Collating machine

Claim 1

A collating machine comprising: a. an elongated framework extending from a forward end to an after end; b. a plurality of transverse, parallel paper-supporting racks carried by said framework, said racks being inclined in a forward and upward direction; c. a plurality of paper-engaging members each transversely oriented and located to the rear of a corresponding one of said racks, each member being movable from a first position rearwardly removed from a stack of paper sheets supported on a corresponding one of said racks, to a second position in engagement with the topmost sheet of said stack, to a third position in engagement with the topmost sheet of said stack and at a predetermined distance in said forward and upward direction from said second position, said member being effective frictionally to urge said topmost sheet in said forward and upward direction through said predetermined distance; d. a reciprocating carriage translatably mounted on said framework for movement in a fore and aft direction cyclically to move said paper-engaging members between said first position, said second position and said third position; and, e. adjustable means on said carriage for selectively regulating the extent of the force exerted by said paper-engaging members against said topmost sheets of paper in said racks, said adjustable means including a plurality of pairs of posts mounted on said carriage and extending upwardly therefrom adjacent the lateral edges of corresponding ones of said papersupporting racks; a pair of forwardly extending arms pivotally mounted on each of said pair of posts for swinging vertical movement between a lower primary position and a higher secondary position; arm supporting means mounted on said carriage engaging each of said pair of arms and adapted to position each of said pair of arms in one of a plurality of angular positions relative to the respective pair of posts; a transverse pusher bar connecting the ends of each of said pair of arms, said pusher bar being engageable with the topmost sheet of the adjacent stack of paper as said carriage reciprocates and urges said posts, said arms and said pusher bars toward and away from said stacks of paper; and means associated with said posts for adjusting the angular position of each of said pair of arms in its respective primary position.