Patent US4365887A successfully refreshed from Google Patents.
US4365887A
Expired / Lapsed
US
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Sheet distribution method and apparatus
Assignee: Ricoh Co Ltd
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Filing: 1980-09-22
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Granted: 1982-12-28
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Expires: 2000-09-22
Abstract
Abstract A sheet distribution method is provided which, when a stop switch (20) to stop a copying operation of a copying machine (1) or an interrupt switch (21) to interrupt the copying operation is depressed during the copying operation in a collation mode or an assortment mode, inhibits any further copying operation while keeping only a copy sheet conveyor section operative to deliver already fed copy sheets to a collator 82). When the number of copy sheets stored in the collator (2) has coincided with the number of fresh sheets fed out of the copying machine (1) during that copying operation, the conveyor section is made inoperative and the next copy start and variation in the operating mode of the machine (1) or preset number of sheet to be copied are permitted.
Inventors
- 👤 Yohtaro Kakitani
- 👤 Tamaki Kaneko
- 👤 Sunao Ikeda
- 👤 Tugio Okuzawa
- 👤 Hideo Kikuchi
- 👤 Kunio Hibi
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-26 21:58
CPC Classifications
G; G03; G03G; G03G15/00; G03G15/65; G03G15/6538; B; B65; B65H; B65H39/00; B65H39/10; B65H39/11; B65H2408/00; B65H2408/10; B65H2408/11; B65H2408/112
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 17
Claim 1
Independent Claim
151 words
A sheet distribution method for distributing a plurality of copies produced by a copying machine during a copying operation or cycle into separate bins of a collating apparatus adjacent to the copying machine, comprising the steps of: (a) providing at least one of stop switch means to stop the copying operation or cycle in the copying machine and interrupt switch means to interrupt the copying operation or cycle; (b) when at least one of the switch means is depressed, stopping the copying operation to inhibit production of a next copy or copies while continuing a feeding operation of copy sheets into the bins of the collating apparatus; (c) when a number of copies fed from the copying machine is equal to a number of copies stored in the bins, stopping the feeding operation; and (d) releasing the copying operation from being stopped to permit production of the next copy or copies.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
151 words
A sheet distribution method for distributing a plurality of copies produced by a copying machine during a copying operation or cycle into separate bins of a collating apparatus adjacent to the copying machine, comprising the steps of: (a) providing at least one of stop switch means to stop the copying operation or cycle in the copying machine and interrupt switch means to interrupt the copying operation or cycle; (b) when at least one of the switch means is depressed, stopping the copying operation to inhibit production of a next copy or copies while continuing a feeding operation of copy sheets into the bins of the collating apparatus; (c) when a number of copies fed from the copying machine is equal to a number of copies stored in the bins, stopping the feeding operation; and (d) releasing the copying operation from being stopped to permit production of the next copy or copies.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
27 words
A method as claimed in claim 1, in which the copying operation or cycle includes supplying fresh sheets from a sheet feed station of the copying machine.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
32 words
A method as claimed in claim 1, further comprising the step, following step (b), of: (e) storing the copying mode and preset number of copies before the depression of the switch means.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
24 words
A method as claimed in claim 3, in which said copying mode is one of a collation mode and a sorting or assortment mode.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
47 words
A method as claimed in claim 3, in which said depressed switch means is the interrupt switch means, further comprising the step, following step (e), of: (f) storing the copying mode, preset number of copies and number of copies finally copied during copying operation for the interruption.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
21 words
A method as claimed in claim 5, in which step (d) is performed after the interrupt switch means is again depressed.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
34 words
A method as claimed in claim 3, further comprising the step, following step (d), of: (g) permitting variation of the copying mode and preset number of copies before the switch means is again depressed.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
22 words
A method as claimed in claim 7, further comprising the step of: (h) indicating a number of copies stored in the bins.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
151 words
A sheet distribution apparatus for use with a copying machine comprising: a plurality of bins into which a plurality of sets of copies produced by the copying machine during a copying operation or cycle are distributed; stop switch means for stopping the copying operation or cycle in the copying machine; interrupt switch means for interrupting the copying operation or cycle; a first means for inhibiting production of a next copy or copies while continuing a feeding operation of copies into the bins when at least one of the stop switch and interrupt switch means is depressed; a second means for stopping the feeding operation of the copies when a number of the copies fed from the copying machine is equal to a number of the copies stored in the bins; and a third means for releasing the copying operation from being stopped to permit production of a next copy or copies.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
151 words
A sheet distribution apparatus for use with a copying machine comprising: a plurality of bins into which a plurality of sets of copies produced by the copying machine during a copying operation or cycle are distributed; stop switch means for stopping the copying operation or cycle in the copying machine; interrupt switch means for interrupting the copying operation or cycle; a first means for inhibiting production of a next copy or copies while continuing a feeding operation of copies into the bins when at least one of the stop switch and interrupt switch means is depressed; a second means for stopping the feeding operation of the copies when a number of the copies fed from the copying machine is equal to a number of the copies stored in the bins; and a third means for releasing the copying operation from being stopped to permit production of a next copy or copies.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
33 words
A sheet distribution apparatus as claimed in claim 9, in which the copying machine comprises a sheet feed station, the copying operation or cycle including supplying fresh sheets from the sheet feed station.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
31 words
A sheet distribution apparatus as claimed in claim 9, further comprising a fourth means for storing the copying mode and preset number of copies before the depression of the switch means.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
24 words
A sheet distribution apparatus as claimed in claim 11, in which said copying mode is one of a collation mode and a sorting mode.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
46 words
A sheet distribution apparatus as claimed in claim 9, in which said depressed switch means is the interrupt switch means, further comprising a fifth means for storing the copying mode, preset number of copies and number of copies finally copied during copying operation for the interruption.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
33 words
A sheet distribution apparatus as claimed in claim 9, further comprising a sixth means for permitting variation of the copying mode and preset number of copies before the switch means is again depressed.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
24 words
A sheet distribution apparatus as claimed in claim 9, further comprising a seventh means for indicating a number of copies stored in the bins.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
US4247193A
Cited
US4231567A
Cited
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1985-12-27 | 1986-06-28 | 1986-12-28 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1989-12-27 | 1990-06-28 | 1990-12-28 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1993-12-27 | 1994-06-28 | 1994-12-28 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |