John Brown Inc.

Frederick A Benjamin

Michael H Spalding

Kenneth S Mielcarek

A sheet diverter apparatus diverts sheets into alternate paths by guiding the leading portion of each sheet through a gap in a horizontal conveyor into alternate diverter belt conveyor units where the sheet is firmly grasped for transfer. The one conveyor unit is a horizontal unit having a top belt conveyor and a bottom belt conveyor, one of which is offset downstream to form a diverting gap. A diverter is located to successively rotate through the gap and divert the alternate sheet into the angulated conveyor unit. In an upwardly angulated conveyor, the horizontal moving sheet is supported by the bottom conveyor belt of the horizontal unit. In a downward angulated conveyor unit, the length of the gap is selected to maintain sheet flow across a gap in the plane of the sheet. The top conveyor of the horizontal unit assists the support of the horizontal sheet. The linear or surface speed of the diverter cam is greater than the linear speed of the sheet. The cam surface is constructed with a low friction surface such as provided by a low friction plastic coating. An air cushion may be created between the cam face of the diverter and the sheet. A low pressure air passageway through the diverter terminates in the face of the cam and establishes a thin air film between the sheet and the cam surface. The air film prevents adverse interengagement between the cam and the sheet.

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Howard, WI, United States of America

Frederick A Benjamin