JPH0543004Y2 - - Google Patents

Description

[Detailed Description of the Invention] <Industrial Application Field> The present invention relates to a sorter, and more specifically, to a sorter that distributes sheets discharged from an image forming apparatus into a plurality of bins arranged in multiple stages.

<Prior Art> Conventionally, in image forming apparatuses such as electrostatic copying machines and printers, in order to omit the trouble of sorting sheets discharged from the apparatus after image formation,
An apparatus equipped with a sorter that automatically distributes the ejected sheets to a plurality of bins (trays) arranged in multiple stages has been provided.

The above-mentioned sorters are of the so-called fixed-bin type, which sequentially feeds sheets ejected from an image forming apparatus to bins fixedly provided at predetermined intervals, and two types are fixed-bin types, which sequentially feed paper ejected from an image forming apparatus to bins fixedly provided at predetermined intervals. , and the so-called bottle moving type, in which each bottle is moved in accordance with the above-mentioned discharge route. In either type, a structure is adopted in which paper ejected from the image forming apparatus is received at a paper input section, and the paper is distributed and supplied to a plurality of bins arranged in multiple stages through a paper transport path. There is.

For sorters with such a structure, in order to facilitate jam handling, the upper guide plate that forms the paper conveyance path is provided so that it can be opened and closed, and if a paper jam occurs in the conveyance path, these can be removed. By opening it, the paper conveyance path can be exposed.

By the way, among the relatively small sorters that adopt the above structure, it is not possible to secure enough space to open and close the upper guide plate, and it is difficult to support the upper guide plate by hand during jam processing. Otherwise, the upper guide plate would close under its own weight, making it difficult to work.

Conventionally, in order to improve this inconvenience, for example, as shown in FIG. 4, an upper guide plate 3 is provided with the base end 3b as the center of rotation, and the opening/closing end 1a of the lid body 1, The opening/closing end 3a of the upper guide plate 3 of the paper conveyance path a is connected with the connecting string 5, and the lid body 1
There is a device in which the opening/closing operation of the upper guide plate 3 follows the opening/closing operation of the upper guide plate 3.

<Problems to be solved by the invention> By the way, in the conventional sorter shown in FIG. Although it is possible to prevent the upper guide plate 3 from falling and closing independently, the open state of the upper guide plate 3 is limited by the opening angle of the lid body 1, the pulling direction of the connecting string 5, etc. It is not possible to sufficiently secure the open state of the plate 3 and the like. In this case, it becomes very difficult to dispose of paper jams, and there is a problem in speeding up the jam disposal.

<Purpose of the invention> This invention has been made in view of the above-mentioned problems, and the purpose is to provide a sorter that can easily handle paper jams and speed up the jam processing.

<Means for solving the problem> The sorter of this invention to achieve the above purpose includes upper and lower carry-in rollers, and the lower carry-in roller radially moves the paper ejected from the image forming apparatus. In a sorter that receives paper at a paper carry-in section whose movement is regulated and distributes the paper to a plurality of bins arranged in multiple stages through a paper transport path, an upper guide plate that partitions the upper surface of the paper transport path is provided. It is supported so as to be openable and closable via an arm that is rotatable around the rotation axis of the lower carry-in roller located at a predetermined position below the base end, and when the upper guide plate is in an open state, the upper guide plate The upper guide plate is provided with an upper guide plate fastening means for removably fixing the open/closed end of the holder at a predetermined position inside the sorter.

<Function> According to the sorter having the above configuration, the upper guide plate is supported via an arm whose rotation center is the rotation axis of the lower conveyance roller located below the base end of the upper guide plate. , the upper guide plate can be rotated, especially with its base end separated by an appropriate distance from the center of rotation of the arm. Therefore, as the upper guide plate is opened, the upper guide plate can be rotated and shifted by the separation distance to further open the paper conveyance path, and the upper guide plate, especially at the base end, can be moved. It is possible to take a wide open state. At this time, since the upper guide plate is equipped with an upper guide plate fixing means, the upper guide plate can be removably fixed at a predetermined position inside the sorter at a predetermined open position.

<Example> Hereinafter, an example will be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings. Note that the same reference numerals will be used to describe the same elements as those of the conventional sorter shown in FIG.

Fig. 1 is a schematic sectional view showing the sorter's lid and upper guide plate in the closed state, and Fig. 2 is a schematic sectional view showing the sorter's lid and upper guide plate in the open state. It is.

In FIG. 1, the sorter has a paper feed section b that carries paper P ejected from an adjacent image forming apparatus (not shown) such as a copying machine or printer into the sorter, and a paper feed section b along one side. A paper distributing section d sequentially distributes the paper p carried in by the paper carrying section b to the bins c, and a paper distributing section d from the paper carrying section b to the paper distributing section d. It is mainly composed of a paper transport path a that guides the paper being fed.

Of these, the paper carry-in section b is equipped with carry-in rollers 6, 6 for carrying the paper p discharged from the image forming apparatus into the paper conveyance path a, and is rotatably provided on a rotation shaft 6a. It is being

Further, on the paper distribution section d side of the paper conveyance path a, the paper p that has been conveyed is moved to the paper distribution section d in cooperation with a pressing roller 7' installed on the upper guide plate 3, which will be described later. A delivery roller 7 is arranged for feeding to the side.

The lid 1 is attached to a support shaft 8 disposed in the upper part of the sorter main body 2 on the side of the image forming apparatus so as to be able to rotate integrally with the support shaft 8 as a central axis. A stay 4 is disposed at a predetermined upper position of b and near the inner side of the support shaft 8. As can be seen from FIGS. 1 and 2, the lid 1 opened at a predetermined angle is fixed by the fitting recess 8a formed on the circumferential surface of the support shaft 8 and the image forming device of the stay 4. This is done by fitting with a pressure contact projection 9 attached to the side surface. In this case, the pressure contact protrusion 9 is inserted into the fitting recess 8a that moves due to the rotation of the support shaft 8.
It is provided so that it can be elastically engaged and detached.

Next, as a characteristic feature of the sorter having the above configuration, the upper guide plate 3 provided above the paper reaction path a is supported via the arm 10, and the upper guide plate 3 is held in an open state. It must be equipped with a means of attachment.

That is, the arm 10 is formed in a curved shape, and one end 10a thereof is attached to the base end 3b side (paper loading section b side) of the upper guide plate 3, and the other end 10b, which is an appropriate distance away, is attached to the lower end 10a. It is rotatably attached to the rotation shaft 6a of the side carry-in roller 6. When the arm 10 is installed, the arm 10 rotates around the rotation axis 6a as the upper guide plate 3 closes and opens.
It is provided so that it can rotate at a predetermined angle around the center. As a result, the base end portion 3b of the upper guide plate 3 is separated from the center of rotation of the arm 10 by an appropriate distance and rotated about the rotation axis 6a. Note that since the other end 10b of the arm 10 is rotatably attached to the rotation shaft 6a of the lower carry-in roller 6 provided at a predetermined position below the upper guide plate 3, this rotation shaft 6a will also be used as the carry-in roller 6. Therefore, compared to providing a separate shaft for the arm 10, space can be saved and the structure can be simplified.

The upper guide plate fixing means consists of a magnetic plate 11 attached to the opening/closing end 3a side of the upper guide plate 3, and in correspondence with this magnetic plate 11, a magnetic member made of a magnetic material is attached to the paper distribution portion side of the stay 4. Part 1
2 is formed (see Figure 2). For this reason,
The opening/closing end 3a side of the upper guide plate 3 is folded back into a substantially U-shape, and the attached state of the magnetic plate 11 is as follows when the upper guide plate 3 is opened by a predetermined rotation of the arm 10. It is provided so that it is attracted and fixed to the attracted part 12 in an upright state.

With the above configuration, when the lid 1 is first opened and rotated around the support shaft 8, the pressure contact protrusion 9 will move around the support shaft 8 at a predetermined rotation angle, as shown in FIG. It is elastically fitted into the fitting recess 8a, and the lid 1 can be fixed in the open state at a predetermined open position.

Next, when the upper guide plate 3 is lifted and rotated around the rotation axis 6a of the lower carry-in roller 6, the arm 10 is also moved and rotated at a predetermined angle around the rotation axis 6a. move. As a result, the base end 3b of the upper guide plate 3 can be moved at an appropriate distance from the center of rotation of the arm 10, and the upper guide plate 3 can be rotated to further open the paper conveyance path a. is completed, and the base end 3b of the upper guide plate 3
The open state can be widened.

At this time, at a predetermined open position of the upper guide plate 3, the magnetic plate 11 attached to the opening/closing end 3a side of the upper guide plate 3 is attracted to the attracted part 12, and, for example, the upper guide plate 3 is raised up. It can be fixed on the stay 4 in this state.

In this way, since the upper guide plate 3 can be fixed to the stay 4 in an upright state, the jamming process can be easily and quickly performed.

Note that the sorter of this invention is not limited to the above-described embodiment; for example, instead of attaching the magnetic plate 11 as the upper guide plate attachment means to the opening/closing end 3a side of the upper guide plate 3, Adsorbed part 1
Alternatively, the rotated upper guide plate 3 may be attached to the stay 4.

In addition, as shown in FIG.
An engagement protrusion 13 may be attached to the opening/closing end 3a side of the stay 4, and an engagement recess 14 may be attached to the stay 4 so as to be releasably and resiliently engaged with the engagement protrusion 18. Note that the engagement protrusion 13 is attached to the stay 4 side, and the engagement recess 14 is attached to the opening/closing end 3a of the upper guide plate 3.
Various design changes can be made, such as being able to provide them on the side and attaching each in the opposite direction.

<Effects of the invention> As described above, according to the sorter of this invention, the base end of the upper guide plate is kept an appropriate distance away from the center of rotation of the arm, and the paper is spread wider while rotating the upper guide plate. It can be shifted to open the conveyance path, and the upper guide plate, especially the base end, can be left in a largely open state. Moreover, in this case, since the upper guide plate is equipped with an upper guide plate fixing means, the upper guide plate can be removably fixed at a predetermined position inside the sorter at a predetermined open position. Therefore, it is possible to easily remove paper jams and speed up the jam processing, which is a unique practical effect.

[Brief explanation of drawings]

Fig. 1 is a schematic sectional view showing the case where the lid body and upper guide plate of the sorter of this invention are in the closed state;
The figure is a schematic sectional view showing a case where the lid body and the upper guide plate of the sorter are in an open state, FIG. 3 is a schematic sectional view showing a modified example of the upper guide plate fastening means, and FIG. 4 is a conventional example. Schematic sectional view. DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1... Lid body, 1a... Opening/closing end, 2... Sorter body, 3... Upper guide plate, 3a... Opening/closing end, 1
0...Arm, a...Paper transport path, b...Paper loading section, p...Paper.

Claims (1)

[Claims for Utility Model Registration] 1. Paper ejected from an image forming apparatus is received at a paper carrying section that includes upper and lower carrying rollers, the lower carrying roller being restricted from moving in the radial direction, and the paper is In a sorter that distributes paper to a plurality of bins arranged in multiple stages through a paper transport path, an upper guide plate that partitions the upper surface of the paper transport path is connected to the lower carry-in roller located at a predetermined position below the base end of the upper guide plate. The opening/closing end of the upper guide plate is removably fixed at a predetermined position inside the sorter when the upper guide plate is open. 1. A sorter comprising an upper guide plate retaining means for fixing the upper guide plate. 2. The sorter according to claim 1, wherein the upper guide plate retaining means is a magnet. 3 The upper guide plate engaging means includes an engaging protrusion and
The sorter according to claim 1, wherein the sorter has an engaging recess that is releasably and resiliently engaged with the engaging protrusion.