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:
Jan. 02, 2001
Filed:
May. 29, 1998
Minolta Co., Ltd., Osaka, JP;
Abstract
An apparatus and method for processing paper ejected from an image forming device includes the use of a plurality of bins for sorting the paper ejected from the image forming device into packets and for housing the packets. A tray for stacking the packets is provided, along with a packet conveying device for conveying the packets from the plurality of bins to the tray. A detection device is included for detecting the maximum amount of paper that can be stacked onto the tray. A control device is also included which performs a number of controlling functions such as halting the packet conveying device, counting the number of empty bins from which the packets have already been removed and transmitting the number to an image forming device controller, in addition to controlling the guidance of the paper subsequently ejected from the image forming device in the empty bins.