GB2136405A

GB2136405A - A sheet dispenser

Info

Publication number: GB2136405A
Application number: GB08406215A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Malcolm George Searley; Richard Moore
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1983-03-09
Filing date: 1984-03-09
Publication date: 1984-09-19
Also published as: EP0137831A1; GB8306517D0; GB8406215D0; WO1984003484A1; GB2136405B

Abstract

A sheet dispensing tray (1) has sheet separator members (13) freely slidable under their own weight in external keyway slots (10A) in its side walls (4) at its open end (5). These separator members (13) have portions (16) which rest on the leading corners of the uppermost sheet (2A) of a stack of sheets (2) in the tray, and portion (17) which abut the ends of the leading edges of some underlying sheets (2), whereby the uppermost sheet is caused to buckle and become separated from the underlying sheet (2B) during withdrawal (W) from the tray. The tray (1) has complementary hooks (11) and sockets (12) on opposite sides, and complementary tongues (9) and grooves (10B, 10A) on the upper and lower edges of its sides, so that a number of trays can be locked together side by side in a row and/or superimposed in stacks.

Description

SPECIFICATION A Sheet Dispenser The present invention relates to dispensers for sheets of paper and the like, of type comprising a tray adapted to hold a vertical stack of sheets and having opposite side walls defining an open end through which the sheets are withdrawn individually from the top of the stack, and a pair of sheet separator members having respective first portions which overlie the leading corners of the uppermost sheet in the stack and respective second portions which project downwardly from the first portions across the leading edges of the uppermost sheet and a number of the underlying sheets.

Dispensers of this type are disclosed, for example, in EP-A-0010280, GB-A- 1135746, GE-A-i 185455 and GE-A- 120671 7, and are intended mainly for use in photocopying machines and the like, which withdraw sheets of paper from the top of the stack with a predetermined pressure. In order to maintain the top of the stack at a constant level for withdrawal, these trays usually incorporate or are associated with resilient means which urge the stack towards the sheet withdrawal means of the machine-see, for example, EP 0031878, GB-B-206 1231 and GB-B-2038289.The withdrawal means, such as rubber rollers or suction pads, initially drag the top sheet of the stack against the separator members in order to buckle the sheet and separate it from the underlying sheet, and then remove the sheet in the feed direction.

It is well known that the separation and dispensing of individual sheets of paper and the like from a stack of sheets is often problematical because the sheets tend to stick together due to dampness or electrostatic attraction. This problem is encountered in the aforementioned field of photocopying machines, but it is particularly apparent during the manual collation of printed sheets and in other situations where single sheets are dispensed manually from a stack or pile.

Practically the only solution to this problem in the field of manual sheet dispensing is the use of a so-called rubber finger by the dispenser to facilitate the separation of the sheets, but this can result in the disarrangement of the stack and the inconvenience of frequently having to rearrange the stack. Clearly, where such dispensing of single sheets is necessary on a large scale, such as for collation in printing works, the need to employ specific personnel and the interruptions resulting from multiple separations can result in considerable hold-ups in production.

The object of the present invention is to provide a dispenser for sheets of paper and the like, which avoids the drawbacks discussed above. The invention also aims to provide a sheet dispenser adapted for use in a manual collation system.

Accordingly, in a first aspect, the present invention provides a dispenser of the aforesaid type, in which the two said portions are carried by respective L-shaped parts of the separator members and are guided for vertical movement by respective key portions attached to or integral with the L-shaped parts and freely slidable in respective vertical keyway slots in the external surfaces of the two side walls, so that the weight of the separator members bears through the first portions upon the uppermost sheet of the stack in use of the dispenser.

A single sheet can be withdrawn from the tray simply by applying a finger to the central region of the upper-uppermost sheet just behind its leading edge, and moving it towards the open end of the tray to pull the sheet along due to the friction between the sheet and the finger. As the sheet is withdrawn, its leading corners are restrained by the first and second portions of the separator members, causing the sheet to buckle slightly by arching in the regions behind the leading corners and between the corners and the finger. Since the restrained corners are turned downwardly and bear upon the underlying sheet to hold it down, and the latter is prevented from moving towards the open end of the tray by the second portions of the separator members, the buckled uppermost sheet is separated from the underlying sheet.As the withdrawal of the sheet continues, the leading corners disengage themselves from the separator members and the sheet slides freely from the tray without entraining any of the underlying sheets, which are still restrained by the separator members.

The dispensing tray of the present invention may be used individually for typing paper, information sheets and the like, but for use in a manual collating system to hold printed sheets which are to be put into sequence the tray should preferably be stackable with like trays.

According to a second aspect, therefore, the present invention provides a dispenser for sheets of paper and the like, comprising a tray adapted to hold a vertical stack of sheets and having opposite side walls defining an open end through which the sheets are withdrawn individually from the top of the stack, and a pair of sheet separator members having respective first portions which overlie the leading corners of the uppermost sheet in the stack and respective second portions which project downwardly from the first portions portions across the leading edges of the uppermost sheet and a number of the underlying sheets, in which the two separator members are guided for vertical movement under their own weight in respective guide slots formed in the two side walls of the tray, which are also formed with complementary tongues and grooves on their upper and lower edges to enable a number of the trays to be stacked and interlocked.

In both aspects of the invention, while the tray may have fixed dimensions for a specific sheet size, it preferably includes an adjustable back-stop so that one tray can accommodate a number of different common sizes of sheet. The back-stop may be slidable longitudinally of the tray or, preferably, locatable at a number of discrete longitudinal positions along the base or the side walls.

One embodiment of the invention will now be described, by way of example, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which; Figure 1 is a perspective view of a dispensing tray for sheets of paper and the like, according to the present invention; Figure 2 is a view similar to Figure 1 showing the tray during the dispensing of a sheet; Figure 3 is a plan view of the tray of Figure 1 and 2 in its empty condition; Figure 4 is a partial section of four interlocked, stacked trays of the invention, taken in the plane shown by the line IV--IV of Figure 3; Figure 5 is a partial side view showing the stacking of three trays of the present invention;; Figure 6 is a partial perspective view of a detail of the tray of Figures 1, 2 and 3 on an enlarged scale, showing a separator member removed from the tray, and Figure 7 is a view similar to Figure 6, showing the separator member in its raised position.

Referring now to the drawings, there is shown a tray 1 for dispensing sheets 2 of paper which are stacked in the tray. This tray 1 is made entirely of moulded plastics and comprises a base 3, two side walls 4 defining an open-end 5 through which the sheets 2 are withdrawn from the top of the stack in use, an end wall 6, and an adjustable back-stop 7 facing the open end 5. The back-stop 7 is locatable in a number of discrete longitudinal positions between the side walls 4 by means of a pair of integral pins (not shown) which are engageable in an appropriate pair of holes of a longitudinal series of pairs of holes 8 in the base 3.The adjustability of the back-stop 7, together with the chosen spacing between the side walls 4, enables the tray 1 to be adapted to accommodate different paper sizes, such as A4, foolscap and A5, with a clearance, typically 1-2 mm, between the walls 4 and the edges of stacked sheets 2.

To enable a number of trays 1 to be stacked to form, for example, a manual collating system, the side walls 4 are formed with complementary tongues 9 and grooves 10 on their upper and lower edges. In the illustrated embodiment, there are respective pairs of opposing tongues 9 on the upper edges of the walls 4 adjacent the open end 5 and the end wall 6, while there are two pairs of opposing grooves 10 at the the lower edges of the walls 4, one pair of these grooves 1 OB being directly beneath the corresponding pair of tongues 9 and the other pair 1 OA being offset slightly towards the open end relative to the corresponding pair of tongues 9.The arrangement is such that a number of trays 1 can be superimposed by the interlocking of respective tongues 9 and grooves 10 to form a stack in which the trays 1 are staggered (to facilitate access to the trays) or aiigned vertically (when space is limited). Both alternative stacking arrangements are shown diagrammatically in Figure 5.

In order that a number of trays 1 can be interlocked side by side in a row, as well as or instead of being stacked, the opposite side walls 4 of the tray 1 are formed externally with complementary lateral hooks 11 (Figures 6 and 7) and sockets 12 (Figures 1 and 2). As shown, one side wall 4 has a hook 11 adjacent its upper edge near each end, and the other wall 4 has respective sockets 12 in corresponding positions. The manner in which a number of trays 1 can be locked together side-by-side and stacked is shown in Figure 4. The sockets 12 are formed in the undersides of respective respective laterally outwardly projecting spacers 1 2A located at the upper ends of the grooves 1 OB, which are defined by respective pairs of vertical ribs 12B.

In this typical embodiment, the tray 1 measures 330 mm long, 210 mm wide, and 75 mm high internally. The base 3 and side walls 4 have minium thicknesses of about 2 mm, and the back-stop 7 has a height of 60 mm.

Associated with the side walls 4 at the open end 5 of the tray 1 are respective separator members 13 which are guided slidingly in respective external keyway slots formed in the walls 4 perpendicularly to the base 3 and, in this case, constituted by the front pair of the aforesaid grooves 1 or. Each separator member 13 is moulded in plastics in a single piece and comprises an L-shaped part 1 4 extending from a key portion 1 5 freely siidable in the respective keyway slot 1 OA around the front or open end edge of the wall 4, and carrying respective first and second portions 16, 17 which project towards the other member 13.The first portions 16 lie parallel to and rest on the top surface of the stack of sheets 2 at the leading corners of the uppermost sheet 2A, and the second portions 1 7 lie parallel to a plane containing the leading edges of the stacked sheets 2 and abut the end portions of the leading edges of the uppermost sheet 2A and, say, ten of the underlying sheets 2. The first and second portions 16, 1 7 of each separator member 13 comprise mutually-perpendicular tabs and the first portions 1 6 have smoothly rounded upper surfaces.

In use, the sheets 2 are withdrawn individually from the tray 1 simply by applying a finger F to the centre of the uppermost sheet 2A just behind its leading edge, and moving the finger F towards the open end 5, in the direction of the arrow W in Figure 2, to draw the sheet 2A along by friction.

As the sheet 2A is withdrawn, its leading corners are restrained by the first and second portions 16, 17 of the separator members 13, causing the sheet 2A to buckle away from the immediately underlying sheet 2B. Since the restrained corners of the sheet 2A are turned downwardly and tend to hold the underlying sheet 2B down, and the latter is prevented from moving out of the open end 5 by the second portions 1 7 of the separator members 13, the uppermost sheet 2A becomes separated from the underlying sheet 2B. With the continued withdrawal of the sheet 2A, its leading corners disengage themselves from the separator members 1 3 and the sheet 2A slides freely from the tray 1 without drawing any of the stillrestrained underlying sheets with it.As the level of the top surface of the stack drops with the withdrawal of successive uppermost sheets 2A, the separator members 1 3 slide downwardly under their own weight to maintain their positions relative to the currently uppermost sheet.

Clearly, the amount by which the separator member 13 impinge on the leading corners of the sheets 2 is not sufficient to crease or tear the uppermost sheet 2A as it is disengaged from the members 13, even when the sheet is of the filmsiest paper. The rounded upper surfaces of the first portions 1 6 facilitates the smooth disengagement of the uppermost sheet 2A from the separator members 13.

When the tray 1 is to be loaded with a fresh stack of sheets 2, the separator members 1 3 are pushed upwardly in the keyway slots 1 OA to a raised position (Figure 7). At their upper ends, the keyway slots 1 OA have enlarged parts formed with steps 1 8 and the front edges of the side walls 4 have bevels 19, whereby the key portions 1 5 of the separator members 1 3 rest on the respective steps 18 and the L-shaped parts 14 rest on the respective bevels 19, to support the separator members 1 3 in their raised positions.

It will be appreciated that the illustrated configurations of the moulded parts defining the tongues 9, grooves 1 0A, 1 0B, hooks 11 and sockets 12, and the fact that some of these parts are common to more than one feature, are dictated largely by the exigencies of moulding.

Claims

1. A dispenser for sheets of paper and the like, comprising a tray adapted to hold a vertical stack of sheets and having opposite side walls defining an open end through which the sheets are withdrawn individually from the top of the stack, and a pair of sheet separator members having respective first portions which overlie the leading corners of the uppermost sheet in the stack and respective second portions which project downwardly from the first portions across the leading edges of the uppermost sheet and a number of the underlying sheets, in which the two said portions are carried by respective L-shaped parts of the separator members and are guided for vertical movement by respective key portions attached to or integral with the L-shaped parts and freely slidable in respective vertical keyway slots in the external surfaces of the two side walls, so that the weight of the separator members bears through the first portions upon the uppermost sheet of the stack in use of the dispenser.

2. The dispenser according to Claim 1, in which each keyway slot has an enlarged part formed with a step or shoulder adjacent its upper end, upon which the associated key portion can rest to support the respective separator member in a raised position.

3. A dispenser according to Claim 2, in which the front edge of each side wall has a bevel or shoulder at its upper end upon which the Lshaped part of the respective separator member may rest when the separator member is in its raised position.

4. A dispenser according to Claim 1, Claim 2 or Claim 3, in which the first portion of each separator member has a smoothly rounded upper surface.

5. A dispenser according to any one of the preceding claims, in which each separator member, including the first and second portions, the L-shaped part and the key portion is made of plastics material moulded in a single piece.

6. A dispenser for sheets of paper and the like, comprising a tray adapted to hold a vertical stack of sheets and having opposite side walls defining an open end through which the sheets are withdrawn individually from the top of the stack, and a pair of sheet separator members having respective first portions which overlie the leading corners of the uppermost sheet in the stack and respective second portions which project downwardly from the first portions across the leading edges of the uppermost sheet and a number of the underlying sheets, in which the two separator members are guided for vertical movement under their own weight in respective keyway slots formed in the two side walls of the tray, which are also formed with complementary tongues and grooves on their upper and lower edges to enable a number of the trays to be stacked and interlocked.

7. A dispenser according to Claim 6, in which the opposite side walls of the tray are formed externally with complementary lateral hooks and sockets such as to enable adjacent trays to be locked together side by side in a row.

8. A dispenser according to Claim 6 or Claim 7, in which each side wall of the tray is formed with a pair of tongues adjacent opposite respective ends of one edge of the side wall and with at least two pairs of complementary grooves in the opposite edge of the side wall, such that a number of the trays can be stacked and interlocked either with their open ends in a common vertical plane or staggered relatively to each other.

9. A dispenser according to Claim 6, Claim 7 or Claim 8, in which the complementary tongues and grooves are formed on the upper and lower edges respectively of the side walls, two of the grooves being defined by the lower ends of the respective guide slots in the side walls.

10. A dispenser according to Claim 7, in which the side walls of the tray are formed with at least one pair of vertical ribs between which a groove is defined, the lower end of the groove being engageable by a complementary tongue of an underlying tray, and including a laterally outwardly projecting spacer at the upper end of the groove, formed on its underside with a respective said socket for engagement by a lateral hook of a neighbouring tray.

11. A dispenser according to any of Claims 6 to 10, in which the two said portions of the separator members are carried by respective Lshaped parts of the separator members and are guided for vertical movement by respective key portions attached to or integral with the L-shaped parts and freely slidable in respective vertical keyway slots in the external surfaces of the two side walls, so that the weight of the separator members bears through the first portions upon the uppermost sheet of the stack in use of the dispenser.

12. A dispenser for sheets of paper and the like, substantially as herein described with reference to, and as shown in, the accompanying drawings.