Abstract: A sorter in which a stepwise bin driving mechanism which includes helical cams moves bins, which are arranged in multiple steps, sequentially and intermittently to a sheet delivery position for loading the respective bins with sheets. The sorter includes pin guides and support frames which are constituted by side plates each being provided with an elongate slot for guiding a pin, which is provided on each side of the base end of a bottom plate of each bin. Cam members are provided at both sides of the other or free end of each bin. The cam members of the lowermost one of the bins have a greater height than those of the other bins so that, while the sorter is in a sort mode, the space available above the bottom plate of the lowermost bin for receiving sheets becomes greater than those available above the other bins. A bin drive motor which serves as a drive source for the bin driving mehanism is implemented with an AC reversible motor.

Abstract: A copying apparatus in accordance with the present invention is provided with an automatic document feeder in the main body of the copying apparatus. The automatic document feeder has a document transport portion for moving and stopping a document; a document feed portion for feeding the document to the document transport portion; and a document discharge portion for receiving the document sent from the document transport portion. The document feed portion includes a plurality of document feed units which are provided in a detachable manner. The document discharge portion has a plurality of detachable document discharge units which are placed one upon another in a vertical direction. By thus constructing the automatic document feeder, document feed units can be coupled freely in a desired manner of utilization so that copy processing can be performed.

Abstract: An automatic document job batching system for a copier with a recirculating document handler (RDH), with a document stacking tray into which a set of document sheets is loaded for recirculative precollation copying, and a separate (SADH) document loading entrance provided for semiautomatic non-precollation copying, utilizing a document gate for selectably directing documents to this tray or to be ejected from the RDH. All document jobs to be copied may be preloaded, and left unattended, for automatic sequential loading and copying, in a common stack, face down, as a batched plurality of intermixed documents and document set jobs interleaved with job slip sheets, in a job loading input adjacent the RDH which sequentially top feeds the documents into the SADH document entrance.

Abstract: Continuous operation of the conveyor in an inserter system is achieved by providing a lift up station (LUS) between a Document Entry Device (DED) and the next downstream Multiple Document Entry Device (MDED). A controller causes the LUS to remove documents from the conveyor when it is determined that the time, t.sub.2, required by the MDED to complete assembly of an enclosure for ejection onto the conveyor exceeds the time, t.sub.1, required by the conveyor to move the document ejected by the DED to the MDED, and subsequently causes the LUS to replace the documents onto the conveyor at a time substantially t.sub.2 -t.sub.1 later. Apparatus and method are disclosed.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus has an original feeder which is operable in a first mode in which a plurality of originals are fed to an exposure position one at a time and an exposure operation is carried out a preset number of times for each original and a second mode in which the plurality of originals are fed to the exposure position one at a time and one cycle of exposure operation is carried out for each original and the above operation is repeated by the preset number of times, a storage having a plurality of record sheet trays, and a control unit for controlling the storage such that the record sheets are distributed to the trays in the first mode and the record sheets are stored in one of the trays in the second mode.

Abstract: A sorter has trays or bins for storing sorted sheets, rollers for conveying the sheets received from a copying machine, a cam mechanism for moving the bins, and a controller including a microcomputer for properly controlling the sorting operation in different modes. With a minimum number of signals, the sorter can change the operation mode and can be turned off automatically if no sheet is received within a given time from reception of an ON signal.

Abstract: A sheet sorting apparatus of the type in which a stack of trays are integrally moved by a driving device so that individual trays are sequentially brought into association with a sheet discharger to receive the sheets. A sheet passage is branched out of the passage for receiving the sheet from the sheet discharger to the trays so that two passages are usable for supplying the sheet to the trays. One of the two sheet passages is selected in response to the selection of the mode from the sorting mode and non-sorting mode.

Abstract: A blueprint copy collating apparatus for use with a blueprint copying machine comprising a plurality of blueprint receiving bins which are adapted for vertical movement relative to a support frame. A conveyor means is provided for transporting blueprint copies to the blueprint receiving bins and a drive means provided for raising and lowering the bins relative to the conveyor according to a predetermined sequence which is determined by a control circuit and corresponds to user selection. A vibrator table is secured to the apparatus for aligning sets of blueprint copies which are removed from individual bins subsequent to completion of the sorting or stacking function.

Abstract: A method for collating a plurality of copies comprising advancing a group of bins in one direction for collating a selected number of copies, returning the bins in an opposite direction for collating the same number of copies after the advancing movement, repeating the advancing and returning movements alternately, detecting a change of the selected number of copies during the collating operation, and starting the collating operation from a specific standard bin in response to that detection.

Abstract: An electrophotographic copying machine is equipped with a sorter. The copying machine comprises a sort switch, an interruption sort switch, a bin serial number memory for storing the serial number of the last operated bin in the sort mode, a detection device, and an interruption-sort device. The detection device is operated to detect whether the interruption switch is operated each time the sorting of copied papers by the sorter is completed. If the detection device detects that the interruption switch is actuated, the interruption-sort device sorts the subsequent copied papers into the subsequent bins with their serial numbers following the serial number of the last bin stored in the bin number memory.

Abstract: A document copying system which is arranged to automatically collect copied paper sheets accommodated in a sorter in a classified state upon completion of the copying function for one original document group, and also to collect discharged original documents, capable of continuously effecting the copying operation including the classification work with respect to the plurality of original document groups, thus making it possible to realize an unattended copying operation over a long period of time.

Abstract: A sheet sorter which generates a signal for enabling image formation before the sheet sorter becomes ready for sheet handling, thereby reducing the time required for the first image recording.

Abstract: A sorting and stacking apparatus has a currency note feeding section for feeding currency notes one at a time; and a currency note inspecting section for inspecting the denomination of a currency note, a normal note, a damaged note, an obverse-presented note and a reverse-presented note. The currency notes of a predetermined denomination among the currency notes fed by the currency note feeding section are fed to a first stacking section having first and second pockets while currency notes of other denominations are fed to the second stacking section. When the first pocket of the first stacking section is filled with the currency notes, the transport path of the currency note is automatically switched toward the second pocket. Subsequent currency notes are thus stacked in the second pocket of the first stacking section.

Abstract: In a sorting machine designed for use with a copying machine capable of handling paper of various sizes, a vertical array of sorting bins includes an uppermost sorting bin with an expandable surface area. This allows the sorting machine to handle extraordinarily large paper without increasing the footprint of the sorting machine. The uppermost position ensures that when expanded, the expandable sorting bin will stand over the copying machine, which does not normally need great overhead clearance. The expandable sorting bin may be expandable by virtue of a hinged, sliding or detachable extension plate, and may be expanded automatically when the copying machine detects and signals the use of larger paper. Multiple expandable sorting bins may be used for sorting the extra-large paper. In addition, the sorting machine may have one normal-sized sorting bin in alignment with a main receiving tray of the copying machine so as to allow the main tray to accommodate extra-large paper.

Abstract: Apparatus producing information copies on interleaved transparency material and plain paper separator sheets, where such separation of the transparency material by the plain paper sheets facilitates handling of the transparency material. The productivity of the apparatus reproduction cycles is enhanced by selectively producing information copies on transparency material or on transparency material and on the separator sheets. After the information copies are produced, the transparency material and separator sheets are selectively stacked in separate receiving hoppers or in interleaved fashion in one receiving hopper.

Abstract: For a sorter with movable bins capable of sorting in both directions from the upper bin to the lower bin and from the lower bin to the upper bin corresponding to a selected number of copies for successive originals, an improved controlling method for the sorter provides for returning the bins to a selected position when the number of copies is changed from the one previously set.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus, such as copier, is capable of changing the feed path of original documents according to the imaging mode for achieving efficient original feeding. The apparatus is provided with indicators for indicating the inserting position for the original documents according to the imaging mode.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus and attachment capable of displaying an indication that the device has been instructed to process a number of images that exceeds the processing capacity of the attachment. The displayed indication is in the form of a numeral indicating the processing capacity of the attachment.

Abstract: The invention concerns a method and apparatus for operating a multibin sheet collator, particularly a copier/collator installation. Additional to the number of sets to be collated, the number of sheets contained in each set is entered into the collator logic. If this number of sheets in a set exceeds the capacity of a single collator bin, adjacent bins are grouped together and treated as one virtual bin with increased capacity, thus extending the collator usage. Sheets exceeding the total capacity of the collator can be fed into additional receptacles.

Abstract: Disclosed is a sorter which has a controller for receiving a reset signal generated by a copying machine main body and for positioning sort bins in a sort home position in response to the reset signal.

Abstract: There is disclosed a collator which can access a desired one of a plurality of recording medium bins at any timing and which allows a maximum utilization of the plurality of bins. The collator includes a transporter for transferring recording medium to bins, a deflector for guiding the recording medium to the selected bin, an empty detector for detecting an empty state of the recording medium in the bins, and a controller for controlling the operation of the deflector such that when a predetermined amount of recording media have been stored in the bin during the recording medium storage operation, the recording media are transferred to other storage, and when said empty detector detects that the recording media have been removed from the bin having the predetermined amount of recording media stored therein, the transport of the recording media to the emptied bin is permitted.

Abstract: In a collator for use in combination with an electrophotographic copying machine which discharges copies of originals in succession at the same time interval, deflection claws for delivering successive copies of a manuscript into successive bins are provided at inlets of respective bins and two endless belts each having an actuator for driving the deflection claws are provided movably along the successive bins. The two endless belts are driven by two different controlling circuits, respectively in an independent manner. During the copy delivering operation by the first endless belt for a plurality of copies of a certain document, it is possible to initiate the copy delivering operation by the second endless belt for a plurality of copies of the next document.

Abstract: A collator includes a series of twenty bins arranged in parallel with each other. A copy feeding member feeds copies supplied from a copying machine along inlets of the successive bins. First and second deflecting devices are arranged at uppermost two bins for delivering the copies into the uppermost two bins. A distributor is movable between the third bin and the twentieth bin for delivering the copies into the bins. An extra tray is provided separately from the bins. The collator further comprises a collate mode selecting member, a job separation mode selecting member and a non-collate mode selecting member.

Abstract: A sorter for a copy machine is equipped with a portion adapted to receive sheets inserted manually for use as covers or partitions of the copies in the sorter. The sorter may be formed of one or more sorter portions arranged serially and is provided with a memory register for memorizing information corresponding to the number of sheets to be inserted manually, a count register for counting the number of sheets for manual insertion, and a circuit for inhibiting the manual insert operation for a predetermined period of time after the contents in the memory register becomes equal to the contents in the count register, thereby attaining the precise and reliable collation and sorting of the sheets to be inserted as covers and partitions.

Abstract: This invention is directed to a feeding mechanism for a collator. A collator comprises a number of bins wherein multiple copies and multiple pages are inserted into the bins. This feeding mechanism can insert papers into the bins and which papers can move downwardly and into the bins or can move upwardly and into the bins. In one version of this feeding mechanism it is possible for the feeding mechanism to feed the same page of the business papers, continuously, into the bins until all of that page has been inserted into the bins. In this version there is a saving of time and money and paper as it is not necessary to shut down the feeding mechanism while inserting the pages into the bins and thereby there is a saving of time and there is a saving of paper as paper is not wasted during the time the feeding mechanism is not operating.

Abstract: A collator includes a series of twenty bins arranged in parallel with each other, a copy feeding member for feeding copies supplied from a copying machine along inlets of the successive bins, first and second deflecting devices arranged at the uppermost two bins for delivering the copies into the uppermost two bins and a distributor movable between the third bin and the twentieth bin for delivering the copies into the bins. The collator can treat the copies in a job separation mode in which all copies of each documents are delivered into respective bins in succession, while the distributor is advanced bin by bin in response to a distributor advance signal produced by a variable timer which is actuated upon detection of the rear edge of the last copy of an Nth original by an entrance switch to set a time period represented by b+(N-1).times.a/V.sub.1, wherein a is a pitch between successive bins, b is a distance from the entrance switch to the first bin and V.sub.1 is a copy feed speed in the collator.

Abstract: A sophisticated collator having a general purpose microprocessor with a stored program is capable of intercommunicating with a sophisticated photocopier. In most operations, the collator functions as a slave to the photocopier. It processes a collator task by receiving and processing signals from several sensors positioned about the collator. A manual insertion assembly allows entry of sheets into the collator from a source other than the photocopier. Proofed pages can be re-fed for collating, or jobs from a second source may be processed. Thus the collator need not be a slave only to the photocopier. A second vacuum belt reduces problems of transporting wide paper. Diverting fingers may contact the conveyor system to allow sheets to pass over a bin into additional bin units attached to the sophisticated collator.

Abstract: A copying apparatus with a detachable sorter capable of detecting the receiving capacity of the sorter and controlling the function or display of the apparatus accordingly. Also the data concerning the sorter bins are manually set on the apparatus for controlling the function or display of the apparatus accordingly.

Abstract: A plurality of bins (31) to (40) are divided into two groups which are used alternatingly when a number of copies N to be collated exceeds the number of bins, thus allowing a copying machine to operate continually and further allowing an operator to remove the collated copies from one group while the copies are being collated in the other group. When the number of pages P of a document exceeds a predetermined number, the first group is defined to contain more bins than the second group, thereby reducing the number of times each page must be fed to the copying machine. A unique sensor arrangement (151) senses for feed failures using only two sensors (78), (79).

Abstract: A collator comprising a plurality of bins to which sheets supplied from a copying apparatus, printing apparatus, or the like are successively delivered. The collator is provided with a jam tray for storing sheets which are supplied to the collator following the occurrence of a sheet jam, a pair of sheet feeding rollers being arranged on the jam tray for feeding one sheet after another from a stack of sheets on the jam tray to a sheet conveying passage in the collator.

Abstract: A collator has a manual sheet insertion device which permits desired sheets to be delivered into the collator independently of copy sheets which will be passed thereto from a copying machine. The manual sheet insertion device includes a manual sheet insertion sensor responsive to manual insertion of each sheet through this device and a sheet entry sensor responsive to entry of each sheet into a bin. The copying machine includes a sheet feed sensor whose output is adapted to operate a sheet feed counter. When sheets other than those fed from the copying machine are introduced one by one in the collator through the manual insertion device, the sheet feed counter has its count corrected in response to an output signal of the manual sheet insertion sensor and in accordance with the count of a sheet entry counter which is operated by an output signal of the sheet entry sensor.

Abstract: A copying machine equipped with a collator for distributing copy sheets fed thereto from a copying machine body into its multiple bins and, upon the lapse of a determined period of time after a copying operation, changing the operating mode from a collation mode or an assortment mode, which may have been selected in the use of the collator, automatically to a normal copying mode. The collator is provided with a bin sheet sensor adapted to detect sheets in the bins thereof. The copying machine is also provided with means for cancelling the automatic mode changing function when the bin sheet sensor detects a sheet or sheets, that is, when the bins of the collator are not entirely empty.

Abstract: A sorting machine is provided for attachment to a copying machine to receive successive sheets from an outlet from the copying machine. The sorting machine has plural trays mounted to move progressively past the sheet outlet in opposite directions, the trays being relatively close together when positioned at either side of the outlet, but adjacent trays being widely spaced to accommodate the incoming sheets from the outlet. The trays are fed past and spaced at the outlet by driven members at opposite sides of the tray which engage and shift stacked trays in succession. The driven members are notched discs functioning as a linear Geneva movement. The remote ends of the trays are freely supported one on the other for relative longitudinal and pivotal movement.

Abstract: Error recovery due to bin overflow in a document reproducing system such as an integrated copier system having a Cycling Automatic Document Feed (CADF), a multibin collator module and a bin unloading mechanism, is effectuated by attaching one or more spare bins or a second collator module and a controller to the reproducing system. Overflow copies from the multibin collator are loaded into the second collator module. A collated set of copies are formed by combining copies from the multibin collator and the second collator module.

Abstract: A rear entry collator which includes one or more sheet receiver bins in which sheets may be assembled in a non-inverted surface orientation with respect to the surface orientation thereof when accepted at infeed. Return sheet feed to a copier may be provided to effect duplex copying separately or in combination with sheet assembly in the receiver bins.

Abstract: A sorting machine receives M successive groups of copies, each group consisting of N identical copies, to be converted into N complete sets of copies. N may considerably exceed the number of collecting bins of the sorting machine. In a first sorting operation, the cards are distributively sorted into a predetermined number of the collecting bins, until all cards have been deposited into bins. The stacks in the bins are then removed and laid one atop the other to form a new infeed stack, which is deposited into the infeed bin of the machine, and a second sorting operation is performed, until all cards have again been deposited into bins. This is repeated, if and as necessary, until the desired conversion has been accomplished. The sequence in which the cards are distributed into bins during especially the second and any subsequent sorting operations is so controlled that the desired sets are actually formed, no matter what the values of M and N and no matter what the number of collecting bins available.

Abstract: A dual mode copier which automatically switches the recirculating document handler and copy output system between pre-collation and post-collation modes of operation in response to a selection in the copy counter control of a number of copies which exceeds a pre-set crossover copy count, but which provides a first pre-collation proof set in both modes.

Abstract: A copy production machine selectively interleaves copy separation sheets between successive copy jobs, subjobs or job portions. The copy separation sheets can be from the same copy sheet supply source or from an alternate source. The supplied copy separation sheets need not be operated upon by the copy production machines for receiving an image. Such sheets may have been preimaged under certain situations. Before and after a copy job, the number of separation sheets supplied has a predetermined relationship to the number of copy receiving bins in an output portion receiving the copy separation sheets. The number of separator sheets supplied intermediate successive runs of a copy job equals the number of copies to be produced in the next succeeding copy run. The effective capacity of a collator is extended by such interleaving plus a programmable control that tallies copies made versus copies selected greater than the capacity of a collator such that the collator job is automatically segmented.