EP0013633A1
Expired / Lapsed
EP
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Sorting apparatus for collecting sheets
Assignee: Xerox Corp
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Filing: 1980-01-15
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Granted: —
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Expires: 2000-01-15
Abstract
Abstract Sorting apparatus (10) in which a sheet advancing along a pre-determined path is collected in one of a plurality of movable sheet receiving stations (12). One of the receiving stations (12) is aligned with the sheet path. A guide (18) moves from an inoperative position spaced from the receiving stations (12) to an operative position coupling the aligned sheet receiving station (12) with the sheet path. This enables the sheet to advance into the receiving station (12).
Inventors
- 👤 Gary A. Nobles
- 👤 Donald W. Tates
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
EP
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-08 09:58
CPC Classifications
B; B65; B65H; B65H39/00; B65H39/10; B65H39/11; B65H2408/00; B65H2408/10; B65H2408/11; B65H2408/113
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 11
Claim 1
Independent Claim
107 words
Sorting apparatus (10) for collecting sheets arranged to advance along a pre-determined path, including a plurality of sheet receiving stations (12) and means (60, 62, 64) for moving said plurality of sheet receiving stations to align one of said sheet receiving stations with the sheet path; characterised by guide means (18) arranged to move from an inoperative position spaced from said plurality of sheet receiving stations to an operative position coupling the sheet path with the aligned one of said plurality of sheet receiving stations (12), for guiding a sheet advancing along the pre-determined path into the aligned one of said plurality of sheet receiving stations (12).
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
107 words
Sorting apparatus (10) for collecting sheets arranged to advance along a pre-determined path, including a plurality of sheet receiving stations (12) and means (60, 62, 64) for moving said plurality of sheet receiving stations to align one of said sheet receiving stations with the sheet path; characterised by guide means (18) arranged to move from an inoperative position spaced from said plurality of sheet receiving stations to an operative position coupling the sheet path with the aligned one of said plurality of sheet receiving stations (12), for guiding a sheet advancing along the pre-determined path into the aligned one of said plurality of sheet receiving stations (12).
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
35 words
Apparatus according to Claim 1, in which the aligned one of said plurality of sheet receiving stations (12) opens in response to said guide means (18) moving from the inoperative position to the operative position.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
42 words
Apparatus according to Claim 1 or 2, in which said guide means (18b in the operative position, depresses the sheets previously advanced into the aligned one of said sheet receiving stations (12) to facilitate the advancement of the next successive sheet therein.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
44 words
Apparatus according to Claim 1, 2 or 3, in which said guide means (18) moves from the operative position to the inoperative position with only a portion of the sheet having advanced into the aligned one of said plurality of sheet receiving stations (12).
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
52 words
Apparatus according to any preceding Claim, in which said guide means (18) includes a curved portion mounted pivotably so that, in the operative position, the trailing edge region is adjacent the sheet path with the leading edge region (92) being adjacent the aligned one of said plurality of sheet receiving stations (12).
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
53 words
Apparatus according to Claim 5, in which said guiding means (18) includes at least one cam (82) secured to said curved portion, said cam (82)b being arranged to open the aligned one of said plurality of sheet receiving stations (12) as said curved portion pivots from the inoperative position to the operative position.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
47 words
Apparatus according to Claim 5, in which the leading edge region (92) of said curved portion, in the operative position, depresses the sheets previously advanced into the aligned one of said plurality of sheet receiving stations (12) to facilitate the advancement of the next successive sheet therein.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
36 words
Apparatus according to-Claim 6 or 7, in which said plurality of sheet receiving stations (12) include a plurality of trays (86, 96) having at least a portion thereof supported in a spaced relationship with each other.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
22 words
9 . Apparatus according to any preceding Claim, in which said sheet receiving stations (12) are arranged in a generally vertical array.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
23 words
Apparatus according to any of Claims 1 to 9, in which said sheet receiving stations (12) are arranged in a generally horizontal array.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
US4037832A
Cited
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