GB1429844A - Apparatus for sorting and stacking sheets - Google Patents

Abstract

1429844 Delivering sheets HOECHST AG 5 June 1973 [7 June 1972] 26737/73 Heading B8R Sheets are conveyed by an endless belt 1, comprising a plurality of spaced straps, over a plurality of pockets 7-13, being held in contact with the belt by air drawn between the straps into a suction box 6. At the top of each pocket 7-13 is a pivoted deflection flap 14-20 which when in the sloping position shown for 15, 16 deflects a sheet into the corresponding pocket. The flaps 14-20 are held in horizontal position when electromagnets 22-28 are energized. When a magnet is de-energized, the flap is still held in horizontal position by the suction, until the part of the belt above it is at least partially blocked by a sheet, when the flap falls into its sloping position by gravity. A further flap 21 is provided upstream of the flap 14, with a magnet 29. The flaps 14-21 actuate microswitches 30-37 when in sloping position, and each microswitch 30-36 when actuated de-energizes the magnet of the next flap upstream, while the switch 37 produces a short current surge through all the magnets. In operation, the flap of the furthest downstream pocket to be used in a run is manually moved to the sloping position and immobilized. For example, if three copies are to be made from each of a plurality of originals, the flap 16 is immobilized, de-energizing magnet 23, flap 15 remaining closed by suction force. The first copy 38 is deflected into the pocket 9, and as it blocks the belt over the flap 15 the latter falls open, so that the second copy 39 enters the pocket 8. The third copy 40 enters the pocket 7, at the same time causing the flap 21 to open, thus energizing all the electromagnets and closing all the flaps except the immobilized 16, all the magnets except 23 thus remaining energized, and the cycle being repeated, beginning with the first copy 41 from the second original entering the pocket 9. Air from a nozzle 44 cleans the sheets before they enter the pockets. Sheets not to be sorted are deflected by a plate 42 into a compartment 43. The assembly of pockets may be removed as a whole when a run is finished, and replaced by a similar, empty assembly.