Patent ID: 7029008
Filing Date: 2006-04-18
Classification: B65H,G07D

Abstract:
1. An accumulating device for accumulating sheets, which have differences in size, in a mixed state, comprising: an information detecting portion, which is provided in a conveying passage for conveying sheets, for detecting information pertaining to the length in the taking-in direction of sheets; a sheet accumulating portion including an accumulating space portion for accumulating said sheets, an intake for taking in the sheets, which are taken from said conveying passage, in the accumulating space portion sheet by sheet, an accumulating stacker for accumulating sheets taken in said accumulating space portion in the vertical direction, an accumulating stacker drive portion for driving to lower said accumulating stacker when taking in said sheets, a tip end regulating wall for regulating the tip end in the taking-in direction of the sheets having a maximum length in the taking-in direction of sheets which are taken in, a rear end regulating wall for regulating the rear end in the taking-in direction of the sheets to be taken in, at least one stopper that can move between an advancement position and a retreating position, said advancement position being a position that is between the tip end regulating wall and the rear end regulating wall, and on either the accumulating stacker or the sheets accumulated on the accumulating stacker, and simultaneously is the position at which the tip end in the taking-in direction of sheets that are taken into the accumulating space portion is stopped, the length in the taking-in direction of said sheets being shorter than said maximum length, and said retreating position being a position that is above the accumulating stacker and the sheets accumulated on the accumulating stacker and at which the tip end in the taking-in direction of the sheets that are taken into the accumulating space portion is not stopped, a stopper support for supporting the stopper so as to be movable in the vertical direction and simultaneously pressing the same in the downward direction, and changing the stopper to a state where the stopper advancing to its advanced position is brought into contact with the upper surface of accumulated sheets in response to the length in the taking-in direction of the accumulated sheets and the tip ends in the taking-in direction of the sheets taken in while the upper surface thereof are being pressed are stopped, and a state where the stopper advances to the tip end side in the taking-in direction of the accumulated sheets and the tip ends in the taking-in direction of sheets taken in while the tip ends in the taking-in direction thereof are being stopped, and a stopper driving portion for driving the stopper to advance and retreat between the advanced position and retreated position of the stopper; and a controlling portion for controlling said accumulating stacker driving portion so that, when taking in said sheets, the upper surface position of said accumulated sheets is located at a constant height, and simultaneously controlling said stopper driving portion on the basis of detection of sheets by said information detecting portion for detecting information pertaining to the length in the taking-in direction of sheets.