US3649006A - Improved sheet handling apparatus - Google Patents

Improved sheet handling apparatus Download PDF

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Publication number
US3649006A
US3649006A US9800A US3649006DA US3649006A US 3649006 A US3649006 A US 3649006A US 9800 A US9800 A US 9800A US 3649006D A US3649006D A US 3649006DA US 3649006 A US3649006 A US 3649006A
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US
United States
Prior art keywords
trays
members
sheet
belt transport
cam plate
Prior art date
Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
Expired - Lifetime
Application number
US9800A
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English (en)
Inventor
Richard C Schenk
Current Assignee (The listed assignees may be inaccurate. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation or warranty as to the accuracy of the list.)
Xerox Corp
Original Assignee
Xerox Corp
Priority date (The priority date is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the date listed.)
Filing date
Publication date
Application filed by Xerox Corp filed Critical Xerox Corp
Application granted granted Critical
Publication of US3649006A publication Critical patent/US3649006A/en
Anticipated expiration legal-status Critical
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    • G—PHYSICS
    • G03—PHOTOGRAPHY; CINEMATOGRAPHY; ANALOGOUS TECHNIQUES USING WAVES OTHER THAN OPTICAL WAVES; ELECTROGRAPHY; HOLOGRAPHY
    • G03G—ELECTROGRAPHY; ELECTROPHOTOGRAPHY; MAGNETOGRAPHY
    • G03G15/00—Apparatus for electrographic processes using a charge pattern
    • G03G15/65—Apparatus which relate to the handling of copy material
    • G03G15/6529—Transporting
    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B65—CONVEYING; PACKING; STORING; HANDLING THIN OR FILAMENTARY MATERIAL
    • B65H—HANDLING THIN OR FILAMENTARY MATERIAL, e.g. SHEETS, WEBS, CABLES
    • B65H39/00—Associating, collating, or gathering articles or webs
    • B65H39/10—Associating articles from a single source, to form, e.g. a writing-pad
    • B65H39/11—Associating articles from a single source, to form, e.g. a writing-pad in superposed carriers
    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B65—CONVEYING; PACKING; STORING; HANDLING THIN OR FILAMENTARY MATERIAL
    • B65H—HANDLING THIN OR FILAMENTARY MATERIAL, e.g. SHEETS, WEBS, CABLES
    • B65H2408/00—Specific machines
    • B65H2408/10—Specific machines for handling sheet(s)
    • B65H2408/11—Sorters or machines for sorting articles
    • B65H2408/111—Sorters or machines for sorting articles with stationary location in space of the bins and a diverter per bin
    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B65—CONVEYING; PACKING; STORING; HANDLING THIN OR FILAMENTARY MATERIAL
    • B65H—HANDLING THIN OR FILAMENTARY MATERIAL, e.g. SHEETS, WEBS, CABLES
    • B65H2408/00—Specific machines
    • B65H2408/10—Specific machines for handling sheet(s)
    • B65H2408/11—Sorters or machines for sorting articles
    • B65H2408/118—Combination of several sorting modules

Definitions

  • ABSTRACT An improved sheet transport mechanism to facilitate the removal of jams occurring along the sheet transport path of a sorting apparatus.
  • the sorting apparatus comprises one or more modules having a plurality of trays for storing sheet material and deflector members associated with each of the trays when actuated to route the sheet material from the transport mechanism into a corresponding tray.
  • the improvement resides in mounting the transport mechanism in such a manner as to enable camming the transport mechanism away from the trays and also in a direction away from the movement of the sheet material into the trays.
  • Cam plate members are located at the top and bottom portions of the transport mechanism and camming members are located in the lower plates on an axis eccentric that of the camming members, the transport mechanism is displaced away from the trays and in a direction against the movement of the sheet material into the trays to facilitate the removal of the jam occurring in the movement of the sheet material along the sheet path.
  • the invention relates to a sheet sorting apparatus and in particular to an improvement to facilitate the removal of jams occurring during the movement of sheet material through the sorting apparatus.
  • the present invention is to improve upon sheet handling mechanisms in general by facilitating a removal of jams occurring therein and is especially intended as an improvement over the sorting apparatus and transport mechanism described in U.S. Pat. No. 3,484,101 to Cassano.
  • FIG. 1 is a schematic view of the sheet sorting apparatus showing first and second sorter modules
  • FIG. 2 is an end view of the sorting apparatus with parts broken away showing details of one of the sorter modules
  • FIG. 3 is an end view showing the sheet input transport of the first sorter module
  • FIG. 4 is an enlarged side view of the sheet transport mechanism illustrating in particular the cam actuating components for displacing the sheet transport mechanism according to the present invention
  • FIG. 4a is an enlarged side view similar to FIG. 4 illustrating the cam actuating components and sheet transport mechanism in the displaced position
  • FIG. 5 is a side view of one of the cam actuating members illustrating further details thereof.
  • sorting apparatus 10 includes series connected first and second sorter modules 12, 14, respectively, arranged to receive copy sheets to be sorted from a suitable reproducing machine (not shown).
  • the input to sorting apparatus I0 normally comprises conventional paper sheets usually rectangular in shape and of various size, weight, and thickness. Other types of sheet material such as film, cards, etc. are, however, contemplated. It will be understood that additional sorter modules may be added to obtain requisite sorter capacity but that the two illustrated are sufficient for purposes of explaining the present invention.
  • Sorter modules 12, 14 each have a transfer section 15 and a separating or receiving section 16.
  • transfer section 15 includes input transport 18 for receiving documents discharged by the document producing apparatus with which sorting apparatus 10 is used, intermediate transport 20, and discharge transport 22.
  • input transport 18 is omitted with the sheets entering sorter module 14 at the bottom thereof between intermediate transport con- 5 veyor 54 and pinch rolls 34.
  • Separating section I6 includes a plurality of upwardly inclined trays or receptacles 24 for receiving and holding the sheets. It will be noted that trays 24 are canted slightly to enhance sheet registration.
  • Sorter modules l2, 14 each include a base 25, top 26, plural side frame members 27 at one end, and side wall 28 at the opposite end thereof.
  • Cross members 29 project between frame members 30 and wall 28 parallel to and slightly above base 26.
  • Additional frame members 30 extend parallel to frame members 27 between cross members 29 and top 26.
  • 14 wheels 31 may be attached to base 26 thereof.
  • Input transport 18 of first sorter module 12 comprises a belt-type conveyor 33 with cooperating pinch rolls 34.
  • Conveyor 33 includes plural feed belts 36 supported on rolls 37. Rolls 37 are carried by shafts 38 journaled in sides 40 of conveyor 33. Conveyor sides 40 may be suitably secured to pinch roll side supports 42 which in turn are secured to module frame members 27, 30.
  • a roll carrying shaft 39 is extended to carry conveyor drive pulley 44.
  • Drive belt 45 operably connects motor 46 with pulley 44 to drive conveyor 33.
  • Pinch rolls 34 are releasably held in contact with conveyor feed belts 36 at spaced points along the working surface thereof by wirelike members 49 supported on cross legs 48.
  • Fingerlike document deflectors 52 are supported on shaft 53 journaled for limited rotation in sides 40 of conveyor 33. Deflectors 52, when in raised position route documents downwardly to intermediate transport 20.
  • Intermediate transport includes a belt-type conveyor 54 with cooperating pinch rolls 34 spaced along the outer downwardly moving side and at the base thereof, and cooperating pinch rollers 58 spaced along the inner upwardly moving side thereof.
  • Conveyor 54 includes an upper roll support shaft 59 and a lower roll support shaft 61 journaled in sides 60 of conveyor 54. The shafts 59 and 61 support conveyor feed belts 63.
  • Lower shaft 61 of conveyor 54 is extended and a drive gear 64 is mounted thereon.
  • Drive gear 64 is driven through a drive belt 65 with motor 66.
  • Outer pinch rolls 34 for conveyor 54 are arranged in slotlike openings in longitudinal channels 69. Rolls 34 are resiliently held and journaled in contact with feed belts 63 by means of support members 49 attached to frame cross legs 71.
  • Channels 69 have curved upper portions to define, in cooperation with feed belts 63, a transition path to turn the documents carried by conveyor 54 from a vertical to a horizontal direction.
  • the upper portions of channels 69 are also curved to cooperate with deflectors 52 when depressed to form a transition path for routing sheets from input conveyor 33 to conveyor 54.
  • Lower pinch rolls 34, which contact belts 63 of intermediate conveyor 54 adjacent the bottom thereof are similarly journaled by members 49 attached to discharge transport frame 86.
  • Inner pinch rollers 58 are rotatably supported in guides 74 adjacent the inlet to each tray 24. Rollers 58, which are biased and journaled into contact with belts 63 by spring members cooperate with deflectors 80 to route sheets into trays 24.
  • the angle of inclination of trays 24 is critical, it being understood that where the angle of inclination is too great, the sheets, which are normally paper, may sag or buckle, or may not completely pass between guides 74 into the trays. Where, however, the angle of inclination is too small, sheets may not slide sufficiently to contact the guide 74 and registration is not completed.
  • the velocity at which sheets are fed into trays 24, static electric charges on the sheets themselves which tend to cause the sheets to stick to one another, and the weight of the sheets also affect the choice of tray angle inclination. To forestall sheet sag and bucking while assuring sheet registration at relatively high sheet velocities, trays 24 are inclined at an angle of substantially 35 to the horizontal.
  • Trays 24 are additionally tilted or canted downwardly in a plane substantially perpendicular to the plane of tray inclination toward an upstanding side wall. Sheets fed onto trays 24 accordingly tend to move angularly across trays 24, first in a generally upward direction under the impetus of conveyor 54 and thereafter in a generally downward direction under the influence of gravity until the lower side and bottom edges of the sheet contact the upstanding side wall of tray 24 and guide 74, respectively. Through this arrangement, an adjacent side and bottom edge of the sheets in each tray are brought into common registration with one another. It is believed that the foregoing description is sufficient for an understanding of the operation of the sorting apparatus for purposes of the present invention. For a more detailed explanation of the sorting apparatus above reference is made to the U.S, Pat. No. 3,484,101.
  • belt conveyor 54 which moves sheets into the trays 24 in cooperation with deflectors 80, is displaceable in a direction toward and away from the trays and also toward and away from the sheet path entering the inlet side of the trays as will become more apparent.
  • the belt conveyor lower shaft 61 at the bottom is formed as a tubular hollow member to receive a rod member 107.
  • Upper shaft 59 is supported on the ends by a pair of cam plates 110 secured to' the upper part of the frame.
  • Each of the cam plates 110 has an arcuate opening 112 formed therein for a purpose to be described.
  • actuating cam members 115 Secured to the ends of rod member 107 are a pair of actuating cam members 115 which are received in cam plate members 118 secured to the lower portion of the frame.
  • Actuating cam members 115 are formed with a generally circular shape except for two flattened portions 121, 123 which are displaced approximately 90 apart.
  • cam plates 118 have a generally circular opening 120 except for a single flattened portion 125 which is located on the bottom side of the opening. As shown in FIGS. 4 and 4a, the fit of the cam members 115 within cam plates 118 is sufficiently loose to enable the curved portions of the cams to pass flattened portions 125.
  • rod member 107 is on an axis which is eccentric to the axis of the actuating cam members 115.
  • a sheet sorting apparatus of the type including a belt transport arranged for movement past a plurality of trays in which a deflector member is associated with each of said trays and adapted when actuated to route a sheet carried by said belt transport into a corresponding tray, the improvement comprising a frame,
  • first cam plate members connected to said frame for supporting one portion of said belt transport
  • second cam plate members spaced from said first members and also connected to said frame for supporting a spaced portion of said belt transport camming members being supported in each of said second cam plate members and connected by a support member extending therebetween which is coaxially received in a hollow supporting member of said belt transport
  • camming members having an axis eccentric with that of the support member
  • an actuating member for moving said camming members relative to said second cam plate so that upon movement thereof said entire belt transport is moved in a direction laterally away from said trays and also away from the direction in which the sheets are conveyed to said trays.
  • Apparatus according to claim 2 including a spring bias member connected between the frame and one of said camming members to effect a biasing action against movement of said camming members in a direction away from its axis along the sheet path.

Landscapes

  • Physics & Mathematics (AREA)
  • General Physics & Mathematics (AREA)
  • Separation, Sorting, Adjustment, Or Bending Of Sheets To Be Conveyed (AREA)
  • Collation Of Sheets And Webs (AREA)
  • Discharge By Other Means (AREA)
  • Delivering By Means Of Belts And Rollers (AREA)
  • Conveying Record Carriers (AREA)
  • Paper Feeding For Electrophotography (AREA)
US9800A 1970-02-09 1970-02-09 Improved sheet handling apparatus Expired - Lifetime US3649006A (en)

Applications Claiming Priority (1)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
US980070A 1970-02-09 1970-02-09

Publications (1)

Publication Number Publication Date
US3649006A true US3649006A (en) 1972-03-14

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Family Applications (1)

Application Number Title Priority Date Filing Date
US9800A Expired - Lifetime US3649006A (en) 1970-02-09 1970-02-09 Improved sheet handling apparatus

Country Status (8)

Country Link
US (1) US3649006A (enrdf_load_stackoverflow)
JP (1) JPS509184B1 (enrdf_load_stackoverflow)
BE (1) BE762643A (enrdf_load_stackoverflow)
CA (1) CA944310A (enrdf_load_stackoverflow)
DE (1) DE2105728A1 (enrdf_load_stackoverflow)
FR (1) FR2078582A5 (enrdf_load_stackoverflow)
GB (1) GB1341286A (enrdf_load_stackoverflow)
NL (1) NL7101473A (enrdf_load_stackoverflow)

Cited By (3)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
FR2212786A5 (enrdf_load_stackoverflow) * 1972-12-29 1974-07-26 Xerox Corp
DE2456046A1 (de) * 1973-11-23 1975-05-28 Emf Corp Sortiervorrichtung
US3927878A (en) * 1974-04-03 1975-12-23 Apeco Corp Collator

Families Citing this family (5)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
JPS5010473U (enrdf_load_stackoverflow) * 1973-05-30 1975-02-03
JPS54157776U (enrdf_load_stackoverflow) * 1978-04-22 1979-11-02
JPS555599U (enrdf_load_stackoverflow) * 1978-06-28 1980-01-14
JPS5620533U (enrdf_load_stackoverflow) * 1979-07-26 1981-02-23
JPS5673318U (enrdf_load_stackoverflow) * 1979-11-01 1981-06-16

Citations (3)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US2637553A (en) * 1947-04-08 1953-05-05 Ranger Arthur Willard Sheet delivery apparatus for printing machines
US3266799A (en) * 1964-10-12 1966-08-16 Columbia Res And Mfg Company I Stacking apparatus having yieldable feed means
US3484101A (en) * 1968-01-24 1969-12-16 Xerox Corp Sorting apparatus for documents

Patent Citations (3)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US2637553A (en) * 1947-04-08 1953-05-05 Ranger Arthur Willard Sheet delivery apparatus for printing machines
US3266799A (en) * 1964-10-12 1966-08-16 Columbia Res And Mfg Company I Stacking apparatus having yieldable feed means
US3484101A (en) * 1968-01-24 1969-12-16 Xerox Corp Sorting apparatus for documents

Cited By (4)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
FR2212786A5 (enrdf_load_stackoverflow) * 1972-12-29 1974-07-26 Xerox Corp
DE2456046A1 (de) * 1973-11-23 1975-05-28 Emf Corp Sortiervorrichtung
US3944217A (en) * 1973-11-23 1976-03-16 Emf Corporation Tower type sorting and collating apparatus
US3927878A (en) * 1974-04-03 1975-12-23 Apeco Corp Collator

Also Published As

Publication number Publication date
CA944310A (en) 1974-03-26
JPS509184B1 (enrdf_load_stackoverflow) 1975-04-10
BE762643A (fr) 1971-08-09
NL7101473A (enrdf_load_stackoverflow) 1971-08-11
FR2078582A5 (enrdf_load_stackoverflow) 1971-11-05
GB1341286A (en) 1973-12-19
DE2105728A1 (enrdf_load_stackoverflow) 1971-08-19

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