Binless sorting apparatus

Claim 1

In a reproduction apparatus in which copy sheets reproduced from document information are distributed, an improved sorting apparatus comprising: a frame first roll means positioned on said frame including first and second belt members adapted to receive copy sheets advanced along a path therebetween, second roll means on said frame for receiving one of said belt members arranged along a path which has a copy sheet loading station located at a planar portion of the belt path at which copy sheets are loaded thereon and a third belt member adapted to receive copy sheets subsequent to loading of the sheets on the loading belt member therebetween, drive means for driving said first and second roll means to move said loading belt member past said copy sheet loading station to receive and separate copy sheets by positioning each copy sheet at a separate location on said loading belt member and then moving said loading belt member into loaded contact with another of said belt members to trap copy sheets therebetween, means to reverse said roll drive means at predetermined intervals to move the belt members in an opposite direction to position subsequent copy sheets in overlying relation to sheets previously loaded on said loading belt member to store at least partially completed copy sets on said roll means, means associated with one of said roll means for separating said belt member to unload copy sets into a receiving tray member.