EP0498546A2
Expired / Lapsed
EP
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Finishing apparatus
Assignee: Xerox Corp
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Filing: 1992-01-24
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Granted: —
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Expires: 2012-01-24
Abstract
Abstract A finishing apparatus ( 12) adapted to receive and fasten collated sets of copy sheets is provided. The finishing apparatus (12) includes a stacking tray (34) in which successive sets of fastened copy sheets can be stacked. The copy sheets are compiled on a movable compiling member (60), a portion of which is positioned selectively over the stacking tray (34). A paper path is used to transport the copy sheets to both the stacking tray (34) and the movable compiling member (60) so as to position one portion of each copy sheet in the stacking tray (34) with the remaining portion of each copy sheet being located in the movable compiling member (60). A fastener, such as a stapler (96) is positioned adjacent to the movable compiling member (60). A retracting mechanism is employed to move the portion of the movable compiling member (60) supporting the copy sheets away from both the copy sheets and the stacking tray (34) after the copy sheets of the set of copy sheets have been fastened to one another so that the entire set of fastened copy sheets is supported in the stacking tray (34).
Inventors
- 👤 Barry P. Mandel
- 👤 William R. Burger
- 👤 Richard A. Van Dongen
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
EP
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-08 16:49
CPC Classifications
B; B42; B42C; B42C1/00; B42C1/12; B42B; B42B4/00; B65; B65H; B65H29/00; B65H29/26; B65H29/34; B65H31/00; B65H31/04; B65H31/08; B65H31/10; B65H31/34; B65H39/00; B65H39/10; B65H39/11; B65H2511/00; B65H2511/10; B65H2511/15; B65H2553/00; B65H2553/80; B65H2553/81
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 13
Claim 1
Independent Claim
191 words
A finishing apparatus (12) adapted to receive and fasten collated sets of copy sheets, including stacking means (34) for stacking successive sets of fastened copy sheets, compiling means and fastening means (96) for fastening a set of copy sheets to one another, characterised in that said compiling means includes a movable compiling member (60) having a portion thereof disposed selectively over said stacking means (34), transport means (21, 36, 38) for transporting the copy sheets to both said stacking means (34) and said movable compiling member (60) so as to position one portion of each copy sheet in said stacking means (34) with the remaining portion of each copy sheet being located in said movable compiling member (60), said fastening means (96) being positioned adjacent to said compiling member (60), and retracting means (80) for retracting said portion of said movable compiling member (60) supporting the copy sheets away from both the copy sheets and said stacking means (34) after the copy sheets of the set of copy sheets have been fastened to one another so that the entire set of fastened copy sheets is supported in said stacking means (34).
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
38 words
A finishing apparatus (12) as claimed in claim 1, characterised by elevator means (44) for moving said stacking means (34) to accommodate for changes in the height of the stack of sets collected in said stacking means (34).
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
56 words
A finishing apparatus (12) as claimed in claim 1 or claim 2, characterised by sensing means (76) for sensing the height of the stack of sets collected in said stacking means (34), said sensing means (76) being disposed remotely of said stacking means (34) when said compiling member (60) is retracted away from the copy sheets.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
137 words
A finishing apparatus (12) as claimed in claim 3, characterised in that said sensing means (76) includes an arm (77) a first end of which is adapted to contact a stack of sets collected in said stacking means (34), a switch (78) being mounted to an underside of said compiling member (60), and a second end of said arm (77) being pivotally mounted to said switch (78) for closing said switch (78) when said arm (77) is rotated through a predetermined arc; and control means (58) for setting the position of said elevator means (44), said control means (58) being responsive to the pivoting of said arm (77) whereby the position of said elevator means (44), and hence the position of said stacking means (34), is set when said arm (77) is rotated through said predetermined arc.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
36 words
A finishing apparatus (12) as claimed in claim 4, characterised in that said arm (77) moves away from said stacking means (34), in unison with said compiling member (60), when said compiling member (60) is retracted.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
68 words
A finishing apparatus (12) as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 5, characterised in that said fastening means (96) comprises at least one stapler (96) for driving a staple through the set of copy sheets during the fastening operation, said stapler (96) being connected to said compiling member (60) so that said stapler (96) is capable of being retracted in unison with said movable member (60).
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
93 words
A finishing apparatus (12) as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 5, characterised in that said fastening means (96) is positioned adjacent said movable compiling member (60) in a fastening position, and wherein said finishing apparatus (12) further comprises registration means (66, 68, 70) for registering the remaining portions of the copy sheets being located in said compiling member (60) along at least one edge thereof to provide an aligned edge for the set within said fastening position of said fastening means (96) whereby fastening of the set may be accomplished.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
175 words
A finishing apparatus (12) as claimed in claim 7, characterised in that said registration means (66, 68, 70) includes at least one abutment member (66) being integrally connected with and extending upwardly from a back edge of said said compiling member (60), said abutment member (66) being adapted to align each copy sheet in the direction of copy sheet conveyance; a sidewall (68) being adjacent to and extending upwardly from a side edge of said compiling member (60), said sidewall (68) being adapted to align the copy sheets in a direction perpendicular to the direction of copy sheet conveyance; said sidewall (68) forming a registration corner with said back edge of said compiling member (60), and scuffing means (70) for scuffing the copy sheets and urging coincidental corners of the copy sheets into said registration corner, said scuffing means (70) being superposed with said compiling member (60) whereby the remaining portions of the copy sheets being located in said compiling member (60) are disposed intermediate of said scuffing means (70) and said compiling member (60).
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
41 words
A finishing apparatus (12) as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 8, characterised by urging means (106) for urging the set of copy sheets in a direction opposed to the direction in which said compiling member (60) is retracted.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
255 words
A finishing apparatus (12) as claimed in claim 2 or any one of claims 3 to 9, when dependent on claim 2, characterised in that said stacking means (34) is a slanted tray (34), said finishing apparatus (12) further comprising; a gate (126) pivotally mounted to said elevator means (44), said gate (126) being capable of moving between an open position and a closed position, said gate (126) retaining one or more fastened sets in said slanted tray (34) when said gate (126) is in said closed position, and said sets being capable of sliding off of said tray (34) when said gate (126) is in said open position; a plurality of slanted bins (122), each of said bins (122) having an entrance opening (123), a track (51) being disposed adjacent said compiling member (60) and said bins (122), said track (51) being adapted to carry said elevator means (44), and hence said slanted tray (34), therealong, said slanted tray (34) being transported to and aligned with respective ones of said slanted bins (122), and wherein when said gate (126) is in said closed position a stack of fastened sets can be transported on said slanted tray (34) from said compiling member (60) to one of said bins (122), and upon said aligning of said slanted tray (34) with said entrance opening (123) of one of said slanted bins (122), said gate (126) is movable to said open position so that the stack of stapled sets can be slid into said one slanted bin (122).
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
177 words
A finishing apparatus (12) for providing fastening of sets of sequentially produced reproduction sheets of the type including a set compiler, a fastening system for fastening the compiled sets, and a stacking tray (34) for stacking the stapled sets, characterised in that said compiler includes a reciprocally movable partial compiling shelf (60) having first and second positions; means for moving reciprocally said partial compiling shelf (60) between said first and second positions, said first position of said partial compiling shelf (60) being a compiling and fastening position in which said compiling shelf (60) partially extends out over said stacking tray (34) in a position to accumulate and partially support sheets for compiling and fastening as a set while those sheets are also partially supported by said stacking tray (34), and said second position of said partial compiling shelf (60) being a fastened set unloading position in which said partial compiling shelf (60) is moved away from said stacking tray (34) and the fastened set to allow the fastened set to drop fully onto said stacking tray (34).
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
49 words
A finishing apparatus (12) as claimed in claim 11, characterised in that said partial compiling shelf (60) reciprocal movement between said first and second positions is only a minor portion of the dimensions of said stacking tray (34) and said fastened sets for allowing said movement to be rapid.
Claim 13
Independent Claim
155 words
A method for receiving and fastening sets of copy sheets with means for stacking successive sets of fastened copy sheets and a movable compiling member (60), characterised by moving a portion of said movable compiling member (60) selectively over said stacking means (34), transporting the copy sheets to both said stacking means (34) and said movable compiling member (60) so as to position one portion of each copy sheet in said stacking means (34) with the remaining portion of each copy sheet being located in said movable compiling member (60), fastening a set of copy sheets to one another; and retracting said portion of said movable compiling member (60) supporting the copy sheets away from both the copy sheets and said stacking means (34) after the copy sheets of the set of copy sheets have been fastened to one another so that the entire set of copy sheets is supported on said stacking means (34).
References Cited (Backward Citations)
No citation records indexed.
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