Incremental printing of symbolic information – Light or beam marking apparatus or processes – Scan of light
Reexamination Certificate
1999-04-01
2001-09-25
Le, N. (Department: 2861)
Incremental printing of symbolic information
Light or beam marking apparatus or processes
Scan of light
C347S264000, C271S290000, C271S003170
Reexamination Certificate
active
06295081
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a recording medium discharge apparatus, and image forming apparatus equipped with a recording medium discharge apparatus. In particular, the invention relates to a recording medium discharge apparatus mounted on an image forming apparatus, such as a printer, to receive, sort and store recording media such as sheets of paper. The invention also relates to an image forming apparatus fitted with such a discharge apparatus, and to an image forming apparatus which can be fitted with such a discharge apparatus.
2. Description of Related Art
Recording medium discharge apparatuses has have been known which receive, sort and store recording media such as paper sheets discharged from an image forming apparatus such as a copying machine, a printer, or a facsimile machine. In general, a recording medium discharge apparatus of this type includes bins in which paper sheets can be stacked and a means for conveying to the bins the paper sheets discharged from the image forming apparatus. The conveyed sheets are sorted and stored in the bins.
A level detector or sensor is provided for each bin to detect it being filled with paper sheets. The detector includes a lever or arm, which may be supported near the paper discharge port of the discharge apparatus. The lever can swing or pivot across the direction in which paper sheets can be discharged. The lever is urged for contact with the top one of the sheets stacked in the bin. The detector also includes a sensor for detecting the position of the lever. The detected lever position determines whether or not the stacked sheets have reached a predetermined height or level.
Each bin may be used like a mailbox allotted to a specified user. When paper sheets are stacked to a certain height in one of the bins, a user may unfortunately take out the sheets which are to allotted to another user. Finding that the sheets are for another user, this user may put them back in the bin. Once the sheets are taken out, the detector lever of the bin turns downward. If the sheets are returned into the bin, their rear ends push the lever toward the discharge port, preventing the lever from leaving the downward position. As a result, the lever blocks the port, which will then be jammed with the next sheet being discharged.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
In view of the foregoing disadvantage, it is an object of the invention to provide a recording medium discharge apparatus which is never jammed with a paper sheet even if the paper sheet discharged to a bin of the apparatus is once taken out and then returned to the bin. It is another object to provide an image forming apparatus equipped with such a discharge apparatus. It is still another object to provide an image forming apparatus which can be equipped with such a discharge apparatus.
In accordance with a first aspect of the invention, a recording medium discharge apparatus is provided which includes:
an introducing section for receiving recording media on which images are formed;
a plurality of storing units for storing therein the media received from the introducing section;
discharging units for discharging to the respective storing units the media received from the introducing section;
a transporter for transporting to the discharging units the media received from the introducing section;
transport direction switches for switching the recording medium transport direction to transport selectively to the respective discharging units the media received from the introducing section; and
storage amount detectors for each storage unit detecting a predetermined amount of recording media stored in each respective storing unit.
Each of the storage amount detectors includes a light emitter for emitting light and a light receiver for receiving the light from the emitter. The emitter and the receiver are provided on opposite sides of the media discharged to the associated storing unit. The emitter and the receiver are positioned on a line extending perpendicular to the direction in which the media are discharged to the storing unit. This prevents the storage amount detectors from contacting recording media directly.
There may be a case where the recording media discharged into one of the storing units are once taken out and then returned to the unit. Even in this case, the returned media do not come into contact with the associated storage amount detector. This prevents the returned media from interfering with the detector so that the next recording medium is hindered from being discharged, as is the case with the conventional storage amount detector.
The storing units may be mounted removably. The removable storing units may normally be mounted for use as mailboxes or a sorter for sorting recording media. One or some of the storing units may be removed to provide a space or spaces for storing more recording media in another or other storing units, which may be used as a stacker or stackers for stacking more recording media therein.
The light emitters and receivers of the storage amount detectors may be positioned alternately.
If all the light emitters were positioned on one side of the apparatus and all the light receivers were positioned on the other, the receiver of one of two adjacent storage amount detectors might receive, in addition to light from the associated emitter, light from the emitter of the other detector. In this case, particularly, if one of the storing units is removed, there is a high possibility that erroneous detection is made between the storage amount detectors which the removed unit shut off from each other.
If the light emitters and receivers alternate, the receiver for one of two adjacent storing units detects no light from the emitter for the other. Therefore, particularly in a case where one or some of the storing units are removed, it is possible to prevent erroneous detection of the storage amount detectors.
This discharge apparatus may further include recording medium contacting devices for each storage unit temporarily blocking off the light from the light emitter of one of the storage amount detectors by contacting a recording medium being discharged by the associated discharging unit.
When each of the discharging units discharges a recording medium to the associated storing unit, the medium comes into contact with the associated recording medium contacting device. Then, the contacting device operates to temporarily block off the light directed from the light emitter to the light receiver. Consequently, every time a recording medium is discharged to the storing unit, the contacting device operates to temporarily block off the light directed from the emitter to the receiver.
Each of the storage amount detectors may include a guide for guiding the light from the associated light emitter to the associated light receiver.
Each of the storage amount detectors may include a light modulator for modulating light emitted from the associated light emitter and a light modulation detector for detecting the modulated light. The emitter emits the light modulated by the modulator. The modulated light is received by the associated light receiver and detected by the modulation detector.
The light modulator may modulate transfer data for the associated storing unit. In this case, each of the storage amount detectors emits and receives light based on the transfer data for the associated storing unit. Therefore, even if the light receiver for one of two adjacent storing units receives light from the light emitter for the other, the light is detected distinctively as light for the other unit.
The light emitters may emit light of a wavelength which is greater than a predetermined wavelength. The light receivers may receive only light of a wavelength which is longer than this wavelength.
In accordance with a second aspect of the invention, an image forming apparatus is provided which includes an image forming unit for forming images on recording media and a recording medium discharge apparatus. The discharge apparatus includes:
an int
Kashima Hiroyuki
Makino Kazumasa
Takagi Kazuhiko
Brother Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha
Le N.
Oliff & Berridg,e PLC
Pham Hai C.
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