Collator with collate mode, non-collate mode and job separation mode

Abstract

A collator includes a series of twenty bins arranged in parallel with each other. A copy feeding member feeds copies supplied from a copying machine along inlets of the successive bins. First and second deflecting devices are arranged at uppermost two bins for delivering the copies into the uppermost two bins. A distributor is movable between the third bin and the twentieth bin for delivering the copies into the bins. An extra tray is provided separately from the bins. The collator further comprises a collate mode selecting member, a job separation mode selecting member and a non-collate mode selecting member. While the collator processes the copies of a certain document under any one of the collate, job separation and non-collate modes, for instance the collate mode, any one of the job separation and non-collate modes, for instance the job separation mode, to be effected for copies of the next document can be reserved, and the collator is automatically switched from the collate mode into the reserved job separation mode upon completion of the previous collate mode.