movable paper feed tray section
6
is provided with a paper detection sensor S
1
having a lever
7
. The paper detection sensor S
1
detects whether or not sheets
1
are stacked on the respective paper feed trays
3
a
to
3
j
. A paper feed roller
9
supported by a rotary shaft
8
is arranged at a position above the conveying tip end side of the movable paper feed tray section
6
. If the movable paper feed tray portion
6
is positioned above, a stacked sheet
1
at the uppermost position is press-contacted with the paper feed roller
9
.
When the paper feed roller
9
is rotated, only the stacked sheet
1
at the uppermost position is conveyed with the involvement of the effect of a stripper plate (not shown). An upper guide plate
10
and a lower guide plate
11
guiding sheets
1
to be conveyed are provided at positions downstream of the paper feed roller
9
. The conveyed sheets
1
are guided by the upper and lower guide plates
10
and
11
and supplied to the collating and conveying section B.
A stack paper feed detector S
2
has a light emission section
12
and a light receiving section
13
arranged across the passages of the upper and lower guide plates
10
and
11
and detects whether or not the number of conveyed sheets
1
is one based on a sensor output level. The detector S
2
also detects the presence/absence of empty feed or sheet jamming based on whether or not there is a sensor output within a predetermined time after the start of the rotation of the paper feed roller
9
.
Further, the rotation timing of each paper feed roller
9
corresponding to each of the paper feed trays
3
a
to
3
j
is controlled by a solenoid clutch (not shown) to be described below and sheets
1
are conveyed to the collating and conveying section B from each of the paper feed trays
3
a
to
3
j
at predetermined timing. The drive transfer system for the respective paper feed rollers
9
and the timing thereof will be described below.
As shown in
FIG. 5
in detail, the collating and conveying section B has conveyer rollers
15
provided at the discharge sides of the upper and lower guide plates
10
and
11
corresponding to each of the paper feed trays
3
a
to
3
j
, and presser rollers
16
provided to face the conveyer rollers
15
, respectively. Each of the presser rollers
16
arranged vertically is urged toward the corresponding conveyer roller
15
by a spring, which is not shown in
FIG. 5
, and a conveyer belt
17
is laid on these presser rollers
16
. Each of the presser rollers
16
is press-contacted with the corresponding conveyer roller
15
through the conveyer belt
17
. The drive transfer system of the conveyer rollers
15
will be described below.
Further, perpendicular guide plates
18
and
19
are provided on both sides of the conveyer belt
17
which is press-contacted with each conveyer roller
15
and each presser roller
16
. A perpendicular conveying passage
20
is arranged between the perpendicular guide plates
18
and
19
. One perpendicular guide plate
18
is comprised of a plate, whereas the other guide plate
19
is comprised of a plurality of plates integral with the upper and lower guide plates
10
and
11
of the paper feed section A.
When the respective rollers
15
rotate, the rotatable conveyer belt
17
is moved by the presser rollers
16
in response to the frictional force of the conveyer rollers
15
and the sheets
1
conveyed from the paper feed section A are put between the rotating conveyer rollers
15
and the moving conveyer belt
17
and conveyed downward over the perpendicular conveying passage
20
. Here, if the sheet
1
at the lower paper feed tray side is conveyed to the collating and conveying section B at timing at which the sheet
1
conveyed from above passes through the conveyer rollers
15
provided below, the lower sheet is stacked on the upper sheet
1
and conveyed downward. The conveying operation and stacking operation of the sheets
1
are repeated to thereby create a desired collated matter
2
and the resultant collated matter
2
is conveyed to the discharge section C provided further below.
As shown in
FIG. 5
in detail, the discharge section C has a conveying passage changing guide plate
21
which is rotatably provided between a stacker position indicated by a solid line and a position for a device for treating imaged-sheets indicated by a virtual line in FIG.
5
. The conveying passage changing guide plate
21
is urged toward a stacker position side by a spring which is not shown in FIG.
5
and driven by a solenoid (not shown). The conveying passage changing guide plate
21
is located at the stacker position when the solenoid is turned off and at the imaged-sheet treatment device position when the solenoid is turned on. At the stacker position, the upper end of the conveying passage changing guide plate
21
is positioned along one perpendicular guide plate
18
of the collating and conveying section B and the collated matters
2
conveyed from the collating and conveying section B are introduced toward the stacker section D side. At the imaged-sheet treatment device position, the upper end of the conveying passage changing guide plate
21
is positioned along the other perpendicular guide plate
19
of the collating and conveying section B and the collated matters
2
conveyed from the collating and conveying section B are introduced toward the opposite side to the stacker section D.
Further, a stacker section side guide plate
22
and an imaged-sheet treatment device side guide plate
23
are provided below the conveying passage changing guide plate
21
. The collated matters
2
are conveyed selectively through the guide plates
22
and
23
.
A discharge detection sensor S
3
has a light emission section
24
and a light receiving section
25
arranged across the stacker section side guide plate
22
and detects the discharge timing of the collated matters
2
based on a sensor output. Namely, when the collated matters
2
start passing through the sensor S
3
, a light from the light emission section
24
is shielded and the output of the light receiving section
25
turns into L level. When the passage of collated matters
2
is finished, the light from the light emission section
24
is not shielded and the output of the light receiving section
25
returns to H level. Based on this, the sensor S
3
detects the discharge timing of the collated matters
2
. The discharge detection sensor S
3
also detects sheet jamming at the discharge section C, for example, when the sensor output is kept at high level H over a predetermined time.
A pair of discharge rollers
26
and
27
, which are vertically arranged, are provided at the lowest downstream of the stacker section side guide plate
22
, i.e., at positions confronting the stacker section D. The paired discharge rollers
26
and
27
are arranged in an almost press-contact state and the upper end portion of the lower discharge roller
27
is slightly protruded upward of the stacker section side guide plate
22
. The upper discharge roller
26
is a driving roller, for which a drive transfer system will be described later. As the upper discharge roller
26
rotates, the lower discharge roller
27
rotates following the rotation of the upper discharge roller
26
. The collated matters
2
conveyed from the collating and conveying section B are inserted between the paired discharge rollers
26
and
27
and discharged to the stacker section D in response to the rotation of the paired discharge rollers
26
and
27
.
Next, description will be given to the drive transfer system of the paper feed rollers
9
, the conveyer rollers
15
and the upper discharge roller
26
. As shown in
FIG. 6
, a driving pulley
31
, a discharge pulley
32
and a conveying pulley
33
are fixed to the output shaft
30
a
of a main motor
30
, the rotary shaft
26
a
of the discharge roller
26
and the rotary shaft
15
a
of the lowermost conveyer roller
15
, respectively. The first driving belt
35
is laid on these pulleys
31
,
32
and
33
and an auxiliary pulley
34
.
Further, a relay pulley
37
supported by a rotary shaft
36
is provided between the vertically adjacent paper feed rollers
9
and the conveying pulleys
33
are fixed to the rotary shafts
15
a
of the respective conveyer rollers
15
. The second driving belt
39
is laid on these relay pulleys
37
, the conveying pulleys
33
and the auxiliary pulleys
38
. As shown in
FIG. 7
, a relay gear
40
is fixed to the rotary shaft
36
of each relay pulley
37
and paper feed gears
41
arranged at upper and lower positions are engaged with the relay gear
40
, respectively. The respective paper feed gears
41
are coupled to the rotary shaft
8
of the paper feed roller
9
through a solenoid clutch (not shown in FIG.
6
).
When the main motor
30
is driven, the first driving belt
35
is moved and the upper discharge roller
26
is thereby rotated in a direction indicated by an arrow a shown in FIG.
6
. Following the movement of the first driving belt
35
, the second driving belt
39
is moved to thereby rotate the respective conveyer rollers
15
in a direction indicated by an arrow b in FIG.
6
and the respective paper feed gears
41
are also rotated through the respective relay pulleys
37
. Then, only the paper feed roller
9
having the solenoid clutch (not shown) turned on is rotated in a direction indicated by an arrow c shown in FIG.
6
.
As shown in
FIGS. 8 and 9
, the stacker section D has a paper discharge tray
42
provided at the falling position of the collated matters
2
discharged from the discharge section C and a pair of side fences
43
and
44
positioned at both outer sides of the collated matters
2
discharged onto the discharge tray
42
and restricting an orthogonal direction to the discharge direction of the collated matters
2
. One of the paired side fences
43
and
44
(left fence in the drawings) is provided to be movable horizontally and the other fence (right fence in the drawings) is fixed to the paper feed tray
42
. By moving a side fence
43
, the distance between paired side fences
43
and
44
is variable according to the width of the sheets
1
to be collated. A front fence
45
(shown in
FIG. 4
) is arranged on the paper feed tray
42
to restrict the forward side of the discharge direction of the collated matters
2
. The front fence
45
is provided movably almost in the discharge direction of the collated matters
2
.
Moreover, the stacker section D is provided with sorting means
46
. The means
46
has a pair of paper discharge wings
47
and
48
provided in notch holes
43
a
and
44
a
of the paired side fences
43
and
44
, respectively. The upper ends of the paired paper discharge wings
47
and
48
are rotatably supported through support shafts
49
, respectively. Each of the paired paper discharge wings
47
and
48
is formed by bending a flat plate and part of the lower end of each wing is tapered so that the wing becomes gradually narrower toward the discharge section side. The paired paper discharge wings
47
and
48
are driven by a driving mechanism
50
so that each wing is displaced between a wait position (indicated by a virtual line shown in
FIG. 9
) at which the wing does not interfere with the collated matters
2
discharged from the discharge section C and an interference position (indicated by a solid line shown in
FIG. 9
) at which the wing interferes with the collated matters
2
discharged from the discharge section C.
As shown in
FIG. 10
, the driving mechanism
50
has a wing motor
51
serving as a driving source. A worm gear
52
is fixed to the output shaft of the wing motor
51
. A worm wheel
53
is engaged with the worm gear
52
. The first flat gear
54
is fixed coaxially, integrally with the worm wheel
53
. The second flat gear
55
is engaged with the first flat gear
54
. The second flat gear
55
is fixed to a hexagonal shaft
56
. A pair of right and left cylindrical cams
57
and
58
are inserted into the hexagonal shaft
56
. One cylindrical cam
57
(left cam in
FIG. 10
) is movable in axial direction, whereas the other cylindrical cam
58
(right cam in
FIG. 10
) is fixed. This is because when one side fence
43
(left fence in the drawings) is moved horizontally, the cylindrical cam
57
is moved together with the side fence
43
(left fence in the drawings) to thereby allow transferring a driving force. Transfer systems following the cylindrical cam
57
are all supported by one side fence
43
(left fence in the drawings) so as to move them together with the cylindrical cam
57
.
Cam grooves
59
are formed on the outer peripheral surfaces of the paired cylindrical cams
57
and
58
, respectively. The shapes of the cam grooves
59
are set to be 180-degree-symmetric with respect to each other about the rotation center of the hexagonal shaft
56
. In a rotation range from a reference rotation position to a position at 180 degrees therefrom, only one horizontal link
60
and one perpendicular link
63
(left links in
FIG. 10
) to be described later are driven to be rotated. In a rotation range from the 180-degree rotation position to the reference rotation position, only the other horizontal link
60
and the other perpendicular link
63
(right links in
FIG. 10
) to be described later are driven to be rotated.
The paired horizontal links
60
are rotatably supported by the paired side fences
43
and
44
with a support shafts
60
a
as fulcrums, respectively. Cam pins
61
engaged with the cam grooves
59
are fixed to one end sides of the horizontal links
60
, respectively. Long holes
62
are formed on the other end sides of the horizontal links
60
, respectively. The pins
64
of the perpendicular links
63
are inserted into the respective long holes
62
. The paired perpendicular links
63
are rotatably supported by the paired side fences
43
and
44
, respectively and a wing presser arm
65
and a lower arm plate
66
are fixed to the upper and lower ends of each of the perpendicular links
63
. The above-stated pin
64
is fixed to the tip end of the lower arm plate
66
. A roller
67
is rotatably provided on the tip end of the wing press arm
65
. As shown in
FIG. 8
, the respective rollers
67
are arranged to be adjacent to the rear surfaces of the paired side fences
43
and
44
, respectively.
That is to say, when the wing motor
51
rotates, the rotation thereof is transferred to the worm gear
52
, the worm wheel
53
, the first flat gear
54
and the second flat gear
55
in this order, whereby the paired cylindrical cams
57
and
58
rotate from the respective reference rotation positions. From the reference rotation positions to rotation positions at 180 degrees therefrom, only the left cylindrical cam
57
and the corresponding cam pin
61
are effective as a cam mechanism. The left horizontal link
60
and the left perpendicular link
63
rotate in a direction indicated by an arrow M shown in FIG.
10
and the discharge wing
47
at the left side rotates toward the interference position (in a state shown in FIG.
14
A). Thereafter, the links
60
and
63
rotate in an opposite direction indicated by an arrow N shown in
FIG. 10
, whereby the discharge wing
47
at the left side returns from the interference position to the wait position by its self-weight. From the 180-degree rotation positions to the reference rotation positions, only the right cylindrical cam
58
and the corresponding cam pin
61
are effective as a cam mechanism. The right horizontal link
60
and the right perpendicular link
63
rotate in a direction indicated by the arrow N shown in FIG.
10
and the discharge wing
48
at the right side rotates toward the interference position (in a state shown in FIG.
14
B). Thereafter, the links
60
and
63
rotate in an opposite direction indicated by the arrow M shown in
FIG. 10
, whereby the discharge wing
48
at the right side returns from the interference position to the wait position by its self-weight. A rotation angle
0
(which is an angle at the interference position with respect to the perpendicular direction) of each of the discharge wings
47
and
48
is about 50 degrees.
As shown in
FIG. 11
, the output of the paper discharge sensor S
3
is fed to a control section
68
. The control section
68
controls the wing motor
51
so as to execute a flow shown in
FIG. 12
in a sorting mode. The details of the control operation will be described in the following part for the description of function. It is noted that the output of the paper discharge sensor S
3
and a control program are stored in a memory (not shown).
Next, the function of the above configuration will be described with reference to
FIGS. 13 and 14
.
For example, 10 different types (different contents) of sheets are to be collated, many sheets
1
sorted according to types are stacked on the uppermost paper feed tray
3
a
to the lowermost paper feed tray
3
j
, respectively. When a start mode is selected, the main motor
30
is driven and the paper feed rollers
9
of the uppermost paper feed tray
3
a
to the lowermost paper feed tray
3
j
are sequentially rotated under the control of the respective solenoid clutches (not shown) in this order, thereby sequentially conveying the sheets
1
of the respective types (contents) to the collating and conveying section B one by one. The sheets
1
thus conveyed are collated on the portions of the conveyer rollers
15
and conveyed downward. The final collating treatment is conducted at the portion of the conveyer roller
15
at the lowermost position to thereby provide a desired collated matter
2
. The collated matter
2
is fed to the discharge section C, progressed by the conveying passage changing guide plate
21
toward the stacker section side and discharged to the stacker section D by the rotation of the paired discharge rollers
26
and
27
. The series of these operations are continuously executed, thereby sequentially discharging collated matters
2
in units.
Here, in a normal mode, the widths of the paired side fences
43
and
44
are adjusted to be slightly larger than that of a sheet
1
. Since the wing motor
51
is not driven and the paired paper discharge wings
47
and
48
are held at the respective wait positions, the collated matters
2
are stacked on the paper discharge tray
42
without being horizontally offset.
In a sort mode, the widths of the paired side fences
43
and
44
are adjusted to be slightly larger than that of a sheet
1
(about +35 mm). As shown in
FIG. 12
, when timing at which the detection output of the discharge detection sensor S
3
changed from L level to H level is detected (in a step S
1
), the wing motor
51
starts to be driven after a predetermined time (t
1
) (in a step S
2
). When the cylindrical cam
57
rotates from the reference rotation position by 180 degrees (in a step S
3
), the driving of the wing motor
51
stops (in a step S
4
). Next, when timing at which the detection output of the discharge detection sensor S
3
is changed from L level to H level (in a step S
1
), the wing motor
51
starts to be driven after a predetermined time (t
1
) (in a step S
2
). When the cylindrical cam
57
rotates by 180 degrees (in a step S
3
), the driving of the wing motor
51
is stopped. As a result, the cylindrical cam
57
returns to the reference rotation position. Thereafter, whenever timing at which the detection output of the discharge detection sensor S
3
is changed from L level to H level, the wing motor
51
is driven as stated above.
Here, when the cylindrical cam
57
rotates by 180 degrees from the reference rotation position, the left-side paper discharge wing
47
is displaced from the wait position to the interference position as shown in
FIGS. 13 and 14A
, held at the interference position for a predetermined time and then returned to the wait position. The timing at which the paper discharge wing
47
is located at the interference position is coincident with timing at which a collated matter
2
discharged from the discharge section C falls, and the left end of the collated matter
2
contacts with the left-side paper discharge wing
47
. This interference causes the right end of the collated matter
2
to be inclined downward and to fall first, while shifting right. Since the right end of the collated matter
2
falls while contacting with the right side fence
44
, the collated matter
2
is put on the paper discharge tray
42
in a state in which the collated matter
2
is restricted by the right side fence
44
, that is, the right end of the collated matter
2
abuts against the right side fence
44
.
Further, when the cylindrical cam
57
rotates from the 180-degree rotation position to the reference rotation position, the right paper discharge wing
48
is displaced from the wait position to the interference position, held at the interference position for a predetermined time and returned to the wait position as shown in
FIGS. 13 and 14B
. The timing at which the paper discharge wing
48
is located at the interference position is coincident with the timing at which a collated matter
2
discharged from the discharge section C falls, and the right end portion of the collated matter
2
is contacted with the right-side paper discharge wing
48
. This interference causes the left end of the collated matter
2
to be inclined downward and to fall first while shifting left. Due to this, the left end of the collated matter
2
falls with the left end thereof abutting against the left side fence
43
. As a result, the collated matter
2
is put on the paper discharge tray
42
in a state in which the left end of the collated matter
2
is restricted by the left side fence
43
, i.e., the left end of the collated matter
2
abuts against the left side fence
43
.
The operations of the right and left paper discharge wings
47
and
48
are carried out synchronously with the collated matters
2
discharged, so that the collated matters
2
are stacked while being offset horizontally by a shift amount d
1
for each collated matter
2
.
In this way, the paper discharge wings
47
and
48
interfere with the collated matters
2
discharged from the discharge section C and offset the discharge direction thereof to a direction almost orthogonal to the discharge direction. Thus, moving load may be small and the wing motor
51
may have a motive force enough to move the paper discharge wings
47
and
48
. This makes it possible to suppress the load of the wing motor
51
to be small. Further, the paper discharge wings
47
and
48
having small moving loads only move between the wait positions and the interference positions. Thus, even if part of an operator's body contacts with the paper discharge wings
47
and
48
, safety is ensured.
While a pair of paper discharge wings
47
and
48
are provided in the first embodiment, only one of them may be provided in horizontal direction. It is noted, however, that a pair of paper discharge wings
47
and
48
for offsetting collated matters
2
in opposite directions can ensure a larger sorting offset quantity d
1
.
Furthermore, in the first embodiment, a pair of paper discharge wings
47
and
48
are provided at a pair of side fences
43
and
44
, respectively. Due to this, only by adjusting the widths of the paired side fences
43
and
44
in accordance with the width of a sheet
1
, the widths of the paired paper discharge wings
47
and
48
are aligned as well. Thus, there is no need to separately adjust the widths of the paired paper discharge wings
47
and
48
.
Moreover, in the first embodiment, it suffices that the driving mechanism
50
of the paper discharge wings
47
and
48
is constituted to rotate only the corresponding wing presser arms
65
. This can provide a less complicated, compact driving mechanism at lower cost. Further, since the paper discharge wings
47
and
48
are not physically coupled to the wing presser arms
65
, respectively, the wings
47
and
48
are displaced from the interference positions to the wait positions by their self-weights. Owing to this, even if an operator or the like erroneously inserts his or her fingers or the like between, for example, the paper discharge wing
47
or
48
and the side fence
43
or
44
, safety is ensured.
Next, the second embodiment of the present invention will be described.
If comparing the second embodiment with the first embodiment, they are the same except for the constitution of the sorting means
46
of the stacker section D. To avoid repeating description, the same constituent elements will not be described herein and only the constitution of the sorting means
46
will be described. It is noted that the same constituent elements in the second embodiments as those in the first embodiment are denoted by the same reference symbols for clarification purposes.
Namely, as shown in
FIGS. 15 and 16
, a pair of auxiliary perpendicular links
90
as well as a pair of side fences
43
and
44
and a pair of perpendicular links
63
are rotatably provided at the sorting means
46
in the second embodiment. One ends of intermediate horizontal arms
91
and auxiliary arm members
92
extending in horizontal direction are fixed to the perpendicular links
63
and auxiliary perpendicular links
90
, respectively. Engagement pins
93
at the center of the horizontal arms
91
are engaged with long holes
94
at the center of the auxiliary arm members
92
, respectively.
That is to say, the auxiliary arm members
92
move horizontally in cooperation with the rotation of corresponding wing presser arms
65
. While the paper discharge wings
47
and
48
are at wait positions, the auxiliary arm members
92
are located at retreat positions (indicated by virtual lines in
FIGS. 17A and 17B
) at which the members
92
do not interfere with collated matters
2
discharged from a discharge section C. While the paper discharge wings
47
and
48
are at interference positions, the auxiliary arm members
92
are located at protrusion positions (indicated by solid lines in
FIGS. 17A and 17B
) at which the members are below the wings
47
and
48
and protrude further inward of the tip ends of the paper discharge wings
47
and
48
by a dimension R. The remaining constituent elements of the sorting means
46
are the same as those in the first embodiment, which description will not be, therefore, given herein.
With the above constitution, as shown in
FIGS. 17A and 17B
, the left-side paper discharge wing
47
and the right-side paper discharge wing
48
are controlled to be alternately moved to interference positions synchronously with the collated matter
2
discharged, whereby the second embodiment can obtain the same function and advantage as those of the first embodiment.
Further, in the second embodiment, as shown in
FIGS. 17A and 17B
, the auxiliary arm members
92
are located further inside of the tip ends of the paper discharge wings
47
and
48
at their interference positions and the auxiliary arm members
92
interfere with the collated matters
2
further inside of the paper discharge wings
47
and
48
to change the discharge direction of the collated matters
2
. Due to this, it is possible to increase the sorting offset quantity d
2
without lengthening the paper discharge wings
47
and
48
. That is to say, it is considered that the paper discharge wings
47
and
48
may be made longer to increase the sorting offset quantity. If so, however, the moving locuses of the lower ends of the paper discharge wings
47
and
48
are moved downward accordingly and the wings
47
and
48
interfere with sheets
1
stacked on the paper discharge tray
42
, thereby restricting the quantity of the stacked sheets. As a result, the paper discharge wings
47
and
48
cannot be made longer and the offset quantity is restricted. The second embodiment, by contrast, can increase the offset quantity without lengthening the paper discharge wings
47
and
48
.
Next, the third embodiment of the present invention will be described.
If comparing the third embodiment with the second embodiment, they only differ in whether or not a sorting base tray
95
is present at the stacker section D. To avoid repeating description, the same constituent elements will not be described herein. It is noted that the same constituent elements in the third embodiment as those in the second embodiment are denoted by the same reference symbols.
As shown in
FIG. 18
, a sorting base tray
95
is a detachable member independent of a paper discharge tray
42
although it is provided on the tray
42
. As shown in
FIG. 19A
, the sorting base tray
95
consists of a circular arc section
96
obtained by bending a flat plate into circular arc shape and support sections
97
bent inward so as to make both ends of the section
96
flush with each other. The upper surface of the circular arc section
96
is formed as a circular arc-shaped inclined surface
96
a
which is high almost at a central portion and gradually lower toward the horizontally both sides thereof. Positioning notches
96
b
serving as positioning means are provided at the end portions of the circular arc section
96
, respectively. The sorting base tray
95
can be stopped at a front fence
45
by using the positioning notches
96
b
. In a state in which the sorting base tray
95
is stopped at the front fence
45
, the sorting base tray
95
is provided on a paper discharge tray
42
, thereby positioning the base tray
95
in the horizontal direction of the front fence
45
.
FIG. 19B
is a perspective view of a modification of the sorting base tray
95
. The modified sorting base tray
95
consists of an upper flat section
98
provided at a center thereof, inclined sections
99
formed bent at the both sides of the section
98
and support sections
97
bent inward so as to make the both ends of the inclined sections
99
flush with each other. The upper surface of the inclined section
99
is a flat, inclined surface
99
a
which is high almost at a central portion and gradually lower toward the horizontally both sides thereof. Positioning notches
99
b
serving as positioning means may be provided on the end portions of the inclined section
99
.
As already described in the second embodiment, the operations of the right and left paper discharge wings
47
and
48
, the intermediate horizontal arms
91
and the auxiliary arm members
92
are carried out synchronously with the collated matters
2
discharged. Due to this, as shown in
FIGS. 21A and 21B
, the units of the collated matters
2
are horizontally offset one another by a shift quantity d
3
and stacked.
As indicated by a solid line shown in
FIG. 20
, the end face of the collated matter
2
interfered with by the paper discharge wings
47
,
48
and the like collides against the side fences
43
and
44
and the paper discharge tray
42
.
FIG. 20
shows a state in which the end face of the collated matter
2
collides against the side fence
43
. At this moment, the collated matter
2
is often rebounded by a reactive force from the side fence
43
or
44
or the paper discharge tray
42
. Thereafter, as indicated by a virtual line shown in
FIG. 20
, the collated matter
2
falls onto the inclined surface
96
a
of the sorting base tray
95
and moves downward along this inclined surface
96
a
, i.e., moves while abutting the end face of the collated matter
2
against the side fences
43
and
44
. Accordingly, the rebounded collated matter
2
moves along the inclined surface
96
a
, so that the collated matter
2
is put on the paper discharge tray
42
while the end face thereof abuts against the side fences
43
and
44
. As a result, it is possible to well sort collated matters
2
with the end faces of the sets
2
aligned.
Further, in this embodiment, the sorting base tray
95
is constituted to be detachable from the paper discharge tray
42
. If a collating operation finishes and the sheets
1
stacked on the paper discharge tray
42
are to be handled, therefore, an operator can insert his or her fingers into the base of the sorting base tray
95
and integrally handle the stacked sheets
1
and the sorting base tray
95
, thus facilitating handling the sheets
1
. In other words, while the operator needs to insert his or her fingers under the lowermost stacked sheet
1
to thereby make handling operation inconvenient, this embodiment can eliminate such inconvenience.
If a collating apparatus is exclusive for sorting, the sorting base tray
95
may be fixed or half-fixed to the front fence
45
. In that case, part of the circular arc section
96
of the sorting tray
95
is notched to allow operator's fingers to be inserted from the notch part, thereby facilitating handling the sheets
1
.
Moreover, in this embodiment, the inclined surface
96
a
of the sorting base tray
95
is constituted to be circular arc shaped. Due to this, sheets
1
stacked on the inclined surface
96
a
of the sorting base tray
95
are deformed to become circular arc shaped. This makes it difficult to generate creases on the sheets
1
to thereby advantageously less damage the sheets
1
.
Furthermore, even the modified sorting base tray
95
as shown in
FIG. 19B
can obtain the same function and advantage as those of the sorting and stacking base tray
95
in
FIG. 19A
in the third embodiment. In addition, while the sorting base tray
95
in the embodiment shown in
FIG. 19A
has a circular arc-shaped inclined surface
96
a
, the tray
95
as a modification shown in
FIG. 19B
has a flat, inclined surface
99
a
. The constitution of the inclined surface should not be limited to these shapes. Any inclined surface which is high almost at a central portion and gradually lower toward the horizontal both sides thereof suffices.
Moreover, in this embodiment, positioning notches
96
b
are provided in the sorting base tray
95
. The front fence
45
is, therefore, moved according to the size of the sheet
1
. If the sorting base tray
95
is positioned at the front fence
45
thus moved through the positioning notches
96
b
, the tray
95
is located at the central position between the paired side fences
43
and
44
, thereby making it possible to easily, accurately set the position of the sorting base tray
95
.
Additionally, while the positioning means of the sorting base tray
95
is constituted by using the positioning notches
96
b
in this embodiment, the positioning means may be constituted to allow positioning the sorting base tray
95
with respect to the front fence
45
.
Next, the fourth embodiment of the present invention will be described.
If comparing the fourth embodiment with the second embodiment, they differ in whether or not a central interference member
195
is present at the stacker section D. To avoid repeating description, the same constituent elements will not be described herein. It is noted that the same constituent elements in the fourth embodiment as those in the second embodiment are denoted by the same reference symbols.
As shown in
FIGS. 22
,
23
and
24
, the central interference member
195
is rotatably supported by a rear surface wall
196
on the paper discharge tray
42
through a support pin
197
. One end side of the central interference member
195
protrudes from a hole
196
a
of the rear surface wall
196
to upward of the paper discharge tray
42
. The one end side of the central interference member
195
is rotatably, movably provided between an upper position indicated by a solid line shown in
FIG. 24 and a
lower position indicated by a virtual line in
FIG. 24
by moving within the hole
196
a
. The one end side of the central interference member
195
has a plate shape having a long hole (not particularly denoted by a reference symbol) formed therein. At the upper position, the member
195
is inclined aslant if viewed from a front surface side. At the lower position, the member
195
is almost adjacent to and along the paper discharge tray
42
(see such as FIG.
24
). An extension spring
198
serving as urging means is laid between the other end side of the central interference member
195
and the rear surface wall
196
. The central interference member
195
is urged toward the upper position by the spring force of the extension spring
198
. The spring force of the extension spring
198
is received by the end face of the hole
196
a
, thereby restricting the member
195
so as not to further moving upward. The spring force of the extension spring
198
is set to be such an urging force as to allow the central interference member
195
to go down to the lower position if collated matters (sheets)
2
of a height corresponding to a height from the upper portion of the paper discharge tray
42
to the upper position of the central interference member
195
are stacked on the central interference member
195
.
As already described in the second embodiment, the right and left paper discharge wings
47
,
48
, the intermediate horizontal arm
91
and the auxiliary arm member
92
operate in synchronization with the collated matters
2
to be discharged. Due to this, as shown in
FIGS. 25A and 25B
, the units of the collated matters
2
are horizontally offset one another by a shift quantity d
4
and stacked.
Namely, the collated matter
2
interfered with by the paper discharge wings
47
,
48
and the like may collide against the side fences
43
and
44
and the paper discharge tray
42
, and may be rebounded by a reactive force from the side fences
43
,
44
and the paper discharge tray
42
. However, the rebounded collated matter
2
is kept inclined in offset direction by the interference of the central interference member
195
, and thereby moves again in the offset direction. Consequently, the collated matter
2
is put on the paper discharge tray
42
while the end faces of the collated matter
2
are abutted against the side fences
43
and
44
. As a result, it is possible to well sort collated matters
2
with the end faces thereof aligned.
Further, the collated matters
2
stacked on the paper discharge tray
42
are also put on the central interference member
195
. As shown in
FIGS. 26A and 26B
, the central interference member
195
gradually moves downward against the spring force of the extension spring
198
due to the self-weight of the collated matters
2
. Therefore, the number of stacked collated matters
2
which can be put on the paper discharge tray
42
does not decrease. In addition, sorting disorder due to the rebounding of the collated matters
2
is likely to occur in the early period of the sort mode in which the falling distance of the collated matter
2
is large. However, the central interference member
195
is at the upper position in the early period of the sort mode, and the central interference member
195
gradually moves downward in the middle period of the sort mode. For that reason, the possibility that sort disorder occurs due to the rebounding of the collated matters
2
might be low. As can be seen, it is possible to realize sorting operation as good as possible with the end faces of the collated matters
2
aligned, and to prevent the number of stacked collated matters
2
from decreasing.
To satisfactorily sort and stack the collated matter, it is preferable that the position of the central interference member
195
is at an upper position until as a late period as possible. To provide as a large amount of stacked collated matters
2
as possible, on the other hand, it is preferable that the central interference member
195
is at the lower position as an early period as possible. In the fourth embodiment, when the quantity of the collated matters
2
stacked becomes a height corresponding to a height from the lower position of the central interference member
195
to the upper position thereof, the member
195
goes down to the lower position at which the member
195
is almost adjacent to the paper discharge tray
42
as shown in
FIGS. 26A and 26B
. It is, therefore, possible to set the heights of the paired paper discharge wings
47
and
48
relative to the paper discharge tray
42
as small as possible and to meet these two demands.
It is noted that the central interference member
195
is constituted to be displaced by rotating and moving between the upper position and the lower position in this embodiment. It is also possible that the central interference member
195
is constituted to be displaced by a linear movement. Further, the urging means of the central interference member
195
is constituted by the extension spring
198
in this embodiment. The urging member may be constituted by a spring other than the extension spring
198
. Alternatively, a member other than the spring may be employed as long as it can urge the central interference member
195
. It is noted, however, that the spring urging means can more facilitate determination of urging force, assembly and the like.
In the embodiments stated so far, one of the paired side fences
43
and
44
is set movable and the other fence is set fixed. It is also possible to make both of them movable. Alternatively, if the width of a sheet
1
to be used is fixed for some reasons, both of the side fences may be fixed.
In the embodiments stated so far, the driving mechanism
50
of the paper discharge wings
47
and
48
is constituted by using the worm gear
52
and the worm wheel
53
. The mechanism
50
may be constituted by using only flat gears.
Claims
- 1. A collating apparatus comprising:a plurality of paper feed trays; a paper feed section for conveying a plurality of sheets stacked on the plurality of paper feed trays one by one at predetermined timing; a collating and conveying section for collating the plurality of sheets conveyed from the respective paper feed trays of the paper feed section to provide collated matters and for conveying the collated matters to a discharge section; the discharge section for discharging the collated matters conveyed from the collating and conveying section to a stacker section; and the stacker section provided with a paper discharge tray for stacking the collated matters conveyed from the discharge section, provided with a pair of side fences positioned at both outer sides of the collated matters discharged onto the paper discharge tray and restricting an orthogonal direction to a discharge direction of the collated matters, and having sorting means for alternately offsetting the collated matters sequentially discharged from said discharge section to the orthogonal direction to the discharge direction and for stacking the collated matters on said paper discharge tray, wherein said sorting means has a paper discharge wing, displaced between a wait position at which the paper discharge wing does not interfere with the collated matters discharged from said discharge section and an interference position at which the paper discharge wing interferes with the collated matters discharged from said discharge section to offset the discharge direction of the collated matters to almost the orthogonal direction to the discharge direction, and moves the paper discharge wing between the wait position and the interference position alternately in accordance with discharge timing at which the collated matters are discharged from said discharge section, thereby sorting the collated matters.
- 2. A collating apparatus according to claim 1, whereina pair of said paper discharge wings having opposite offset directions of offsetting said collated matters are provided as right and left paper discharge wings, and the pair of paper discharge wings are moved from the waiting position to the interference position alternately in accordance with the discharge timing of the collated matters discharged from said discharge section, thereby sorting said collated matters.
- 3. A collating apparatus according to claim 2, whereinsaid pair of paper discharge wings are provided at said pair of side fences, at least one of said pair of side fences movable almost in the orthogonal direction to the discharge direction of said collated matters.
- 4. A collating apparatus according to claim 1, whereinan upper end side of said paper discharge wing is rotatably supported, a state in which said paper discharge wing is hung by a self-weight with a tip end side located downward is set as the wait position, and said paper discharge wing is moved from the wait position to the interference position when a wing presser arm rotating by a force transferred from a driving source presses a lower surface of said paper discharge wing and the tip end side is rotated by the pressing force and moved upward.
- 5. A collating apparatus according to claim 4, whereina driving mechanism of said paper discharge wing has an auxiliary arm member horizontally moving in cooperation with rotation of said wing presser arm, the auxiliary arm member located at a retreat position at which the auxiliary arm member does not interfere with the collated matters discharged from said discharge section while said paper discharge wing is located at the wait position, the auxiliary arm member located at a protruding position below said paper discharge wing and further protruding inward of the tip end of said paper discharge wing while said paper discharge wing is located at the interference position.
- 6. A collating apparatus according to claim 1, whereina sorting base tray having an inclined surface higher almost on a central portion and gradually lower toward horizontal both sides, is provided on said paper discharge tray.
- 7. A collating apparatus according to claim 6, whereinsaid sorting base tray is detachable with respect to said paper discharge tray.
- 8. A collating apparatus according to claim 6, whereinsaid inclined surface of said sorting base tray is constituted to be circular arc-shaped.
- 9. A collating apparatus according to claim 1, whereina front fence movable to at a central position between a pair of side fences in accordance with paper size, and restricting front end surfaces of the collated matters discharged, is provided on said paper discharge tray, and positioning means for positioning said sorting base tray in horizontal direction with respect to said front fence is provided on said sorting base tray.
- 10. A collating apparatus according to claim 1, whereina central interference member for interfering with lower surfaces of the discharged sheets is arranged on said paper discharge tray and almost at a center of said pair of side fences, is movably provided between an upper position above said paper discharge tray and a lower position lower than the upper position, and is urged by urging means toward an upper position side.
- 11. A collating apparatus according to claim 10, whereinthe lower position of said central interference member is set at a position almost adjacent to said paper discharge tray; and said urging means is set to have an urging force to allow said central interference member to go down to the lower position if the sheets of a height corresponding to a height from an upper portion of said paper discharge tray to an upper position of said central interference member are stacked on said central interference member.
Priority Claims (3)
Number |
Date |
Country |
Kind |
11-210871 |
Jul 1999 |
JP |
|
11-210904 |
Jul 1999 |
JP |
|
11-375834 |
Dec 1999 |
JP |
|
US Referenced Citations (5)