JP3483383B2 - Output paper sorting apparatus and output paper sorting position control method - Google Patents

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to an output paper sorting device for sorting output paper output from an image output device such as a copying machine, a facsimile, a printer, etc., and an output paper sorting position control method for controlling the sorting position. Is.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art An image is sent from an input device such as a computer, a facsimile or a scanner to an image output device such as a copying machine, a facsimile or a printer via a network.
A system that sorts and stores the output sheets by an output sheet sorting device (mail box sorter) has been already known.

The mail box sorter has a plurality of storage parts (bins) in which the output papers discharged from the image output device are sorted and stored. It is also possible to specify the storage place of the output paper from the input device using the printer driver software.

[0004]

However, in the above-mentioned conventional system, when a plurality of output paper storage locations are designated from the input device using the printer driver software, the start bin (sorting start bin) is freely set. Although you can do this, you cannot specify a stop bin (sorting end bin). In other words, since it is not possible to specify the use range of the storage unit, the number of used bins often increases carelessly, and the use range of the storage unit that can be used by other input devices is restricted. There was a problem of being lost.

In view of the above-mentioned conventional problems, the present invention reduces an inconvenience that the number of used bins increases carelessly and the use range of the accommodating section is restricted, and an output paper sorting device. It is an object to provide a position control method.

[0006]

In order to achieve the above object , an output paper sorting apparatus according to a first aspect of the invention has a plurality of storage units for storing output papers discharged from an image output apparatus connected to a network. The sorting storage means and the paper detection means respectively provided in the plurality of storage portions, and based on an instruction from an input device connected to the network and information from the paper detection means, In the output paper sorting device for controlling the storage position of the output paper to be sorted and stored in the storage part, receiving a storage position designation command designating a sorting start position and a sorting end position of the output paper from the input device, Storage position setting means for setting a sorting start position and a sorting end position of the output paper in accordance with the storage position designation command, and a sheet output from the image output device.
Specify the number of output sheets to be output by the storage position setting means
Within the specified range, it is set according to the information of the paper detection means.
Warning information is issued when the number of copies that can be sorted is greater than
It is characterized in that it is equipped with a warning means .

[0007]

According to a second aspect of the present invention, there is provided the output paper sorting device according to the first aspect, wherein the number of output sheets discharged from the image output device is within a range designated by the storage position setting means. It has a prohibition means for prohibiting the setting operation of the input device for controlling the storage position of the output paper when the number of sortable copies is larger than the number of sortable copies set according to the information of the paper detection means. .

According to a third aspect of the present invention, in the first aspect of the invention, in the first aspect of the invention, the number of output sheets discharged from the image output device is within the range specified by the storage position setting means. When the number of sheets that can be sorted is larger than the number of sortable sheets that is set according to the information of the sheet detection unit, a switching unit that can switch to an offset sort mode for sorting a plurality of output sheets in one storage unit is provided.

[0010]

According to a fourth aspect of the present invention, there is provided an output paper sorting position control method, wherein an input device connected to a network is used to output the sorting start position of the output paper sheet discharged from the image output device and sorted and stored in a plurality of storage units. And a sorting end position for designating the sorting end position, and a sorting copy number designating process for designating the number of output copies of the output paper discharged from the image output device, and then the sorting copy number designating process Warning information output processing that issues warning information when the number of output sheets is larger than the number of sortable copies set according to the presence / absence information of the paper in the storage section within the range specified by the storage position specification processing It is characterized by executing.

[0012]

[0013]

[0014]

BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION Embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings.

FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing a schematic configuration of an information processing system including an output paper sorting apparatus according to the first embodiment of the present invention.

In the figure, 10 is a network such as a LAN. In this network 10, a copying machine 12 to which a mailbox sorter 11 is connected and a computer terminal 1 are connected.
3, 14, a computer terminal 15 to which a scanner 16 is connected, a facsimile 17, and a printer 18 are connected.

On such a network 10,
The image is a copy machine 12, computer terminals 13, 14, 1.
5, it is possible to output from the facsimile 17 or the printer 18, and the line communication with the outside is the facsimile 1
Performed by 7. Further, the copying machine 12 is configured to read an image or output an image independently.
The computer terminals 13, 14 and 15 have driver software capable of driving all the devices on the network of the present system. In particular, the computer terminal 15 is the scanner 1
6 images can be captured. Furthermore, the computer terminals 13, 14 and 15 can transmit images via the line of the facsimile 17.

Further, a document created on the computer terminal 13, 14 or 15 can be printed by the printer of the copying machine 12 and then stored in a predetermined storage portion (described later) of the mail box sorter 11, and Copier 12
It is also possible to edit the image read by the computer terminal 13, 14 or 15 and output it from the printer 18.

FIG. 2 is an external view of the mail box sorter 11 shown in FIG.

Reference numeral 21 in the figure is a mail box sorter 11.
It is the output paper entrance from the device located further upstream,
The output sheet entrance 21 has a single sheet conveying path 22.
Are in communication. A plurality of output paper storage units (bins) 23-1 to 23-2 are provided on the downstream side of the single sheet conveying path 22.
3-12, and a bundle transport unit 24 that transports a bundle of sheets is provided between the output paper inlet 21 and the bins 23-1 to 23-12.

The single sheet is branched by a flapper (not shown) via the single sheet conveying path 22 and stored in each designated storage section, and the mail box sorter 11 is also provided.
When the sheet bundle by finishing is conveyed further upstream, after the sheet bundle is transferred to the bundle conveying unit 24, the bundle conveying unit 24 moves up and down to store the sheet bundle in the designated storing section. Has become.

The bins 23-1 to 23-12 have paper sensors 25-1 to 25 for detecting the presence / absence of paper in the bins.
-12 and display units 26-1 to 26-12 for displaying bin numbers and bins with no bin designation (non-sort bins) are provided. Paper sensors 25-1 to 25-
12 is High when there is paper in the storage
("1") is output, and Low ("0") is output when there is no paper. Further, the display units 26-1 to 26-12 display numbers or characters or marks other than numbers and are composed of liquid crystal or light emitting diodes.

FIG. 3 is a diagram showing the concept of signal transmission / reception between the computers 13, 14, 15 having driver software and the copying machine main body 12.

The computers 13, 14 and 15 have a built-in printer driver software capable of controlling the mailbox sorter 11. The printer driver software specifies a start bin, a stop bin, and the number of print copies (the number of output copies). , And has a function of displaying information of each signal transmitted from the copying machine main body 12 on a display device such as a display.

For example, the computer 13 is used to output an image read by the scanner 16, the facsimile 17, and the copying machine 12 or a text created on the computer 13 by the printer of the copying machine 12, and the mail box sorter 11 is used. In the case of sorting and storing in bins, first, the printer driver software in the computer 13 starts operation, and a bin designation command (storage position designation command) 31 is transmitted to the copying machine 12.

When the copying machine 12 receives the bin designation command 31, it outputs the empty bin number and the number of empty bins within the bin range designated by this command to the sorter status signal 3
2 to the computer 13.

Then, the driver software permits printing when the number of received empty bins is larger than the input number of print copies, and the received information and the bin designation command 3
1 is incorporated into the printer driver command 33 and transmitted to the copying machine 12. The copying machine 12 receives the printer driver command 33 and outputs the printer driver command 3
Printing is started according to the print queue created in 2, and the output sheets are sorted.

If the number of empty bins is smaller than the number of print copies, the driver software displays a warning or prohibition using a display device and, in some cases, displays sorting selection by offset sorting. The offset sorting is a method of sorting a plurality of print copies in the same bin by shifting the stacking position one by one.

FIG. 4 is a conceptual diagram showing the relationship between the CPU in the copying machine 12 and the CPU in the mailbox sorter 11.

In the figure, reference numeral 41 is a CPU for controlling external equipment provided inside the main body of the copying machine 12, and 42 is a CPU for controlling sorter provided in the mail box sorter 11.

The external device control CPU 41 has a print standby state, a use state of the network 10, a use bin state,
In addition to counting output paper, output paper form (single sheet or bundle), and number of copies, etc., control is performed by receiving a bin designation command 31 and printer driver command 33 issued by an external device connected to the network 10. It has a function of transmitting the signal 43 to the sorter control CPU 42.

On the other hand, the sorter control CPU 42 is a CPU that communicates with the copying machine main body 12 and controls the mail box sorter 11, and grasps the presence / absence of paper in each of the storage units 23-1 to 23-12. The empty bin information 44 is transmitted to the external device control CPU 41, and the storage units 23-1 to 23-1 are connected.
The total count of the output paper stored in 23-12 is performed. Further, in response to the storage section designation command sent from the external device control CPU 41, control is performed to maintain the maximum productivity by the storage sorting operation.

Next, the operation of this embodiment will be described.

First, when the external equipment control CPU 41 receives the bin designation command 31, it outputs the information to the control signal 4
It is converted into 3 and transmitted to the sorter control CPU 42. When the sorter control CPU 42 receives the control signal 43,
Information from the paper sensors 25-1 to 25-12 in each bin is fetched, and empty bin information 44 is stored in the external device control CPU 41.
Send to.

The external device control CPU 41 converts the empty bin information 44 into a sorter status signal 32 and sends it to the computer 13, 14 or 15. The computer 13, 14 or 15 receives the sorter status signal 32, and the driver software sets the sorter status signal 32.
When the driver information is confirmed, the driver software displays the information on the display and, at the same time, displays the print permission, the warning, the prohibition, and the selection of the offset sort mode.

When the user confirms the display, inputs to the display, or selects the offset sort mode, the driver software uses the information as a new bin designation command and sends it to the printer driver command 33 together with the sorter status information. It is incorporated and transmitted again to the external device control CPU 41 of the copying machine main body.

When the external device control CPU 41 receives the printer driver command 33, the external device control CPU 41 creates a print queue for sorting print and output paper, and sends a new control signal 43 to the sorter control CPU 42.

FIG. 5 is a processing flowchart of the driver software of this embodiment.

In this routine, when the program is started, the bin for storing the sheets is designated. Therefore, first, in steps S52 to S54, the computers 13, 14 are started.
Or from 15, start bin B1, stop bin B2
Also, the number of prints S is input. Thereafter, the driver software performs empty bin processing in step S55, and receives from the copying machine 12 information on the unused bin numbers and the number of bins between the start bin B1 and the stop bin B2 designated by this empty bin processing. To do.

Next, in step S56, the driver software determines whether the number of empty bins in the received empty bin information is smaller than the number of print copies S. If the number of empty bins is equal to or larger than the number of print copies S, the driver software determines. In step S58, the printer driver command 33 is transmitted to sort prints and output papers. Then, from the copying machine 12 to the computer 1
The print end signal is transferred to 3, 14 or 15, and the operation of the driver software ends.

On the other hand, when the number of empty bins is smaller than the number of print copies S in step S56, a warning is issued to the display device in step S57. In this case, instead of issuing the warning, it is also possible to carry out the processing of prohibiting the setting operation.

Next, a second embodiment of the present invention will be described.

In this embodiment, the processing flow of the driver software shown in FIG. 5 is replaced with that shown in FIG. 6 in the information processing system shown in the first embodiment, and another configuration is provided. The elements are the same as those shown in FIGS.

First, in steps S62 to S66, the same processing as steps S52 to S56 in the first embodiment is performed. When it is determined in step S66 that the number of empty bins is less than the number of print copies S,
In step S67, selection of sorting by offset sorting can be performed.

When sorting by offset sorting is performed, or when the number of empty bins is equal to or greater than the number of print copies,
The printer driver command is transmitted (step S6).
8) Based on this, sorting of print and output paper is performed.

If sorting by off-sort is not performed, the process returns to the input of the start bin in step S62,
Set the sorting bin again.

Note that this embodiment may be combined with the above-described first embodiment to issue a warning before selecting sorting by offset sorting in step S67.

Next, a third embodiment of the present invention will be described.

In this embodiment, the processing flow of the driver software shown in FIG. 5 is replaced with that shown in FIG. 7 in the information processing system shown in the first embodiment. The elements are the same as those shown in FIGS.

The driver software of the present embodiment first performs empty bin processing in step S72, receives all bin information of the mail box sorter 11 from the copying machine 12, and obtains empty bin information. Then, in steps S73 to S75, the start bin B1, the stop bin B2, and the number of copies S are input from the computer 13, 14 or 15, respectively, and the process proceeds to step S76.
The number of print copies and the number of empty bins are compared. If the number of empty bins is greater than or equal to the number of print copies S, the printer driver command 33 is transmitted in step S78 to sort the print and output paper.

On the other hand, when the number of empty bins is smaller than the number of print copies S in step S76, a warning is issued to the display device in step S77, and the process returns to step S73.
Set the sorting bin again.

In this embodiment, in combination with the second embodiment, the sorting can be selected by offset sorting after comparing the number of print copies with the number of empty bins or issuing a warning. You may do it.

[0053]

As described in detail above, according to claim 1,
According to the invention, the output paper sorting apparatus receives a storage position designation command specifying a sorting start position and a sorting end position of an output paper from the input device, and according to the storage position designation command, the output paper sorting start position and the sorting position. The storage position setting means for setting the end position and the output from the image output device.
The number of printed paper sheets is within the range specified by the storage position setting means.
Possible to sort according to the information of paper detection means inside
Since there is a warning means that issues warning information when there are more than the number of copies, it is possible to limit the range of use of the storage section according to the usage state of the storage section, and prevent the number of used bins from increasing accidentally. it can. This reduces restrictions on the usable range of the accommodating portion when using another input device. In addition, the user can
The number can be easily set within the usage range of the storage unit.
Become.

[0054]

According to the output paper sorting apparatus of the invention of claim 2,
For example, in the invention according to claim 1, the number of sortable copies of the output paper discharged from the image output device is set according to the information of the paper detection unit within the range specified by the storage position setting unit. If the number of output papers is larger than the specified number, the user has a prohibition means for prohibiting the setting operation of the input device for controlling the storage position of the output papers, so that the user surely sets the number of output papers to be discharged within the use range of the storage space. It becomes possible to do.

According to the output paper sorting apparatus of the invention of claim 3,
For example, in the invention of claim 1, the number of output sheets discharged from the image output device is less than the sortable number set according to the information of the sheet detecting means within the range specified by the storage position setting means. In the case where the number of output sheets is large, since there is a switching means capable of switching to an offset sort mode for sorting a plurality of output sheets in one storage unit, even if the number of ejected sheets exceeds the number of sortable sheets within the usage range of the storage unit, the offset By switching to the sort mode, the output paper can be reliably stored in the storage section.

[0057]

Output paper sorting position control method according to the invention of claim 4
According to the method, a storage position designation process for designating a sorting start position and a sorting end position of output paper discharged from an image output device and sorted and stored in a plurality of storage units by an input device connected on a network. After performing the sorting copy number designating process for designating the number of output copies of the output sheet discharged from the image output device, the output copy sheet number designated by the sorting copy number designating process is determined by the storage position designating process. If the number of sheets that can be sorted within the specified range is greater than the number of sheets that can be sorted according to the presence / absence information of the sheets in the storage section, the warning information output process that issues the warning information is executed. It is possible to easily set the number of copies within the usage range of the storage section.

[0059]

[0060]

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing a schematic configuration of an information processing system including an output paper sorting apparatus according to a first embodiment of the present invention.

2 is an external view of the mail box sorter 11 shown in FIG.

FIG. 3 is a computer 13, 1 having driver software.
4 is a diagram showing the concept of signal transmission / reception between the copying machines 4 and 15 and the copying machine main body 12. FIG.

FIG. 4 is a conceptual diagram showing a relationship between a CPU in the copying machine 12 and a CPU in the mailbox sorter 11.

FIG. 5 is a processing flowchart of the driver software according to the first embodiment.

FIG. 6 is a processing flowchart of driver software according to the second embodiment.

FIG. 7 is a processing flowchart of driver software according to the third embodiment.

[Explanation of symbols]

10 network 11 Mail Box Sorter 12 Copier 13, 14, 15 computer terminals 16 scanner 17 Facsimile 18 Printer 23-1 to 23-12 Storage section 25-1 to 25-12 Paper sensor 31 Bin specification command 32 Sorter Status 33 Printer driver command 41, 42 CPU

─────────────────────────────────────────────────── ─── Continuation of the front page (72) Inventor Masao Watanabe 3-30-2 Shimomaruko, Ota-ku, Tokyo Canon Inc. (72) Inventor Shizuo Hasegawa 3-30-2 Shimomaruko, Ota-ku, Tokyo Canon Within the corporation (56) References JP 62-185680 (JP, A) (58) Fields investigated (Int.Cl. ⁷ , DB name) B65H 39/11

Claims (4)

(57) [Claims] 1. A sorting and storing unit that sorts output sheets discharged from an image output device connected to a network into a plurality of storing units, and a sheet detecting unit provided in each of the plurality of storing units, An output paper sorting device that controls a storage position of the output paper sorted and stored in the plurality of storage units based on an instruction from an input device connected to the network and information from the paper detection unit, Storage position setting means for receiving a storage position designation command designating a paper sorting start position and a paper sorting end position from the input device, and setting the sorting start position and the sorting end position of the output paper in accordance with the storage position designation command. And the above
The number of output sheets ejected from the image output device is
Within the range specified by the storage position setting means, the paper detection hand
More than the number of copies that can be sorted according to the column information
In this case, the output paper sorting apparatus is provided with a warning means for issuing warning information . 2. The number of output sheets discharged from the image output device is larger than the number of sortable sheets set according to the information of the sheet detecting means within the range designated by the storage position setting means. The output paper sorting apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising a prohibiting unit that prohibits a setting operation of the input device for controlling a storage position of the output paper. 3. The number of output sheets discharged from the image output device is larger than the number of sortable sheets set according to the information of the sheet detecting means within the range designated by the storage position setting means. In this case, the output paper sorting apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising switching means capable of switching to an offset sort mode for sorting a plurality of sets of output paper in one storage unit. 4. A storage position designation process for designating a sorting start position and a sorting end position of output paper discharged from an image output device and sorted and stored in a plurality of storage units by an input device connected to a network. After performing the sorting copy number designation process for designating the number of output sheets of the output paper discharged from the image output device, the number of the output paper sheets designated by the sorting copy number designation process is determined by the storage position designation process. Output paper sorting position control characterized by executing warning information output processing for issuing warning information when the number of sortable sheets is greater than the number of sortable sheets set according to the presence / absence information of sheets in the storage section within a designated range. Method.