Abstract: A sorter has a plurality of sorting tray to receive copied sheets. The sorting trays are moved vertically upon rotation of screw rods. The screw rod has a spiral cam groove with a predetermined cam profile formed on the outer periphery thereof. Cam followers of the sorting tray is engaged with the spiral cam groove. The cam groove is formed such that a distance between adjacent sorting trays in the vertical direction the screw rod is stopped at a first rotational position is different from that when the screw rod is stopped at a second rotational position.

Abstract: A facsimile apparatus includes an image forming unit for forming a received image onto a sheet, a judging unit for judging an attribute of the received image, a plurality of bins each for stacking the sheet on which the image was formed by the image forming unit, a selecting unit for selecting the bin in which the sheet formed with the input image should be stacked, a plurality of sheet detecting units provided for the plurality of bins, and a display unit for displaying first information indicative of the bin, second information indicative of the attribute, and third information indicative of a detection result of the sheet detecting unit.

Abstract: A sorter for receiving sheets supplied from a sheet supply machine is formed of a sheet distributing section for distributing sheets supplied from the sheet supply machine, a plurality of bins situated near the sheet distributing section for receiving the sheets from the sheet distributing section, and a positioning device for positioning the bins to a home position, a sheet receiving position and a sheet taking position. The bins are arranged adjacent to each other and are movable relative to the sheet distributing section. The home position is located at one side of the sheet distributing section, wherein the bins are stacked adjacent to each other with a distance (L1) away from each other. All the bins may be located in the home position. The sheet receiving position faces the sheet distributing section to receive the sheet onto the bin, wherein a sheet receiving bin except a top bin is situated away from a bin located above the sheet receiving bin with a distance (L2).

Abstract: A photosensitive-material conveying apparatus which is provided on a printer processor including a main body for effecting printing, development, and dry processing, a cutter section disposed on the main body for cutting a photosensitive material subjected to dry processing into predetermined lengths, and a discharging section disposed in a vicinity of an upper portion of the cutter section for discharging the cut photosensitive material laterally of the cutter section, the photosensitive-material conveying apparatus being adapted to stack the cut photosensitive material in a predetermined unit.

Abstract: The current invention discloses methods and apparatus for quieter sorters. The quieter sorter reduces the collision noises generated by movable pins of the sorter trays and a Geneva wheel which controls the movement of the sorter trays. The movable pins generally receive a force, and the force is necessary to advance the trays in a predetermined direction. As a particular pin approaches the Geneva wheel, a collision protector isolates this approaching movable pin from the force. When the Geneva wheel engages the isolated movable pin, since the isolated pin is free from the force, the isolated pin does not collide onto the Geneva wheel. This smooth engagement of the Geneva wheel substantially reduces the noise level associated with the travel of the movable pins.

Abstract: The present invention is for a method of stacking of thin sheets and a device for stacking of thin sheets according to the method. The sheets can be made from paper, plastic film or the like. The invention is primarily intended to be used in connection with print outs in computer centers delivering a continuous, rapid and lengthy flow of paper sheets. The paper is brought into the stacker on a conveyer (4) comprising a number of parallel bands arranged side by side, which are controlled by pulley wheels and supporting wheels (5, 6, 7, 8). The papers are delivered from the conveyer (4) in the slit between the paper stack (16) and a second conveyer (9) which also comprises a number of parallel bands arranged sidewise passing over pulley wheels (10 and 24). The paper stack is supported by several supports (14) each having a resilient supporting edge (17) towards the paper stack. The stacker can be turned and tilted around an axis (25) at right angle to the plane of the FIGURE.

Abstract: A sorter has a plurality of sorting tray to receive copied sheets. The sorting trays are moved vertically upon rotation of screw rods. The screw rod has a spiral cam groove with a predetermined cam profile formed on the outer periphery thereof. Cam followers of the sorting tray is engaged with the spiral cam groove. The cam groove is formed such that a distance between adjacent sorting trays in the vertical direction the screw rod is stopped at a first rotational position is different from that when the screw rod is stopped at a second rotational position.

Abstract: The present invention provides a sheet post-treatment apparatus comprising a sheet bundle convey unit including at least one sheet receiving tray unit capable of accommodating a sheet, a convey unit for conveying the sheet on the sheet receiving tray unit, and a sheet stacking tray for receiving the sheet and for stacking the sheets thereon. Apparatus includes a hold member capable of shifting between a first position where the hold member is overlapped with a stacking surface of the sheet stacking tray above the stacking surface, and a second position where the hold member is retracted from the stacking surface. When the sheet is conveyed to the stacking surface, the hold member supports a rear end portion of the sheet at the first position, and the hold member is shifted to the second position at a predetermined timing to drop a rear end portion of the sheet, thereby stacking the sheets.

Abstract: A sorter is provided with a plurality of movable sorting trays and a movement control device for controlling the movement of the movable sorting trays. The control device includes a sensor for detecting that a part of a screw rod passes through an index point which is remote from a stop position by a predetermined distance, a sensor for detecting the rotation of the screw rod and outputting a predetermined number of pulses in accordance with a predetermined moving distance of the screw rod. The control device is constructed in such a manner that it sets a stop pulse number according to the predetermined distance, counts the pulses from when the sensor detects that the screw rod passes through the index point, stops the movement of the sorting trays when the stop pulse number is count up, and controls a timing of the stop of the sorting trays in accordance with a moving condition of the sorting trays.

Abstract: A sheet post-treating apparatus includes a gripper that moves a pile of sheets from a sorting tray to a discharge tray. The position of the pile of sheets on the tray is selected between alternative discharge positions so that successive piles can be jogged. A stapler is provided along the path to a discharge position to engage the edge of the pile if stapling is desired.

Abstract: A sheet post treatment apparatus implementing exact and reliable sheet alignment without the need for a separate driving source for the sheet aligning bar. The apparatus includes a rotation center shaft attached to a slot liner of a side plate; a wheel fixed into the rotation center shaft and formed with a spiral groove; an eccentric cam rotating attached to the rotation center shaft; an aligning rod and a rotation lever one end of the rotation lever being connected to the eccentric cam and the other end thereof being passed through said the plate, displaced to the extent of eccentricity level of the eccentric cam; and a restoration spring, one end thereof being fixed at the side plate and the other end thereof being hung up on one side of the rotation lever. Alternate embodiments include driving the rotation lever through a bevel arrangement, and providing a moving pin on the eccentric to drive the rotation lever.

Abstract: A sorter for receiving sheets supplied from a sheet supply machine is formed of a sheet distributing section for distributing sheets supplied from the sheet supply machine, a plurality of bins situated near the sheet distributing section for receiving the sheets from the sheet distributing section, and a positioning device for positioning the bins to a home position, a sheet receiving position and a sheet taking position. The bins are arranged adjacent to each other and are movable relative to the sheet distributing section. The home position is located at one side of the sheet distributing section, wherein the bins are stacked adjacent to each other with a distance (L1) away from each other. All the bins may be located in the home position. The sheet receiving position faces the sheet distributing section to receive the sheet onto the bin, wherein a sheet receiving bin except a top bin is situated away from a bin located above the sheet receiving bin with a distance (L2).

Abstract: A moving tray sorter has a set of trays configured to extend upwardly from a horizontal plane at the point of sheet entry and each tray has progressively from the sheet inlet end a back stop against which the trailing edges of sheet are aligned, a horizontally extended section and an upwardly inclined section of a substantial angle from the horizontal providing trays which are short, which occupy a relatively small area or footprint and which support sheets of relatively large size and overhang without droop of the sheets at the outer ends.

Abstract: A finisher for finishing sheets for use in a copier, printer or similar image forming apparatus having a sorter for sorting sheets on a plurality of bins, and further having a stapler or a punching device. A bin moving member is provided for moving the plurality of bins to predetermined positions in which the bin moving member moves the bins to a positioning relationship such that an interval A between a first bin for accepting the discharged sheets from a discharging member and a third bin located at a position immediately over the first bin, an interval B between the first bin and a second bin located at a position immediately under the first bin, and an interval D between the third bin located at a position immediately over the first bin and a fifth bin located at a position immediately over the third bin are broader than an interval E between other adjacent regular bins.

Abstract: A sheet post-processing apparatus includes bin trays for stacking sheets; sheet discharger for discharging sheets to the bin trays; an aligner for aligning the sheets received by the bin trays by urging them; a controller for controlling the aligner: wherein the controller moves the aligner to a first position for a first alignment and to a second position for a second alignment to provide offset between succeeding sets of sheets received by the bin trays.

Abstract: A sheet sorting and storing apparatus has a stack of bin trays which are brought open at a sheet reception position, but held close at the other position. The apparatus minimizes noises upon sheet reception with a simple mechanism, improving the efficiency of sheet sorting. The bin trays are inclined down or up depending on a position of a sheet discharge device. A desired bin tray is deviated by a deviation mechanism in an approximately horizontal direction so that a spacing in the direction of the tray inclination is enlarged between two adjacent bin trays located at the sheet reception position, while keeping constant a vertical spacing thereof. A flexible film of elastic material may be provided at the sheet entrance side of the bin trays to prevent the discharged sheet from leaping out thereof.

Abstract: A sheet sorting and storing apparatus has a stack of bin trays which are brought open at a sheet reception position, but held close at the other position. The apparatus minimizes noises upon sheet reception in a simple mechanism, improving the efficiency of sheet sorting. The bin trays are inclined down or up depending on a position of a sheet discharge device. A desired bin tray is deviated by a deviation mechanism in an approximately horizontal direction so that a spacing in the direction of the tray inclination is enlarged between two adjacent bin trays located at the sheet reception position, while keeping constant a vertical spacing thereof. The deviation mechanism includes a guide in connection with the bin trays to approximately horizontally deviate them by its slant portion connecting upper and lower vertical slots. Each bin tray has a support on its both sides with parallel surfaces to support the next upper bin tray through rollers disposed between the parallel surfaces of the adjacent bin trays.

Abstract: A sorter for sorting sheets successively supplied thereto, comprising: a fixed frame; a movable frame movable vertically with respect to the fixed frame; a plurality of bins arranged one over another at a predetermined distance and each having an upper surface sloping upwardly in a sheet supply direction for receiving thereon one or more of the sheets, the bins being supported on the movable frame; a non-sort bin situated upwardly of the bins and supported pivotally on an upper portion of the movable frame for receiving the non-sorted sheets, the non-sort bin being biased normally so as to slant upwardly in the sheet supply direction; and a holder mounted on the fixed frame, at a position to which the sheets are to be supplied, for holding the non-sort bin horizontally against the bias.

Abstract: A sorter for sorting sheets successively supplied thereto, comprising: a fixed frame; a movable frame movable vertically with respect to the fixed frame; a plurality of bins arranged one over another at a predetermined distance and each having an upper surface sloping upwardly in a sheet supply direction for receiving thereon one or more of the sheets, the bins being supported on the movable frame; a non-sort bin situated upwardly of the bins and supported pivotally on an upper portion of the movable frame for receiving the non-sorted sheets, the non-sort bin being biased normally so as to slant upwardly in the sheet supply direction; and a holder mounted on the fixed frame, at a position to which the sheets are to be supplied, for holding the non-sorer bin horizontally against the bias.

Abstract: A sheet sorter with includes a bin unit including a plurality of bins for accommodating sorted sheets, sheet stacker for accommodating non-sorted sheets, sheet switcher for selectively guiding the sheets to the plural bins or to the sheet stacker, stapler for stapling the sheets accommodated in the bins, for each of the bins, and controller for controlling the sheet switcher to direct the sheet to the bins in response to instructions for sorting and stapling the sheets, to direct the sheet to the sheet stacker in response to instructions for accommodating the sheets without sorting, and to direct the sheets to the bin unit in response to instructions for stapling the sheets without sorting. The apparatus further includes a reciprocating aligning member which is driven to an alignment position during movement of the bins and is again driven to the alignment position to complete the aligning operation after completion of the movement of the bins.

Abstract: A sorter for sorting sheets out is provided with a bin unit including a plurality of bins having specified length and width and a bin shifting mechanism for shifting the bin unit upward and downward. The respect ire bins are vertically spaced apart and adapted for placing the sorted sheets thereon. The sorter is further provided with a first detector for detecting that the bin unit has been moved down to a home position region defined in a lower portion of the sorter, and a shift controller for controlling the bin shifting mechanism. The shift controller shifts the bin unit downward until the first detector conducts the detection when the bin unit is not in the home position region when the power is applied the sorter. Accordingly, the home position of the bin unit can be detected accurately with a simple structure.

Abstract: The vertical stack of trays in a movable tray sorter for sheets of paper exiting a copies is moved in a manner to enlarge the spacing between consecutive pairs of the trays to accept consecutive sheets of paper by moving the trays along a pair of helical coils, each of which has a turn of relatively coarse pitch. The turns of relatively coarse pitch are located at the copier paper chute and causes an increased separation of adjacent trays only at that position as the coils are turned.

Abstract: A moving bin sorter has trays which are sequentially shifted upwardly and downwardly relative to a sheet inlet location by a rotary cam driven by an electric motor which drives the cams in opposite directions. The minimum force applied by the motor and lowest motor speed depends upon the load represented by the trays, the weight of the sheets of paper in the trays and the load balancing effect of a spring employed to assist in the lifting of the trays upwardly to engage the cam. The motor power is adjusted and controlled to reduce the applied motor force and speed dependent upon the load which must be overcome in either the upward or downward movement of the trays, for noise and wear reduction.

Abstract: A first guide groove and a second guide groove are formed on a device housing at predetermined positions in such a manner that a first pin disposed at one end of a movable member is displaceably fitted into the first guide groove and a second pin disposed at the other end of the same is displaceably fitted into the second guide groove. To slidably displace the first pin along the first guide groove, a cam is operatively connected to a geared motor. An arm 41 having a frictional member attached to the uppermost end thereof is fixedly secured to the movable member.

Abstract: A sheet sorter includes a plurality of bins for receiving sorted sheets, a sheet discharging unit for discharging the sheets to the bins, a shifting unit for raising and lowering the plurality of bins in order to selectively face a bin to the sheet discharging unit, an aligning reference wall for regulating one end portion of a sheet discharged to the bin, and an aligning member for bringing the one side portion of the sheet into contact with the aligning reference wall by pushing the other side portion of the sheet. The sheet sorter further includes a controller for controlling the aligning member so as to vary the timing of alignment start depending on whether operation is during normal sorting wherein the bin receiving the sheet at a position facing the sheet discharging unit rises after receiving the sheet or during reverse sorting wherein the bin receiving the sheet descends.

Abstract: A sorter includes a sheet processing device, a plurality of bin trays arranged in a vertical direction, each bin tray having a specified width and length and adapted for bearing a sheet, shifting means for shifting the plurality of bin trays in the vertical direction, and moving means for moving the bin tray in a predetermined position in a lengthwise direction of the bin tray so that the sheet on the bin tray is processed by the sheet processing device. The bin tray can be moved to a position where sheet processing is to be applied by the sheet processing device.

Abstract: A system for selective deposition of sheets on supports situated one above the other, each such support being movable into a deposition position in which a sheet deposition device disposed at a fixed place can deposit a sheet on the associated support or on a stack of sheets situated thereon. A support situated at a higher level is movable between its deposition position in which the support or the top edge of a stack of sheets disposed thereon is at the height of the sheet deposition means, and a parking position (A) in which at a higher level than the sheet deposition device. The next lower support is movable between its deposition position in which the support or the top edge of a stack of sheets disposed thereon is at the height of the sheet deposition device, and a parking position (B) in which the top edge of a stack of sheets to be formed thereon is at a lower level than the next higher support when the latter is in the deposition position with a stack of sheets thereon.

Abstract: A document feeder for feeding a plurality of different kinds of document to image forming equipment automatically, and a sheet finisher for sorting, stapling or otherwise finishing sheets inclusive of the documents. A drive source selectively drives a document support moving member in opposite directions to move document supports from an initial position to a document feed position and further to a stand-by position. This allows a particular document feeding operation to be effected with each of the document supports. Sheets are automatically stapled and then automatically removed from sheet accommodating members. A sheet receiving section collects such stapled and removed sheets.

Abstract: The present invention provides a sheet sorting apparatus with plural bins trays; bin tray moving device for moving the bin trays stepwise to cause each of the bin trays to face a sheet receiving position; and a controller for controlling the operating speed of the bin tray moving device according to sheet transporting information of an image forming apparatus to be connected to said sorting apparatus, in such a manner that said bin tray moving means can be operated in continuous manner even during the discharge of a sheet into a bin tray.

Abstract: A finisher connectable to an image forming apparatus for surely discharging sheets to bin trays thereof without regard to the sheet size while preventing the sheets from dropping from the bin rays or from being inaccurately positioned on the bin trays. The finisher has a discharge roller for sequentially discharging sheets driven out of the image forming apparatus to the bin trays. The rotation speed of the discharge roller is controlled on the basis of size information representative of the size of sheets to be transferred from the image forming apparatus to the finisher.

Abstract: A sorter incorporating a stapler is an apparatus for sorting and stapling sheets discharged from an image forming apparatus. This sorter includes a plurality of vertically movable bins for storing the supplied sheets, a bin drive unit for conveying the bins, a stapler for stapling the sheets stored in the bins, a pair of lateral guides, and a lateral guide drive unit for moving the lateral guides. The lateral guides are movable in the width direction of the sheets in the bins and abut on both sides of stacks of the sheets to arrange them into widthwise adjustment, and then to move them into the stapling position of the stapler.

Abstract: A compact sorter for a copy machine generally comprising a rotatable transfer wheel, an ejecting section for ejecting copies, a slot liner having first and second vertical portions connected by a middle portion which extends relative to the vertical portions toward the ejecting section in a radius of gyration of the transfer wheel, and a plurality of bin trays each capable of moving along the slot liner toward the ejecting section for receiving the copies, each said bin tray having a pair of space controlling cams 6 which comprise upper and lower space controlling arms 7,8 and are symmetrically provided at both side outer ends of said bin tray for maintaining predetermined upper and lower spaces with another upper and lower bin trays during movement for receiving copy from said ejecting section.

Abstract: A sheet output apparatus useful in conjunction with a sheet post-processing apparatus, and adapted to perform a predetermined processing of a sheet and then discharge the sheet to the sheet post-processing apparatus, comprising: a transfer mechanism for transferring a sheet to the sheet post-processing apparatus; and a communication mechanism for performing a serial communication of data between the sheet output apparatus and the sheet post-processing apparatus, wherein the communication mechanism transmits a sheet carrier speed data to the sheet post-processing apparatus.

Abstract: A moving bin sheet sorter has rotatable cams which engage portions of the sorter trays to move the trays at the ends adjacent to a sheet entry location between positions at which those tray ends are closely spaced above and below the sheet entry location and further spaced apart at the sheet entry location for receiving sheets supplied from a copier or printer. The cams are driven by an electric motor which is controlled to operate at a low speed as the trays are initially engaged and disengaged from the cam and a high speed during the major movement of the trays, thereby reducing noise resulting from high speed impact and shock loading of the cams and cooperative portions of the trays, as well as reducing noise resulting from high speed impact of said cooperative portions of the trays in guides for the trays.

Abstract: An apparatus for sorting sheet members, having a plurality of bin trays for accommodating sheet members, sheet member discharge rollers for discharging sheet members into the bin trays, a bin tray lift for moving the bin trays upward or downward at the time of discharge of each sheet member, and a controller for changing the process of discharging the sheet members in accordance with upward and downward movements of the bin trays so that the sheet members are landed on the bin trays by generally the same timing after discharge.

Abstract: A moving tray sorter has a set of trays forming sheet receiving bins to which successive sheets are to be supplied from a typical office copier or printer. The trays are mounted in a support at ends remote from the host machine to pivot on horizontal axes and move longitudinally as the ends of the trays into which sheets are supplied are moved vertically past a sheet entry location by a tray shifter which moves the trays sequentially and as a set between locations below a sheet receiving position, upwardly to the sheet receiving position. The ends of the trays adjacent to the host machine are separably supported one on the other and are shifted in unison upon upward and downward movement of the lowermost tray.

Abstract: A tray transferring device of sorter for copy machine comprising first and second slot liners each having an inclined middle portion, third and fourth slot liners formed on said opposite side plates of the sorter, first and second transfer wheels mounted at respective inclined middle portions of said first and second slot liners, power transferring means connected between said first and second transfer wheels, rack movement controlling means mounted at said opposite side plates, rack driving means each connected to said rack movement controlling means, a pair of racks each engaging with said rack driving means, a base pin extending between respective lowest portions of said first and second slot liners, tray supporting means fixedly connected to said opposite side plates.

Abstract: A bin tray transferring apparatus of a sorter for copy machine. The apparatus comprises a safety guide 60 vertically mounted to the side plate 10, a safety lever 50 rotationally mounted to an upper inner portion of the rack 40 such that one end 52 thereof contacts with said safety guide 60 but the other end 53 thereof always contacts with an upper circumferential end of the transfer wheel 30 or a tray pin 91 of an uppermost bin tray 80, and a hinged connection for rotatably connecting the safety level 50 to the upper inner portion of the rack 40. The apparatus of this invention provides an advantage in that the pin trays can be stably transferred upwards and downwards irrespective of outside force imposed thereon so that one of the tray pins of the bin tray can be efficiently prevented from deviation, thereby accomplishing the lengthening of using life thereof and improving the operational reliability thereof.

Abstract: A sheet sorting apparatus of the shifting tray type employs a pair of helical coils, each coil being predominantly wound with a number of turns of a first pitch, and containing at least one turn of a second, coarser pitch. The ends of each coil are held by through holes of a center rod that extends along the longitudinal axis of each coil, a coil and center rod thus forming a coil assembly. Each center rod is rotationally supported and has a rotational drive coupling attached at one end; a rotational driver being attached thereto is able to rotate both coil assemblies in the same direction at the same speed. A number of trays are arranged in a vertical stack, each tray capable of supporting a number of sheets and having a tray lift insert attached at each side. The tray lift inserts each have a helical passageway therethrough for accepting at least one revolution of one coil therein.

Abstract: Reducing the operating impact noise of a moving bins sorter of the type in which the bins of the sorter are sequentially incremented with a rotatable open mouthed "C" cam drive, where the open ends of the "C" cam on opposite sides of the open mouth provide operative bin engaging cam surfaces for engaging a cam engaging portion of the bins, without adversely affecting the contacting surfaces wear rate, by providing cantilevered arms of limited flexibility supporting the bin engaging end portions of the "C" cam to provide limited flexing of at least one of the bin engaging end portions of the "C" cam when at least one of these bin engaging end portions operatively engages a bin, for impact noise reduction. The "C" cam may further include an internal chordal cross brace.

Abstract: A device and a method for controlling a sorter. The device comprises a central control unit, an interface unit connected between a control unit of the copy machine and the central control unit, an one third rotation sensor for controlling operation of transfer wheels, a home position sensor for sensing home positions of bin trays and outputting a sensed signal to the central control unit, and a bin motor driving circuit adapted for controlling normal and reversed rotations of a bin motor.

Abstract: A sorter-finisher wherein sheets discharged from an image forming apparatus are distributed among a plurality of bins in a sorter unit, and thereafter the sheets are taken out of each bin and transported to a finisher unit to be finished. The bins are put one upon another, and they are movable up and down. A take-out unit for taking sheets out of each bin in order to transport the sheets to the finisher unit is installed above the bins positioned for the distributing operation. Each bin is moved up to the position facing the take-out unit and further is laterally moved toward the take-out unit, and the sheets in the bin are taken out thereof nipped by a pair of rollers. Further, the sorter-finisher comprises a transporting unit which is a route from the discharge portion of the image forming apparatus to a receiving/take-out portion of the sorter unit, and sheets are transported to the bins and also transported to the finisher unit through the transporting unit.

Abstract: A transfer wheel of a sorter for transferring bin trays, each have a pair of pin trays, sequentially, comprises a transfer wheel body having three slots arranged at 120 degree angles around a central rotating shaft hole of the transfer wheel, and having a guide portion for guiding the pin trays of the bin tray. The transfer wheel also includes three pairs of insert wheels, each pair comprising two types of insert wheels mounted adjacent each other, between the slots in order to alternatively lift and push the pin tray to move the slot liner of a side plate. Further included is a mounting arrangement for mounting the insert wheels on the wheel body, and driving arrangement for rotating the wheel body. The invention provides a quiet transfer wheel which separates copies at every one-third rotation of the wheel, which causes an upper and a lower waiting pin tray to be positioned within the radius of rotation of the wheel.

Abstract: In a sorter controller in which a plurality of sheets fed from the copying machine are separately placed in a plurality of sort bins, the preset copy number is inputted by the operation of an operation panel provided on the copying machine, and a number m of groups of sheets to be placed in a sort bin is calculated by m=INT(N/n), where INT represents a function for obtaining the integer of the number in the parenthesis and N represents the number of sheets that can be placed in a sort bin. When m.gtoreq.2, the sort bin in which the copied sheets are placed is changed every time n.times.m sheets are placed in a sort bin. According to such feature, the copied sheets of an original never be separately placed in a plurality of sort bins, and further, the available sort bins are effectively used.

Abstract: A paper discharge apparatus for a recording system includes a plurality of vertically movable bins, arranged vertically stepwise, for receiving a recorded sheet discharged from a recording system main body, a lifting mechanism, a shifting unit, and a selection shift selecting unit, and a shift operation control unit. The lifting mechanism moves the bins upward/downward stepwise in synchronism with a sheet discharging operation in a sort mode. The shifting unit transversely shifts a discharging direction of a recorded sheet from a normal discharging direction. The selection shift selecting unit selects a shift mode or a non-shift mode as a discharge mode.

Abstract: This invention provides a compact and efficient sheet sorting apparatus having plural bin trays arranged in mutually superposed manner, support structure for supporting the rear ends of the plural bin trays in movable manner, a spiral cam members for controlling the movement of the front ends of the bin trays with the aid of followers provided on the bin trays and engaging apparatus for facilitating the engagement between the followers of the bin trays and the spiral cam members.

Abstract: A transporting device for articles to be transported and a sorter with the same. The transporting device includes transporting rollers arranged in a transportation passage so as to contact the articles to be transported for transportation in a forward direction. The transporting rollers are supported for rotation about an axis which is swingable in a substantially horizontal plane. The axis of each transporting roller is selectively changed by a direction changing mechanism between one direction to transport the articles to be transported in the forward direction and another direction to obliquely transport the articles to be transported toward a side wall. The side wall is provided along the forward direction at an article reception position in the transportation passage.

Abstract: A sorter comprising plural movable bin trays vertically arranged, a shifting mechanism for moving one ends of the bin trays upwardly or downwardly one after another and a holder for accommodating the other ends of the bin trays. Noise eliminating members or elastic members are provided at at least one portion of a contacting portion of the shifting mechanism with the bin trays and a contacting portion of each of the bin trays with the shifting mechanism, and/or in the holder.

Abstract: A sorter includes a shifting mechanism for sequentially shifting the receptacles and for holding each receptacle shifted in an open position in which the articles to be treated may be placed on the receptacle. The shifting mechanism is provided with a pair of Geneva wheels each having at least one groove formed therein on a predetermined phase condition. The shifting mechanism further includes a first guide slot to vertically movably align and guide the pins of each receptacle, and a second guide slot continuous to the first guide slot, the second guide slot being adapted to laterally guide a pin of one of the receptacles for drawing out the one receptacle. The pin of the one receptacle is biased by a biasing mechanism against the outer circumferential surfaces of the Geneva wheels. The receptacles are received in a receptacle carrier, and the receptacle carrier is vertically movably arranged.

Abstract: The vertical stack of trays in a movable tray sorter for sheets of paper exiting a .?.copies.!. .Iadd.copier .Iaddend.is moved in a manner to enlarge the spacing between consecutive pairs of the trays to accept consecutive sheets of paper by moving the trays along a pair of helical coils, each of which has a turn of relatively coarse pitch. The turns of relatively coarse pitch are located at the copier paper chute and causes an increased separation of adjacent trays only at that position as the coils are turned. .Iadd.The coils support the trays approximately midway between the ends of the trays in a sheet feeding direction and the sorter has vertically extended guides at opposite sides of the trays adjacent one end in which side portions of said trays slide to maintain the trays substantially parallel. .Iaddend.