JPH07101621A - Paper sheet distributor - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To simplify the drive mechanism for opening out the trays of a paper sheet distributor equipped with a plurality of paper sheet storage trays. CONSTITUTION:A tray 4 or a tray 4 positioned above this tray 4 is shifted up and down so as to enlarge a space above the entrance of a paper sheet receiving tray 4 by rotating tray shifting members 43, 44, and 45 while shifting them up and down by the vertical shifting of paper sheet guide members 16 and 17 for feeding paper sheets in order into a plurality of trays 4 and the rotational motion of a cam mechanism 39.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to an apparatus for sequentially distributing sheets discharged from an image forming apparatus such as a copying machine to a plurality of sheet storage trays.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art There is a paper distribution device for sequentially distributing paper discharged from a copying machine or the like to each of a plurality of paper storage trays. Some of the sheet distributing apparatuses include a stapler for driving staples into a bundle of sheets distributed and stored on a tray. Generally, this paper distribution device with a stapler guides and feeds the paper sequentially through one of the trays arranged in a stepwise manner in the vertical direction through the paper guide means, and intermittently moves the stapler by one pitch of the tray interval. After being moved up or down to correspond to a predetermined tray, staples are stapled into the sheet bundle on the tray for binding.

In order to reduce the size of such a device, there is a device in which the vertical interval between a plurality of trays is made small and the space above the trays for receiving sheets is enlarged. Conventionally, the tray unit (all trays) is used to expand the space above the paper receiving tray.
There are types that move each tray, and types that expand while moving multiple trays.

[0004]

However, in each of the above-mentioned conventional examples, since the drive mechanism is structured to receive the total load of a plurality of trays, there is a problem that the drive mechanism is complicated and the cost is high.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION An object of the present invention is to provide a sheet distribution device which simplifies the drive mechanism for expanding the tray and reduces the cost.

[0006]

In order to achieve the above-mentioned object, the present invention is arranged in a stepwise manner in the vertical direction, one end portion on the paper inlet side is vertically movable, and the other end portion is at least the one end. A plurality of trays that are slidable to the side of the unit, a receiving member that supports the plurality of trays, a paper guide unit that sequentially guides and feeds the paper to one of the plurality of trays, and the paper guide unit. Driving means for intermittently moving up or down by one pitch to correspond to a predetermined tray, and engaging with the tray, the one end of the tray is arc-shaped by the rotational movement while moving in the vertical direction. A tray moving member that moves upward or downward to move the other end of the tray to the one end side, and a cam mechanism that rotates in conjunction with the vertical movement of the paper guide unit by the drive unit. , The drive means The tray moving member is moved while moving in the vertical direction by the vertical movement of the paper guide means and the rotational movement of the cam mechanism, and the tray is located at the corresponding position of the paper guide means or above the tray. The tray is moved up or down with respect to the receiving member to expand the space above the entrance of the paper receiving tray.

[0007]

According to the present invention, one end of the tray is moved upward or downward in synchronism with the intermittent movement of the paper guiding means above or below to expand the space above the paper receiving tray to insert the paper into the tray.

[0008]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS An embodiment of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings.

<Structure> In FIG. 1, 1 is an image forming apparatus such as a copying machine, 2 is a mounting table for the copying machine, and 3 is a sheet distributing device which is connected to the copying machine 1 and into which copied sheets are carried in.

In the paper distribution device 3, a plurality of trays 4 are arranged in a step shape in the vertical direction. A carry-in path 5 for carrying in paper from the copying machine 1 is provided at the top of the apparatus.

An entrance roller 6 and its pinch roller 7 are provided at the entrance of the carry-in path 5.

The carry-in path 5 is linearly connected to the paper discharge path 8. A paper discharge roller 9 and its pinch roller 10 are provided at the exit of the paper discharge path 8. A switching claw 11 is provided between the carry-in path 5 and the paper discharge path 8 for switching the paper transport direction. In the non-sort mode, the switching claw 11 rotates clockwise in the drawing to guide the paper in the direction of the paper discharge path 5, and discharges all the paper to the uppermost tray 4.

On the other hand, in the sort mode, the switching claw 11
Rotates counterclockwise in the figure to guide the paper toward the lower part of the apparatus (a plurality of trays 4).

As a mechanism for conveying sheets in the sort mode, a conveyor belt 13 having a large number of small holes stretched over the upper and lower belt pulleys 12a and 12b, and the conveyor belt 1
The suction means 14 for sucking air from the back surface of the sheet 3 to adsorb the sheet to the conveying belt and the lifting belt 15 are intermittently moved by one pitch of the tray interval to scoop the sheet from the conveying belt 13 and the tray 4 side. A distribution claw 16 directed toward the tray and a discharge roller 17 that discharges a sheet from the distribution claw 16 to the tray 4 are provided.

Here, the distribution claw 16 and the discharge roller 17 constitute a paper distribution means.

As shown in FIGS. 3 and 4, the lifting belt 1
5 and the driving means composed of the motor 19 and the like causes the distribution claw 16 to move up or down by one pitch of the tray interval,
The paper is distributed to each tray 4.

Further, a stapler 28 for driving a staple into a bundle of sheets on the tray 4 is connected to the elevating belt 15, and the stapler 28 is intermittently moved up or down by a pitch of one interval between the trays 4. To move the stapler 28 to one end of the tray 4, a shaft 32 with rollers, a belt 33 and a motor (not shown) are connected to the stapler 28 as shown in FIG.

An engaging portion 36 for supporting one end portion side of the tray 4 is formed at a fixed pitch in the vertical direction at the edge of a receiving member for supporting the tray 4, for example, the frame 35.
Support rods 37 protruding left and right on one end side of the tray 4 engage with and disengage from the engaging portion 36.

The other end of the tray 4 is connected to the frame 35 via a return spring 38. Therefore, the tray 4 is configured such that one end on the paper inlet side is vertically movable and the other end is slidable on the one end side. A notch 35 is formed at one end of the tray 4 so that the stapler 28 can drive a staple into a bundle of sheets on the tray 4. As shown in FIGS. 2 and 3, a cam mechanism 39 is provided which rotates in conjunction with the vertical movement of the separation pawl 16 and the stapler 28. The cam mechanism 39 includes gears 40 and 41 and a planetary gear 42 that revolves around the outer periphery of the gear 41.

The gear 40 meshes with a fixed rack 34 extending vertically. Further, the planetary gear 42 is connected and coupled to a tray moving member including links 43, 44 and 45. One end of the link 43 is guided along a horizontal elongated hole 46.

At one end of the link 45, the support rod 3 of the tray 4 is provided.
A hook 45a that engages with 7 is formed, and the other end of the link 45 is guided along a vertical long hole 47. Therefore, the sheet guide means such as the separation claw 16 and the stapler 2
The gear 42 revolves in conjunction with the vertical movement of the gear 8
In association with 2, the link 45 moves the tray 4 up and down from the engaging portion 36 having the frame 35 to the upper or lower engaging portion 36.

The locus at that time is shown in FIG. Also,
The operation of the cam mechanism and the tray moving means will be described with reference to FIGS.
2 shows.

The rotational movement of the tray moving means such as the link 45 and the vertical movement of the paper guiding means such as the separating claw 16 are stopped at a predetermined timing, that is, at a position facing the tray 4 to be stapled. The tray moving means is controlled so as to enlarge the space above the tray 4 to be stapled and stop.

The drive control described above is performed by control means (not shown) such as a CPU.

<Operation> The apparatus configured as described above is
It works as follows.

In the sort mode, the switching claw 11 is rotated counterclockwise. At first, the distance between the second tray 4 and the third tray 4 is widened, but the pitch between the other trays 4 is small.

Next, a plurality of copied sheets are continuously sent from the copying machine 1 to the sheet distributing device 3 and sent toward the conveyor belt 13 via the entrance roller 6, the carry-in path 5 and the switching claw 11. The sheet is conveyed while being attracted to the conveying belt 13, the distribution claw 16 scoops the sheet from the conveying belt 13, and the sheet is ejected to the uppermost tray 4 by the ejecting roller 17.

Next, the separation claw 16 (and the stapler 28) is moved to the second tray 4 by driving the stapler 31 lifting motor 31. At the same time, the cam mechanism 39 including the gear 42 and the like rotates, and the tray moving means such as the link 45 rotationally moves the second-stage tray 4 downward. Then, both are stopped at a position where the distribution claw 16 and the second-stage tray 4 face each other.

At this time, the space above the second tray 4 is in an expanded state. And this second tray 4
The sheet is fed from the separation claw 16 into the sheet. In this way, the sheets are sequentially stored in the third and subsequent trays 4. At the stage where the sheets are stored in the predetermined number of trays 4, among the trays 4 that have already stored the sheets, the space between the lowermost tray 4 and the tray 4 immediately before it is expanded.

Next, when the stapler 28 (and the separating claw 16) is moved upward by driving the stapler 31 lifting motor 31, the cam mechanism 39 including the gear 42 rotates and the tray moving means such as the link 45 operates. One end of the lowermost tray 4 in which the sheets have been stored is moved upward in an arc shape. Then, one end of the lowermost tray 4 is connected to the other tray 4
Is stopped in a state of protruding from one end of the stapler 28, the stapler 28 is approached toward the tray 4, and the staples are driven into the sheet bundle on the tray 4.

Subsequently, while moving the stapler 28 upward, staples are driven into the other sheet bundle on the tray 4 in which the sheets have been stored.

<Effects of the Embodiment> According to the above embodiment, the following effects can be obtained. (1) Since the pitch interval between the trays 4 is small, the height of the entire sheet distribution device 3 can be reduced. (2) The space above the expanded paper receiving tray 4 is expanded in conjunction with the intermittent movement of the paper distribution means including the distribution pawls 16 upward or downward, regardless of the small pitch between the trays 4. The insertion of the sheet from the sheet guide means into the tray 4 is easy and reliable. (3) In order to expand the space above the paper receiving tray 4, it is only necessary to move one end of the tray 4 up or down, and the tray moving means such as the link 45 can be simplified. (4) One end of the tray 4 is moved upward or downward in an arc shape, and one end of the tray 4 is projected from the other tray 4 so that the link 4
Since the staple moving means such as 5 and the stapler 28 are stopped and the staples are driven into the bundle of sheets on the tray 4, the staple driving operation can be performed regardless of the small pitch of the tray 4 and the tray of the stapler 28 can be driven. The amount of movement toward 4 may be small.

<Modifications> The present invention is not limited to the above embodiments, and various modifications can be implemented. For example, as shown in FIG. 13, the cam mechanism and the tray moving means may be composed of a gear 60, a gear 61, a cam 62, a link 63, and a long grooved link 64, which are arranged on the frame side.

The present invention described above has the following effects. Since the space above the paper receiving tray is expanded by interlocking with the intermittent movement of the paper guiding means up or down, it is easy and reliable to insert the paper into each tray despite the small tray pitch. As is done, the height of the dispenser can be lowered. Further, in order to expand the space above the paper receiving tray, only one end of the tray needs to be moved up or down, and the structure of the tray moving means can be simplified. Furthermore, one end of the tray is moved upward or downward in an arc shape, and the tray moving means and the paper guiding means are stopped in a state where the tray end is projected from the other tray, and the stack of paper on the tray is stapled. Since the tray is driven, the staple driving operation can be performed even if the tray pitch is small.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a vertical sectional view showing an entire embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a vertical sectional view showing a part of the embodiment.

FIG. 3 is a plan view showing a part of the embodiment.

FIG. 4 is a perspective view showing a part of the embodiment.

FIG. 5 is an operation state diagram of the embodiment.

FIG. 6 is an operation state diagram of the embodiment.

FIG. 7 is an operation state diagram of the embodiment.

FIG. 7 is an operation state diagram of the embodiment.

FIG. 8 is an operation state diagram of the embodiment.

FIG. 9 is an operation state diagram of the embodiment.

FIG. 10 is an operation state diagram of the embodiment.

FIG. 11 is an operation state diagram of the embodiment.

FIG. 11 is an operation state diagram of the embodiment.

FIG. 12 is an operation state diagram of the embodiment.

FIG. 13 is a schematic view showing another embodiment.

[Explanation of symbols]

 1 Copier 3 Paper Distributor 4 Tray 16 Distributing Claw 17 Ejecting Roller 28 Stapler 29 Elevating Belt 31 Stapler Elevating Motor 35 Frame 36 Engaging Part 39 Cam Mechanism 40 Gear 41 Gear 42 Planetary Gear 43 Link 44 Link 45 Link

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[Procedure amendment]

[Submission date] August 24, 1994

[Procedure Amendment 2]

[Document name to be amended] Statement

[Name of item to be corrected] Brief description of the drawing

[Correction method] Change

[Correction content]

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a vertical sectional view showing an entire embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a vertical sectional view showing a part of the embodiment.

FIG. 3 is a plan view showing a part of the embodiment.

FIG. 4 is a perspective view showing a part of the embodiment.

FIG. 5 is an operation state diagram of the embodiment.

FIG. 6 is an operation state diagram of the embodiment.

FIG. 7 is an operation state diagram of the embodiment.

FIG. 8 is an operation state diagram of the embodiment.

FIG. 9 is an operation state diagram of the embodiment.

FIG. 10 is an operation state diagram of the embodiment.

FIG. 11 is an operation state diagram of the embodiment.

FIG. 12 is an operation state diagram of the embodiment.

FIG. 13 is a schematic view showing another embodiment.

Claims (2)

[Claims] 1. An apparatus for sequentially distributing sheets discharged from an image forming apparatus such as a copying machine to each of a plurality of sheet storage trays, which are arranged in a stepwise manner in a vertical direction, and one end portion of a sheet inlet side is vertically moved. A plurality of trays that are enabled and the other end of which is slidable to at least the one end side, a receiving member that supports the plurality of trays, and sequentially guide the paper to one of the plurality of trays. Paper guide means for feeding, drive means for intermittently moving the paper guide means up or down by one pitch for each tray interval so as to correspond to a predetermined tray, and for engaging with the tray and moving in the vertical direction. Tray moving member that moves one end of the tray up or down in an arc shape by the rotational movement while moving the other end of the tray to the one end side; and a vertical movement of the paper guide unit by the drive unit. When A cam mechanism that moves and rotates, and the tray guide is rotated while the tray moving member is moved in the vertical direction by the vertical movement of the paper guide means by the drive means and the rotational movement of the cam mechanism. A sheet distributing apparatus, characterized in that a tray at a position corresponding to the means or a tray located above the tray is moved up or down with respect to the receiving member to expand a space above an entrance of the sheet receiving tray. . 2. The drive means moves up and down integrally with the paper guide means and moves to the end of the tray,
A stapler for driving a staple into a bundle of sheets stored in the tray; and a control unit for stopping the rotational movement of the tray moving unit and the vertical movement of the sheet guiding unit at a predetermined timing. The paper distribution device according to claim 1.