EP0186434A2
Expired / Lapsed
EP
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Finisher with rotary sorter
Assignee: Xerox Corp
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Filing: 1985-12-18
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Granted: —
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Expires: 2005-12-18
Abstract
Abstract A copying machine finishing apparatus (3) having a rotary sorter (64) arranged to receive at a loading station (62) a stream of copy sheets produced by a processor (1) in conjunction with an automatic document handling apparatus (2) of the type which produces multiple copies of a document sheet placed at an exposure station (4). The sorter collates the stream into booklets (S) as the sorter is rotated e.g. in an indexing manner. An adhesive binder (70) and/or a pivotted stapler (80) enable selective binding while the booklets are still in the bins (63) of the sorter. Binding is effected in timed relationship with sheets still entering the sorter. The bins preferably have an internal abutment (83) for registering the copy sheets, and a clamping device (67) which holds the sheet in place during rotation of the sorter and which is opened to allow sheets to enter as the bin approaches the loading station. The finishing apparatus may also be used as a stand alone system.
Inventors
- 👤 Thomas James Hamlin
- 👤 William Bradford Edwards
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
EP
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-09 13:57
CPC Classifications
G; G03; G03G; G03G15/00; G03G15/65; G03G15/6538; G03G15/6541; B; B42; B42C; B42C1/00; B42C1/12; B42C1/125; B65; B65H; B65H39/00; B65H39/10; B65H39/105; G03G2215/00; G03G2215/00362; G03G2215/00789; G03G2215/00822; G03G2215/00827; G03G2215/00864
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 16
Claim 1
Independent Claim
144 words
1 A finishing apparatus for a copier or reproduction machine, comprising a rotary sorter having radially extending bins arranged in the path of a stream of sheets at a loading station to receive the sheets, means for imparting rotation to said sorter relative to said loading station such that sheets of like information are received in different bins in turn whereby said stream of sheets are collated into booklets, each booklet comprising a set of sheets of like information, a first binding station adjacent said sorter, said first binding station having an adhesive binding device which when activated is arranged to apply adhesive material to the spline of the booklets for binding the same, and/or a second binding station adjacent said sorter, said second binding station having a stapler/stitcher device which when activated is arranged to apply a staple to each of the booklets.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
144 words
1 A finishing apparatus for a copier or reproduction machine, comprising a rotary sorter having radially extending bins arranged in the path of a stream of sheets at a loading station to receive the sheets, means for imparting rotation to said sorter relative to said loading station such that sheets of like information are received in different bins in turn whereby said stream of sheets are collated into booklets, each booklet comprising a set of sheets of like information, a first binding station adjacent said sorter, said first binding station having an adhesive binding device which when activated is arranged to apply adhesive material to the spline of the booklets for binding the same, and/or a second binding station adjacent said sorter, said second binding station having a stapler/stitcher device which when activated is arranged to apply a staple to each of the booklets.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
40 words
A finishing apparatus as claimed in claim 1 having both the first binding station and the second binding station, and further comprising means for activating each of said binding stations selectively for producing either adhesive bound booklets, or stapled booklets.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
33 words
A finishing apparatus as claimed in claim 1 or claim 2 comprising control means for activating either of said binding stations in timed relationship with the receiving of sheets at said loading sation.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
32 words
A finishing apparatus as claimed in any preceding claim, comprising means for imparting indexing rotation to said sorter relative to said loading station whereat a sheet is received for each indexing motion.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
21 words
A finishing apparatus as claimed in any of claims 1 to 3, comprising means for imparting continuous rotation to the sorter.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
135 words
A finishing apparatus as claimed in any preceding claim, wherein the radially extending bins contain the sheets collated into booklets in such manner that the splines of the booklets extend radially outwards and define a peripheral line of movement about the axis of rotation of the sorter during rotation thereof, and the adhesive binding device is arranged to apply adhesive material to the spline of the booklets for binding the same as the splines of the booklets pass said first binding station, said binding device including a rotary applicator having its axis of rotation generally parallel to the axis of rotation of the sorter, the periphery of said applicator being adjacent said peripheral line and arranged to apply the adhesive material to the splines during the continuous rotation of said rotary sorter and said applicator.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
50 words
A finishing apparatus as claimed in claim 6, wherein the applicator is arranged to apply the adhesive material to the splines of the booklets along a second peripheral line of movement, said second peripheral line being adjacent and generally in the same plane as said first peripheral line of movement.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
39 words
The apparatus of claim 6 or claim 7 wherein the rotary speed of movement of the splines during rotation of the sorter is approximately equal to the peripheral speed of said rotary applicator during a binding mode of operation.
Claim 10
Independent Claim
26 words
The apparatus of any of claims 6 to 8, wherein said binding device includes a tank of adhesive material into which said applicator is partially submerged.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
81 words
A rotary sorter for the finishing apparatus of any preceding claim, having radially extending bins, means for imparting indexing rotation to said sorter, means for registering sheets within said bins, each of said bins having a sheet retaining means for engaging the received sheets to hold the same in registered condition therein during rotation of the sorter, and means for releasing each of said retaining means individually to permit the entry of a sheet into each of the bins in turn.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
20 words
The sorter of claim 10, including control means cooperable with each of said retaining means for controlling the release thereof.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
29 words
The sorter of claim 11, wherein each of said retaining means includes an actuating member engageable with said control means when the corresponding bin is adjacent the loading station.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
40 words
The sorter of any of claims 10 to 12, including an unloading station at which completed booklets are discharged, and further comprising second means for releasing each of said retaining means when the corresponding bin is adjacent said unloading station.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
140 words
14 A sorting apparatus for collating sheets entering the same as a stream of sheets comprising: a frame, a sorter mounted for rotation on said frame having radially extending bins arranged in the path of the stream of sheets to receive the stream of sheets at a loading station and to collate the same into booklets, means for imparting indexing rotation to said sorter relative to said loading station whereat a sheet is received for each indexing motion, means for registering the sheets within said bins, each of said bins having a sheet retaining means for engaging the received sheets and to hold the same in registered condition therein during rotation of the sorter, and means for releasing each of said retaining means when each bin is indexed to said loading station to permit the entry of a sheet therein.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
140 words
14 A sorting apparatus for collating sheets entering the same as a stream of sheets comprising: a frame, a sorter mounted for rotation on said frame having radially extending bins arranged in the path of the stream of sheets to receive the stream of sheets at a loading station and to collate the same into booklets, means for imparting indexing rotation to said sorter relative to said loading station whereat a sheet is received for each indexing motion, means for registering the sheets within said bins, each of said bins having a sheet retaining means for engaging the received sheets and to hold the same in registered condition therein during rotation of the sorter, and means for releasing each of said retaining means when each bin is indexed to said loading station to permit the entry of a sheet therein.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
No citation records indexed.
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