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US5042793A Expired / Lapsed US ⏱️ 0.0 years remaining

Sheet sorter image forming apparatus having same

Assignee: Canon Inc
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Filing: 1990-05-24
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Granted: 1991-08-27
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Expires: 2010-05-24
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Abstract

Abstract A control method for a sheet sorter including a plurality of sorting bins, a sheet discharger for discharging sheets to the sort bins and a driver for moving the sort bins to present the sort bins to the discharger includes moving the sorting bins at a first speed in association with receipt of the sheet by one of the sorting bins and moving the sorting bins at a second speed in association with a discharge interval between the sheets discharged by the sheet discharger, by controlling the driver.

Inventors

  • 👤 Norifumi Miyake

Bibliographic Details

Application Number —
Jurisdiction US
Data Source google_patents
Last Synchronized 2026-11-08 15:28
CPC Classifications
G; G03; G03G; G03G15/00; G03G15/65; G03G15/6538; 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; Y; Y10; Y10S; Y10S209/00; Y10S209/933; Y10S414/00; Y10S414/10; Y10S414/102; Y10S414/103; Y10S414/105

Claims Analysis

Total Claims: 16
Claim 1
Independent Claim 89 words
A control method for a sheet sorter comprising a plurality of sorting bins, discharging means for discharging sheets to the sort bins and driving means for moving the sort bins to present the sort bins to said discharging means, comprising: moving a sorting bins at a first speed in association with receipt of the sheet by one of said sorting bins and moving the sorting bins at a second speed in association with a discharge interval between the sheets discharged by said discharging means, by controlling the driving means.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim 89 words
A control method for a sheet sorter comprising a plurality of sorting bins, discharging means for discharging sheets to the sort bins and driving means for moving the sort bins to present the sort bins to said discharging means, comprising: moving a sorting bins at a first speed in association with receipt of the sheet by one of said sorting bins and moving the sorting bins at a second speed in association with a discharge interval between the sheets discharged by said discharging means, by controlling the driving means.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim 47 words
A method according to claim 1, wherein the first speed is maintained from a start of the sheet discharge to an end of the sheet discharge, and wherein the second speed is maintained from the end of the sheet discharge a start of a next sheet discharge.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim 51 words
A method according to claim 2, wherein the first speed is such that the sorting bin reaches a sheet non-receivable position upon completion of the sheet discharge, and wherein the second speed is such that the sorting bin reaches a sheet receivable position before the start of the next sheet discharge.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim 42 words
A method according to claim 3, wherein in the sheet non-receivable position, the sorting bin is above a path of the sheet discharged by said sheet discharging means, and wherein in said sheet receivable position, the sorting bin is below the path.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim 32 words
A method according to claim 1, wherein the first speed and the second speed are the same when a length of the sheet is equal to the discharge interval between the sheets.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim 32 words
A method according to claim 1, wherein the sorting bin is moved at a constant speed when a difference between the first speed and the second speed calculated is within a tolerance.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim 50 words
A method according to claim 1, wherein said sorting bins are moved substantially in the vertical direction, and wherein during their upward movement, the first speed and the second speed are selected, and the sorting bins are continuously moved upwardly, and wherein during downward movement, sorting bins are intermittently lowered.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim 37 words
A method according to claim 1, wherein said driving means includes a helical cam means rotatable and having helical groove, and the sorting bins are substantially vertically moved by one bin by rotation of said cam means.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim 51 words
A method according to claim 1, wherein the first speed is lower than the second speed when a length of the sheet is larger than the sheet interval, and wherein the first speed is higher than the second speed when the length of the sheet is smaller than the sheet interval.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim 102 words
A control method for an image forming apparatus with a sheet sorter comprising a plurality of sorting bins, discharging means for discharging sheets having images formed by said image forming apparatus to the sorting bins and driving means for moving the sort bins to present the sort bins to said discharging means, comprising: moving the sorting bins at a first speed in association with receipt of a sheet by one of said sorting bins and moving the sorting bins at a second speed in association with a discharge interval between the sheets discharged by said discharging means, by controlling the driving means.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim 102 words
A control method for an image forming apparatus with a sheet sorter comprising a plurality of sorting bins, discharging means for discharging sheets having images formed by said image forming apparatus to the sorting bins and driving means for moving the sort bins to present the sort bins to said discharging means, comprising: moving the sorting bins at a first speed in association with receipt of a sheet by one of said sorting bins and moving the sorting bins at a second speed in association with a discharge interval between the sheets discharged by said discharging means, by controlling the driving means.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim 88 words
A sheet sorter comprising: a plurality of sorting bins; discharging means for discharging sheets to the sort bins; driving means for moving the sorting bins to present the sorting bins to said discharging means; and control means for controlling said driving means to move the sorting bins at a first speed in association with receipt of a sheet by one of said sorting bins and to move the sorting bins at a second speed in association with a discharge interval between the sheets discharged by said discharging means.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim 88 words
A sheet sorter comprising: a plurality of sorting bins; discharging means for discharging sheets to the sort bins; driving means for moving the sorting bins to present the sorting bins to said discharging means; and control means for controlling said driving means to move the sorting bins at a first speed in association with receipt of a sheet by one of said sorting bins and to move the sorting bins at a second speed in association with a discharge interval between the sheets discharged by said discharging means.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim 103 words
An image forming apparatus, comprising: means for forming images on sheets; a plurality of sorting bins; discharging means for discharging sheets having images formed by said image forming means to the sort bins; driving means for moving the sorting bins to present the sorting bins to said discharging means; and control means for controlling said driving means to move the sorting bins at a first speed in association with receipt of a sheet by one of said sorting bins and to move the sorting bins at a second speed in association with a discharge interval between the sheets discharged by said discharging means.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim 103 words
An image forming apparatus, comprising: means for forming images on sheets; a plurality of sorting bins; discharging means for discharging sheets having images formed by said image forming means to the sort bins; driving means for moving the sorting bins to present the sorting bins to said discharging means; and control means for controlling said driving means to move the sorting bins at a first speed in association with receipt of a sheet by one of said sorting bins and to move the sorting bins at a second speed in association with a discharge interval between the sheets discharged by said discharging means.

References Cited (Backward Citations)

DE3313753A1 Cited
JPS6123084A Cited
JPS6194969A Cited
JPS6151462A Cited
US4746111A Cited

USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows

Annuity Stage Window Opens Payment Deadline Surcharge Period Until Estimated Fee Status
3.5 Years (Year 4) 1994-08-26 1995-02-25 1995-08-27 $2000.00 Window Closed / Lapsed
7.5 Years (Year 8) 1998-08-26 1999-02-25 1999-08-27 $3760.00 Window Closed / Lapsed
11.5 Years (Year 12) 2002-08-26 2003-02-25 2003-08-27 $7700.00 Window Closed / Lapsed

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