Patent Publication Number: US-6341934-B1

Title: Collating apparatus

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION 
     This application is based upon and claims the benefit of priority from the prior Japanese Patent Applications No. 11-210871 and 11-210904 filed Jul. 26, 1999 and 11-375834 filed Dec. 28, 1999; the entire contents of which are incorporated by reference herein. 
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     The present invention relates to a paper collating apparatus for stacking a plurality of types of paper sheets in a predetermined order and for discharging them as a collated matter. The present invention relates, in particular, to alternately offsetting collated matters sequentially discharged and stacking them on a paper discharge tray. 
     A collating apparatus which the present inventor assumed as a study target will be described. 
     FIG. 1 is an overall perspective view of the collating apparatus. FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the neighborhood of a stacker section of the collating apparatus. The collating apparatus shown in FIGS. 1 and 2 is provided with (1) a plurality of paper feed trays  70   a  to  70   j  which are vertically arranged, (2) a paper feed section  71  conveying many sheets  72  stacked on the respective paper feed trays  70   a  to  70   j  one by one at predetermined timing, (3) a collating and conveying section (not shown) collating the plural sheets  72  conveyed from the respective paper feed trays  70   a  to  70   j  of the paper feed section  71  to provide collated matters  73  (shown in FIG. 3B) and conveying the collated matters  73  to a discharge section  74 , (4) the discharge section  74  discharging the collated matters  73  conveyed from the collating and conveying section (not shown), and (5) a stacker section  75  stacking the collated matters  73  discharged from the discharge section  74 . 
     The stacker section  75  has (1) a paper discharge tray  76  provided at the falling position of the collated matters  73  discharged from the discharge section  74 , and (2) a pair of side fences  77  and  78  positioned on both outer sides of the collated matters  73  discharged onto the paper discharge tray  76  and restricting an orthogonal direction to the discharge direction of the collated matters  73 . The widths of paired side fences  77  and  78  are variable according to the width of the sheets  72  to be collated. Also, the stacker section  75  is provided with sorting means  79 . This sorting means  79  consists of (1) a fixed base tray  76   a , (2) a movable paper discharge tray  76   b  horizontally movable on the fixed base tray  76   a , and (3) a driving unit (not shown) applying a driving force to horizontally move the movable paper discharge tray  76   b.    
     With the above configuration, many sheets  72  sorted according to paper types are stacked on, for example, the uppermost paper feed table  70   a  to the lowermost paper feed table  70   j , respectively. One unit of a collated matter  73  obtained by stacking sheets in the vertical order of these paper feed trays  70   a  to  70   j  will be described. When a start mode is selected, respective sheets  72  from the uppermost paper feed tray  70   a  to the lowermost paper feed tray  70   j  are sequentially conveyed with predetermined timing delays. The conveyed sheets  72  are collated by a collating and conveying section (not shown) to thereby provide collated matters  73 . The resultant collated matters  73  are discharged to the stacker section  75  through the discharge section  74 . By executing the series of operations continuously, many collated matters of paper sheets  72  are stacked on the stacker section  75 . 
     In a normal mode, the movable paper discharge tray  76   b  is not moved and, as shown in FIG. 3A, the units of collated matters  73  are stacked without being horizontally offset. 
     In a sort mode, on the other hand, the movable paper discharge tray  76   b  is moved horizontally in synchronization with the discharge timing of the sheets from the discharge section  74  and, as shown in FIG. 3B, collated matters  73  are horizontally offset and stacked according to units. The sort mode is convenient for sorting sheets in units of collated matters  73 . 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     However, the sorting means  79  of the collating apparatus has a disadvantage in that heavy load is applied to a motor (not shown) serving as a driving source due to the movement of the movable paper discharge tray  76   b  itself onto which the sheets  72  are stacked. The moving load particularly increases proportionately with the quantity of sheets  72  to be stacked. In view of this, it is required to prepare a heavy load motor. 
     Furthermore, it is required to provide the movable paper discharge tray  76   b  with notch holes  80  so as to avoid interference of the side fences  77  with the sheets. It is, therefore, necessary for an operator to take care not to insert his or her fingers or the like into the notch holes  80 . 
     The present invention has been made after the above-stated consideration and study. It is, therefore, an object of the present invention to provide a collating apparatus which can reduce the load on a driving source used in sorting and which can ensure safety in operation. 
     A collating apparatus according to the present invention comprises (1) a plurality of paper feed trays; (2) a paper feed section for conveying a plurality of sheets stacked on the plurality of paper feed trays one by one at predetermined timing; (3) a collating and conveying section for collating the plurality of sheets conveyed from the respective paper feed trays of the paper feed section to provide collated matters and for conveying the collated matters to a discharge section; (4) the discharge section for discharging the collated matters conveyed from the collating and conveying section to a stacker section; and (5) the stacker section provided with a paper discharge tray for stacking the collated matters conveyed from the discharge section, provided with a pair of side fences positioned at both outer sides of the collated matters discharged onto the paper discharge tray and restricting an orthogonal direction to a discharge direction of the collated matters, and having sorting means for alternately offsetting the collated matters sequentially discharged from the discharge section to the orthogonal direction to the discharge direction and for stacking the collated matters on the paper discharge tray, and the storing means wherein 
     the sorting means has a paper discharge wing, displaced between a wait position at which the paper discharge wing does not interfere with the collated matters discharged from the discharge section and an interference position at which the paper discharge wing interferes with the collated matters discharged from the discharge section to offset the discharge direction of the collated matters to almost the orthogonal direction to the discharge direction, and moves the paper discharge wing between the wait position and the interference position alternately in accordance with discharge timing at which the collated matters are discharged from the discharge section, thereby sorting the collated matters. 
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
     FIG. 1 is an overall perspective view of a collating apparatus relating to the study of the inventor of the present invention; 
     FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the neighborhood of a stacker section of the collating apparatus relating to the study of the inventor of the present invention; 
     FIG. 3A is a perspective view showing a state in a normal stacking and FIG. 3B is a perspective view showing a state in a sorting mode; 
     FIG. 4 is an overall perspective view of a collating apparatus in the first embodiment of the present invention; 
     FIG. 5 is a block diagram showing a paper feed section, a discharge section and a stacker section in the first embodiment of the present invention; 
     FIG. 6 is a side view showing a drive transfer system for transferring a driving force to the paper feed section, a collating and conveying section and the discharge section in the first embodiment of the present invention; 
     FIG. 7 is a perspective view showing the distribution of a driving force to the respective paper feed sections in the first embodiment of the present invention; 
     FIG. 8 is a perspective view of the stacker section in the first embodiment of the present invention; 
     FIG. 9 is a partial front view of the stacker section in the first embodiment of the present invention; 
     FIG. 10 is a perspective view of a paper discharge wing driving unit in the first embodiment of the present invention; 
     FIG. 11 is a circuit block diagram of a paper discharge wing in the first embodiment of the present invention; 
     FIG. 12 is a flow chart of a sorting mode in the first embodiment of the present invention; 
     FIG. 13 is timing charts for the respective parts in the sorting mode in the first embodiment of the present invention; 
     FIGS. 14A and 14B are schematic front view for describing the operation of the paper discharge wings in the first embodiment of the present invention; 
     FIG. 15 is a perspective view of a stacker section in the second embodiment of the present invention; 
     FIG. 16 is a partial front view of the stacker section in the second embodiment of the present invention; 
     FIGS. 17A and 17B are schematic front views for describing the operations of paper discharge wings, an intermediate horizontal arm and an auxiliary arm member in the second embodiment of the present invention; 
     FIG. 18 is a perspective front view of a stacker section in the third embodiment of the present invention; 
     FIG. 19A is a perspective view of a sorting base tray in the third embodiment of the present invention, and FIG. 19B is a perspective view of a modification of the sorting base tray; 
     FIG. 20 is a front view of a stacker section for describing the operation of a sorting base tray in the third embodiment of the present invention; 
     FIGS. 21A and 21B are schematic front views for describing the operations of paper discharge wings, an intermediate horizontal arm and an auxiliary arm member and for the function of the sorting base tray in the third embodiment of the present invention; 
     FIG. 22 is a perspective view of a stacker section in the fourth embodiment of the present invention; 
     FIG. 23 is a perspective view of a central interference member in the fourth embodiment of the present invention; 
     FIG. 24 is a partial front view of the stacker section for describing the displacement state of the central interference member in the fourth embodiment of the present invention; 
     FIGS. 25A and 25B are schematic front views of the stacker section for describing the operations of the paper discharge wings and the central interference member in an early period of a sort mode in the fourth embodiment of the present invention; and 
     FIGS. 26A and 26B are schematic front views of the stacker section for describing the operations of the paper discharge wings and the central interference member in middle and the following periods of the sort mode in the fourth embodiment of the present invention. 
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
     The embodiments of a collating apparatus according to the present invention will be described hereinafter with reference to the accompanying drawings. 
     As shown in FIGS. 4 to  7 , the collating apparatus consists of a paper feed section A conveying a plurality of types of sheets  1  at predetermined timing one by one for each type, a collating and conveying section B collating the plural sheets conveyed from the paper feed section A and conveying them as collated matters  2  to a discharge section C, the discharge section C discharging the collated matters  2  from the collating and conveying section B to a stacker section D, and the stacker section D stacking thereon the collated matters  2  discharged from the discharge section C. 
     The paper feed section A has ten paper feed trays  3   a  to  3   j  which are vertically arranged. Each of these paper feed trays  3   a  to  3   j  consists of a fixed paper feed tray section  4  and a movable paper feed tray section  6  having a conveying tip end side vertically moving with a support shaft  5  used as a fulcrum as shown in FIG. 5 in detail. The movable paper feed tray section  6  is provided with a paper detection sensor S 1  having a lever  7 . The paper detection sensor S 1  detects whether or not sheets  1  are stacked on the respective paper feed trays  3   a  to  3   j . A paper feed roller  9  supported by a rotary shaft  8  is arranged at a position above the conveying tip end side of the movable paper feed tray section  6 . If the movable paper feed tray portion  6  is positioned above, a stacked sheet  1  at the uppermost position is press-contacted with the paper feed roller  9 . 
     When the paper feed roller  9  is rotated, only the stacked sheet  1  at the uppermost position is conveyed with the involvement of the effect of a stripper plate (not shown). An upper guide plate  10  and a lower guide plate  11  guiding sheets  1  to be conveyed are provided at positions downstream of the paper feed roller  9 . The conveyed sheets  1  are guided by the upper and lower guide plates  10  and  11  and supplied to the collating and conveying section B. 
     A stack paper feed detector S 2  has a light emission section  12  and a light receiving section  13  arranged across the passages of the upper and lower guide plates  10  and  11  and detects whether or not the number of conveyed sheets  1  is one based on a sensor output level. The detector S 2  also detects the presence/absence of empty feed or sheet jamming based on whether or not there is a sensor output within a predetermined time after the start of the rotation of the paper feed roller  9 . 
     Further, the rotation timing of each paper feed roller  9  corresponding to each of the paper feed trays  3   a  to  3   j  is controlled by a solenoid clutch (not shown) to be described below and sheets  1  are conveyed to the collating and conveying section B from each of the paper feed trays  3   a  to  3   j  at predetermined timing. The drive transfer system for the respective paper feed rollers  9  and the timing thereof will be described below. 
     As shown in FIG. 5 in detail, the collating and conveying section B has conveyer rollers  15  provided at the discharge sides of the upper and lower guide plates  10  and  11  corresponding to each of the paper feed trays  3   a  to  3   j , and presser rollers  16  provided to face the conveyer rollers  15 , respectively. Each of the presser rollers  16  arranged vertically is urged toward the corresponding conveyer roller  15  by a spring, which is not shown in FIG. 5, and a conveyer belt  17  is laid on these presser rollers  16 . Each of the presser rollers  16  is press-contacted with the corresponding conveyer roller  15  through the conveyer belt  17 . The drive transfer system of the conveyer rollers  15  will be described below. 
     Further, perpendicular guide plates  18  and  19  are provided on both sides of the conveyer belt  17  which is press-contacted with each conveyer roller  15  and each presser roller  16 . A perpendicular conveying passage  20  is arranged between the perpendicular guide plates  18  and  19 . One perpendicular guide plate  18  is comprised of a plate, whereas the other guide plate  19  is comprised of a plurality of plates integral with the upper and lower guide plates  10  and  11  of the paper feed section A. 
     When the respective rollers  15  rotate, the rotatable conveyer belt  17  is moved by the presser rollers  16  in response to the frictional force of the conveyer rollers  15  and the sheets  1  conveyed from the paper feed section A are put between the rotating conveyer rollers  15  and the moving conveyer belt  17  and conveyed downward over the perpendicular conveying passage  20 . Here, if the sheet  1  at the lower paper feed tray side is conveyed to the collating and conveying section B at timing at which the sheet  1  conveyed from above passes through the conveyer rollers  15  provided below, the lower sheet is stacked on the upper sheet  1  and conveyed downward. The conveying operation and stacking operation of the sheets  1  are repeated to thereby create a desired collated matter  2  and the resultant collated matter  2  is conveyed to the discharge section C provided further below. 
     As shown in FIG. 5 in detail, the discharge section C has a conveying passage changing guide plate  21  which is rotatably provided between a stacker position indicated by a solid line and a position for a device for treating imaged-sheets indicated by a virtual line in FIG.  5 . The conveying passage changing guide plate  21  is urged toward a stacker position side by a spring which is not shown in FIG.  5  and driven by a solenoid (not shown). The conveying passage changing guide plate  21  is located at the stacker position when the solenoid is turned off and at the imaged-sheet treatment device position when the solenoid is turned on. At the stacker position, the upper end of the conveying passage changing guide plate  21  is positioned along one perpendicular guide plate  18  of the collating and conveying section B and the collated matters  2  conveyed from the collating and conveying section B are introduced toward the stacker section D side. At the imaged-sheet treatment device position, the upper end of the conveying passage changing guide plate  21  is positioned along the other perpendicular guide plate  19  of the collating and conveying section B and the collated matters  2  conveyed from the collating and conveying section B are introduced toward the opposite side to the stacker section D. 
     Further, a stacker section side guide plate  22  and an imaged-sheet treatment device side guide plate  23  are provided below the conveying passage changing guide plate  21 . The collated matters  2  are conveyed selectively through the guide plates  22  and  23 . 
     A discharge detection sensor S 3  has a light emission section  24  and a light receiving section  25  arranged across the stacker section side guide plate  22  and detects the discharge timing of the collated matters  2  based on a sensor output. Namely, when the collated matters  2  start passing through the sensor S 3 , a light from the light emission section  24  is shielded and the output of the light receiving section  25  turns into L level. When the passage of collated matters  2  is finished, the light from the light emission section  24  is not shielded and the output of the light receiving section  25  returns to H level. Based on this, the sensor S 3  detects the discharge timing of the collated matters  2 . The discharge detection sensor S 3  also detects sheet jamming at the discharge section C, for example, when the sensor output is kept at high level H over a predetermined time. 
     A pair of discharge rollers  26  and  27 , which are vertically arranged, are provided at the lowest downstream of the stacker section side guide plate  22 , i.e., at positions confronting the stacker section D. The paired discharge rollers  26  and  27  are arranged in an almost press-contact state and the upper end portion of the lower discharge roller  27  is slightly protruded upward of the stacker section side guide plate  22 . The upper discharge roller  26  is a driving roller, for which a drive transfer system will be described later. As the upper discharge roller  26  rotates, the lower discharge roller  27  rotates following the rotation of the upper discharge roller  26 . The collated matters  2  conveyed from the collating and conveying section B are inserted between the paired discharge rollers  26  and  27  and discharged to the stacker section D in response to the rotation of the paired discharge rollers  26  and  27 . 
     Next, description will be given to the drive transfer system of the paper feed rollers  9 , the conveyer rollers  15  and the upper discharge roller  26 . As shown in FIG. 6, a driving pulley  31 , a discharge pulley  32  and a conveying pulley  33  are fixed to the output shaft  30   a  of a main motor  30 , the rotary shaft  26   a  of the discharge roller  26  and the rotary shaft  15   a  of the lowermost conveyer roller  15 , respectively. The first driving belt  35  is laid on these pulleys  31 ,  32  and  33  and an auxiliary pulley  34 . 
     Further, a relay pulley  37  supported by a rotary shaft  36  is provided between the vertically adjacent paper feed rollers  9  and the conveying pulleys  33  are fixed to the rotary shafts  15   a  of the respective conveyer rollers  15 . The second driving belt  39  is laid on these relay pulleys  37 , the conveying pulleys  33  and the auxiliary pulleys  38 . As shown in FIG. 7, a relay gear  40  is fixed to the rotary shaft  36  of each relay pulley  37  and paper feed gears  41  arranged at upper and lower positions are engaged with the relay gear  40 , respectively. The respective paper feed gears  41  are coupled to the rotary shaft  8  of the paper feed roller  9  through a solenoid clutch (not shown in FIG.  6 ). 
     When the main motor  30  is driven, the first driving belt  35  is moved and the upper discharge roller  26  is thereby rotated in a direction indicated by an arrow a shown in FIG.  6 . Following the movement of the first driving belt  35 , the second driving belt  39  is moved to thereby rotate the respective conveyer rollers  15  in a direction indicated by an arrow b in FIG.  6  and the respective paper feed gears  41  are also rotated through the respective relay pulleys  37 . Then, only the paper feed roller  9  having the solenoid clutch (not shown) turned on is rotated in a direction indicated by an arrow c shown in FIG.  6 . 
     As shown in FIGS. 8 and 9, the stacker section D has a paper discharge tray  42  provided at the falling position of the collated matters  2  discharged from the discharge section C and a pair of side fences  43  and  44  positioned at both outer sides of the collated matters  2  discharged onto the discharge tray  42  and restricting an orthogonal direction to the discharge direction of the collated matters  2 . One of the paired side fences  43  and  44  (left fence in the drawings) is provided to be movable horizontally and the other fence (right fence in the drawings) is fixed to the paper feed tray  42 . By moving a side fence  43 , the distance between paired side fences  43  and  44  is variable according to the width of the sheets  1  to be collated. A front fence  45  (shown in FIG. 4) is arranged on the paper feed tray  42  to restrict the forward side of the discharge direction of the collated matters  2 . The front fence  45  is provided movably almost in the discharge direction of the collated matters  2 . 
     Moreover, the stacker section D is provided with sorting means  46 . The means  46  has a pair of paper discharge wings  47  and  48  provided in notch holes  43   a  and  44   a  of the paired side fences  43  and  44 , respectively. The upper ends of the paired paper discharge wings  47  and  48  are rotatably supported through support shafts  49 , respectively. Each of the paired paper discharge wings  47  and  48  is formed by bending a flat plate and part of the lower end of each wing is tapered so that the wing becomes gradually narrower toward the discharge section side. The paired paper discharge wings  47  and  48  are driven by a driving mechanism  50  so that each wing is displaced between a wait position (indicated by a virtual line shown in FIG. 9) at which the wing does not interfere with the collated matters  2  discharged from the discharge section C and an interference position (indicated by a solid line shown in FIG. 9) at which the wing interferes with the collated matters  2  discharged from the discharge section C. 
     As shown in FIG. 10, the driving mechanism  50  has a wing motor  51  serving as a driving source. A worm gear  52  is fixed to the output shaft of the wing motor  51 . A worm wheel  53  is engaged with the worm gear  52 . The first flat gear  54  is fixed coaxially, integrally with the worm wheel  53 . The second flat gear  55  is engaged with the first flat gear  54 . The second flat gear  55  is fixed to a hexagonal shaft  56 . A pair of right and left cylindrical cams  57  and  58  are inserted into the hexagonal shaft  56 . One cylindrical cam  57  (left cam in FIG. 10) is movable in axial direction, whereas the other cylindrical cam  58  (right cam in FIG. 10) is fixed. This is because when one side fence  43  (left fence in the drawings) is moved horizontally, the cylindrical cam  57  is moved together with the side fence  43  (left fence in the drawings) to thereby allow transferring a driving force. Transfer systems following the cylindrical cam  57  are all supported by one side fence  43  (left fence in the drawings) so as to move them together with the cylindrical cam  57 . 
     Cam grooves  59  are formed on the outer peripheral surfaces of the paired cylindrical cams  57  and  58 , respectively. The shapes of the cam grooves  59  are set to be 180-degree-symmetric with respect to each other about the rotation center of the hexagonal shaft  56 . In a rotation range from a reference rotation position to a position at 180 degrees therefrom, only one horizontal link  60  and one perpendicular link  63  (left links in FIG. 10) to be described later are driven to be rotated. In a rotation range from the 180-degree rotation position to the reference rotation position, only the other horizontal link  60  and the other perpendicular link  63  (right links in FIG. 10) to be described later are driven to be rotated. 
     The paired horizontal links  60  are rotatably supported by the paired side fences  43  and  44  with a support shafts  60   a  as fulcrums, respectively. Cam pins  61  engaged with the cam grooves  59  are fixed to one end sides of the horizontal links  60 , respectively. Long holes  62  are formed on the other end sides of the horizontal links  60 , respectively. The pins  64  of the perpendicular links  63  are inserted into the respective long holes  62 . The paired perpendicular links  63  are rotatably supported by the paired side fences  43  and  44 , respectively and a wing presser arm  65  and a lower arm plate  66  are fixed to the upper and lower ends of each of the perpendicular links  63 . The above-stated pin  64  is fixed to the tip end of the lower arm plate  66 . A roller  67  is rotatably provided on the tip end of the wing press arm  65 . As shown in FIG. 8, the respective rollers  67  are arranged to be adjacent to the rear surfaces of the paired side fences  43  and  44 , respectively. 
     That is to say, when the wing motor  51  rotates, the rotation thereof is transferred to the worm gear  52 , the worm wheel  53 , the first flat gear  54  and the second flat gear  55  in this order, whereby the paired cylindrical cams  57  and  58  rotate from the respective reference rotation positions. From the reference rotation positions to rotation positions at 180 degrees therefrom, only the left cylindrical cam  57  and the corresponding cam pin  61  are effective as a cam mechanism. The left horizontal link  60  and the left perpendicular link  63  rotate in a direction indicated by an arrow M shown in FIG.  10  and the discharge wing  47  at the left side rotates toward the interference position (in a state shown in FIG.  14 A). Thereafter, the links  60  and  63  rotate in an opposite direction indicated by an arrow N shown in FIG. 10, whereby the discharge wing  47  at the left side returns from the interference position to the wait position by its self-weight. From the 180-degree rotation positions to the reference rotation positions, only the right cylindrical cam  58  and the corresponding cam pin  61  are effective as a cam mechanism. The right horizontal link  60  and the right perpendicular link  63  rotate in a direction indicated by the arrow N shown in FIG.  10  and the discharge wing  48  at the right side rotates toward the interference position (in a state shown in FIG.  14 B). Thereafter, the links  60  and  63  rotate in an opposite direction indicated by the arrow M shown in FIG. 10, whereby the discharge wing  48  at the right side returns from the interference position to the wait position by its self-weight. A rotation angle  0  (which is an angle at the interference position with respect to the perpendicular direction) of each of the discharge wings  47  and  48  is about 50 degrees. 
     As shown in FIG. 11, the output of the paper discharge sensor S 3  is fed to a control section  68 . The control section  68  controls the wing motor  51  so as to execute a flow shown in FIG. 12 in a sorting mode. The details of the control operation will be described in the following part for the description of function. It is noted that the output of the paper discharge sensor S 3  and a control program are stored in a memory (not shown). 
     Next, the function of the above configuration will be described with reference to FIGS. 13 and 14. 
     For example, 10 different types (different contents) of sheets are to be collated, many sheets  1  sorted according to types are stacked on the uppermost paper feed tray  3   a  to the lowermost paper feed tray  3   j , respectively. When a start mode is selected, the main motor  30  is driven and the paper feed rollers  9  of the uppermost paper feed tray  3   a  to the lowermost paper feed tray  3   j  are sequentially rotated under the control of the respective solenoid clutches (not shown) in this order, thereby sequentially conveying the sheets  1  of the respective types (contents) to the collating and conveying section B one by one. The sheets  1  thus conveyed are collated on the portions of the conveyer rollers  15  and conveyed downward. The final collating treatment is conducted at the portion of the conveyer roller  15  at the lowermost position to thereby provide a desired collated matter  2 . The collated matter  2  is fed to the discharge section C, progressed by the conveying passage changing guide plate  21  toward the stacker section side and discharged to the stacker section D by the rotation of the paired discharge rollers  26  and  27 . The series of these operations are continuously executed, thereby sequentially discharging collated matters  2  in units. 
     Here, in a normal mode, the widths of the paired side fences  43  and  44  are adjusted to be slightly larger than that of a sheet  1 . Since the wing motor  51  is not driven and the paired paper discharge wings  47  and  48  are held at the respective wait positions, the collated matters  2  are stacked on the paper discharge tray  42  without being horizontally offset. 
     In a sort mode, the widths of the paired side fences  43  and  44  are adjusted to be slightly larger than that of a sheet  1  (about +35 mm). As shown in FIG. 12, when timing at which the detection output of the discharge detection sensor S 3  changed from L level to H level is detected (in a step S 1 ), the wing motor  51  starts to be driven after a predetermined time (t 1 ) (in a step S 2 ). When the cylindrical cam  57  rotates from the reference rotation position by 180 degrees (in a step S 3 ), the driving of the wing motor  51  stops (in a step S 4 ). Next, when timing at which the detection output of the discharge detection sensor S 3  is changed from L level to H level (in a step S 1 ), the wing motor  51  starts to be driven after a predetermined time (t 1 ) (in a step S 2 ). When the cylindrical cam  57  rotates by 180 degrees (in a step S 3 ), the driving of the wing motor  51  is stopped. As a result, the cylindrical cam  57  returns to the reference rotation position. Thereafter, whenever timing at which the detection output of the discharge detection sensor S 3  is changed from L level to H level, the wing motor  51  is driven as stated above. 
     Here, when the cylindrical cam  57  rotates by 180 degrees from the reference rotation position, the left-side paper discharge wing  47  is displaced from the wait position to the interference position as shown in FIGS. 13 and 14A, held at the interference position for a predetermined time and then returned to the wait position. The timing at which the paper discharge wing  47  is located at the interference position is coincident with timing at which a collated matter  2  discharged from the discharge section C falls, and the left end of the collated matter  2  contacts with the left-side paper discharge wing  47 . This interference causes the right end of the collated matter  2  to be inclined downward and to fall first, while shifting right. Since the right end of the collated matter  2  falls while contacting with the right side fence  44 , the collated matter  2  is put on the paper discharge tray  42  in a state in which the collated matter  2  is restricted by the right side fence  44 , that is, the right end of the collated matter  2  abuts against the right side fence  44 . 
     Further, when the cylindrical cam  57  rotates from the 180-degree rotation position to the reference rotation position, the right paper discharge wing  48  is displaced from the wait position to the interference position, held at the interference position for a predetermined time and returned to the wait position as shown in FIGS. 13 and 14B. The timing at which the paper discharge wing  48  is located at the interference position is coincident with the timing at which a collated matter  2  discharged from the discharge section C falls, and the right end portion of the collated matter  2  is contacted with the right-side paper discharge wing  48 . This interference causes the left end of the collated matter  2  to be inclined downward and to fall first while shifting left. Due to this, the left end of the collated matter  2  falls with the left end thereof abutting against the left side fence  43 . As a result, the collated matter  2  is put on the paper discharge tray  42  in a state in which the left end of the collated matter  2  is restricted by the left side fence  43 , i.e., the left end of the collated matter  2  abuts against the left side fence  43 . 
     The operations of the right and left paper discharge wings  47  and  48  are carried out synchronously with the collated matters  2  discharged, so that the collated matters  2  are stacked while being offset horizontally by a shift amount d 1  for each collated matter  2 . 
     In this way, the paper discharge wings  47  and  48  interfere with the collated matters  2  discharged from the discharge section C and offset the discharge direction thereof to a direction almost orthogonal to the discharge direction. Thus, moving load may be small and the wing motor  51  may have a motive force enough to move the paper discharge wings  47  and  48 . This makes it possible to suppress the load of the wing motor  51  to be small. Further, the paper discharge wings  47  and  48  having small moving loads only move between the wait positions and the interference positions. Thus, even if part of an operator&#39;s body contacts with the paper discharge wings  47  and  48 , safety is ensured. 
     While a pair of paper discharge wings  47  and  48  are provided in the first embodiment, only one of them may be provided in horizontal direction. It is noted, however, that a pair of paper discharge wings  47  and  48  for offsetting collated matters  2  in opposite directions can ensure a larger sorting offset quantity d 1 . 
     Furthermore, in the first embodiment, a pair of paper discharge wings  47  and  48  are provided at a pair of side fences  43  and  44 , respectively. Due to this, only by adjusting the widths of the paired side fences  43  and  44  in accordance with the width of a sheet  1 , the widths of the paired paper discharge wings  47  and  48  are aligned as well. Thus, there is no need to separately adjust the widths of the paired paper discharge wings  47  and  48 . 
     Moreover, in the first embodiment, it suffices that the driving mechanism  50  of the paper discharge wings  47  and  48  is constituted to rotate only the corresponding wing presser arms  65 . This can provide a less complicated, compact driving mechanism at lower cost. Further, since the paper discharge wings  47  and  48  are not physically coupled to the wing presser arms  65 , respectively, the wings  47  and  48  are displaced from the interference positions to the wait positions by their self-weights. Owing to this, even if an operator or the like erroneously inserts his or her fingers or the like between, for example, the paper discharge wing  47  or  48  and the side fence  43  or  44 , safety is ensured. 
     Next, the second embodiment of the present invention will be described. 
     If comparing the second embodiment with the first embodiment, they are the same except for the constitution of the sorting means  46  of the stacker section D. To avoid repeating description, the same constituent elements will not be described herein and only the constitution of the sorting means  46  will be described. It is noted that the same constituent elements in the second embodiments as those in the first embodiment are denoted by the same reference symbols for clarification purposes. 
     Namely, as shown in FIGS. 15 and 16, a pair of auxiliary perpendicular links  90  as well as a pair of side fences  43  and  44  and a pair of perpendicular links  63  are rotatably provided at the sorting means  46  in the second embodiment. One ends of intermediate horizontal arms  91  and auxiliary arm members  92  extending in horizontal direction are fixed to the perpendicular links  63  and auxiliary perpendicular links  90 , respectively. Engagement pins  93  at the center of the horizontal arms  91  are engaged with long holes  94  at the center of the auxiliary arm members  92 , respectively. 
     That is to say, the auxiliary arm members  92  move horizontally in cooperation with the rotation of corresponding wing presser arms  65 . While the paper discharge wings  47  and  48  are at wait positions, the auxiliary arm members  92  are located at retreat positions (indicated by virtual lines in FIGS. 17A and 17B) at which the members  92  do not interfere with collated matters  2  discharged from a discharge section C. While the paper discharge wings  47  and  48  are at interference positions, the auxiliary arm members  92  are located at protrusion positions (indicated by solid lines in FIGS. 17A and 17B) at which the members are below the wings  47  and  48  and protrude further inward of the tip ends of the paper discharge wings  47  and  48  by a dimension R. The remaining constituent elements of the sorting means  46  are the same as those in the first embodiment, which description will not be, therefore, given herein. 
     With the above constitution, as shown in FIGS. 17A and 17B, the left-side paper discharge wing  47  and the right-side paper discharge wing  48  are controlled to be alternately moved to interference positions synchronously with the collated matter  2  discharged, whereby the second embodiment can obtain the same function and advantage as those of the first embodiment. 
     Further, in the second embodiment, as shown in FIGS. 17A and 17B, the auxiliary arm members  92  are located further inside of the tip ends of the paper discharge wings  47  and  48  at their interference positions and the auxiliary arm members  92  interfere with the collated matters  2  further inside of the paper discharge wings  47  and  48  to change the discharge direction of the collated matters  2 . Due to this, it is possible to increase the sorting offset quantity d 2  without lengthening the paper discharge wings  47  and  48 . That is to say, it is considered that the paper discharge wings  47  and  48  may be made longer to increase the sorting offset quantity. If so, however, the moving locuses of the lower ends of the paper discharge wings  47  and  48  are moved downward accordingly and the wings  47  and  48  interfere with sheets  1  stacked on the paper discharge tray  42 , thereby restricting the quantity of the stacked sheets. As a result, the paper discharge wings  47  and  48  cannot be made longer and the offset quantity is restricted. The second embodiment, by contrast, can increase the offset quantity without lengthening the paper discharge wings  47  and  48 . 
     Next, the third embodiment of the present invention will be described. 
     If comparing the third embodiment with the second embodiment, they only differ in whether or not a sorting base tray  95  is present at the stacker section D. To avoid repeating description, the same constituent elements will not be described herein. It is noted that the same constituent elements in the third embodiment as those in the second embodiment are denoted by the same reference symbols. 
     As shown in FIG. 18, a sorting base tray  95  is a detachable member independent of a paper discharge tray  42  although it is provided on the tray  42 . As shown in FIG. 19A, the sorting base tray  95  consists of a circular arc section  96  obtained by bending a flat plate into circular arc shape and support sections  97  bent inward so as to make both ends of the section  96  flush with each other. The upper surface of the circular arc section  96  is formed as a circular arc-shaped inclined surface  96   a  which is high almost at a central portion and gradually lower toward the horizontally both sides thereof. Positioning notches  96   b  serving as positioning means are provided at the end portions of the circular arc section  96 , respectively. The sorting base tray  95  can be stopped at a front fence  45  by using the positioning notches  96   b . In a state in which the sorting base tray  95  is stopped at the front fence  45 , the sorting base tray  95  is provided on a paper discharge tray  42 , thereby positioning the base tray  95  in the horizontal direction of the front fence  45 . 
     FIG. 19B is a perspective view of a modification of the sorting base tray  95 . The modified sorting base tray  95  consists of an upper flat section  98  provided at a center thereof, inclined sections  99  formed bent at the both sides of the section  98  and support sections  97  bent inward so as to make the both ends of the inclined sections  99  flush with each other. The upper surface of the inclined section  99  is a flat, inclined surface  99   a  which is high almost at a central portion and gradually lower toward the horizontally both sides thereof. Positioning notches  99   b  serving as positioning means may be provided on the end portions of the inclined section  99 . 
     As already described in the second embodiment, the operations of the right and left paper discharge wings  47  and  48 , the intermediate horizontal arms  91  and the auxiliary arm members  92  are carried out synchronously with the collated matters  2  discharged. Due to this, as shown in FIGS. 21A and 21B, the units of the collated matters  2  are horizontally offset one another by a shift quantity d 3  and stacked. 
     As indicated by a solid line shown in FIG. 20, the end face of the collated matter  2  interfered with by the paper discharge wings  47 ,  48  and the like collides against the side fences  43  and  44  and the paper discharge tray  42 . FIG. 20 shows a state in which the end face of the collated matter  2  collides against the side fence  43 . At this moment, the collated matter  2  is often rebounded by a reactive force from the side fence  43  or  44  or the paper discharge tray  42 . Thereafter, as indicated by a virtual line shown in FIG. 20, the collated matter  2  falls onto the inclined surface  96   a  of the sorting base tray  95  and moves downward along this inclined surface  96   a , i.e., moves while abutting the end face of the collated matter  2  against the side fences  43  and  44 . Accordingly, the rebounded collated matter  2  moves along the inclined surface  96   a , so that the collated matter  2  is put on the paper discharge tray  42  while the end face thereof abuts against the side fences  43  and  44 . As a result, it is possible to well sort collated matters  2  with the end faces of the sets  2  aligned. 
     Further, in this embodiment, the sorting base tray  95  is constituted to be detachable from the paper discharge tray  42 . If a collating operation finishes and the sheets  1  stacked on the paper discharge tray  42  are to be handled, therefore, an operator can insert his or her fingers into the base of the sorting base tray  95  and integrally handle the stacked sheets  1  and the sorting base tray  95 , thus facilitating handling the sheets  1 . In other words, while the operator needs to insert his or her fingers under the lowermost stacked sheet  1  to thereby make handling operation inconvenient, this embodiment can eliminate such inconvenience. 
     If a collating apparatus is exclusive for sorting, the sorting base tray  95  may be fixed or half-fixed to the front fence  45 . In that case, part of the circular arc section  96  of the sorting tray  95  is notched to allow operator&#39;s fingers to be inserted from the notch part, thereby facilitating handling the sheets  1 . 
     Moreover, in this embodiment, the inclined surface  96   a  of the sorting base tray  95  is constituted to be circular arc shaped. Due to this, sheets  1  stacked on the inclined surface  96   a  of the sorting base tray  95  are deformed to become circular arc shaped. This makes it difficult to generate creases on the sheets  1  to thereby advantageously less damage the sheets  1 . 
     Furthermore, even the modified sorting base tray  95  as shown in FIG. 19B can obtain the same function and advantage as those of the sorting and stacking base tray  95  in FIG. 19A in the third embodiment. In addition, while the sorting base tray  95  in the embodiment shown in FIG. 19A has a circular arc-shaped inclined surface  96   a , the tray  95  as a modification shown in FIG. 19B has a flat, inclined surface  99   a . The constitution of the inclined surface should not be limited to these shapes. Any inclined surface which is high almost at a central portion and gradually lower toward the horizontal both sides thereof suffices. 
     Moreover, in this embodiment, positioning notches  96   b  are provided in the sorting base tray  95 . The front fence  45  is, therefore, moved according to the size of the sheet  1 . If the sorting base tray  95  is positioned at the front fence  45  thus moved through the positioning notches  96   b , the tray  95  is located at the central position between the paired side fences  43  and  44 , thereby making it possible to easily, accurately set the position of the sorting base tray  95 . 
     Additionally, while the positioning means of the sorting base tray  95  is constituted by using the positioning notches  96   b  in this embodiment, the positioning means may be constituted to allow positioning the sorting base tray  95  with respect to the front fence  45 . 
     Next, the fourth embodiment of the present invention will be described. 
     If comparing the fourth embodiment with the second embodiment, they differ in whether or not a central interference member  195  is present at the stacker section D. To avoid repeating description, the same constituent elements will not be described herein. It is noted that the same constituent elements in the fourth embodiment as those in the second embodiment are denoted by the same reference symbols. 
     As shown in FIGS. 22,  23  and  24 , the central interference member  195  is rotatably supported by a rear surface wall  196  on the paper discharge tray  42  through a support pin  197 . One end side of the central interference member  195  protrudes from a hole  196   a  of the rear surface wall  196  to upward of the paper discharge tray  42 . The one end side of the central interference member  195  is rotatably, movably provided between an upper position indicated by a solid line shown in FIG. 24 and a lower position indicated by a virtual line in FIG. 24 by moving within the hole  196   a . The one end side of the central interference member  195  has a plate shape having a long hole (not particularly denoted by a reference symbol) formed therein. At the upper position, the member  195  is inclined aslant if viewed from a front surface side. At the lower position, the member  195  is almost adjacent to and along the paper discharge tray  42  (see such as FIG.  24 ). An extension spring  198  serving as urging means is laid between the other end side of the central interference member  195  and the rear surface wall  196 . The central interference member  195  is urged toward the upper position by the spring force of the extension spring  198 . The spring force of the extension spring  198  is received by the end face of the hole  196   a , thereby restricting the member  195  so as not to further moving upward. The spring force of the extension spring  198  is set to be such an urging force as to allow the central interference member  195  to go down to the lower position if collated matters (sheets)  2  of a height corresponding to a height from the upper portion of the paper discharge tray  42  to the upper position of the central interference member  195  are stacked on the central interference member  195 . 
     As already described in the second embodiment, the right and left paper discharge wings  47 ,  48 , the intermediate horizontal arm  91  and the auxiliary arm member  92  operate in synchronization with the collated matters  2  to be discharged. Due to this, as shown in FIGS. 25A and 25B, the units of the collated matters  2  are horizontally offset one another by a shift quantity d 4  and stacked. 
     Namely, the collated matter  2  interfered with by the paper discharge wings  47 ,  48  and the like may collide against the side fences  43  and  44  and the paper discharge tray  42 , and may be rebounded by a reactive force from the side fences  43 ,  44  and the paper discharge tray  42 . However, the rebounded collated matter  2  is kept inclined in offset direction by the interference of the central interference member  195 , and thereby moves again in the offset direction. Consequently, the collated matter  2  is put on the paper discharge tray  42  while the end faces of the collated matter  2  are abutted against the side fences  43  and  44 . As a result, it is possible to well sort collated matters  2  with the end faces thereof aligned. 
     Further, the collated matters  2  stacked on the paper discharge tray  42  are also put on the central interference member  195 . As shown in FIGS. 26A and 26B, the central interference member  195  gradually moves downward against the spring force of the extension spring  198  due to the self-weight of the collated matters  2 . Therefore, the number of stacked collated matters  2  which can be put on the paper discharge tray  42  does not decrease. In addition, sorting disorder due to the rebounding of the collated matters  2  is likely to occur in the early period of the sort mode in which the falling distance of the collated matter  2  is large. However, the central interference member  195  is at the upper position in the early period of the sort mode, and the central interference member  195  gradually moves downward in the middle period of the sort mode. For that reason, the possibility that sort disorder occurs due to the rebounding of the collated matters  2  might be low. As can be seen, it is possible to realize sorting operation as good as possible with the end faces of the collated matters  2  aligned, and to prevent the number of stacked collated matters  2  from decreasing. 
     To satisfactorily sort and stack the collated matter, it is preferable that the position of the central interference member  195  is at an upper position until as a late period as possible. To provide as a large amount of stacked collated matters  2  as possible, on the other hand, it is preferable that the central interference member  195  is at the lower position as an early period as possible. In the fourth embodiment, when the quantity of the collated matters  2  stacked becomes a height corresponding to a height from the lower position of the central interference member  195  to the upper position thereof, the member  195  goes down to the lower position at which the member  195  is almost adjacent to the paper discharge tray  42  as shown in FIGS. 26A and 26B. It is, therefore, possible to set the heights of the paired paper discharge wings  47  and  48  relative to the paper discharge tray  42  as small as possible and to meet these two demands. 
     It is noted that the central interference member  195  is constituted to be displaced by rotating and moving between the upper position and the lower position in this embodiment. It is also possible that the central interference member  195  is constituted to be displaced by a linear movement. Further, the urging means of the central interference member  195  is constituted by the extension spring  198  in this embodiment. The urging member may be constituted by a spring other than the extension spring  198 . Alternatively, a member other than the spring may be employed as long as it can urge the central interference member  195 . It is noted, however, that the spring urging means can more facilitate determination of urging force, assembly and the like. 
     In the embodiments stated so far, one of the paired side fences  43  and  44  is set movable and the other fence is set fixed. It is also possible to make both of them movable. Alternatively, if the width of a sheet  1  to be used is fixed for some reasons, both of the side fences may be fixed. 
     In the embodiments stated so far, the driving mechanism  50  of the paper discharge wings  47  and  48  is constituted by using the worm gear  52  and the worm wheel  53 . The mechanism  50  may be constituted by using only flat gears.