US4512565A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Sorter
Assignee: Toshiba Corp
•
Filing: 1984-07-16
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Granted: 1985-04-23
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Expires: 2004-07-16
Abstract
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.
Inventors
- 👤 Hiroshi Matsumoto
- 👤 Yoshiaki Nawata
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-01 11:12
CPC Classifications
B; B65; B65H; B65H39/00; B65H39/10; B65H39/11; B65H2403/00; B65H2403/50; B65H2403/51; B65H2403/511; B65H2408/00; B65H2408/10; B65H2408/11; B65H2408/113
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 12
Claim 1
Independent Claim
262 words
A sorter, electrically and mechanically connected to a copying machine main body, said sorter comprising: reset signal generating means for generating a reset signal synchronously with the entry of a change in a preset copying sheet number by an operator; sorting means including plural sort bins defining plural sort bin positions, a first sort bin at one end of said plural sort bins establishing a first sort home position and a last sort bin at an opposite end of said plural sort bins establishing a second sort home position, said sorting means for sorting copied paper sheets being fed out of said copying machine main body and into said sort bins alternately and repetitively in forward and reverse directions starting from either said first or second sort home positions; and control means operatively connected to said sorter means and said reset signal generating means for stopping said sorting means and thus stopping the sorting of said copied sheets at a respective one of said bin positions corresponding to said preset copying sheet number in response to the number of copied sheets being equal to said preset copying sheet number; and for either (a) resuming the sorting of said copied sheets beginning with said respective one sort bin position in the absence of said control means receiving said reset signal, or (b) resuming the sorting of said copied sheets by said sorting means beginning with either said first or second sort home positions in response to said control means receiving said reset signal indicative of a change in said preset copying sheet number.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
262 words
A sorter, electrically and mechanically connected to a copying machine main body, said sorter comprising: reset signal generating means for generating a reset signal synchronously with the entry of a change in a preset copying sheet number by an operator; sorting means including plural sort bins defining plural sort bin positions, a first sort bin at one end of said plural sort bins establishing a first sort home position and a last sort bin at an opposite end of said plural sort bins establishing a second sort home position, said sorting means for sorting copied paper sheets being fed out of said copying machine main body and into said sort bins alternately and repetitively in forward and reverse directions starting from either said first or second sort home positions; and control means operatively connected to said sorter means and said reset signal generating means for stopping said sorting means and thus stopping the sorting of said copied sheets at a respective one of said bin positions corresponding to said preset copying sheet number in response to the number of copied sheets being equal to said preset copying sheet number; and for either (a) resuming the sorting of said copied sheets beginning with said respective one sort bin position in the absence of said control means receiving said reset signal, or (b) resuming the sorting of said copied sheets by said sorting means beginning with either said first or second sort home positions in response to said control means receiving said reset signal indicative of a change in said preset copying sheet number.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
159 words
A sorter according to claim 1, wherein said control means comprises: (a) a motor for driving said bins upward and downward; (b) a motor drive control circuit means, electrically connected to said motor, for controlling the rotation of said motor; (c) motor inverting circuit means, electrically connected to said copying machine main body and to said motor drive control circuit means, for receiving said reset signal from said copying machine main body and for reversing the rotation of said motor; (d) mode designating circuit means, electrically connected to said copying machine main body and to said motor drive control circuit means, for receiving the reset signal from said copying machine main body and for generating a sort control signal or a non-sort control signal; and (e) positioning circuit means, electrically connected to said copying machine main body and to said motor drive control circuit means, for supplying a motor rotation instruction signal to a stop signal to said motor.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
39 words
A sorter according to claim 2, further comprising cam means mechanically coupled to said bins and to said motor, and rotation detector means, electrically connected to said motor drive control circuit for detecting the rotation of said cam means.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
40 words
A sorter according to claim 2, further comprising sort home position detector means, electrically connected to said positioning circuit means, for detecting said sort home position of said bins and for supplying a detection signal to said positioning circuit means.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
40 words
A sorter according to claim 2, further comprising non-sort home position detector means, electrically connected to said positioning circuit means, for detecting the non-sort home position of said bins and for supplying a detection signal to said positioning circuit means.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
26 words
A sorter according to claim 2, further comprising sorter ready circuit means, electrically connected to said copying machine main body, for generating a sorter ready signal.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
35 words
A sorter according to claim 2, further comprising interlock circuit means, electrically connected to said motor drive control circuit means and to said copying machine main body, for supplying a stop signal to said motor.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
42 words
A sorter according to claim 6, further comprising limit position detector means, electrically connected to said sorter ready circuit means, for detecting the upper or lower limit of said bins and for supplying a detection signal to said sorter ready circuit means.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
37 words
A sorter according to claim 7, further comprising door switch means, electrically connected to said interlock circuit means, for detecting opening/closing of a door of said sorter and supplying a detection signal to said interlock circuit means.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
40 words
A sorter according to claim 2, wherein said motor inverting circuit means receives the sort signal, the non-sort signal, and a last copied paper signal which indicates the delivery of a last copied paper from said copying machine main body.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
34 words
A sorter according to claim 2, wherein said positioning circuit means and said mode designating circuit means receive the sort signal and the non-sort signal which are supplied from said copying machine main body.
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USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1988-04-22 | 1988-10-22 | 1989-04-23 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1992-04-22 | 1992-10-22 | 1993-04-23 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1996-04-22 | 1996-10-22 | 1997-04-23 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |