Sheet handling apparatus

Claim 2

In apparatus for receiving each of a succession of substantially horizontally disposed sheets moving along a conveyor and stacking said sheets on edge in face-to-face relationship, a transfer mechanism including a support member spaced from the discharge end of said conveyor for supporting a stack of sheets, a platen disposed between said discharge end and said support member and being pivoted at one end to swing about a fixed axis disposed below the plane of said conveyor, a sheet supporting surface formed on said platen, means for swinging said platen back and forth about said axis between a first position wherein said supporting surface is inclined upwardly toward said conveyor and in position to receive a sheet as the sheet drops from said discharge end, to a second position wherein said support surface is substantially vertically disposed and adjacent said support member, and means for selectively preventing relative movement between said sheet and said support surface when a sheet is received thereon and as said platen moves from said first position to said second position and for releasing said sheet at said second position to deposit said sheet on said support member; said means for preventing relative movement between said sheet and said supporting surface comprising a cavity formed in said supporting surface in position to be covered by a sheet supported thereon, means for drawing a vacuum in said cavity, one or more catch members carried by said platen and selectively movable from an operable position protruding from said sheet supporting surface below said cavity and engageable with the leading edge of a sheet when said platen is in its first position to a retracted position behind said surface when said platen is in its second position, and means for selectively releasing said vacuum to permit a sheet to slide down said surface and onto said catch member.

Claim 3

Apparatus for handling sheets as claimed in claim 1, including control means operable to restore the vacuum in said cavity when said sheet contacts said catch means, to initiate movement of said platen from said first to said second position, and to release said vacuum when the platen reaches said seCond position.

Claim 4

Apparatus for handling sheets as claimed in claim 2, in which said control means comprises time delay means actuated upon attainment of a predetermined vacuum in said cavity.

Claim 5

In apparatus for receiving each of a succession of substantially horizontally disposed sheets moving along a conveyor and stacking said sheets on edge in face-to-face relationship; a support member spaced from the discharge end of said conveyor, on which said sheets are stacked, comprising a carriage mounted for horizontal movement toward and away from said discharge end, said carriage having a horizontal surface adapted to receive the edges of said sheets and a substantially vertical backing surface upstanding from said horizontal surface; biasing means comprising a pressure cylinder operatively connected between a fixed point and said carriage urging said carriage toward said discharge end; and a stop mounted in a fixed position relative to said carriage and engageable with said backing surface or a sheet stacked thereagainst to limit the movement of said carriage by said biasing means; said carriage being adapted for movement away from said discharge end against said biasing force while a sheet is being stacked thereon and then back toward said discharge end after a sheet is deposited.

Claim 6

In apparatus for receiving each of a succession of substantially horizontally disposed sheets moving along a conveyor and stacking said sheets on edge in face-to-face relationship; a support member spaced from the discharge end of said conveyor, on which said sheets are stacked, comprising a carriage mounted for horizontal movement toward and away from said discharge end, said carriage having a horizontal surface adapted to receive the edges of said sheets and a substantially vertical backing surface upstanding from said horizontal surface; biasing means comprising a pressure cylinder operatively connected between a fixed point and said carriage urging said carriage toward said discharge end; and a stop mounted in a fixed position relative to said carriage and engageable with said backing surface or a sheet stacked thereagainst to limit the movement of said carriage by said biasing means; said carriage being adapted for movement away from said discharge end against said biasing force while a sheet is being stacked thereon and then back toward said discharge end after a sheet is deposited.

Claim 7

Apparatus for handling sheets as claimed in claim 4, in which said vertical backing surface is formed on a backstop pivotally mounted on said carriage, and means are provided for swinging said backstop about said pivotal mounting between said substantially vertical position and a retracted position.

Claim 8

In apparatus for receiving each of a succession of substantially horizontally disposed sheets moving along a conveyor and stacking said sheets on edge in face-to-face relationship, a transfer mechanism including a carriage for supporting a stack of sheets spaced from the discharge end of said conveyor and mounted for horizontal movement toward and away from said discharge end, said carriage having a horizontal surface receiving the edges of said sheets and a substantially vertical backing surface; biasing means urging said carriage toward said discharge end; a fixed stop member located between said discharge end and said carriage and engageable with said vertical backing surface; a platen disposed between said discharge end and said stop member and being pivoted at one end to swing about a fixed axis disposed below the plane of said conveyor; a sheet supporting surface formed on said platen; means for swinging said platen back and forth about said axis between a first position wherein said supporting surface is inclined upwardly toward said conveyor and in position to receive a sheet as the sheet drops from said discharge end, to a second position wherein said support surface is substantially vertically disposed in alignment with said backing surface on said carriage and slightly beyond said stop member, said swinging means being capable of exerting a force on said platen greater than said biasing force whereby said carriage is moved backward against said biasing force as said platen reaches said second position; means for selectively preventing relative movement between said sheet and said support surface when said sheet is received thereon and as said platen moves from said first position to said second position, and for releasing said sheet at second position to deposit said sheet on edge on said horizontal surface of said support member; and means disposed above said carriage to engage a stack of sheets supported thereon and to transfer said stack clear of said carriage.

Claim 9

In apparatus for receiving each of a succession of substantially horizontally disposed sheets moving along a conveyor and stacking said sheets on edge in face-to-face relationship, a transfer mechanism including a carriage for supporting a stack of sheets spaced from the discharge end of said conveyor and mounted for horizontal movement toward and away from said discharge end, said carriage having a horizontal surface receiving the edges of said sheets and a substantially vertical backing surface; biasing means urging said carriage toward said discharge end; a fixed stop member located between said discharge end and said carriage and engageable with said vertical backing surface; a platen disposed between said discharge end and said stop member and being pivoted at one end to swing about a fixed axis disposed below the plane of said conveyor; a sheet supporting surface formed on said platen; means for swinging said platen back and forth about said axis between a first position wherein said supporting surface is inclined upwardly toward said conveyor and in position to receive a sheet as the sheet drops from said discharge end, to a second position wherein said support surface is substantially vertically disposed in alignment with said backing surface on said carriage and slightly beyond said stop member, said swinging means being capable of exerting a force on said platen greater than said biasing force whereby said carriage is moved backward against said biasing force as said platen reaches said second position; means for selectively preventing relative movement between said sheet and said support surface when said sheet is received thereon and as said platen moves from said first position to said second position, and for releasing said sheet at second position to deposit said sheet on edge on said horizontal surface of said support member; and means disposed above said carriage to engage a stack of sheets supported thereon and to transfer said stack clear of said carriage.

Claim 10

Apparatus for handling sheets as claimed in claim 6, in which said engaging means comprises a vacuum pickup head depending from an overhead trolley, said pickup head being capable of gripping and lifting a plurality of sheets stacked on edge.

Claim 11

In apparatus for receiving each of a succession of substantially horizontally disposed sheets moving along a conveyor and stacking said sheets on edge in face-to-fAce relationship, a transfer mechanism including a support member spaced from the discharge end of said conveyor for supporting a stack of sheets, a platen disposed between said discharge end and said support member and being pivoted at one end to swing about a fixed axis disposed below the plane of said conveyor, a sheet supporting surface formed on said platen, means for swinging said platen back and forth about said axis between a first position wherein said supporting surface is inclined upwardly toward said conveyor and in position to receive a sheet as the sheet drops from said discharge end, to a second position wherein said support surface is substantially vertically disposed and adjacent said support member, and means for selectively preventing relative movement between said sheet and said support surface when a sheet is received thereon and as said platen moves from said first position to said second position and for releasing said sheet at said second position to deposit said sheet on said support member; said means for selectively preventing relative movement between said sheet and said support surface including vacuum means carried by said platen and communicating with said sheet supporting surface for holding a sheet against said surface, said vacuum means comprising a cavity formed in said platen capable of being covered by a sheet received on said supporting surface, means for selectively drawing a vacuum in said cavity when it is covered by a sheet, and means responsive to the magnitude of the vacuum established within said cavity to release said vacuum when it reaches a predetermined level.

Claim 12

In apparatus for receiving each of a succession of substantially horizontally disposed sheets moving along a conveyor and stacking said sheets on edge in face-to-fAce relationship, a transfer mechanism including a support member spaced from the discharge end of said conveyor for supporting a stack of sheets, a platen disposed between said discharge end and said support member and being pivoted at one end to swing about a fixed axis disposed below the plane of said conveyor, a sheet supporting surface formed on said platen, means for swinging said platen back and forth about said axis between a first position wherein said supporting surface is inclined upwardly toward said conveyor and in position to receive a sheet as the sheet drops from said discharge end, to a second position wherein said support surface is substantially vertically disposed and adjacent said support member, and means for selectively preventing relative movement between said sheet and said support surface when a sheet is received thereon and as said platen moves from said first position to said second position and for releasing said sheet at said second position to deposit said sheet on said support member; said means for selectively preventing relative movement between said sheet and said support surface including vacuum means carried by said platen and communicating with said sheet supporting surface for holding a sheet against said surface, said vacuum means comprising a cavity formed in said platen capable of being covered by a sheet received on said supporting surface, means for selectively drawing a vacuum in said cavity when it is covered by a sheet, and means responsive to the magnitude of the vacuum established within said cavity to release said vacuum when it reaches a predetermined level.

Claim 13

In apparatus for receiving each of a succession of substantially horizontally disposed sheets moving along a conveyor and stacking said sheets on edge in face-to-face relationship, a transfer mechanism including a support member spaced from the discharge end of said conveyor for supporting a stack of sheets, a platen disposed between said discharge end and said support member and being pivoted at one end to swing about a fixed axis disposed below the plane of said conveyor, a sheet supporting surface formed on said platen, means for swinging said platen back and forth about said axis between a first position wherein said supporting surface is inclined upwardly toward said conveyor and in position to receive a sheet as the sheet drops from said discharge end, to a second position wherein said support surface is substantially vertically disposed and adjacent said support member, and means for selectively preventing relative movement between said sheet and said support surface when a sheet is received thereon and as said platen moves from said first position to said second position and for releasing said sheet at said second position to deposit said sheet on said support member; said platen comprising a flat plate; a substantially rectangular frame comprising opposed side members supporting said plate; bearing means on which said platen pivots formed on said side members; a layer of non-abrasive material adhered to the unsupported surface of said plate, said material forming said sheet-contacting surface; a connector for a vacuum line attached to said plate and communicating with a cavity formed in the unsupported surface of said plate, said cavity further communicating with an aperture formed through said non-abrasive material; and a catch member pivotally attached to said frame and capable of assuming a first position protruding outward beyond said sheet supporting surface below said aperture in said material and a second position retracted behind said sheet supporting surface.

Claim 14

In apparatus for receiving each of a succession of substantially horizontally disposed sheets moving along a conveyor and stacking said sheets on edge in face-to-face relationship, a transfer mechanism including a support member spaced from the discharge end of said conveyor for supporting a stack of sheets, a platen disposed between said discharge end and said support member and being pivoted at one end to swing about a fixed axis disposed below the plane of said conveyor, a sheet supporting surface formed on said platen, means for swinging said platen back and forth about said axis between a first position wherein said supporting surface is inclined upwardly toward said conveyor and in position to receive a sheet as the sheet drops from said discharge end, to a second position wherein said support surface is substantially vertically disposed and adjacent said support member, and means for selectively preventing relative movement between said sheet and said support surface when a sheet is received thereon and as said platen moves from said first position to said second position and for releasing said sheet at said second position to deposit said sheet on said support member; said platen comprising a flat plate; a substantially rectangular frame comprising opposed side members supporting said plate; bearing means on which said platen pivots formed on said side members; a layer of non-abrasive material adhered to the unsupported surface of said plate, said material forming said sheet-contacting surface; a connector for a vacuum line attached to said plate and communicating with a cavity formed in the unsupported surface of said plate, said cavity further communicating with an aperture formed through said non-abrasive material; and a catch member pivotally attached to said frame and capable of assuming a first position protruding outward beyond said sheet supporting surface below said aperture in said material and a second position retracted behind said sheet supporting surface.