Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 12
Claim 1
Independent Claim
146 words
Apparatus for collating sets of sheets, which are received serially in groups of similar sheets, comprising means to stack the sheets of the first group received in individually offset fashion, thus demarcating each first sheet from adjacent first sheets, and means to insert individual sheets of the next group in the same offset fashion contiguous to individual first sheets and to insert, if necessary, individual sheets of subsequent groups in the same offset fashion contiguous to individual prior inserted sheets of the same set to form collated sets of sheets, characterised in that the means (38) to insert sheets transports all sheets in the same disposition relative to a sheet path (18) into a bin (100) for receiving the sheets, which bin is capable of oscillatory motion in a substantially horizontal plane and means (88, 94) to cause oscillation of the bin to effect offset stacking.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
146 words
Apparatus for collating sets of sheets, which are received serially in groups of similar sheets, comprising means to stack the sheets of the first group received in individually offset fashion, thus demarcating each first sheet from adjacent first sheets, and means to insert individual sheets of the next group in the same offset fashion contiguous to individual first sheets and to insert, if necessary, individual sheets of subsequent groups in the same offset fashion contiguous to individual prior inserted sheets of the same set to form collated sets of sheets, characterised in that the means (38) to insert sheets transports all sheets in the same disposition relative to a sheet path (18) into a bin (100) for receiving the sheets, which bin is capable of oscillatory motion in a substantially horizontal plane and means (88, 94) to cause oscillation of the bin to effect offset stacking.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
14 words
Apparatus according to claim 1, in which the bin (100) is also movable vertically.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
25 words
Apparatus according to claim 1 or 2, including means (124) for separating adjacent stacked sheets at an appropriate location prior to insertion of a sheet.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
28 words
Apparatus according to claim 1, 2 or 3, in which the means (38) to insert sheets is movable in reciprocatory fashion into and out of the bin (100).
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
69 words
Apparatus according to claim 4, in which the means (38) includes sheet gripping means (158, 160; 180, 182) operable to open at a position of the means (38) out of the bin (100) to receive a sheet, to close to grip a sheet upon movement of the means (38) towards the bin, and to open to release a sheet at a position of the means (38) in the bin.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
52 words
Apparatus according to claim 5, in which the means (38) includes a carrier (26) for the sheet gripping means (158, 160; 180, 182) movable between stops (32, 34; 48, 50) and means (53, 138; 146, 168) to cooperate to effect opening of the sheet gripping means with the carrier against the stops.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
22 words
Apparatus according to any preceding claim, including means selectively to render inactive the means (88, 94) to cause oscillation of the bin.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
21 words
Apparatus according to any preceding claim, including means (52, 60, 56) selectively to render inactive the means (38) to insert sheets.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
80 words
Apparatus according to claim 8 as appendant to claims 2 and 3, having a stapling station (16) including a stapling device (186) disposed adjacent one corner of the bin (100) and displacable to a position to receive offset sheets of sheets for stapling, the means (88, 94) being operable to oscillate the bin to present successive sets of sheets to the stapling device (186) and means (55) to operate the stapling device when a set of sheets is in position.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
146 words
In sheet collating apparatus, a method of collating sets of sheets, which are received serially in groups of similar sheets, comprising the steps of transporting and inserting sheets in the same disposition relative to a sheet path into a bin for receiving the sheets, oscillating the bin in a substantially horizontal plane to stack the sheets of the first group received in individually offset fashion, thus demarcating each first sheet from adjacent first sheets, transporting and inserting individual sheets of the next group in the same disposition contiguous to individual first sheets, oscillating the bin in a substantially horizontal plane to stack the sheets of the next group in the same offset fashion as the sheets of the first group, and thereafter, if necessary, transporting and inserting individual sheets of subsequent groups and oscillating the bin in the same manner, to form collated sets of sheets.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
146 words
In sheet collating apparatus, a method of collating sets of sheets, which are received serially in groups of similar sheets, comprising the steps of transporting and inserting sheets in the same disposition relative to a sheet path into a bin for receiving the sheets, oscillating the bin in a substantially horizontal plane to stack the sheets of the first group received in individually offset fashion, thus demarcating each first sheet from adjacent first sheets, transporting and inserting individual sheets of the next group in the same disposition contiguous to individual first sheets, oscillating the bin in a substantially horizontal plane to stack the sheets of the next group in the same offset fashion as the sheets of the first group, and thereafter, if necessary, transporting and inserting individual sheets of subsequent groups and oscillating the bin in the same manner, to form collated sets of sheets.