← Back to Patent Explorer
US5237382A Expired / Lapsed US ⏱️ 0.0 years remaining

Image forming apparatus and controller thereof

Assignee: Ricoh Co Ltd
•
Filing: 1991-12-06
•
Granted: 1993-08-17
•
Expires: 2011-12-06
📄 Original PDF 🌐 Google Patents 🔄 Sync Now

Abstract

Abstract An image forming apparatus includes an input device for inputting the number of copies for every distributing place; a memory for storing the number of copies inputted by the input device; a display for displaying the number of copies; an original automatic feeder for returning an exposed sheet of an original to an uppermost position of this original; a feeder for feeding a sheet to be transferred; a device for reversing the transferred sheet; a collective sorter for collecting and sorting the transferred sheet; a detector for detecting discharge of the transferred sheet; and a discharging controller having first, second and third discharging devices. The first discharging device discharges the transferred sheet to each of bins disposed in the collective sorter in accordance with the number of copies of the original inputted by the input device. The second discharging device arranges and discharges the transferred sheet in a page order of the original. The third discharging device discharges an interleaving sheet of paper every time the transferred sheet is discharged by one copy.

Inventors

  • 👤 Keiichi Matsumura

Bibliographic Details

Application Number —
Jurisdiction US
Data Source google_patents
Last Synchronized 2026-11-08 15:47
CPC Classifications
G; G03; G03G; G03G15/00; G03G15/65; G03G15/6538; G03G15/655; G03G15/6555; G03G15/6573; G03G2215/00; G03G2215/00362; G03G2215/00367; G03G2215/00417; G03G2215/00421; G03G2215/00426; G03G2215/00535; G03G2215/00556; G03G2215/00789; G03G2215/00869; G03G2215/00886; G03G2215/00894

Claims Analysis

Total Claims: 6
Claim 1
Independent Claim 132 words
An image forming apparatus having sorting means with a plurality of bins, comprising: input means for inputting a number of copies to be made for each of said bins, such that a first number of copies can be inputted for one of said plurality of bins and a second number of copies different from the first number of copies can be inputted for a second one of said plurality of bins; memory means for storing said inputted number of copies for each of said bins; means for feeding sheets to be transferred; discharging means for discharging said transferred sheets to each of said bins; and control means for controlling said discharging means so as to discharge said transferred sheet to each of said bins in accordance with said inputted number of copies.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim 132 words
An image forming apparatus having sorting means with a plurality of bins, comprising: input means for inputting a number of copies to be made for each of said bins, such that a first number of copies can be inputted for one of said plurality of bins and a second number of copies different from the first number of copies can be inputted for a second one of said plurality of bins; memory means for storing said inputted number of copies for each of said bins; means for feeding sheets to be transferred; discharging means for discharging said transferred sheets to each of said bins; and control means for controlling said discharging means so as to discharge said transferred sheet to each of said bins in accordance with said inputted number of copies.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim 21 words
The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising original automatic feeding means for further a plurality of original sheets.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim 33 words
The image forming apparatus according to claim 2, wherein said original automatic feeding means is adapted to return an exposed sheets of said original sheets to an uppermost position of said original sheets.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim 31 words
The image forming apparatus according to claim 2, further comprising reversing means for said transferred sheet in order to arrange said transferred sheets in a page order of said original sheets.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim 38 words
The image forming apparatus according to claim 2, wherein said control means is adapted to control said discharging means so as to discharge an interleaving sheet of paper every time said transferred sheet is discharged by one copy.

References Cited (Backward Citations)

US4522486A Cited
US4515464A Cited
US4557589A Cited
JPS60128462A Cited
JPS63180677A Cited
US4980721A Cited
US5105231A Cited
US5079598A Cited

USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows

Annuity Stage Window Opens Payment Deadline Surcharge Period Until Estimated Fee Status
3.5 Years (Year 4) 1996-08-16 1997-02-15 1997-08-17 $2000.00 Window Closed / Lapsed
7.5 Years (Year 8) 2000-08-16 2001-02-15 2001-08-17 $3760.00 Window Closed / Lapsed
11.5 Years (Year 12) 2004-08-16 2005-02-15 2005-08-17 $7700.00 Window Closed / Lapsed

Assigned Categories & Tags

No categories assigned to this patent yet.

Assign Category Tag