The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document.
The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge covers the following: Patent number, Date patent was issued, Date patent was filed, Title of the patent, Applicant, Inventor, Assignee, Attorney firm, Primary examiner, Assistant examiner, CPCs, and Abstract. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document (in Adobe Acrobat format, aka pdf). To download or print any patent click here.
Patent No.:
Date of Patent:
Dec. 25, 1990
Filed:
Jan. 04, 1989
Takuma Ishikawa, Osaka, JP;
Akiyoshi Johdai, Osaka, JP;
Minolta Camera Kabushiki Kaisha, Osaka, JP;
Abstract
A copying apparatus having an automatic document feeder (ADF), and a sorter having a plurality of bins. The apparatus comprises an input mechanism for setting the number of sheets to be copied with respect to one original document; a detecting system for detecting a boundary between units of originals; a first control system for controlling the sorter so that the bins are altered one to another every time the boundary is detected by the detecting system when the number of sheets is set to one; a second control system for controlling the sorter so that the bins are altered one to another when the number of copied sheets accommodated in one bin exceeds its capacity of each bin while a copying operation for one unit of originals is being performed. When a sheet, inserted between units of originals, whose size is different from the sizes of original documents is fed by the ADF, the detecting system judges that it is the boundary therebetween. The sorter is controlled so as to automatically accommodate copied sheets of one unit of originals in one bin. Further, every time the boundary is detected, bins are shifted by one step, respectively so that copied sheets are accommodated in one bin for each of units of originals. Thus, units of the copied sheets corresponding to units of originals are separately accommodated in the respective bins.