Patent ID: 8579279

Claim:
A conveying direction-switching device that switches the direction of conveying paper leaves, comprising, a direction-changing drum configured to have a plurality of openings formed in an outer periphery thereof for permitting a paper leaf to be conveyed therein and be conveyed therefrom, and have a plurality of conveying paths formed therein for connection between the openings; and a phase control unit configured to control said direction-changing drum to a predetermined phase angle about a rotational axis thereof, to thereby cause one of the openings to be aligned with a conveying direction of the paper leaf conveyed into said direction-changing drum, wherein one of a plurality of directions is selected as the direction of conveying the paper leaf to be discharged from one of the openings according to the predetermined phase angle of said direction-changing drum; wherein said direction-changing drum comprises: the phase control unit is configured to be capable of controlling said direction-changing drum to the predetermined phase angle about the rotational axis thereof; first to fourth openings, as said plurality of openings, each of which is configured to have a slit shape which is parallel to the rotational axis, said first to fourth openings being arranged in this order on the outer periphery of said direction-changing drum in a manner spaced from each other by 90 degrees about the rotational axis thereof; convey-in rollers which are disposed in respective vicinities of the first to third openings of said direction-changing drum; a convey-out roller which is disposed in a vicinity of the fourth opening of said direction-changing drum; a straight passage configured to extend through the rotational axis of said direction-changing drum and connect the fourth opening and the second opening; and first and second curved passages intersecting with both sides of the straight passage in the direction-changing drum to form the shape of an arrowhead with the straight passage, configured to extend through said direction-changing drum and connect the fourth opening and the first opening, and the fourth opening and the third opening, respectively, and wherein the paper leaf is conveyed in via one of the first to third openings and is discharged to the fourth opening, whereby the direction of conveying the paper leaf is switched.