JP3430573B2 - Paper handling equipment - Google Patents

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a sheet processing apparatus such as a printer for printing on single-cut sheets fed from a hopper and sending it to a stacker, and more particularly, a plurality of hoppers or a plurality of stackers can be attached to and detached from the apparatus main body. The present invention relates to a sheet processing apparatus capable of changing the size of the apparatus by being attached and detached.

In recent years, printers for printing print data on single-cut sheets, copying machines for copying and printing originals, and the like are widely used, and a plurality of types (size, paper quality, perforated, color, recycled paper, etc.) are used. Some hoppers are available to set the paper in the hopper and print by specifying the paper according to the purpose.Also, the printed paper is sorted by paper type and requester. There is provided a stacker having a plurality of stackers so that they can be sent separately.

In such a device, a hopper or a stacker is often fixed to the main body of the device, and depending on the user, the number of hoppers or stackers is too large or too small, and thus lacks flexibility. There are also hoppers and stackers that can be attached and detached, but these are set from the side of the device, and even if part of them is removed, the size of the device does not change.

Therefore, the number of hoppers and stackers can be increased or decreased,
Moreover, there is a demand for a method in which the device becomes smaller when removed.

[0005]

2. Description of the Related Art FIG. 10 shows a printer 1a of a conventional example (1).
The printer 1a includes hoppers 2a to 2c, an engine unit 3, and a stacker.
It is composed of 4a, a transport path 5, and an operation panel 6. The hoppers 2a to 2c accommodate different-sized cut sheets (hereinafter referred to as sheets) 7a, and the sheets 7a are fed by a feeding roller (not shown).

Therefore, for example, a floppy disk (hereinafter referred to as FD) in which print data is stored is inserted into a floppy drive device (not shown) connected to the printer 1a, and the size of the paper 7a (that is, hopper) is input from the operation panel 6. 2a
~ 2c) and press the print start button, the hopper 2a containing the specified size of paper 7a ~
The paper 7a is fed from any one of 2c, and the print data read from the FD is printed in the engine section 3 by being conveyed through the conveyance path 5, and the printed sheet 7a is conveyed through the conveyance path 5 and the printer 1a. It is sent to the stacker 4a on the upper surface. The paper 7a is replenished from the opening 11a on the back surface of the device housing.

In this case, the paper 7a is in any hopper 2a.
Even if it is fed from ~ 2c, it is accumulated in one stacker 4a. The stacker 4a is open at the top and printed paper
7a can be taken out.

Further, FIG. 11 shows a printer 1b of a conventional example (2). The same reference numerals as those in FIG. 10 indicate the same objects. The conventional example (2) of the conventional example (1) different from, and that e Tsu path can be detachable,
The number of hoppers and the number of stackers are different and the arrangement positions are different.

The printer 1b is composed of hoppers 2a ', 2b', an engine section 3, stackers 4a'-4c ', a conveying path 5A, and an operation panel 6a. In this case, the hoppers 2a ', 2b'
Can be detachably attached to the printer 1b, the stackers 4a 'to 4c' are housed inside the printer 1b, and the printed paper 6a can be taken out from the opening 11b on the back (or side) of the device housing. It is like this.

Therefore, when the size of the paper 7a and the stacker (any of 4a 'to 4c') are designated from the operation panel 6a and the print start button is pressed, the hopper 2a 'containing the paper 7a of the designated size is accommodated. , 2b 'is fed out and is conveyed along the conveying path 5A to print the print data in the engine section 3. The printed sheet 7a is conveyed along the conveying path 5A and designated as the stacker 4a'. ~ 4c '.

In addition to the above example, there is a printer in which a stacker can be detachably mounted. In the above example, the case where the print start button is pressed to read the print data from the FD and the printing is started by the floppy drive device has been described. However, when the print data transmitted from the host computer is printed, the print data is received. Printing is automatically started by the print data command.

[0012]

According to the above conventional method, the hopper or the stacker is fixed to the printer, or the hopper or the stacker is detachable.
If the number of each type is fixed and the type of paper actually used is different from the number of hoppers or stackers that the printer has, and if the type of paper used is less than the number of hoppers or stackers, the device itself There are unnecessary parts. Therefore, the device is not effectively used, which is uneconomical and wasteful in terms of space.

When the number of types of paper used is larger than the number of hoppers or stackers, it is necessary to replace the paper every time the printing operation changes or install another printer. Therefore, it is troublesome and troublesome to replace the paper, and the work efficiency is reduced. In addition, installation costs and installation space are required to add more printers, and it is uneconomical if the amount of printing work is not enough. There is a problem.

It is an object of the present invention to provide a sheet processing apparatus capable of adjusting the number of hoppers or stackers to the usage conditions of the apparatus, downsizing the apparatus according to the usage conditions, and effectively utilizing an empty space.

[0015]

1 and 2 are principle diagrams of the present invention, FIG. 1 is a principle configuration diagram corresponding to claim 1 of the present invention, and FIG. 2 is corresponding to claim 2 of the present invention. It is a principle block diagram.

1) Means corresponding to claim 1 In FIG. 1, 4 is a stacker, 10 is an apparatus main body, and two are provided in plural, and they are formed in the apparatus main body 10 individually or mutually removably, and the size of the apparatus is attached and detached. A hopper configured to change its position, and 8 is a first hopper for designating one of the plurality of hoppers 2.
And 9 is a second designating means for designating any one of the plurality of stackers 4. Furthermore, when the size of the device body 10 changes due to the attachment / detachment of any one of the plurality of hoppers 2 and the height decreases, the leg body having the reduced size is attached to the device body.
Provide on the bottom surface of 10. In addition, the setting switch SWa
A plurality of first settings that correspond even if the mounting position of the lid 2 is changed
The setting switch SWb is a means for mounting a plurality of stackers 4.
A plurality of second setting means corresponding to different wearing positions.
It

The cut sheet 6 fed from the hopper 2 designated by the first designating means 8 is subjected to a predetermined process and sent to the stacker 4 designated by the second designating means 9. .

2) Means Corresponding to Claim 2 In FIG. 2, 2 is a hopper, 10 is a device body, and 4 are provided in a plurality. Stacker, 80
Is a first designating means for designating any one of the plurality of hoppers 2, and 90 is a second designating means for designating any one of the plurality of stackers 4. In addition, the setting switch SWa
Multiple first setting hands that can be used even if the mounting position of the par 2 is changed
And the setting switch SWb is equipped with multiple stackers 4.
It is a plurality of second setting means corresponding to changing positions.

The cut sheet 6 fed from the hopper 2 designated by the first designating means 80 is subjected to a predetermined process and sent to the stacker 4 designated by the second designating means 90. .

[0020]

1) Operation corresponding to claim 1 A plurality of hoppers 2 are formed on the apparatus main body 10 individually or in a mutually detachable manner so that the size of the apparatus can be changed by attachment and detachment , and further removed. Height corresponding to the height of hopper 2
By having a configuration provided with a leg on the lower surface of the apparatus main body, a hopper 2 to be used than the number of e Tsu path 2 that is mounted
When the hopper 2 is low, the hopper 2 is detached from the device main body 10 for use , and the leg has a height corresponding to the height of the removed hopper 2.
By placing the device body 10 on the body,
The height of the operating surface can be maintained and the operator
The workability can be maintained, and a space is provided below the device body 10.
Can be secured and the space can be used effectively
it can.

2) Actions corresponding to claim 2 A plurality of stackers 4 are formed in the apparatus main body 10 individually or in a mutually detachable manner, and the size of the apparatus is changed by the attachment / detachment. When the stacker 4 to be used is less than the number of the stackers 4 in use, the stacker 4 can be detached from the apparatus main body 10 and used, and the apparatus can be made smaller and the empty space can be effectively used.

[0022]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS An embodiment (corresponding to claim 1) in which the present invention is applied to the printer described in the conventional example (1) is shown in FIG.
~ It demonstrates with reference to FIG. 3 is a configuration diagram showing an embodiment of the present invention, FIG. 4 is a control block diagram of the embodiment, FIG. 5 is a flowchart of the embodiment, and FIG. 6 is an explanatory diagram of the embodiment. The same reference numerals denote the same objects throughout the drawings.

The hopper units 2A to 2C, the paper 7a, the hopper designating button 8a, and the stacker designating button 9a shown in FIG. 3 are the hopper 2, the single-cut sheet 7, the first designating means 8, and the second designating means shown in FIG. They correspond to the means 9.

As shown in FIG. 3, the printer 1A is composed of hopper units 2A to 2C, an apparatus main body 10a, and stackers 4a and 4b. The apparatus main body 10a includes an engine unit 3, a conveyance path 50 including conveyance rollers (not shown), an operation panel 6b, and a control unit 12.

The operation panel 6b is a hopper designating button for designating any one of the hoppers 2a to 2c (that is, the size of the paper 7a) in addition to the operation button for inputting conditions such as the number of prints and print density and the print start button. 8a and a stacker designating button 9a for designating one of the stackers 4a and 4b.

The control unit 12 controls the printing to print on the paper 7a by the engine unit 3 based on the printing condition input by the operation button of the operation panel 6b and the press of the print start button, and at the same time the hopper of the operation panel 6b. Based on the designation by the designation button 8a and the stacker designation button 9a, hopper selection, stacker switching, feeding, and conveyance are controlled.

The hopper units 2A to 2C have the same structure, are detachably connected to each other on the attachment surfaces A to C, and are detachably attached to the lower surface of the apparatus body 10a. The hopper units 2A to 2C include hoppers 2a to 2c and feeding rollers.
Motors M1 driven by 20a to 20c, transport paths 5a to 5c each having a transport roller (not shown), and a hopper selection signal a from the control unit 12 and a feeding control signal b and a transport control signal c from the control unit 12. , M2 drive transmission means (rollers or the like) are connected to each other, and each connection is connected by mounting, and the conveyance paths 5a to 5c are connected to the conveyance path 50 of the apparatus main body 10a.

When one of the hoppers 2a to 2c is designated by the hopper designating button 8a, the corresponding hopper 2a is rotated by the rotation of any one of the feeding rollers 20a to 20c of the hopper units 2A to 2C in response to a command from the controller 12. The sheet 7a is fed from the sheets 2c to 2c and sent to the engine unit 3.

A transport path for transporting the paper 7a to the stackers 4a and 4b
A gate G is provided at the branch point of 50, and the gate G is normally located in the direction of feeding the sheet 7a to the stacker 4a. When the stacker 4b is designated by the stacker designation button 9a, the control unit
Although not shown, for example, the gate switching control signal d from 12 switches the switching by suction by excitation of a magnet.

Further, the hopper units 2A to 2C are arranged in the lower 1
The paper 7a can be drawn even if one or two of them are removed or the upper and lower positions of the two are changed.

An example of feeding the paper 7a from the hopper unit 2B will be described below with reference to the explanatory view of FIG. 4 and the flowchart of FIG. FIG. 4 shows in detail the portion of the hopper unit 2B (the other hopper units 2A and 2C are also configured similarly), and operates in the following procedure.

Preliminarily installed hopper units 2A to 2C
Is the corresponding setting switch SWa (each hopper unit 2A to 2c
(Provided in) are turned ON respectively. The reason why the setting is necessary is that the hopper unit 2B is actually a hopper unit.
This is because it is the same as 2A and 2C (however, the size of the accommodated paper 7a is different) and the hopper selection signal a and the hopper unit 2B are associated with each other when set.

The hopper 2b is designated by the hopper designation button 8a of the operation panel 6a, and the stacker 4b is designated by the stacker designation button 9a. Then, the print start button is pressed. The control unit 12 turns on the hopper selection signal a (2). Then, the clutch 22b is operated by the clutch signal e output from the NAND circuit 21b.

Then, the feeding control signal b from the control unit 12 drives the motor M1 to rotate the feeding roller 20b of the hopper unit 2B and feed the paper 7a from the hopper 2b.

The motor M2 is driven by the transport control signal c from the control unit 12 to rotate the transport roller, and the paper 7a is transported to the transport path 5
b, 5a, 50 are conveyed and printed by the engine unit 3. The gate G is switched by the gate switching control signal d from the control unit 12, and the sheet 7a is stored in the stacker 4b.

In this way, even if any one of the hopper units 2A to 2C is removed or the mounting position is changed, by setting the corresponding setting switch SWa, the paper is fed from the designated hopper in the same manner as above. You can roll out 7a.

Therefore, when the size type of the paper 7a to be used is small and therefore the number of hoppers may be small, as shown in FIG. 6, for example, the hopper unit 2C or the hopper units 2B, 2C may be removed to adjust the height. Can be lowered,
When the hopper unit 2A is removed, the hopper units 2B and 2C can be attached to the apparatus main body 10a, the height of the printer 1A can be reduced, and the space above the printer 1A can be widened. .

In the above embodiment, the case where the stackers 4a and 4b are provided and one of them is designated by the stacker designation button 9a has been described, but when only one stacker is equipped, the stacker designation button 9a is designated. Since it is not necessary, the stacker designation button 9a is omitted from the operation panel 6b.

Further different embodiments in FIG. 7 (1) shows a (corresponding to claim 1). 7 is different from the embodiment described in FIG. 3 in that when any one of the hopper units is removed, the printer 1A is placed on the table 13 having the legs 14a to 14d.

That is, as shown in the drawing, the height of the table 13 is set so as to correspond to the height of the hopper unit 2C (2A, 2B) removed from the printer 1a described in FIG. 6 of the above embodiment. The lengths of the parts 14a to 14d are set.

Therefore, the same height as when all the hopper units 2A to 2C are mounted can be maintained, and the workability such as the operation of the operation panel 6a and the removal of the printed paper 7a from the stackers 4a and 4b can be prevented and the workability can be prevented. Since there is a space below the printer 1A, the space can be effectively used.

In the above-mentioned different embodiment (1), the case where the hopper unit 2C is removed has been described.
When 2 out of 2C are removed, by setting the height of the table to the height corresponding to the height of the two hopper units, it is possible to secure a wider space below the printer. .

FIG. 8 shows another embodiment (2) (corresponding to claim 2) in which the present invention is applied to the printer described in the conventional example (2) data. Stacker units 4A to 4C shown in FIG.
The paper 7a, the hopper designating button 8b, and the stacker designating button 9b are the stacker 4, the single-cut sheet 7, the first designating unit 80, and the second designating unit of FIG.
Corresponding to the designation means 90 of.

FIG. 8 differs from the embodiment described in FIG. 3 in that the embodiment of FIG.
The height of the printer changes when removed, whereas the height of the printer changes when the stacker is detachably attached.

That is, as shown in FIG. 8, the printer 1B is
It is composed of hoppers 2a 'and 2b', an apparatus main body 10b, and stacker units 4A to 4C. The apparatus main body 10b includes an engine unit 3, a conveyance path 50a including conveyance rollers (not shown), an operation panel 6c, feeding rollers 20A and 20B, and a control unit 12a.
It is composed of.

The control unit 12a controls the printing on the paper 7a by the engine unit 3 based on the printing conditions input by the operation button of the operation panel 6c and the pressing of the print start button, and at the same time, the hopper of the operation panel 6c. Based on the designation by the designation button 8b and the stacker designation button 9b, hopper switching, stacker selection, feeding, and conveyance are controlled.

The stacker units 4A to 4C have the same structure and are detachably connected to each other at the mounting surfaces A'to C '.
Moreover, it is detachably attached to the lower surface of the apparatus body 10b.
Therefore, in the stacker units 4A to 4C, either one of the lower ones or the two lower ones can be removed, or the upper and lower positions can be changed with respect to each other.

The stacker units 4A to 4C include the stacker 4
a'-4c ', transport paths 5d-5f each having a transport roller (not shown), and a connecting portion for connecting the drive transmission means of the motor M3 driven by the stacker selection signal f from the control portion 12a and the transport control signal g. Are provided, the respective connecting portions are connected by mounting, and the transport paths 5d to 5f are transport paths of the apparatus main body 10b.
Connect to 50a.

Gates G1 to Gf are respectively provided at the branch points for conveying the sheets 7a to the stackers 4a 'and 4b' in the conveying paths 5d to 5f, respectively.
G3 is provided, and the gates G1 to G3 are normally located in a straight direction, and are switched so as to convey the sheet 7a in the direction of the stackers 4a 'to 4c' by a gate switching signal h described later. Switching of the gates G1 to G3 is performed by, for example, attraction by exciting a magnet.

In the following, as an example in which the printed sheet 7a is stored in the stacker unit 4A, referring to the explanatory view of FIG.
Stacker unit 4A part (other stacker units 4B, 4
(C is also configured similarly), and it works in the following steps.

Stacker units 4A to 4C which are mounted in advance
Is the corresponding setting switch SWb (each stacker unit 4A ~
(Provided in 4C) are turned ON respectively. The hopper 2a is designated by the hopper designation button 8b of the operation panel 6c, and the stacker 4a 'is designated by the stacker designation button 9b.

The controller 12a turns on the stacker selection signal f (1). Then, the gate switching signal h output from the NAND circuit 21A activates the gate G1. Then, based on the designation by the hopper designation button 8b, the feeding control signal j from the control unit 12a causes the feeding roller 20A of the hopper 2a 'to rotate, and the paper 7a is fed from the hopper 2a'.

The sheet 7a is conveyed along the conveying path 50a by the rotation of the conveying roller according to the conveying control signal g from the control section 12a, and is printed by the engine section 3. The printed paper 7a is guided to the gate G1 at the branch point of the transport path 5d and stored in the stacker 4a '.

In this way, the stacker units 4A to 4C
Even if you remove one of them or change the mounting position, by setting with the corresponding setting switch SWb,
Similar to the above, the sheets 7a can be stored in the designated stacker.

In the different embodiment (2), the hoppers 2a ', 2
The case of designating either one with the hopper designating button 8b is described with b ', but when only one hopper is equipped, it is not necessary to designate with the hopper designating button 8b.
The hopper designation button 8b is omitted from the operation panel 6c. Further, by placing the printer of the different embodiment (2) on the table having the legs as described in the different embodiment (1), the same effect as that of the different embodiment (1) can be obtained.

In this way, the size of the printer can be changed by removably mounting the hoppers or stackers to each other and to the main body of the apparatus.
When the number of hoppers or stackers actually used is less than the number of hoppers or stackers equipped in the printer, removing the extra hoppers or stackers can reduce the height of the printer and reduce the space above the printer. By placing the miniaturized printer on a table with a height corresponding to the height of the hopper or stacker from which the miniaturized printer has been removed, the height of the operating surface is maintained and the workability of the operator is improved. Since the space can be maintained and a space can be secured below the printer, the space can be effectively used.

In the above example, the case of the printer has been described, but the present invention can be applied to other sheet processing apparatus having a hopper and a stacker, such as a copying machine.

[0058]

As described above, according to the present invention, in claim 1, when the number of hoppers to be used is smaller than the number of hoppers installed, the hoppers are detached from the main body of the apparatus and used . Height corresponding to the height
Since the device can be placed on the
The height of the surface can be maintained, and the workability of the operator
Can be maintained and a space can be secured below the device.
It is possible to use the space effectively.

In the second aspect, when the stacker to be used is smaller than the number of mounted stackers, the stacker can be detached from the main body of the apparatus and used, so that the apparatus becomes small and the vacant space is effectively utilized. be able to.

[0060] According to claim 3, by placing the device on the height of the table corresponding to the height of the removed stacker, able to maintain the height of the operation surface of the device, the work of the operator sex can be maintained, yet it is possible to utilize effectively the space it is possible to secure a space in the apparatus downwardly, there is an effect that.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a principle configuration diagram corresponding to claim 1 of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a principle configuration diagram corresponding to claim 2 of the present invention.

FIG. 3 is a configuration diagram showing an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 4 is an explanatory diagram showing the operation of the embodiment.

FIG. 5 is a flowchart of an embodiment.

FIG. 6 is an explanatory diagram of an example.

FIG. 7 is a configuration diagram showing a different embodiment (1).

FIG. 8 is a configuration diagram showing a different embodiment (2).

FIG. 9 is an explanatory diagram showing the operation of a different embodiment (2).

FIG. 10 is a configuration diagram showing a printer of a conventional example (1).

FIG. 11 is a configuration diagram showing a printer of a conventional example (2).

[Explanation of symbols]

1,1a, 1b are printers, 2,2a-2c, 2a ', 2bc' are hoppers, 2A-2C are hopper units, 4,4a, 4b, 4a'-4
c ', 4A to 4C are stackers, 7 is single-cut paper, 7a
Is paper, 8,80 is the first designating means, 8a, 8b
Is a hopper designating button, 9,90 is a second designating means, 9a and 9b are stacker designating buttons, 10,10a and 10b are device main bodies, 13 is a table, and 14a to 14d are legs.

Claims (3)

(57) [Claims] And 1. A device body, a plurality of hoppers, a plurality of stackers, a first designating means for designating any one of said plurality of hoppers, a second designation to specify one of the plurality of stackers And a means for performing predetermined processing on the single-cut sheets fed from the hopper designated by the first designating means and sending the cut sheets to the stacker designated by the second designating means. In the device configured such that the plurality of hoppers are detachably and independently attachable to and detachable from each other in the device main body, and the size of the device is changed by attaching and detaching the hoppers, the plurality of hoppers have different mounting positions Corresponding multiple
And a plurality of stackers that correspond to different stacking positions even if the mounting positions are changed.
A sheet processing apparatus having a second number setting means, wherein when the size of the apparatus changes and the height decreases, a leg having the reduced size is provided on the lower surface of the apparatus. . 2. An apparatus main body, a plurality of hoppers, a plurality of stackers, a first designating means for designating any one of the plurality of hoppers, and a second designation for designating any one of the plurality of stackers. Means for performing a predetermined process on the single-cut sheets fed from the hopper designated by the first designating means, and sending the cut sheets to the stacker designated by the second designating means. , The plurality of hoppers are compatible even if the mounting position is changed.
And a plurality of stackers that correspond to different stacking positions even if the mounting positions are changed.
A plurality of second setting means are provided, the plurality of stackers are formed in the apparatus main body independently and mutually detachably, and the size of the apparatus is changed by attaching and detaching the stackers. Paper handling device. 3. The sheet processing apparatus according to claim 2, wherein when the size of the apparatus changes and the height decreases, a leg having the reduced size is provided on the lower surface of the apparatus.