Data processing: generic control systems or specific application – Specific application – apparatus or process – Article handling
Reexamination Certificate
1999-07-12
2001-06-12
Ellis, Christopher P. (Department: 3651)
Data processing: generic control systems or specific application
Specific application, apparatus or process
Article handling
C271S288000, C271S296000, C271S298000, C270S058180
Reexamination Certificate
active
06246926
ABSTRACT:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS
This application is based on Application No. HEI 11-147609 and No. HEI 10-196414 filed in Japan, the content of which is hereby incorporated by reference.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a sheet sorting method or apparatus and a sheet sorting method. In detail,the present invention relates to a sheet sorting method or apparatus connected with an image forming apparatus such as a printer, facsimile, copier and the like, or integratedly incorporated in an image forming apparatus beforehand.
2. Description of the Related Art
A sheet sorting apparatus is a device for sorting sheets and is provided with a plurality of bins so as to discharge sheets from a selected discharge port into a plurality of bins corresponding to the discharge ports. It is proposed that this sheet sorting apparatus can be connected with an image forming apparatus such as a printer, a facsimile, a copier and the like, or may be integratedly incorporated in an image forming apparatus beforehand.
A sheet sorting apparatus has been proposed which provides detachable bins to allow the number of sheets accommodatable in each bin to be suitably changed. However, simply providing detachable bins to allow the number of sheets accommodatable in each bin to be changed has various disadvantages from a practical standpoint.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
An object of the present invention is to provide a novel sheet sorting method or apparatus having various advantages from a practical standpoint.
Specifically, a first object of the present invention is to provide a sheet sorting method or apparatus which allows the priority discharge bin to be changed in accordance with the number of sheets being discharged. For example, in a conventional sheet sorting apparatus, when the number of sheets exceeds the number of sheets that can be accommodated in the bin, the discharge priority of the consecutive sheets is automatically switched, but which bin this discharge priority is switched to is determined occupancy condition of the bins at that moment in time, and cannot be decided beforehand. For this reason, a user must perform the complex task of handling various discharged sheets separately in the search for his own sheets. In the sheet sorting apparatus of the present invention, if the number of sheets estimated to be discharged is known beforehand, a bin capable of accommodating the estimated number of sheets can be allocated the discharge priority thereby reducing the work of the user.
A second object of the present invention is to provide a sheet sorting method or apparatus which allows changing the discharge port corresponding to a bin so as to increase the quality of sheet stackability. For example, when a bin directly above a particular bin is removed, there are two vertical discharge ports capable of discharging sheets to the particular bin. In this instance, in a conventional sheet sorting apparatus, sheets are discharged from the discharge port used by the removed bin. A disadvantage arises in the method of selecting this discharge port in that the alignment of sheets in the bin is disrupted because of the increase in the distance the sheets discharged from this discharge port into the bin or onto the sheets already stacked in the bin. In the sheet sorting apparatus of the present invention, At first the discharge port for discharging to this particular bin is used, then the discharge priority is switched to the discharge port used by the removed bin when the number of sheets discharged via the first discharge port attains the number accommodatable by the bin, thereby improving the quality of sheet stackability.
A third object of the present invention is to provide a sheet sorting method or apparatus capable of discharging sheets to a bin set by each user, even when a selected discharge port is malfunctioned. In a conventional sheet sorting apparatus, a user must search for his own sheets because sheets are discharged to a bin which is not normally specified for use by the user. In the sheet sorting apparatus of the present invention, sheets are discharged to bins specified for each user even when a discharge port is malfunctioned, thereby reducing the work of the user.
These objects are attained by the sheet sorting apparatus of the present invention comprising:
a body;
a plurality of bins detachable from the body,said bins being to be discharged sheets;
an acquisition device for acquiring an estimated number of discharged sheets;
a bin detection device for detecting the removal of each bin;
a calculation device for calculating the number of sheets accommodatable in each bin based on the detection result of the bin detection device; and
a selection device for selecting the discharge priority bin from the plurality of bins based on the estimated number of discharged sheets and the calculated number of sheets accommodatable by the bin.
These objects are attained by the sheet sorting apparatus of the present invention comprising:
a body;
a plurality of discharge ports provided with the body;
an acquisition device for acquiring information relating to a specification of the discharge port of the plurality of discharge ports;
a determination device for determining whether or not sheets can be discharged to the specified discharge port; and
a selection device for selecting a discharge port directly above the specified discharge port when the determination device determines that sheets cannot be discharged to the specified discharge port.
These objects are attained by the sheet sorting apparatus of the present invention comprising:
a body;
bins detachable from the body and provided for each discharge port; and
a bin detection device for detecting the removal of each bin;
an acquisition device for acquiring information specifying a discharge port;
a determination device for determining whether or not a bin is installed a discharge port directly above the specified discharge port; and
a selection device for selecting a discharge port directly above the specified discharge port when the determination device determines that the bin is not installed.
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Ishii Hirotomo
Kondo Atsushi
Ellis Christopher P.
Mackey Patrick
McDermott & Will & Emery
Minolta Co. , Ltd.
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