Abstract: A storage apparatus has a card-accommodating, vertically upright stack-storage cassette (1) and a card-input, -reading and control unit (3) arranged adjacent to the top cassette-border region (4). The stack-storage cassette (1) has a vertically running storage opening (5) arranged in a cassette side. The storage apparatus also has a lift unit (7) which can be displaced vertically in said opening (5) and has a lift housing (19a, 19b). The lift unit (7), for its part, has a depositing plate (9) for the cards, which comes to rest in the store interior (10). The lift unit can be removed in the lowermost region of the cassette (1), to be inserted into the cassette (1) at the top and, acting on the opening borders, to be displaced vertically, i.e. lowered, in each case preferably by the distance of a height over which a group of cards is deposited, in order for the cards to be deposited satisfactorily.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a piling rack for flat parcels which is open on one side for withdrawing piled parcels. The rack has a bottom (4) as well as an impact wall (7) inclined outwardly and turning inwardly relative to the cutting edge, wherein a side wall (5) is provided for orienting the piling bottom as well as the piling direction. The parcels are inserted through an adequate opening (1) towards the bottom. The piling bottom (4) is inclined relative to the parcel orientation upon insertion into the piling rack and relative to the impact wall (7) and the side wall (5). The piling rack comprises a lid (8) which is mounted and shaped so that its inner outline extends at least from a curved portion towards the piling bottom (4) below the upper limit of the parcel trajectory.

Abstract: A method and an apparatus for collating a plurality of groups of mail items, such as flats mail, each group being pre-sequenced according to prioritized delivery addresses, into a final sequenced set of the mail items from the groups, utilizing the prioritized delivery addresses. Each bundle of mail items is formed into a single input stream of the individual mail items. The mail items are transported along a conveyor system from the input stream to a staging station. The mail items are sorted at the staging station into a plurality of subsets of mail items re-sequenced as an intermediate step to achieving the final sequenced sets. The mail items are then collated and merged into a single output stream from the respective subsets of mail items in the final sequenced set. Portions of the output stream from the staging station are collected in batches in a collection device which maintain the sequence consistent with the prioritized delivery order sequence of the mail for a given carrier route.

Abstract: Bank notes arriving from a control machine are fed along a feed pipe which has a plurality of outfeeds, each connected to an infeed zone of a forming channel along which an accompanying element moves, equipped with a surface on which the bank notes are rested, on top of one another, by a rotary drum located between each outfeed and the respective infeed zone, forming an ordered stack. Close to the infeed zone each forming channel has a shielding wall which is mobile between a non-operating position in which the infeed zone is open, and a position in which the latter is partially closed, limiting the inflows of air which facilitate bank note feed along the pipe and the inflows of air generated by rotation of the drum. A vibrating plate on a side wall of the channel and close to the infeed zone of the channel facilitates correct bank note stacking.

Abstract: An apparatus for gathering successive sheets of a scalloped stream in an adjustable receptacle has a pivotable first stop in front of and a longitudinally adjustable second stop behind the receptacle. The second stop is shifted, together with the conveyor for the stream, toward or away from the first stop when the length of the sheets forming the stream is changed. The effective width of the receptacle is adjusted when a stream of relatively narrow sheets is followed by a stream of wider sheets or vice versa.

Abstract: A sheet stacking apparatus includes a sheet discharge tray that holds a discharged sheet and that moves up and down, and a sheet discharge roller that is located above the sheet discharge tray and that discharges the discharged sheet to the sheet discharge tray. The sheet discharge tray receives the discharged sheet from the sheet discharge roller at a standard sheet receiving position which is located at a predetermined downward distance away from the sheet discharge roller. The sheet discharge tray moves down to a position which is lower than the standard sheet receiving position for a predetermined distance and receives at least a next sheet at the position, when a stacked amount of sheets on the sheet discharge tray reaches a predetermined stacking amount.

Abstract: Apparatus for accumulating successive stacks of superimposed sheets on discrete pallets employs a conveyor which delivers a continuous imbricated stream of sheets to a stacking station where a pallet descends with an elevator and gathers a first stack. A separating finger is inserted into the accumulation of sheets at the stacking station at a level above the topmost sheet of the fully grown first stack.

Abstract: An apparatus for and method of stacking flexible articles of a non-uniform thickness involves the use of a stacking table including separately movable first and second support surfaces. An actuator moves the stacking table through a range of motion relative to a stationary cam plate. A cam follower is mechanically coupled to the second support surface and engages the cam surface when the stacking table is moved through at least part of the range of motion. When the actuator moves the stacking table and the cam follower engages the cam surface, the second surface is displaced relative to the first support surface. Preferably, the cam plate is repositionable to vary a distance by which the second support surface is displaced relative to the first support surface.

Abstract: A system has a media handler to transports media (e.g., paper, transparencies, etc.) from an input bin through a processing unit to a collection tray. A tray adjustment mechanism moves the collection tray down and up as media is collected and occasionally removed by the operator. An overload detector detects an overload condition when the media stack on the tray becomes too heavy. The overload detector indirectly measures the stack weight by measuring the speed of the tray (or media stack) or alternatively, by monitoring the motor current. Once overload is detected, the system stops the tray to avoid damaging the tray adjustment mechanism and/or tray. The system notifies the operator via a visual message or an audible alarm. A recovery manager is then invoked to return the tray to the appropriate position after the operator has removed the media stack. In user-assisted recovery, the system awaits some explicit input from the operator that the media stack has been removed.

Abstract: A sheet stacking apparatus includes a sheet discharge tray that holds a discharged sheet and that moves up and down, and a sheet discharge roller that is located above the sheet discharge tray and that discharges the discharged sheet to the sheet discharge tray. The sheet discharge tray receives the discharged sheet from the sheet discharge roller at a standard sheet receiving position which is located at a predetermined downward distance away from the sheet discharge roller. The sheet discharge tray moves down to a position which is lower than the standard sheet receiving position for a predetermined distance and receives at least a next sheet at the position, when a stacked amount of sheets on the sheet discharge tray reaches a predetermined stacking amount.

Abstract: Delivery station for a converting press for paper or carboard sheets with a transverse roller located downstream from the delivery area and a movable carriage downstream from the aforesaid roller (18), being able to receive a plurality of bars so as to form a non-stop blanking delivery rack, the aforesaid carriage being guided by a carrying device (4, 5) in longitudinal direction; the carrying device and the transverse roller are assembled in a vertically movable frame (1) suspended on both sides by chains (24) run by only one motor (19) through a transmission shaft (22); the vertical run of the delivery rack is adjustable between a high position and a low position, the low position being determined by the length of the lower blanking tool joggers.

Abstract: Devices for stacking sheet-fed paper or cardboard sheets (1) on pallets (4) are known to have a vertically stationary conveyor (2) at a height above the maximum stack level above the floor and a storage platform (5) which can be raised and lowered upon which the stacks are formed. An optical sensor (17) which senses the stack level is arranged at the input side prior to the stacking area to control the lowering of the storage platform (5). According to the invention, at least three optical sensors (17) are disposed below the conveyor level at a slight distance from each other in a vertical line. The maximum vertical distance between the two sensors (17) is 20 mm. By activating any two sensors (17), the drop in height of the sheets (1) can be set depending on the type of sheet and without the need for extensive adjustment upon a change in the type of sheet.

Abstract: A sheet stacking device including a stacking tray for stacking and containing sheets, and a lifting and lowering device for moving the staking tray up and down. In this case, the lifting and lowering device includes a driving force converting device for changing the distance of moving the stacking tray as an input and output ratio with respect to a predetermined driving force from a driving source, and changing the elevating speed of the stacking tray according to the input and output ratio. The driving force converting device includes a suspension member for suspending the stacking tray and a winding member having a conical winding portion for winging the suspension member, and lifts and lowers the stacking tray by rotating the winding member, and the elevating speed of the stacking tray is changed according to the winding length of the suspension member, which is changed depending on the diameter difference of the winding portion.

Abstract: A stapling apparatus for forming a plurality of sheet bundles on a sheet tray comprises a sheet tray, a stapler, moving means, and movement controlling means. The stapler is moved upward by the moving means and the movement controlling means to the position where plural sheets placed on the sheet tray are to be stapled. Consequently, the stapling apparatus can staple the sheets in the position where the sheets are to be bound which changes upward each time the sheet bundle is formed by the stapler and form a plurality of sheet bundles on the sheet tray.

Abstract: A sheet treating apparatus includes a tray liftable and lowerable while sheets are stacked on the tray. A sheet pressing member is movable between a pressing position in which the sheets on the tray are pressed by the sheet pressing member and a retracted position. A sheet pressing member driving device retracts the sheet pressing member when the tray is lowered and for moving the sheet pressing member to the pressing position when the tray is lifted. A detecting device detects a height position of the sheets on the tray to stop lifting the tray.

Abstract: A sheet stacking apparatus includes a sheet discharge tray that holds a discharged sheet and that moves up and down, and a sheet discharge roller that is located above the sheet discharge tray and that discharges the discharged sheet to the sheet discharge tray. The sheet discharge tray receives the discharged sheet from the sheet discharge roller at a standard sheet receiving position which is located at a predetermined downward distance away from the sheet discharge roller. The sheet discharge tray moves down to a position which is lower than the standard sheet receiving position for a predetermined distance and receives at least a next sheet at the position, when a stacked amount of sheets on the sheet discharge tray reaches a predetermined stacking amount.

Abstract: A sheet processing apparatus has a sheet stacking tray supported for upward and downward movement, a lifting/lowering unit for lifting and lowering the sheet stacking tray, a first sensor for sensing the uppermost surface position of a batch of sheets on the stacking tray and lowering the stacking tray a prescribed amount through the lifting/lowering unit, and a second sensor for sensing that the batch of sheets on the stacking tray is partly drawn out and lifting the stacking tray through the lifting/lowering means to thereby return the stacking tray to a position proper to discharge sheets.

Abstract: A sheet post-processing apparatus comprises a conveyer for conveying the sheets discharged from the image forming system; a conveying device for conveying the sheets discharged from the image forming system; a pair of upper trays for accommodating the sheets conveyed by the conveying devices, and being horizontally moved in order to align the sheets accommodated therein and fall down the aligned sheets; a pair of upper tray driving devices for providing a driving force to the upper trays; a transmission unit for transmitting the driving force of the upper tray driving device to the upper trays; a lower tray for loading the sheets fallen from the upper trays; and a lower tray driving device for moving the lower tray in upper and lower directions in order to retain distance between the upper trays and the lower tray within a predetermined range. Thus, the sheet post-processing apparatus can accommodate variant size sheets by mechanism consisting of simple and cheap elements.

Abstract: An apparatus for stacking sheets has a frame defining a stacking station, a conveyor for delivering the sheets continuously one after the other at a predetermined upper level in a transport direction to the station, a platform vertically displaceable in the stacking station between the upper level and the lower level, and a drive for displacing the platform vertically. Stops are provided on the frame at an intermediate level below the upper level, above the lower level, and slightly above a stack of maximum height supported on the platform with the platform at the lower level. A walkway is vertically displaceable on the frame immediately downstream of the stacking station between an upper position generally at the upper level and a lower position at the intermediate level. The platform is engageable underneath the walkway for raising the walkway from the intermediate level to the upper level on movement of the platform upward past the intermediate level to the upper level.

Abstract: An apparatus for stacking sheets has a frame defining a stacking station, a conveyor for delivering the sheets continuously one after the other at a predetermined upper level in a transport direction to the station, and a platform vertically displaceable in the stacking station between the upper level and the lower level. The antidrop protector includes a vertically extending rack fixed on the frame, a lever pivoted on the platform adjacent the rack and having a pair of arms one of which is connected to a lift cable, a stop on the other of the lever arms engageable in the rack, and a spring braced between the platform and the lever. The cable is connected to a drive that tensions the cable, displaces the platform vertically, and rotates the lever in one rotational sense. The spring urges the lever in the opposite sense so that when the cable is detensioned the spring urges the stop into the rack and vertically arrests the platform.

Abstract: A sheet post-processing device of the present invention conducts post processing on sheets and then ejects the sheets on an offset tray. Upon the ejection, the sheets are sorted by a sorting drive section reciprocating the offset tray horizontally. The sheets are aligned at the trailing edges thereof by a plurality of sheet edge stopper columns erected freely rotatable. The offset tray is moved vertically along the sheet edge stopper columns by, for example, a lifting and lowering motor. Friction rollers are provided as linking means for rotating the sheet edge stopper columns in accordance with a horizontal movement of the offset tray. As to the horizontal movement and a vertical movement of the offset tray, the friction rollers transmit a driving force to the sheet edge stopper columns only when the offset tray is moved horizontally. Consequently, the stack disturbance of the sheets can be prevented both when the offset tray is moved horizontally and when the offset tray is moved vertically.

Abstract: A sheet-stacking apparatus has a conveyor including a plurality of parallel upper belts extending in a transport direction for delivering a succession of sheets one at a time to a stacking station and a plurality of blow tubes each having a main portion extending in the direction. The main portions are interleaved with the upper belts and are each formed with a plurality of downwardly open holes. Respective tubular rivet bodies set in the holes have heads bearing upward against the respective tube main portions and form downwardly open nozzles. Interiors of the tubes can be pressurized with air to project jets of air downward from the nozzles of the tube main portions.

Abstract: A sheet processing apparatus has a tray supported in a vertically movable manner and adapted to support sheets discharged from the main body of the sheet processing apparatus, and an elevate/lower unit for elevating or lowering the tray and having a detector for outputting a detection signal by detecting an uppermost one from among the sheets discharged in succession and stacked on the tray and a controller for controlling the elevate/lower unit so as to lower the tray in response to the detection signal inputted from the detector. The controller, after the input of the detection signal from the detector, if the input of the detection signal is not terminated even after lowering of the tray by a predetermined amount, executes a serial control of lowering the tray until the input of the detection signal is terminated, then elevating the tray until the detection signal is inputted, and lowering the tray until the detection signal is terminated.

Abstract: Sheet stacks (4) removed from a collecting station (1) by a transport gripper (5) are deposited onto a vertically movable depositing table (6) so as to rest against stops (8, 10). The stops (8, 10), which are attached to stationary, horizontally movable pull-out rails (11), have first and second vertical surfaces (8a and 8b) which are interconnected by oblique surfaces (8c), the second surfaces (8b) being set back with respect to the first surfaces (8a). The upper surface of the deposited sheet stack (4) is kept at a functionally correct depositing level by two sensors (17, 18), of which one is associated with the center area and one with the staple area (12, 13). The deposited sheet stack (4) strikes against the first surfaces (8a) with its end face, and is then released by the transport gripper (5). Lowering the depositing table (6) causes the end face of the sheet stack (4) to enter the area of the set-back surfaces (8b), allowing it to rest without hindrance flat on the deposited stack (7).

Abstract: A sheet loading apparatus includes an ejecting unit for ejecting sheets from an image forming apparatus onto a tray, a non-contact distance measuring unit disposed on the tray to measure the distance between the upper surface of the sheet bundle on the tray and a predetermined position, a lifting unit for vertically shifting the tray, and a unit for performing sheet loading abnormality detection on the tray, vertical shift control for the tray, sheet presence/absence detection on the tray, and sheet loading amount detection on the tray in accordance with the distance measuring result of the distance measuring unit.

Abstract: In a machine equipped with a plurality of stacking stations for the assembly of single banknotes or bundles of banknotes into ordered stacks, notes checked and passed as good by an upline station are accumulated on a companion element associated with each station and capable of movement between a first receiving position, at which the banknotes or bundles are assembled into a stack, and a second position at which the stack is released onto a fixed support. The support is slotted in such a way that the companion element can be dropped further and removed sideways without touching either the stack or the support itself, and the movement of the companion element between the receiving and release positions occurs cyclically, describing a looped trajectory.

Abstract: An apparatus for transferring workpieces to a stack from an endless conveyor having a plurality of forward traveling flights in a defined path. The conveyor being composed of a series of flights spaced at intervals there along. Each flight being constructed for carrying one of the workpiece 3. The apparatus and method include using a stacking mechanism for supporting a stack of limp materials removed from the forward advancing flights positioned below the path of the traveling flights. The stacking mechanism works in combination with a holding mechanism which determines the position of the upper most ply in the stack. A transfer mechanism is used for removing each ply from a forward advancing flight of the conveyor for transfer to the stack supported by the stacking mechanism.

Abstract: A paper stacking apparatus for an image reading apparatus and an image reading apparatus with a paper stacking apparatus wherein paper sheets can be stacked appropriately to allow a large amount of paper sheets to be read rapidly at a time are disclosed.

Abstract: A combination of a printing press and a chainless delivery system therefor includes adjustable sheet stops disposed in a horizontal plane, the delivery system being subdivided into a part proximate to the press and a part distal to the press, one of the sheet stops being a rear sheet stop fixedly connected to the distal part of the press, the distal part being adjustable horizontally, together with the rear sheet stop, in a direction towards and away from the printing press.

Abstract: A temporary supporting device for plate-like workpieces within a delivery station of a machine that processes the workpieces includes a grid which is movable within a cradle between a position for receiving the workpieces being released at the delivery station and a disengaged position. The cradle has a pair of grooves forming tracks for rollers on the sides of the grid to enable the movement, and the tracks enable the removal of a pair of rollers at one end so that the grid can be pivoted around an axis formed by the other pair of rollers from a horizontal orientation into a vertical position extending parallel and along one side of the delivery station.

Abstract: A self-contained offset stacker tray assembly is operable in conjunction with the sheet output of a host printer or copier to receive sheets from the host machine and deposit the sheets in offset sets. The assembly includes a supporting base for a frame structure reciprocable transversely of the direction of sheet infeed from the host and containing a receiver tray, infeed rolls to supply sheets to the trays, a rotary cam mechanism for shifting the frame assembly relative to the output from the host machine and the receiver tray being vertically movable within the frame structure and biased upwardly by counter balancing springs to be moved downwardly as the weight of the sheets in the tray increases.

Abstract: A delivery interrupt mechanism for a printing machine includes a support frame having a stationary guide defining a guide path. A flexible finger is slidably supported by the guide for movement along a curved portion of the guide path while substantially conforming in shape to the curved portion between a retracted position and an extended position in which the finger extends from the frame to support leading edges of printed sheets in a printing machine. The finger is connected to a rotatable input shaft mounted on the frame so that the finger is moved along the curved portion of the guide path between its retracted and extended positions when the input shaft is rotated.

Abstract: An active stack height sensing mechanism that operates through a cam off a disc stacker which performs one cycle per sheet stacked. After a sheet is stacked, a stack height clamp contacts the stack and stops. If the stack height is too low or within a predetermined range, a flag attached to the clamp will block a light beam path between an emitter and receiver and trip the stack height sensor. If the stack height is too high, the stack height sensor will not be made indicating that the stacker should be indexed down.

Abstract: An apparatus for forming a spread of generally thin, pliable material from a roll thereof onto a table includes a cradle for holding the roll of the material which is selectively operable to rotate the roll of material for feeding a web of material generally forwardly from the roll. An endless conveyor including a series of flights spaced at intervals therealong with openings between the flights is driven for forward travel, and the web from the roll of the material is received on and carried forward by a flight in the upper reach of the conveyor. A knife is operable to cut the web to separate a first sheet of material from the roll of material. The first sheet of material is thereafter held from forward movement with the supporting flight by grippers selectively operable for gripping the first sheet of material on the supporting flight in the upper reach of the conveyor. Thus, the supporting flight slides out from under the first sheet of material with the first sheet falling onto the table.

Abstract: A sheet post-processing apparatus is provided with a discharge tray which can be selectively moved between a processing mode position corresponding to a processing mode and a non-processing mode position corresponding to a non-processing mode. The apparatus is also provided with a control device which controls a tray drive unit which drives so as to set the discharge tray in the processing mode position when the processing mode is selected, while in the non-processing mode position when the non-processing mode is selected. The apparatus offers an improved discharging efficiency of processed sheets from a processing tray to the discharge tray in the processing mode and an improved aligning facility of sheets discharged on the discharge tray in the non-processing mode.

Abstract: A sheet stacking apparatus has a shutter mechanism, having a shutter, for controlling the stacking and dropping operations of sheets to be stacked in a stacking safe. When a sensor detects that the sheets to be stacked on the shutter have been stacked to reached a predetermined height, the shutter is moved downward to reserve a space in the vicinity of a sheet loading port, and is opened to cause the sheets to drop onto the lower portion of the stacking safe. Then, the shutter is moved upward to the home position to stack the sheets thereon. When these shutter downward and upward movements are repeatedly performed, stacking can be performed stably, and the sheets discharged from the lower bottom of the stacking safe can be collected in the upper portion of the stacking safe through a communication path outside the stacking safe, thereby continuously performing a series of sheets loading and discharge operations.

Abstract: An improved stacker for an automatic document sorter is described. The stacker is vertical and receives documents at the top thereof and expels them at the bottom. The stacker includes a paddle normally disposed at the top for receiving the first document and subsequent documents stacked thereon. As documents enter the stacker, the paddle drops due to the action of a timing belt and sensor arrangement until it reaches the bottom. At the bottom, a horizontally directed timing belt withdraws the paddle from the stacker and the paddle is then returned by reverse action to the top of the stacker and reinserted thereinto for receiving the next stack of documents. Both timing belts are independently driven by motors.

Abstract: A cut sheet stacking system receives and stacks cut sheets in registry against intersecting registration surfaces. The system comprises a sheet support surface, and first and second planar registration surfaces which extend upwardly from the sheet support surface and intersect to form a 90.degree. angle of intersection therebetween. A roller having a flexible tab is rotatably mounted above the sheet support surface and is positioned to frictionally engage a topmost sheet of a stack on the sheet support surface. The roller/tab exerts a force on the topmost sheet in a direction that intersects the first and second planar registration surfaces at their point of intersection and, when rotated, imparts forces on the topmost sheet which directs it towards the intersecting first and second planar registration surfaces.

Abstract: A classifying tray apparatus is provided with a plurality of sheet end receiving rollers for arranging each rear end portion of the sheets stacked on a sheet discharge tray. Each sheet end receiving roller stands rotatably on a main body of the classifying tray apparatus so as to rotate, in accordance with the horizontal movement of the sheet discharge tray in a direction perpendicular to a discharge direction, while being in contact with the sheets stacked on the sheet discharge tray or with the sheet discharge tray, thereby avoiding the unevenness of the sheets stacked on the sheet discharge tray.

Abstract: By a first conveying device printing products are fed in an imbricated formation (S), in which each printing product rests on the following one, the fold edge of the folded products forming the trailing edge. The printing products are pushed into an intermediate stack from below. The respectively uppermost product of this intermediate stack is seized in the region of the fold edge by at least one sucker of a sucker arrangement, raised upward and brought into the conveying region (F) of a second conveying device. The latter has individually controllable grippers which are arranged at regular intervals, circulate along a closed path, seize the fold edges delivered by the sucker arrangement and convey away the printing products thus seized. By forming an intermediate stack, from which the printing products are then raised by the sucker arrangement at the desired rate and fed to the grippers, even imbricated formations (S) occurring with irregularities can be processed satisfactorily.

Abstract: The present invention relates to an apparatus and a process for a half-cell structure to make a hexagonal-cell honeycomb core. The structure has a plurality of peaks and valleys and a diagonal surface between each consecutive peak and valley. The apparatus comprises a stack holder for stacking the structure so that as one sheet is placed on top of a stack comprising at least one sheet, the peaks of one sheet contact the peaks of an adjacent sheet. The apparatus also comprises an air blower disposed beneath the top of the stack for reducing the air pressure surrounding the stack to a pressure below the air pressure on the top of the stack, thereby pressing the layers together to form the core.

Abstract: A sheet stacking system for stacking the sequential sheet output of a reproducing apparatus, with a sheet stacking tray providing an upwardly inclined sheet stacking surface at a substantial angle above the horizontal for receiving and registering sheets to be stacked thereon from a sheet output against an edge registration surface, and with a tray elevator for linearly repositioning the sheet stacking tray relative to the sheet output for maintaining the top stacking position and inclination, for the accumulation of a large stack; wherein the tray elevator repositions the sheet stacking tray downwardly in a linear but non-vertical movement path which is more perpendicular to the angle of the inclined sheet stacking surface and parallel to the edge registration surface, to provide non-vertical but more squarely superposed sheet stacking in the sheet stacking tray.

Abstract: A sheet stacking tray apparatus for receiving sheets discharged from an image forming apparatus such as a printer or copying machine. The sheets are correctly stacked, that is, without inclination or deviation. The tray apparatus according to the present invention is such that the speed at which the sheet is discharged to the tray apparatus is reduced when the tray apparatus receives the sheet material. And, the sheet is laterally shifted so as to correct the lateral deviation thereof. The tray is lowered in accordance with the amount of the sheets so as to keep a proper height thereof with respect to the discharging outlet from which it receives the sheet. An auxiliary sheet stacking plate is provided operable in association with the lowering of the tray so as to raise the sheet receiving side thereof so as to keep the sheet material on the tray horizontal.

Abstract: A sheet stacking apparatus has a shutter mechanism, having a shutter, for controlling the stacking and dropping operations of sheets to be stacked in a stacking safe. When a sensor detects that the sheets to be stacked on the shutter have been stacked to reached a predetermined height, the shutter is moved downward to reserve a space in the vicinity of a sheet loading port, and is opened to cause the sheets to drop onto the lower portion of the stacking safe. Then, the shutter is moved upward to the home position to stack the sheets thereon. When these shutter downward and upward movements are repeatedly performed, stacking can be performed stably, and the sheets discharged from the lower bottom of the stacking safe can be collected in the upper portion of the stacking safe through a communication path outside the stacking safe, thereby continuously performing a series of sheets loading and discharge operations.

Abstract: A device for determining the height of a pile of sheets includes a measuring sensor formed as an expansion member and drivable by compressed air with given contacting force towards a top surface of the sheet pile, and a measuring device for determining the position of the top surface of the sheet pile in accordance with a characteristic curve for time rate of change of pressure of the compressed air.

Abstract: An apparatus is disclosed for stacking, from above, thin, flat articles such as blanks of cardboard or like material, of variable shapes and formats, these blanks being supplied, upstream, on a conveyor and being successively deposited on one another on the upper laying plane of a stacking-jolting table. This apparatus is characterized in that the laying plane of the stacking-jolting table is constituted, on the one hand, by a large continuous principal surface, and, on the other hand, by an auxiliary bearing surface located at the upstream end of the table, and a device is provided for vertically displacing the auxiliary bearing surface with respect to the principal surface.

Abstract: A dual drive signature stacker having side-by-side stacker sections, each of substantially identical design and including a stepper motor for driving a pair of buckets for receiving signatures secured at spaced intervals along a drive chain driven by the stepper motor. The buckets have intercept blades supported by brackets joined to the drive chain to position one of the intercept blades of each drive assembly in front of the adjacent drive assembly so that all of the buckets of the dual drive assembly are in alignment with one another and with the signature stream. The side-by-side arrangement greatly simplifies the design cost and assembly. A microprocessor-based control system permits stacking of stacks having as few as two signatures and is further capable of forming successive signature stacks of differing count in a precision manner and compatible with the speeds of any signature flow rate.

Abstract: Apparatus for forming a sheet delivery pile in a printing press, the apparatus including a sheet receiving surface for the formation thereon of the sheet delivery pile, a rotatable shaft, a sheet stop member attached to the rotatable shaft and extending along the leading edge of the sheet delivery pile, a lever member attached to the rotatable shaft, an oscillation device for reciprocally oscillating the rotatable shaft between a first position wherein the sheet stop member is in contact with the leading edge of the sheet delivery pile and a second position wherein the sheet stop member is out of contact with the leading edge of the sheet delivery pile, and a biasing arrangement for biasing the sheet stop member in a direction from the second position and towards the first position.

Abstract: A sheet stacking tray apparatus for receiving sheets discharged from an image forming apparatus such as a printer or copying machine. The sheets are correctly stacked, that is, without inclination or deviation. The tray apparatus according to the present invention is such that the speed at which the sheet is discharged to the tray apparatus is reduced when the tray apparatus receives the sheet material. And, the sheet is laterally shifted so as to correct the lateral deviation thereof. The tray is lowered in accordance with the amount of the sheets so as to keep a proper height thereof with respect to the discharging outlet from which it receives the sheet. An auxiliary sheet stacking plate is provided operable in association with the lowering of the tray so as to raise the sheet receiving side thereof so as to keep the sheet material on the tray horizontal.

Abstract: The present invention is directed to a vertical stacking system comprising an apparatus and method to control stack formation based on a non-contact sensing of the reaction of the feed conveyor to the forming stack. In accordance with the invention a stream of signatures is fed by the feed conveyor onto a support surface. There is an upper feed extension of the feed conveyor located above the support surface. The stack is formed between the support surface and the feed extension. The top of the stack is adjacent to the upper feed extension. The location of the extension is determined by the location of the top of the stack. The non-contact sensing means senses the location of the feed extension and generates a location signal. This location signal is used to control a slide drive which moves the support surface.