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:
Nov. 14, 2000
Filed:
Jun. 23, 1998
Toyoaki Namba, Higashiosaka, JP;
Kyosuke Taka, Nara, JP;
Tsuyoshi Asahara, Yamanashi, JP;
Kazuyuki Kubota, Yamanashi, JP;
Kazuaki Sano, Yamanashi, JP;
Sharp Kabushiki Kaisha, Osaka, JP;
Nisca Corporation, Yamanashi, JP;
Abstract
There is disclosed a sheet accumulation processing device in which sheets with images formed thereon are processed as a bunch before the sheet bunch is efficiently sorted and discharged to any one of plural discharge trays. The device comprises a load-carrying device for piling plural sheets; a sheet bunch discharging means for discharging a sheet bunch piled on the load-carrying device via a discharge port; plural discharge trays for storing the sheet bunch discharged by the sheet bunch discharging device; a discharge tray moving device for moving the discharge trays; a tray position detecting device for detecting positions of the discharge trays relative to the discharge port; a sheet presence detecting device for detecting presence of the sheets on the discharge trays; and a control device for selecting the discharge tray to which the sheet bunch is to be discharged based on detection results of the tray position detecting device and the sheet presence detecting device and moving the selected discharge tray by the discharge tray moving device. The control device selects a discharge tray which stores no sheet and is positioned closest to the discharge port as the discharge tray of the sheet bunch, and moves the selected tray to the discharge port, thereby minimizing the operation of moving the tray and shortening a setup time.