IL28521A - Multiunits sheet distributor system - Google Patents

Description

28521/2 Multiunite sheet distributor system RAM XEROX LIMITED 0:27070 28521/3 This invention relates to sheet distributing and in particular to apparatus adapted to distribute shoot material seriatim fed into the apparatus from various types of reproducing or printing machines.

I prior art devices of this type the capacity of the sheet distributor or sorter has been limited to a fixed number with no provision for increasing Or decreasing the Cf-« city of the apparatus to accommodate changing work loads. The invention of this application provides a sheet distributor unit capable of being readily combined With other modular units forming a unitary corting or sheet distributing system of any desired Size of capacity in multiples of the unit* In accordance with the present invention, substantial flexibility in sheet distributing system is provided by reason of the special relationship between the sheet transport mechanisms for selectively trans-* ferring material through the unit or into catch trays in the unit* In this way the capacity of the system :-may be readily increased or decreased in accordance with varying work loads or customer requirements without tho necessity of utilising a series of separate individual machines each having separate feeding tables, diverting mechanisms and transport systems associated therewith, Accordingto the present invention there is provided a sheet distribution unit for use with adjacent preceding and. succeeding like units to define a unitary sheet distribution system comprising': a plurality of vertically spaced catch trays, a horizontal transport for transporting sheet ..material from the leading vertica side of the unit to the trailing e-Hlcal,, side, drive feed rollers located along one vertical side of the unit and sheet guides 28521/3 of an adjacent unit to define a vertical transport for trans-porting sheet material from the trailing vertical end of the horizontal transport to positions adjacent the catchtrays, a selectively actuatable diverter adjacent the trailing vertical end of the horizontal transport for selectively directing sheet material from the horizontal transport to either the vertical transport or the horizontal transport of an adjacent succeeding unit, diverting mechanisms positioned adjacent the catchtrays selectively actuatable into and from interference relationship with sheet material passing through the vertical transport for diverting such material into selected catchtrays, a means responsive to a control signal generated by sheet material passing into a ca chtr&y for selectively actuating the diverting mechanisms of the unit, While it is possible fo the drive feed rollers to be located on either the leading or the trailing vertical sides of a unit, it is preferred that they be located on the trailing vertical side for the convenience of being able to terminate the system with an end plate that carries only the passive sheet guides rather than powered feed rollers. This arrangement avoids the necessity of having a drive motor associated with the end plate. By reason of the inclined attitude of the catchtrays, there is sufficient clearance unde the catch trays adjacent the feed rollers to accommodate a drive motor while ordnarily extra space would have to be provided in the end plate.

A embodiment of the invention is illustrated by way of example in the accompanying drawings, wherein: Fig. 1 is a front perspective view of a series of units assemblied to form a unitary sheet distributing machine, with 28521/3 unit to illustrate the features thereof; Pig. 3 is a front elevation section of the invention of this application to better illustrate the drive and diverting mechanisms; Pig. 4 is a front perspective view of a portion of the transport system to illustrate the features thereof; Pig. 5 is an enlarged view of the meohanisms for activating the diverting gates; and Pig. 6 is an enlarged perspective view of a single diverting gate actuator.

Referring now to Pig. 1, there is shown an embodiment of the modular sheet distributor 100 which includes a plurality of catch trays for holding sheet material which has been delivered to the catch trays. Two modular sheet distributors are shown in cooperation with a sheet distributor 200 with one module in cooperative relation to form a unitary s eet distributing machine. Another module is shown, extended from cooperative relatio in order to better show thepath of paper movement into the copy catch trays or into another modular unit 100· It should be understood that th© units are placed adjaeent'one another to form a unitary sheet distributing machine or the end plate 400 is positioned adjacent the modular unit to complete a sheet transport for distributing the sheets to the terminal modular unit* As shown in the drawings the modular sheet distributor 100 includes a plurality of catch .trays 110 secured in spaced relation to each other between front and rear frame plateB 102 and 103, respectivel 9 by means of tabs 112 at the lower end of ¾ catch plate 111 passing through slots provided in right-hand frame plate 106, with the upper endof thecatch trays sapported from lefthond frame plate 107. The upper end of catch plate 11.1 is supportedby a lateral portion of support plate 113 secured by its upturned portion toth© lefthand frame plate. The lateral portion of the support plate passes through slots in the frame plate into engagement with the catch plate 111» In order to insure proper alignment of sheet material passing into the catch trays , a deflector plate 114 is suitably secured to the bottom of the lateral portion of each support plate 113 to deflect the sheet material downward into the rear of the adjacent lower catch tray. Each catch plate 111 is also provided with a plurality of guide fingers 115 secured to and extending out from the bottom of the catch plate to insure that 28521/2 sheet material passing into an adjacent oatch tray will not adhere to the bottom of the upper adjoining catch plate 111 due to the static electrical charges on the sheet material.

Spring tabs 116 are secured to the guide fingers 115 and engage the bottom of thelateral portion of the supportpiate 113 as seen in Fig. 3.

As shorn in thefelrawings, especially Fig; 3» sheet material is distributed to the catch trays by means of a plurality of drive feed rollers 121 secured in spaced relation between front and rear frame plates 102 and 103» respectively, and secured thereto by meonsOf adjustable ϋ-shaped brackets securing each roller shaft 123 in slots provided in the front and rear frame plates. Each drive roller is journaled for rotation upon a stationary shaftl23 and provided with an undercut surface portion in cooperative relationship with a gate 131 of a diverting mechanism 130 which diverts sheet material into the proper -catch tra in a predetermined sequential order.

These components together with the idler transport 160 on an adjacent modilar sheet distributor form a vertical transport for the sheets.

The sheet material is forwarded to the copy catch trays by means of the drive feed rollers 121 driven through a flexible drive belt 141 contacting each of the drive rollers and passing over a soriee of idler rollers 142 whereby each drive feed roller isposltlvoly driven at the same linear velocity by means of the drive bolt. With the novel configuration of the drive belt, as shown in Fig. 3, the belt may be replaced if necessary by the removal of only one shaft 146 without necessitating the removal of the drive feed rollers 121.

The endless belt 141 is driven through a friction wheel 144 secured to a timing sprocket 145 rotatably mounted on a shaft 146 secured between front and rear frame plates 102 and 103 respectively, the timing sprocket being driven by an electric motor B-2.

The diverting mechanisms 130 which include a series of gates 131 secured to a gate shaft 132 are journaled for rotational movement in front and rear frame plates 102 and 103, respectively. The gates are formed with a concave portion 133 and a flat portion 134 and positioned on the gate shaft 132 within the undercut portion of the drive rollers adjacent to the path of paper movement when the gates are out of deflecting position. When the diverting mechanisms are actuated as hereinafter described, the shaft 132 is rotated to raise the flat portion out of the undercut of the drive feed rollers to bring the concave portion 133 of the gates into interference with the path of paper movement, thereby diverting the sheet material into a predetermined catch tray.

As the sheet material is forwarded by means of the drive feed rollers cooperating with idler rollers to be hereinafter described, the diverting mechanisms 130 are sequentially actuated to divert the sheet material into the appropriate catch trays by means of a cam bank 150 each cam 151 controlling the rotational movement of a single diverting mechanism to move the flat portion of the gate, adjacent the path of paper movement, out from the recessed portion of the stepped drive rolls and into. interference with the path of paper movement. The cam support shaft 153, as shown in Fig. 6,- is 28521/2 supported at ite uppermost end in a bracket 154 secured to the rear frame plato 103 and having a bearing portion mounted thorein for rotational movement of the cam support shaft driven by.means of a stepping motor B-3 secured to the rear frame plate by means of a bracket 149 and connected to the cam support shaft. The cams 151» each having a rise portion 152 are positioned on the . cam support shaft whereby rotation of the cam shaft will oause the rise portions to pass a given point in apredoterrained sequence. This sequential stepping of the rise portion of the cam will sequentially actuate the diverting mechanisms by moans of the riso portions 152 of the cams oscillating u trip lever 155 having a bifurcated end portion engaging the cam surface as seen in Fig, 5· Each diverting .mechanism 130 s a trip l<2vor secured to the endof the ga e shaft to be sequentially actuated whereby the gates will be moved into interference relation with a sheet passing between the drivo feed rolls 121 and idler rolls 161 to thereby deflect the sheet into the appropriate catch tray.

As a train of sheets passes downwardly between rollers 121 of one module and idlers 160 of an adjacent module, the diverting mechanism 130 of the one module is selectively actuated in order to sequentially open and then close successive gates.

Actuation of the raeohanism 130 occurs in rosponse to control signals developed by each sheet as it passes into its appropriate catch tray. Specifically, the control si nals are developed by means of an electrical circuit which includes photoelectric sensor OR-1 associated with the catch trays of the module, and responsive to the mo ement of the trailing edges of the sheets as they pass into the appropriate catch trays. Lightfsources - - As seen in Pig, 5 the cam supportshaft 153 h s secured to its lower end a oontrol sprocket 156 having an I upper and lower portion to control the actuation of limit switches LS-11 and LSi2 respectively* The limit switohes are mounted in cooperative relationship with the control sprocket 156 by moans of a bracket 157 secured to the rear frame plate and perform a function to be hereinafter described in detail.

To complete a paper transport for delivering sheet material to the appropriate catch tray when one modular unit is placed in cooperative relation x-jit another modular sheet diotributor or a sheet distributor ouch as disclosed in copending Israel patent application serial Ho. 28519 filed 17th August, 1967» in the 7a name of J. E. Britt et al, there is provided a plurality of idler rollers 161 supported by right-hand frame plate 106. The idler rollers 161 are individually rotatably mounted on a bifurcated bracket 162 supported on tie rods 163, secured to an idler transport frame 165, and biased in a counter clockwise direction, as seen in Fig. 3, to be held in slight pressure contact with the drive feed rollers 121· of another modular distributor placed in cooperative relation to form a unitary sheet distributing machine. The positioning of the idler transport 160 and, therefore, the idler rollers 161 is determined by brackets 166 secured to the transport and right-hand frame plate 106.

An end plate 400 is provided to complete a sheet transport adjacent the terminal sheet distributor section. An idler transport. such as idler transport 160 is supported on end plate 400 and positioned in cooperative relation with the drive feed rollers 121 and diverting mechanisms 130 of the terminal section in a manner as previously described in regard to idler transport 160. Suitable mechanical connectors such as bayonets are secured to end plate 400 to mechanically interlock with suitable receptacles of the type shown in Fig. 2, for securing the end plate to the terminal section to complete a unitary distributing machine.

A plurality of parallel guide rails 164 are secured to and positioned on the transport frame 165 such that when the sheet distributor module is placed in cooperative relation with another sheet distributor module, the path of sheet travel formed thereby will be adjacent the. guide rails 164 between the idler rollers 161 and the drive feed rolls 121.

With a pair of sheet distributor modules in such a cooperative relation, when a diverting mechanism 130 is actuated by a cam 151 the flat portion 134 of the gate, normally parallel to the path of paper travel, is rotated into interference with the path of paper travel and into the guide rails 164 of the idler transport thereby moving the concave portion 133 of the gate into interference with the path of paper travel to deflect the sheet material into the appropriate catch tray.

As seen in the drawings, sheet material passes across the top of the sorter" module by means of a horizontal transport 170 and down adjacent left-hand frame plate 107 into the appropriate catch tray.... To facilitate the removal of occasional sheet material jams, the horizontal transport 170 is supported at one side by a pivot rod 171 mounted on the rear frame plate 103 by means of brackets 172 appropriately secured thereto, to enable the transport to be pivoted out of cooperative relation with the drive feed rolls 121 as best shown in Fig. 2, thereby enabling sheet material jams to be cleared from this section of the sheet distributor module with extreme ease. The horizontal idler transport is formed with a base plate 173 having parallel guide rails 164 secured thereto and positioned in cooperative* relation with gates of a diverting mechanism 130' to perform the same function as' heretofore described. A plurality of tie rods are secured in upturned portions of the transport frame and support a plurality of idler rolls 161. The bifurcated portion of the idler roll brackets 162 engage a tie rod 163 and are biased in a clockwise direction, as seen in F, g¾!jr, through openings in the transport frame into engagement with the drive feed rollers 121, by means of a leaf spring 174 secured to the lower portion of the bifurcated brackets by means of an upturned lip with the other end of the leaf spring secured in a suitable slot provided in spring retaining brackets 175.

To enable the modular sheet distributors to be assembled into a unitary sheet distributing machine suitable mechanical connecting devices such as bayonets 137 and receptacles 139, and hook 138 are secured to the modules to correctly align the modules and retain them in cooperating relation. The diverting mechanism 130' is similar in construction to the and diverting mechanisms 130,/is positioned adjacent the left end of the horizontal transport 170 to control delivery of sheet material to the catch trays of the sorter module in which the diverting mechanism is contained or to pass the sheet material to an adjoining module for distribution therein.

In order to divert the sheet material passing through the horizontal transport into the vertical transport formed by the cooperating modular units for delivery into the appropriate^ copy catch tray, the gates of the diverting mechanisms are rotated whereby the concave surface will be in interference with the path of paper movement.. If it is desired to distribute the sheet material to an adjoining module, the cam support shaft 153 is rotated to- a position whereby the bifurcated portion of the trip lever 155* is engaged by the drop portion the cam 151' whereby the gate for the diverting mechanism 130' will be positioned out of interference relationship with the path of the paper movement through the horizontal transport with the flat portion of the gate positioned, in the stepped portion of the drive feed rollers, adjacent to the path of paper travel thereby allowing the sheet material to pass to the next sheet distributing module.

To facilitate 'movement of one sorter module into cooperative relationship with another sorter module and to facilitate the removal of sheet material jams occasionally, occurring in the vertical transport formed by the cooperating modules, there is provided a dolly 180 secured to the front and rear frame plates 102 and 103 and right-hand frame plate 106 as by welding and to the left-hand frame plate 107 by means of a bracket thereby allowing the sheet distributor module to be readily movable. The dolly 180 is provided with three shafts 181 passing through upturned portions of the frame plate 182 and having roller'wheels 183 journaled for rotation upon the ends of each of the three shafts. A trackway 190 having vertically adjustable leveling feet is provided to engage the rollers 183. of the dolly whereby the sheet distributor module may be moved. into cooperative relation with another module to form a unitary sheet distributing machine or out of cooperative relationship for removal of sheet material jams occurring in the vertical transport formed by the cooperating modules. - 12 - 28521/4

Claims (5)

1. A sheet distribution unitcfor use with adjacent preceding and succeeding like units which oan be easily added or removed to define a unitary sheet distribution system comprising t a plurality of vertically spaced catch trays, a horizontal transport for transporting sheet material from the leading vertical side of the unit to the trailing vertical side, drive feed rollers located along one vertical side of the unit and sheet guides located along the other vertical side of the' unit, means to locate the said one unit in fixed relation to another similar unit so that the feed rollers on one of the two adjacent units cooperate with sheet guides on the other of the two units. to define a vertical transport for transporting sheet material from the trailing vertical end of the horizontal transport to positions adjacent the catch trays, a selectively aotuatable dlverter adjacent the trailing vertical end of the horizontal transport for selectively directing sheet material from the horizontal o transport to either the vertlfal transport or the horizontal transport of an adjacent succeeding unit, diverting mechanisms positioned adjacent the catch trays selectively actuatable into and from interference relationship with sheet material passing through the vertical transport for diverting such material into selected catch trays, and means responsive to a control signal generated by sheet material passing into a catchtray for selectively actuating the diverting mechanisms of the unit. - 13 - 28521/3

2. A sheet distributor unit according to Claim 1, wherein the means for selectively actuating the diverting mechanisms comprises a cam member associated with and operatively connected to each diverting mechanism, a rotatable support shaft carrying each of the cam members in spaced relationship to one another, each of the cam members having a dwell portion and an actuating portion for moving the associated diverting mechanism, and means to rotate the support shaft in response to the control signal.

3. A sheet distributor unit according to either of Claims 1 or 2, wherein the diverting mechanism comprises a plurality of gates carried by a rotatable support shaft adjacent the entrance to the catch trays, the gates including a flat portion and a concave portion, and a bifurcated lever secured to said support shaft and operatively connected to the selective actuating means for moving the flat portion of the gates from a position adjacent the path of sheet material movement into a position wherein the concave portion of a gate is in interference relationship with the path of sheet material movement to divert sheet material into a predetermined catch tray.

4. A sheet distributor unit according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the control signal is generated by an electrical circuit including a photoelectric sensor responsive to the trailing edge of sheet material passed into the catch trays.

5. A sheet distributor unit according to Claim 1, substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to and as illustrated in the accompanying drawings. For the Applicants