JP3508034B2 - Discharge paper sorting device - Google Patents

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a discharged sheet sorting apparatus for a sheet post-processing unit such as an office machine for filling sheets and test sheets.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art An optical mark reader (OMR),
Optical character reading device (OCR), etc., equipped with a sorting device that reads hundreds of written sheets at high speed to read marks and characters in a short time, and sorts the read sheets by the same identification symbol Is often used. In the OMR and OCR, the computer section (information processing section) discriminates the sheet conveyed to the reading section from the sheet feeding apparatus in a short time, and distributes the sheet based on the recognition signal. In this case, since there is a time lag between reading and recognition determination, it takes a long time to perform recognition determination of the sheet conveyed from the supply device, and thus the distance to the determination device is long.
For example, an optical mark reading device (OMR) is connected with a paper feeding device, a scanning reading unit, and a sorting device based on this reading identification. In order to separate the sheets in accordance with the recognition / sorting signal from the scanning / reading unit, separating blades are arranged at the branch points, which are operated up and down, and discharged to the sorting device arranged in two upper and lower stages.

[0003]

However, such O
In a reading / sorting device such as MR, it is necessary to sort the paper according to the result of reading and processing the data, and the data on the paper cannot be sorted during the recognition process of the data of this paper by the central processing unit. It is configured to stop and wait once, or to provide a long conveying path so that the sorting work at the branch point is performed after a discrimination signal is generated during waiting or during conveyance. Therefore, the discharge sorting apparatus as a whole requires a standby section and a long conveyance path, and the depth is long and space is required as a whole. Further, the upper and lower discharging portions are provided in the conveying path, and the length in the sheet feeding direction is long, and the conveying drive system is complicated. Further, in the OCR recognition device, there is a problem in that it takes a long time to perform recognition discrimination, and the processing time after reading becomes long. An object of the present invention is to provide a discharged paper sorting apparatus having a short paper transport distance.

[0004]

The above object of the present invention can be achieved by the following constitution. The configuration is such that, after reading the data of the sheets stacked on the paper feed table by the reading device, in the discharged paper sorting device that sorts and discharges the paper, the paper supplied from the paper feeding table is conveyed from the reading device to the next process. Transporting means, an intermediate storing means having a central storing portion for storing a plurality of sheets transported by the transporting means, and a sheet being withdrawn from the transporting path when the sheet is transported to the intermediate storing means. When ejecting a sheet from the intermediate accommodating means, it is pressed against the sheet and is ejected and guided to the left and right sides of the main body of the apparatus in a direction perpendicular to the conveying direction of the sheet. Discharge auxiliary switching control means for switching control of pressure contact operation, and a plurality of sheets accommodated in the intermediate accommodating means are sequentially pressed by the discharge auxiliary switching means by the discharge assisting means to press the sheets left and right. Discharging means in which a pair of driving rollers are arranged so as to face the discharge assisting means provided on the left and right so as to selectively discharge, and when it is detected that the paper to be supplied is the final paper, the intermediate storage An intervening plate control means for controlling the interposition of an intervening plate disposed slidably in and out between the final sheet contained in the means and the discharge assisting means,

The first first sheet from the paper feed tray is accommodated in the intermediate accommodating means from the reading device by the conveying means, and then the second sheet is read and then conveyed in the same manner as described above. , The sheet is stacked on the first sheet stored earlier, and based on the read recognition signal of the first sheet, the discharge auxiliary switching control means sets a predetermined left and right direction orthogonal to the conveyance direction. One of the selected discharge assisting means is pressed against the pair of drive rollers of the discharging means by the sheet pressure contact action to discharge the paper to the left and right sides of the intermediate accommodating means and at the same time, the three sheets of the paper feed table. After the sheet of the eye is read, it is conveyed to the intermediate accommodating unit, and the step of stacking it on the second sheet of the sheet accommodated in the intermediate accommodating unit is repeated, and the sheet is discharged to either the left or the right, and supplied. Is the final paper When it is detected that the moving the intervening plate in place by an intervening plate control means, the configuration of the discharge sheet sorting apparatus being characterized in that to allow discharge the sheet.

The discharging means rotates the drive roller in opposite directions on the left side and the right side so as to discharge the sheet in a direction orthogonal to the conveying direction. The sheet is stored in the central storing portion of the intermediate storing means. In the storage standby state, during operation, a separating means is arranged in the vicinity of each driving roller so as not to come into contact with the driving roller that is constantly rotating, and the auxiliary roller group of the discharging means is a pair of symmetrically arranged rollers. The supporting rods having the discharge assisting means arranged are respectively supported by the shaft rods arranged at the center, and each supporting rod is biased by an elastic member in the direction in which the discharging assisting means is separated from the driving roller. The above-mentioned object can be achieved by arranging the discharge auxiliary switching control means for lowering the support rod and the discharge auxiliary means against the elastic force of the elastic member and pressing them toward the drive roller.
The discharge auxiliary switching control means is operated by an electromagnetic solenoid to operate any of the support rods of the discharge auxiliary means. The final sheet can be discharged by moving the intervening plate of the interposing plate control means provided in the vicinity of the drive roller to a predetermined position between the sheet and the ejection assisting means. The paper discharged from the intermediate accommodating means by the drive roller is discharged to the discharge trays provided on both the left and right sides.

[0007]

In the discharged paper sorting apparatus of the present invention, the data of the paper supplied from the paper feed table on which the sheets are stacked is read by the reading device, and the discharged first paper sheet is temporarily transferred by the discharged paper sorting apparatus. Waiting for the next sheet to be sent when the second sheet is conveyed
During this time, a recognition / sorting signal is sent to the discharge auxiliary switching control means, and when the second sheet overlaps in the central accommodating section, based on the signal, the left and right are operated by the operation of the operating rod by the electromagnetic solenoid of the discharge auxiliary switching control means. Any one of the support rods is operated to lower the auxiliary roller of the discharge assisting means, and the auxiliary roller comes into contact with the surface of the second sheet (next sheet).

The lower first sheet in the central accommodating portion is arranged to be separated upward from the drive roller by the elastic force of the separating means, but the lower side stacked by the lowering action of the auxiliary roller ( The first sheet of paper is pressed, momentarily contacts the drive roller that is constantly rotating against the elastic force of the separating means, and is discharged to the discharge trays arranged on the left and right sides.
At this time, either the left or right discharge auxiliary switching control means operates based on the data signal, the supporting rod of the auxiliary roller of the discharge auxiliary means swings down around the shaft rod, and is pressed and stacked from above. The sheet on the lower side of the sheet comes into contact with the drive roller and is ejected in the direction (left-right direction) orthogonal to the transport direction. Moreover, since the data of the paper can be recognized while the paper is waiting at the storage place, the processing can be performed for a short time. Further, since the sheets are separated and discharged on both sides orthogonal to the conveying direction, the entire conveying path can be formed short.

[0009]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS An embodiment of the discharged paper sorting apparatus of the present invention is shown in the drawings. FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing the outline of the internal mechanism of an embodiment of the discharged sheet sorting apparatus of the present invention. FIG. 2 is a plan view of an essential part of FIG. 3 is a side view of a main part of FIG. 1, FIGS. 4 (a) and 4 (b) are schematic plan views of a main part of the discharged paper sorting apparatus from which an upper mechanism is removed, and FIG. 5 is an embodiment of the discharged paper sorting apparatus of the present invention. It is an example operation timing table. FIG. 6 is a block diagram of the entire optical mark reading device.

The discharged paper sorting apparatus of the present invention will be described based on an embodiment shown in the drawings. The paper loaded on the paper feed table is supplied to the reading device R, and after reading the data, the paper is conveyed to the insertion guide plate 15. .. serving as a conveying means face the insertion guide plate 15. Reference numeral 17 denotes a drive shaft for the transport rollers 16, 16 ... The drive rollers 2, 2, 2a, 2a, which are the discharging means of the apparatus main body, are axially supported in the left and right symmetrical positions below the mounting plate 1 which is the central accommodating portion of the intermediate accommodating means. Holes 3, 3, 3a, 3a are formed to expose the drive rollers 2, 2, 2a, 2a. The drive rollers 2, 2, 2a, 2a are interlocked with an intermediate timing pulley connected to the drive source of the reading device R. In this embodiment, the drive rollers 2, 2, 2a, 2a are constantly rotated during operation. The drive rollers 2 and 2 and the drive rollers 2a and 2a rotate in opposite directions. 4 and 4 are elastic plates which are isolation means provided on the back side of the mounting plate 1 and have holes 3, 3, 3a,
It is exposed from 3a and its tip is higher than the surface of the mounting plate 1.

Numerals 5, 5, 5a and 5a are auxiliary rollers which are discharge assisting means provided so as to face the driving rollers 2, 2, 2a and 2a, and are rotated by a shaft rod 7 to a frame body provided in the main body of the apparatus. It is movably supported by a shaft and horizontally supported between rocking rods 6 and 6 and 6a and 6a extending laterally. The swing rods 6 and 6a are solenoids 9 which are discharge auxiliary switching means.
9a and operating rods 8, 8a. The discharge auxiliary switching means for the operating rods 8 and 8a and the solenoids 9 and 9a operates the operating rod 8 by selectively operating one of the left and right solenoids, for example, the solenoid 9, according to the recognition and classification signal read by the reading device R. Let it descend. The rocking rod 6,
6a is constantly lifted upward by tension springs 10 and 10a, and auxiliary rollers 5, 5, 5a and 5a are separated from drive rollers 2, 2, 2a and 2a. Reference numeral 11 denotes a moving plate 1 having protruding pieces 13, 13, 13a, 13a arranged at its tip.
2 is an electromagnetic solenoid of intervening plate control means for rotating the operating plate 14 for operating 2. The rod that advances and retreats by the operation of the electromagnetic solenoid 11 rotates the operating plate 14 to move the moving plate 12, and the projecting pieces 13, 13, 13a, 1
3a is inserted and withdrawn between the auxiliary rollers 5, 5, 5a, 5a and the drive rollers 2, 2, 2a, 2a. Reference numeral 18 denotes discharge trays arranged on the left and right sides of the apparatus main body.

The discharged paper sorting apparatus of the present invention will be described based on the embodiment shown in the drawings. The sheet discharged and conveyed from the reading device R is inserted between the insertion guide plates 15 and 15, and is conveyed by the conveying roller 1616.
Be transported to. When the first sheet is conveyed and accommodated in the central accommodating section A, the data of the second sheet is read and conveyed, and two sheets are awaited in this central accommodating section A. At this time, since the lower sheet is lifted by the elastic plates 4, 4, ..., It does not contact the drive rollers 2, 2, 2a, 2a. When the two sheets are accommodated, the solenoid 9 or the solenoid 9 is detected by the recognition and classification signal of the first sheet of the reading device R.
a is excited, and the rocking rod 6 or 6a is pulled by a spring 10,
The rocking rod 6 or 6a is lowered against the elasticity of 10a.
When the fixed auxiliary rollers 5, 5 or 5a, 5a installed on the upper side are pressed against the upper side sheet, the lower side sheet is lowered together with the elastic plates 4, 4 of the separating means and comes into contact with the drive rollers 2, 2. Since the friction coefficient of the auxiliary roller 5 and the drive roller 2 is set to be larger than the friction coefficient of the paper, the upper paper is held at a predetermined position by the friction with the auxiliary roller 5, and the lower paper is rotated by the drive roller 2. The sheet is discharged to the discharge tray 18 in the direction orthogonal to the transport direction.

When it is recognized that the sheet is the final sheet, the determination signal is excited by the electromagnetic solenoid 11 which is the intervening plate control means to rotate the operating plate 14 so that the moving plate 12 moves and the tension provided at the leading end thereof. The projecting pieces 13, 13, ... Are driving rollers 2, 2, 2.
Thus, the final sheets on the auxiliary rollers 5, 5, ... And the overhanging pieces 13, 13 come into contact with each other. Since the friction coefficient of the overhanging piece 13 is set to be smaller than that of the auxiliary roller 5 and arranged on the upper side of the final sheet, the final sheet is discharged by the rotation of the driving roller 2 to the predetermined discharge tray 18 in the direction orthogonal to the conveying direction. To be done.

According to the embodiment of the discharged paper sorting apparatus of the present invention, the drive rollers 2, 2, 2a, 2a are constantly rotated so that the paper waiting on the mounting plate 1 is driven by the drive rollers 2, 2.
The elastic plates 4.4 are arranged so as not to come into contact with 2, 2a and 2a, but the means for moving (lowering) the swing rods 6, 6 ... Is not limited to the electromagnetic solenoid. Further, the discharge assisting means is not limited to the auxiliary roller fixed to the swing rod 6, and may be a plate material. These are formed of a substance having a smaller friction coefficient with respect to the paper than the surface of the drive roller 2. As shown in FIG. 6, this discharged paper sorting device is connected to an optical mark reading device, and information such as paper quality and selection information of the paper on the paper feed tray is input to a CPU built in the reading device R side. The discharge auxiliary switching means operates in response to the recognition and classification signal from the reading device R, and the paper is surely discharged by the left and right auxiliary rolls and drive rollers.

The discharged paper sorting device can continuously discharge the paper from the data reading device. The paper discharge timing will be described with reference to the operation timing table shown in FIG. When reading four sheets, the relationship between the host central processing unit (CPU), the reading unit (R), and the discharged sheet sorting apparatus is shown. At operation timing 1, in the host central processing unit (CPU), the reading device (R) first reads one sheet while moving, at operation timing 2 the host CPU receives an image, and at operation timing 5, the first sheet. Recognition is done. Before this recognition is performed, a read command for the second sheet is issued at operation timing 4. On the other hand, in the discharged paper sorting apparatus of the present invention, the paper is read at the operation timing 1 and discharged at the operation timing 2 by the transport rollers 16 and 16 and is positioned at the operation timing 3 and on the mounting plate 1 which is the storage means. To do. When the second sheet moves at the operation timing 4 and the second sheet is discharged onto the mounting plate 1 at the operation timing 6, the first sheet is discharged because it has already been recognized by the host CPU. Become. Thereafter, the sheets are continuously discharged in the same manner, and the final first sheet is discharged at the operation timing 14.

[0016]

According to the discharged sheet sorting apparatus of the present invention, since the sheet is discharged perpendicularly to the sheet conveying path, the conveying path can be shortened. It is possible to prevent the transport trouble during the standby. Further, the processing time can be shortened because it can be performed continuously, and the sheets can be sorted reliably.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing an outline of an internal mechanism of an embodiment of a discharged sheet sorting apparatus according to the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a plan view of an essential part of FIG.

FIG. 3 is a side view of a main part of FIG.

4 (a) and 4 (b) are a schematic plan view and a side view of an essential part of the discharged sheet sorting apparatus according to the present invention from which an upper mechanism is removed.

FIG. 5 is an operation timing table of the embodiment of the discharged sheet sorting apparatus according to the present invention.

FIG. 6 is a block diagram of the entire optical mark reading device.

[Explanation of symbols]

1 ... Mounting plate 2 ... Drive roller 3 ... hole 4 ... Elastic plate 5 ... Auxiliary roller 6 ... rocking rod 7… Axis rod 8 ... Operating rod 9 ... Solenoid 10 ... tension spring 11 ... Electromagnetic solenoid 12 ... Moving plate 13 ... Overhanging piece 14 ... Operating plate 15… Insertion guide plate 16 ... Conveyor roller 17 ... Drive shaft 18 ... Ejection tray R ... Reader A: Central accommodation

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Claims (8)

(57) [Claims] 1. An ejected paper sorting device for classifying and ejecting data of sheets stacked on a paper feed tray by a reading device, and then feeding the paper fed from the paper feed tray to the next step from the reading device. Transporting means for transporting, intermediate storing means having a central storing portion for storing a plurality of sheets transported by this transporting means, and when the sheet is transported to the intermediate storing means, it is retracted from the transport path, When ejecting a sheet from the intermediate accommodating means, it is pressed against the sheet and is ejected to the left and right sides of the apparatus main body in a direction perpendicular to the conveying direction of the sheet. Discharge auxiliary switching control means for switching and controlling the operation of sheet pressure contact, and a plurality of sheets stored in the intermediate storage means are sequentially pressed by the discharge auxiliary switching control means to press the discharge auxiliary means. When and discharge means respectively disposed a pair of drive rollers so as to face the discharge auxiliary means provided on the left and right to selectively discharge the left and right side, a paper sheet to be fed is the last sheet is detected,
An intervening plate control means for controlling the interposition of an intervening plate disposed slidably in and out between the final sheet accommodated in the intermediate accommodating means and the discharge assisting means, The first sheet is accommodated in the intermediate accommodating means by the conveying means from the reading device, and then the second sheet is read, then conveyed in the same manner as described above, and the first sheet accommodated first. On the sheet of paper, and based on the read recognition signal of the first sheet, the discharge auxiliary switching control means selects a predetermined left and right direction orthogonal to the conveying direction, and one of the selected discharges The auxiliary means presses the sheet against the pair of drive rollers of the ejecting means by the sheet pressure contact action, ejects the sheet to the left and right sides of the intermediate accommodating means, and at the same time reads the third sheet on the paper feed table and then the intermediate accommodating means. Transported to the intermediate storage The step of stacking onto the second sheet of paper stored in the stack is repeated so that the sheet is discharged to either the left or right side, and when it is detected that the sheet to be supplied is the final sheet, the intervening plate is inserted. An ejected paper sorting device, characterized in that the interposing plate is moved to a predetermined position by the control means so that the paper can be ejected. 2. The discharging means rotates the driving rollers having the driving rollers arranged on the left side and the right side of the central accommodating portion of the intermediate accommodating means in the directions opposite to each other on the left side and the right side, so that the intermediate accommodating means moves to the intermediate accommodating means. The discharged sheet sorting device according to claim 1, wherein the accommodated sheets are discharged in a direction orthogonal to the conveying direction. 3. The discharge means constantly drives the drive roller to rotate while the discharge means is in operation, and the paper stored in the intermediate storage means is normally stored apart from the drive roller, and the discharge auxiliary switching control means is provided. 2. An isolating means for moving the discharge assisting means to the paper side to bring the paper into contact with the drive roller surface when activated, is arranged near each drive roller of the discharge means. The discharged paper sorting device described in 2. 4. The discharge assisting means pivotally supports a supporting rod supporting a pair of symmetrically arranged auxiliary rollers on a shaft rod disposed at the center, and each supporting rod separates the auxiliary roller from a driving roller. Is urged by the elastic member in the direction
The discharge auxiliary switching means for arranging the supporting rod and the auxiliary roller against the elastic force of the elastic member and pressing them toward the driving roller is arranged on each of the supporting rods.
And the discharged paper sorting device described in 2. 5. The discharge assist switching control means is actuated by an electromagnetic solenoid, and one of the left and right support rods of the discharge assist means is swung about a shaft rod. Output paper sorting device. 6. The discharged sheet sorting apparatus according to claim 1, wherein a discharge tray is disposed at a discharge port for discharging by a driving roller provided on the left and right sides of the main body of the discharge means. . 7. The discharged sheet sorting apparatus according to claim 1, wherein a coefficient of friction of a contact surface of the discharge assisting means with a sheet is smaller than that of a driving roller. 8. The discharged sheet sorting apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the discharge assisting means is made of a substance having a high hardness, and the driving roller is made of a substance having a low hardness.