EP0061925A1
Expired / Lapsed
EP
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Sorters for collating sheets into sets
Assignee: Xerox Corp
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Filing: 1982-03-30
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Granted: —
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Expires: 2002-03-30
Abstract
Abstract A sorter for collating sheets into sets comprises a plurality of sheet-receiving bins (B) defined by an array of movable plates (1-5, 5a) and an indexing wheel (23) for indexing the input ends of the bin plates sequentially past a fixed feed throat (22) to align the bin openings in turn with the feed throat (22). Adjacent bin plates (1-5, 5a) are relatively movable apart and together for varying the sizes of the bin openings and are interconnected to limit their maximum spacing. The bin plates are spaced apart opposite and at one side of the feed throat (22) and arranged together on the other side of feed throat. The indexing wheel (23) engages the bin plates (1-5, 5a) sequentially and the bin plates are biassed away from the indexing wheel in one direction and their interconnection permits engagement thereof by the indexing wheel (23) in opposition to said bias. The indexing wheel (23) suitably has a discontinuous annular flange.
Inventors
- 👤 Franciscus V.G.J.M. Jacobs
- 👤 Clifford L. George
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
EP
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-08 09:46
CPC Classifications
G; G03; G03G; G03G15/00; G03G15/65; G03G15/6538; B; B65; B65H; B65H39/00; B65H39/10; B65H39/105
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 13
Claim 1
Independent Claim
119 words
A sheet sorter comprising a plurality of sheet-receiving bins (B) defined by an array of movable plates (1-5) and means (23) for indexing the input ends of the bin plates sequentially past a fixed feed throat (22) to align the bin openings (B) in turn with the feed throat (22), adjacent said bin plates (1-5) being relatively movable apart and together for varying the sizes of the bin openings (B), characterised in that the bin plates (1-5) are interconnected to limit their maximum spacing and spaced apart opposite and at one side of the feed throat (22), being arranged together on the other side of the feed throat, preferably said indexing means (23) engaging the bin plates (1-5) sequentially.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
119 words
A sheet sorter comprising a plurality of sheet-receiving bins (B) defined by an array of movable plates (1-5) and means (23) for indexing the input ends of the bin plates sequentially past a fixed feed throat (22) to align the bin openings (B) in turn with the feed throat (22), adjacent said bin plates (1-5) being relatively movable apart and together for varying the sizes of the bin openings (B), characterised in that the bin plates (1-5) are interconnected to limit their maximum spacing and spaced apart opposite and at one side of the feed throat (22), being arranged together on the other side of the feed throat, preferably said indexing means (23) engaging the bin plates (1-5) sequentially.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
43 words
A sorter according to claim 1 in which the bin plates (1-5) at said one side of the feed throat (22) are biassed apart and the bin plates opposite said feed throat are biassed apart or spaced apart by the indexing means (23).
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
31 words
A sheet sorter according to claim 1 or 2 in which the indexing means (23) is operable to index the bin plates (1-5) past the feed throat (22) in both directions.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
144 words
A sheet sorter comprising a plurality of sheet-receiving bins (B) defined by an array of movable plates (1-5) and means (23) for indexing the input ends of the bin plates (1-5) sequentially past a fixed feed throat (22) to align the bin openings (B) in turn with the feed throat (22), adjacent said bin plates (1-5) being relatively movable apart and together for varying the sizes of the bin openings (B), characterised in that said indexing means (23) is adapted to engage the bin plates (1-5) sequentially to transfer them in turn from each side to the other of the feed throat (22), the bin plates (1-5) being biassed away from the indexing means in one direction and interconnected (48, 56, 62) to limit their maximum spacing to permit engagement of the bin plates by the indexing mmeans (23) in opposition to said bias.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
144 words
A sheet sorter comprising a plurality of sheet-receiving bins (B) defined by an array of movable plates (1-5) and means (23) for indexing the input ends of the bin plates (1-5) sequentially past a fixed feed throat (22) to align the bin openings (B) in turn with the feed throat (22), adjacent said bin plates (1-5) being relatively movable apart and together for varying the sizes of the bin openings (B), characterised in that said indexing means (23) is adapted to engage the bin plates (1-5) sequentially to transfer them in turn from each side to the other of the feed throat (22), the bin plates (1-5) being biassed away from the indexing means in one direction and interconnected (48, 56, 62) to limit their maximum spacing to permit engagement of the bin plates by the indexing mmeans (23) in opposition to said bias.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
51 words
A sheet sorter according to claim 4 in which the bin plates (1-5) are supported on the side opposite that at which they are biassed away from the indexing means (23) so as to be spaced together, means (50) preferably being provided to limit the minimum spacing of the bin plates.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
39 words
A sheet sorter according to claim 4 or 5 in which the indexing means (23) comprises a wheel which during each indexing movement engages the next bin plate before it disengages from the previous bin plate in both directions.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
34 words
A sheet sorter according to claim 6 in which the indexing wheel (23) includes a discontinuous annular flange, having for example two circumferentially spaced annular segments (23a, 23b), which engages the bin plates (1-5).
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
19 words
A sorter according to any preceding claim in which the bin plates (1-5) are arranged in a fan-like array.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
110 words
A sheet sorter comprising a plurality of sheet-receiving bins (B) defined by an array of movable plates (1-5) and means (23) for indexing the input ends of the bin plates (1-5) sequentially past a fixed feed throat (22) to align the bin openings (B) in turn with the feed throat (22), adjacent said bin plates (1-5) being relatively movable apart and together for varying the sizes of the bin openings (B), characterised in that said indexing means (23) comprises a wheel having a discontinuous annular flange arranged to engage the bin plates (1-5) sequentially to transfer them in turn from each side to the other of the feed throat (22).
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
110 words
A sheet sorter comprising a plurality of sheet-receiving bins (B) defined by an array of movable plates (1-5) and means (23) for indexing the input ends of the bin plates (1-5) sequentially past a fixed feed throat (22) to align the bin openings (B) in turn with the feed throat (22), adjacent said bin plates (1-5) being relatively movable apart and together for varying the sizes of the bin openings (B), characterised in that said indexing means (23) comprises a wheel having a discontinuous annular flange arranged to engage the bin plates (1-5) sequentially to transfer them in turn from each side to the other of the feed throat (22).
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
20 words
A sheet sorter according to claim 9 in which said annular flange includes two circumferentially spaced annular segments (23a, 23b).
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