U.S. patent application number 10/322023 was filed with the patent office on 2004-06-17 for apparatus and process for stacking printed material with alternating edge orientation.
This patent application is currently assigned to Xerox Corporation. Invention is credited to Hudson, Jeffrey R., Mao, Yanmin, Morson, Dino M., Sinclair, Scott A..
Application Number | 20040113349 10/322023 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 32507190 |
Filed Date | 2004-06-17 |
United States Patent
Application |
20040113349 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Hudson, Jeffrey R. ; et
al. |
June 17, 2004 |
Apparatus and process for stacking printed material with
alternating edge orientation
Abstract
A disk stacker system for delivering selectively inverted
substrate assemblies into a receiving tray. By alternating inverted
with non-inverted substrate assemblies or otherwise grouping
inverted and non-inverted substrate assemblies, handling of folded
printed material is made more efficient and packing of the folded
printed material is made more dense and efficient. The disk stacker
system operates by delivering selected substrate assemblies
directly to the output tray and bypassing the disk stacker
inverting apparatus and by delivering other substrate assemblies to
the disk stacker apparatus for inversion prior to delivery to the
output tray.
Inventors: |
Hudson, Jeffrey R.;
(Oakville, CA) ; Mao, Yanmin; (Brampton, CA)
; Sinclair, Scott A.; (Burlington, CA) ; Morson,
Dino M.; (Mississauga, CA) |
Correspondence
Address: |
Patent Documentation Center
Xerox Corporation
Xerox Square 20th Floor
100 Clinton Ave. S.
Rochester
NY
14644
US
|
Assignee: |
Xerox Corporation
|
Family ID: |
32507190 |
Appl. No.: |
10/322023 |
Filed: |
December 17, 2002 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
271/65 |
Current CPC
Class: |
B65H 2404/651 20130101;
B65H 2301/42112 20130101; B65H 29/40 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
271/065 |
International
Class: |
B65H 029/66 |
Claims
1. A disk stacker system for selectively inverting substrate
assemblies, comprising: a rotatable disk stacker having a slot for
receiving a compiled assembly of substrates; a tray for receiving a
plurality of substrate assemblies; and an apparatus for feeding the
substrate assembly, said feeding apparatus having a first mode and
a second mode wherein, in the first mode, said apparatus cooperates
with the rotatable disk to feed the substrate assembly into the
receiving slot of the rotatable disk stacker and, in the second
mode, said apparatus feeds the substrate assembly to the tray
without feeding the substrate assembly to the receiving slot of the
rotatable disk stacker; wherein, in the first mode, after the
substrate assembly is fed into the receiving slot of the rotatable
disk stacker, the rotatable disk stacker rotates with the substrate
assembly in its receiving slot and deposits the substrate assembly
onto the tray in an inverted orientation; and wherein, in the
second mode wherein the substrate assembly is fed to the tray
without entering the receiving slot, the substrate assembly is
delivered to the tray in an un-inverted orientation.
2. The disk stacker system of claim 1, wherein the feeding
apparatus comprises a first channel for bypassing the rotatable
disk stacker and a second channel for feeding the substrate
assembly to the slot of the rotatable disk stacker.
3. The disk stacker system of claim 1, further comprising a
diverter gate having a first position wherein the first mode is
selected and a second position wherein the second mode is
selected.
4. The disk stacker system of claim 3, wherein the feeding
apparatus comprises a single channel and wherein the diverter gate
operates in the first mode by diverting the substrate assembly into
the receiving slot of the rotatable disk.
5. The disk stacker system of claim 3, wherein: the feeding
apparatus comprises a first a second channel for feeding the
substrate assembly to the slot of the rotatable disk stacker
channel and a second channel for bypassing the rotatable disk
stacker; and the first position of the diverter gate guides the
substrate assembly to the first channel and the second position of
the diverter gate guides the substrate assembly to the second
channel.
6. The disk stacker system of claim 1, wherein the first mode
operates by rotating the receiving slot of the rotatable disk
stacker to intercept the substrate assembly within the feeding
apparatus.
7. The disk stacker system of claim 1, wherein the rotatable disk
stacker comprises a plurality of receiving slots.
8. The disk stacker system of claim 1, wherein the substrate
assembly has a thickness and wherein the feeding apparatus further
comprises: a slidably mounted drive wheel for contacting the
substrate assembly and urging the substrate assembly toward the
tray, said drive wheel being free to slide within its mount to
accommodate the thickness of the substrate assembly; and a bias
mechanism urging the drive wheel into contact with the substrate
assembly as the drive wheel urges the substrate assembly toward the
tray.
9. The disk stacker system of claim 8, further comprising a first
slidably mounted drive wheel positioned proximate to the entrance
to the feeding apparatus and a second slidably mounted drive wheel
positioned proximate to the exit from the feeding apparatus.
10. The disk stacker system of claim 1, further comprising a sensor
for detecting the leading edge of the substrate assembly.
11. The disk stacker system of claim 1, further comprising a sensor
for detecting the trailing edge of the substrate assembly.
12. The disk stacker system of claim 1, further comprising a
bailing mechanism for guiding the substrate assembly onto the
tray.
13. A printer system for printing and compiling a substrate
assembly, said printer comprising: a rotatable disk stacker having
a slot for receiving a compiled assembly of substrates; a tray for
receiving a plurality of substrate assemblies; and an apparatus for
feeding the substrate assembly, said feeding apparatus having a
first mode and a second mode wherein, in the first mode, said
apparatus cooperates with the rotatable disk to feed the substrate
assembly into the receiving slot of the rotatable disk stacker and,
in the second mode, said apparatus feeds the substrate assembly to
the tray without feeding the substrate assembly to the receiving
slot of the rotatable disk stacker; wherein, in the first mode,
after the substrate assembly is fed into the receiving slot of the
rotatable disk stacker, the rotatable disk stacker rotates with the
substrate assembly in its receiving slot and deposits the substrate
assembly onto the tray in an inverted orientation; and wherein, in
the second mode wherein the substrate assembly is fed to the tray
without entering the receiving slot, the substrate assembly is
delivered to the tray in an non-inverted orientation.
14. The printer system of claim 13, wherein the feeding apparatus
comprises a first channel for bypassing the rotatable disk stacker
and a second channel for feeding the substrate assembly to the slot
of the rotatable disk stacker.
15. The printer system of claim 13, further comprising a diverter
gate having a first position wherein the first mode is selected and
a second position wherein the second mode is selected.
16. The printer system of claim 15, wherein the feeding apparatus
comprises a single channel and wherein the diverter gate operates
in the first mode by diverting the substrate assembly into the
receiving slot of the rotatable disk.
17. The printer system of claim 15, wherein: the feeding apparatus
comprises a first a second channel for feeding the substrate
assembly to the slot of the rotatable disk stacker channel and a
second channel for bypassing the rotatable disk stacker; and the
first position of the diverter gate guides the substrate assembly
to the first channel and the second position of the diverter gate
guides the substrate assembly to the second channel.
18. The printer system of claim 13, wherein the first mode operates
by rotating the receiving slot of the rotatable disk stacker to
intercept the substrate assembly within the feeding apparatus.
19. The printer system of claim 13, wherein the rotatable disk
stacker comprises a plurality of receiving slots.
20. The printer system of claim 13, wherein the substrate assembly
has a thickness and wherein the feeding apparatus further
comprises: a slidably mounted drive wheel for contacting the
substrate assembly and urging the substrate assembly toward the
tray, said drive wheel being free to slide within its mount to
accommodate the thickness of the substrate assembly; and a bias
mechanism urging the drive wheel into contact with the substrate
assembly as the drive wheel urges the substrate assembly toward the
tray.
21. The printer system of claim 13, further comprising a sensor for
detecting the leading edge of the substrate assembly.
22. The printer system of claim 13, wherein the printer comprises
an electrophotographic printer.
23. A process for selectively inverting substrate assemblies,
comprising: feeding a substrate assembly to a rotatable disk
stacker system; selecting between a first and a second mode,
wherein the first mode comprises feeding the substrate assembly
into a receiving slot of the rotatable disk stacker and the second
mode comprises feeding the substrate assembly to a tray without
feeding the substrate assembly to the receiving slot of the
rotatable disk stacker; and wherein the first mode further
comprises rotating the rotatable disk stacker with the substrate
assembly in its slot and depositing the substrate assembly onto the
tray in an inverted orientation.
24. The process of claim 23, wherein the first mode and the second
mode are alternately selected for successive substrate
assemblies.
25. The process of claim 23, wherein the first mode is selected for
a first grouping of successive substrate assemblies and the second
mode is selected for a second grouping of successive substrate
assemblies.
Description
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
[0001] The field of the invention is finishing operations for
printed material finished into assemblies of substrates such as
booklets, newspapers, or similar compiled sets of substrate sheets.
More particularly, the field of the invention relates to finishing
equipment for stacking booklets and other printed articles
comprised of folded substrates in an optimally compressed manner,
especially when such booklets or folded articles are printed with
digital printing systems such as electrophotographic printers.
Although the invention will operate with both folded and unfolded
assemblies of substrates, the advantages of the invention are
apparent when performing finishing operations upon folded substrate
materials.
BACKGROUND AND SUMMARY
[0002] very common form of printed matter is booklets comprised of
folded sheets. Many such booklets are stapled, stitched, or
otherwise bound along the fold and sometimes covered with a soft
cover comprised of somewhat heavier substrate stock than the
interior printed pages. Playbills, advertising booklets, mail order
catalogues, many magazines, and many other printed articles are
printed and bound in this manner. Other forms of printed material
comprise assemblies of folded pages, or substrates, such as
newspapers, which are folded but not bound.
[0003] Referring to FIGS. 1 and 2, a problem common to such folded
printed materials is that a bulge occurs proximate to the folded
edge of the printed assembly. The fold results because molecules or
fibers within printed substrates such as plastic and paper retain
some resistance to the fold. The result is that when such folded
assemblies of substrates are stacked vertically as shown in FIG. 1,
the side 11 of the stack containing the folded edges typically
rises significantly higher than the side 12 having unfolded edges.
If the stack is not contained as in a box, then the scene
exemplified by FIG. 2 is common. Most household members are
probably familiar with the situation shown in FIG. 2 when
attempting to stack used newspapers.
[0004] One alternative to alleviate the problems shown in FIGS. 1
and 2 is shown in FIG. 3. In this solution, vertical stacks are
avoided, and folded printed matter is partially overlaid on a
planer surface such as a conveyor belt. Many newspaper publishing
operations convey papers in this matter to their packaging and
distribution operations. Of course, such planer surfaces occupy
significant floor space and are impractical in most printing
environments other than commercial print shops.
[0005] It would be advantageous to have an apparatus and method for
vertically stacking folded printed matter in a manner that avoids
the uneven stacks shown in FIGS. 1 and 2. It would be further
advantageous if such apparatus and method required a relatively
small footprint and relatively inexpensive equipment.
[0006] One aspect of the invention is a disk stacker system for
selectively inverting substrate assemblies, comprising: a rotatable
disk stacker having a slot for receiving a compiled assembly of
substrates; a tray for receiving a plurality of substrate
assemblies; and an apparatus for feeding the substrate assembly,
said feeding apparatus having a first mode and a second mode
wherein, in the first mode, said apparatus cooperates with the
rotatable disk to feed the substrate assembly into the receiving
slot of the rotatable disk stacker and, in the second mode, said
apparatus feeds the substrate assembly to the tray without feeding
the substrate assembly to the receiving slot of the rotatable disk
stacker; wherein, in the first mode, after the substrate assembly
is fed into the receiving slot of the rotatable disk stacker, the
rotatable disk stacker rotates with the substrate assembly in its
receiving slot and deposits the substrate assembly onto the tray in
an inverted orientation; and wherein, in the second mode wherein
the substrate assembly is fed to the tray without entering the
receiving slot, the substrate assembly is delivered to the tray in
an non-inverted orientation.
[0007] Another aspect of the invention is a printer system for
printing and compiling a substrate assembly, said printer
comprising: a rotatable disk stacker having a slot for receiving a
compiled assembly of substrates; a tray for receiving a plurality
of substrate assemblies; and an apparatus for feeding the substrate
assembly, said feeding apparatus having a first mode and a second
mode wherein, in the first mode, said apparatus cooperates with the
rotatable disk to feed the substrate assembly into the receiving
slot of the rotatable disk stacker and, in the second mode, said
apparatus feeds the substrate assembly to the tray without feeding
the substrate assembly to the receiving slot of the rotatable disk
stacker; wherein, in the first mode, after the substrate assembly
is fed into the receiving slot of the rotatable disk stacker, the
rotatable disk stacker rotates with the substrate assembly in its
receiving slot and deposits the substrate assembly onto the tray in
an inverted orientation; and wherein, in the second mode wherein
the substrate assembly is fed to the tray without entering the
receiving slot, the substrate assembly is delivered to the tray in
an non-inverted orientation.
[0008] Yet another aspect of the invention is a process for
selectively inverting substrate assemblies, comprising: feeding a
substrate assembly to a rotatable disk stacker system; selecting
between a first and a second mode, wherein the first mode comprises
feeding the substrate assembly into a receiving slot of the
rotatable disk stacker and the second mode comprises feeding the
substrate assembly to a tray without feeding the substrate assembly
to the receiving slot of the rotatable disk stacker; and wherein
the first mode further comprises rotating the rotatable disk
stacker with the substrate assembly in its slot and depositing the
substrate assembly onto the tray in an inverted orientation.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0009] FIG. 1 is a plane view of a stack of folded substrate
assemblies stacked using apparatus of the prior art;
[0010] FIG. 2 is a plane view of a disordered stack of folded
substrate assemblies stacked using apparatus of the prior art;
[0011] FIG. 3 is a plane view of an arrangement of folded substrate
assemblies using apparatus of the prior art;
[0012] FIG. 4 is a plane view of a stack of folded substrate
assemblies stacked using the present invention;
[0013] FIG. 5 is an elevated cross sectional view of one embodiment
of the disk stacker system of the present invention when delivering
a non-inverted substrate assembly to an output tray;
[0014] FIG. 6 is an elevated cross sectional view of the embodiment
shown in FIG. 5 when inserting a substrate assembly into an
inverting disk stacker apparatus;
[0015] FIG. 7 is a plane view of an alternate method of stacking
folded substrate assemblies using the present invention;
[0016] FIG. 8 is an elevated cross sectional view of a second
embodiment of the present invention.
DESCRIPTION
[0017] For a general understanding of the present invention,
reference is made to the drawings. In the drawings, like reference
numerals have been used throughout to designate identical
elements.
[0018] An exemplary system comprising one embodiment of the present
invention is a multifunctional printer with an attached finisher
apparatus comprising the present invention. Multifunctional
printers are well known in the art and may comprise print engines
based upon liquid or solid ink jet, electrostatography such as
electrophotography, and other imaging devices. The general
principles of electrophotographic imaging are well known to many
skilled in the art. Generally, the process of electrophotographic
reproduction is initiated by substantially uniformly charging a
photoreceptive member, followed by exposing a light image of an
original document thereon. Exposing the charged photoreceptive
member to a light image discharges a photoconductive surface layer
in areas corresponding to non-image areas in the original document,
while maintaining the charge on image areas for creating an
electrostatic latent image of the original document on the
photoreceptive member. This latent image is subsequently developed
into a visible image by a process in which a charged developing
material is deposited onto the photoconductive surface layer, such
that the developing material is attracted to the charged image
areas on the photoreceptive member. Thereafter, the developing
material is transferred from the photoreceptive member to a copy
sheet or some other image support substrate to which the image may
be permanently affixed for producing a reproduction of the original
document. In a final step in the process, the photoconductive
surface layer of the photoreceptive member is cleaned to remove any
residual developing material therefrom, in preparation for
successive imaging cycles.
[0019] The above described electrophotographic reproduction process
is well known and is useful for both digital copying and printing
as well as for light lens copying from an original. In many of
these applications, the process described above operates to form a
latent image on an imaging member by discharge of the charge in
locations in which photons from a lens, laser, or LED strike the
photoreceptor. Such printing processes typically develop toner on
the discharged area, known as DAD, or "write black" systems. Light
lens generated image systems typically develop toner on the charged
areas, known as CAD, or "write white" systems. Embodiments of the
present invention apply to both DAD and CAD systems. Since
electrophotographic imaging technology is so well known, further
description is not necessary. See, for reference, for example, U.S.
Pat. No. 6,069,624 issued to Dash, et al. and U.S. Pat. No.
5,687,297 issued to Coonan et al., both of which are hereby
incorporated herein by reference.
[0020] With reference now to FIG. 4, a desired method of stacking
folded assemblies of printed substrates is shown. This neat stack
of printed substrates may be the output of a multifunctional
printer as described above or may be the output of any other print
method, including without limitation, offset lithography, silk
screen, liquid or solid ink jet, etc. Also, the output shown in
FIG. 4 may be received in the schematically shown bin directly from
the printer or press or may arrive from any variety of intermediate
finishing equipment. The result of the invention, as shown in FIG.
4, is a neat stack of folded assemblies of printed substrates in
which the folded edges labeled A alternate with the unfolded edges
B.
[0021] One embodiment of the present invention that accomplishes
the result shown in FIG. 4 is shown in FIG. 5. This embodiment of
the invention borrows from the two decades of experience with
single sheet disk inverter apparatus. Such experience is
exemplified by U.S. Pat. No. 4,431,177, issued to J. Beery et al.,
U.S. Pat. No. 5,065,996 issued to McGraw et al., U.S. Pat. No.
5,409,202, issued to Naramore et al., U.S. Pat. No. 5,409,201,
issued to Naramore et al., and U.S. Pat. No. 5,551,681, issued to
Ferrara. As noted in Ferrara, "conventional disk stackers only
invert one single sheet at a time" U.S. Pat. No. 5,551,681, column
1, lines 54-56. Ferrara is the exception and describes a disk
stacker that compiles a stack of sheets through use of a disk
within a disk arrangement. Ferrara and other disk stackers provide
for stapling and other finishing processes after copy substrates
enter the disk stacker. See FIG. 11 of Ferrarra, U.S. Pat. No.
5,551,681. See also, U.S. Pat. No. 5,409,202, issued to Naramore et
al. Each of these patents are hereby incorporated herein by
reference in their entirety. Each of the cited patents and others
in the prior art provide for disk stackers that invert and stack
sheets in preparation for finishing operations of the compiled
stack. None provide for inverting and stacking of assemblies of
sheets that already have been finished.
[0022] Referring to FIG. 5, folded substrate stacker system 20 is
shown. Beginning from left to right, folded assembly 15 approaches
stacker system 20 after having been folded and otherwise finished.
Such finishing may include binding by staples, glue, or other
binding means or such finishing may simply comprise folding
operations. Of course, it is apparent that system 20 will also work
with unfolded substrate assemblies, yet the primary purpose for
which system 20 is expected to be used is in relation to folded
assemblies of substrates. Upon entering the mouth of channel 23,
substrate assembly 15 is gripped and pushed forward by drive wheels
21 and 22. At least one of drive wheels 21 and 22 are slidably held
in place in order to adjust to varying thicknesses between
different substrate assemblies 15 and, optionally, between the
leading and trailing edges of each substrate assembly 15. Such
slidable mounting of one or both wheels 21 and 22 may be
accomplished by mounting the applicable wheel within a slide track
and attaching biasing springs to urge the applicable wheel toward
channel 23. For wheels such as 21 which are above channel 23,
gravity may provide sufficient biasing.
[0023] As shown in FIG. 5, it is anticipated that most substrate
assemblies will enter channel 23 with folded edge first. This
arrangement inhibits outer sheets of substrate assembly 15 from
getting wrinkled, folded, or otherwise damaged by the apparatus
within system 20. This arrangement also minimizes the possibility
of a jam occurring because one of more sheets become caught in the
apparatus. It is also possible, however, to operate system 20 by
having substrate assembly 15 lead with its unbound and unfolded
edge.
[0024] After drive wheels 21 and 22 urge substrate assembly 15
further into channel 23, leading edge sensor 24 detects the leading
edge of substrate assembly 15. Sensor 24 may comprise any number of
well known detector technologies, including a simple assembly of an
LED light source and a light detector spaced apart on opposite
sides of channel 23. As substrate assembly 15 passes sensor 24, it
blocks light from the light detector. Sensor 24 then sends a
positive leading edge detection signal to the controller 29 for
system 20. In this manner, sequence timing within system 20 can be
maintained and parts activated to achieve the desired result. As
shown in FIG. 5, substrate assembly 15 passes sensor 24 and next
encounters drive wheels 25 and 26. These drive wheels function much
like drive wheels 21 and 22, and the same or similar motor
apparatus, mounting, and biasing may be used for drive wheels 25
and 26 as used for 21 and 22.
[0025] In FIG. 5, substrate assembly 16 has preceded assembly
substrate 15 down channel 23 and is shown being driven, folded-edge
first, into bin 27. Bin 27 is shown as a box having left and right
sides but may be a simple tray for receiving the substrate
assembly. Disk stacker 30 is shown in its by-pass position. In this
position, disk stacker 30 has been rotated such that its gripping
finger 33 is turned away from channel 23 and away from substrate
assembly 16. Non-gripping surface 32 of disk stacker 30 is turned
toward channel 23 and provides a rounded surface, along with drive
wheel 26, for guiding substrate assembly 16 toward and then out of
channel mouth 28 without inversion. The result is that substrate
assembly 16 falls into bin 27 oriented with its bound or folded
edge removed away from system 20.
[0026] Referring to FIG. 6, operation of disk stacker 30 is shown.
In response from signals from the system controller, disk stacker
30 has been rotated such that finger 33 blocks channel mouth 28. As
drive wheels urge substrate assembly 15 forward, finger 33 diverts
the leading edge of such substrate assembly into slot 31 of disk
stacker 30. Substrate assembly 15 is then urged forward into slot
31 until its leading edge contacts stop 34. As is conventional with
disk stackers, sensors detect when substrate assembly 15 makes
contact with stop 34, and disk stacker 30 is then rotated back to
its starting position shown in FIG. 5. Such sensors are
conventional in the art. Among the alternatives are pressure
sensors placed on stop 34 itself or release mechanisms that engage
disk stacker 30 once continued drive motion by drive wheels 25 and
26 begin forcing rotation of disk stacker 30 after substrate
assembly 15 abuts stop 34. A method for removing substrate assembly
15 from finger 33 is for substrate assembly 15 to encounter a stop
as disk stacker 30 continues to rotate. Regardless of the method to
begin rotation of disk assembly 30 or to free substrate assemblies
from finger 33, the result is that substrate assembly 15 is flipped
into an inverted position onto the top of the stack in bin 27. This
inversion and stacking result due to rotation of a disk stacker is
well known to those skilled in the relevant disk stacker arts. The
ability to perform this operation upon substrate assemblies rather
than single sheets is novel as is the ability to alternate
inversion and non-inversion operations. The stack of substrate
assemblies that results is easier to handle and takes less
volume.
[0027] Turning to FIG. 7, another variety of stacking is shown. In
this embodiment, the same level and efficient stack of substrate
assemblies has been achieved. Instead of alternating the inversion
operation, a first bundle 41 of substrate assemblies has been
placed in bin 27 in an inverted orientation and a second bundle 42
has been stacked on top of bundle 41 in an un-inverted orientation.
It is believed that this arrangement may often facilitate future
handling of the substrate assemblies since an entire bundle can be
lifted out of a bin or box in the same orientation, and a user need
not reorient each compilation for handling. For instance, playbills
arranged in this manner may be easier for ushers to handle than a
stack in which each playbill is placed in an alternating
orientation.
[0028] The controller 29 for stacker system 30 controls whether
substrate assemblies are stacked in alternating copies, alternating
groups or any other arrangement. In the event that a user desires
all substrate assemblies to be loaded into bin 27 with all cover
pages up or all cover pages down, then the controller 29 may
coordinate with a printer controller (not shown) such that
substrate assemblies such as 15 and 16 are printed cover page up
and cover page down in alternating fashion that corresponds to the
manner in which each such compilation will be stacked in bin
27.
[0029] Referring now to FIG. 8, a disk stacker system 50 is shown
that is capable of higher through put speeds than the disk stacker
system 30 shown in FIGS. 5 and 6. In this system 50, disk stacker
60 has two sets of fingers, 63 and 64, located on opposing sides of
disk 60.. Drive wheels 21, 22, 25, and 26 serve the same function
as described in relation to FIGS. 5 and 6 as does bin 27. In the
middle of channel 23, however, is pivotally mounted diverter gate
68, shown in both of its operable positions. Such diverter gates
are well known to those skilled in the relevant arts. See, for
example, U.S. Pat. No. 4,712,785 issued to Stemmle; U.S. Pat. No.
5,303,017 issued to Smith; and U.S. Pat. No. 5,065,996, issued to
McGraw et al. In FIG. 8, substrate assembly 17 has been directed
down channel 23 toward disk stacker 60. Disk stacker 60 operates
similarly to disk stacker 30 shown in FIGS. 5 and 6, and operates
to invert and stack substrate assembly 17 into bin 27. Once
substrate assembly 17 has passed diverter gate 68, controller 29
directs a pivot mechanism to switch diverter gate 68 to its
alternate position. Substrate assembly 18 will be diverted into
alternate channel 69. Alternate channel 69 carries substrate
assembly 18 around disk stacker 60 and toward drive wheels 66 and
67. Drive wheels 66 and 67 urge substrate assembly 18 into bin 27.
Pivotally mounted bail wire 65 is positioned to assist substrate
assembly 18 to fall into bin 27 in an un-inverted, controlled
fashion.
[0030] The stacking result of the apparatus in FIG. 8 is the same
as achievable with the system shown in FIGS. 5 and 6. One skilled
in the art will recognize that some of the features in FIGS. 5 and
6 can be interchanged with features shown in FIG. 8 and vice versa.
Specifically, a double set of fingers, a diverter gate, an
alternate channel, and a bail wire guide may individually be
integrated into stacker system 20 shown in FIGS. 5 and 6.
Similarly, a stacker disk with a single finger and a single channel
with or without a diverter gate can be integrated into stacker
system 50 shown in FIG. 8. Other variations are also possible.
[0031] In sum, an improved disk stacker system has been disclosed
that provides for inversion of substrates, especially folded
substrates such as booklets and newspapers. When such inversion is
alternated between compiled sets or between groups of compiled
sets, then stacking efficiency and order are greatly improved over
the prior art.
[0032] While particular embodiments have been described,
alternatives, modifications, variations, improvements, and
substantial equivalents that are or may be presently unforeseen may
arise to applicants or others skilled in the art. Accordingly, the
appended claims as filed and as they may be amended are intended to
embrace all such alternatives, modifications variations,
improvements, and substantial equivalents.
* * * * *