CA1063634A - Apparatus for stacking sheets - Google Patents

Abstract

ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE
Stacking apparatus for stacking sheets being fed thereto at high speed along a feed path. A base is positioned a spaced distance below the feed path of the documents. A
stacker plate is arranged above the base with its upstream end positioned above the feed path and the downstream end adapted to rest upon the base at a spaced distance from the end of the base lying beneath the stacker plate. The stacker plate is curved to include an upstream concave portion and a downstream convex portion confronting the documents to guide the leading edge of the documents along the bottom surface of the plate downwardly towards the downstream end of the plate to be stacked on the base beneath the downstream end of the plate. Means are provided for swingably mounting the upstream end of the plate to enable the downstream end to move upwardly as the height of the stack increases. The stacker plate further includes an end wall at the downstream end for limiting movement of the sheets in the feed direction. Rebound prevention means are provided on the stacker plate for preventing sheets striking the end wall from rebounding therefrom.

Description

: ~636~
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APP~RATUS FOR STACKING SHEETS
This application is a divisional application of Canadian Serial No. 259,769, filed August 24, 1976.
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,BACKGROUND _F T~IE INVENTION
. There exist a large number of applications wherein .: :
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~ .~ it is desired to provide a capability of counting and/or ~ : .
;, endorsing or canceling documents such as tickets, paper cur- ~
. : rency, food stamps, and the like. Since many applications ~- -~. require counting devices having a capability of countiny docu- : .
.~ 10 ments accurately and at high speeds, apparatus is required which ! ' not only meets these specifications, but is further capable of ;-. : :
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. f , , ,,, , , . ; ....... . -, ' ', :,:: .. '.' .' ' ', ' '', ., ' ', ., ~ , ; countiny and stacking documents of which many may be mutilated or creased or otherwise abused due to folding or rough handling.
Typically, damaged or mutilated documents must first be removed from a stack due to the fact that present day feeding and separating devices are incapable of handling and accurately counting such documents. Even documents which may be perfectly intact, but which may be eith~r severely folded or creased typically require special handling.
~,!'' ' It is also desirable to provide apparatus capable of performing the above-mentioned functions and which is further ,., . : .
designed, without the need for repeated adjus-tments, to hand~e , documents of varying length, width, thickness and finishes, as - -;j well as belng capable of handling documents of different materials, ~ and which may be creased either slightly or severely or have . .. : - . . - .
slight or severe tears.

A document handling device which provides all of the ~above capabilities typically results in apparatus which is large, ~ -~ expensive, and complicated.

,`e,~ BRIEF DESCRIPTIOM OF THE INVENTION

The present invention is characterized by providing a novel ; stacker apparatus for use in apparatus of the type descrlbed and which achieves all of the above capabilities as a result of a ... . . .
.j ~ design and arrangement which yields apparatus which is small, compact, light and hence portable, and is also characteriæed by its simplicity of deslgn, operation and reduced cost.
`~ According to the present invention, there is provided stacking apparatus for stacking sheets being fed thereto in eriatim along a feed path, the stacking apparatus comprising:
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`~j a base positioned a spaced distance below the feed path;

a stacker plate having its upstream end positioned abovb .. ,.~ .
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1~63634 , .
the feed path and its downstream end adapted to rest upon said base a spaced distance from the upstream end of the base;
said stacker plate being curved to include a concave portion and a convex portion confronting the sheets to guide the : .
leading edge of the sheets along the bottom surface of the stacker plate downwardly towards the downstream end of the stacker plate to be stacked therebeneath on the base;
means for swingably mounting the upstream end of the staaker plate to enable the downstream end of the stacker plate -~ 10 to move upwardly as the height of the stack increases;

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said stacker plate including at the downstream end ` thereof an end wall for limiting movement of the sheets in the ' . ' . :.
feed direction; and . ~ ... . . ..
rebound prevention means on said stacker plate at the downstream end thereof for preventing sheets striking the end ` ~ wall from rebounding therefrom.
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As the documents or sheets move along the feed path towards the stacking apparatus, the downstream edges of the docu-ments strike the curved swingably mounted stacker plate and are guided along the bottom surface thereof downwardly towards the downstream end of the plate. The base of the stacking apparatus ... .
is positioned substantially below the incoming paths of the docu-ments and serves to prevent the upstream ends of the documents ::. :: ~ , .
fed into the stacker from causing interleaving of documents as well as preventing documents ~eaching the stacker from jamming ~ ;

or otherwise interfering with a smooth stacking operation. The ... . . .
swingably mounted stacker plate is pivotally mounted at its up-stream end while its downstream end, which limits the forward ~` movement of abutting documents, is free ~o be lifted as the height of the documents in the stacking apparatus increases to . ~ . -. j , : :
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~apply a slight top weight to the forming stack. The s-tacker plate is provided with means to prevent stacked documents from .. ..
; rebounding after striking the downstream end of the stacker plate.
; In order that the invention may be more fully under-stood, it will now be described with reference to the accompanying drawings in which:
Figure 1 shows a perspective view of a document counter ~ embodying the principles of the present invention.
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` :~01~3634 Fi~ure 2a is an eleYat~onal view of the document counter of F~gure 1 w~th the cover removed so as to show the contents of the counter. -Figure 2b is a top plan v~ew of the apparatus of Figure 2 showing some of the components therein in greater detail to better explain the drive train of the document counter.
Figure 2c shows a top plan view of the apparatus of Figure 2a with most of the elements of Figure 2b excluded there-from to further show the structure and facilitate an understanding of the operation of the device. ~ -Figure 2d shows an elevational view of the apparatus of Figure 2a looking in the direction of arrows 2d-2d of Figure 2a.
Figure 2e shows a top plan view of the acceleration and stripper roller assemblies of Figure 2a in greater detail.
Figure 2f shows a simplified elevational view of the -.- conveyor belt assembly of Figure 2a.
, Figure 2g is a detailed elevational view showing a portion of the endorser assembly.
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Flgures 3a and 3b show detailed top and side views of 20 ~ the stripper assembly of Figure 2a.

,` Figure 3c shows a sectional view of the stripper assembly , looking in the direction of arrows 3c-3c of Figure 3b~
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Figures 3d and 3e show detailed sectional views of embodiments of the cooperating O-rings and conveyor belt to . ........ .
explain the corrugating effect obtained. ~ -Figures 3f and 3g show elevational and top plan views respectively of the preferred embodiment of the flexible drive means.
Figures 3h and 3i show alternative embodiments for ;~
limiting rotation of the stripper assembly to only one direction.
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; Figures 4a and 4b show ~op and side views of the acceleration idler roll assembly.
Figures 5a and 5b show detailed top and side views to the stacker plate of Figures 1 and 2a.
Figure 5c shows an exploded perspective view of alternative biasing apparatus for the stacker plate of Figure 2a.
Figures 5d and 5g show embodiments for assuring , ~
` ` the formation of a neat stack.

Figures 5e and 5f show section views looking respectively in the direction of arrows 5e-5e and 5f-Sf of . ~, . . . . .
Figure Sd.

~` Figures 6a and 6~ show views of a registration apparatus which may be employed in the device of Figure 1.

Figure 6c shows an alternative arrangement for .: :
the drive wheels of Figure 2a.
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; Figure 6d shows an alternative arrangement for the drive belts of Figures 3d and 3e.

~ DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF T~IE INVENTION

- ~20 Fiyure 1 shows a perspective view of the countiny ~ apparatus 10 of the present invention comprised of a housin~

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11 which, in addition to providing a protective function for ~j~ the apparatus contained therein, further has a configuration which contributes to the effective operation of the apparatus.
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The infeed section 12 of the device is adapted to receive a ~- stack of documents of intermixed sizes, finishes and thick-nesses, and which requires no top weight, for rapidly alld accurately feeding documents in to the separating and counting mechanism contained within housing 11. I~fter the . , ' :. .
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~63634 counting and/or endorsing operations, documents are fed into the outfeed stacker section 13 designed to prevent improper interleaving and/or jamrning of documents fed thereto, to assure the development of a neat stack.
The front panel lla of housing 11 serves as a `~ control panel provided with BATCH/COUNT selector knob SWl i . . .
and an LED display D which provides a cumulative count of the documents fed through the apparatus. The display D is de-~ signed to "flash" to indicate certain conditions. Power ON
?~ 10 switch SW2 selectively turns the apparatus ON or OFF.RUN/STOP switch SW3 has a stop position for turning the drive motor off without turning off the display while maintaining ,,: . : ' ' ~ ~ the number in the display. In the RUN position, counting is . :~ , . .
resumed without resetting the display. Display reset switch SW4 resets the display and clears any jam conditions. A
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detailed description of the electronics is set forth in United ~; States Patent No. 4,015,110 issued March 29, 1977 and assigned ~;~
to the assignee of the present invention, and has been ~om1tted herein for purposes of simplicity.
y 20Figure 2a shows an elevational view of the ~; , : .
~` mechanism contained within housing ll.
The infeed stacker section is comprised of a first ;~
inclined plate 14 having a large V-shaped notch l4A to .., :
facilitate insertion o~ a stack S of documents. The plate i is bent at 14b with its downstream end 14c being inclined only slightly relative to an irnaginary horizontal plane.
The downstream end of the plate is provided with three . ,: ~ . . .

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~063634 substantLally rectangular-shaped notches 14e, 14f and 14g (Fig. 2c~ wh~ch provide clearance for the conyeyor belts and eccentrically mounted ~ogger ~heel ~to be more fully des-cribed) which elements respect~vel~ protrude tlierethrough.
The infeed hopper section is further comprised of an ;; inclined plate 15 bent at 15a to form a lower oppositely inclined portion 15b. Upper portion 15 of the plate serves to relieve a major portion of the weight of the stack S from the forward ends of the bottom-most documents resting upon plate 14 due to its orientation. Section 15b forms a tapering throat portion with :;:
the conveyor belts through which documents are urged into the ' apparatus from the stack S provided in the infeed hopper. The angle which plate portion 15b defines relative to the feed path ` of the sheets is selected to be small enough to prevent re-bounding of sheets therefrom and large enough to prevent wedging of the sheets moving between the conveyor belts and the-plate ^~ portion 15b.
,~ The mechanical drive for the apparatus is derived ~, from a single motor means M secured to the base plate lle of -~
the housing frame by fasteners F. The output shaft of motor M is fitted with a hub 11 imparting drive to a pulley 16 (see Fig. 2b) by belt 17. Pulley 16 is mounted upon a shaft 18 which is journalled within bearings l9a and l9b provided . in a pair of vertical support members 20a and 20b forming part of the apparatus supporting structure. Shaft 18 is ~j adapted to rotate with pulley 16, secured thereto by set ., ~ . . .
; screw 16a. Rotation of pulley 16 is imparted to shaft 18 ~,. ...................................................................... . . .
which serves to rotate a pulle~ 21. A belt 22 is entrained by pulley 21 and a pulley 23 fixedly secured to shaft 24 by ~, 30 set screw 23a. Shaft 24 is freewheelingly rotated within .,~ -~, .
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bearings 25a and 25b mounted within uprights 20a and 20b respectively. Also mounted to shaft 24 on opposite sides of plates 20a and 20b are ~irst and second crowned rollers 26a , . .
and 26b secured to shaft 24 by set of screws 27a and 27b respectively. The aforesaid members which constitute the ~ -drive-train between the output of motor M and shaft 24 also serve as a speed reducing means. The drive imparted to shaft 24 and pulleys 26a and 26b is imparted to a pair of crowned ; drive rollers 29a and 29b and a pair of crowned rollers 30a, 30b for rotating eccentric jogger 35 (to be more fully ` described) by a pair of elongated conveyor belts 27 and 28 each of which are respectively entrained about pulleys -~ 26a, 29a, 30a and 26b, respectively to impart rotation to - rollers 29a, 30a and 29b, 30b. Rollers 26a, 26b, 29a, 29b, 30a and 30b are crowned to retain the belts 27, 28 thereon.

Rollers 29a and 29b are mounted upon shaft 31 which is ~r,~ iournalled within baarings 32a and 32b provided in upright walls 20a and 20b. In a similar fashion, rollers 30a and 30b are joined to shaft 33 rotatably mounted within bearings 34a and 34b. Jogger roller 35 is eccentrically mounted upon shat 33 between rollers 30a and 30b and is provided with .. .
rooves formed in the cylindrical surface thereof for re-ceiving O-rings 36 which periodically engage the undersides of the bottom-most documents in the stack and perform the ,~7~ :
dual function of urging t~e bottom-most document in the forward feed direction while jogging the s-tack upwardl~ to relieve a substantial amount of the weight of the stack from at least the bottom-most document to ~acilitate the ~eeding operation. This operation and the unction of plates 14 and lS are fully des~ribed in U.S. Patent No. 3,771,783 and a ~ 9 ;~ . . .
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'' ' ' ' , . ' ' ' , ' , " ' ~ . .' ' ' ' ' ' . ,. ' , ' ., ' . ~ ' "' .,' . ' ' ' ' ' ' : ' ,: , '". . '' . ' '~ ' ' i. . ,"'. ' ', ', ', ' " ' ;; ". ',', '~'" '' " " ' ' ,` ','' ''" ;..'~ ' ' ":: , ," ' , ' ' ; ~, ~ rl detailed description will be omitted for purposes of simplicity.
Briefly, however, the more steeply inclined portion of plate 14 relieves the trailing edge of a document moving in the forward feed direction from the weight imposed upon the document by the upstream end of the stack. The upper portion of plate 15 exerts a supporting force on the forward edges of documents engaging the plate which has an upward vertical component, thereby relieving -the forward end of at least bottom-most document from some of the weight of the downstream end of stack S.
As shown in Figs. 2a, 2b and 2f, the closed loop convey or belts 27 and 28 are entrained about the drive rolls 26a-26b and eccentric jogging member rolls 30a-30b. ~ach belt, such as,~for example, belt 27 may be provided ~ith a continous sawtooth configuration along its exterior surface as shown by the section 27a of Eigure 2f. The belts are further provided with elongated continuous grooves running transverse to the sawtooth pattern.
Note Figure 3c in which belt 28 (shown in cross-sectioll) is provided with grooves 28b and 28c which are aligned with the O-rings (to be more fully described) of the skripper assembly.
.i i These O-rings enter at least partially into the grooves 28b and ~ ' 28c to "corrugate" or otherwise urge a paper document into an . ~ ~
undulating configuration as shown by the document D; of Figures 3c and 3d which "corrugation" stifens the sheets and thereby facilitates the stipping operation as will be described in detail hereinbelow.
, . , v The platen roller shaft 24 imparts rotation to drivc ~ rolls 26a and 26b and to the platen roller 38, shown best in ,. Figures 2a, 2b and 4a. This roller rotates with the rotation of shaft 24 and imparts rotation to the acceleration idler wl)eels through ~rictional engagement therebetweell as can best be seen ~ from Figures 2a, 4a and 4b. The acceleration idler wheel assembly ~; ,. . .

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40 is comprised of a mounting plate 41 formed of a suitable spring steel and provided with openings 41a and 41b for securing plate 41 to a structural cross-piece 43 (shown best in Figs. 2a and 4b) by fastener 41e. Mounting plate 41 is provided with two arms 41c and 41d each of which mounts a bearing block 44 and 45 thereto. The bearing blocks are each provided with bearings ~4a and 45a for supporting and freewheelingly mounting shaft 46.
Shaft 46 is held within the bearings and prevented from linear movemen~ by means of the collars 47 and 48 secured to shaft 46 , . . .. .
~ 10 and positioned on opposite sides of their associated bearing ~-, blocks 44 and 45 which, as shown, for example, in Figure 4b, are !~
each secured to an associated arm, such as, for example, arm 41d, by fastening means 48a.
A pair of pulleys 49 and 50 are locked to shaft 46 and ` are each provided with circular gooves around their peripheries for receiving a cooperating resilient O-ring 49a and 50a respec-. , - . .
~ tively. As can best be seen in Figures 2a and 4b, the arms oÆ --~ mounting member 41 urge the O-rings of pulleys 49 and 50 against the surface of platen roller 38 so as to be rotated thereby~ Platen roller 38 is preferably formed o a resilient material.

A flexible drive assembly 51 (Figs. 4a and 2e), pro-::
vided with a first collar 51a, is locked to one end of shaft , 46 by means of a set screw 51b. One end of the flexible cable '~~ 51c is joined to collar 51a by a set screw 51d. ~The opposite ~ end o flexible cable 51c is joined to a similar collar 52 , :,. .
by set screw 52b. Collar 52 is mounted to freewheelingly rotate about a bearing 53 secured to the apparatus side frame 54, A pulley member 55 is mounted to sidelframe 54 ., by means of bearing assembly 56 and is comprised of first and `
second integral pulley portions 55a and 55b, bo~l of which are 11 ' ~
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~;3634 ' provided with semicircular gooves about their peripheries for : receiving and supporting resilient O-rings 57 and 58. O-ring .

57 rollingly engages the surface of collar 52 so as to drive .
pulley assembly 55 into rotation. Pulley.portion 55b couples its rotational drive to a pulley 59 by means of O-ring 58 which ; is entrained about pulley portion 55b and pulley 59. The pulley assembly 59 is provided with a collar portion 59a which secures one end of a flexible drive cable 60 by means of set screw 59b.
The opposite end of flexible drive cable 60 is secured to a collar .: 10 61 by set screw 61a. Collar 61 is mounted upon the shaft 71 of ~: the stripper assembly 70 and is locked thereto by set screw 61b.
~igures 3f and 3g respectively show elevational and top -:
plan view of another preferred embodiment of the flexible drive means of Figure 2e. The collar 52a of flexible cable 51c is mounted to rotate upon bearing 53 which, in turn, is mounted to ~: .
;~ frame 54. The surface of member 52a.is grooved to seat O-ring : ~; l which is entrained about collar 52a and a groove in pulley , P1, which is freewheelingly mounted to side frame 54 by bearing Bl. The reduced diameter portion Pl rictionally engages O-~20 ring 2 seated w.ithin a groove in pulley P2 freewheelingly mounted to swingable arm Sl by bearing B2. Arm Sl is pivotally `~
mounted to side frame 54 by fastening means F. The pulley member ., ~ , .
P2 has a reduced diameter portion P2a provided with a pair of . grooves fox seating O-rings 03 and 04, which are further entrained .~
bout collar Cl having a similar pair of spaced grooves -for re- . :.
ceiving O-rings 03 and 0 . The collar Cl is freewheelingly mounted to side frame 54 by bearing B3. The collar Cl lS secured to .

- ~ flexible drive.member 60.
The O-rings 03 and 04 are under suEficient tension to 30 urge swingable arm S, in the direction shown by arrow A to .

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maintain O-ring 2 and pulley portion Pla in intimate engagement. ~ -Rotational drive is imparted to collar 52a by flexible drive member 51c. A first stage of speed reduction is provided by collar 52a and pulley Pl. A second stage of speed reduction is provided between reduced diameter portion Pla of pulley Pl and ~ the pulley P2, as well as providing "slip clutch" action when ; necessary.
~; The stripper assembly 70 (see Figs. 3a-3c) is com-prised of a bracket 72 slotted at 72a and 72b for receiving threaded fastening members to join bracket 72 to the top of cross-piece 43 shown in Fig. 2a. The bracket ls bent upwardly at 72c and has a pair of downwardly depending arms 72d and 72e.
Arm 72e is shown best in Figures 3b and 3c and is provided with - a first opening for supporting and threadedly engaging the ;
- , , `i` threaded end 73a of stripper adjustment shaft 73, a second opening for supporting one end of stripper pivot shaft 74 and a third opening for supporting one end of shaft 75 upon which the downstream stripper pulleys are mounted. Arm 72d has similar openings aligned with the openings in arm 72e to~support the ~20 opposite ends of shafts 73, 74 and 75. Downstream stripper .. .. . .
pulleys 76 and 77 are secured to freewheeling shaft 75 on the exterior side of brackets 72a and 72e by means of set screws " : : :: , ~ 76a and 77a.
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The stripper pivot shaft 74 has each of its cnds secured to the bracket arms 72d and 72e as shown best, for example, in Figure 3c by means of a threaded fastener 78. A
, ~ cylindrical bushing 79 is mounted between bracket arm 72e and '' upright arm 80a of swingable bracket 80 to facilitate pivoting ~`i, of this bracket. Swingable bracket 80 is provided with a first .. . . .
pair of- upright arms, there being a substantially mirror imag~ of the upright arm 80a. Both of these arms arc provided with openings ~ ;

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- ~06363~

for receiving the stripper pivot shaft 74. Note, for exampl~, Figure 3b in which stripper pivot shaft 7~ and bushing 79 extend through an opening in upright arm 80b. The brackct extends generally downwardly and to the rightl relative to Figure 3b and is provided with a second pair of upright arms 80c and 80d shown in Fig. 3a. Arm 80c is shown in detail in Fig. 3c and is fitted with a bearing 81 for ~reewheelingly supporting the shaft 71 upon which the upstream stripper pulleys 82 and 83 are mounted. Each of these pulleys is provided with a set screw 82a and 83a respec-tively for locking the pulleys to sha~t 71. The upper end 80e of swingable bracket 80 is bent at an angle relative to the main portion of the bracket and is provid~d with an openin~ for receivin~ -set screw 85 threadedly secured to swingable bracket portion 80e by means of a threaded collar 86 which is welded or otherwise secured to swingable bracket portion 80e and aligned with the opening provided therein. Set screw 85 is adapted to have its right-hand end (relative to Figure 3b~ bear against intermediately ; i located tapered portion 73b of stripper adjustment shaft 73.
The stripper pulleys 77 and 83 are each provided :, . . .
; ~20 with a pair of aligned grooves for receiving and supporting - resilient O-rings 88. Similarly, stripper pulleys 76 and 82 are ~, provided with similar semicircular shaped grooves for receiving ., and positioning O-rings 88, 89. The O-rings of the stripper assem-bly may have a circular cross-section as shown in ~igure 3d or may :
`` have a rectangular or ,square cross-section as ShOWIl in Fi~ure 3e. The O-rings serve to urge pulleys 82 and 83, mounted upon swingable bracket 80, in the clockwise direction (relative to Fig. 3b) about the pivot shaft 74~ Movement in the clockwise direction is limited by the abutment of the right-hand end oE - ~ -., '' ' . . .

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~L063634 set screw 85 against the tapered portion 73b of paper adjustment shaft 73. In order to adjustably limit movement in the clockwise direction, stripper adjustment shaft 73 may be rotated by its knurled control knob 73c, locked to shaft 73 by set screw 73cl causing thc threaded portions 73a to rotate within a tapped member 87 secured to bracket arm 72e. Rotation in the clockwise direction, as shown by arrow 89a, causes shaft 73 to move in the linear direction shown by arrow 92. Rotation in the counterclockwise dlrection, as shown by arrow 90, caus~s shaft 73 to move in the linear direction shown .
by arrow 91. This moves the tapered portion 73b of shaft 73 rela-tive to set screw 85 to control the positioning of pulleys`82 and .;' ~. .
~ 83 relative to the conveyor belts 27 and 28.
:. . , The stripper assembly of Figure 2e differs from that ..
shown in Figures 3a-3c in that the pulleys 76, 7i and 82, 83 are equal in diameter and the downstream rollers 76 and 77 are swing-ably mounted. The collar 61b may be mounted to the common shaft .. . . - .
75 upon which the rollers 76 and 77 are mounted, if desired. :~

`i The stripper assembly may be provided with a one-way . ~ , clutch assembly to permit unimpeded rotation of rollers 82, ~3 in ~ ~
~` 20 the direction which causes the lower run of O-ring pairs 88, 89 to ~ -~J`~ ~ move in the opposite direction of the upper run of drive belts 27 and 28 to perform the desired stripping action, while preventing rotation in the reverse direction in the event of a jam condition.

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As shown in Figure 3a a SPXAG clutch is mounted upon ~' shaft 71 and is provided with a mounting bracket 212 whose arms ë 212a and 212b are secured to bracket 72. Figure 3i shows an end view of SPRAG clutch 211 and shaft 71. ~hen shaft 71 is rotatin~
in the proper direction shown by arrow 214, the SPRAG clutch permits unimpeded rotation thereof. In the event of a jam, (i.e., 30 where a number of sheets become wedged between the stripper O-rin~s , .,, I ~ ~

, .,!~ ' ~ 15 ~63634 and the drive belts, the drive belts tend to urye the stripper assembly O-rings and hence pulleys 82, 83 and shaft 71 in the reverse direction as a result of the documents wcd~cd there~
between). The reverse rotation of shaft 71 is prevent by SPRAG
clutch 211 thereby holding shaft 71 and hence pulleys 82, 83 and O~ring pairs 88, 89 at a standstill. The frictional drive between collar 52 and O-ring 57 (Figure 2e) also operates as a slip clutch.
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The relative motion between the motionless O-ring pairs 88, 89 '~
and the moving drive belts 27, 28 permits the stripping àction -; 10 of the O-rings 88, 89 to be maintained (due to relative movement ', '; between the O-rings and the drive belts) even in the presence '~
of the jam condition. ~
''' Figures 3b, 3c and 3h show'another type of one-way ~ -clutch'means 220 which may be substituted for the,SPRAG clutch ' ,, , ~ 211. The one-way clutch means is comprised of a screen 221 (Figs.
2b and 3c) secured to the outer surface of arm 72e supporting '` upstream shaft 71. A disc shaped cooperating fibre-faced clutch -.
-,-, ' member 222 (Fig. 3h) having a backing 222a is secured to the -, ~
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surface 82a of pulley 82 which surface is adjacent to the outer ~:

~ ~20 surface of arm 72e. The outer surface of backing 222a is .!: . .
'', provided with a multitude of oriented stiff ~ibres 222b all ~ , , ~, .
arranged to form an acute angle with the plane of backing 222a.

,' ' When the stiripper pulley is rotating in the propcr dircctio~

~'~; the fibres 222b freely slide against screen 221. Upon the ' occurrence o a jam, the documents wedged between the stripper .. . ..
,', ~ O-rings 88, 89 and the drive belts attempt to rotate the pulley ;

82 in the reverse directio,n causing the free ends of the fibres , .
to enter into the openings in screed 221. Since tl-e fibres are '~,`! stiff, they lock the pulley 82 to prevent pulley 82, shaft 71 and ''~ 30 pulley 83 from reversing their direction of rotation to bring shaft ~;~ 71, pulleys 82, 83 and O-ring pairs 88, 89 to a standstill, thereby roviding continued stripping action as was described hereinabove ~ ~
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, - ~063~34 with regard to the one-way clutch embodiment of Figure 3i. The motionless O-ring pairs 88 and 89 continue to provide strippin~
action due to the relative movement between drive bel-ts 27, 28 .. and the O-ring pairs 88, 89. . :
. The operation of the apparatus is as follows: .
~ Considering Figures 2a and 2b, the motor output shaft and the hub H rotate in the counterclockwise direction, as shown by arrow 92, rotating pulley 16 in the counterclockwise direction, ;
as shown by arrow 93, through pulley belt 17. Sha~t 18 is driven :
in the counterclockwise direction to drive the pulley 21 at its opposite end (see Fig. 2b) in the counterclockwise direction to drive the pulley 23 in the counterclockwise direction, as shown by arrow 94. This rotation is imparted to shaft 24 and crowned ~:
rollers 26a and 26b to cause the crowned drive rollers 29a and Y ~ 29b and shaft 31 as well as the crowned drive rollers 30a, 30b ~ ~ and shat 33 to likewise be rotated in the counterclockwise ~.,: , . .
.. ~ direction as shown by arrows 9S and 96 respectively, linearly :
moving the upper xuns of conveyor be:lts 27 and 28 in the direc- :
tion shown by arrow 97 (see Figures 2a and 2b). ~
.. . .
The rotation of the pulley 23 is imparted to the platen ;
roller 38 through shaft 24 causing the platen roller to rotate in .; ~ the counterclockwise direction shown by arrow 94. Drive is im-parted to the idler acceleration pulleys 49 and 50 of Figure 4a ,~:
~ . (only pulley 50 being shown in Figure 2a) by the frictional rolling . .~ ~, .
engagement between the surface of platen roller 38 and O-rings .i' 51 and 52 of the accelera~ion idler pulleys 49 and 50 respectively.
This causes the acceleration pulleys to ro-tate in the cloc~ise direction as shown by arrow 99 in Fig. 2a. This rot~tional drive lS coupled through flexible drive 51, pulley assembl~ 55, pulley , .-~ . .. .
.. - :

: ~ ' ' ' ;'.- ': . ~ ' . .

--\ ~ ;
~ 63~3~
59 and flexible drive assembly 60 to ratate the upstream stripper pulleys 82 and 83 in the counterclockwise direction as shown by ~ ::
arrow lOl. The downstream stripper pulleys 76 and 77 are rotated ::~
in the counterclockwise direction as shown by arrow 102 by means of the O-ring pairs 88 and 89. .
The eccentrically mounted pulley 35 is rotated in the counterclockwise direction as shown by arrow 9.6. This pulley does not impart any vibration or movement to conveyor belts 27 and 28 in a direction transverse to the upper and lower runs of , ~ lO the belts to assure more positive feeding of documents by belts - 27 and 28.
- - A stack S of documents to be counted is set into the infeed hopper 12. The bottom-most document undergoes frictional engàgement with the O-rings 36 oE eccentric pulley 35 which, in -` addition to driving the bottom-most document in stack S in the . direction shown by arrow 97, also jogs the stack upwardly, to .~. .
periodically "loosen" the documents, which actlon assists in :: :
relieving the bottom-most.document of the weight of the stack.
.. . .
. ~: The eccentric pulley 35 and conveyor belts 27 and 28 cooperate to ~ .
20: drive the bottom-most document into the tapered throat portion formed by the upper run of the conveyor belts and plate portion .,:.
; . ISb so that the bottom-most document (or documents) enters between the lower runs o~ the stripper assembly O-rings 88 and 89 and the upper runs of the conveyor belts.27 and 28. Plate portion lSa ,:"
is inclined at an angle small enouc~h to cause the forward edges of documents to slide downwardly therealong without being rebounded therefrom and also large enought to prevent w~dgin~ oE the documellts J in the throat portion. The outer circumference of the O~rings 88, :-89 entrained about pulleys 82 and 83 is made substantially tangen~
. ::. :
. 30 tial to plate portion 15a for the same reason. ~

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~6363~ ~:

The angle of the infeed throat defined by O-rings 88, 89 and the upper run of conveyor belts 27, 28 may be adjusted in any desirable manner~ For example, the angle may be adjusted by adjusting the diameter of upstream rollers 82, 83.
It is preferred that the diameter of upstream rollers 82, 83 be greater than the diameter of downstream rollers 76, 77 and that the angle of the infeed throat be in the range from 30 to 60.
degrees.

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`': ~ ' ' , .: ', " ' "'" ' ;' ' ' ' ' " ~ , " , ' . ' ' , "' In the case where a single document passes therebetween, the coefficient of frictlon between the bottom surEace of the document and the conveyor belts 27 and 28 is greater than the coefficient of friction between the top surface of the document and the O-ring pairs 88 and 89 causing the conveyor belts to exert the overriding force upon the paper document, driving it in the downstream direction as shown by arrow 97. The O-rings of pulleys 82 and 83 at least partially enter into the grooves provided in the conveyor belts 27 and 28 (note especially ~igures 10 3c and 3d) causing the paper document to assume a corrugated ~ -. contour (see Figures 3c and 3d), to stif~en the document as it -is being fed between the stripper O-rings and the conveyor belts . . .
to further facilitate handling thereof. The 0-rings are substan-. tially tangential to the surface of plate portion l5a of the infeed hopper and to the diameter or rollers 82 and 83 to provide .~ ~ an angle to incoming documents which prevents wedging and/or . rebounding of incoming documents.

!~` ; The single document continues to move in the forward . feed direction between an upper guide plate 15c and lower plate 14d, guiding the downstream edge of the document diagonally upward : along inclined plate 14d and enters into the nips formed by the~

. O-rings 51 and 52 of the acceleration pulleys 49 and 50 and the platen roller 38, at which time ~due to the diameter of platen :
. .
. roll 38 being greater than that of rolls 26a-26b) the document is .

~,~ abruptly accelerated to a linear speed greater than the linear ~: speed experienced by the document as it moves,between the stripper ~:
~;
; assembly O-rings and the upper run of conveyor belts 27 and 28.

The document follows the contour of platen roll 38 as .. : .

it passes beneath leaf springs 194 and 194a and endorser roll 148, moving in the direction as shown by arrow 10~ until the ~;' - ' . ' I :: ,:.
,-.. , ~.

,~
~63634 :

. .. ' .
- downstream edge strikes the undersurface of the pivotally mounted stacker plate 111 (see also Figures 5a and 5b), at which time the document is deflected downwardly, as shown by arrows 105 and 106, moving toward -the left-hand end llla of stacker plate 111 and forming a neat stack upon the~base plate 112 of the outfeed stacker. The lower end of plate 111 rests on the forming stack S' (Fig. 1) to keep it neatly aligned.
The stacker plate is provided with a pair of arms lllc and llld at its right-hand end (see Figures 2c, 5a and 5b) which are bent so as to form a pair of openings llle and lllf for receivin~
short cantilever mounted shafts 113 and 114 secured within support blocks 115 and 116 respectively. Positioned about the shafts 113 and 114 are the torsion springs 117a and 117b which are mounted .:
in such a way as to apply a clockwise bias ~relative to Figure ~; 2a) upon the upp~r end of stacker plate 111, as shown by arrow B, ~enerally urging the stacker plate 111 in the upward direction.
In order to adjust the downward force of the stacker plate imposed upon the forming stack of documents, a noarrow;elongated plate 118 is mounted to staicker plate 111 by suitable fastening means and is spaced rom the stacker plate by spacers ll9a and 119b. A weight ; 120 is slidably mounted along the sides of plate 118 to move in ~ either direction as shown by arrows 121 and 122 to counterbalance ,; ~ the biasing force of springs 117a and 117b and thereby adjust the weight o the downstream end of the stacker plate imposed upon the stack of documents being formed.
The weight 120 preferably includes a permanent magnet member 120a which is magnetically attracted to the p]ate 118 to , maintaill tllc weigllt 120 in position once it has been adjusted.
As an alternative arrangement, the weight 120 and slide ... . . . .

-;~ 30 118 may be omitted and the torsion springs 117a and 117b are :, :.,:

~ ~63~i34 aclapted to adjust~ly control the biasing forcc. ~s sho~ in thl c~plodcd viet~ of ~igurc 5c, torsion syrin~ ll7~l cncirclos pin 230~ onc CJI(I of pil1 23n ~ci11s secure~ in block llG. ,E'.nd 117a-1 of s~rin~r 117a is positiol1cd 1Jithin a vertical slot tnot s1lown) in bloc~; llG. ~ tl1rc~ded openinnr ll6a in ~loc~ 116 rcccivcs tl1readc~ f~stcner 2~l, whosc lo11er end projects into the aforesai vertical slot and ~cars ~gai11st spring cnd 117a-1. r:nd 117a-2 extends su~stantially radially ou~/ard fro~n the main ~o~y of sprin~ ll7a and is further bcnt so that its frec end is position ed beneatll armlllc of stac1;er plate lll. Adjustment of scre~Y 23]
controls tl1e 112i~ht exerted hy stac~er ylatc lll upon the docu-ments stack bein~ formed. A similar structure is provided or spring ll7~
.
Thc arranaement of ~igure 5c may be replaced by the , ; torsion spring 300 of Figures 5a and 5b. Spr'ing 300 encircles ` pin 230 ~hich is locked to bloc~ 116 (Figure 5a)O Onc arm ~0l ~' of sprin~r 300 cxtends vertically up~ard and a fel~ turns (302) ~ are provided to encircle t11readed elongiated ~cm~cr 303. A
; pair of nuts 304-304a threadcdly en~rLtge me~er 303 to move the upper end (i.e., turns 302~ of sprin~ 300 in~either direction.
c ~ Tl1e opposite end 305 o spring 300 is positioned bcneath the aTm ~ ~ :
llld of stacXcr plate lll. ~djust~ent of nuts ~04-304a tllus ,l~controls the ~.reiO~11t imposed upon tl1e ~ormi11~ stack of documents ~'~
by pl;ttc lll. If dcsircd, i~n identical arrangernc11t may be providcd for arm lllc.
~~s c~n clearly ~e seen from ~i~ure 2tt, documents 'licntcr t}1C stacXcr at a hei~ t ~ell a~)ovc t11c supyorti11g surface ,`''`112 of the out~eed stac.~er so that even tl~ou~h tl1c upstream ends ~of previously stac~ed documents mty be curlcd or bent or other-' ..!
~isc croasc-l, doc~lments su~)sc~uentl~ e11tcrin~ into t11e outfced stac~er enter UpOll tlle stacl; ~ell a~ovc tlle top-most document .:. . . .
previously fed to tl1c formin~ stac~, ' 22 , , , .

; I ... . .
." ~ . . , . , ' i363~

The stacker plate is further provided with three bent portions to form the substantially sharp vertices llly, lllh, lllj.
The free end is bent to form an end flange l]lk. ~s documents enter the stacker they are guided towards flange lllk by the smooth curved surface provided along the underside of plate 111.
When the stacker is empty or contains just a few documents, the vertex lllj serves to slow down the entering document and also serves to prevent the document from rebounding after its forward edge strikes the flange lllk. As the stack of documents builds - 10 up, plate 111 is lifted upwardly in the direction of arrow A
whereupon vertex lllh now serves the function previously performed by vertex lllj. As the documents build up the stack still further, -the~vertex lllg serves the above function.
The vertices lllg, lllh, lllj, of stacker platelll may be replaced by either the arrangement of Flgures 5d-5f or the arrangement of Figure 5g.
In Figures 5d the region R (denoted by the dotted rectangle) is provided with a plurality of indentations I having , .
a concave contour along the top surface ST of plate 111 and having a convex contour along the undersurface Su of the plate (see Figure 5f). The downstream ends Ie of the indentations are rel-atively sharp (see Figure Se). In operation, the documents move ;-~ in the direction of arrow 240 (Figures Sd and 5e). The forward ends If of the indentations provide relative little resistance to their movement. When their downstream ends strike flange lllk the documents will rebound and thereby attempt to move in `7 the reverse direction. ,The sharp forward edges Ie which protrude below undersurface Su "grab" the documents to prevent rebounding thereby assuring the formation of a straight, even stac~. The inderltations of region R closely resem~le the ~ratin~ structura of a conventional kitchen grater.
' ' ,~, . ' ,,J , 23 , .

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1~ E;3634 ` Figure 5g shows another alternative anti-rebounding embodimenk in which a base sheet 241 is adhesively joined to the undersurface Su of plate 111. ~ large number of densely arranged stiff fibres 242 are joined to the opposite surface of base sheet 241. The fibres are incli~ed at an acute anglc relative to an imaginary vertical axis as as to exer~ substantially little ~resistance to incoming documents moving in the direction of arrow ,, 240. When the downstream edges of the documents strike flange ~ , lllk and attempt to rebound thereform, the free ends of the stiff fibres 242 "grab" the document to prevent movement of documents , in the reverse direction to assure the formation of a straight r :
neat stack.
. .. .
,, A light source 130 which may for example, be an LED ; ~, ~ device (Figs. 2a, 4b) is positioned immediately beneatll an openillg -, . , .
in plate 14d. Upper plate lSc and plate 14d are each provided with openings (not shown) substantially in alignment. A photodetector 131 is positioned immediately above the aforesaid openings (not --~i: ...
shown) and light source 130 and detects liyht during the time LnterVal in which it takes the trailing edge of a downstream doc~

~20 ~ ument and the leading edge of the next upstream document to pass the iight source and detector location. The gap between documents ~,~ is caused as a result of the fact that each document is abruptly . A :
accelerated in passing from the position between thc stripper ~, ~ assembly O-rings and the drive belts to the nips between platen ,,~ roller 38 and acceleration idler O-rings causing a gap to be ;
formed between the consecutively fed documents. This pulse is utilized to count,the documents. 1 , Assuming that a pair of documents are fed between the ~i stripper assembly O~rings 88 and 89 and the drive belts 27 and 28, '~, ' .
.~- .... ... .
; ~''"'~ ' . .:

2,4 ,',"',.','';''"'~' ''.,.,.' .,-, :, ., ., ,,i ., ,~. ,.,., ;., -- . ,' ~L~)63~3~

the friction between the bottom-most document and the drive belts 27 and 28 is greater than the frictioll between the bottom-most document and the upper document, causing the former document to be fed in the downstream direction shown by arro~ 97. Similarly, the friction between the stripper assembly O ring pairs 88 and 89 and the upper document is greater than the friction between the `upper document and the bottom-most document, causing the stripper .; assembly O-ring pairs 88 and 89 to drive the upper document in the : reverse direction, as shown by arrows 97a, toward the infeed hopper 112 thereby assuring that only one document will be fed in the downstream direction toward the cooperating platen roller 38 and the acceleration idler rollers 49 and 50. This stripping action uis further enhanced by the 'icorrugating" of the documents fed be-tween the stripper assembl.y O-ring pairs 88 and 89 and the drive belts 27 and 28, which corrugation actions serves to reduce the .. ~ surface area of engagement between ad]acent documents and hence the frictional engagement between the conronting surfaces of . ~ . .
~` the documents. The documents engage one another at the points P ~ .

shown in Figure 3d, and are separated at the adjacent areas so .
as to reduce the effective surface area of frictional engagement -~ ~ between the confronting surfaces of the documents. The documents engage one another at the points P shown in Figure 3d, and are . ~ .
- separated at the ad~acent areas so as to reduce tlle effccti~c surface area of frictional engagement between double f~d documents.

The corrugating action stiffens-the documents in the feed direc-: tion to further enhance the s~ripping action.
... -~ , . . .
The stripping action is still fur-ther enhanced by virtue of the fact that effective stripping action takes place over the : substantially entire lower run RL of the stripper assembly O-rings as shown best in Figure 3b to still further enhance the stripping actio~ and thereby be assured that only single fed documents are ' , 63~3~

move downstream toward the cooperating acceleration idler rollers 49 and 30 and platen roller 38. Conventional strippers make very limited (almost "point") contact yielding limited stripping action, which "point" contact also causes the rollers to wear out at a faster rate. The entire lower run of O-rings serves as the active stripping surface significantly improving the stripping action as well as reducing the rate of wearing. In addition, stripper re-placement as a result of wearing is limited to replacement of the -inexpensive O-rings as opposed to replacement of the entire resil-ient roller of the prior art. The O-ring pairs 88 and 89 thus serve the multiple functions of providing a longer- effective strip-ping region (RL) coupling drive from the upstream pulleys 82 and 83 to the downstream pulleys 76 and 77; urging the upstream pulleys ~-,., . . . , . -: ~
~` 82 and 83 downwardly toward conveyor belts 27 and 28 and drive : .~, . .
~ ' pulleys 2~a and 29b which support the conveyor belts in the region :.~.;, . .
- ~ immediately beneath pulleys 82 and 83 to provide positive sliding `~; engagement with the documents; and further, due~to their inherent ~; ~ geometry, cooperate with the pairs of grooves pro~ided in the~con-- i:
~- i veyor belts 27 and 28 to corrugate documents fed between stripper assembly O-ring pairs 88 and 89 and the conveyor bel~s 27 and 28.
Stripping action for extremely thin documents such as ~` tissue type sheets may be greatly enhanced by increaslng the ;
spacing between the pulleys 26a and 30a (see Figure 2f). The , ~ closed loop belts ~i.e., belt 27) are greatly increased in cir-.;
; cumference to bc cntrained about the aforesaid pulleys, to gre~tly r:".. '~-~, increase the portion Rl of the upper run of belt 27 to accomodateadditional stripper assernblies. As shown in Fiyure 2f, stripper i assemblies SAl, SA2, and SA3 are provided, as shown by the dotted rectangles. A pair of drive wheels (or stationary sliding supports) may be provided beneath each stripper assembly, i~ desired. Each - assembly SA may be o the type and design shown,in Figures 3a p - and 3b and a detailed showing has been omitted for purposes of t,l~
simplicity. Each stripper assembly may be adjusted to provide a different magni~ude o~ stripping action.

1(~63634 assemblies S~l, S~2, SA3 may exert light, medium and heavy strip-ping action, respectively, Using a plurality of assemblies can assure positive stripping action of even the lightest, thinnest and flimsiest documents. Alternatively, all of the assemblies may be adjusted to exert the same magnitude of stripping action ~;
or any other combination of magnitude of stripping force, if ~desired. Driving power for the stripper assemblies may be obtained by extending the axial length of pulley P2 (Figures 3f and 3g) to accomodate additional pairs of O-rings 245 and 246 Ishown in dotted ashion-in Figure 3f) and which are similar to the pair 03-04 of O-rings and by providing additional collars Cl' ~
and Cl'' (Figure 3f) driven by the O-ring pairs 245 and 246 and ~ -coupling this drive to their associated stripper assemblics by flexible drives slmilar to drive 60 (Figure 2e).
As was mentioned hereinabove, both the acceleration ` pulieys and the upstream stripper assembly pulleys are movably moun~ed to automatically adjust and compensate for documents of varying thicknesses and/or to compensate for thicknesses of double documents fed through the apparatus, creases or folds in documents, .:.. : ~ .
etc~ The flexible drives 51 and 60 do not interEere with the "floating" nature of these mountings to assure their appropriate -~

operation.

In the event that any jams occur within the mechanism, ~- since the acceleration pulleys are idlers and are mounted upon a :7 ~ resilient bracket, the acceleration idlers are free to yield and , . . .
:` also to "slip" when jammed documents pass between the accelera-^ ~ tion idlers and platen roll 38 to either reduce or interrupt the . i ~' drive to the stripper assembly, which slipping action supplements that obtained between pulley Pla and O-ring 2 (Figs. 3f and 3g).

~'~. . ' . .

.' ' .. ... .

: . : - :........ . .. . , , : : . .

~(3 63634 The combined speed-reduc~ion and friction-drive assembly provided between collar 52 of flexible drive 51 and the O-ring 57 mounted on pulley portion 55a further serves as a slip clu-tch ; which slips in the event of a jam involving ~he stripper assembly in order to preven-~ these assemblies from being damaged in the event of a jam condition, or in the event of any lock-up in the stripper assembly.
The apparatus has a printing or "endorsing" capability comprised of endorser assembly 140 (see Fig. 2a) which is remov-~^ 10 able and/or replaceable as a self-contained sub-assembly. The endorser assembly includes a pair of plates 141 and 142 (note -also Fig. 2d) maintained in spaced parallel fashion by a cross piece 143 and additional spacer rods (not shown) spanning between plates 141 and 142 and secured thereto by fastening members such :,~, as, for example, the fastening members 144, 145 and 146O The ~¢' endorser assembly is further comprised of an endorser or printin~
'~ roller 148, a transfer roller 149 and an inking roller 150.
; Inking roller 150 is mounted upon swingable rod 151 pivoted by ~ pin 152 to the guide plate 141. The free end of arm 151 pivotally ;-~' 20 mounts inking roller 150 thereto by means of a shaft 153 and a ; ~ ~split ring locking mechanism 154 which permits simple and rapid removal and replacement of the inking roller and which assembly is shown in detail in Figures 12a-12e of United States Patent No. 3,944,210 issued March 16, 1976 and which has been omitted -~ ; herein for purposes of simplicity.
¢~ Inkiny roller 150 is maintained in engagement with ~ transfer roll 149 by means of overcenter sprin~ 155 havin~ a i first end coupled to arm 151 by pin 151a and having a second . ~, . . .
.~!..... . . ..
~ '' "' .'.~'~ ' ',,"~ .

' ;~ . ' ', ,:' , ' .. : ... . , .. , . . ... , . ,.. ,., .. . , , ,_ _.. . . ..

- ~ 1~63634 - ld couplc~ to plate 141 by pin 141a. 'r}le in~ing roll 150 may be moved to the dottecl line position 150~ a~ainst thc biasing force of sprinO~ 155 in order to rapidly removc ~nd/or replace t]lc in~ing roll. Tlle in~ing roll is retaincd in thc dotted line position 150' by overccnter sprin~ 155 ulltil maintenance is completed, at w~lich time the inking roll may then be lowc,~red to the solid linc position lS0 t~hcre over ccnter spring 15~ a~ain bi~ses the ink roll into rolling en-gagement with transfer roll 149. The transfer roll is mounted upon a sllaft 156 w}lich is provided witll a pair of bearin~s l57 and 158 mounted within elongated slots SUCll as~
~ .
for example, the elongated slot 142a provided in plate 142.
A similar slot is provided in plate 141. The bearings 157 and 158 are provided with truncated surfaces such as the truncated surfaces 158a and 158b provided in bearing 158 so as to be slidably receiYed within eIongated slot 142. Bearing 157 is of . .
a similar design and is receiYed in slot 141a. ~ pair o~
sprinO~s 160 and 160a are secured between the underside of each bearing by stationary pins 161a and 161b securcd to platcs 141 and I4Z (Fig. 2d) to ur~e the transf~r roll in the diagonally downward direction and into engagement Wit}l the endorser roll 148. Fi~ure 2d sho~s biasing sprin~s 160 and 160a ha~ing their upper ends secured to bearings 157 ~nd 158 at 157c and 158c respectively as having tl~eir lower ends rovided lYith a hooked portion secured to pins lGla and 161b.
.;,.
~ SprinKs 160 and 160a cooperate to urge trans~er roll 149 '` t'`: I :
~, generally diagonally downward and in sliding ennasement ~Yit}l the cndorser member 1~8, hé platcs 141 and 142 are eacll provide,cl wit]~ a ~air - oE downwardly extendin~ projections. For cxam~le, in Figt~res -` . 2a, 2d an~ 2~ plate 142 is pro~idecl witl~ ~lo~n~ardly CXt~lld- ~
in~ projections 142b and 1~2c arran~ed on opposite sides oE cl- -.. ,, ongated slot 142e ~or rcccivin~ one bearin~ 17,0;o~ thc cnclorscr .',`' .
. ,, ' . ~. ' .. , .. , , .. ~ , . . ~- . : :, . , . .. : . : . . . . . . . . .
.... . ., . .. . , ,.. , i ., : . , , , , roller assembly. The endorser roller assembly is mounted upon a shaft 171 with the bearing assemblies 170 and 172 bei}lg arranged at opposite ends thereof (note Fig. 2d) and each being provided with a pair of truncated surfaces. Note bearing 170 having truncated surfaces 170a and 170b which are slidably mounted : :
within the slot 142e. ~ substantially U-shaped spring 173 has ';

ltS yoke portion 173a secured to plate 140 by fastening member 173e and a pair of downwardly depending arms 173b and 173c whose free ends are, bent inwardly (into the plane of the figure) and , . ..
which extend through slots 142s in the projections 142b and 142c. ~-~he inwardly bent ends (see end 173d-Fig. 2d) are adapted to bear ~' -against the cylindrical periphery of bearing 170 to retain the endorser roll in position. To remove the endorser roll, the endorser assembly is lifted out of the apparatus and the endorser roll is simply pulled downwardly relative to the brackets 141 and 142 and against the inwardly directed biasing forces of the ~ .
'~ free ends of the spring-arms to move these free ends away from ' the bearing to remove the bearing from slot 142e. The endorser ,' .~,r,roll may be replaced in a similar fashion simply by aligning the ' ~, 20' truncated surfaces of the bearing 172 and 170 with their associ~
ated slots, pressing the endorser into the slots to cause the free ends of the springs to move apart until they pass around '~ the diameter of the cylindrical portions of the bearing and then .ij, ,i~i, move inwardly to grip the bearings and retain the endorser roll ,, .. . . . .

~`~ in position. The gripping for,ces exerted by the spring members ' ,;, I73 on the endorser bearing need not be great since the endorser ' :il, . . .
"' roll is normally adapted to bear against platen roller 38 ~hen in the engaged position. Thus, the platen roller 38 exerts an upwardly directed force agains~ the endorser roller 148 which has '~-i . .:
a downwardly directed bias imparted thereto by the sprin~s 160 and transfer roll 149 to maintain the ink transfer roll and the .. : .... . . .
-platen roll in roIling engagement with the endorscr roll. ' '' ' , , 30 , .
: :

r~

~63634 As shown in Figure 2b, platen roller 38 may be provided with a plurality of grooves 200 about its periphery.
Grooves 200 are aligned with raised print portions on endorser roller 148 in order that the raised print portions extend only - partially into grooves 200. In this manner, the raised print . portions never contact roller 38 even in the absence of a document '. and ink cannot be transferred from the raised print portion to Y ; platen roller 38. As a result of this structure there will be no "back printing" on subsequent sheets.
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~ ~ rotata~lc loc~in~ platc 180 (ri~urcs 1 an-l 2a) is 'pivotall~ 0untccl to the intcrior iall 1~0 by pin 181 and is provldc~ ~ith a spiral-s~laped slot 182 for rcccivin~ t~le pin lS~ secure-l to cross-piece 1~ in lS~ cnters into radi~lly ali~ned slot 182a. Thc lockin~ latc lS~ lS thell rOtcl~Cd ; countercloc~ise (relative to ~igure 2d) by manually opcrable ~nob 184 positioned along the cx~erior ~all o~ thc housing ~see Fig. 1) to move the left-hand portion of the endorser roll 148 into engagement ~ith ~he platen roller 38. By rotatin~
the locking plate lS0 in the reverse dircction, thc endorsillg asscmbly is moved generally up~ardly so as to disenga~e and displace the endorser roll 148 from the platen roll 3S to prev~nt printing or endorsing of documents ~.~hen desi~cd.
In those cases when the endorsing assembly 140 is moved to the enga~ed position for printing, the endorsing roll 148 cooperates ~ith platen roll 38 as an additional dri~e means for driving documcnts into the ou~feed stacker 13.
In applications wheTe no printing is desired, the ~ document driving function performcd by thc coopcrating cndorscr - 20~ roll and platen roll 38 is replaced by a pair of l~a springs 194 and 194a (see ~i~ure 4b) mounted to t]~e undcrsid~ of cross-i piecc ~3 by suitable fastenin~ means on opposite sides of ~ platen roll 38 and -hich are ad~pted to ~xert a do~.~n~lard force ;' on the opposite sides of thc platen roll 38 ~hiCll cause thc intermc~iatc section of a papcr document to bc pressed against the ~laten roll 38 providin~, further ~rivin~ force to passing . ~., documents. ,,' ~, :, ,"', ~ ' ,, ,, . -~ . . , . .,. . .. , 1,~,~,. .. .

`~ ~
~)63639~
The document handling device described hereinabove is designed to accomodate a variety of devices other than the endorser assembly, which devices are utilized to either "look at" or "act upon" passing documents. One device which "acts upon" documents is the endorser assembly, already described.
Devices which "look at" documents may for example, be a counterfeit detector (for detecting the authenticity of a doc-ument); a document reader or devices for detecting the content or pattern of magnetic, fluorescing, or other r~active material imbedded in or coated upon the document. Such devices may be used ; in a selective fashion by removing one such device (i.e., endorser assembly) and replacing the removed device with another device.
; Alternatively, the run of the drive belts may be lengthened as described above to accomodate a plurality of devices arranged in !' , tandem along the upper run of the drive belts. Perferably, the i; devices are mounted within housing 11 (Figure 1) for easy removal .. . .. ..
and replacement. However, they may be more permanently mounted -within the housing, if desired.
The platen roller 38 and acceleration rollers 4g-50 , . . .
i 20 (Figure 4a) may be operated independently from the drive and stripper means for certain applications. Notin~ Fi~ure 6a, an -;; electromagnetic clutch 260 is coupled to one end of the shaft 4b upon which the idler acceleration rollers ~9 and 50 are mounted.

; An electromagnetic clutch 261 is mounted between shaft 24 (note , . .
also Figure 2b) and platen roller 38. Leads 260a and 261 are connected to electrical control means. During normal operation, , . . .
the clutch and brake are deenergized respectively causing platen .' ,,.
38 to rotate with shaft 24 and allowing idler rollers 49 and 50 to rotate undex control of the platen, which engages O-rin~s 50 and 51. When the clutch and brake are ener~ized, the clutch causes , ' ' I , " ~ ' - ~!r- 33 .. .. : . . .. ., .. :, . ~:, . , : , ... .

the platen roller to be freewheelingly relative to shaft 24.
The brake halts shaft 96 and the rollers 49 and 50 which are locked thereto. The frictional en~a~ement bet~eell O-rin~s 50, 51 and the platen roller, brings the platen roller to a stand-still.
The above arrangement is extremely advantageous for use in printing upon documents when registration is required between the printed matter and the document. Noting Figure 6b a light source 262 and cooperating light sensor 263 are arranged on 10 opposite sides of the moving path of documents. Swingable gate 264 is normally in the blocking position. When a document moves between lamp 262 and sensor 263, a pulse is applied to delay ci.r- -cuit 265. After a predetermined delay, circuit 265 applies a .. - .~ , .~, trigger signal to gate solenoid 266, the delay period allowing ,i ~ the leading edge of document D to reach gate 264 and be stopped ~-`~ thereby. Gate solenoid 266 is activated to move gate 264 counter-. ,~
clockwise (relative to Figure 6b) unblocking the path of movement of documents. When the gate moves to a substantially horizontal position 264' (shown in dotted fashion) microswitch 267 is acti-vated to energize clutch 261 and brake 260. Platen roller 38 rotates to drive the document D positioned between idler rollers ~' 49, 50 and platen roller 38. Endorser drum 148 is also driven .. , : .
into rotation.
'~ ~ As soon as the trailing edge of the document passes ;~
lamp 262, the light sensor removes the signal from delay circuit 265 to reset gate solenoid 266 and return gate 264 to the blocking position. Microswitch 267 is released, deenergizing clutch 261 and brake 260. Brake 260 abruptly halts shaft 46, rollers 49, 50, platen 38 and endorser drum 148 in xeadine~s .

. ; ~, ' .~, . - .
,, ~,,;,,~, .

~63634 for printing on the next document. The raised printed matter is now in the proper.position for printing on the next document and registration between the printed matter and the document is assured by bringing the documen-t to a standstill (by ga-te 264) before initiating the printing operation. Delay circuit 265 may also be coupled to a similar clutch and brake mechanism for selectively stopping and starting the stripper and drive assemblies.
The drive for the stripper assembly, previously taken from shaft 46, may be taken from shaft 24 to permit ind~pendent operation 10 of the drive and stripper assemblies relative to the platen roller acceleration roller and endorser drum assemblies. The above . .: .
arrangement may be used with "long" print surfaces such as are . .: -shown in Figures 7a-7d of United State~ Patent No. 4,054,090 .. . . .
issued October 18, 1977, and which may be substituted for the drum 148. .
.'..:
~ Although the embodiment of Figures 2a and 2b teaches ^~ the employmcnt of dxive rollers 29a and 29b beneath the stripper .

I ~ assembly rollers 82 and 83 (see Figure 3a), the rollers 29a and ~ ~ 29b may be completely eliminated or may be replaced by two plates .
.~ . . . .
20~ tsee plate 280 in Figure 2f) each having a low frlction sur~ace 280a coated, for examyle, with TEFLON (a trademark). The plates 280 may be curved as shown by plate 280' in Figure 6c to reduce the amount to surface area engagement between plate 280' and belt . .
,~,. : :
27.

As another alternativ0 arrangement, document hand- . .

ling apparatus may utili~e only one drive belt in~place of the - two drive-belts shown in Figuxe 2b. The single drive belt , .~ .
~.i. would preferably be centrally located. The eccentric jo~ger pulley would then preferably be replaced by two eccentric : ' ~ .
~,' ,-, ~ : .,.
:~ - 35 , .~ , -: ,, ~' ,.: "' :: :

., . .. . , . , ., ., . , . , , : . ,. . .. ... :: , ..
;, ~ . .. . , - ~.;, . ... . , . : ,. . . .. .. . . ..

~ 363~
~ ger pullc~s positione~ oll opl-ositc si~lcs of thc si.ngle ~rive bclt. 'I`he singlc drive belt or the pair of drive ~clts may bc rcplaced by l~lurality of O-rings. ~lso t}le widtl of thc bclt ~llay bc ~rcatcr or lcss than thc clistancc t~ctwccn cooperatillg O-rinc~s. In the casc ~here O-rings arc uscd for botl~ thc dri~c an~ stripper asser.lblies, thc nu~ cr of O-rins employed in the s-tril)per assembly may be grcater than, equal to, or less than the number of O-rings cmployed in thc drive - . :
assc]nbly. ~'oting Figure 6d,. the drive pulley 29a is provi~ed ... .
.; , .. .
with ~rooves for receiving O-rings 295 (sho~n in cross-sectîon). .
These O-rings cooperate with the O-rings 88 of t]lc s~ril~per -; assembly ~o "corrugate" document D. IE dcsircd, thc O-rin~s o~
the.stripper assembly may be replaced by a drive belt (or belts~ and cooperate with O-rings substituted for the drive .
. . .
~.` belts 27 and 28 so long as the cocficient of fTiction of :~
.
`~ the belts used in the stripper assembly is less than the co- ::
.. . . . .
`i.r eficient of friction of the O-rings used as the for~ard ., ~ .
; : feed means. .~
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... , : ~.
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~.

Claims (8)

The embodiments of the invention in which an exclusive property or privilege is claimed are defined as follows:

1. Stacking apparatus for stacking sheets being fed thereto in seriatim along a feed path, said stacking apparatus comprising:
a base having an upstream end positioned a spaced distance below the feed path;
a stacker plate having its upstream end positioned above the feed path and its downstream end adapted to rest upon said base a spaced distance from the upstream end of said base;
said stacker plate being curved to include a concave portion and a convex portion confronting the sheets to guide the leading edge of the sheets along the bottom surface of said stacker plate downwardly towards the downstream end of said stacker plate to stack the sheets therebeneath on said base;
means for swingably mounting the upstream end of said stacker plate to enable the downstream end-of said stacker plate to move upwardly as the height of the stack of sheets increases;
said stacker plate further including at the downstream end thereof an end wall for limiting movement of the sheets in the feed direction; and rebound prevention means on said stacker plate at the downstream end thereof for preventing sheets striking said end wall from rebounding therefrom.

2. The stacking apparatus of Claim 1 further comprising a weight mounted for slidable movement along the upper surface of said stacker plate for adjusting the magnitude of the down-ward force exerted upon the stack of sheets by the downstream end of said stacker plate.

3. The stacking apparatus of Claim 1 wherein said means for swingably mounting the upstream end of said stacker plate further includes biasing means for biasing said stacker plate in a direction to lift the downstream end of said stacker plate upwardly.

4. The stacking apparatus of Claim 1 wherein said rebound prevention means comprises at least one sharp bend in the convex portion of said stacker plate forming a vertex which engages the sheets as they pass therebeneath to slow the sheets down as they move in the feed direction and to stop the sheets as they attempt to rebound from said end wall.

5. The stacking apparatus of Claim 4 wherein said rebound prevention means comprises a plurality of sharp bends in the convex portion of said stacker plate forming a plurality of parallel vertices which selectively engage the sheets as they pass therebeneath to slow the sheets down as they move in the feed direction to stop the sheets as they attempt to rebound from said end wall.

6. The stacking apparatus of Claim 5 wherein said sharp bends are arranged at progressively greater distances from said end wall so that the vertex closest to said end wall engages sheets when the stack is small and so that the remaining vertices successively engage the sheets as the stack increases in height.

7. The stacking apparatus of Claim 1 wherein said rebound prevention means comprises fiber means oriented to allow sheets passing said fiber means in the feed direction to move substantially unimpeded towards said end wall and to halt sheets attempting to rebound from said end wall.

8. The stacking apparatus of Claim 1 wherein said rebound prevention means comprises a plurality of protrusions extending diagonally downward from the downstream end of said stacker plate towards the sheets passing therebeneath, the free ends of said protrusions being substantially sharp to engage sheets attempting to rebound from said end wall.