CA1100433A - Apparatus for and method of collating sorting and stacking sheets concurrently - Google Patents

Abstract

APPARATUS FOR AND METHOD OF COLLATING
SORTING AND STACKING SHEETS CONCURRENTLY

ABSTRACT
An apparatus for and a novel method of collating, sorting and stacking sheets concurrently termed "offset collation" is disclosed. The first sheets of sets to be collated, numbering up to the desired number of sets in a job, are transported from an entry station to a unitary bin sheet receiving station via an arcuate sheet transport station having a feed path to and through the aforementioned unitary bin sheet receiving station. These first sheets are stacked in the unitary bin sheet receiving station in an alternate offset fashion clearly demarcating the sets to be collated. The second sheets of the aforementioned sets are then sequentially inserted in the same alternate offset fashion contiguous to the first sheets. The method is repeated until all the sheets comprising a set have been inserted into all the sets. The final result is collated, sorted and stacked sets readied for convenient removal from the unitary bin sheet receiving station by an operator.

Description

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24 1. Field of the Invention This invention relates to an apparatus for and a 26 method of collating, sorting and stacking sheets, and more . ~-~
27 particularly, to the method of "offset collation" using an . -28 "offset collator". I
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~ ?~ 3 3 l 2. Description of the Prior Ar-t

2 The -terms "collate" and "sort" have at -times been

3 usecl interchan~ably in the prior art. Accordlngly, so that ~ the clescript;on hereintofollow is clearly unc~erstood, some definitions are in orderO
6 To "colla-te" is to arrange or assemble aceording 7 to an orderly system oE classification, e.g., by page number 8 or order of sheets. Thus, "collating," as the term is used 9 herein, is integratinq sheets by classifica-tion, and in the case of "co1lation" the classification generally is by page ll number. Consequently~ "collation" is the act or process of 12 "collating", and a "colla-tor" is an apparatus Eor so doing.
13 To Eorm a "set" is to CJrOUp by class:ification.
l~ Thus, the term is used herein, the end product oE "colla-tion" is a plurality of "sets."
16 To "sort" is -to put in a given place or rank 17 accordinc3 -to kind or class, e.g., by s-tacking "se-ts" and/or 13 placing them such -that each is dernarcated from the other so 19 as to be easily identified and handled. Thus, "sorting," as the term is used herein, is segregating by "se-ts." Conse~
21 quently, "sorta-tion" is the ac-t or process of "sorting", and 22 a "sor-ter" is an appara-tus Eor so doing.
23 ~s far as is known, prior ar-t collators have been 24 derived, or based on two methods of collation. These meth-ods or processes are commonly -termed "online collation" and 26 "ofEline collation".
27 In collators using the online colla-tion -technic~uet 2~ all of -the Eirst shee-ts of a mul-tipage document are produced 1 and transported, one eachr to a plurali-ty of discrete bins.
2 q'hen, all of the second sheets of the multipage document are 3 procluced and transported, one each, to -th.e aforementioned

4 plurality o:E discrete bins. This process is repea-ted unti.l.
sets (one each) are built up in -the plurali-ty of discrete bins. Generally, colla-tors of this type are designed to 7 interface with an associated copier r duplica-tor r prillterr or 8 like machine. As a consequence, these colla-~ors become an 9 in-tegral part of the associa-ted reproduction machine adding to the already substantial overall size -thereof.
11 The size o~ online co:Llators and offline coll.ators 12 (to be cliscussed herei.nafter) is clirect].y dependen-t on -the 13 number of discrete bins and the physical dimensions thereof.
14 Generally, the number of discrete bins determines the maxi-mum number of sets that can be run in a particular job. The 16 physical dimensions of -the discrete bins, characterized by 17 their height, width and depth determine the maximum sheet 1~ size that can be processed and the maximum number o sheets 19 per discrete bin.
Since there i.s an overall physical size limita~
21 ti.on, the solution in -the prior art machi.nes has been to Z2 strike a balance between the maximum number of sets that can 23 be rurl in a job and the maximum number of sheets that can 24 comprise a set. Thus, in order to meet the physical size requiremen-t, -typical prior art machines have a capacity of 26 20 sets comprisin~ 100 sheets each giving a total sheet 27 capacity of 2,000.

~ - 3 -1 Consequently, the prior art solution to the physi-2 cal size problem, ~enerally, has been to limi-t the overall 3 physical size oE colla-tors by llmitiny the -total shee-t 4 capacity. Nevertheless, machines in the prior art are s-till large and bulky when comparec1 with their associated reproduc-fi -tion machines.
7 Thus, there is a need in the prior art for a 8 collator oE the online type, i.e., integral with an associ-9 ated reprocluction machine, tha-t has a total sheet capaci-ty of typical prior art colla-tors but yet is smaller in physi-11 cal size -than heretofore realizable.
12 S-ti:l1 reEerring to online collators, there is a 13 built-in operator inconvenience and increased cost in un:Loadiny 1~ these collators. For example, for a 20 bin collator which ls loaded to capacity, 20 separa-te hand motions are required 16 by an operator to unload, and for those collators not havin~
17 automatic stapling, the operator will have to take care not 18 to mix the sets by either s-tapling each set as it is xemoved, 19 or by stacki}lg the sets oEEset from one another -to clearly demarcate them. It is clear that the fore~oing operator 21 actions and cautions are time consumin~3, wasteEul and expensive.
22 ~hus, there is a need in the prior ar-t for a 23 collator of the on].ine type having a typîcal capacity of the 24 prlor art collators tha-t does not require unloading, in the prior art sense, and that provides not only collated sets 26 but sorted and stacked se-ts readled for an operator to 27 remove in a sin~]e hand motion rather than several hand 2g motions.

i 1 I-t is realized that prior art collators of the 2 online type will suEice fox most job requirements in a 3 typica] oEEice environment. However, there are job require-~ ments that cannot be sa-tisEied by a colla-tor haviny a plurality of discrete bins, and, for example, a maximum set capacity G of 20 and a maximum sheet capacity of 100 sheets per set 7 glving a total sheet capacity of 2,000. Even so, it has 8 been found in practice that seldom will there be bo-th a 9 requirement for more than 20 sets and for more than 100 shee-ts per set. No-twi-thstanding -the foregoing, in a typical 11 office enviromnent, there are jobs that require the number 12 of sets to be more than 20, bu-t rarely require more than 100 ]3 sheets per set. Thus, prior ar-t onllne collators have 14 limitations in job flexihility characterized by the number o~ discrete bins and the sheet capacity of each bin.
16 As a consequence of the Eoregoing, there is a need 17 in the prior art or an online collator having substantially 18 inflnlte job Elexibllity llmi-ted only by -the total number of 19 sheets in a job rather than the total number oE sets in a job, or the total number of sheets in a set~
21 As previously mentloned, there is another well 22 known technique of collating termed offline collation wherein 23 the collators derived therefrom are generally complete 24 within themselves. Since these collators are not designed to operate and lnter~ace with a host reproduction machine, 26 they are generally larger in size, ~and, accordingly, have 27 more discrete bins and more sheets per bin capacity than 28 online collators.

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- 5 -l Using the oEfline collation technique, the general 2 procedure is to produce from a mul-tipage document, all of 3 pages l, then all of pages 2 and so forth. Then, a sorter 4 is generally usecl to sort ancl s-tack like pages by jogging - 5 the sets to demarcate between the pages l, -the pages 2 and

6 so forth. The sheets are then taken, or transported to the

7 o-~Eline collator whereat all oE the pages l are put into a

8 bin, and all o:E the pages 2 are put into another bin and so g forth. Finally, the oEEline colla-tor operates -to take pages out of each of the bins to make a collated set. The process 11 is continued untll the desired number of se-ts have been 12 made.
13 In order -to acquire the additional sheet capacity 14 possible ~ith offline collators, the aEorementioned incon- :
15 veniences are contended with in the special applicatlons 16 warranti.ng the use of such a collator. Never-theless, this 17 collation technique is still-limited to the number of dis-18 crete bins in the colla-tor. Thus, the to-tal sets in a job l9 ~enerally cannot comprise more pages~of a like kind than there are discre-te bins.
21 ~lence, there is a need in the prior art for an 22 offline colla-tor having substantially infinite job flexi-~ 23 bility limited only by the total number of sheets in a job .~ 24 ra-ther than the total number of sets in a job, or the total number o:E sheets in a set, and at the same time be smaller 26 in physical size -than pri.or art oEfline collators wl-th 27 compatible total sheet capacity.

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2 Accordingly, an important ob-ject oE the present 3 ;nvention ls to collate, sort and stac]c sheets concurrently 4 using a unibin offset collator.
A further objec-t of the present invention is to 6 reduce the physical size of onli.ne ancl oEfline collators 7 without compromising -the total shee-t handliny capacity ~ thereof.

9 Yet ano-ther objec-t of the present invention is to substantially increase job flexibi~ity in online and offline 11 ~ollators, job flexibility being limi-ted only by the total 12 numher oE sheets in a job rather than the -total number of 13 sets in a job, or the to-tal number of sheets in a set.
14 Still another object of the present invention is 15 to elirninate the necessity of multiple and separate hand -16 motions by an operator to unload online collators and offlille 17 collators, but requiring instead only a single hand mo-tion 18 to unload.
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S[IMMARY OF THE`IMVENTION
21 The apparatus for and method of collating, sorting 22 and stacking shee-ts concurren-tly, according -to the inven-23 tion, by ~hich these and other objects, features and advan-24 tages are accomplished are characteri.zed by a unib.in offset collator having a unitary bin sheet receiving station for 26 receiving and supporting the aforesaid sheets in such a way 27 that collated, sorted and stacked sets therein are readied 28 for convenient removal therefrom by an operator.
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1 The apparatus, according to the invention, oper~
2 a-tes so that from a sheet entry station, -the sheets are 3 routed to an arcuate sheet txansport s-ta-tion which orms an arcua-te sheet transport pat~l from the s~leet entry station to and -through the unitary bin sheet receiving station. Included .~ 6 in the arcuate sheet transport station are a plurality of 7 sheet yrippers for gripping, positioning and transporting 8 sheets, to be collated, sorted and s-tacked into sets, in an 9 alterna-te ofEset fas}lion to the unitary bin sheet receiving station, aforementloned. ~s a consequence, the firs-t shee-ts, 11 e~g., all of the pages 1 oE a multipage document, are trans-12 ported to the unitary bin of the unitary bin sheet receiving 13 statlon and .inserted thereln in the aforementioned alternate 14 offset fashio~ lso a reciprocating sheet separator support mechanism is disposed adjacent to the unitary bin, and 16 cooperates therewith to cause proper sequential insertion oE
17 the sheets therein, thereby forming the colla-ted, sorted and 18 stacked sets.
19 The method, accordiny to the invention, embodies -the novel concept of "o:Efset coIlation." In oEfset colla-21 tion, the first sheets, e.g. all of the payes 1 of a multi-2~ page document, of sets to be collated - and as an outgrowth 23 oE the method, sorted and stacked - numbering up -to the ~4 number of sets desired, are inserted and stacked in the unitary bin of the unitary bin sheet receiving station, each 26 of -the first slleets being alternately offse-t Erom each o-ther 27 clearly demarcating -the sets to be collated. Then, -the 28 second sheets are sequentially inser-ted contiguous to the : :
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1 first sheets. The method is repeated until all the sheets comprising a set have been inserted in-to all the sets. The final result is collated, sorted and stacked sets readied for convenient removal from the unitary bin.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
The foregoing and other objects, novel features and advantages of the invention will be apparent from the following more particular description of the preferred embodiment as illustrated in the accompanying drawings, in which:
FIG. 1 is a perspective view of the apparatus, according to the invention, showing, inter alia, the principal elements thereof;
FIG. 2 is a segmented perspective view of the apparatus according to the invention, depicting how sheets are gripped and skewed in an offset fashion;
FIG. 3 is a side elevational view of the appara-tus, according to the invention, depicting, inter alia, the arcuate sheet transport station, and showing the arcuate sheet transport path to and through the unitary bin sheet receiving station;
FIG. 4 is a sectional view of FIG. 3, taken along the lines 4-4 showing, inter.alia, how the unitary bin of the unitary bin sheet receiving station is raised and lowered;
FIG~ 5 is a segmented persp~ctive view of the . apparatus, according to the invention, showing how a sheet is released from a sheet gripper into the unitary bin of the .-.:.:
unitary bin sheet receivin~ statio~;

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1 FIGS. 6a -through 6b show segmented plan vlews, 2 in-ter alia, o:E the reciproca-ting sheet separator suppor-t 3 mechanism accordinc~ -to the i.nvention;
9 FIGS. 7a through 7f illustrate the me-thod of "of~set collati.on", according to the invention, ancl illus-6 tra-te, by example, the processing of a job comprising 9 sets 7 having 25 shee-ts each;
~ FIG. 8 i.s a circuit diagram of -the control logic 9 accordlng -to the invention; and 1~ . FIG. 9 is a tlming diagram illustra-ting the sequen-11 tial inter-relationship of the various elements, according 12 to tlle inventi.on, during the processing of sheets to be 13 collated, sorted and s-tacked using the method oE "oEfset 1.4 collation"

16 DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EM~ODIMENT
17 The following is a description, according to the 18 invention, of the apparatus for and the method oE collating, 19 sorting and stacking sheets concurrently. ~`he operation of the apparatus, according to the invention, is described and 21 explained hereinafter under the headi.ng "Statement of the 22 Operation".
23 Referring now to FIG. 1, first, second and -third 24 sheets 10, 12 and 14, respectively, are shown processed or being processed in unibin otfset collator 16 which comprises 26 sheet entry s-tation 18, arcuate sheet transpor-t station 20 27 and unitary bin sheet receiving station 22.
28 Sheet entry station 18 is a mechanism that can be 29 easily interfaced with the sheet exit area of a copier, ~ 1 o 1 duplicator, prlnter or l:ike machine, lE unlbl~ offset ~ol-2 lator 16 is to be used as an online collator. If unibin 3 ofEset co]la-tor 16 ls to be used as an offline collator, sheet entry station 18 c~n be in-ter:Eaced with any well known sequential sheet feedex.
6 Still referrlng -to FIG. 1, sheet entry statlon 18 7 comprises, inter alia, lower sheet guide 24 and upper sheet 8 guide 260 A pair of low friction urging rollers 28 and 30 g are fixly connected to urging roller shaft 32 which, in turn, is journaled to urging roller shaft tabs 34 and 36 11 inteyral to upper sheet guide 26, aforementioned. Urging 12 roller shaft 32 is operatively coupled -to a motor (not 13 shown) for supplying su~ficierlt driving :Eorce -there-to, and 1~ accordingly, to low friction urgi.ng rollers 28 and 30 for . 15 feeding a sheet, for example, third sheet 14, to arcuate 16 sheet transpor-t station 20. Mounted to the top surface of 17 upper sheet ~uide 26 is lever actuated sheet path swi-tch 38 18 for detecting the presence or absence of a sheet at arcuate l~ sheet transport station 20. Also, mounted to the top surface of upper shèet guide 26 are flrst and second lever actuated 21 sheet gripper posi-tion switches 40 and 42, Eor detecting, 22 respectively, the one of -two possible sheet transporting :-~
23 conditions. Details of the:foregoing will be discussed more 24 fully in the "Statemen-t of -the Opera-tion" hereintofollow.
Con-tlnuing, and stlll referring -to FIG. 1, arcuate 26 sheet transport sta-tion 20, previously mentioned, comprises, 27 in-ter alia, a plurality of gripper belt pulleys 44, 46, 48, 28 50, 52, 54, 56 and 58. The aforementioned pulleys, in 1 pairs, are fixly connected to a plurality of gripper bel1 2 pulley shaEts 6Q, 62, 64 and gripper bel-t pulley drive shaft 3 66, respective.l.y. Each of the aforementioned shafts are 4 journaled to mai}l support frame 68 ancl disposed so -that when ~ripper transpor-ting timing belts 70 and 72 are placed on gripper belt pulleys 44, 48, 52 and 56, and 46, 50, 54 and 7 5$, respectively, the arcuate shee-t path oE arcuate sheet 8 transport s-ta-tion 20 is formed thereby.
g To continue with the description of arcuate sheet transport sta-tion 20 of unibin oEfset collator 16, fixly 11 connected to yripper belt pulley drive shaft 66 is drive 12 shaft pulley 7~. Gripper clrive motor -timing belt 76 couples 13 dri.ve shaft pulley 74 -to yripper drive motor 78 via yripper 1~ drive ~otor pulley 80 fixly connected -to gripper drive motor . .
shaft $2.
16 ~lso, shown in FIG. 1 are first and second sheet 17 grlppers 84 and $6 each being fixly connected to gripper l$ transpor-ting timing belts 70 and 72, and perpendicular to 19 the shee-t path, 9uch that the aforementioned sheet grippers move therewi-th. In phantom line depictlon are firs-t and 21 second shee-t grippers 84 and 86 shown in ~ forward advanced 22 position clearly illus-tra-ting the prior processing, in an 23 al-ternate offset fashi.on, of first and second sheets 10 and 12 by first and second sheet yrippers $4 and $6, respectively.
Firs-t and second sheet grippers 84 and $6 each 26 includes first and second sheet gripper bars B8 and 90, resyectively. First sheet gripper bar 88 includes a pl.ural-28 ity o~ Eirst sheet yrlpper bar serrated contours 92, g4, 96 3~

1 and 98. Also, a-ttachecl-to :Eirst shee-t gripper bar 88 is 2 first shee-t yripper bar elevated contour 100 .~or actuating 3 :Eirst lever actuated shee-t gripper position switch 40, 4 aEorementioned, indicatiny thereby, the proper positioning of first sheet gripper 8~ to receive a sheet -to be trans-6 ported as shown in FIGo 1~ Additionally at-tached to first 7 sheet gripper bar 88 is first sheet grippe:r bar recessed 8 contour 102 which operates to maintain second lever actuated 9 sheet gripper position switch 42, aforementioned, deactu-

10 a-ted. Accordingly, the aforemen-tioned switches indicate to .

11 -the system control logic circuitry the proper conditions for

12 the feedi.ny of a sheet to first sheet gripper 84.

13 Integral ancl perpendieular to first sheet gripper

14 bar 88 are a plurality of first shee-t yripper arms 104, 106 and 108, each respectively longer in leng-th. Fi~ly connee-16 ted -to eaeh o:E the aforementioned firs-t sheet gripper arms . ~ -17 are a plurality oE first sheet gripper clips 110, 112 and 18 114.
19 Likewise, second sheet gripper bar 90 ineludes a plural.ity of second sheet gri.pper bar serrated con-tours 116, 21 118, 120 and 122. Also, a~tached to second sheet gripper 22 bar 90 is second shee-t gripper bar elevated contour 124 for 23 actuating second lever actua-ted sheet gripper position 24 swltch 42, aforementionea. Additionally attached to second shee-t gripper bar 90 is second sheet gripper bar recessed 26 contour 126 whieh operates to maintain first lever aetuated 27 sheet gripper posltion switeh 40 deac-tuated. Thus, the 28 eombination of the two aforementioned switch conditions ~ .~ ,, .
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1 indicates to the system control logic the proper position of 2 second sheet gripper 86 for re~eiving a sheet. ^
3 Second sheet cJr:ipper bar 90 further includes a 4 plurality of second sheet gripper arms 128, 130, and 132 integral and perpendicular thereto, each of the aforemen-~ 6 tioned second sheet gripper arms, respectively, and progres-- 7 sively, having shor-ter lengths in contradisti.nction to the 8 aforementioned first shee-t gripper arms. Fixly connected to 9 the aforementioned second sheet gripper arms are a plurality lr) of second sheet gripper clips 134, 136, and 138.
11 ReEerr.ing now to FIGS. 1 and 2 concurren-tly, entry 12 camming contour pla-te 140, :Eixly at-tached to main suppor-t 13 fram~ 68, has situated thereon a plurality of ~irst shee-t 14 gripper entry camming contours 142, 144 and 146 for camming . 15 open first sheet gripper clips 110, 112 and 114, respec-16 tively and simultaneously, ln order to gri.p a sheet to be 17 processed. Similarly, second sheet gripper en-try camming 18 contours 148, 150 and 152 also si-tua-ted on entry camminy 19 contcur plate 142 operate to cam open second sheet gripper clips 134, 136 and 138, respectively and simul-taneously.
21 Still re[erring to FIGS. 1 and 2 concurrently, but 2.2 primarily to FIG. 2, as a sheet, e.g., third shee-t 14 makes 23 lever ac-tuated sheet path switch 38 and firs-t sheet gripper 24 84 is at the home positLon, i.e., in a position to properly ~, 25 receive a sheet as indicated to the system control logic by 26 the making of first lever ac-tuated sheet gripper position .~ 2'7 switch 40, third sheet 14 is.driven forward by lo~ friction -~
28 urg.ing rollers 28 and 30. No~ as shown in FIG. 2, first ~ .

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1 sheet gripper clips 110, 112 and 114 are cammed ope.n as 2 aforementioned. Thus, sheet 14 is driven forward such -tha-t 3 when the left side thereo:E contacts first sheet gripper clip 4 110 it is stopped -ttlereby. Due to the low friction drive of low friction urying rollers 28 and 30, posi-tive drive by low .
~ friction uryiny roller 28 stops whiJe posi-tive drive is - 7 continued by low friction urging roller 30. Accordingly, 8 the right side of third sheet 14 is driven into and contacts 9 first sheet gripper clip 112. The dotted outline of third shee-t 14 depicts its skewed or offset position aEter the 11 foregoing operation. It is clear that when first shee-t 1.2 gripper 84 moves forward first shee-t gripper clips 110t 112 .1.3 and 114 close firmly gripping thi.rd shee-t 14. ~s illus-1~ trated in FIG. 2 thircl sheet 14 is of a standard size, e.g., 8.5 inches by 11 inches. But as clearly shown, legal size, 16 e.y., 8.5 inches by 14 inches can be used. In the case oE a 17 legal size sheet, it will be addi-tionally gripped by first 18 sheet gripper clip 114.
19 Still referring to E'IGS. 1 and 2, envision the 20 feedi.llg of the subsequent or next sheet, from what has been 2l. previousl~ clescribc>d, it i.s clear that this sheet will be 22 sJcewed or offset i.n an alternate fashion to third sheet 14.
23 More about this aspect of the inven-tion is covered in the 24 dlscussion of the me-thod according to the invention hereinto-25 follow, and in the "Statement of the Opera-tion" of the ....
26 invention hereinafter.
27 Referring now to ~IGS. 1 and 3 concurrentlyl 28 unltary bin sheet receiving sta-tion 22 comprises r in-ter

- 15 -1 alia, movable sheet platform 1.54 which has integral -thereto --2 a plurali-ty of sheet platform suppo.r-t pulley blocks 156, 158 3 (be-t-ter depicted in FIG. 4), 160 and :L62. Opera-tively 4 connected to each ol the aforementioned sheet plat:Eorm support pulley blocks are a plurality oE sheet platform lift 6 pulleys 16~, 166 (depicted in FIG. 4), 168, and 170. An 7 additional part of unitary bin sheet receiving station 22 is 8 a pair o sheet platform lift pulley blocks 172 and 174 9 integral -to main suppor-t frame 68. Operatively connected to the a:Eorementioned shee-t platEorm l.~ft pulley blocks respec-11 tively are sheet platform liEt pu:lleys 176 and 178.
L2 To continue, and additionally referr;.ny to FIG. 4 13 concurrently, sheet platform suppor-t cable 180 has an end 14 secured to one side of mai.n support frame 68 and is routed 15 under sheet platform support pulley 166 and over sheet

16 platform support pulley 164 with the other end secured -to

17 the other side o~ main support frame 68. Similarly, sheet ~8 platform support cable 182 is secured -to the same one side L9 o:E main support frame 68 and routed under sheet pla-torm support pulley 168 and over shèet pl.at~orm support pulley 21 170 Wit}l the other end secured -to the sarne other side of 22 main support frame 68. Thus, movable sheet pla-tform 154 is 23 secured in a balanced condition and has the capability of 24 being raised or lowered while maintaining this balanced condition.
2G The raising or lowering of movable sheet platform 27 154 is accomplished by securing one end oE sheet platform 2~ lift cable 184 at sheet platform suppor-t pulley block 156 o ~ , ' , .

1 movable sheet pla-tform 154 and securing one end of sheet 2 pla-tform lift cable 186 at sheet platEorm support pulley 3 block 162 thereof. The aforementioned cables are then 4 routed respecti~ely over shee-t pla-tform lift pulleys 176 and 178 with their o-ther ends syrnmetri.cally spaced and secured 6 to sheet platform lift shaft 188. Sheet platform lift shaft 7 188, in turn, is journaled into sheet platform lift shaft supports 190 and 192 secured -to main support frame 68 there-9 by allowing free rotation of the aforementioned lift shaft.
Driviny power to sheet pla-tform lift shaft 188 for raising 11 or lowering movable sheet platform 154 is provided by sheet 12 platform li:Et mo-tor 1~4 via sheet platform lift motor timing ]-3 belt 196. This timing belt couples shee-t platform lift 14 motor pulley 198, fi.xl.y attached to sheet platform lift motor shaft 200, and sheet platEorm lift shaft pulley 202, 16 fixly attached to sheet platform lift shaft 188, aforementiolled.
17 Movable sheet platform 154 is also configured to

18 include sheet platform arcuate cutout 212, the purpose of

19 which is explained hereinbelow in the description of FIGS.
6a ancl 6b.
21 Re~:erring now to FIGS. 1 and 4 concurrently, 22 movable sheet platform 154 is configured to work in conjunc-23 tion with sheet stack constraining wall 214, included in 24 unitary bin sheet receiving station 22, and includes a 2S plurality of sheet platform res-training ta~s 204, 206, 208, 26 and 210, for restraining the forward motion of alternate 27 sheets tha-t are being concurrently collated, sor-ted and 28 stacked. Sheet stack constraining wall 214 is disposecl o L7 :

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1 ~uxtapositioned -to the back edge of movable sheet pla-t:Eorm 2 154 and securely fastened -to main support frame 68 so that 3 as sheets are constra:ined, -they will con.Eorm alternately in 4 an o:Efset Eashion -to the wal1. configuration -thereof. In addition, sheet s-tack constraining wa.ll 214 includes a 6 plurality of constraining wall retaining tab cutouts 216, 7 213, 220, and 222 which are the mirror images of the afore-8 mentioned sheet retaining tabs 204, 206, 208 and 210, respec-9 tively, and disposed thereabove such tha-t an exit space is provided throuyh sheet stack cons-training wall 214 for Eirst 11 and second sheet grippers 84 and 86, previously mentioned.
12 It should be clear that first sheet gr;pper bar serrated 13 contours 92, 94, 96 and 98, arld second sheet gripper bar 14 serrated contours 120, 122, 124 and 126 due to -the configura-tions thereof, can nego-tiate the aforementioned exit space 16 pxovided. Thus, in carryiny out the rnethod oE the inven-17 tion, the aforementioned sileet grippers travel to and through 1~ unitary bin sheet receiving station 22.
19 Referring to FIGS. 1 and 5 concurrently, af:Eixed to the backside of sheet stack constraining wall 214 is exit 21. camming con-tour plate 224 having disposed and afEixed thereto 22 d plurality of Eirst shee-t gripper exit camming contours 23 228, 230/ and 232, and a plurality of second sheet gripper 24 exit camming contours 234, 236, and 238. The aforementioned sheet gripper exit camming contours are situated such that 26 the plurality o:E first shee-t gripper clips 110, 112, and 114 27 of Eirs-t sheet gripper 84 are cammed open respectively and 28 simultaneously by the aforemen-tioned plurality of first .~
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1 sheet cJripper exi-t camrning contours thereby releasiny a --2 sheet to be concurrently collated, sorted and s-tacked into 3 movable sheet pla-t.Eorm 154. ~rhe corresponding plurality oE
4 sheet restrainin~ tabs, aforementionedl operate, collcur-rently, to res-train -the forward motion oE the sheetu 6 Similarly, the plurality of second sheet gripper clips 134, 7 136~ and 138 of second sheet gripper 86 are cammed open 8 respect:ively and simultaneously by the aEorementioned plural-9 ity of second shee-t yripper exit camming contours -thereby L0 releasing a sheet to be concurrently collated, sorted and 11 s-tacked into movable sheet platform 154. I.ikewise, the 12 co:rresponclincJ plurality of sheet restraining tabs, aEoremen-L3 t:ioned, operate, concurrently, to restrain the forward 14 motion of this sheet.
. 15 Referring again to FIGS. 3 and 4 concurrentlyl but : lG primarily to FIG. 4, sheet platform indexing light source 17 238 is disposed on and secured to one side of main support 18 frame 68, and disposed on and secured to the one other side ]-9 -thereof, and in line with sheet platEorm inde~l.ng light source 238, aforementioned i.s sheet platorm indexing light 21 sensor 240. Ilence, a narrow light beam either traverses the 22 paper path o.r is blocked therefrom providing -thereby, informa-23 tiOll to the system control logic to lower and/or stop move-24 ment of movable sheet platform 154. Also mounted on the one o-ther side of main support frame 68 are sheet platform lever ~ 26 actuated upper limi-t switch 242 and sheet platform lever ~7 actuated lower limit switch 244. The aforementioned upper ~ limit switch indicates to the system con-trol logic a condi-: ~ .
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- 19 - ~:

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1 tion for the start of operation, and conversely, -the aforemen- _ 2 -tioned lower l.imit switch indicates -to the system control 3 loyic a conditi.on ~or the comple-tion o~ operation.
4 The ~oregoiny conditions and operations are explained more Eully hereinafter under the headinq "Statement of -the 3~ 6 Operation".
7 Referrlng now to FIGS. 1, 6a and 6b concurren-tly, :
8 but pri.maxily to E~IGS. 6a and 6b, reciprocating sheet sepa-9 ra-tor support mechanism 2~6, a part o~ unitary bin receiving station 22, is disposecl symme-trically about -the shee-t path l] and comprises, in-ter alia, reciproca-ting sheet separator 12 supporter mountinc3 bar 248 fixly attached to the sides of 1.3 main support frarne 68. Pivotally attached to -the aforemen-14 tioned mounting bar is one end of reciprocating sheet sepa-15 ra-tor supporter arm 250. On -the other end thereof is ]6 rotatively mounted sheet fric-tion reducing roller 252.
17 Being freely rotatable, sheet friction reducing roller 252 18 reduces the drag friction on sheets being concurrently 19 collated, sor-ted and stacked during the reciprocating action o reciprocating sheet separator supporter arm 250. Fixly ~1 attached to the end, aforemehtioned, o reciprocating sheet 22 separator suppor-ter arm 250 is reciprocating hell crank 254.
23 Continuinc~, reciprocating position solenoid 256 is 24 affixed to slidable moun~ting bracket 258 whichr in turn, i.s 25 operatively secured to reciproca-ting sheet separa-tor sup-26 por-ter mounting bar 248 by~ shoulder asteners 260 and 262.
27 Also, operatively connected to reciprocating position sole-28 noid 256, aorementioned, is reciprocating pOSiti OII solenoid .
:~

- 20 -.~ .

l plungex 264 which has fixly a-ttached thereto reciprocatiny -2 position solenoid link 266. Reciprocatinc3 position solenoid 3 link 266 operatively couples reciprocating position solenoid ~ 256 to reciproca-tiny bell crank 254 such that upon activa-tiOII of reciprocating position solenoid 256, reciprocating h sheet separator supporter arm 250 is reciprocated from a 7 first position to a second position as shown in phantom 8 detail in FIG. 6a. In addition, as aforementioned, sheet 9 platEorm arcuate cu-tout 212 allows reciprocating sheet separator supporter arm 250 to reciprocate freely ~rom the ll Eirst position to the second position.
12 l~eferriny now primarily to FIG. 6b, reciprocating ]-3 sheet separator suppor-tor arm 250 is shown in a -third or 1~ home position. In order to accomplish the foregoing, home l-5 position solenoid 268 is securely attached to reciprocating 16 sheet separator supporter mounting bar 248. Operatively 17 connec-ted -to home position solenoid 268 is home posi-tion 18 solenoid plunger 270 which is Eixly at-tached to slidable 19 mounting bracke-t 258. Accordingly, when home position solenoid 268 is activatecl by the system control logic,

21 reciprocating sheet separa-tor supporter arm 250 is rotated

22 to the third or home position as shown. Thus, with recipro-

23 cating sheet separator supporter arm 250 in this position, 2~ movable sheet pla-tform 154 can be raised or lowered without disturbing the sheets therein.
26 Finally, when home position solenoid 268 is deac-27 -tivated/ reciproca-ting position solenoid return spring 272 t ~8 having one end fixly a-ttached to reciprocating sheet separa-- 21 - ~ ~

l -tor supporter mounting bar 248, and the o-ther end thereof 2 fixly attached -to reci.procating bell crank 254, supplies a 3 return ~orce w.hich causes reciprocatiny sheet separator 4 suppor~.er arm 250 to rotate, to the .first position and reciprocating position solenoid 256 via slidable mounting 6 bracke-t 258 to slide back into position as shown in FIG. Ga.
7 Al-though -the me-thod, according to the invention, ~3 termed "of-fse-t co].lation" has been discussed indirectly in 9 describiny -the apparatus according to the i.nventi.on i-t can 1.0 bet-ter be unders-tood by referring to FIGS. 7a through 7f in ll sec~uence along witll the discussion hereintofollow.
12 By way of example, assume the job size and job 1~ configuration, to be concurrently collated, sorted and ~ stacked, to consist of nine (9) se-ts with each set contaning lS twen-ty five (25) sheets or pages. Thus for -thls example, 16 the tota:L number of sheets in the job, i.e., job size, is 17 two hundred -twenty five (225).
l8 It should be clear that the method herein to be 19 further described has no limitations as to job size or job con.f:iyuration, l.e., the number oE sets in a job or the 21 number of sheets in a set. However, the apparatus to carry 22 ou-t the method has practical limitations due to the wei.yht 23 o~ the sheets and the height of a stack that can be conve-: 24 niently handled by an operator.
2S As illustrated in FIG. 7a, the method of offset 2(, collation is -taking place. However, prior -to the start of 2ï collation, the system control logic has initiated and com-2~ p].eted a "homing procedure". At the s-tart of -the "homing ' - 2~ -.

~ 3 ~

1 procedure", reciprocatiny shee-t separator supporter arm 250 2 is in pOS.itiOIl 3 SO -tha-t movable sheet plat~orm 154 as 3 indicated by the d:irection arrow c~n be raised -to a "home position", or a posi-tion to receive shee-ts. Sheet platform indexing light source 238 and sheet platEorm inde~ing light 6 sensor 240 cooperates with -the a~orementioned system control 7 logic such tha-t the li.gllt beam ~rom sheet platfo.rm indexing licJh-t source 238 is not obstrllcted. In addition~ reciproca-g ting sheet separator supporter arm 250 is rotated lo posi-tion 1 as shown. 'l'hus, when sheet 1 of set 1, i.e., a shee-t 11 corresponding -to an odd set, is .inserted into movable sheet 12 platEorm 154, reciprocati.ng sheet separator supporter arm 13 250 is i.n position 1. On the other hand, as shown by the 14 phantom view thereof, when a sheet corresponding to an even set, such as sheet 1 of se-t 8, is inserted in to mo~a~le 16 sheet platform 154, reciprocatin~ sheet separator supporter 17 arm 250 is in position 2~
18 Accordingly, when sheets corresponding to odd se-ts 19 are inser-ted in-to movable sheet platform 154, reciprocating shee-t separator supporter arm 250 is in pOSitiOII 1. and when 21 shee-ts corresponclincJ -to odd sets are inserted, reci.procating 22 sheet separator supportor arm 250 is rotated to posi-tion.2.
23 Pur-thermore, during -the o~set colla-tion opera-tion, the

24 ligllt beam is not obstructed. Hence, as shown, the next sheet i.n se~uence, that i.s shee-t 1 of se-t 9, is being inserted 26 into movable sheet platform 154 by first sheet gripper 84.
27 It should be noted that the sheets have been inserted alter-28 nately in an offset ashion, the offset clearly demarcating each first sheet from adjacent ~irst sheets.

1 ~s further illustratecl in FIG. 7b, another "homing 2 procedure" ilas been initiatecl and completed, and as depic~
3 ted, reciprocatiny sheet separator suppor-ter arm 250 is 4 supporting and separat:ing ~.he first 9 sheets corresponding to sheet 1 or page 1 respec-tively of -t:he 9 sets to be concur-6 ren-tly collated, sorted and stacked. As indicated in the 7 discussion of FIG. 7a, a "homing procedure" is initiated by 8 the system control l.ogi.c. Thus, reciprocating sheet separ-9 ator suppor-ter arm 250 is rotated to posi-tion 3 or the "home :L0 position". Then, movable sheet platform 154 i.s raised in 11 the direction shown by the arrow in ~IG. 7a until the light 1.2 beam from sheet platform indexi.n~ light source 23~ is obstruc- :
13 ted by movable sheet platEorm 154. This is the topmost 14 position of movable sheet platform 154. In the mean-time, : 15 reciprocating shee-t separator supporter arm 250 is rotated 16 to position 1 such that i-t is benea-th the shee-ts in movable 17 sheet pla-tform 154. Now since the light beam, previous.Ly 1~3 mentioned, is obstructed, movable shee-t platform 154 is 19 lowered as shown by the direction arrow in FIG. 7b. Thus, -the left corner, i..e., the odd separation and support corner, 21 of the alternately stacked sheets in movable sheet platEorm 22 154 is supported by reciproca-ting sheet suppor-tor separater 23 arm 250 as shown. Also as shown, the light beam is no '4 longer obstructed. Consequently, the conditions are correct for the insertion of sheet 2 i.e., the second page of set 1 26 by firs-t sheet yripper g4. It should be noted that sheet 1 27 of set 1 is resting directly on reciprocating sheet separa-2~ tor supporter arm 250.
.~ .

~ - 24 -l Referriny now to FIG. 7c, the sequence of oper-2 ation is such -that reciprocating sheet separator supporter 3 arm 250, while still suppor-ting the shee-ts i5 rotated -to ~i position 2, thereby dropping sheet l oE set l onto shee-t 2 S oE set l. Thus, reciprocat:iny sheet separator supporter arm 6 250 is now supportincJ -the rigllt corner, i.e., the even 7 separation and support corner, of the alternately s-tacked 8 sheets in movable sheet platform 154. Also, as shown, sheet ~ l of set 2 is resting directly on reciprocating sheet separa--tor supporter arm 250 such that sheet 2 of se-t 2 is inser-11 ted, by second sheet yripper 86, contiguous to sheet l of 12 set 2. ~:Eter insertion, rec.iprocating sheet separator 13 supporter arm 250 is rotated -to position l, there~y dropping ].4 sheet l oE set 2 onto sheet 2 thereof.
Continuiny, and still reEerring -to FIG. 7c, the 16 light beam from sheet platform indexing light source 238 17 -time is not obstructed. However, after abou-t 25 sheets have ; 18 been inser-ted into movable sheet pla-tform 154, the light 19 beam will become obs-tructed. Consequen-tly, the sys-tem control logic will operate to cause movable sheet plat:Eorm 21 154 to be lowered, as indicated by the clirection arrow, 2.2 un-til the light beam from shee-t pla-tform indexing li.ght 23 source 238 to sheet platform indexing light sensor 240 is no 24 longer obs-tructed~ After the foregoing operation, the method is continued as previously described.
26 FIG. 7d depicts the method of "offse-t col.lation"
2t at a later point in time at which sets l through 7 have been 28 completed. Thus, as shown, reciprocating sheet separator ~ 25 '' , ~s~L33 1 supporter arm 250 is in position 2 supporting the right 2 corner of set 8, no-t completed. However, as f~rther illus~
3 trated, sheet 25 of set 8 is being inserted into movable sheet platform 154 by second sheet gripper 86, thereby completing se-t 8. It should also be noted that as the height oE the stack increases, movable sheet platform 154 is 7 lowered whenever the light beam from shee-t platform indexing lignt source 238 is obstructed from sheet plat~orm indexing 9 light sensor 240. As aforementioned, -this operation occurs, each time, after the insertion of about 25 sheets in movable ll sheet platform 154.
12 For the exarnple illustrated, FIG. 7e dep:ic-ts sheet 13 25 of set 9 being inserted in-to movable sheet platform 154 .~l by first sheet gripper 84. Reciprocating sheet separator supporter arm 250 is shown in posltion 1 ~upporting the left 16 corner of set 9, not completed. Up to this point in time, 8 17 sets have been comple-ted. However, as further illustrated, 18 reciprocating shee-t separator supporter arm 250, after the 19 insertion of sheet 25 of set 9, is rotated to posit:ion 2, thereby dropping the prior inserted sheets of set 9 on-to 21 sheet 25 -thereof.
22 E'IG. 7f depicts the final operation of the method 23 according to the invention. As shown, all 9 sets have been ~24 completed at which;time reciprocating sheet separator sup~
porter arm 250 is rotated to position 3 or the "home posi-26 tion". Movable sheet platform 154, as shown by the direc-27 tion a.rrowj is raised to i-ts upper position making it conve-28 nient for an operator to remove the concurrently collated,sorted and s-tacked sets.

, ~ ' , .
. . . . . . . .. . .
.. - . .. . ,, ~ , .
.

1 STATEMENT OF T~IE OPERATION
2 Details of -the operation, according to the inven-3 -tion, are now described primarlly in conjunc~ion with the ~ schematic diagram oE FXG. 8 and the timing diagram of FIG.
9. ~lements of the apparatus, accordiny to the inven-tion, 6 shown in FIGS. l -through 6b -that correspond to ~hose depic 7 ted by schema-tic representation in FIG. 8 are represen-ted by ~ the same reference numbers~ However, those elements not 9 previously described are represented by addi-tic)n designa-]0 tions as shown in -the system control logic schema-tic of FIG.
Il 8.
12 As can be seen from FIG. ~, the inst~nt invention ].3 uses e:Lec-tro-mechanlcal -technoloyy for loyic control in l4 order -to simplify -the loyie requirements, i.e., the number ~' of independent functions -to be performed, and also to allow 16 these functions to be more or less mechanically automated.
17 Notwithstanding -the foregoiny, this does not mean -that a lR more sophisticated -technoloyy for logic control, e.g., solid 19 sta-te (micro~processors), has not been contempla-ted.
Referrillg then to FIG. 8, at the hegirlning of 2l operation, a "homing procedure" is initiated by a ground 22 potential siynal being applied -to movable sheet platEorm 23 homing signal line 274. If the apparatus of -the invention 24 is to be used as an "online collator", -then -the aforemen-tioned ground potential or homing signal is -taken from its 26 associated copierf duplica-tor, prin-ter or like machine.
27 These machines usually have, incorporatecl therein, a continu-28 ous counter which is operated elec-tro-mechanically on each ,~ .

.

1 copy c~cle. The con-tinuous counter has a copy number selec-2 tor dial having, -Eor example, 21 numbered positions. Thus, 3 if an operator sets -the copy number selector di.al to ten 4 (10), as copies are made, the copy number selector dia] is driven, electro-mechanically, down to zero (0) at which 6 point the aforementioned ground potential signal is provided 7 to be used for various func-tions in the copier. This is -the 8 signal tha-t is applied to movable sheet plat:Eorm homing g signal line 274 -to start the "homing procedure". For a complete explanation of an electro-mechanical continuous 11 counter that is -typical of those used in reproduction machines 12 such as the IBM Copier II, see "Copier II Service Manual", ~3 Form Mo. 2~ 5705-0, Auc3ust, 1972, pages 1~1 and 1~2.
1~ On the other hand, if the apparatus of the inven-~5 -tion is to be used as an "offline collator", and have some 16 measure of automation, then electro-mechanical down counter 17 276 is used as shown in FIG. 8. For purposes of the inven-18 tion, elec-tro-mechanical. down counter ~76 can be simpler, in 19 configuration and opera-tion, than -the devices commonly used in copiers such as the IBM Copier II. This is so because 21 -the cJround poten-tial signal is to be used only for a single 22 function. Thus, electro-mechan.ical down counter 276 can 23 comprise a knob, with an ind1cator thereon, mountecl on a 2~ shdft, whi.ch may be rotated by an operator to one of several detented positions such that the indicator points -to a 26 number 0 -throuc3h N on a dial. ~lso mounted on -the shaft~can 27 be a ra-tchet with N teeth, and a cam with one lobe for 28 actuating a switch when the indica-tor is at the zero (?

- 28 ~ ~ -.

1 position~ A pawl, actuated by a solenoid, can work in 2 conjunction with the ratchet such that when the solenold is 3 energized i.t causes ~he shaEt to rotate, -thereby moving the 4 indicator to -the next lower number.
To cont.inue r the ground po-tential or homing f signal through the normally closed contact R3-1 of Relay 3, 7 picks or energizes Relay 1 which is held energized or la-tched 8 on -througll its own contact R1-1, i-ts own hold coil and the 9 normally closed contact of sheet platform lever actuated upper limit switch 242. Accordingly, con-tact Rl-3 is maded 11 thereby energizi.ng sheet pla-tform reversible li:Et motor 194 1.2 causing movable sheet platform 154 -to be raised whi.ch, in .l3 turn, causes sheet plat-forrn lever actua-ted upper limit switch 242 to be actuated. When this occurs, Relay 1 is deenergized, since the ground potential. signal at movable 16 sheet platfoxm homing signal line 274 is only presen-t when 17 the indicator of electro-mechanical down coun-ter 276 is a-t 18 the zero (0) posi-tion. ~lence, sheet platform reversible 19 1.ift mo-tor 194 is al.so deenergized causing movable sheet platform 154 to come to :rest a-t a full up position~ llowever, 21 prior -to Relay 1 being deenergized its GOntaC-ts Rl-4 and Rl-22 5 cause reciprocating position solenoid 256 and home posi.-23 tion solenoid 268, respectively, to be energized thereby ..
24 ro-tating reciprocating sheet separator supporter arm 250 to position 3. When Relay 1 becomes deenergized reciprocating 26 sheet separator supporter arm 250 returns to position 1.
27 Now with movable sheet platrorm 154 at rest in the 28 full up posi-tion, the edge thereof obstructs the light beam ,1 ' .

l -to shee-t platEorm indexing light sensor 240 from sheet 2 platEorm indexiny light source 238. Thus, sheet height 3 sensor 278, shown in E'IG. 8, provides at sheet height sensor 4 output line 280 a ground poten-tial or movable sheet platforrn loweriny si~nal which, -through the normally closed contacts fi R3-2 of Relay 3~ shee-t plat-Eorm lever ac-tuated lower 1imit 7 switch 244 ~nd Rl-2 of Relay l, causes Relay 2 to be picked.
8 Consecluently, sheet platform reversible lift mo-tor 194, via ~ contact R2-l of Relay 2, is energized such that i-t is driven in a reverse direction thereby causing movable sheet plat-ll form 154 to be lowered until the ligh-t beam from sheet 1' platform indcxiny light source 238 to sheet platEorm index-13 ing liyilt sensor 240 is unobstructed. Now the ground poten-l~ tial signal Erom sheet height sensor 278 via amp:LiEier A
lS thereo, and at sheet height sensor output line 280, increases ]6 to the supply voltage V thereby deenergizing Relay 2, and 17 accorcdingly, opening con-tact R2-1 causing sheet platform 18 reversible lift motor 194 to be deenergized. Ilence, after 19 the completion of the foregoing operation, i.e., "homing procedure", un.itary bin sheet receiving sta-tion 22 is in the 21 proper positlon or the feeding of the first sheets or pages 22 oE sets to be concurren-tly collated, sorted ancl stacked, 23 accordiny to the invention.
2~ Continuing and still referring to FIG. 8, as a

- 25 sheet actuates lever actuated sheet path switch 38, Relay 3

26 is picked and held, i.e., latched on, through its own

27 holding coil, con-tact R3-3 and the normally closed contacts

28 of first lever actuated sheet gripper position switch 40 and ~, .

1 second :Lever actuated sheet gripper position switch 42.
2 Also, as aforementioned, when the normally opened contact: of 3 lever ac-tuated sheet path swi-tch 38 is made, the solenoid in ~ elec-tro-mechanical down counter 276 ls energized causing a count-down to the ne~t lower number on the indicator dial.
fi Now if first sheet gripper 84 is in -the home position, i.e., 7 the position to receive a sheet, the normally opened contact 8 of second lever activated sheet yripper position switch 42 9 is made thereby picking or energizing Relay 4. Relay 4 is latched on by its holdiny coil, con-tact R4-2 and the nor-]1 mally closed contac-t of first lever actua-ted sheet gripper ^
12 posi-tion switch A0, aforemen-tioned. Thus, contact R4-1 o~
13 Re]ay ~ is made thereby energizing reciprocatin~ position 14 solenoid 256 causing reciprocating shee-t separator supporter arm 250 -to rotate to position 2.
16 As previously mentioned, Relay 3 has been ener-17 gized. ~lence, via contact R3-4 thereof, gripper drive motor 18 78 is energized causing firs-t sheet gripper 84 to advance 19 towards unitary bin sheet receiving station 22, anc1 second sheet grippèr 86 to advance through unitary bin shee-t 21 receiving sta-tion 22 and -to a home position, i.e., the 22 position to receive the ne~t sheet (see FIG. 1). Thus, 23 firs-t lever ac-tuated sheet gripper posi-tion switch 40 is 24 actuated, thereby opening its normally closed contact, causing Relay 3 and Relay 4 to be deenergized. ~onsequen-26 -tly, gxipper drive motor 78 is deenergized and reciprocating 27 sheet separator supporter arm 250 lS rotated to position 1.

' - .
~1 .
.

l The next sheet is then gripped by second sheet 2 gripper 86 and the process is repeated. E-~owever, as more 3 sheets are concurrently collated, sorted and s-tacked in ,~ movable sheet platform 154, again, the ligh-t beam to sheet pla-tform indexing l.ight sensor 240 from sheet platform 6 lncle~lng light source 238 is obstruct.ed causing sheet height 7 sensor 278, via amplifier A thereo-f, to provide a ground 8 poten-tial signal at sheet height sensor output line 280.
g Thus, Rela~ 2 is energized through the normally closed contacts R3--2 of Relay 3 and sheet platform lever actuated lL lower limi-t swi-tch 244~ ~ccordingly, as previously discussed, 12 movable sheet platform 154 is lowered until the sheets 13 therein are below the light beam.
1~ After all of the :Eirst sheets or payes, numberiny 1.5 up to the nurnber o se-ts to be oEEset collated, have been L6 inserted into movable sheet pLatform 154, the aforementioned 17 "homing procedure" is repea-ted. Then the second sheets or 18 payes are inserted and the method is continued.
19 Finally, af-ter the last sheet or page of the Las-t -.. -~ .

set has been inserted lnto movable sheet platform 154, a 21 final "homing procedure" is initiated, as previously described, 22 ra:i.siny movable sheet pJ.atorm 154 so that an operator can 23 conveniently remove the collated, sor-ted and stacked sets.
2~ On the other hand, if the full capacity oE the apparatus is reached before the finishing of a job, -the "homing proce-26 dure" is initiated by movable sheet platform 154 ac-tuating 27 shee-t plat~orm lever actuated lower limit swi-tch 244 causing ~ .
28~ the makiny of -the normally opened contact thereof which will also-initiate a inal "homing procedure".

. .

1 ~eferring now to the segmellted -ti.mincJ diagram of 2 FIG. 9, -the even-ts illustrated therein are designed to 3 reitera-te and reinforce -the method according -to tile inven-4 tion, in terms of the example discussed i.n conjunction with FIGS. 7a~7f, and the discussion of -the sys-tem control logic 6 of FIG. 8.
7 As shown in FIG. 9, at time To at movable sheet 8 pla-tform homing siynal line 274, a ground potential or 9 homing siynal, represented by a down level, is initiated.
Nevertheless, sheet platform reversible l.ift motor 194 is 11 not energized, since movable sheet pla-tform 154 is already 12 at a full up posi-tion from -the previous operation. However, 13 as aforementioned, in conjunction with the disc~ssion of the 1~ system contro]. logic of FIG. 3, wlth movable sheet platorm 154 at rest in the :Eull up posltion, the edge thereof obstructs 16 the light beam~ Thus, at a time slightly before T1, sheet 17 height sensor 278 provides a ground potential or movable 18 sheet platform lowering signal, represented by a down level.
19 Consequelltly, sheet platform reversible lift motor 194 is energized so that it is dr.iven'in a reverse direction thereby 21 causing movable sheet platform 154 -to be lowered until -the 22 light beam i.s unobstructed. After the foregoiny operation, 23 the "homing procedure" is completed and movable shee-t plat-24 form 154 is in the proper position for the feeding of the first sheet.
26 At time T1, -the first sheet actuates lever actu-27 a-ted sheet path swi-tch 38. Now, as also aforementioned, 28 first sheet gripper 84 is in the home position as indicated .
~ - 33 -l by first lever ac-tuated shee-t gripper pOSitiOI1 switch 40 2 being actuated at a time between To and Tl. Hence, the 3 ~irst sheet is yripped slightly after time T~. The actua-4 tion`of lever actuated shee-t pa-th switch 38, in addition, causes yripper drive motor 78 to be energized, advancing 6 first sheet gripper 84 towards unitary bin shee-t receiving 7 station 22, and at -the same time, advancing second sheet 8 gripper 86 to and through unitary bin sheet receiving sta-9 tion 22, and to a home positiont i.e., the position to receive the first sheet of set 2. When second shee-t gripper ll 86 reaches the home posi-tion, second lever actuated sheet 12 gripper posi-tion switch 42 is ac-tuated at a time between Tl 13 and T2 such -that when lever actuated sheet path switch 38 is l4 actuated by the second sheet, gripper drive motor 78 is energized again. ~s shown, this operation occurs whenever a 16 sheet actuates lever actua-tor sheet path switch 38.
17 As aforementioned, the operation of reciprocating 18 posi-tion solenoid 256 causes reciprocatiny sheet separator l9 supporter arm 250 to be in either posi-tion l, represented by a down level in FIG. 9, or position 2, represented by an up 2l level -therein. Thus, when ~irst lever actuated sheet grip-22 per posi-t.ion switch 40 is actuated, and this occurs when 23 second sheet gripper 84 is in the home position, reclp-24 rocating position solenoid 256 is not energi~ed; therefore, reciprocating sheet separator supporter arm 250 is in posl-26 tion l up to a time abou-t mid-way between Tl and T2. However, 27 at about this same time, second lever actuated sheet gripper 28 position switch 42 is actua-ted, causing reciprocating posi-.

1 tion solenoid 256 -to be energized, thereby causing recipro-2 ca-ting sheet separator supporter arm 250 to rotate to posi-3 tion 2. ~rhe operation is alterIIately repeated with no 4 si~nificant changes in operation until the height of the stack becomes significant as depicted by one example between ~' the times T179 and T18~.
I At time T179, the 20th sheet of the 8th set has 8 actuated lever actuated sheet path s~itch 38 and at time 9 T180, the 20th sheet of se-t 9 has actuated the aforemen--tioned switch. A-t these particular periods in time, it is 11 shown that sheet heiyht sensor 274 provides a ground poten-12 tia:L signal, represented by a down level, which causes sheet 13 pla-tform reversible lift motox 194, to lower movable sheet 14 platform 154, until the light beam is nonobstructed. Then, the operation continues. Also, at time T180, another "homing lG procedure" is initiated since shortly after tha-t time, the 17 20th sheet of the last set, i.e., set 9, will have been 18 inserted into movable shee-t platform 154. According~y, a 19 ground po-tential signal or home signal is shown a-t movable platform hominc3 signal line 274. When this occurs, as 2:L aforemelltiolled, sheet platform reversible lift motor 194 is 22 energized, causiny movable sheet platform 154 to be raised.
23 At time T224, -the 25th sheet of set 9 of set 8 has 24 actuated sheet path switch 38. The operation will continue as previously described. However, as shown~ the conditions 26 are such that sheet heigh-t sensor 274 provides a ground 27 po-tential signal which energizes sheet platfoxm reversible 28 lif-t motor 194, causing movabLe sheet platform 154 to be lowered until the light beam is unobstructed.

~ - 35 -1 Now at -time T225~ -the 25th or last sheet of set 9 2 has ac-tuated lever ac-tua-ted sheet pa-th switch 38. The 3 operation con-tinues as previously described, and at this 4 polnt in time, a final "homing procedure" is initiated. Tile comple-te "homincJ procedure" also includes energizing home ~ 6 position solenoid 268 when reciproca-ting position solenoid ; 7 256 is energized. ~his operation causes reciprocating sheet 8 separator suppor-ter arm 250 to rotate to position 3. This g operation, in-ter alia, causes sheet pla-tform reversible lift motor 194 to be energized, thereby raising movable sheet 11 platfoxm 154, as previously described. ~t time T226, the 12 final "homing procedure" is completed.
13 Wh:Lle the invention has been particularly described 1~ witll re~erence to the preferred emboclimen-t thereof, it wil:l be understood by those skilled in the art -that various 16 changes in ~orm and detail may be made therein without 17 depelrtlng fro~ the scope and ~pi it ot the invention.

.~ o ' ~ - 36 -

Claims (14)

The embodiments of the invention in which an exclusive property or privilege is claimed are defined as follows:

1. An apparatus termed "offset collator" for collating wherein sheets are concurrently collated, sorted and stacked to form collated, sorted and stacked sets, comprising in combination:
an entry station for feeding in sequence sheets of sets to be offset collated, wherein said sequence is defined as the feeding of the first sheet of each set to be offset collated, numbering up to and corresponding to said number of sets to be offset collated, and the subsequent feeding of additional sheets numbering up to and corresponding to the number of sheets in a set;
a transport station for transporting in said sequence in a predetermined path, and in an of set fashion, sheets of sets to be offset collated, said transport station cooperating with said entry station to form the alternate offset of the sheets in said sequence;
a receiving station for receiving in said sequence and in said offset fashion said sheets of sets to be offset collated, said receiving station cooperating with said transport station such that the first sheet of each set to be offset collated is inserted therein in said alternate offset fashion clearly demarcating each said first sheet from adjacent first sheets, such that the second sheet of each set to be offset collated is inserted therein in said offset fashion contiguous to each of said first sheets and such that additional sheets of each set, if required by the number of sheets in said sets, are alternately inserted contiguous to each of the prior inserted sheets of its set;
and means for controlling said entry station, said transport station and said receiving station such that said collated, sorted and stacked sets are concurrently formed in said receiving station.

2. The apparatus according to Claim 1 wherein said receiving station includes a movable sheet platform for receiving the sheets to be offset collated in the proper position in said sequence and for maintaining said sheets in said offset fashion.

3. The apparatus according to Claim 2 wherein said movable sheet platform is movable vertically.

4. The apparatus according to Claim 2 wherein said receiving station further includes a reciprocating sheet separator supporter mechanism for supporting the sheets received in said movable sheet platform, while said sheets are in said offset fashion; and for separating the sheets received in said movable sheet platform, while said sheets are in said offset fashion such that said second sheets are alternately inserted contig-uous to each of said first sheets, and if required by the number of sheets in said sets to be offset collated, such that said additional sheets are alternately inserted contig-uous to each of the prior inserted sheets of its set.

5. The apparatus according to Claim 1 wherein said offset fashion of said transport station is defined as alternately skewing each sheet in opposite directions prior to insertion into said receiving station, thereby forming said offset.

6. The apparatus according to Claim 5 wherein the alternate skewing of each sheet in opposite directions of said transport station is formed by the cooperation of camming means at said entry station and gripping means at said transport station, said gripping means being affixed alternately to said transport station in said offset fashion.

7. The apparatus according to Claim 1 wherein said predetermined path of said transport station is arcuate and runs to and through said receiving station.

8. The apparatus according to Claim 1. wherein said receiving station is arranged such that said collated, sorted and stacked sets are concurrently formed vertically therein.

9. A method of collating termed "offset collation"
wherein sheets are concurrently collated, sorted and stacked to form collated, sorted and stacked sets into a receiving station, comprising the steps of:
alternately inserting in an offset fashion, into said receiving station, the first sheet of each set to be offset collated, numbering up to and corresponding to the number of sets to be offset collated, the offset clearly demarcating each said first sheet from adjacent first sheets;
alternately inserting in said offset fashion, into said receiving station, the second sheet of each set to be offset collated, numbering up to and corresponding to said number of sets to be offset collated, each of said second sheets being alternately inserted in said offset fashion contiguous to each of said first sheets; and repeating, if required by the number of sheets in said sets to be offset collated, the step of alternately inserting in said offset fashion, into said receiving sta-tion, additional sheets of each set to be offset collated, numbering up to and corresponding to said number of sets to be offset collated, each of said additional sheets being alternately inserted contiguous to each of the prior inserted sheets of its set, thereby forming concurrently said col-lated, sorted and stacked sets.

10. The method according to Claim 9, including the additional step of moving the received sheets after a predetermined number thereof have been inserted into said receiving station.

11. The method according to Claim 10 wherein said moving step comprises moving said sheets vertically.

12. The method according to Claim 9 wherein the second alternately inserted step comprises the steps of:
supporting the sheets received in said receiving station, while said sheets are in said offset fashion; and separating the sheets received in said receiving station, while said sheets are in said offset fashion, such that said second sheets are alternately inserted contiguous to each of said first sheets, and if required by the number of sheets in said sets to be offset collated, such that said additional sheets are alternately inserted contiguous to each of the prior inserted sheets of its set.

13. The method according to Claim 9 wherein said offset fashion of said alternately inserting steps comprises alternately skewing each sheet in opposite directions prior to insertion into said receiving station, thereby forming said offset.

14. The method according to Claim 9 wherein said collated, sorted and stacked sets are formed vertically.