Apparatus for fan fold stacking continuous strips of material

Claim 2

Apparatus for disposing in a stack a continuous document having first and second sets of folds disposed across the width of the document at regular intervals from each other, the first set of folds being creased in a first direction, the second set of folds being creased in a second direction opposite to the first direction, said apparatus comprising: a. means for receiving the dOcument stack; b. means for directing the document along a path into said receiving means; c. means for directing a plurality of fluid jets transverse to the path; d. means for sensing the height of the document stack in said receiving means; and e. control means responsive to said sensing means for energizing selected jets of the plurality of jets dependent upon the height of the stacked document.

Claim 3

Apparatus for stacking a continuous document in a fan-folded configuration, the document having first and second set of folds consecutively interposed between each other, the first and second sets of folds being disposed across the width of the continuous document at regular intervals from each other, the first set of folds being creased in a first direction, the second set of folds being creased in a second direction opposite the first direction, said apparatus comprising: a. a receptacle for receiving the document stack; b. feeding means for advancing the document in an elongated condition along a path and for directing the document in a generally descending manner into said receptacle; c. a plurality of fluid valves positioned transverse to the path; d. a source of pressurized fluid; e. means for sensing the height of the document stack in said receptacle and for providing first signals indicative thereof; f. sensing means for sensing the passage of the folds in the document and for providing second signals indicative thereof; and g. control means responsive to said first signals for selectively coupling said plurality of valves one at a time to said source of pressurized fluid and responsive to said second signals for energizing said selected valve for a predetermined duration when the document reaches a predetermined position along said path to direct a series of fluid pulses onto successive folds of one of said first and second sets of folds to facilitate the movement and stacking of the document onto said receptacle.

Claim 4

Apparatus for stacking a continuous document in a fan-folded configuration, the document having first and second set of folds consecutively interposed between each other, the first and second sets of folds being disposed across the width of the continuous document at regular intervals from each other, the first set of folds being creased in a first direction, the second set of folds being creased in a second direction opposite the first direction, said apparatus comprising: a. a receptacle for receiving the document stack; b. feeding means for advancing the document in an elongated condition along a path and for directing the document in a generally descending manner into said receptacle; c. a plurality of fluid valves positioned transverse to the path; d. a source of pressurized fluid; e. means for sensing the height of the document stack in said receptacle and for providing first signals indicative thereof; f. sensing means for sensing the passage of the folds in the document and for providing second signals indicative thereof; and g. control means responsive to said first signals for selectively coupling said plurality of valves one at a time to said source of pressurized fluid and responsive to said second signals for energizing said selected valve for a predetermined duration when the document reaches a predetermined position along said path to direct a series of fluid pulses onto successive folds of one of said first and second sets of folds to facilitate the movement and stacking of the document onto said receptacle.

Claim 5

Apparatus as claimed in claim 2 in which one set of folds has indicia therein and said sensing means includes: means for sensing said indicia.

Claim 6

Apparatus as claimed in claim 3 wherein said control means includes: a first timing circuit for providing a predetermined time delay between the sensing of said indicia by said sensing means and the energization of said selected valve; and a second timing circuit for providing a predetermined time delay between the energization of said selected valve and the de-energization of said selected valve.

Claim 7

Apparatus as claimed in claim 3 wherein said control means includes: a switching circuit responsive to said first signals for sequentially coupling said plurality of valves, one at a time, to said source of pressurized fluid.

Claim 8

Apparatus for stacking a continuous document in a fan-folded configuration, the document having first and second sets of folds consecutively interposed between each other, the first and second sets of folds being disposed across the width of the continuous document at regular intervals from each other, the first set of folds being creased in a first direction, the second set of folds having indicia and being creased in a second direction opposite the first direction, said apparatus comprising: a. a receptacle for receiving the document stack; b. a fall plate; c. means for directing the document along said fall plate and into said receptacle; d. first and second fluid valves positioned in said fall plate at first and second distances from said receptacle, said first distance being less than said second distance, said fluid valves being disposed to direct fluid pulses transverse to the path of movement of the document along said fall plate; e. a source of pressurized fluid; f. means for sensing the height of the document stack in said receptacle and for providing first signals indicative thereof; g. sensing means for sensing the indicia in the second set of folds; and for proViding second signals indicative thereof; and h. control means responsive to said first signals for sequentially coupling one at a time said first and second fluid valves to said source of pressurized fluid as the height of the stack increases and responsive to said second signals for energizing said coupled fluid valve, said control means including first timing means for providing a first predetermined time delay between the occurrence of said second signals and the energization of said coupled fluid valve to direct a series of fluid pulses onto successive folds of the second set of folds as the document stacks in said receptacle, and a second timing means for deenergizing said coupled valve after a second predetermined time delay dependent upon the thickness, weight and distance between consecutive folds of the document.

Claim 9

Apparatus for stacking a continuous document in a fan-folded configuration, the document having first and second sets of folds consecutively interposed between each other, the first and second sets of folds being disposed across the width of the continuous document at regular intervals from each other, the first set of folds being creased in a first direction, the second set of folds having indicia and being creased in a second direction opposite the first direction, said apparatus comprising: a. a receptacle for receiving the document stack; b. a fall plate; c. means for directing the document along said fall plate and into said receptacle; d. first and second fluid valves positioned in said fall plate at first and second distances from said receptacle, said first distance being less than said second distance, said fluid valves being disposed to direct fluid pulses transverse to the path of movement of the document along said fall plate; e. a source of pressurized fluid; f. means for sensing the height of the document stack in said receptacle and for providing first signals indicative thereof; g. sensing means for sensing the indicia in the second set of folds; and for proViding second signals indicative thereof; and h. control means responsive to said first signals for sequentially coupling one at a time said first and second fluid valves to said source of pressurized fluid as the height of the stack increases and responsive to said second signals for energizing said coupled fluid valve, said control means including first timing means for providing a first predetermined time delay between the occurrence of said second signals and the energization of said coupled fluid valve to direct a series of fluid pulses onto successive folds of the second set of folds as the document stacks in said receptacle, and a second timing means for deenergizing said coupled valve after a second predetermined time delay dependent upon the thickness, weight and distance between consecutive folds of the document.

Claim 10

Stacking apparatus for use with photographic apparatus having; an input station for receiving a continuous document having a width in a folded configuration, the document having first and second sets of folds consecutively interposed between each other, the first set of folds being creased in a first direction, the second set of folds being creased in a second direction opposite the first direction; an exposure station; an output station; feeding means for advancing the document from the input station through the exposure station in a manner that the document is extended to flex the second set of folds in a sense opposite to the second direction and for directing the document along a path into the output station for restacking in a folded configuration; said stacking apparatus comprising: a. means for directing a plurality of fluid jets transverse to said path; b. means for sensing the height of the document stack in said output station and for providing first signals indicative thereof; c. means positioned at a predetermined position along said path for sensing the passage of the second set of folds in the document therepast and for providing second signals indicative thereof; and d. control means responsive to said first and second signals for sequentially activating selected ones of the plurality of jets for predetermined time intervals to facilitate the stacking of the document in a folded configuration upon said output station.

Claim 11

Stacking apparatus for use with photographic apparatus having; an input station for receiving a continuous document having a width in a folded configuration, the document having first and second sets of folds consecutively interposed between each other, the first set of folds being creased in a first direction, the second set of folds being creased in a second direction opposite the first direction; an exposure station; an output station; feeding means for advancing the document from the input station through the exposure station in a manner that the document is extended to flex the second set of folds in a sense opposite to the second direction and for directing the document along a path into the output station for restacking in a folded configuration; said stacking apparatus comprising: a. means for directing a plurality of fluid jets transverse to said path; b. means for sensing the height of the document stack in said output station and for providing first signals indicative thereof; c. means positioned at a predetermined position along said path for sensing the passage of the second set of folds in the document therepast and for providing second signals indicative thereof; and d. control means responsive to said first and second signals for sequentially activating selected ones of the plurality of jets for predetermined time intervals to facilitate the stacking of the document in a folded configuration upon said output station.