Sheet sorting device and sheet sorting method

A method for sorting sheets by a device, the device including:

• a paper feeding unit configured to feed a sheet, a reading unit, a first discharging unit to which the sheet is discharged, a second discharging unit to which the sheet is discharged and which is different from the first discharging unit, a first conveying path that extends from the reading unit to the first discharging unit and along which the sheet is conveyed to the first discharging unit without switchback conveyance, a second conveying path branched from the first conveying path at a branch point of the first conveying path and extending to the second discharging unit to provide a switchback conveyance path of the sheet from a side of the first discharging unit to the second discharging unit, a branching member located at the branch point, a conveying member located between the first discharging unit and the branching member, a plurality of conveying rollers, a transmitting section, and a receiving section, the method comprising:
• causing the reading unit to read an image on the sheet;
• causing the transmitting section to transmit image data read by the reading unit to a predetermined destination to perform predetermined determination processing of the sheet whose image is read by the reading unit;
• causing the receiving section to receive determination information of the predetermined determination processing from the predetermined destination;
• selecting a discharging destination of the sheet from the first discharging unit and the second discharging unit on the basis of the determination information;
• causing the conveying rollers to convey the sheet whose image is read by the reading unit to a side of the first discharging unit in the first conveying path;
• if the discharging destination of the sheet is the first discharging unit, causing the conveying member to discharge the sheet to the first discharging unit;
• and
• if the discharging destination of the sheet is the second discharging unit, causing the conveying member to make part of the sheet project from the conveying member towards the first discharging unit, to convey the sheet until an upstream tip end of the sheet in a sheet conveying direction from a side of the reading unit to the side of the first discharging unit is located at a position downstream in the sheet conveying direction from the branch point, and to convey the sheet from the side of the first discharging unit to the second conveying path through the branching member, wherein
• a distance from the branch point to the conveying member in the first conveying path is smaller than a length of the sheet in the sheet conveying direction.

A device comprising:

• a paper feeding means for feeding a sheet;
• a reading means for reading an image on the sheet;
• a first discharging unit to which the sheet is discharged;
• a second discharging unit to which the sheet is discharged and which is different from the first discharging unit;
• a first conveying path that extends from the reading means to the first discharging unit and along which the sheet is conveyed to the first discharging unit without switchback conveyance;
• a second conveying path branched from the first conveying path at a branch point of the first conveying path and extending to the second discharging unit to provide a switchback conveyance path of the sheet from a side of the first discharging unit to the second discharging unit;
• a branching means located at the branch point for directing the sheet that moves from the side of the first discharging unit to the branch point to the second conveying path;
• and
• a conveying means located between the first discharging unit and the branching means, the conveying means for;
• discharging the sheet to the first discharging unit if a discharging destination of the sheet is the first discharging unit, and
• if the discharging destination of the sheet is the second discharging unit, making part of the sheet project from the conveying member towards the first discharging unit, conveying the sheet until an upstream tip end of the sheet in a sheet conveying direction from a side of the reading means to the side of the first discharging unit is located at a position downstream in the sheet conveying direction from the branch point, and conveying the sheet from the side of the first discharging unit to the second conveying path through the branching means, wherein
• a distance from the branch point to the conveying member in the first conveying path is smaller than a length of the sheet in the sheet conveying direction.