JPS612667A - Sorting system in copying machine - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To improve the efficiency in copying operation by permitting the addition of original copies through interruption in so far as sorter bins are left in free state. CONSTITUTION:The captioned apparatus is equipped with the memory means S3 and S4 for memorizing the number of sorter bins predetermined for use by each user, number designating means which addition-calculates the number of bins used for each user and designates the number larger than the addition-calculation value as the accommodation bin number for the first copied paper sheet on which copying is completed corresponding to the original copy of the next user, and a correcting means which executes interruption treatment during or after the completion of the processing ranging from the feed of original copy to the distribution of copied paper sheets into sorter bins and corrects the number of bins predetermined for use according to the added number of pieces of original copies or the added number of copies for the original copies. Therefore, a number of users can preset each original copy to be copied into a copying machine at the same time, and the addition of original copies during automatic operation of the copying machine is permitted, and working efficiency can be improved.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION [Field of Application of the Invention] The present invention relates to a sorting system in a copying machine, and particularly to a sorting system that utilizes a sorter bin and streamlines copying work. be.

[Prior art and its problems] Figure 3 shows a conventional sorter and an original document feeder (A).
DF) is a schematic front view of the entire copying machine.

In the case of a copying machine, when you place an appropriate number of originals on the original tray 1'' and press the copy button, the automatic document feeder 4 provided on the main body 3 of the copying machine moves the stacked originals. 1- to the copying position of the copying machine main body 3,
A predetermined number of copies are made at that position. Copied c7
+ copy sheets (I) are sent to a sorter 5 attached to the side of the copying machine main body 3, and are sequentially distributed and stored in sorter bins B, -B1.

Normal sorter bins B1-B1. Copy sheets are distributed in order from the bottom sorter bin B, but there are two ways of thinking about this distribution method.

For example, the number of original pages is 5 and the number of copies distributed is 1.
If there are 0 copies, a total of 50 copies are required.
The 10 copies made for one original are placed in the bottom sorter bins B1 to W1 B,, B3,...B
The paper is distributed one by one up to 1°, and the same operation is performed for the next original, and the number of copies of the original, i.e., 5 copies, is distributed over 10 stages per soak hin. A method of distributing sheets to sorter bins in order of the number of copies is generally called a sorting mode.

On the other hand, if 10 copies of one original are required, the 10 copies made from the first original are stored in sorter bin B on the bottom row, and the soak bin B2 on the second row is stored in sorter bin B on the bottom row. A total of 5 sorter bins B, -B, and 5-tier sorter bins are used to store 10 copies of the second original.
In other words, this method distributes copy sheets to sorter bins in the order of the number of originals, and the group mode (or collate mode) is generally used.

In the conventional copying machine T3' with a sorter, when the operator performs copying work, the operator only distributes the copied copy sheets from the sorter bin B at the top stage to iF No. 7 according to the sort mode or group mode 1 described above. There is no effective use of unused soak bins. For example, when distributing with the sort mode, if there are 5 originals and 10 destinations as in the previous example, just use a soak bin of 131~B1° as described above.
~The soak bin in B16 is unused and idle.

However, if the request of another operator (user) requires, for example, five copies to be made separately using sort mode, the previous user can finish the copying work using the conventional sorting method described below. Later users have to wait until then, making the copying process extremely inefficient.

In particular, in a copying machine equipped with a self-011 vehicle loading device n, IO document feeding is automatically continued, making it impossible to distribute documents to each user, and thus not making effective use of the sorter.

1 Purpose" Therefore, the present invention effectively utilizes idle sorter bins to load documents of multiple users into the document tray.
The process from feeding the original to distributing copied copy paper to the sorter bin can be completely automated to reduce operator (user) waiting time.
The object of the present invention is to provide a sorter system capable of streamlining copying operations by allowing addition of documents by interruption as long as there is a surplus in the soak bin.

"Structure of the Invention" In order to achieve the following object, the main means adopted by the present invention is to distribute and store copied copy sheets in sorter bins in the order of the number of copies (sort mode) or in the order of the number of originals (group mode). In the two-tone system, there is a storage for the number of sorter bins scheduled to be used for each user, which is set based on the number of copies per original of a certain user or the number of originals per user.
Add up the number of bins in use for each vehicle, and specify a bin number greater than the above accumulation (/+) as the storage bin number for "the first sheet of copied copy paper corresponding to the next 1-za vehicle load." Interrupt processing is performed during or after the completion of the processing of the number designation means and the distribution of copy paper from document feeding to the sorter bin,
The number of bins scheduled to be used (α) is 1, which is 1, where the number of bins to be used is equal to 11 by the number of added J-vehicle volumes or the number of copies of the J-vehicles, and 1-the Determine the number of soak bins required in advance as long as there is room for @
This is to make effective use of the sorter bin by making it possible to add manuscripts to multiple pages, etc. The bottom row is used for storing the number of manuscripts entered by the operator and the ML file. This is achieved by the function of reading the value of the number of sheets and writing it down ↑9. Also, the bin number indicator 1 step is achieved by adding up the number of bin steps (IC1) scheduled to be used for each user, and then adding the number of bins to the next user. In order to save the storage location of the -2B paper corresponding to the original, set the bin number 1.: that stores the user's first sheet of the 2B paper to a value greater than the fijl k accumulation L11. By doing so, the copied copy paper corresponding to each user's original is distributed one after another, and the interrupt timing of the scheduled bin number correction means is determined from the original feeding operation to the distribution of copy paper to the sorter bin. This can be done at any time while the process is continuing or during the waiting time after the process is finished, and this allows the document to be added without interrupting the copying process or the like.

"Embodiments" Next, embodiments embodying the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings. Here, FIG. 1 is a flowchart of the entire continuous automatic copying system including a sorting system according to an embodiment of the present invention, FIG. 2 is a flowchart showing the interrupt processing procedure in the same two-tone stem, and No. 3 and 1 are flowcharts of the above flowchart. 1 is a schematic side view of the entire copying machine equipped with a sorter and an automatic IPfg feeding device for explaining the contents.

In the following embodiments, a case will be described in which all processing is performed using a microcomputer, but the same processing procedure can also be achieved by a combination of individual circuits. In addition, the numbers (step numbers) of each processing procedure are S1, S2, . ...not expressed.

Here, the symbols used in the flowchart below are defined in advance as follows.

M: Bin number for storing copy paper; Number of bins already scheduled to be used N; User number Gn; Number of original sheets Co for the Nth user; Number of copies required for the Nth user Ln; Nth
Bottom bin number B among the bins used by the th user: total number of bins S; number of copied originals for a certain user Bn;
The lowest bin number 'F among the bins used by the Nth user; count of the number of copies; It is assumed that copy paper is distributed in order from the bottom of the page. First of all, the first [t! +1
In (a), the program starts with no originals on the original tray J. M=1 in sl. to = 0. An initialization of N=1 is performed. Next, at step 32, the operator (user) is asked whether to distribute the first document in the sort mode or the group mode, and the operator selects one of the modes using the numeric keys or the like. Next, the operator calculates the number of sheets G of the original. (Number of originals for the R-th user) is input (S3), and the number of copies cn of the original is input (S3).
4). These manually entered values are stored in the memory of the microcomputer. - The means for executing the above steps S3 and S4 is a storage means for storing the number of bin stages to be used.

Next, it is determined in 85 whether the current group mode is the sort mode, and if the mode is the sort mode, the process proceeds to step S6, and if the group mode, the process proceeds to step S7. In step S6, go to =→C. The bin number next to the bottom bin number that the Nth user plans to use is calculated.

is required.

For example, if the user is the first user, N=
If it remains 1, it is already =0. Therefore, when the number of copies Crl is 3 in the sort mode, it becomes Ll-4. This is the third
As shown in the figure, the first three sorter bins I3 to which copy sheets are distributed. ．． B.

2 shows empty sorter bin B4 number 4 above S3. Here, 1 is added in 36 by setting up an empty soak bin as shown in ``-'', and when taking out copied copy paper from the two-tabi/, the user next to it (stored in the bin in the This is to prevent copy paper from being removed by mistake.

Also, there is a beam in S7. The operation +Gn-←l is performed on -, and Ln is the next bin number of the bin number to be used.
is calculated similarly.

When the calculation in S6 or S7 is completed, S
In step 8, the magnitude relationship between all bins GB and Ln-1 is determined, and if B is smaller, the number of bins to be distributed is insufficient and automatic sorting will not be performed. ) Display of TOOHA is performed at 89. This preset over-indication is achieved by various means such as lighting a lamp, making an announcement, or buzzing. In this way, if the copy paper for the next user exceeds the number of sorter bins, in step SIO, 1 of the addition in 514 is subtracted from N to correct the number of users, and then the process proceeds to S12.

Also, in S8, if -1 is still greater than the total number of pins B, proceed to Sll and consider the value of n obtained in 86 or S7 as the number of bins already in use. Replace with K.

Next, the computer further displays on the display a question asking whether or not to preset the document (set it on the document table 1 of the automatic document feeder 4). If a command to perform further presetting is given to the computer, the process advances to S14, where 1 is added to the number of users N, and the process returns to S2, where the next user's saw (... group 7)) (S2) and the number of originals are added. storage (S3), = storage of the number of sheets per 1 piece (S4), and the number of the first sorter bin used by this user' with p constant.
;1. n for each mote in S6 or S7, and if this is larger than the total number of bins B, S9;
The process of S10, and in the case of B or more, Sll and S
Proceed to step 12.

For example, the 313th'! + 4.1 d shown, sea urchin number 1
], the number of sheets is 3, and the empty sorter bin is 13.
．． If we have already used four sorter bins B, ~B, including
:r--If the server inputs -11 and the number of sheets C,-5 in the no-I mode, l, J = 4 +5 + l-10, and the number of bins already used in calculation 1- is 10. Become. I! The sorter bin BIO becomes an empty soak bin, and the 5 stages of sorter bins 35 to 13 below. The 21-bi paper that has already been copied will be distributed according to the number of people's manuscripts.

In Si2, if there is no longer a need to perform the copying and printing, in S13, set the preset total number of users V to the value of N at that time. This is the procedure for sorting work.

S14. When a command to start a copying operation is issued (copying operation in progress is pressed), a series of initializations in S15 are performed. That is, Gogode s=0. N=1. M-1,
Initial setting of 8n=1 is performed, and in S16, it is determined whether the preset original of the first user should be distributed in the group mode or in the sort mode. These modes are S2
If G has already been input for each user, and if it is determined that the mode is sort mode, in step S17, the count of the number of copies, which is counted by 1 each time one copy is made, is set to 0, and the copy number for that user is Add 1 to the number S of completed manuscripts. Next, automatic document feeder 4
The original is fed by S, and the copying process starts when the original reaches the copying position (S).
19), S20 is a subroutine for further printing using the sorter bin that another user is playing with during the copying process, which will be described later. When it is determined in S21 that the copying process for one sheet has been completed, S
22, add 1 to the copy number count 'r, and double 2J
Place the finished copy paper in the Mth sorter bin.
523), 1 to bin number -M in Sarabanko S24
Add.

In the case of the first copy paper of 1 jl for the first user, in S23, the 2B paper is ejected to the soak bin of the first stage, and the next copy paper is ejected to the second Ll. Therefore, 1 is added to M in S24. So 0
Next, at 525, it is determined whether the count T of 2l copies and 1 copy lost is equal to the predetermined required number of copies C11, and 'F is C11.
If it is less than ,, perform 22 peas and 1 eisaku of 321 from Si2 to perform 2 peas for 1 car volume.
S23 repeats the routine of ejecting dozens of copy sheets from the sorter bin.

In the example shown in Part 3 and 1, the number of copies CI for the first user is 3, so when I' becomes equal to 3 by repeating the routine from S1.9 to 325, the next step S26 The process moves to the jQ document ejection step. In this way, three sheets of copy paper for the first original are distributed one sheet each to the sorter bins B and -83, and then the first original is ejected at 326, and the copy paper for the second original is distributed to the sorter bins B and -83. Eject the copied copy paper to the sorter bin B1 again.
J-Replace the bin number M with the lowest bin number of the bins used by the user, in this case the first row (B,) (S27), and in the subsequent S28, the number of copied originals is Number of originals prepared by the user Gn
If S is less than Gn, the procedure starts again from the step of feeding the law manuscript (31B) to the step of copying operation Suge knobs (319 to 521) and the step of ejecting it to the sorter bin ( After repeating S23) and completing the required number of copies, the routine of ejecting the original (S26) is repeated, and when the number of copied originals reaches a predetermined number of originals (Gn), the next user's original is The process advances to S29, which is pre-processing, to perform copy processing.

In S29, corresponding to S6, the next column, -the (N+
Bin number B+ of &, F stage used by the first user)
1+l is calculated as Bn+l=M+Cn+1. The reason for adding 1 here is to provide an empty sorter bin between the top bin and the bottom sorter bin used by adjacent users to distinguish between them, as described above.
Furthermore, the bin number (M) to which the copy paper that is first copied from the original of the next user (N+-1st user) is distributed.
Set A16 to Bn+l.

If it is determined in S16 that the mode is group mode,
Processes from 817' to 329' are performed, but 8 of these processes
17' to 323' are SL in saw] mode.
Since the processing is the same as that from 7 to S23, the explanation will be omitted.

After the copied copy paper is discharged to the Mth stage in 823', the number of copies is changed to the number of copies set for the original without moving to the next stage in 325'.
It is determined whether or not the number of copies has reached n, and all Co copies are ejected to the Mth stage. When the copying of the first original Iρj is completed, the original is ejected at 326, and the next original is ejected from 324 to the soak bin one step above.
1 is added to M at ', and it is determined at 328' whether the number S of originals that have been copied is equal to a predetermined number Gn, and from 817' to 328' until S becomes equal to Gn. Repeat the steps. 828'
If it is determined in 829' that all the originals have been copied for that user, the number of the sorter bin for discharging the next user's original is set in 829'. The calculation is performed to set the bin number BTl in which the first copy paper of the next user is to be stored, and to set the bin number M to which the next copy paper is to be ejected. Set to +1.

When the above-mentioned ri'r' operation and sorting process (distribution of copied copy sheets to the sorter bin) for the Nth user's original in the sort mode or group mode are completed, 1 is added to the user number N. S29.l
), then in step 330, it is determined whether the sorting process has been completed for all users as planned, and if it is determined that the sorting process has not been completed yet, the value of S is set to O without indicating the number of copied originals. and 1[1biS16
It touches.

If it is determined in step 530 that the sorting process for all users has been completed, the process returns to step Sl.

) - In the processing procedure described above, the copy operation is not performed after determining the usage schedule for all sorter bins, so the copy operation and subsequent sorting operation are performed while some sorter bins remain idle in the upper row. There may be cases where In such a case, it is desirable to perform a series-of-flight process without stopping the machine even during the copying operation, so that additional document presets can be added to the idle soak bar. Zaburoutine S20
Or 820' serves this purpose, and its contents are as shown in FIG.

In other words, if the operator presses the add key during copying (S
32) Save the value of N (532d), add 1 to the value of the total number of users in s33, store that value as N, and perform the sort mode in S34 for the manuscript to be added, but do you want to perform the group mode? At the same time, the number of manuscripts to be added is input (S35),
Then, the number of copies of the original document is counted seven times (S36).

Subsequently, in order to determine whether the number of sorter bins used by the added user is greater or less than the number of idle sorter bins, following the determination of group mode or sort mode in 337, the added user in 338 or 839 The topmost bin number used by the selected user is calculated. The calculations in S38 and S39 are the same as the calculations in S6 and s7. If the bottom row bin number of the additional portion obtained in this way is larger than the total number of bins (S40), the sorting operation cannot be performed, so the brisesotoohha display is displayed in row 5 (S41), and only 1 is added in S33. The user number is returned to its original state (S42). Further, if there is enough bin number, the 4M obtained in S38 and S39 is replaced with the maximum bin number K that is consistent with reset l. In S44, it is cut off whether to preset the history or the machine, and when presetting, the user number N (1M
Add 1 to , and return to S34. If you do not want to set any more presets, set the user number N at that time to Vlgo7/
)L (S46), restore the saved value of N and (
S46. ) Go to S21 or S21'.

If the add key is not pressed in step S32 of the second step, the process bypasses the step S33 to S546a of the first step and jumps to S21 or 321'.

The above-mentioned interrupt processing is performed not only during the production of copy-1, but also during the process of ejecting copied copy paper (523, S23') and during the ejection of originals (326, 32).
G') Furthermore, it can be inserted at any time, such as when all the processing for the preset original has been completed, but the processing is performed from S32 to S46. Since this process is the same as the previous process, it will be omitted here.

In the above embodiment, one level of empty sorter bins was provided between the soak bins used by adjacent users to distinguish between the two, but the kneading process may be omitted if necessary, or two or more empty sorter bins may be used. It is also possible to set

"Effects of the Invention" As described above, the present invention provides a two-tone stem that distributes and stores copied copy paper in the order of the number of copies (sort mode) or in the order of the number of original sheets (group mode), and a certain user a scheduled number of soak bin storage means for storing the number of soak bins scheduled to be used for each user set by the number of copies per original or the number of originals for each user; Bin number designation means for specifying a number larger than the above integrated value as the storage bin number for the first sheet of copy paper that has been copied corresponding to the original document, and processing for distributing copy paper from document feeding to sorter bins is continuing or has ended. Afterwards, interrupt processing is performed and the number of bin stages to be used is adjusted according to the number of sheets of the added original or the number of copies of the original. Therefore, many users can preset the originals they want to print on the copier at the same time, and unlike conventional LL, a single user has to wait until the next copy is finished. It is extremely economical because it eliminates the need to make copies, improves work efficiency, and at the same time makes use of each soak bin effectively.Especially when you have to make a small number of copies, but a large number of copies. ), - When there are multiple sites, all jS1s can be preset once at the beginning.
With regard to stripes, it is not possible to carry out two-way operations, and when a copying machine is automatically operated, it becomes necessary to process the original document, resulting in a significant decrease in work efficiency.

[Brief explanation of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a flowchart of the entire automatic copying system including the system according to one embodiment of the present invention, and the second
The figure shows how to handle interrupts in between systems.
FIG. 3 is a schematic front view of a copying machine 1i equipped with a sorter and an automatic document feeder for explaining the contents of the following flowchart. (Explanation of symbols) ■...Original tray 3...Copier main body 4...
Automatic document feeder W? 5... Sorter D... Original B1~BIG... Sorter bin

Claims (1)

[Claims] In a sorting system that distributes and stores copied copy sheets in sorter bins in the order of the number of copies (sort mode) or in the order of the number of originals (group mode), comprising: (1) copying each document of a certain user; (2) A storage unit for storing the number of sorter bins scheduled to be used for each user, which is set based on the number of sheets or the number of originals for each user; a bin number designating means for specifying a number larger than the integrated value as the storage bin number for the first sheet of the corresponding copied copy paper; A sorting system for a copying machine, comprising: a means for correcting the number of bins to be used according to the number of added originals or the number of copies of the original by performing an interrupt process after completion of the processing. .