Bell & Howell Mail and Messaging Technologies Company

Bowe Bell + Howell Company

John J Semanick

John H Vitko

James R Moser

Edward M Otto

Michael R Drago

Richard W Finnochio

Phuong T Do

An accumulator apparatus for accumulating one or more sheets or articles is provided and includes a sheet accumulator portion for accumulating one or more sheets or articles, a ramp disposed upstream of the sheet accumulator portion relative to a flow direction of the sheet or article, an actuator and a pusher plate connected to the actuator. The actuator is configured to move the pusher plate away from the ramp in a direction toward a sheet accumulation portion of the accumulator apparatus.

Accumulator apparatus non-marring pusher system

A sheet accumulating apparatus accumulates inputted sheets into a stack registered on all sides, wherein the sheets are controlled with minimum contact by components of the apparatus to minimize or eliminate smudging or marking of the sheets. The apparatus can be selectively adjusted to effect over-accumulation or under-accumulation, and can be adjusted to accommodate different sheet sizes. The apparatus comprises an accumulation section defining a sheet feed plane therethrough. An upper ramp is disposed upstream from the accumulation section and is movable into and out of the sheet feed plane. An upper retaining member is linked to the upper ramp and is movable into and out of the sheet feed plane in alternating relation to the upper ramp. A lower ramp is disposed below the upper ramp and is movable into and out of the sheet feed plane in alternating relation to the upper ramp. A lower retaining member is linked to the lower ramp and movable into and out of the sheet feed plane in alternating relation to the upper ramp.

Non-marking accumulator and related methods

An accumulator apparatus and method are provided for accumulating sheet articles. The accumulator apparatus includes an upper belt system and lower belt system operative for advancing sheet articles in seriatim manner therebetween. Guide rollers are provided at the entrance of the sheet articles between the upper and lower belt systems for guiding the sheet articles therebetween without pinching. Nip rollers are provided downstream from the entry guide rollers for pulling sheet articles into the accumulator apparatus between the guide rollers and the nip rollers. A ramp system operative for deflecting advancing sheet articles is provided downstream from the nip rollers. Sheet articles deflected by the ramp assembly can then be accumulated in an accumulation location where the lower belt system is maintained in a spaced-apart position below the accumulation location such that the lower belt system cannot contact or mark sheet articles accumulated therein. Stop rollers are provided for selectively stopping further advancement of accumulated sheet articles from the accumulation location and for pulling the accumulated sheet articles from the accumulation location to advance the sheet articles from the accumulator apparatus. A biasing element is provided and is affixed to the downstream end of the ramp. The function of the biasing element is to urge all accumulating sheet articles from behind towards and into the nip formed by the upper and lower stop rollers. The biasing element is provided to reduce or eliminate sheet misregistration or shingling back.

Accumulator apparatus and method having improved sheet registration

A sheet-size and stacking direction adjustable accumulator and method are disclosed. The accumulator is easily adjustable for handling sheets of different widths and for either under or over accumulating. The adjustability is provided by allowing accumulator ramps to be added or removed without having to deconstruct the accumulator and without the need for special skill.

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Bethlehem, PA, United States of America

John J Semanick