JP5682188B2 - Sorting device - Google Patents

Description

  The present invention relates to a sorting apparatus that sorts conveyed items such as printed matter.

  In general, an ink jet printer is widely known as a recording apparatus that performs a recording process on a recording medium (for example, Patent Document 1). The printer described in Patent Document 1 includes a printer main body that performs recording processing on print paper (conveyed material) for each order. In addition, the printer includes a transport unit that transports the print paper that has been recorded in the printer main body by a transport belt, and a stack unit that distributes and stacks the print paper transported by the transport unit into a plurality of stack plates for each order. (Sorting device).

  The transport unit is configured to throw out the transfer of the print paper transported from the printer main body side to the stacking unit from the transport belt toward the stacking position of the stacking unit. Therefore, a guide plate standing in the vertical direction is provided at the end of the transfer position of the print paper from the transport belt in the stacking unit. Then, the print paper thrown out from the conveyor belt is caused to collide with the guide plate, and the collided print paper is dropped onto the accumulation plate.

JP 2009-92804 A

  By the way, when paper is transferred from the transport unit to the stacking unit by such a method, there is a problem that the dropping position of the print paper that collides with the guide plate and falls on the stacking plate varies. When the print paper drops in this way, especially when the size of the print paper is small, a plurality of print papers fall on the stacking plate without overlapping each other, and the stacking order is changed. There is a fear.

  The present invention has been made in order to solve the above-described problems, and its object is to stack the order of the plurality of transported objects loaded on each stacking member when the received transported objects are sorted by the plurality of stacking members. An object of the present invention is to provide a sorting apparatus that can suppress the change of the slab.

  In order to achieve the above object, a sorting apparatus according to the present invention has a sorting area for a transported object transported from an upstream side in the transport direction, and in the delivery area for the transported object to the sorting area, A sorting device that receives a plurality of the transported articles sequentially thrown from the upstream side in the transport direction and sorts the received transported articles in the sorting area, wherein the transported articles received in the delivery area A plurality of stacking members that are stacked and sequentially move from the delivery area toward the sorting area; and a guide unit that receives the transported object thrown toward the delivery area and guides it toward the stacking member. The guide portion is disposed in the delivery area near the center in the transport direction, and on the downstream side in the transport direction from the first guide surface. The first guide surface is inclined so as to become lower from the downstream side to the upstream side in the transport direction, and the inclination angle with respect to the horizontal direction is the second guide surface. Is bigger than.

  According to this configuration, since the first guide surface of the guide portion is inclined so as to become lower from the downstream side in the transport direction toward the upstream side, the received transported object is pushed back toward the upstream side in the transport direction. Thus, it can be guided toward the loading member. Further, even when the length of the transported object in the transport direction is less than half of the length of the transfer area in the transport direction, the transported object is received by the first guide surface disposed near the center of the transfer area in the transport direction. Thereby, it can suppress that a conveyed product moves to the downstream of a conveyance direction. As a result, the plurality of transported objects stacked on the stacking member are sequentially guided toward the upstream side in the transport direction of the delivery area by the guide unit. Therefore, when sorting the received transported goods by a plurality of stacking members, it is possible to suppress the change of the loading order of the plurality of transported objects stacked on each stacking member.

In the sorting apparatus according to the present invention, the second guide surface of the guide portion is inclined so as to become lower from the downstream side toward the upstream side in the transport direction.
According to this structure, when the length in the conveyance direction of a conveyed product is more than half the length in the conveyance direction of a delivery area | region, a conveyed product can be received by the 2nd guide surface of a guide part. Note that when a plurality of transported objects are stacked on one stacking member, a transported object that is subsequently loaded may slide down the surface of the transported object that has been previously loaded and enter the downstream side in the transport direction. In that respect, since the second guide surface is inclined so as to become lower from the downstream side in the transport direction toward the upstream side, it is possible to prevent the transported article loaded later from entering the downstream side in the transport direction. Can do.

  In the sorting apparatus according to the present invention, each of the stacking members moves in the sorting area by moving in the sorting direction of the transported object perpendicular to the transporting direction, and sorts the transported object, and the delivery area is in the sorting direction. The stacking member is disposed upstream of the sorting area, and the stacking member is provided at a receiving portion that receives the transported object in the delivery region and an end on the downstream side in the sorting direction of the receiving portion, and is stacked on the receiving portion. The first guide surface and the second guide surface are inclined so as to become lower from the upstream side to the downstream side in the sorting direction.

  According to this configuration, since the first guide surface and the second guide surface are inclined so as to become lower from the upstream side to the downstream side in the sorting direction, the received conveyed object is directed toward the positioning portion of the stacking member. I can guide you. Therefore, even when a plurality of transported objects are stacked on the stacking member, the guide unit sequentially guides each transported object toward the positioning member of the stacking member, thereby suppressing variations in the stacking positions of the transported objects. it can.

  In the sorting apparatus according to the aspect of the invention, the guide unit further includes a third guide surface disposed upstream of the first guide surface and the second guide surface in the sorting direction, and the third guide surface includes: It inclines so that it may become low toward the downstream from the upstream of the said sorting direction.

  According to this configuration, even when the length of the transported object in the sorting direction is longer than the length of the stacking member in the sorting direction, the transported object can be guided toward the stacking member by the third guide surface of the guide portion. .

  The sorting apparatus according to the present invention further includes an endless moving body that forms a constant circular movement path and is attached so that a plurality of the stacking members are arranged along the circular movement path. From the accepting posture in which the conveyed product is laid down in the delivery region, it moves to the sorting region while changing its posture so that it rises with the circular movement of the movable body, and the transported material is received by the stacking member. A notch for assisting in taking out an object is provided, and the first guide surface and the second guide surface are arranged at positions corresponding to the notch of the stacking member.

  According to this configuration, since the first guide surface and the second guide surface of the guide portion are arranged at positions corresponding to the cutout portions of the stacking member, the posture of the stacking member is changed from the delivery area to the sorting area. Even in the case of movement, interference between the guide portion and the stacking member can be avoided.

The top view which shows the structure of the printer unit provided with the sorting apparatus. FIG. 2 is a sectional view taken along line 2-2 in FIG. FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view taken along line 3-3 in FIG. 1. 4 is a cross-sectional view taken along line 4-4 in FIG. The perspective view which shows the structure of a guide part.

  Hereinafter, an embodiment in which the present invention is embodied in a sorting apparatus that is used in association with an ink jet printer (hereinafter sometimes abbreviated as “printer”), which is a kind of recording apparatus, will be described. In the following description, when referring to “front-rear direction”, “left-right direction”, and “up-down direction”, the front-rear direction, the left-right direction, and the up-down direction indicated by arrows in each figure are shown. In addition, in the arrows indicating the upward, rightward and forward directions in the drawings, those marked with “•” in “○” (viewed from the front of the arrow) are displayed from the back of the page. It means an arrow heading, and “X” in “○” (a view of the arrow blades from the back) means an arrow heading from the front to the back of the page.

  As shown in FIG. 1, the printer unit 11 includes a printer 100 as an example of a recording device, a transport device 110, and a sorting device 120 as components. The printer 100 performs recording (printing) on a sheet ST (see FIG. 2), which is a long sheet, and cuts the recorded portion of the sheet ST as an example of a conveyed product. Paper is discharged as paper CS.

  The transport device 110 transports the recorded cut paper CS discharged from the printer 100 toward the sorting device 120, and discharges the cut paper CS toward the delivery area DA where the sorting device 120 receives the cut paper CS. To do. The sorting device 120 includes a plurality of trays 130 as an example of a stacking member. Each tray 130 is made of a translucent synthetic resin. The sorting apparatus 120 sorts the cut sheets CS (printed material) by sequentially moving the trays 130 to the delivery area DA.

Next, the configuration of the printer 100 will be described in detail.
As shown in FIG. 2, the printer 100 includes a substantially rectangular parallelepiped main body case 12 having a paper discharge unit 12 a on the upper portion of the rear wall, and a roll body in which sheets ST are wound in a roll shape at the front lower portion in the main body case 12. And a holding unit 13 for holding in the RS state. In addition, the printer 100 includes a transport mechanism 14 that transports the sheet ST along a transport path extending from the holding unit 13 toward the paper discharge unit 12 a in the main body case 12. Further, in the main body case 12, a recording unit 15 that performs recording on the sheet ST unwound from the roll body RS, and a cutter 16 are provided. Further, a curl correction mechanism 17 constituting a part of the transport mechanism 14 is provided in a position adjacent to the paper discharge unit 12 a in the main body case 12.

  The recording unit 15 performs a recording process on the surface of the sheet ST conveyed by the conveyance mechanism 14. Thereafter, the sheet ST is cut by the cutter 16 at a portion where the surface is printed. The portion on the leading end side of the cut sheet ST becomes a cut sheet CS (single sheet). Further, the curl (curl) of the cut sheet CS is corrected by the curl correction mechanism 17.

  The holding unit 13 includes a rotation shaft 18 that rotatably supports the roll body RS, and a rotation motor (not shown) for rotating the rotation shaft 18. When the rotary shaft 18 rotates counterclockwise in FIG. 2 as the rotary motor is driven, the sheet ST is unwound from the roll body RS.

  The transport mechanism 14 includes a plurality of transport rollers 20 to 24 that transport the sheet ST from the upstream side in the transport direction X1 to the downstream side (in the present embodiment, from the front side to the rear side), and the transport rollers 20, 21, 22, and 24. And driven rollers 30, 31, 32, and 34 that sandwich the sheet ST therebetween. The transport rollers 20, 21, 22, 24 and the driven rollers 30, 31, 32, 34 are arranged at positions facing each other across the transport path.

  In the following description, the transport roller 22 and the driven roller 32 that make a pair may be referred to as a transport roller pair R2. The transport mechanism 14 includes a transport motor (not shown) for rotating the transport rollers 20 to 24, and a transport path forming member 38 disposed at a position corresponding to the transport roller pair R2.

  The recording unit 15 includes a guide shaft 42 disposed above the conveyance path, a carriage 43 supported by the guide shaft 42, and a recording head 44 supported by the carriage 43. Further, the recording unit 15 includes a support member 45 disposed at a position facing the recording head 44 with the conveyance path interposed therebetween. The guide shaft 42 is installed in the main body case 12 so as to extend along the width direction Y1 (left and right direction in the present embodiment) of the sheet ST that intersects (in the present embodiment, orthogonal) with the transport direction X1. The carriage 43 reciprocates along the width direction Y1 while being guided by the guide shaft.

  A plurality of suction holes (not shown) are opened on the upper surface of the support member 45. The support member 45 has a built-in suction mechanism 46 for sucking the sheet ST through the suction holes. The recording head 44 is provided with a plurality of nozzles 47 that eject ink as liquid. Then, ink is ejected from the nozzles 47 of the recording head 44 onto the surface of the sheet ST supported by the support member 45 (the recording surface which is the upper surface in FIG. 1), whereby recording is performed on the sheet ST. ing.

  Note that the printer 100 divides print data included in one print job into a plurality of pieces, performs print processing based on the divided print data for each scan of the carriage 43, and performs sheet ST between the print processing. The printed portion is intermittently conveyed. That is, in the recording unit 15, an image based on one print job is formed by alternately repeating the formation of a band-shaped image whose width direction Y1 is the longitudinal direction and paper feeding.

  Further, the cutting of the sheet ST by the cutter 16 is performed in a state where the conveyance of the sheet ST by the conveyance mechanism 14 is stopped and the upstream side is held by the suction mechanism 46 of the support member 45 while the downstream side is sandwiched by the conveyance roller pair R2. Done. In this embodiment, the sheet ST is cut when the conveyance of the sheet ST is stopped for printing. Then, the cut cut paper CS is continuously conveyed without being stopped by the conveying rollers 22 to 24, and after curling is corrected by the curl correcting mechanism 17, it is discharged to the conveying device 110 side through the paper discharge unit 12a. Paper.

  The curl correction mechanism 17 includes transport rollers 23 and 24 and a driven roller 34 as a part of the constituent elements. The driven roller 34 is driven to rotate along with the conveyance of the cut sheet CS when the cut sheet CS is sandwiched between the conveyance roller 24 and the cut sheet CS is bent with the conveyance roller 23. The curl of the cut paper CS is corrected. The transport roller 23 functions as a support portion that supports the upstream side of the bent portion when the cut sheet CS is bent.

Next, the configuration of the transport device 110 will be described in detail.
As shown in FIG. 3, the transport device 110 transports the cut paper CS discharged from the paper discharge unit 12 a of the printer 100 from the upstream side to the downstream side in the transport direction X <b> 2 (in this embodiment, from the left side to the right side). It is placed on the base unit 50.

  The conveying device 110 includes a driving roller 51, a driven roller 52, an endless conveying belt 53 wound around the driving roller 51 and the driven roller 52, and a driving motor 54 for rotating the driving roller 51 (see FIG. 1). ). Then, the driving belt 51 rotates in the counterclockwise direction in FIG. 3 by driving of the driving motor 54 so that the conveying belt 53 rotates (circulates).

  The upstream side of the conveyance belt 53 in the conveyance direction X <b> 2 is disposed below the paper discharge unit 12 a of the printer 100. Further, the downstream side of the transport belt 53 in the transport direction X2 is disposed at a position adjacent to the delivery area DA of the sorting device 120. Accordingly, when the cut sheet CS is placed on the transport surface 53a (horizontal plane composed of the upper surface) of the transport belt 53 when the drive motor 54 is driven, the cut sheet CS is moved in the transport direction X2 toward the delivery area DA of the sorting device 120. It is designed to be transported.

  At this time, the transport belt 53 is rotated at such a speed that the cut sheet CS is thrown out toward the vicinity of the center in the transport direction X2 of the delivery area DA. When the cut sheet CS reaches the downstream end in the transport direction X2 of the transport surface 53a, the cut sheet CS is separated from the transport surface 53a and discharged toward the delivery area DA of the sorting device 120.

Next, the configuration of the sorting apparatus 120 will be described in detail.
As shown in FIG. 1, the sorting device 120 includes a box-shaped main body 59. The sorting device 120 has a transfer area DA at a position on the rear side of the main body 59 and an inversion area RA at a position on the front side of the main body 59. Further, the sorting device 120 sorts the cut sheets CS transported from the upstream side in the transport direction X2 by the transport device 110 between the transfer area DA and the reversal area RA in the front-rear direction of the main body 59. Has SA.

  The sorting device 120 receives a plurality of cut sheets CS sequentially thrown from the upstream side in the transport direction X2 toward the delivery area DA in the delivery area DA of the cut sheets CS from the transport apparatus 110 to the sorting area SA. The sorting device 120 sorts the received cut sheets CS in the sorting area SA. Note that the delivery area DA is arranged on the upstream side (the rear side in the present embodiment) of the sorting area SA in the sorting direction X3 (the front direction in the present embodiment) of the cut sheet CS perpendicular to the transport direction X2.

  As shown in FIG. 4, the sorting device 120 includes a moving mechanism 60 accommodated in the main body 59. The moving mechanism 60 includes gears 61, 62, 63, 64, an endless chain 65 as an example of a moving body, and a drive motor (not shown) for rotating the gear 61. Gears 61 and 63 are drive gears, and are rotated counterclockwise in FIG. 4 by a drive motor (not shown). The gear 62 is a driven gear, and the gear 64 is a tension gear biased downward by a spring (not shown). The gears 61 to 64 mesh with the chain 65 from the inside.

  The chain 65 is wound around the gears 61, 62, 63, 64 and is held in a state of being properly stretched by the gear 64. When the gears 61 and 63 rotate as the drive motor is driven, the chain 65 rotates in the counterclockwise direction in FIG. 4 so as to form a fixed rotation path.

  The chain 65 is provided with a plurality of (22 in this embodiment) holding portions 67 for mounting the tray 130 at substantially equal intervals. The tray 130 includes a mounting portion 70 attached to the holding portion 67, a flat-shaped receiving portion 71, and a positioning portion 72 provided so as to be substantially orthogonal to the receiving portion 71 in a side view. Then, one tray 130 is attached to each holding portion 67 of the chain 65 so as to be aligned along the circular movement path.

  Each tray 130 is sequentially arranged in the delivery area DA in the process of moving along with the circular movement of the chain 65. Further, each tray 130 that has received the cut sheet CS in the delivery area DA moves from the delivery area DA to the sorting area SA as the chain 65 rotates, and further moves in the sorting area SA in the sorting direction X3. Sort the cut paper CS.

  The tray 130 is disposed in the delivery area DA in a receiving posture inclined so that the receiving portion 71 is slightly lowered from the upstream side to the downstream side in the sorting direction X3, and the cut paper CS is laid in this delivery posture. Accept. Further, the positioning portion 72 of the tray 130 is provided at the downstream end of the receiving portion 71 in the sorting direction X3. Therefore, the cut sheets CS stacked on the receiving portion 71 of the tray 130 move to the downstream side in the sorting direction X3 due to their own weight, and the positioning portion 72 performs positioning in the sorting direction X3 and positioning of the lower end position.

  Each tray 130 that has received the cut sheet CS in the delivery area DA changes the posture from the delivery area DA while changing the posture so as to rise from the acceptance posture with the circular movement of the chain 65 in a state where the cut sheet CS is loaded. Sequentially move towards SA. As a result, a plurality (nine in this embodiment) of trays 130 positioned above the chain 65 in the sorting area SA are arranged in the sorting area SA in a sorting posture in which the receiving portions 71 are parallel to each other.

  When the tray 130 is in the sorting posture, the positioning portion 72 is positioned below the receiving portion 71, so that the cut sheet CS leans against the receiving portion 71 on the lower surface side as shown by a two-dot chain line in FIG. In this state, the lower end is supported by the positioning portion 72. That is, when the tray 130 is in the sorting posture, the tray 130 supports the cut paper CS in an upright state.

  In the sorting area SA, nine trays 130 with a sorting posture are arranged along the sorting direction X3, so that the sorting apparatus 120 can sort the cut sheets CS into nine for each order. Yes. When the tray 130 loaded with the cut sheets CS is moved to the front row of the sorting area SA, the movement of the tray 130 is stopped and the cut sheets CS are taken out by the user. When the cut sheet CS is taken out from the tray 130 located in the front row of the sorting area SA, the movement of the tray 130 in the sorting direction X3 is resumed. As a result, the empty tray 130 is reversed in the reversal area RA and moves again toward the delivery area DA as the chain 65 rotates.

  As shown in FIG. 1, a reflecting portion 73 is provided near the center in the transport direction X <b> 2 (left-right direction) in the receiving portion 71 of the tray 130. The reflecting portion 73 is configured by sticking a reflective seal that reflects light on the right slope among the three slopes that are recessed so as to form a triangular pyramid from the receiving portion 71 toward the rear.

  In addition, a reflection type optical sensor 74 having a light source part 74a and a light receiving part 74b is provided on the left end side of the inversion area RA in the main body part 59. The optical sensor 74 emits light from the light source part 74a toward the reflection part 73 of the tray 130 located in the foremost row of the sorting area SA, as indicated by a two-dot chain line in FIG.

  When the cut sheet CS is not stacked on the tray 130 located in the front row of the sorting area SA, the light emitted from the light source unit 74a is reflected by the reflecting unit 73, and the reflected light is received by the light receiving unit 74b. Receive light. On the other hand, when the cut sheet CS is stacked on the tray 130 located in the front row of the sorting area SA, the light emitted from the light source unit 74a is blocked by the cut sheet CS, and the light receiving unit 74b receives the reflected light. do not do. Therefore, in the sorting apparatus 120, the tray 130 is moved when the light receiving unit 74b receives the reflected light, while the movement of the tray 130 is stopped when the light receiving unit 74b stops receiving the reflected light. It has become.

  As shown in FIG. 5, two notches 75 and 76 are formed on the right end side of the receiving portion 71 in the tray 130 in order to assist the user to take out the cut sheet CS. The sorting apparatus 120 sorts a plurality of cut sheets CS from a minimum size cut sheet CS indicated by a two-dot chain line in FIG. 5 to a maximum size cut sheet CS indicated by a one-dot chain line in FIG. Accordingly, the cutout portion 75 mainly assists the removal of the cut paper CS having a small size, while the cutout portion 76 mainly assists the removal of the cut paper CS having a large size. Further, the reflection portion 73 of the tray 130 is slightly closer to the left side (upstream side) in the vicinity of the center in the transport direction X2 so that it can be covered with the cut paper CS of the minimum size brought close to the left end side of the tray 130. It is arranged at the position.

  As shown in FIG. 3, an inclined plate 77 is erected on the left end portion of the transfer area DA in the main body 59 to guide the cut sheet CS discharged by the transfer belt 53 of the transfer apparatus 110 toward the transfer area DA. ing. The upper end position of the inclined plate 77 is disposed at a position slightly lower than the conveying surface 53 a of the conveying belt 53.

  A partition plate 78 is erected in the vertical direction at the right end of the delivery area DA. The transport belt 53 is rotated at such a speed that the cut sheet CS is thrown out toward the vicinity of the center in the transport direction X2 of the delivery area DA. In addition, about 50 cut sheets CS can be stacked on one tray 130. Therefore, the partition plate 78 is provided mainly to prevent the cut sheets CS stacked on the tray 130 from overflowing to the right side from the delivery area DA.

  As shown in FIG. 5, the delivery area DA is provided with guide plates 79 and 80 that receive the cut sheet CS thrown toward the delivery area DA and guide it toward the tray 130. The guide plate 79 is disposed on the rear side of the positioning portion 72 of the tray 130 disposed in the delivery area DA. Further, the guide plate 80 is disposed behind the tray 130 and the guide plate 79 disposed in the delivery area DA.

  In the delivery area DA, the guide plate 79 is disposed downstream of the first guide surfaces 79a and 79b disposed near the center of the transport direction X2 and the first guide surfaces 79a and 79b in the transport direction X2. It has the 2nd guide surfaces 79c and 79d. The first guide surface 79a and the second guide surface 79c of the guide portion 81 are disposed at positions corresponding to the cutout portions 75 of the tray 130, and the first guide surface 79b and the second guide surface 79d of the guide portion 81. Is disposed at a position corresponding to the notch 76 of the tray 130.

  The first guide surfaces 79a and 79b and the second guide surfaces 79c and 79d of the guide plate 79 are all inclined so as to become lower from the downstream side in the transport direction X2 toward the upstream side. In addition, the first guide surfaces 79a and 79b of the guide plate 79 have an inclination angle with respect to the horizontal direction larger than that of the second guide surfaces 79c and 79d.

  The guide plate 80 has a third guide surface 80a disposed on the upstream side in the sorting direction X3 with respect to the first guide surfaces 79a and 79b and the second guide surfaces 79c and 79d of the guide plate 79. In the present embodiment, the first guide surfaces 79 a and 79 b and the second guide surfaces 79 c and 79 d of the guide plate 79 and the third guide surface 80 a of the guide plate 80 constitute a guide portion 81.

  The 3rd guide surface 80a of the guide plate 80 inclines so that it may become low toward the downstream from the upstream of the sorting direction X3. Furthermore, the first guide surface 79a and the second guide surface 79c of the guide plate 79 are inclined so as to become lower from the upstream side to the downstream side in the sorting direction.

Next, the operation of the sorting apparatus 120 will be described.
As shown in FIG. 3, in the transport direction X2, the length of the transfer area DA is L1, the length from the upstream end of the transfer area DA to the downstream ends of the second guide surfaces 79c and 79d is L2, and the upstream of the transfer area DA The length from the end to the downstream end of the first guide surfaces 79a and 79b is L3. Further, when the length in the transport direction X2 of the cut paper CS having the minimum size discharged from the printer 100 is Ls, L3 <Ls <L2 <L1 and Ls <L1 / 2.

  The transport belt 53 of the transport device 110 is rotated at such a speed that the cut paper CS is thrown out toward the vicinity of the center in the transport direction X2 of the delivery area DA, so that the cut paper CS discharged from the transport device 110 is transported. The downstream end in the direction X2 collides with the guide plate 79. At this time, when the length of the cut sheet CS in the transport direction X2 is less than half of the length of the delivery area DA in the transport direction X2, the first guide surfaces 79a and 79b of the guide plate 79 are the cut sheet CS. Take it. On the other hand, when the length of the cut sheet CS in the transport direction X2 is more than half the length of the transfer area DA in the transport direction X2, the cut sheet CS gets over the first guide surfaces 79a and 79b, and the second guide. It is received by the surfaces 79c and 79d.

  When the cut sheet CS is further stacked on the tray 130 on which the cut sheet CS is already stacked, the cut sheet CS to be loaded later slides on the surface of the cut sheet CS that has been previously stacked, and the conveyance direction X2 It may enter to the downstream side. In this case, even the cut paper CS of the minimum size may be received by the second guide surfaces 79c and 79d of the guide plate 79.

  The first guide surfaces 79a and 79b and the second guide surfaces 79c and 79d of the guide plate 79 are all inclined so as to become lower from the downstream side in the transport direction X2 toward the upstream side. The received cut sheet CS is pushed back toward the upstream side in the transport direction X <b> 2 and is received by the tray 130. Further, the cut sheet CS received in the tray 130 moves to the downstream side in the sorting direction X3 by its own weight, and the downstream end portion in the sorting direction X3 comes into contact with the positioning unit 72.

  At this time, the first guide surface 79a and the second guide surface 79c of the guide plate 79 and the third guide surface 80a of the guide plate 80 are inclined so as to become lower from the upstream side to the downstream side in the sorting direction X3. Therefore, the movement toward the downstream side of the sorting direction X3 of the cut sheet CS is promoted. Therefore, even when a plurality of cut sheets CS are stacked on the tray 130, each cut sheet CS is guided to the upstream side (left side) in the transport direction X2 and the downstream side (front side) in the sorting direction X3 in the order of stacking. , Variation in the loading position is suppressed.

  The cut paper CS having the minimum size has a length in the transport direction X2 that is less than half of the length in the transport direction X2 of the delivery area DA. Therefore, if the drop position in the delivery area DA varies, the cut paper CS is stacked on the tray 130. There is a risk of the order changing. However, according to the present embodiment, since the guide unit 81 suppresses the variation in the stacking position of the cut sheets CS on the tray 130, it is possible to avoid changing the stacking order.

  Further, when the cut sheets CS are stacked on the tray 130 toward the downstream side in the transport direction X2, the tray 130 may move to the sorting area SA in a state in which the cut paper CS having the minimum size is separated from the reflection unit 73. is there. In this case, since the light of the optical sensor 74 is not blocked by the cut paper CS when the tray 130 is positioned in the front row of the sorting area SA, the tray 130 is reversed while the cut paper CS is loaded. Thus, the cut sheet CS is scattered in the main body 59.

  That is, although the cut sheets CS are stacked on the tray 130, a detection error that the stacked state cannot be detected by the optical sensor 74 occurs. In this regard, in the present embodiment, the cut sheet CS is guided to the upstream side in the transport direction X2 of the tray 130 by the guide unit 81 and reliably covers the reflection unit 73, thereby suppressing the occurrence of detection errors as described above. Can do.

According to the above embodiment, the following effects can be obtained.
(1) Since the first guide surfaces 79a and 79b of the guide portion 81 are inclined so as to become lower from the downstream side in the transport direction X2 toward the upstream side, the received cut sheet CS is upstream in the transport direction X2. It is possible to guide toward the tray 130 by pushing it back toward. Further, even when the length of the cut sheet CS in the transport direction X2 is less than half the length of the transfer area DA in the transport direction X2, the first guide disposed near the center of the transfer area DA in the transport direction X2. By receiving the cut sheet CS on the surfaces 79a and 79b, the cut sheet CS can be prevented from moving downstream in the transport direction X2. As a result, the plurality of cut sheets CS stacked on the tray 130 are sequentially guided toward the upstream side in the transport direction X2 of the delivery area DA by the guide unit 81. Therefore, when the received cut sheets CS are sorted by the plurality of trays 130, it is possible to suppress the change of the stacking order of the plurality of cut sheets CS stacked on each tray 130.

  (2) When the length of the cut sheet CS in the transport direction X2 is more than half of the length of the delivery area DA in the transport direction X2, the cut sheet CS is loaded on the second guide surfaces 79c and 79d of the guide portion 81. I can take it. Note that when a plurality of cut sheets CS are stacked on one tray 130, the cut sheets CS loaded later slide on the surface of the previously loaded cut sheets CS and enter the downstream side in the transport direction X2. There is. In that respect, since the second guide surfaces 79c and 79d are inclined so as to become lower from the downstream side in the transport direction X2 toward the upstream side, the cut sheets CS loaded later enter the downstream side in the transport direction X2. Can be suppressed. Further, the plurality of cut sheets CS are sequentially stacked in an inclined state so as to be lowered from the downstream side to the upstream side in the transport direction X2, so that the next stacked sheets are loaded by the cut sheet CS loaded first. The cut sheet CS can be received and pushed back to the upstream side in the transport direction X2.

  (3) The first guide surface 79a, the second guide surface 79c, and the third guide surface 80a are inclined so as to become lower from the upstream side to the downstream side in the sorting direction X3. It can be guided toward 130 positioning portions 72. Therefore, even when a plurality of cut sheets CS are stacked on the tray 130, the guide unit 81 sequentially guides each cut sheet CS toward the positioning unit 72 of the tray 130, so that the cut sheet CS can be stacked. Variations can be suppressed.

  (4) Even when the length of the cut sheet CS in the sorting direction X3 is longer than the length of the tray 130 in the sort direction X3, the cut sheet CS is guided toward the tray 130 by the third guide surface 80a of the guide portion 81. be able to.

  (5) The first guide surface 79a and the second guide surface 79c of the guide portion 81 are arranged at positions corresponding to the notch portions 75 of the tray 130, and the first guide surface 79b and the second guide surface of the guide portion 81. 79d is arranged at a position corresponding to the notch 76 of the tray 130. Therefore, even when the tray 130 moves while changing its posture so as to rise from the delivery area DA to the sorting area SA, interference between the guide portion 81 and the tray 130 can be avoided.

In addition, you may change the said embodiment as follows.
The number of trays 130 provided in the sorting apparatus 120 and the number of trays 130 arranged in the sorting area SA can be arbitrarily changed.

  The delivery area DA and the sorting area SA may be arranged in the vertical direction. Further, when the sorting area SA is located below the delivery area DA, even if the guide plate 79 is arranged above the tray 130 placed in the delivery area DA, the sorting area SA is separated from the delivery area DA of the tray 130. Does not prevent movement to SA. Therefore, in this case, the guide plate 79 does not necessarily have to be disposed at a position corresponding to the notches 75 and 76 of the tray 130. Further, the first guide surface 79a and the second guide surface 79c of the guide plate 79 and the third guide surface 80a of the guide plate 80 are not inclined so as to become lower from the upstream side to the downstream side in the sorting direction X3. Also good.

-The 1st guide surface 79b and the 2nd guide surface 79d may incline so that it may become low toward the downstream from the upstream of the sorting direction X3.
In the delivery area DA, the cut sheet CS may be received in a receiving posture in which the receiving portion 71 of the tray 130 is horizontal.

The second guide surfaces 79c and 79d may be arranged so as to be horizontal.
-When the notch 76 is not provided in the tray 130, the 1st guide surface 79b and the 2nd guide surface 79d do not need to be provided.

  When the length of the cut sheet CS in the sorting direction X3 is shorter than the length of the receiving portion 71 in the tray 130 in the sorting direction X3, the third guide surface 80a (guide plate 80) may not be provided.

The first guide surfaces 79a and 79b, the second guide surfaces 79c and 79d, and the third guide surface 80a may be formed by the same guide plate.
The printer 100 is not limited to the one that cuts the long sheet ST into the cut paper CS, but may print on the cut paper CS that has been cut in advance.

  The printer 100 may be a liquid ejecting apparatus including a liquid ejecting head that ejects or discharges a minute amount of liquid droplets other than ink. In addition, a droplet means the state of the liquid discharged from the said liquid ejecting apparatus, and shall also include what pulls a tail in granular shape, tear shape, and thread shape. The liquid here may be any material that can be ejected by the liquid ejecting apparatus. For example, it may be in a state in which the substance is in a liquid phase, such as a liquid with high or low viscosity, sol, gel water, other inorganic solvents, organic solvents, solutions, liquid resins, liquid metals (metal melts ) And a liquid as one state of a substance, as well as a material in which particles of a functional material made of a solid such as a pigment or metal particles are dissolved, dispersed or mixed in a solvent. Further, representative examples of the liquid include ink and liquid crystal as described in the above embodiment. Here, the ink includes general water-based inks and oil-based inks, and various liquid compositions such as gel inks and hot melt inks. As a specific example of the liquid ejecting apparatus, for example, a liquid containing a material such as an electrode material or a color material used for manufacturing a liquid crystal display, an EL (electroluminescence) display, a surface emitting display, a color filter, or the like in a dispersed or dissolved state. It may be a liquid ejecting apparatus or a textile printing apparatus for ejecting.

  In the above-described embodiment, a printer that employs an inkjet method as a recording method has been described. However, the printer may be changed to a printer having an arbitrary recording method such as a dot impact method, an electrophotographic method, or a thermal transfer method. The printer is not limited to a serial printer, and may be a line printer or a page printer.

  The recording apparatus is not limited to a printer, but may be a FAX apparatus, a copying apparatus, or a multifunction machine having a plurality of these functions. The recording device may be a label printer, a barcode printer, a ticket issuing device, or the like.

  -The transported object is not limited to paper, but can be any material such as metal, plastic film, cloth, magnetic tape, rubber. Further, the conveyed product is not limited to a single sheet, but may be a bag, a booklet in which a plurality of single sheets are bound, a label attached with release paper, or the like.

  -The sorting device is not limited to the one attached to the recording device. For example, a sorting device that sorts a transported object that has undergone an arbitrary processing process such as a sticking process, a foil transfer process, a stapling process, an embossing process, and a folding process may be used.

Furthermore, the technical idea grasped | ascertained from the said embodiment and each modification is described below.
(A) the sorting apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 5;
A sorting unit comprising: a transporting device that transports the transported material along the transporting direction and discharges the transported region to the vicinity of the center in the transporting direction of the delivery region.

  According to this configuration, since the transport device discharges the transported object to the vicinity of the center in the transport direction of the delivery area, it is possible to obtain the same effect as the sorting device. Note that the sorting unit in the technical idea (a) is configured by the transport device 110 and the sorting device 120 of the above-described embodiment.

  65 ... Chain as an example of moving body, 71 ... Receiving part, 72 ... Positioning part, 75, 76 ... Notch part, 79a, 79b ... First guide surface, 79c, 79d ... Second guide surface, 80a ... Third guide Surface 81, guide unit 120, sorting device 130, tray as an example of a stacking member, CS ... cut sheet as an example of a transported object, DA ... delivery area, SA ... sorting area, X2 ... transport direction, X3 ... Sorting direction.

Claims (5)

A sorting area for transported articles transported from the upstream side in the transport direction, and in the delivery area of the transported goods to the sorting area, a plurality of the plurality of the above-mentioned thrown out from the upstream side in the transport direction toward the delivery area A sorting device that receives a conveyed product and sorts the conveyed product by moving the conveyed product received in the sorting area in a sorting direction orthogonal to the conveying direction ,
A plurality of stacking members that load the conveyed product received in the transfer area and sequentially move from the transfer area toward the sorting area;
A guide unit that receives the transported object thrown toward the delivery area and guides it toward the stacking member,
The guide unit includes a first guide surface disposed near the center of the transport direction and a second guide surface disposed downstream of the first guide surface in the transport direction within the delivery region. And the first guide surface is inclined so as to become lower from the downstream side in the transport direction toward the upstream side, and the inclination angle with respect to the horizontal direction is larger than that of the second guide surface , The sorting apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the first guide surface and the second guide surface are inclined so as to become lower from the upstream side toward the downstream side in the sorting direction .   The sorting apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the second guide surface of the guide portion is inclined so as to become lower from the downstream side in the transport direction toward the upstream side. The delivery area is arranged upstream of the sorting area in the sorting direction;
The stacking member is provided at a receiving portion that receives the conveyed product in the delivery region, and a downstream end of the receiving portion in the sorting direction, and positions the conveyed product stacked on the receiving portion. sorting device according to claim 1 or claim 2, characterized in that have a positioning portion. The guide unit further includes a third guide surface disposed upstream of the first guide surface and the second guide surface in the sorting direction,
The sorting apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein the third guide surface is inclined so as to become lower from an upstream side to a downstream side in the sorting direction. . And further comprising an endless moving body that forms a constant circular movement path and is attached so that the plurality of stacking members are arranged along the circular movement path,
The stacking member moves from the accepting posture in which the transported object is laid down in the delivery region to the sorting region while changing the posture so as to rise with the circular movement of the moving body, and to the stacking member. Is provided with a notch for assisting the removal of the transported article received,
The said 1st guide surface and the said 2nd guide surface are arrange | positioned in the position corresponding to the said notch part of the said stacking member, The Claim 1 characterized by the above-mentioned. Sorting device.

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