The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document.
The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge covers the following: Patent number, Date patent was issued, Date patent was filed, Title of the patent, Applicant, Inventor, Assignee, Attorney firm, Primary examiner, Assistant examiner, CPCs, and Abstract. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document (in Adobe Acrobat format, aka pdf). To download or print any patent click here.
Patent No.:
Date of Patent:
Oct. 08, 2002
Filed:
Oct. 31, 2000
John W. Clifford, Ashland, MA (US);
Steven P. Lewalski, Melrose, MA (US);
Matthew D. Bouche, Tyngsboro, MA (US);
Bruce J. Taylor, Manchester, NH (US);
Roll Systems, Inc., Burlington, MA (US);
Abstract
An apparatus for selectively streaming and merging side-by-side sheets is provided. In general, sheets enter in a side-by-side orientation onto an input feed surface and are directed selectively upwardly or downwardly onto overlying upper and lower feed surfaces by a diverter assembly having two diverter sides. The diverter sides can be independently moved to direct sheets upwardly or downwardly. The upper feed surface and lower feed surface have opposing edge guides. The upper feed surface and lower feed surface can be moved with respect to each other so that the edge guides are placed one sheet width apart or more than two sheet widths apart. By orienting the two diverter halves, and setting the desired distance between the upper and lower edge guides, sheets can pass along each of the upper and lower surfaces in a side-by-side streamed or over-lapping merge orientation. Sheets pass out of each of the upper and lower feed surfaces onto a common output surface through an output ramp at which time they are either side-by-side streamed or merged. Each edge guide can include an offset actuator that moves at selected times to provide an offset to selected sheets as they enter the output feed ramp. Sheets can be derived from a wide web that is slit and cut as it enters the input feed unit.