Sorting apparatus for collating simplex and duplex copies

Abstract

Sorting apparatus for collating both simplex or side one up and duplex or side two up copies from a copying machine. The sorting apparatus includes tray assemblies arranged axially radially of a rotatable member adapted to rotate in clockwise and counterclockwise directions. A conveyor transports sheets toward a first or second feed zone adjacent the path of the tray assemblies. The direction of the tray assemblies and feed zone selected depend on the sorting mode of operation desired by the machine operator. The copy sets are unloaded at a gate into a tray member which is slideably reciprocated on receiving alternate sets to stagger the sets into separately identifiable stacks in the tray member.

Description

schematicebansaxially radially on a rotatable member 130. Rotatable member 130 is mounted on the frame to rotate in both clockwise and counterclockwise directions depending on the sorting mode of operation. It should be understood that the sorting could be accomplished with the tray assemblies rotating in one direction only, but this would require more time. Rotatable member 130 is driven by a reversible motor (not shown) which drives member 130 is in a predetermined direction according to the mode of selection on the control panel. The drive may be incremental or continuous as desired. By this structure the sheets are collated and sorted for both simplx and duplex modes of operation.

The tray assemblies have one or more bands or guides 135 for retaining the collated sheets until they are in a position adjacent an unloading tray 140 where a gate member 142 releases the collated set of sheets, during the unloading cycle which follows the sorting cycle, with signals supplied to a gate actuator 145. Unloading tray 140 is slideably mounted on guides and is adapted to move in reciprocating fashion upon receiving each set of copy sheets from a tray assembly. Any suitable drive can be used for this purpose as a drive motor 150. By this structure a set separation of the copy sets into staggered identifiable stacks is accomplished (FIG. 3).

In operation for simplex sorting the copy sheets are transported with side one up by transport 105 and directed towards sheet discharge zone 112 which feeds them into the tray assemblies 7 moving in a clockwise direction. In the case of duplex sorting the sheets are directed with side 1 face down and side 2 face up towards sheet discharge zone 110 which feeds them into the tray assemblies moving in a clockwise counterclockwise direction.

While there have been shown and described and pointed out the fundamental novel features of the invention as applied to a preferred embodiment, it will be understood that various omissions and substitutions and changes in the form and details of the device illustrated and in its operation may be made by those skilled in the art without departing from the spirit of the invention.

Claims

1. In a copier/duplicator machine which produces simplex and duplex copy sheets to be sorted an improved sorting apparatus for sorting in simplex and duplex modes of operation comprising:

a frame;

a rotatable member supported in said frame;

an array of tray members arranged axially radially of said rotatable member;

drive means for rotating said rotatable member in one direction when sorting simplex copies and the opposite direction when sorting duplex copies;

conveyor means including a deflector member for directing copy sheets towards one feed zone adjacent the path of said tray members on one side and another feed zone adjacent the path of said tray members on another side;

control means for supplying signals to said drive means and said deflector member to rotate said tray member in a predetermined direction and direct sheets to a selected feed zone depending on whether simplex or duplex sorting mode of operation is desired;

gate means positioned adjacent to the path of said tray members adapted to unload a collated set of sheets from each tray member into a receiving tray;

wherein said receiving tray is slideable across the sheet discharge path and means to slide the receiving tray in reciprocating fashion upon receiving each copy set.

2. A sheet receiving apparatus for a reproducing machine comprising:

at least one sheet receiving bin, said at least one bin including first and second side members for supporting a sheet in said bin;

means for pivotally supporting said side members for movement between a first orientation wherein said side members are generally inclined from the vertical in one direction and a sheet in said bin is supported by said first side member, and a second and different orientation wherein said side members are generally inclined from the vertical in the opposite direction and a sheet in said bin is supported by said second side member;

means for positioning said side members in said first orientation or in said second orientation; and

means for conveying said sheet to said at least one bin when said side members are supported in either of said first or second orientations. 3. An apparatus according to claim 2 including a plurality of sheet receiving bins. 4. An apparatus as in claim 2, wherein said sheet comprises a copy sheet and wherein said reproducing machine can selectively make copy sheets bearing information on a single side or on two sides, and wherein said conveying means conveys said single-sided copy sheets to said bin with said side members positioned in said first orientation or said two-sided copy sheets to said bin with said side members positioned in said second orientation, whereby sheets stacked

in said bins are properly collated. 5. In a reproducing machine which can selectively make copy sheets bearing information on a single side or on two sides, an improved sheet receiving apparatus capable of producing collated sets in both a single side or two side operation comprising:

at least one sheet receiving bin, said bin including first and second side members for supporting a sheet in said bin;

means for pivotally supporting said side members for movement between a first orientation wherein said side members are generally inclined from the vertical in one direction and a sheet in said bin is supported by said first side member, and a second and different orientation wherein said side members are generally inclined from the vertical in the opposite direction and a sheet in said bin is supported by said second side member;

means for positioning said side members in said first orientation or in said second orientation;

means for conveying sheets to said bin to cause said sheet to be delivered to said bin when said side members are supported in either of said first or second orientation; and

control means for controlling the positioning of said side means in said first or in said second orientation depending on whether single or two side operation is utilized by a machine operator whereby collated sets are produced for both operations. 6. An apparatus according to

claim 5 including a plurality of sheet receiving bins. 7. In a reproducing machine which can selectively make copy sheets for simplex and duplex operation an improved sheet receiving apparatus capable of receiving sheets in collated sets in both simplex and duplex operation comprising:

at least one movable sheet receiving bin, said bin including first and second side members for supporting a sheet in said bin;

means for moving said side members in either a first direction to one side of the vertical wherein a sheet received is supported by said first side member or second direction to the other side of the vertical wherein a sheet received is supported by said second side member;

means for conveying said sheets to said bin, said means including deflector means positioned in the sheet path and mounted to move to a first position to deflect sheets along a first path towards said bin as said side members are moved in a first direction and to a second position to deflect sheets along a second path as said side members are moved in a second direction; and

control means for controlling the direction of movement of said side members and the position of said deflector means depending on whether simplex or duplex operation is desired. 8. Apparatus according to claim 7 including more than one sheet receiving bin arranged radially on an axis.