GB971603A - Sheet delivery apparatus - Google Patents

Abstract

971,603. Stacking sheets. HARRIS-INTERTYPE CORPORATION. June 5, 1962 [June 21, 1961], No. 21633/62. Heading B6H. A sheet-delivery mechanism including a pile-supporting platform 12 which is lowered as a pile of sheets is built up thereon by means of a chain conveyer 10, has a temporary pile support which can be disposed over a pile of sheets on the platform 12 to -intercept sheets, the pile support comprising two sections 20a, 20b disposable in side-by-side relationship in which positions they intercept the sheets and having withdrawn positions on opposite sides of the platform in which positions they are clear of the falling sheets. The sections 20a, 20b are slidably mounted on a pair of parallel rails 22 disposed generally horizontally beneath an end stop 14 and jogging devices 16, 16a for the sheets, rollers 23, 23<SP>1</SP> on the sections engaging the rails. The right-hand ends of the rails 22 as shown in Fig. 1, are inclined downwards in order to save space and when in the withdrawn position the section 20b, which is articulate, is supported partially by these inclined parts of the rails. When the section 20a which is not articulate, is in the withdrawn position it is supported in the rails 22 by a pair of rollers 23 on each side and, after pivoting downwards about the axes 27c of a pair of yokes 27, Fig. 8, each of which serves to mount a pair of the rollers 23 on one side of the section, assumes the vertical position shown in full-lines in Fig. 1. The yokes 27 are connected to a pair of sprocket chains 40, 44 which pass round sprocket wheels such as 46 at each end of the horizontal parts of the rails 22 and which are also connected to a downwards projecting bracket 50 secured to the section 20b whereby the sections 20a, 20b are effectively connected to the upper and lower runs respectively of a pair of endless sprocket chains. This connection ensures that when the operator manually moves the section 20a into intercepting or withdrawn position the section 20b moves in unison therewith. In the intercepting position the edges 26 of the sections abut. Each of the sections 20a, 20b carries a number of pairs of endless belts 58, 59 in superposed relation, the inner runs of which are in contact. Intercepted sheets are stacked on the upper runs of the belts 58 and when the platform 12 has been emptied it is elevated to a position in which it contacts the lower runs of the belts 59. The operator then withdraws the temporary pile support, the intercepted sheets remaining in the same horizontal position in relation to the platform 12 owing to the fact that the belts 59 are frictionally driven by their contact with the platform and the belts 58 are driven by their contact with the belts 59.