Basic Operation; Clear Mode; Sort Mode; Stack Mode - Ricoh FT5540 Service Manual

31 August 1989

6. BASIC OPERATION

-lntroduction-
Sorter operation begins when the Start key is depressed. At that time, the sorter drive motor
turns on and the rollers start turning.
The sorter has two paper transport speeds. When paper first enters the sorter, it is
transported at the "slow speed" of 325 mm/s. This is slightly faster than the copier transport
speed. When the trailing edge of the paper passes the exit sensor of the copier, the sorter
shifts to the "high speed" of 675 mm/s. The high speed not only decreases copy delivery time,
but also improves delivery to the bins, preventing jams at the bin entrance due to paper pile
up.
After the trailing edge of the copy passes the jam sensor, the sorter motor turns off at the
same time as the copier main motor.

-Clear Mode-

The copies pass from the copier exit through the relay guide plates to the turn gate. The turn
gate directs the paper to the vertical guide unit. The vertical drive rollers then move the paper
up until it reaches the turn guide. The turn guide directs the paper to the first bin. During
transport of the copies in this mode, none of the bin gates are used.

-Sort Mode-

When in sort mode, the first sheet is placed in the first bin in the same way as when in clear
mode.
The second and subsequent copies follow the same path but are directed to the bins in order
from top to bottom (second copy to second bin, third to third bin, and so on). The appropriate
bin gate solenoid turns on when the trailing edge of the previous sheet passes the jam sensor
and turns off when the trailing edge of the paper passes the jam sensor.
If 16 or more is entered while in sort mode, the guidance display will indicate that the
maximum copy entry is 15 and the Quantity Entered counter will display 15.
When the sorter bin capacity is set to "limit" by using service program mode #76, copying will
stop at the maximum bin capacity for sort mode (50 sheets/bin) and the guidance display will
indicate that the sorter is full.

-Stack Mode-

When in stack mode, all sheets of the first copy run go to the top bin just as in clear mode.
When the Start key is depressed again, the entire second run is directed to the second bin.
Similarly, the third run goes to the third bin and the fourth run to the fourth bin.
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