Abstract: Disclosed is a sorter which has a controller for receiving a reset signal generated by a copying machine main body and for positioning sort bins in a sort home position in response to the reset signal.

Abstract: In the present invention, a sheet-sorter, operating in conjunction with a photocopy machine, has a plurality of trays in general horizontal alignment with the path taken by a sheet of paper discharged from the copier. A tray pusher is arranged to move the lower-most tray in a stack of trays disposed above the paper-path so that the in-board end of the lower-most tray will drop some distance below the paper path, after the sheet has been discharged from the copier. The tray-pusher may be activated by movement of the copier carriage or by an appropriate gear-train connection to a pair of juxtaposed rolls, slightly spaced from each other, constructed and arranged so that one roll will cause the other roll to rotate only when a sheet of paper is disposed between the rolls as the sheet is discharged from the copier. The stack of trays may be re-set manually or by the movement of the copier carriage.

Abstract: A sorter for collating sheets into sets comprises a plurality of sheet-receiving bins defined by an array of movable plates 1-5, 5a and an indexing wheel 23 for indexing the input ends of the bin plates sequentially past a fixed feed throat 22 to align the bin openings in turn with the feed throat 22. Adjacent bin plates 1-5, 5a are relatively movable apart and together for varying the sizes of the bin openings and are interconnected to limit their maximum spacing. The bin plates are arranged in a fan-like array and are so mounted that their inner ends abut to define the maximum bin spacing.

Abstract: An apparatus is disclosed for receiving sheets from the discharge portion of an electrostatic copy machine, which apparatus receives, stacks and collates the sheets as desired. The apparatus can be electrically independent of the copier and is attached thereto by simple hanger and bracket arrangements. The apparatus includes a plurality of trays which are moved past the discharge opening of the copier, and which are controlled and arranged, selectively to receive (1) a plurality of sheets in each tray; (2) a single copy of each sheet in each of several trays; or (3) a number of identical sheets in one tray and a differing number of other sheets in successive trays. The apparatus can collect, collate, and sort the sheets while the trays are moving in one direction past the copier discharge opening, as well as when the trays are moving past it in the other direction.

Abstract: A paper leaf handling apparatus has a receiving unit for receiving paper leaves, distributor for distributing to the receiving unit the paper leaves having images formed thereon and conveyed from an image formation apparatus to the paper leaf handling apparatus, detector for detecting the connected condition of the paper leaf handling apparatus and the image formation apparatus, and warner for warning of any improper connection detected by the detector.

Abstract: A very high speed, fully automated reproduction system is disclosed having a document handling apparatus, copy sheet processor, and a finishing station. For very high reproduction rates, post-collation of copy sheets into copy sets is utilized. In this arrangement the document apparatus is arranged to expose each document sheet of a document a predetermined number of times before a succeeding document sheet is brought into exposure position so that for each complete circulation of all the document sheets, the document would have been copied a number of times equal to said predetermined number. A sorter bin array having a number of bins equal to said predetermined number is arranged to collate the resultant copy sheets into corresponding copy sets. The copy sets are removed from the bin array for stapling and stacking or non-stapling and stacking.

Abstract: Multiple copies of sheets produced by a duplicator, xerographic copier or the like are sorted onto trays. The trays are arranged in a stack and are moved upwardly and downwardly to enable different sheets to be sorted onto the trays on each upward pass and downward pass of the stack. A carriage retains the stack and moves upwardly and downwardly with the stack as individual trays are engaged and translated around a region where adjacent trays are spread apart to register the trays successively at a position where individual sheets are received thereon. Bidirectional movement of the entire stack of trays with a mechanism which raises or lowers a single tray provides a sorter of compact size which is simple, reliable and low in cost and which operates without generating excessive noise.

Abstract: In a copying apparatus equipped with a sorter having a bin unit slidably mounted on the main frame and driven up and down by a vertically supported feed screw, heavy loading of the bin with multiple copies throws the same off balance resulting in strain on the feed screw unit and producing unwanted vibrations. By connecting the bin to the feed screw through an elastically supported nut and positively slidably guiding the movement of the nut in a vertical guide parallel to the feed screw, unwanted vibrations and strains on the feed screw connection are avoided.

Abstract: A sheet sorter which has a plurality of sheet receiving bins which comprises an array of movable plates such that adjacent plates define an individual bin, is provided with a quadrant plate for indexing the input ends of the bin plates past a fixed feed throat to align the bin opening in line with the feed throat for sheet insertion. Adjacent bin plates are interconnected to limit their maximum spacing apart, and are movable apart and together for varying the size of the bin openings. The bin plates are spaced apart opposite and at one side of the feed throat and are spaced together when indexed past the feed throat to the other side of the feed throat. Preferably the bin plates are arrayed in a vertically oriented fan-like array and the quadrant plate is rotatable about an axis.

Abstract: Continuous paper sorter mechanism in which a receiver section is comprised of at least two columns of inclined side-by-side stacks of paper storage bins or shelves with entrances for receiving paper sheets from the feeder. The receiver is mounted for lateral movement relative to a feeder mechanism, such that the bin entrances move past the feeder in a generally vertical plane. The feeder has an in-feed conveyor which takes paper from a copy making device such as a press or duplicating machine and feeds the sheets of paper either to an intermediate downwardly inclined conveyor or onto an intermediate upwardly inclined conveyor, depending on whether the feeder is distributing paper sheets from the top or from the bottom. Sheets from the intermediate conveyors in turn are transported to a generally vertically disposed, reversible feeder conveyor.

Abstract: A collation/finishing system is disclosed for use with a very high speed, fully automated reproduction machine having a document handling apparatus, copy sheet processor, and a finishing station. In this arrangement, a sorter bin array is arranged to receive copy sheets on one side and to collate the copy sheets into copy sets corresponding to a multiple page document. A pivotal set transport is arranged to unload completed copy sets on the same side whereat loading takes place. The bin array is indexed in either direction to receive copy sheets during loading or to permit unloading.

Abstract: A sheet collection apparatus for stacking sheets delivered thereto face-up in the order 1 to n with sheet 1 on the top of the stack. The apparatus includes one or more collection trays, such as the bins of a sorter which are indexed past a feed throat. Retractable support arms at the throat support the sheets already in a bin opposite the throat during delivery of a sheet thereto whereby the sheet enters the bin below the support arms.

Abstract: A sorting machine is provided to receive successive sheets from an outlet from a copying machine. The sorting machine has plural trays mounted to move progressively past the sheet outlet in opposite directions, the trays being relatively close together when positioned at either side of the outlet, but adjacent trays being widely spaced to accommodate the incoming sheets from the outlet. The trays are fed past and spaced at the outlet by driven members at opposite sides of the tray which engage and shift stacked tray supports in succession.

Abstract: A sorting machine is provided for attachment to a copying machine to receive successive sheets from an outlet from the copying machine. The sorting machine has plural trays mounted to move progressively past the sheet outlet in opposite directions, the trays being relatively close together when positioned at either side of the outlet, but adjacent trays being widely spaced to accommodate the incoming sheets from the outlet. The trays are fed past and spaced at the outlet by driven members at opposite sides of the tray which engage and shift stacked trays in succession. The driver members are notched discs functioning as a linear Geneva movement. The remote ends of the trays are freely supported one on the other for relative longitudinal and pivotal movement. In certain forms, the remote tray ends are mounted one on the other by end pieces which have wedge surfaces causing the remote ends to be spaced apart responsive to longitudinal movement of the trays.

Abstract: A sorting machine is provided for attachment to a copying machine to receive successive sheets from an outlet from the copying machine. The sorting machine has plural trays mounted to move progressively past the sheet outlet in opposite directions, the trays being relatively close together when positioned at either side of the outlet, but adjacent trays being widely spaced to accommodate the incoming sheets from the outlet. The trays are fed past and spaced at the outlet by driven members at opposite sides of the tray which engage and shift stacked trays in succession. The driven members are notched discs functioning as a linear Geneva movement. The remote ends of the trays are freely supported one on the other for relative longitudinal and pivotal movement.

Abstract: A dual-mode sheet sorting apparatus for sorting plural sheets into plural storage bins according to a predetermined order. The apparatus includes first bin members for storing sorted sheets, movable second bin members for storing sorted sheets and having a number corresponding to the number of the first bin members, and selecting device for selectively placing the second bin members in a storage position for receiving the sheets or in a retracted position in which the second bin members are retracted from the storage position, such that in a first operation mode the second bin members are displaced to the retracted position by the selecting device to allow sheet sorting into the first bin members, while in a second operation mode the second bin members are displaced to the storage position by the selecting device to allow sheet sorting into the second bin numbers in preference to the first bin members.

Abstract: Apparatus for collating, stacking or otherwise sorting successive sheets of paper delivered from the output station of a sheet-delivering device, for example, from a photocopier. A compact stack of a selected number of sheet-receiving trays is lifted above the output station and the trays are caused to drop one at a time to a position below the output station such that each can receive one or more sheets from the output station. In a preferred embodiment, the trays are mounted to move between the top and bottom of a vertically movable frame in which the trays are lifted to form an upper stack from which they are successively dropped to form a lower compact stack with an intervening space into which the sheets are delivered to be deposited on the uppermost tray of the lower stack.

Abstract: A distributing apparatus for collecting information carrying sheets of paper and the like comprising, a plurality of trays which are each pivotally mounted to a succeeding tray in a stack thereof to form a magazine of trays with a locking device for locking each tray to an adjacent tray in the magazine so that the magazine can be transported as a unit. The magazine is supplied to a guide which has a curved portion adjacent a loading station. The curved portion of the guide causes adjacent trays to pivot apart from each other and open after their respective locks have been unlocked so that one or more information carrying sheets can be supplied to each of the now opened trays. A driving mechanism in the form of rotating rollers having pins extending therefrom is engageable with angle portions extending from the trays for moving the trays along a feed path and along the guides.

Abstract: An apparatus in which a sheet advancing along a pre-determined path is collected in one of a plurality of movable sheet receiving stations. One of the receiving stations is aligned with the sheet path. A guide moves from an inoperative position spaced from the receiving stations to an operative position coupling the aligned sheet receiving station with the sheet path. This enables the sheet to advance into the receiving station.

Abstract: A sorting apparatus in which a sheet loading station is arranged to advance sheets into individual sheet receiving members of one of at least two groups of sheet receiving members. The other group of sheet receiving members is positioned at one of two sheet unloading stations. After loading and unloading sheets from the respective groups of sheet receiving members, the loaded group of sheet receiving members moves to the other sheet unloading station as the unloaded group of sheet receiving members returns to the sheet loading station.