Apparatus for handling sheet material

Claim 2

In sheet handling apparatus the combination, with means for supporting and conveying a succession of sheets horizontally along a definite path, and sheet storing means remote therefrom; of means positioned therebetween for transferring sheets from the former to the latter comprising a platen having a sheet supporting face thereon, means for locating said platen with said face at an angle to the horizontal and inclined upwardly toward said supporting and conveying means to receive sheets dropping off an end of said conveying means, means for retaining a sheet so received on said face, means for horizontally moving said inclined platen from said conveying means toward said storing means and then for swinging the same about a horizontal axis to bring said face from said inclined receiving angle to a discharge angle at the opposite side of the vertical from said receiving angled position, and means for releasing a retained sheet from said face after said platen arrives at said discharge angle and adjacent to said sheet storing means.

Claim 3

Apparatus as defined in claim 1 in which said means for retaining a sheet received on said supporting face includes means for selectively preventing relative movement between said sheet and said face which comprises vacuum means carried by said platen and communicating with said sheet supporting face for holding a sheet thereagainst; said vacuum means comprising a cavity formed in said platen capable of being covered by a sheet received on said supporting surface, and means for drawing a vacuum in said cavity when it is covered by a sheet.

Claim 4

Apparatus as defined in claim 2, which includes means responsive to the magnitude of the vacuum established within said cavity for releasing said vacuum when it reaches a predetermined level.

Claim 5

Apparatus as defined in claim 1, in which said means for retaining a sheet received on said face includes a mechanical catch member carried by said platen and selectively movable from an operative position protruding from said sheet supporting face and engageable with an edge of a sheet supported thereon, to a retracted position behind said face.

Claim 6

Apparatus as defined in claim 2, in which said means for preventing relative movement between said sheet and said supporting face also includes a plurality of catch members carried by said platen and selectively movable from an operable position protruding from said sheet supporting face below said cavity and engageable with the leading edge of a sheet when said platen is in its receiving position to a retracted position behind said face when said platen is in its depositing position, and means for selectively releasing said vacuum to permit a sheet to slide down said face and onto said catch members.

Claim 7

Apparatus as defined in claim 5, 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 conveying means toward said storing means and swinging of the same from said receiving to said depositing positions, and to release said vacuum when said supporting face is at said storing means whereby to deposit said sheet thereon.

Claim 8

Apparatus as defined in claim 6, in which said control means comprises time delay means actuated upon attainment of a predetermined vacuum in said cavity.

Claim 9

Apparatus for handling sheets as claimed in claim 5, in which each of said catch member comprises a substantially L-shaped member having one leg pivotally mounted on said platen and the other leg engageable with a sheet on said supporting face, resilient means maintaining said other leg in a sheet-engaging position protruding from said sheet-supporting face, an actuating rod having one enD connected to said L-shaped member at a point spaced from its pivot point and the other end journaled in a linear bearing mounted in a fixed position relative to said platen, and stop means formed on said rod and engageable with said bearing when said platen moves from its receiving to its depositing position, said stop means engaging said bearing before said platen reaches said deposit position, the continued movement of said platen causing said catch to pivot about its mounting against the force of said resilient means.

Claim 10

In apparatus for receiving each of a succession of horizontally disposed sheets and stacking said sheets on edge in face-to-face relationship, a transfer mechanism including a horizontally disposed conveyor on which said sheets are deposited, said conveyor comprising a first, stationary frame supporting the input end of said conveyor, a second frame supporting the discharge end of said conveyor and horizontally movable relative to the first in the direction of travel of said conveyor; a support member spaced from said discharge end and having a horizontal supporting surface and a vertical backing surface formed thereon to receive sheets on edge; biasing means applying a force against said movable frame urging said frame toward said support member; a platen mounted on said movable frame beyond said discharge end for translatory movement toward and away from said discharge end and for swinging movement about an axis translatable with said platen and disposed below the plane of said conveyor; a sheet supporting surface formed on said platen; means for translating said platen from a receiving position adjacent said discharge end to a depositing position adjacent said support member; means for swinging said platen back and forth about said axis from a receiving angle wherein said supporting surface is inclined upwardly toward said conveyor to receive a sheet as it drops from said discharge end to a depositing angle wherein said supporting surface is substantially vertically disposed face-to-face with said backing surface; stop means carried by said movable frame and engageable with said vertical backing surface to limit movement of said frame by said biasing means; and means for selectively preventing relative movement between said sheet and said supporting surface when a sheet is received thereon and as said platen is translated and then swung from its receiving to its depositing angle, and for releasing said sheet after said platen reaches said deposting angle to deposit said sheet on said support member.

Claim 11

In apparatus for receiving each of a succession of horizontally disposed sheets and stacking said sheets on edge in face-to-face relationship, a transfer mechanism including a horizontally disposed conveyor on which said sheets are deposited, said conveyor comprising a first, stationary frame supporting the input end of said conveyor, a second frame supporting the discharge end of said conveyor and horizontally movable relative to the first in the direction of travel of said conveyor; a support member spaced from said discharge end and having a horizontal supporting surface and a vertical backing surface formed thereon to receive sheets on edge; biasing means applying a force against said movable frame urging said frame toward said support member; a platen mounted on said movable frame beyond said discharge end for translatory movement toward and away from said discharge end and for swinging movement about an axis translatable with said platen and disposed below the plane of said conveyor; a sheet supporting surface formed on said platen; means for translating said platen from a receiving position adjacent said discharge end to a depositing position adjacent said support member; means for swinging said platen back and forth about said axis from a receiving angle wherein said supporting surface is inclined upwardly toward said conveyor to receive a sheet as it drops from said discharge end to a depositing angle wherein said supporting surface is substantially vertically disposed face-to-face with said backing surface; stop means carried by said movable frame and engageable with said vertical backing surface to limit movement of said frame by said biasing means; and means for selectively preventing relative movement between said sheet and said supporting surface when a sheet is received thereon and as said platen is translated and then swung from its receiving to its depositing angle, and for releasing said sheet after said platen reaches said deposting angle to deposit said sheet on said support member.