JPH0748618Y2 - System sorter - Google Patents

Description

TECHNICAL FIELD The present invention relates to a system sorter connected to an image forming apparatus such as a copying machine, a facsimile, and a printer.

2. Description of the Related Art In recent years, in this type of image forming apparatus, in order to improve workability after copying, etc., a sorter apparatus having a plurality of bins is connected to the discharge side to form a system sorter, and the required number of copies is sorted. Many of them are designed to be ejected. In order to further utilize such a system sorter, for example, each bin is made to correspond to each distribution destination (by destination), a desired bin among them is designated before the start of copying, etc. A sorter (so-called programmable sorter) in which sheets are stacked in this bin is known from JP-A-62-166367. According to this, copying work such as documents that are regularly distributed can be performed at the distribution destination (for example,
By programming the "General Affairs Department,""DesignDepartment," etc., it becomes possible to perform processing simply and quickly.

Here, to confirm the destination of each bin for the actual take-out and distribution after the copy discharge, see the destination entered in the opposite location of each bin, or create a comparison table of each bin number and destination. I will try to do this by looking at this comparison table.

The problem to be solved by the invention However, after the group of copy documents sorted is taken out from the bin, the correspondence with the bin disappears, so which bin the document was in = The distribution destination is the operator's memory. It is uncertain and it is easy for distribution destination errors to occur. Although it may be possible to write a memo or the like at the time of taking out, it is troublesome, the work efficiency is poor, and the effect as a programmable sorter is halved.

Means for Solving the Problem In a system sorter, which is provided with a plurality of bins for each destination and is configured to store the sheets discharged from an image forming apparatus such as a copying machine by the destination specified in the bin,
A bin on which an address is written and an actuator section for specifying the address is formed is detachably provided on the sorter body, and a sensor section for detecting the actuator section is provided on the sorter body.

The sheet on which the image is formed is stored in the designated destination bin. The destination of this bin is specified by detecting the actuator formed for each destination with the sensor unit on the sorter body side. After the paper discharge processing, the paper is taken out from the sorter main body for each bin. Since the destinations are described here in units of bins, the distribution destinations of the papers stored in the bins will not be mistaken. It is also possible to distribute each bin to the destination. After the distribution process, the taken out bin may be set again, or a new bin may be replaced and set.

Embodiment A first embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIGS. 1 to 4. The system sorter of this embodiment is configured by connecting a sorter body 4 to a copying machine 1 as an image forming apparatus via a large tray section 2 and a reversing section 3. The automatic document feeder (ADF) 5 of the copying machine 1 of this embodiment
The charging charger 7, the flash exposure system 8, the developing device 9, and the transfer charger, which are provided around the belt-shaped photoconductor 6 according to the electrophotographic process as well known in the art.
A copy image is formed on the transfer sheet 11, which is a sheet, through processing by a process unit such as 10. The transfer paper 11 is discharged onto the discharge tray 12 or the like during normal copying, but when the sorter mode is specified, the sorter main body 4 side is selected by switching the switching claws 13, and the transport rollers 14 and the reversing roller 14 are reversed as necessary. The paper is discharged into the sorter main body 4 via the transport path 15.

In the sorter main body 4, a plurality of bins 16 are provided in a multi-stage separated and stacked state. The transfer paper 11 discharged into the sorter main body 4 is transferred into the desired bin 16 by the conveyance sorting path by the pair of three rollers 17 provided at each entrance of each bin 16 and the switching claw 18 (see FIG. 1). The paper is discharged and stocked. In other words, the bins to be discharged by switching the switching pawl 18
16 is selected. Here, in the sorter system of the present embodiment, the bin 16 to be used is programmed in advance by the setting operation of the operation unit (not shown) on the copying machine 1 side prior to the copying operation, as in the above-mentioned publication. Has a programmable sorter function. In order to realize this function, the position of the bin 16 corresponding to the destination may be specified.

In the normal sorter system, the bins are fixedly provided, but in the present embodiment, each bin 16 is detachably attached to the sorter body 4 by the pull-out method. That is, each of the bins 16 is formed in a mere box shape that is open upward, and is slidably guided and held by a bin guide 19 formed in the axial direction of the three roller pair 17 as shown in FIG. Here, each bin 16 is provided for each destination, and on the front surface in the drawing direction, the destinations 20 such as "General Affairs Department" and "Design Department" are exemplified as illustrated in FIG.
Is shown in a visible state. Further, on the back side of each bin 16 in the pull-out direction, a convex portion 21 as an actuator portion for making the system side recognize the destination 20 of the bin 16 is provided.
Are formed. The number and combination of these convex parts 21 are
Every 16 different. When the bottle 16 is set, such a convex portion 21
For example, five sensor rows 22 as sensor units for detecting the state (presence or absence) of the above are provided in the sorter body 4. Therefore, the sensor array 22 optically detects the number of the convex portions 21 and the combination state, and by sending out the detection signal to the system side, it is possible to recognize which bin 16 of which destination 20 is at which position. Even if the 16 is freely removable, the programmable sorter function described above can be secured.

According to such a configuration, when the transfer paper 11 is processed for each distribution destination after the copying is completed by using the programmable sorter function, the transfer paper 11 is stored in the sorter body 4 without being taken out directly. All the bottles 16 should be taken out from the sorter body 4. In such a state, since the destination 20 is written on the bin 16, the transfer destination of the transfer paper 11 in it is not mistaken. After the distribution process, each bin 16 is set again on the sorter body 4 side, but since each bin 16 is specifically detected as described above, it can be returned to any position, is easy, and does not cause a setting error. .

By the way, in this embodiment, as shown in FIG.
For example, the buffer bin 23 is provided at the lowest position.
This is for discharging the transfer paper 11 to the buffer bin 23 when the bin 16 of the destination 20 designated by the programmable sorter function is not set in the sorter body 4. Therefore, the process is not interrupted even if there is no corresponding bin.

Next, a second embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIGS. In the present embodiment, first, the bin 25, which is supported by the plate-shaped pin guide 24 so as to be freely taken out from the sorter body 4, has a bag shape. This bin 25 naturally has an opening in the paper discharge direction of the three roller pair 17. On the surface of such a bin 25, a destination 26 similar to that of a normal mail, such as "Tokyo ...
A mark 27 is formed on the same surface as an actuator portion for making the system recognize the 26. An optical reading sensor 28 is provided on the sorter body 4 side as a sensor unit for reading and detecting the mark 27 when the bin 25 is set. As a result, similarly to the above-described embodiment, it is possible to recognize which bin 25 of which destination 26 is set at which position.
Particularly, according to the present embodiment, the bottle 25 is in the shape of a bag,
Since the destination 26 is attached, the copied transfer paper 11 can be distributed to the distribution destination in each bin 25 (sealed if necessary), and the distribution work is further simplified.

By the way, in this embodiment, since the bin 25 is treated as a consumable item in this way, a bin supply device 29 for automatically supplying and replenishing a new bin 25 to the removed No. bin position is added. There is. As shown in FIG. 7, this bin supply device 29 is located on the back side of the bin loading position (the side opposite to the three roller pair 17 etc.), and is provided with a roll body 30 of a resin tube as a bin material. After passing through the guide roller 31, the thermal cutter
Cut to an appropriate length with 32 and heat weld the rear end side to create a bag-shaped bottle 25 from the roll body 30.
25 is conveyed through a distribution / sorting route by a pair of three bottle distribution rollers 33 and a switching claw 34, and the bottle 25 is discharged and set on the pin guide 24 at the desired No. position. A printing device 35 is also provided in the transport path by the bin supply device 29, and the destination 26 and the mark 27 as described above are automatically formed on the surface of the bin 25 to be newly replaced and replenished. To be done. Therefore, the replenishment of the destination bin corresponding to the extracted bin 25 is automatically performed, and the problem of forgetting to set the destination bin does not occur.

Effect of the Invention In the present invention, the destination is described as described above, and the bin in which the actuator portion for specifying the destination is formed is detachably provided to the sorter body, and the actuator portion is detected on the sorter body side. Since the sensor unit is provided, the paper is taken out from the sorter main body for each bin after the paper discharge process, so that the destination is written on the bin itself.
The papers stored in the bin will not be mistaken for the destination, accurate distribution will be possible, the programmable sorter function can be fully exerted, and the bin taken out after the distribution process can be set again, or If a new bin is replaced and set, the destination of the bin is specified by detecting the actuator formed for each destination by the sensor unit on the sorter main body side, so that the bin can be set at any position.

[Brief description of drawings]

1 to 4 show a first embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 1 is a schematic front view, FIG. 2 is a schematic front view of the entire system, FIG. 3 is a schematic side view, and FIG. FIG. 5 is a schematic plan view, FIGS. 5 to 7 show a second embodiment of the present invention, FIG. 5 is a schematic front view, FIG. 6 is a schematic plan view, and FIG. 7 is a schematic front view. Is. 1 ... Image forming device, 4 ... Sorter body, 11 ... Paper,
16 …… bin, 20 …… destination, 21 …… actuator part, 22
...... Sensor, 25 …… Bin, 26 …… Destination, 27 …… Actuator, 28 …… Sensor

Claims (1)

[Scope of utility model registration request] 1. A system sorter having a plurality of bins for each destination, in which sheets discharged from an image forming apparatus such as a copying machine are sorted and stored according to the designated destinations in the bin, the destinations are indicated. In addition, a system sorter is characterized in that a bin on which an actuator section for specifying the destination is formed is detachably provided on the sorter body, and a sensor section for detecting the actuator section is provided on the sorter body.