Apparatus for stitching collated sheets

Claim 1

An apparatus for stitching collated sheets, said apparatus receiving a set of collated sheets (13) at a sheet supply inlet (17) thereof, transporting the collated sheets (13) to a sheet stitching station (80), stitching the collated sheets (13) along the center line thereof or along an end line or at a corner thereof by means of a stitching head (31) disposed at the sheet stitching station (80), and delivering the sheets stitched along the end line or at the corner thereof from at least one sheet eject outlet thereof, while delivering the sheets stitched along the center line thereof from at least one sheet eject outlet after transport to a sheet bending station (38) so as to bend the stitched sheets double along the center line, characterized in that said apparatus comprises: a first transport path portion (29) for transporting the collated sheets (13) from said sheet supply inlet (17) to said sheet stitching station (80); a first stopper (33) arranged at said sheet stitching station (80) for positioning the sheets to be stitched along the end line or at the corner thereof; a second stopper (34) arranged at said sheet stitching station (80) for positioning the sheets to be stitched along the center line thereof; a second transport path portion (36) for transporting the stitched sheets from said sheet stitching station (80) to a branch (K); a fifth transport path portion for transporting the stitched sheets from said branch (K) to a sheet eject outlet (19); a third transport path portion (40) for transporting the stitched sheets from said branch (K) to said sheet bending station (38); a switching gate plate (44) arranged at said branch (K) for selectively connecting said second transport path portion (36) to said third transport path portion (40) or said fifth transport path portion; a third stopper (73) arranged at said sheet bending station (38) for positioning the sheets stitched along the center line thereof; sheet bend means arranged at said sheet bending station (38) for bending the stitched sheets double along the center line thereof; and a fourth transport path portion (42) for transporting the stitched sheets bent double from said sheet bending station (38) to said sheet eject outlet (19).

Claim 2

An apparatus for stitching collated sheets, said apparatus receiving a set of collated sheets (13) at a sheet supply inlet (17) thereof, transporting the collated sheets (13) to a sheet stitching station (80), stitching the collated sheets (13) along the center line thereof or along an end line or at a corner thereof by means of a stitching head (31) disposed at the sheet stitching station (80), and delivering the sheets stitched along the end line or at the corner thereof from at least one sheet eject outlet thereof, while delivering the sheets stitched along the center line thereof from at least one sheet eject outlet after transport to a sheet bending station (38) so as to bend the stitched sheets double along the center line, characterized in that said apparatus comprises: a first transport path portion (29) for transporting the collated sheets (13) from said sheet supply inlet (17) to said sheet stitching station (80); a first stopper (33) arranged at said sheet stitching station (80) for positioning the sheets to be stitched along the end line or at the corner thereof; a second stopper (34) arranged at said sheet stitching station (80) for positioning the sheets to be stitched along the center line thereof; a second transport path portion (36) for transporting the stitched sheets from said sheet stitching station (80) to a branch (K); a fifth transport path portion for transporting the stitched sheets from said branch (K) to a sheet eject outlet (19); a third transport path portion (40) for transporting the stitched sheets from said branch (K) to said sheet bending station (38); a switching gate plate (44) arranged at said branch (K) for selectively connecting said second transport path portion (36) to said third transport path portion (40) or said fifth transport path portion; a third stopper (73) arranged at said sheet bending station (38) for positioning the sheets stitched along the center line thereof; sheet bend means arranged at said sheet bending station (38) for bending the stitched sheets double along the center line thereof; and a fourth transport path portion (42) for transporting the stitched sheets bent double from said sheet bending station (38) to said sheet eject outlet (19).

Claim 5

The apparatus for stitching collated sheets in accordance with any one of claims 1 to 3, characterized in that said sheet bend means comprises said pair of fold rollers (71), (71) and a fold knife (69) arranged oppositely to said fold roller pair with respect to the stitched sheets in such a manner that said fold knife (69) projects its tip portion from the plane on which the stitched sheets are positioned.