Sheet collation distributor

Claim 2

A sheet collation distributor adapted for use with a copy machine for the seriatim placement of and the collation of copies for a said machine and the collection of the original sheets of a document, said distributor comprising: a frame; a plurality of spaced sheet receiving trays supported on said frame; means disposed adjacent and affording movement relative to said frame for receiving and directing duplicate copies of an original sheet discharged from the machine seriatim to said trays affording placement of one copy of a said original sheet in a said tray; means disposed relative to said frame for receiving and stacking a said original sheet when discharged form the machine; and control means responsive to receiving and stacking a said original sheet for resetting said means for directing said duplicate copies with respect to said trays to collate copies of another original sheet seriatim into said trays.

Claim 3

A distributor according to claim 1 whereIn said means for receiving and directing said duplicate copies and said means for receiving and stacking said original sheet are spaced relative to each other and each comprise: guide means for receiving the copy or sheet and for directing it along said guide means; and sensing means for sensing the movement of a sheet along said guide means for subsequently energizing said control means to perform a subsequent control function. 3 A distributor according to claim 1 wherein said means movable relative to said frame for directing duplicate copies to said trays is operative to afford said relative movement in response to movement of said duplicate copy to said tray.

Claim 4

A distributor according to claim 1 wherein said means affording movement relative to said frame include means for moving said frame and said trays relative to a normal position of said means for receiving and directing duplicate copies and said means for receiving and stacking a said original in response to movement of duplicate copies into said trays.

Claim 5

A sheet collation distributor adapted for the seriatim placement of successive copies forming sets of document in separate trays, said distributor comprising: a control frame; means on said frame to receive said copies and drive them beyond said frame; a tray frame movably supported on said control frame for supporting a plurality of equally spaced parallel trays inclined to an edge of said tray frame adjacent said control frame in a manner to permit sheets to move into said trays; means on said control frame and said tray frame to support said tray frame from said control frame; means on said control frame actuated in response to movement of a copy therethrough for moving said tray frame relative to said control frame to intermittently position successive trays adjacent said means to receive and feed said copies; means on said control frame spaced from said means to receive said copies for receiving an original document and stacking it in a tray; and control means, including circuit means, operative upon movement of an original document through said means for receiving an original document for energizing said circuit means to return said tray frame for a position gained by intermittent movement to a start position.

Claim 6

A sheet collation distributor adapted for the seriatim placement of successive copies forming sets of document in separate trays, said distributor comprising: a control frame; means on said frame to receive said copies and drive them beyond said frame; a tray frame movably supported on said control frame for supporting a plurality of equally spaced parallel trays inclined to an edge of said tray frame adjacent said control frame in a manner to permit sheets to move into said trays; means on said control frame and said tray frame to support said tray frame from said control frame; means on said control frame actuated in response to movement of a copy therethrough for moving said tray frame relative to said control frame to intermittently position successive trays adjacent said means to receive and feed said copies; means on said control frame spaced from said means to receive said copies for receiving an original document and stacking it in a tray; and control means, including circuit means, operative upon movement of an original document through said means for receiving an original document for energizing said circuit means to return said tray frame for a position gained by intermittent movement to a start position.

Claim 7

A distributor according to claim 5 wherein said means on said frame to receive said copies and drive them beyond said frame comprise: a chute defined by spaced plates; a soft sponge roller positioned in said chute for engaging a sheet and moving it therethrough between said plates; drive means for driving said roller; and means responsive to a sheet entering between said plates for energizing said drive means to drive a said sheet.

Claim 8

A distributor according to claim 5 wherein said tray frame has opposed fixed guide members along said edge of said tray frame to receive guide members on said control frame, and said means on said control frame for moving said tray frame comprises a rotatably driven member having projections cooperating with fixed projections on said tray frame and drive means for said driven member. 8 A sheet collator distributor adapted for use with a copy machine for the seriatim placement of an collation of copies from a said machine, said distributor comprising: a tray frame having supported thereon a plurality of parallel spaced sheet receiving tray; a control frame adapted to be supported by a said copy machine, said control frame comprising: means supporting said tray frame for movement relative to said control frame, drive means for moving said tray frame on said support frame, a sheet receiving and transport means, control means for said drive means for moving said tray frame stepwise with the sheet receiving and transport means aligned with a said tray at each step from a home position toward a limit position in response to movement of copy sheets through said sheet receiving and transport means, and fOr returning said tray frame to said home position in response to a predetermined electrical signal, and means for receiving and directing an original sheet discharged from a copy machine to stack said original sheets.

Claim 9

A distributor according to claim 8 wherein said sheet receiving and transport means comprises: a chute defined by spaced plates; a soft sponge roller positioned in said chute for engaging a copy sheet and moving it therethrough between said plates; roller drive means for driving said roller; and means responsive to a copy sheet entering between said plates for energizing said roller drive means to drive a said copy sheet.

Claim 10

A distributor according to claim 8 wherein said means for supporting said tray frame comprises opposed fixed guide members along one edge of said tray frame and guide members on said control frame cooperating with said guide members, and said drive means comprises a rotatably driven member having projections cooperating with fixed projections on said frame and drive means for said driven member.

Claim 11

A sheet collator distributor adapted for use with a copy machine for the seriatim placement of and the collation of copies from a said machine, said distributor comprising: a tray frame having supported thereon a plurality of parallel spaced sheet receiving trays; a control frame adapted to be support by a said copy machine, said control frame comprising: means supporting said tray frame for movement relative to said control frame, drive means for moving said tray frame on said support frame, a sheet receiving and transport means, and a control means for said drive means for moving said tray frame stepwise with the sheet receiving and transport means aligned with a said tray at each step from a home position toward a limit position in response to movement of copy sheets through said sheet receiving and transport means, and for returning said tray frame to said home position in response to a predetermined electrical signal, and means for receiving and directing an original sheet discharged from a copy machine to a tray, and said control means includes means for sensing the movement of a said original sheet for providing said predetermined signal.

Claim 12

A sheet collator distributor adapted for use with a copy machine for the seriatim placement of and the collation of copies from a said machine, said distributor comprising: a tray frame having supported thereon a plurality of parallel spaced sheet receiving trays; a control frame adapted to be support by a said copy machine, said control frame comprising: means supporting said tray frame for movement relative to said control frame, drive means for moving said tray frame on said support frame, a sheet receiving and transport means, and a control means for said drive means for moving said tray frame stepwise with the sheet receiving and transport means aligned with a said tray at each step from a home position toward a limit position in response to movement of copy sheets through said sheet receiving and transport means, and for returning said tray frame to said home position in response to a predetermined electrical signal, and means for receiving and directing an original sheet discharged from a copy machine to a tray, and said control means includes means for sensing the movement of a said original sheet for providing said predetermined signal.