JPH0466476A - Sorter - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To enhance the performance of a photosensor by forming vertical through-holes with the almost same phase on a sort bin side of a paper deflection claw, and disposing a pair of photosensors in such a manner as to face the uppermost and lowermost through-holes. CONSTITUTION:Paper sheets are allowed to pass across an optical path of a pair of photosensors 19 and 20 under a sort mode, and consequently, for example, the number of the paper sheets to be introduced in a sort bin 6 are counted. Furthermore, based on the fact that the paper sheets are allowed to pass across the photosensors continuously for a specified period of time, it is possible to detect the jam of the paper sheets near the paper introducing portion. Meanwhile, a stray light is reflected near a projecting photosensor 19 or other portions, and the reflected stray light intended to direct to a receiving photosensor 20 is almost shielded by the surface or the sort bin 6 near the through-hole portion (a) of a paper deflection claw 16. Thus, the light emitted from the projecting photosensor 19 is received by the receiving photosensor 20 thus effectively preventing malfunction such as erroneous jam or number display due to the stray light.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION [Field of Industrial Application] The present invention relates to a sorter installed in an image forming apparatus such as an electrostatographic copying machine or a printer.

[Conventional technology]

- The sorter described in F generally has a plurality of sorting bins for storing sheets of paper after image formation, which are vertically spaced apart from each other by a predetermined interval, and each of the sorting bins has a paper introducing section for each of the sorting bins.
A paper deflection claw is provided that can be switched between a sorting position in which the paper after the image formation is introduced into the sorting bin and a non-sorting position in which the paper is passed through ii1, and the paper deflection claw is configured to detect a paper jam near the paper introduction part, or , a pair of optical sensors for emitting and receiving light for counting the number of sheets of paper introduced into the sorting bin form an optical path between the paper storage bin and the paper deflection claw; One is arranged on the upper side of the paper introduction section group, and the other is arranged on the lower side.

[Problem to be solved by the invention]

In the above sorter, the paper deflection claw group and the optical sensor are covered by a sorter case, but external light that enters through the gaps in the sorter case and light emitted from the exposure optical system (hereinafter referred to as stray light) Upon reflection, the stray light may pass between the paper storage bin and the paper deflection claw and be caught by the light-receiving optical sensor, resulting in malfunctions such as a false jam display.

The present invention utilizes light shielding technology that effectively utilizes the originally provided components and simply processes them.
Preventing the malfunction of the light receiving optical sensor,
Furthermore, the purpose is to improve the performance of jam detection, etc.

[Means to solve the problem]

In order to achieve the above-mentioned object, the present invention forms vertical penetration parts on the sorting bin side of the paper deflection claw so that they are in the same phase as each other, and a pair of optical sensors for emitting light and receiving light, The feature is that one of them is arranged facing the uppermost penetration part and the other facing the lowermost penetration part.

[Function] According to the above characteristic configuration, an optical path by the light sensor for transmitting and receiving light is formed in the penetrating portion, and stray light directed toward the light sensor for receiving light is blocked by the surface portion of the paper deflection claw around the penetrating portion. .

〔Example〕

Embodiments of the present invention will be described below based on the drawings.

FIG. 1 shows a sorter 3 connected to a paper output 02 of an image forming apparatus 1, and the image forming apparatus 1 is a so-called one-end standard paper feeding type in which paper is fed with one end of the paper aligned with an example of a paper feeding path. The sorter 3 described above is configured to correspond to this one-end paper feeding type.

In the figure, reference numeral 4 denotes a sorter case, and an opening 5 for introducing paper is opened in the surface facing the paper discharge port 2.
On the opposite side, a plurality of sorting bins 6 for sorting and storing sheets after image formation, and so-called non-sorting bins 7 for simply storing sheets after image formation are provided vertically at predetermined intervals in the corners. ing.

Reference numeral 8 denotes a paper discharge path extending from the opening 5 to the paper introduction portion of the non-sorting bin 7, which includes a feed switch 9 for detecting paper, a pair of paper feed rollers 10, and a pair of paper discharge rollers 11.
is provided.

As shown in FIG. 2, reference numeral 12 in the figure is an endless conveyor belt disposed along the paper introduction section side of the plurality of sorting bins 6, and the upper side around which the conveyor belt 12 is wound. A roller 13 is disposed between the pair of rollers 10, 11, and a roller 14 for conveying the paper in cooperation with the conveyor belt 2 is provided at the paper introduction portion of each sorting bin 6.

Reference numeral 15 denotes a path switching claw that switches the paper taken out to the paper ejection path 8 between a paper transport section by the transport belt 12 and rollers 14 and a transport section to the non-sort bin 7 by the paper ejection roller pair 11. It is something to do.

Reference numeral 16 denotes sheet deflection claws provided in correspondence with each roller 14, and as shown in FIG.
2 and rollers 14 to introduce the paper into the sorting bin 6, and a non-sorting attitude Y in which the paper is retracted from the paper transporting part to the sorting bin 6 side and passes downward. It is set freely.

As is clear from FIG. 3, the paper deflection claw 1 passes through the smallest size paper that is fed in the form of one end reference.
Notch-shaped penetration portions a that open on the sorting pin G side are formed in the longitudinal middle portions of the six sorting bins, respectively, in the same phase in the vertical direction.

Note that the attitude of the paper deflection claw 16 is changed by, for example, a solenoid, but this is not shown. Furthermore, there is no need to switch the paper deflection claw 16 for the lowest sorting bin 6 to the non-sorting position Y.
It is fixedly provided in the sorting position X.

Reference numeral 17 denotes a trailing edge regulating member for the sheets stored in the sorting bin 6, and a sheet discharge opening 18 facing a sheet discharge section formed by the roller 14 and the sheet deflection claw 16 is formed.

Reference numeral 19 indicates a light sensor for projecting light, and reference numeral 20 indicates a light sensor for light reception, which is a space portion which is intermittently connected in the vertical direction and is constituted by the trailing edge regulating member 17 of the sheet and a plurality of through-holes a. The light emitting part C of the light emitting light sensor 19 is provided facing upward to face the penetration part a of the lowest paper deflection claw 16, and the light receiving light sensor 20 light receiving part d
is provided facing downward facing the penetrating portion a of the uppermost paper deflection claw 16.

According to the above configuration, when the paper passes across the optical path of the pair of optical sensors 19 and 20 in the sorting mode, the number of papers introduced into the sorting bin 6 is counted, or the paper Based on the fact that the optical path continues to cross for a predetermined period of time, a paper jam near the paper introduction section is detected.

On the other hand, most of the reflected stray light that is reflected near the light emitting light sensor 19 or other parts and tries to head toward the light receiving light sensor 20 passes through the paper deflection claw 16. The light is blocked by the surface area around the section 3 and the sorting bin 6,
As a result, the light mainly emitted from the light sensor 19 for projecting light is caught by the light sensor 20 for receiving light, thereby effectively preventing malfunctions such as incorrect jam display or number display caused by stray light. be done.

In addition, although the said penetration part a was made into the notch shape which opens on the sorting bin 6 side, modification, such as making it into a circular penetration part a, is possible.

Further, the optical sensor 20 for receiving light is connected to the uppermost penetration part a.
Since it is installed facing downward facing the optical sensor 2,
This is preferable in terms of performance since it is difficult for scattered toner and paper powder to adhere to the detection part of 0, but this optical sensor for light reception 2
It is also possible to arrange the light sensor g-19 facing upward facing the lowest penetration part a, and the light sensor g-19 for light projection facing downward facing the highest penetration part a.

〔Effect of the invention〕

As explained above, the present invention effectively utilizes the component originally provided in the sorter, that is, the paper deflection claw, and
By using a simple sunlight technology that includes a penetration part that forms the optical path of the optical sensor, it becomes possible to effectively prevent the malfunction of the optical sensor for receiving light due to stray light.
This made it possible to improve performance such as jam detection using an optical sensor.

[Brief explanation of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a schematic vertical side view of the sorter, FIG. 2 is a vertical side view of the main part of the sorter, and FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional plan view of the main part of the sorter showing a through part for forming an optical path. 6... Sorting bin, 16... Paper deflection claw, 19...
・Light sensor for light emission, 20...Light sensor for light reception
, X...sorted attitude, Y...unsorted attitude, a...
・Penetration part. Applicant: Sanda Kogyo Co., Ltd. Agent: Hideo Fujiki, patent attorney

Claims (1)

[Claims] A plurality of sorting bins for accommodating sheets of paper on which images have been formed are provided vertically at predetermined intervals, and each of the paper introducing portions for the sorting bins is provided with a sorting posture for introducing the sheets of paper on which images have been formed into the sorting bins, and passing the sheets through the sorting bins. A paper deflection claw that can be switched to a non-sorting position is provided, and a pair of optical sensors for emitting light and receiving light are provided for detecting the paper introduced into the sorting bin, one of which is placed on the upper side of the paper introducing section group. In a sorter in which the other side is disposed on the lower side, vertical penetration portions are formed on the sorting bin side of the paper deflection claw in substantially the same phase, and the pair of optical sensors are formed in the top and bottom penetration portions. A sorter characterized by being placed facing the