Pitney Bowes Inc.

Kenneth W Lowell

David R Auerbach

Karen P Synnett

Karel J Janatka

Robert J Edwards

Kevin W Bodie

Thomas M Helit

Apparatus for transporting documents from two directions includes first direction transporting structure for transporting first documents seriatim over the deck in a first direction, and second direction transporting structure adjacent a downstream end of the first direction transporting structure for seizing control of the first documents and transporting the first documents over the deck in a second direction. The second direction is approximately at a 45.degree. angle to the first direction. A third direction transporting structure is downstream from the second direction transporting structure for transporting the first documents in the third direction as the first documents are released from the control of the second direction transporting structure. The third direction is orthogonal to the first direction. An in-line transport is located upstream from the third direction transporting structure and adjacent a downstream end of the second direction transporting structure. The in-line transport includes structure for receiving second documents being conveyed from upstream in the third direction and for transporting the second documents to the third direction transporting structure. A guide strap is located between the second direction transporting structure, the in-line transport and the third direction transporting structure, for preventing the first and second documents from lifting away from the deck and from skewing as the first and second documents are transported in the second and third directions respectively. The apparatus further includes structure for enabling and disabling the second direction transporting structure or the in-line transport.

Apparatus for transporting documents conveyed from two directions

Apparatus for transporting documents along a paper path includes a plurality of in-line idler rollers biased against a corresponding plurality of in-line driven rollers. The in-line idler rollers are mounted to an in-line transport assembly that is cantilevered over a paper path on a deck. The in-line transport assembly includes a plurality of idler shafts rigidly and transversely suspended over the paper path between two end plates. The in-line idler rollers are rotatably mounted to arm members that are secured to the idler shafts in pairs above the deck. Guide structure is located at the downstream end of the in-line transport for preventing the documents from skewing and lifting away from the deck as the documents are transported. The transport also includes structure for enabling and disabling the in-line transport.

In-line sheet transport with enabling and disabling means

Apparatus for transporting documents through a right angle transfer includes a deck, first transporting structure for transporting documents over the deck in a first direction, and second transporting structure for seizing control of the documents from the first transporting structure and transporting the documents over the deck in a second direction that is at a 45.degree. angle to the first direction. As the documents are released from the control of the second transporting structure, third transporting structure transports the documents in a third direction that is orthogonal to the first direction,. A guide strap extending in the second direction between the second transporting structure and the third transporting structure prevents the transported documents from skewing or lifting away from the deck. The second transporting structure includes a plurality of idler transfer rollers biased against a corresponding plurality of driven transfer rollers. The idler transfer rollers are mounted adjacent to each other on a plate extending in the third direction with the idler and driven transfer rollers being angled in the second direction. The guide strap is a flat spring having a curved end suspended above the deck adjacent to the second direction transporting structure. The other end of the flat spring is secured to the deck outside a paper path of the document. The second transporting structure includes structure to enable and disable the second transporting structure. The first, second and third direction transporting structures move the documents at a constant speed through the apparatus.

Right angle transfer apparatus with enabling and disabling means

A system for programmably controlling stitching apparatus comprises a controller, operatively coupled to the stitching apparatus, for controlling the stitching apparatus. The controller includes a plurality of system routines, including setup, diagnostic and operational routines, that are selectable options to customize operation of the stitching apparatus. The system further includes a user interface through which a system user selects the system routines and monitors the selected system routines. The setup routines include selection of paper size, stitch mode and trail edge offset.

Programmable stitcher with operator input and setup and diagnostic

A collating machine for stacking sheets of paper fed seriatim thereto from a singulating feeder comprises a deck including a stacking area and a plurality of upper, endless, elastic belts, each of the belts moving around a pair of upstream and downstream pulleys suspended above the deck. A plurality of ramp guide blocks are adjustably secured to the deck between the pairs of pulleys, wherein a lower reach of each of the belts is lower than the highest section of the ramp guide blocks. There is structure for stopping each of the sheets at a downstream end of the stacking area which is a section of the deck between the stopping structure and the ramp guide block. Feeding structure is situated upstream from the pulleys for feeding each of the sheets over the ramp guide blocks toward the stacking area until a trail edge of the sheet moves from control of the feeding structure, wherein the belts convey the sheet to the stopping structure. A pusher transport squares the collation against the stopping structure and transports the collation from the stacking area.

High capacity, high speed document accumulator

A system and apparatus for accumulating and stitching collations at high speed comprise an accumulation device situated at an upstream end of a deck in which sheets are stacked to form a collation. The accumulation device includes a stacking area, a transport for conveying the sheets into the stacking area, and first gating structure for stopping the sheets in the stacking area to form the collation. A containment device that is adjacent to a downstream end of the accumulation device includes second gating structure for stopping the collation for other than lead edge stitching. A stitcher is adjacent the first gating structure for stitching the collation when a lead edge of the collation is at either the first gating structure or the second gating structure. A pusher transport moves the collation from the accumulation device to the containment device and transports the collation from the containment device. A controller controls the pusher transport wherein the pushers square the collation at substantially the moment an end of collation sheet is conveyed against the first gating structure. The controller is coupled to an encoder for tracking and controlling the position of said pushers. The system also includes the capability for correcting the position of said pushers after a power loss.

System and apparatus for accumulating and stitching sheets

In a collating machine for stacking sheets of paper fed seriatim thereto from a singulating feeder, the collating machine comprising a deck including a stacking area, a plurality of upper, endless, elastic belts, each of the belts moving around a pair of upstream and downstream pulleys suspended above the deck, a plurality of ramp guide blocks adjustably secured to the deck between the pairs of pulleys, and structure for stopping each of the sheets at a downstream end of the stacking area, the stacking area being a section of the deck between the stopping structure and the ramp guide blocks, an improvement comprises structure for locking the upstream pulleys on an idler pulley shaft, and structure for removably mounting the idler shaft to opposite sides of the collating machine whereby the idler shaft is lifted from the mounting structure to provide access to the collation in the stacking area.

Jam clearance improvement for an o-ring transport

A side guide device adjustably positioned between two laterally spaced frame members includes a pair of side guide plates, each having vertical and horizontal members and a transverse mounting plate. A pair of rail members are mounted on the laterally spaced frame members. Each of the rail members includes a longitudinal groove wherein ends of the transverse mounting plate are adjustably positioned within the grooves of the rail members whereby the side guide members are positionable longitudinally. The transverse mounting plate includes at least two lateral slots through which the side guide members are adjustably mounted whereby the side guide members are positionable laterally. There is structure for locking the transverse mounting plate at a fixed position in the grooves of the rail members. The side guide plates are mounted below the locking plate.

Two way adjustable side guide device

Apparatus for stapling documents. The apparatus includes: a pair of side plates; a stitch head mounting bar secured to the side plates; a clincher mounting bar secured to the side plates; a stitch head mounted on the stitch head mounting bar; a clincher mounted on the clincher mounting bar; a pair of fixture plates secured to the side plates; a clincher actuating bar slidingly engaging the pair of fixture plates; a shaft seated in the fixture plates; a clincher actuating arm rotatably mounted on the shaft and engaging the clincher actuating bar; and a device for rotating the clincher actuating arm whereby the clincher is moved up into clinching position and down away from the clinching position.

Stabilized clincher for stitcher

An improvement in a stitcher for stapling documents. The stitcher includes a pair of side plates, a stitch head mounting bar secured to the side plates, a clincher mounting bar secured to the side plates, a stitch head mounted on the stitch head mounting bar, and a clincher mounted on the clincher mounting bar. The improvement consists of a fixturing plate secured to the stitch head mounting bar and to the clincher mounting bar.

Fixturing plate for stitcher

A system for in-line feeding from two cut sheet feeders comprises a first feeder for feeding cut sheets seriatim along a lower paper path originating at the first feeder, and first transport structure adjacent the first feeder for transporting sheets fed from the first feeder along the lower paper path. There is a second feeder mounted above the first transport structure for feeding cut sheets seriatim along an upper paper path originating at the second feeder. Structure is provided for merging the upper and the lower paper paths into a main paper path whereby sheets fed from the first and second feeders are merged into the main paper path for further processing. Wherein the first and second feeders each include structure for reading control information printed on the sheets fed from the respective feeder. The control information is used to control the first and second feeders, the first transport structure and the merging structure. The first transport structure includes at least one staging area for stopping the advancement of sheets fed from the first feeder when the second feeder is feeding. The merging structure includes upper and lower transport sections.

System and method for in-line feeding from two cut sheet feeders

A mounting apparatus for an optical reader which provides adjustment of the reader along two axes. The apparatus comprises a support member having a slotted section defined by first and second arms projecting from each end of the support member and extending in a second direction perpendicular to the first direction. There is a plate member adjacent and operatively coupled to the support member for clamping the support member to the support shaft, whereby the support member can be adjustably positioned in the first direction. A travelling nut is slidably positioned in the slotted section, and has an aperture in which the optical reader is held. The travelling nut includes a threaded hole engaged by a threaded portion of a thumb screw. The thumb screw extends through apertures in the first and second arms and into the slotted section for adjusting the position of the travelling nut in the second direction.

Apparatus for synchronizing data reading capabilities of an optical

An apparatus for changing the direction of travel of sheets of paper being conveyed seriatim along a paper path without changing the orientation of the sheets with respect to a first direction of travel, comprises a deck having an upstream end for receiving a sheet being conveyed along a paper path in a first direction. There are a plurality of first roller pairs operatively coupled to the deck and disposed in a second direction for seizing a first leading edge of the sheet and conveying the sheet in the second direction along the deck. The second direction forms an acute angle of at most 45.degree. with the first direction. There are guide stucture operatively coupled to the first roller pairs for preventing portions of the sheet from raising off the deck when the portions are not controlled by the first roller pairs. A plurality of second roller pairs are operatively coupled to the deck and disposed in a third direction for seizing a second leading edge of the sheet and conveying the sheet in the third direction along the deck. The third direction forms a right angle with the first direction. The first and second roller pairs include lower driven rollers and upper biased rollers. The guide stucture includes a plurality of spring stucture for preventing portions of the sheet from lifting off the deck when being conveyed at high speed. The present invention is suitable for conveying sheets landscape to portrait or portrait to landscape.

Apparatus for conveying sheets from landscape to portrait arrangement

An apparatus for conveying sheets of paper along a paper path comprises an outer frame having an inlet end for connection to an upstream conveying device and an outlet end for connection to a downstream conveying device. The outer frame has a hollow interior and an opening in each of the inlet and outlet ends for conveying sheets through. There is a drawer frame slidably mounted to the outer frame. The drawer frame is slidable through an open side of the outer frame between a closed position within the outer frame to an open position outside the outer frame. There is structure mounted in the drawer frame for conveying along a paper path sheets of paper received from the upstream conveying device to the downstream conveying device. The conveying structure includes structure for driving the conveying structure. The drawer frame also has an opening at at each end for conveying sheets through, wherein the conveying structure is operational when the drawer frame is in the closed position and the paper path within the drawer frame is accessible when the drawer frame is in the open position. The conveying structure also includes at least one staging area for stopping the advancement of sheets being conveyed along the paper path.

Self contained transport apparatus with drawer mount

An improvement in a collating machine for stacking sheets of paper fed seriatim from a singulating feeder in the same order as the sheets appear in the singulating feeder. The collating machine includes at least one upper belt and one lower belt for frictionally engaging and transporting the sheets, and ramp structure for lifting a succeeding sheet of paper over and onto a preceding, stopped sheet to form a collation. The improvement comprises a device for stopping each of the sheets, including at least one straight, vertical member against which the leading edge of each sheet abuts while the collation is being accumulated. The ramp structure and the stopping device are the upstream and downstream ends of a stacking section in the collating machine. There is a device, adjacent the stopping device, for transporting the collation from the stacking section. The transporting device is engaged when a last sheet has been stacked to form the collation, wherein the stopping device withdraws to allow the collation to pass when the transport device is engaged.

Growing community of inventors

Bristol, CT, United States of America

Kenneth W Lowell