Sheet-material associating – Associating or disassociating – Sheet associating
Patent
1991-05-17
1993-09-21
Look, Edward K.
Sheet-material associating
Associating or disassociating
Sheet associating
270 54, 271 9, B65H 3902, B65H 344
Patent
active
052462196
DESCRIPTION:
BRIEF SUMMARY
This invention relates to methods of and apparatus for feeding sheets of material, especially sheets of paper. Various paper sheet feeders and collating machines are known which deliver sheets of paper from individual bins or compartments in such a manner as to create a desired end product which consists of a plurality of such sheets.
One of the disadvantages of known collators and like machines is that the number of bins in the machine is fixed, which means that the customer has to make a decision between buying a machine which will just meet his present needs or paying more for a larger machine in the hope that he will be able to make future use of the additional bin capacity.
It is an object of the present invention to create a sheet feeding machine which is completely modular. The sheet feeding machine is preferably a collator. The advantage of a fully modular construction is that the user can start with a small number of modules and build up the machine as necessary by adding further modules.
It is a further object of the invention to provide a sheet feeding machine which is arranged as a tower of modules, with the sheets being constrained to travel down towards the base of the tower.
It is yet another object of the invention to provide a sheet feeding machine which is constructed so as to facilitate use of the machine by the operator, i.e. to have the sheets in positions which are readily accessible, and to have the control mechanisms in positions which do not create obstructions but which nevertheless enable the operator readily to monitor the controls.
In accordance with the present invention there is provided a sheet feeding apparatus which comprises a variable plurality of modules stacked one above another, each of which incorporates a sheet storage station, and means for directing sheets from said plurality of storage stations in a requested sequence laterally and downwardly into a common transmission path to below the lowest module.
Preferably, an electrical power pack for the apparatus is provided at the top of the stack of modules, as a tower system. The front of the power pack may contain means for providing a visual display of relevant information. The individual modules are linked together down the stack by suitable mechanisms and the apparatus incorporates appropriate electronic circuitry for control and monitoring purposes.
Each module, i.e. sheet storage station, is complete within itself and, when attached to the power pack, is capable of functioning alone.
Also in accordance with the invention there is provided a method of feeding sheets from a variable plurality of modules stacked one above another and each incorporating a sheet storage station, which comprises directing sheets from said plurality of sheet storage stations in a requested sequence laterally and downwardly into a common transmission path to below the lowest module.
The number of modules in any one stack will depend upon customer requirements and the needs and constraints of any particular installation. The apparatus can thus be assembled in a customised manner to meet specific requirements.
In order that the invention may be more fully understood, one presently preferred embodiment of collating system in accordance with the invention will now be described by way of example and with reference to the accompanying drawings.
In the drawings:
FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram of a sheet feeding apparatus in accordance with the invention constructed as a tower;
FIG. 2 is a diagram, on an enlarged scale, of one of the modules showing the sheet feed mechanism in greater detail, and;
FIG. 3 shows alternative paths for the collated sheets at the bottom of the tower.
As shown in the drawings, the collating system comprises a base/floor stand 10, which is preferably provided with wheels or rollers 11 so that the collator can be made mobile. The stand carries a stack of individual modules, indicated at 12a, 12b, 12c, etc. These modules each include a sheet storage and feed bin 14. Each module constitutes a feed station for the sheets o
REFERENCES:
patent: 4849790 (1989-07-01), Ho
patent: 5039077 (1991-08-01), Gunther, Jr.
Look Edward K.
Ryznic John
Watkiss Automation Limited
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