Distributor assembly for sheet sorting device

Claim 2

A sheet sorting device for delivering sheets in succession to a plurality of spaced receiver stations comprising; a conveyor for moving sheets in succession along a course opposite the receiver stations, deflector units opposite each receiver station and adjacent the conveyor, each deflector unit having at least one deflector finger carried thereby, means mounting each deflector unit for movement of its deflector finger between a first deflecting position in the path of the moving sheets being conveyed along the conveyor to deflect a moving sheet into the receiver station associated therewith and a second non-deflecting position permitting a subsequent moving sheet to bypass the receiver station and strike the deflector finger of the deflector unit of the successive station, said mounting means mounting the deflector units such that, upon impact of a moving sheet against the associated deflector fingers, sufficient momentum is imparted thereto to initiate movement thereof to the second position, assist means associated with each of the deflector units providing a positive force to assist movement of the associated deflector finger from the deflecting to the non-deflecting position only after initial impact and movement of the deflector unit caused by impact of the moving sheet and reset means to reset selected ones of said deflector units from the non-deflecting position to the deflecting position.

Claim 3

The sheet sorting device of claim 1 wherein the assist means includes means directing a pressurized gas to the underside of one or more deflector fingers of the deflector unit, the undersurface of the finger against which the gas is impinged having a configuration such that, in the deflecting position the gas provides a positive force against the finger to retain it in the deflecting position and on impact of a moving sheet causing rotation of the deflector unit, the air provides a positive force to continue movement of the unit to the non-deflecting position.

Claim 4

The sheet sorting device of claim 1 wherein the assist means includes a weight mounted on one or more deflector fingers providing a positive force against the deflector finger to retain it in the deflecting position and, on impact of a moving sheet causing movement of the deflector unit toward the non-deflecting position providing a positive force to continue movement of the deflector unit to the non-deflecting position.

Claim 5

The sheet sorting device of claim 1 including; control means for operating said reset means, said control means including sensing means for sensing the passage of a sheet into a selected one of the stations and operatively connected to activate the reset means.

Claim 6

The sheet sorting device of claim 1 wherein said mounting means includes a frame and said deflector unit comprises a shaft rotatably mounted on the frame and extending essentially transverse to its associated receiver station, and a plurality of deflector fingers mounted at spaced intervals on the shaft.

Claim 7

The sheet sorting device of claim 5 wherein the assist means includes bias means connected between one or morE of the deflector fingers of the deflector unit and the frame providing a positive force against the deflector finger to retain it in the deflecting position and, on impact of a moving sheet causing movement of the deflector unit toward the non-deflecting position, providing a positive force to continue movement of the deflector unit to the non-deflecting position.

Claim 8

The sheet sorting device of claim 5 wherein the assist means includes an elastomeric band extending between the frame and the shaft of the deflector unit providing a positive force against the deflector finger to retain it in the deflecting position and, on impact of a moving sheet causing movement of the deflector unit toward the non-deflecting position, providing a positive force to continue movement of the deflector unit to the non-deflecting position.

Claim 9

A sheet sorting device for deliverying sheets in succession to a plurality of spaced receiver stations comprising; sheet conveyor means for moving sheets along a course of travel opposite said receiver station, deflector units located in said course of travel associated with each receiver station, mounting means mounting each deflector unit for movement between a deflecting position in the path of the moving sheets along the course of travel to deflect the sheets into the receiver station associated therewith and a second position away from the path of the moving sheets to permit passage thereof to a subsequent receiver station, means associated with said deflector units to provide a positive force assisting movement of the deflector unit from the deflecting position to the non-deflecting position only after the momentum of a moving sheet striking the deflector unit overcomes the inertia of the unit to start it moving to the non-deflecting position, and means to reset selected ones of the deflector units from the non-deflecting position to the deflecting position.

Claim 10

A sheet sorting device for deliverying sheets in succession to a plurality of spaced receiver stations comprising; sheet conveyor means for moving sheets along a course of travel opposite said receiver station, deflector units located in said course of travel associated with each receiver station, mounting means mounting each deflector unit for movement between a deflecting position in the path of the moving sheets along the course of travel to deflect the sheets into the receiver station associated therewith and a second position away from the path of the moving sheets to permit passage thereof to a subsequent receiver station, means associated with said deflector units to provide a positive force assisting movement of the deflector unit from the deflecting position to the non-deflecting position only after the momentum of a moving sheet striking the deflector unit overcomes the inertia of the unit to start it moving to the non-deflecting position, and means to reset selected ones of the deflector units from the non-deflecting position to the deflecting position.

Claim 11

A sheet sorting device for delivering sheets in succession to a plurality of spaced receiver stations comprising; a conveyor for moving sheets in succession along a course opposite the receiver stations, deflector units opposite each receiver station and adjacent the conveyor, each deflector unit comprising a rotatably mounted shaft extending essentially transverse to its associated receiver station, and a plurality of deflector fingers mounted at spaced intervals on the shaft, mounting means including a frame rotatably mounting each said deflector units for movement of its deflector fingers between a first deflecting position in the path of the moving sheets being conveyed along the conveyor to deflect a moving sheet into the receiver station associated therewith and a second non-deflecting position permitting a subsequent moving sheet to bypass the receiver station and strike the deflector finger of the deflector unit of the successive station, said mounting means mounting the deflector units such that, upon impact of a moving sheet against the associated deflector fingers, sufficient momentum is imparted thereto to initiate movement thereof to the second position, assist means comprising a first magnet mounted on the shaft and a second magnet mounted on said frame, said first and second magnets being located closely adjacent to each other with their poles of attraction a sufficient distance apart so as to be inoperative when the deflector fingers are in the deflecting position and spaced such that, on rotation of the deflector finger from the deflecting position toward the non-deflecting position caused by impact of the moving sheet against the deflector fingers, magnetic attraction provides a positive force to assist continued movement of the deflector fingers to the non-deflecting position, reset means to reset selected ones of said deflector units from the non-deflecting position to the deflecting position, and control means for operating said reset means, said control means including sensing means for sensing the passage of a shEet into a selected one of the stations and operatively connected to activate the reset means.

Claim 12

A sheet sorting device for delivering sheets in succession to a plurality of spaced receiver stations comprising; a conveyor for moving sheets in succession along a course opposite the receiver stations, deflector units opposite each receiver station and adjacent the conveyor, each deflector unit comprising a rotatably mounted shaft extending essentially transverse to its associated receiver station, and a plurality of deflector fingers mounted at spaced intervals on the shaft, mounting means including a frame rotatably mounting each said deflector units for movement of its deflector fingers between a first deflecting position in the path of the moving sheets being conveyed along the conveyor to deflect a moving sheet into the receiver station associated therewith and a second non-deflecting position permitting a subsequent moving sheet to bypass the receiver station and strike the deflector finger of the deflector unit of the successive station, said mounting means mounting the deflector units such that, upon impact of a moving sheet against the associated deflector fingers, sufficient momentum is imparted thereto to initiate movement thereof to the second position, assist means comprising a first magnet mounted on the shaft and a second magnet mounted on said frame, said first and second magnets being located closely adjacent to each other with their poles of attraction a sufficient distance apart so as to be inoperative when the deflector fingers are in the deflecting position and spaced such that, on rotation of the deflector finger from the deflecting position toward the non-deflecting position caused by impact of the moving sheet against the deflector fingers, magnetic attraction provides a positive force to assist continued movement of the deflector fingers to the non-deflecting position, reset means to reset selected ones of said deflector units from the non-deflecting position to the deflecting position, and control means for operating said reset means, said control means including sensing means for sensing the passage of a shEet into a selected one of the stations and operatively connected to activate the reset means.

Claim 13

A sheet sorting device for delivering sheets in succession to a plurality of spaced receiver stations comprising; a sheet conveyor means for moving sheets along a course of travel opposite said receiver sations, deflector units located in said course of travel associated with each receiver station, mounting means mounting each deflector unit for movement between a deflecting position in the path of the moving sheets along the course of travel to deflect the sheets into the receiver station associated therewith and a position away from the path of the moving sheets to permit passage thereof to a subsequent receiver station, said mounting means including magnetic means associated with each deflector unit and providing an attractive force sufficient to move the deflector unit to the non-deflecting position only after the momentum of a moving sheet striking the deflector unit overcomes the inertia of the unit, and means to reset selected ones of the deflector units from the non-deflecting position to the deflecting position.

Claim 14

A sheet sorting device for delivering sheets in succession to a plurality of spaced receiver stations comprising; a sheet conveyor means for moving sheets along a course of travel opposite said receiver sations, deflector units located in said course of travel associated with each receiver station, mounting means mounting each deflector unit for movement between a deflecting position in the path of the moving sheets along the course of travel to deflect the sheets into the receiver station associated therewith and a position away from the path of the moving sheets to permit passage thereof to a subsequent receiver station, said mounting means including magnetic means associated with each deflector unit and providing an attractive force sufficient to move the deflector unit to the non-deflecting position only after the momentum of a moving sheet striking the deflector unit overcomes the inertia of the unit, and means to reset selected ones of the deflector units from the non-deflecting position to the deflecting position.

Claim 15

The sheet sorting device of claim 10 including; control means for operating said reset means, said control means including sensing means for sensing the passage of a sheet into a selected one of the stations and operatively connected to activate the reset means.

Claim 16

In a sheet sorting device having conveyor means for moving sheets along a course of travel and delivering said sheets to a receiver station, sheet deflection means comprising; a deflector unit located in said course of travel associated with said receiver station, mounting means mounting said deflector unit for movement between a deflecting position in the path of the moving sheets to deflect a sheet into the receiver station associated therewith, and a position away from the path of the moving sheets to permit passage thereof, magnetic means associated with said mounting means and said deflector unit and providing an attractive force sufficient to move the deflector unit to the nondeflecting position only after the momentum of a moving sheet overcomes the inertia of the unit.

Claim 17

In a sheet sorting device having conveyor means for moving sheets along a course of travel and delivering said sheets to a receiver station, sheet deflection means comprising; a deflector unit located in said course of travel associated with said receiver station, mounting means mounting said deflector unit for movement between a deflecting position in the path of the moving sheets to deflect a sheet into the receiver station associated therewith, and a position away from the path of the moving sheets to permit passage thereof, magnetic means associated with said mounting means and said deflector unit and providing an attractive force sufficient to move the deflector unit to the nondeflecting position only after the momentum of a moving sheet overcomes the inertia of the unit.

Claim 18

In a sheet sorting device having conveyor means for moving sheets along a course of travel and delivering said sheets to a receiver station, sheet deflection means comprising; a deflector unit located in said course of travel associated with said receiver station, mounting means mounting said deflector unit for movement between a deflecting position in the path of the moving sheets to deflect a sheet into the receiver station associated therewith and a position away from the path of the moving sheets to permit passage thereof, means associated with said deflector unit to provide a positive force assisting movement to the deflector unit from the deflecting position to the non-deflecting position only after the momentum of a moving sheet striking the deflector unit overcomes the inertia of the unit to start it moving to the non-deflecting position.

Claim 19

In a sheet sorting device having conveyor means for moving sheets along a course of travel and delivering said sheets to a receiver station, sheet deflection means comprising; a deflector unit located in said course of travel associated with said receiver station, mounting means mounting said deflector unit for movement between a deflecting position in the path of the moving sheets to deflect a sheet into the receiver station associated therewith and a position away from the path of the moving sheets to permit passage thereof, means associated with said deflector unit to provide a positive force assisting movement to the deflector unit from the deflecting position to the non-deflecting position only after the momentum of a moving sheet striking the deflector unit overcomes the inertia of the unit to start it moving to the non-deflecting position.