Method for automatically sorting and aligning paper edges in a collator

Abstract

 A method for automatic paper sorting and paper edge aligning in a collator (1) comprising the steps of sorting paper sheets to be placed on plural shelves (3), feeding each sheet of paper sheets on respective shelves to a position by rollers (5) which are driven separately by computer-aided control, and feeding sequentially the sheets in the unit of a sheet from the upper shelf to the lower shelf with feed rollers (12) driven individually and separately with the detection signal from optical sensors (17) which are provided between two adjacent shelves for collation and alignment by edges of the paper sheets.

Description

[0001] This invention relates to a method for automatically sorting and aligning paper edges in a collator which can feed out paper sheets which have been sorted out by means of rollers which are separately and individually driven with computer aided control and with optical sensors, and collate the paper sheets by aligning the edges thereof in a collator.

[0002] The prior art collator generally sorts and aligns paper sheets by simultaneously feeding out from respective shelves the sorted paper sheets, dis­charging the same from the final outlet at a high speed and letting the end of each paper sheet abut against a shielding plate provided ahead of the outlet.

[0003] As the prior art collator sorts and aligns the paper sheets by discharging the sheets at a high speed to abut them against a shielding plate, the noise and static electricity are inevitably caused to present problems. Further, the alignment of paper sheets by their edges is not always precise.

[0004] This invention was conceived to eliminate afore­mentioned problems encountered in the prior art, and aims to provide a method of stably and precisely soiling and aligning paper sheets by feeding the paper sheet by sheet with a set of rollers which are individ­ually driven and controlled by a computer to a given position, detecting the paper tip end with an optical sensor provided between adjacent shelves, and with an instruction from the sensor, driving the next set of rollers so as to feed, superpose and align the next sheet of paper by the edges thereof with the first paper sheet. This method according to the invention can reduce noise and ensure accurate alignment of paper edges as it aligns the paper sheets by edges and superpose them simultaneously with collating process.

[0005] Attached drawings show a unit embodying the method for automatically sorting and aligning paper edges in a collator according to this invention: FIG. 1 is a frontal view; FIG. 2 is a vertical section; FIG. 3 is an explanatory view of individual driving of rollers; and FIG. 4 is a perspective view.

[0006] This invention method will now be described by referring to an embodiment for sorting and aligning papaer sheets by edges in a collator which is shown in attached drawings.

[0007] In the figures the reference numeral 1 denotes a collator, and 2,2 side plates of the collator which have plural shelves in 3,3 vertical arrangement. The shelves 3,3 are journalled at one end with a pin 4 joint respectively, and energized upward toward rollers 5,5 by means of suspended springs 19 respectively (The roller 5 will be described in more detail hereinafter). The topmost sheet of the paper sheets a, b, and c piled on respective shelves 3,3 is therefore abutted against the roller 5.

[0008] The rollers 5,5 are positioned above the ends of said shelves 3,3 respectively, are axially supported by side plates 2,2, and are individually driven by separate motors 6,6 provided at one end thereof via one-directional clutches 5a. The motors 6,6 are separately controlled by a computer.

[0009] Plates 7,7 made of rubber plate or the like are provided to oppose the rollers 5 respectively. Each plate 7 is attached to a supporting rod 10 which can move in the direction toward the roller 5 by the operation of a spring 9 on an attachment plate 8 in a manner to allow the roller 5 and the plate 7 to feed out the paper sheet by sheet. A pair of guide plates, 11, 11a are provided at an interval on one end or the frontal side of the side plates 2,2. A pair each of feed out rollers 12, 12a are provided on the guide plates 11, 11a at a position corresponding to respective shelves 3,3. One of the feed out rollers 12 is communicated with an individually driven motor 13 via a one-directional clutch 12b while the other feed out roller 12a is driven by the engagement of the first feed out roller 12 with gears 14,14a. The feed out roller 12a is axially supported by a movable bearing 15 for pressure adjust­ment. The bearing can be moved horizontally by an adjustment handle 16 to adjust the pressure applied on the paper sheets which pass through the rollers 12,12a.

[0010] Said guide plates 11a each are respectively provided with an optical sensor 17 to detect the paper sheet which has been fed between the rollers 12, 12a. The optical sensor 17 is connected with the driving motor 13 of the roller 12 so that the driving motor 13 is actuated with detection signals from the optical sensor 17 to feed out the paper sheets toward the guide plates 11,11a.

[0011] Press rollers 20 are provided at positions above and corresponding to the feed out rollers 12, the rollers 20 being axially supported on arms 18 which are journalled at one end thereof respectively, so that the paper sheets fed out by the feed out rollers 12 are pressed onto the rollers 12. A pair of guide 21,21a are provided between one end of the shelve 3 and the guide plate 12 to direct a sheet of paper from the roller 5 toward the guide plates 11,11a.

[0012] According to this invention, the paper sheets a, b, and c are piled on each shelves 3,3, and pushed upward with the spring 19 in a manner that the topmost sheet of the paper on the respective shelves 3 becomes engaged with the roller 5 provided ahead thereof. When the rollers 5,5 for respective shelves are driven indi­vidually by motors 6,6 as the motors are switched ON, the paper sheets are controlled to pass through the guide plates 21,21a sheet by sheet by the plates 7,7 correspond­ing to the rollers 5. The paper sheet a on the topmost shelf is caught between the feed out roller 12 and the press roller 20 which are individually and separately driven, and guided to pass through the guide plates 11,11a by the roller 12 and corresponding roller 12a. When its passage is detected with an optical sensor 17 provided between the shelves 3,3, the roller 12 at the second shelf is driven separately with the detection signals from the optical sensor 17 to catch the sheet b between the feed out roller 12 and the press roller 20. The edge of the paper sheet on the upper shelf is registered in timing with that of the sheet on the lower shelf in advance so that the sheets are fed out in alignment. When these sheets a, b in alignment are detected by the optical sensor 17 at the next stage, the feed out roller 12 is driven in a manner similar to the above to feed out the sheet c to be aligned and collated. The rollers 5 may be controlled by a computer to feed and align the sheets of paper on any arbitrary shelf if needed.

[0013] This invention method separates paper sheets into plural groups placed on plural shelves, feeds out selected sheet of paper to a position by rollers which are separately driven by a computer control, and when the sheet is detected by an optical sensor provided between two adjacent shelves to issue detection signals, drives the feed out rollers separately so as to align the edges of paper sheets which are sequentially fed out from the shelves from the top to bottom for collation. The method can therefore effectively feed out the paper sheets out of any arbitrary shelf with the aid of computer control, and can align the sheets by edges thereof, thereby reducing noise and static electricity generation and achieving precise and stable collation. This method can also rationalize the collating process. If applied to a process immediately before the paper folding process, it will fully automatize the collating preparation to improve the efficiency and save manpower.

Claims

1. A method for automatic paper sorting and paper edge aligning in a collator comprising the steps of sorting paper sheets to be placed on plural shelves, feeding each sheet of paper sheets on respective shelves to a position by rollers which are driven separately by computer-aided control, and feeding sequentially the sheets in the unit of a sheet from the upper shelf to the lower shelf with feed rollers driven individually and separately with the detection signal from optical sensors which are provided between two adjacent shelves for colla­tion and alignment by edges of the paper sheets.

2. An apparatus for carrying out the method according to claim 1.

Drawing