US5449167A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Sheet material sorting apparatus having means for holding and conveying the sheet material
Assignee: Canon Inc
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Filing: 1993-09-22
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Granted: 1995-09-12
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Expires: 2013-09-22
Abstract
Abstract A sorting apparatus includes a plurality of bin trays arranged in a direction with clearances between adjacent ones to accommodate sheet materials; at least one sheet holder, movable in the direction, for holding and and discharging the sheet materials to the bin trays; a sheet introducing device for introducing the sheet materials to the sheet holder; a non-sort bin for accommodating the sheet materials in a non-sorting mode operation; wherein the sheet introducing device is disposed opposed to the non-sort bin, and the sheet holding device has its home position opposed to the non-sort bin.
Inventors
- 👤 Yoshifumi Takehara
- 👤 Yuji Takahashi
- 👤 Noriyoshi Ueda
- 👤 Norifumi Miyake
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-09 14:20
CPC Classifications
B; B65; B65H; B65H39/00; B65H39/10; B65H39/11; B65H2701/00; B65H2701/10; B65H2701/17; B65H2701/176
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 9
Claim 1
Independent Claim
137 words
A sorting apparatus comprising: a plurality of bin trays arranged in a direction with clearances between adjacent ones to accommodate sheet materials; a first movable sheet holding means, movable in said direction, for holding and discharging the sheet materials; a second movable sheet holding means for receiving the sheet materials from said first movable sheet holding means to dispense them to said bin trays, wherein said first and second holding means are movable independently from each other; sheet introducing means for introducing the sheet materials to said first movable sheet holding means; and a non-sort bin for accommodating the sheet materials in a non-sorting mode operation, wherein said sheet introducing means is disposed opposed to said non-sort bin, and both said first and second movable sheet holding means have their home position opposed to said non-sort bin.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
137 words
A sorting apparatus comprising: a plurality of bin trays arranged in a direction with clearances between adjacent ones to accommodate sheet materials; a first movable sheet holding means, movable in said direction, for holding and discharging the sheet materials; a second movable sheet holding means for receiving the sheet materials from said first movable sheet holding means to dispense them to said bin trays, wherein said first and second holding means are movable independently from each other; sheet introducing means for introducing the sheet materials to said first movable sheet holding means; and a non-sort bin for accommodating the sheet materials in a non-sorting mode operation, wherein said sheet introducing means is disposed opposed to said non-sort bin, and both said first and second movable sheet holding means have their home position opposed to said non-sort bin.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
19 words
An apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said non-sort bin is a topmost one of said plurality of bins.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
17 words
An apparatus according to claim 2, wherein the topmost bin is dedicated for the non-sorting mode operation.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
16 words
An apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said non-sort bin is one of said bin trays.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
20 words
An apparatus according to claim 4, wherein said one of said bin trays is dedicated for the non-sorting mode operation.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
37 words
An apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising another sheet introducing means opposed to a bin tray other than the non-sort bin, and a deflector for introducing the sheet material to either of said sheet introducing means.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
165 words
An image forming apparatus comprising: image forming means for forming an image on sheet materials; sheet feeding means for feeding the sheet materials to said image forming means; a plurality of bin trays arranged in a direction with clearances between adjacent ones to accommodate sheet materials; a first movable sheet holding means, movable in said direction, for holding and discharging the sheet materials; a second movable sheet holding means for receiving the sheet materials from said first movable sheet holding means to dispense them to said bin trays, wherein said first and second holding means are movable independently from each other; sheet introducing means for introducing the sheet materials on which images are formed to said first movable sheet holding means; and a non-sort bin for accommodating the sheet materials in a non-sorting mode operation, wherein said sheet introducing means is disposed opposed to said non-sort bin, and both said first and second sheet holding means have their home position opposed to said non-sort bin.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
165 words
An image forming apparatus comprising: image forming means for forming an image on sheet materials; sheet feeding means for feeding the sheet materials to said image forming means; a plurality of bin trays arranged in a direction with clearances between adjacent ones to accommodate sheet materials; a first movable sheet holding means, movable in said direction, for holding and discharging the sheet materials; a second movable sheet holding means for receiving the sheet materials from said first movable sheet holding means to dispense them to said bin trays, wherein said first and second holding means are movable independently from each other; sheet introducing means for introducing the sheet materials on which images are formed to said first movable sheet holding means; and a non-sort bin for accommodating the sheet materials in a non-sorting mode operation, wherein said sheet introducing means is disposed opposed to said non-sort bin, and both said first and second sheet holding means have their home position opposed to said non-sort bin.
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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) | 1998-09-11 | 1999-03-13 | 1999-09-12 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 2002-09-11 | 2003-03-13 | 2003-09-12 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2006-09-11 | 2007-03-13 | 2007-09-12 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |