Abstract: A collation control mechanism is used to transfer a collation from a dual accumulator to an exit nip of a collation machine. The collation control mechanism has a middle drum and two side rollers to form an upper nip and a lower nip. The drum is caused to rotate alternately in a clockwise direction and in a counter-clockwise direction for transferring a collation from the upper bay and the lower bay, respectively, to the exit nip. A motor is used to drive the drum in both the clockwise and counter-clockwise direction. A coupling mechanism including two sets of one-way clutches is used to engage the motor to the upper and lower rollers of the exit nip so that the upper roller is caused to rotate only in the counter-clockwise direction while the lower roller is cause to rotate only in the clockwise direction.

Abstract: An apparatus, and corresponding method, for accumulating and directionally reorienting the movement of a stack of sheets after first folding the stack, each sheet of the stack being fed from a feed conveyor along a feed path. The apparatus includes a turnplate, for receiving each of a series of sheets which are there accumulated into a stack of sheets. Stops protrude from a sheet-receiving surface of the turnplate, which holds the stack of sheets edge aligned against the stops.

Abstract: A web trim collection system having an air pressure system to move web trim. A divert bin operable in a first position to allow the web trim to be deposited in a collection bin. The divert bin is also operable in a second position to intercept the web trim, so as to allow the collection bin to be removed from the collection system while the collection system continues to collect trim.

Abstract: A mail inserter having an insertion station for inserting mailing material into an envelope. The mail inserter further comprises a sheet provider module for providing sheets of mailing material, an exit module for conveying the mailing material to the insertion station, and an intermediate module, which can be a sheet folder or a sheet transport disposed between the sheet provider module and the exit module. The sheet provider can be a cut sheet feeder or a burster for separating individual sheets from a continuous web. The sheet provider and the burster are mechanically interchangeable. The folder and the sheet transport are also mechanically interchangeable. The exit module can additionally has a trap stage to temporarily hold the mailing material until the insertion station is ready to receive the next mailing material, and a slitter to trim off an edge of the mailing material.

Abstract: A web trim collection system having an air pressure system to move web trim. A divert bin operable in a first position to allow the web trim to be deposited in a collection bin. The divert bin is also operable in a second position to intercept the web trim, so as to allow the collection bin to be removed from the collection system while the collection system continues to collect trim.

Abstract: An apparatus, and corresponding method, for accumulating and directionally reorienting the movement of a stack of sheets after first folding the stack, each sheet of the stack being fed from a feed conveyor along a feed path. The apparatus includes a turnplate, for receiving each of a series of sheets which are there accumulated into a stack of sheets. Stops protrude from a sheet-receiving surface of the turnplate, which holds the stack of sheets edge aligned against the stops.

Abstract: The present invention relates to locking and locating cylindrical components or roller sleeve assemblies on a support shaft. The locking feature is an anti-rotation device that prevents rotation of the roller assembly or sleeve assembly on the support shaft. The locking feature permits axial location of the component or sleeve to a pre-determined position as desired. A pair of over-running clutches or one-way clutches is used to facilitate the feature. The clutches are assembled to a receiving bore in the component or sleeve so that they are able to lock on the support shaft in reverse directions, thereby preventing rotation of those parts on the support shaft.

Abstract: A method and device for improving the stacking efficiency in a sheet accumulation system using a continuous web cutter for cutting a web of material into sheets and a plurality of right angle turn-over modules for changing the direction of the sheets and causing overlapping between adjacent sheets. Different movement mechanisms are used to move the sheets with different moving speeds from the web cutter toward the right angle turn-over modules for increasing the overlapped amount.

Abstract: The present invention relates to locking and locating cylindrical components or roller sleeve assemblies on a support shaft. The locking feature is an anti-rotation device that prevents rotation of the roller assembly or sleeve assembly on the support shaft. The locking feature permits axial location of the component or sleeve to a pre-determined position as desired. A pair of over-running clutches or one-way clutches is used to facilitate the feature. The clutches are assembled to a receiving bore in the component or sleeve so that they are able to lock on the support shaft in reverse directions, thereby preventing rotation of those parts on the support shaft.

Abstract: A method and device for improving the stacking efficiency in a sheet accumulation system using a continuous web cutter for cutting a web of material into sheets and a plurality of right angle turn-over modules for changing the direction of the sheets and causing overlapping between adjacent sheets. Different movement mechanisms are used to move the sheets with different moving speeds from the web cutter toward the right angle turn-over modules for increasing the overlapped amount.

Abstract: A system and corresponding method for accumulating sheets as part of the operation of a mailing system and for conveying the sheets along a normal feed path, and including a mis-scan diverter for diverting sheets that have been mis-scanned from a normal feed path to a first alternate path, and a selective diverter for diverting selective document sets from the normal feed path to a second alternate path. In some applications, the selective diverter includes a pivot table by-pass guide positioned according to commands received from a selective controller so as to selectively divert a sheet. Such a selective diverter uses a nip formed at the distal end of the pivot table by-pass guide by a continuously running cooperating roller and a surface of the pivot table by-pass guide, so that a sheet entering the nip so formed is diverted to the second alternate path.

Abstract: The present invention provides an apparatus and method for receiving at least one sheet from a first upstream direction and feeding the at least one sheet in either a second mainstream direction or a third disposal direction. Conventionally, this invention may be used to reorient a sheet, or an accumulation of sheets, from landscape to portrait or vice versa, and to dispose of an incorrect accumulation of sheets into an out-sort station.

Abstract: An separating and staging machine is disclosed which is used in conjunction with high speed document processing apparatus in which a succession of collations of insert material moving along an insert material feed path to an insert location are inserted into envelopes fed to the insert location. The machine of the present invention feeds envelopes from a storage hopper to a feed path which is long enough to accommodate a plurality of staging locations at which individual envelopes are maintained until one is fed to the insert location, after which the envelopes at each staging location are advanced to the next staging location, and a new envelope is fed from the storage hopper to the first of the staging locations. With this arrangement the distance between successive envelopes moving through the staging locations is approximately equal to the distance between successive collations moving along the insert material feed path, thereby increasing the rate at which envelopes can be fed to the insert location.

Abstract: An apparatus for accumulating sheets from a secondary source and changing their conveyance direction 90.degree.. The accumulator is a group of vertically stacked bins that discharge batchwise and are loaded from the secondary source alternately by way of a diverter. Discharge is synchronous with a directionally constant primary sheet source.

Abstract: Apparatus for dividing a continuous web having perforated, marginal strips on its sides into discrete sheets and removing the marginal strips. The apparatus includes: a device for engaging and moving the perforated, marginal strips of the continuous web along a feed path; a slitting device located downstream of the engaging and moving device for separating the marginal strips from the remaining, central portion of the web; a cutting device for dividing the remaining, central portion of the web into discrete sheets; a pair of deflectors located downstream of the cutting device for advancing the remaining, central portion of the web and for guiding the severed, marginal portions below the feed path.

Abstract: Apparatus for inserting sheets of paper into an envelope. The apparatus includes: a first bursting module for separating a first web of paper into discrete sheets; a conveying device for conveying the discrete sheets from an upstream location to a downstream location along a feed path; a device for feeding a second web of paper having a plurality of longitudinally spaced lines of weakening oriented perpendicular to the feed path; a device for turning the second web of paper parallel to the feed path; a bursting device for bursting the second web into discrete sheets; a device for conveying the second web discrete sheets to the first web discrete sheets; a device for conveying the first web and the second web discrete sheets downstream along the feed path; and a device for inserting the first web and second web discrete sheets into an envelope.

Abstract: Apparatus and method for receiving a sheet from a first direction and transporting the sheet in a second direction. The apparatus comprising: a device for feeding the sheet in the second direction; a deck having an imput end for receiving the sheet from the first direction and an output end and including a lower deck plate and an upper deck plate pivotally mounted and vertically spaced above the lower deck plate. The apparatus further comprising a controller and a device for pivoting the upper deck plate between a closed position and an open position. The controller for causing the pivoting device to rotate the upper deck plate to the open position to receive the sheet from the first direction, causing the pivoting device to rotate the upper deck plate to the closed position after receiving the sheet and thereafter causing the feed device to feed the sheet in the second direction through the deck output end.

Abstract: A pressure roller assembly for use in a transport system. The transport system including a drive system in operative engagement with the pressure roller assembly for feeding an article in a path of travel. The pressure roller assembly including: a shaft; a roller having an inner diameter; a pair of first hubs each having a bearing surface and fixably mounted to the shaft in spaced apart relationship so that the first hub bearing surfaces are facing each other; a pair of second hubs each including an through hole having a diameter greater that the shaft diameter and a bearing surface corresponding to the first hub bearing surfaces, respectively, the second hubs spaced along the shaft between the first hubs and slideably mounted to and in bearing engagement with the roller inner diameter so that the second hub bearing surfaces are facing the first hub bearing surfaces, respectively; and means for biasing the second hub bearing surfaces into bearing engagement with the first hub bearing surfaces, respectively.

Abstract: Apparatus for folding paper sheets of different length or into different folding patterns and for combining the folded sheets into a single collation. The apparatus includes: a first, right angle paper path for folding paper sheets s of a given size; and a second, straight paper path for folding paper sheets either of a different size than the paper sheets in the first path or in a different folding pattern than the paper sheets in the first path.

Abstract: Apparatus for singulating paper sheets. The apparatus includes: a deck for supporting a plurality of paper sheets; a device for feeding the plurality of paper sheets along the deck; a retarding roller situated above the deck for retarding the plurality of paper sheets; and a feeding roller situated below the retarding roller for feeding the lowermost of the paper sheets past the retarding roller, which has a metal sleeve with a grit coating having a hardness on the Rockwell "C" scale of at least 60 and a grit size according to the U.S. Standard System between 10 and 320.