US3860127A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Offset stacking mechanism
Assignee: Pitney Bowes Inc
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Filing: 1973-10-15
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Granted: 1975-01-14
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Expires: 1993-10-15
Abstract
Abstract An offset stacking mechanism for grouping a number of bundles of sheets being delivered by a collating device. The offset stacking mechanism comprises a stationary supporting tray; an offset finger which acts as an alternating stop upon said tray for incoming bundles; and a mechanical linkage for moving the offsetting finger between a first stop position and a second stop position.
Inventors
- 👤 Arnold Fassman
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-29 14:19
CPC Classifications
B; B65; B65G; B65G57/00; B65G57/02; B65G57/08; B65G57/081; B65H; B65H33/00; B65H33/06; B65H33/08; B65H2301/00; B65H2301/40; B65H2301/42; B65H2301/421; B65H2301/4219; B65H2301/42194; Y; Y10; Y10S; Y10S414/00; Y10S414/10; Y10S414/114
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 10
Claim 1
Independent Claim
271 words
An offset stacking mechanism, comprising: means for supporting a stack of material having a top surface thereon and comprised of two groups of bundles of sheets which are alternately offset from each other, said supporting means including an abutting surface member; means for delivering a quantity of said bundles one bundle at a time to said stack supporting means; stop means movably disposed with respect to said supporting means for stopping every other delivered bundle of sheets at a given position upon said supporting means relative to said abutting surface member, said stop means being movable between a first bundle contacting position and a second non-contacting bundle position in an alternating fashion such that bundles which are not stopped by said stop means are stopped by said abutting surface member, wherein every bundle which is delivered to said supporting means is uniformly stacked and respectively offset from a previously delivered bundle and also from a successively delivered bundle in said stack thus forming two groups of stacked, alternately offset bundles of sheets, said stop means being caused to pivotally move into contact with said top surface of said stack and then slidably adjust its height to a higher position relative to said supporting means when moved to the first bundle contacting position, such that a progressively higher position is achieved with every subsequent movement to said first bundle contacting position, which said height adjustment is for the purpose of accommodating the stop means to the progressively increasing height of said stack; and means operatively connected to said stop means for alternately moving said stop means between said first and second positions.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
271 words
An offset stacking mechanism, comprising: means for supporting a stack of material having a top surface thereon and comprised of two groups of bundles of sheets which are alternately offset from each other, said supporting means including an abutting surface member; means for delivering a quantity of said bundles one bundle at a time to said stack supporting means; stop means movably disposed with respect to said supporting means for stopping every other delivered bundle of sheets at a given position upon said supporting means relative to said abutting surface member, said stop means being movable between a first bundle contacting position and a second non-contacting bundle position in an alternating fashion such that bundles which are not stopped by said stop means are stopped by said abutting surface member, wherein every bundle which is delivered to said supporting means is uniformly stacked and respectively offset from a previously delivered bundle and also from a successively delivered bundle in said stack thus forming two groups of stacked, alternately offset bundles of sheets, said stop means being caused to pivotally move into contact with said top surface of said stack and then slidably adjust its height to a higher position relative to said supporting means when moved to the first bundle contacting position, such that a progressively higher position is achieved with every subsequent movement to said first bundle contacting position, which said height adjustment is for the purpose of accommodating the stop means to the progressively increasing height of said stack; and means operatively connected to said stop means for alternately moving said stop means between said first and second positions.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
42 words
The offset stacking mechanism of claim 1, wherein said stop means further comprises a height adjusting means which positions the height of the stop means relative to said supporting means in conjunction with the deliverance of said bundles to said supporting means.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
45 words
ThE offset stacking mechanism of claim 1, wherein said supporting means comprises a stacking tray for receiving said delivered bundles, said tray having adjustably positioned guides at opposite ends thereof for the purpose of uniformly stacking each bundle as it is delivered to said tray.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
64 words
The offset stacking mechanism of claim 1, wherein said stop means comprises a pivotable finger having an abutment surface upon which each delivered bundle is made to come to rest, said pivotable finger being made to alternately pivot between said first bundle contacting position and said second non-contacting bundle position, whereby each bundle is offset with respect to a prior or subsequently delivered bundle.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
48 words
The offset stacking mechanism of claim 1, wherein said means to alternately move said stop means comprises a four-bar linkage mechanism that abuts said finger and which moves reciprocally back and forth, said linkage in so moving, causing said finger to pivot between said first and second positions.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
20 words
The offset stacking mechanism of claim 5, wherein said linkage is reciprocally controlled by a solenoid connected to said linkage.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
41 words
The offset stacking mechanism of claim 2, wherein said height adjusting means comprises a vertical guide in which the stop means travels progressively upward with respect to said supporting means as more and more bundles are delivered to said supporting means.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
245 words
An offset stacking mechanism for stacking a plurality of bundles of sheet material, said bundles being delivered by a collating device for deposit upon a support of the offset stacking mechanism, said offset stacking mechanism comprising: means for supporting a stack of material having a top surface thereon and comprised of two groups of bundles of sheets which are alternately offset from each other, said supporting means including an abutting surface member; stop means movably disposed with respect to said supporting means for stopping every other delivered bundle of sheets at a given position upon said supporting means relative to said abutting surface member, wherein every bundle which is delivered to said supporting means is uniformly stacked and respectively offset from a previously delivered bundle and also from a successively delivered bundle in said stack thus forming two groups of stacked, alternately offset bundles of sheets, said stop means being caused to pivotally move into contact with said top surface of said stack and then slidably adjust its height to a higher position relative to said supporting means when moved to the first bundle contacting position, such that a progressively higher position is achieved with every subsequent movement to said first bundle contacting position, which said height adjustment is for the purpose of accommodating the stop means to the progressively increasing height of said stack; and means operatively connected to said stop means for alternately moving said stop means between said first and second positions.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
245 words
An offset stacking mechanism for stacking a plurality of bundles of sheet material, said bundles being delivered by a collating device for deposit upon a support of the offset stacking mechanism, said offset stacking mechanism comprising: means for supporting a stack of material having a top surface thereon and comprised of two groups of bundles of sheets which are alternately offset from each other, said supporting means including an abutting surface member; stop means movably disposed with respect to said supporting means for stopping every other delivered bundle of sheets at a given position upon said supporting means relative to said abutting surface member, wherein every bundle which is delivered to said supporting means is uniformly stacked and respectively offset from a previously delivered bundle and also from a successively delivered bundle in said stack thus forming two groups of stacked, alternately offset bundles of sheets, said stop means being caused to pivotally move into contact with said top surface of said stack and then slidably adjust its height to a higher position relative to said supporting means when moved to the first bundle contacting position, such that a progressively higher position is achieved with every subsequent movement to said first bundle contacting position, which said height adjustment is for the purpose of accommodating the stop means to the progressively increasing height of said stack; and means operatively connected to said stop means for alternately moving said stop means between said first and second positions.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1978-01-13 | 1978-07-15 | 1979-01-14 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1982-01-13 | 1982-07-15 | 1983-01-14 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1986-01-13 | 1986-07-15 | 1987-01-14 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |