Movable Infeed Conveyor For Sheet Collator Device

Abstract

An infeed conveyor attached to the infeed end of a sheet collator device and interconnecting the outfeed station of a copy machine with the infeed station of the collator is made so that it can be moved from an operative position to an inoperative position for access to the copy machine without moving either the copy machine or the sheet collator device. The infeed conveyor is powered by the drive train of the sheet collator device and is either pivotally attached to the frame of the collator device or adapted to ride in vertical slots in the frame of the collator device from which position it can be raised and slid over the top of the sheet collator device.

Description

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

This invention relates to a conveyor for transfering sheets from the outfeed station of a copy machine to the infeed station of a sheet collator device.

PRIOR ART RELATING TO THE DISCLOSURE

High speed sheet collating devices such as that disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 3,561,753 issued Feb. 9, 1971assigned to the assignee of the present application, are typically connected directly to the outfeed station of a copy machine to receive sheets or signatures and distribute them. When it becomes necessary to service the copy machine, such as the copy machine now marketed under the trade name AMCD of the Addressograph-Multigraph Corporation, it has been necessary to move the collator away from the copy machine for access thereto. Once serviced, the collator must be re-positioned in place. This wastes a great deal of time. In addition the drive mechanism of either the copy machine and/or the sheet collator device must be interrupted prior to repositioning of either. A way has been needed to service the copy machine without disturbing the relative positions of the copy machine and collator device and preferably without having to interrupt the power delivered to either the copy machine or collator device.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

An infeed conveyor for conveying sheets from an outfeed station of a copy machine to the infeed end of a collator device is attached to the frame of the collator device and driven by the power train thereof. The conveyor is attached to the frame of the collator device so that it can be moved from an operative position without disturbing the relative positions of either the copy machine or collator device.

It is a primary object of this invention to provide an infeed conveyor for transferring sheets from the outfeed station of a copy machine to the infeed station of a collator device.

It is a further object of this invention to provide an infeed conveyor which can be moved from an operative position for access to the copy machine without disturbing the relative positions of either the copy machine or the collator device.

It is a further object of this invention to provide an infeed conveyor which can be moved from its operative position without disengagement of the drive system of the infeed conveyor.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a perspective view illustrating the relative positions of a collator device, the infeed conveyor of the invention and a copy machine;

FIG. 2 is a partial top view of the infeed end of a sheet collator device showing the infeed conveyor pivotally attached thereto;

FIG. 3 is a side view of FIG. 2;

FIG. 4 is a partial top view of an alternate means of connecting the feed end of the collator device to the infeed conveyor of this invention;

FIG. 5 is a side view of FIG. 4.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

As shown in FIG. 1 the infeed conveyor, generally designated as reference numeral 1, in operative position, is adapted to receive sheets or signatures from the outfeed station of a copy machine 2 and transfer them directly to the infeed end of a sheet collator device 3. In operative position the infeed conveyor is in substantially horizontal position with its conveying surface in alignment with the infeed end of the sheet collator device. The sheet collator device is preferably of the type described in U.S. Pat. No. 3,561,753, which is hereby incorporated by reference. The collator device described therein is one which receives and distributes sheets at preselected vertical positions for reception by a vertical column of bins. The sheets are distributed by a perforated tape conveyor belt which passes over a vacuum plenum, the vacuum serving to hold the sheets to the moving tape until they are deflected into a particular bin by a deflector which travels up and down the length of the bins. The infeed end of such a collator device is shown partially in FIGS. 2 to 5 and includes vertical posts 4 (only one shown) having shaft 5 journaled for free rotation in suitable bearings in a conventional manner therein. Surrounding shaft 5 is roller 6 around which is trained a narrow perforated belt or conveyor tape 6a. The conveyor tape is also trained about a lower roller (not shown) which is driven by suitable motor means.

Adjacent to and aligned with roller 5 is a transfer conveyor which extends substantially horizontally thereto. Only a portion of the transfer conveyor is shown in FIGS. 2 to 5. The transfer conveyor includes a continuous perforated conveyor belt 7a trained about spaced apart rollers 7 (only one shown), the hub of the rollers being fixed on shaft 8 journaled in suitable bearings to frame member 9. Shaft 8 extends through frame member 9. Circular gear 10 is rigidly attached to the end of shaft 8. Rollers 7 of the transfer conveyor are driven by driving gear 11 rigidly attached to the end of shaft 5. Transfer gear 12 is rigidly mounted on shaft 13 journaled for rotation in frame member 9. A vacuum conduit 14 extends transversely of and is supported by frame member 9 and is connected to a vacuum source and to a channel (not shown) running parallel and longitudinally aligned with the perforated belt, the vacuum serving to keep sheets moving on the surface of the transfer conveyor against the surface of the tape conveying surface. Disposed slightly above the upper surface of the perforated belt conveyor are a series of stationary spaced apart, interconnected hold down members 15 extending parallel to the perforated tape which assist in holding the sheets against the surface of the perforated tape.

The infeed conveyor of this invention is attached to the infeed end of and driven by a sheet collator device. FIGS. 2 and 3 show the infeed end conveyor pivotally attached to the frame of the collator at its infeed end for movement from a horizontal or operative position around its pivot point without interrupting the drive train of the infeed conveyor. Alternatively the infeed conveyor can be attached for movement to the infeed end of a collator device as shown in FIGS. 4 and 5 so that the infeed conveyor can be raised from its normally operative position and slid along the top surface of the collator device and transfer conveyor.

The infeed conveyor 1 includes spaced apart frame members 16 (only one of which is shows) between which are located rollers 17 (one shown) with their hubs fixed on shaft 18 journaled for rotation at their opposite ends to frame 16. A perforated conveyor tape 19 is trained around rollers 17. A vacuum conduit 20 extends transversely of the conveyor surface and parallel to rollers 17 and is supported by frame 16. The vacuum conduit is connected to a suitable vacuum source and is in open communication with channel 21 running in alignment with perforated belt 19, the vacuum serving to retain sheets being conveyed on the surface of perforated tape conveyor 19 against it. To aid in retaining the sheets to be distributed against perforated belt 19 a series of parallel stationary guide members 22 are located slightly above and parallel to the upper surface of perforated tape conveyor 19 and in face-to-face relationship. The guides are supported at both ends by transverse support rods 23 and 24. Rod 23 is pivotally mounted between frame members 16 at pivot point 25. Rod 24 rests in a notched flange 26 attached to frame member 16 and adapted to receive the transverse rod.

The infeed conveyor is attached to the infeed end of the collator device so that it can be lifted out of the way for easy access to the copy machine. Two alternative methods of attaching the infeed conveyor are shown in FIGS. 2,3 and 4, 5. The preferred method of attachment is that shown in FIGS. 2 and 3.

As shown in FIGS. 2 and 3 infeed conveyor frame 16 is pivotally attached to frame member 9 of the collator device at pivot point 27. Coaxial with pivot point 27 and extending through conveyor frame 16 and attached to collator frame 9 is shaft 28 journaled therein for rotation. On opposite ends of shaft 28 are rigidly attached sun gears 29 in mesh with driving gear 11. Sun gears 29 are also meshed with gear 30 which is rigidly attached to shaft 18. Shaft 18 extends through conveyor frame member 16 and collator frame member 9. A semi-circular slot 31 slightly wider than the diameter of the shaft 18 and spaced a distance from pivot point 27 equal to the radial distance from pivot point 27 to the center of shaft 18 is cut in frame member 9. With this arrangement the infeed conveyor 1 can be pivoted around pivot point 27 without loss of driving power to rollers 17 through gear 30. The infeed conveyor can be pivoted a full 180.degree. or more and can be easily laid back out of place when access to the copy machine is desired.

In FIGS. 4 and 5 perforated belt 19 is driven by transfer gear 32 rigidly attached to shaft 33 journaled for rotation to conveyor frame 16, the transfer gear being in mesh with driving gear 11 when the infeed conveyor is in operative position. The infeed conveyor is attached to collator frame 9 so that it can be vertically raised and slid out of the way over the top of the collator and transfer conveyor. As shown in FIG. 4 collator frame 9 has a vertical slot 34 therein near the infeed end in which roller 35 is journaled for rotation to frame 16. At the upper end of the slot tie bar 36 is pivotally attached at one end to conveyor frame member 16 at point 37 and at the opposite end to collator frame 9 at point 38. When access to the copy machine is desired the infeed conveyor is raised upwardly until roller 35 is out of slot 34. The conveyor is then rolled along the top of the frame member 9 as shown in the partial phantom view of FIG. 4. When the conveyor is raised transfer gear 32 disengages from driving gear 11. In addition power to the collator device is shut off by microswitch 36 located beneath the infeed conveyor. When the conveyor is lowered into operative position the microswitch allows power to be supplied to the collator and infeed conveyor.

By either of the alternative arrangements illustrated in FIGS. 2 and 5, easy access to the copy machine for replacing paper or other maintenance is possible by simply moving the infeed conveyor from its normally operative position.

Although meshed gears are described as a means of driving the infeed and transfer conveyor from the power train of the sheet collator, other means of driving the conveyors may be used such as one or more cog belts trained about pulleys fixed to the ends of the respective shafts 5, 8, 13, 18, 28.

Claims

What is claimed is:

1. A collating system including a sheet collator device for receiving and distributing sheets at preselected positions, and an infeed conveyor for the collator device interconnecting the outfeed station of a copy machine with the infeed end of the sheet collator device, the collator and the conveyor being driven by a common power source, the infeed conveyor adapted to be moved from an operative position to an inoperative position for access to the copy machine without changing the relative position of the copy machine and sheet collator device and without interrupting the power delivery to either the copy machine or the collator device, comprising:

a sheet collator device having a collator distributor for receiving and distributing sheets at preselected vertical positions for reception by a vertical column of bins by powered sheet conveying means conveying sheets in a substantially vertical course for deflection to the vertical column of spaced bins by deflection means traveling up and down the length of the bins, a powered infeed conveyor having a conveyor frame attached to the infeed end of the sheet collator device for movement between an operative position and an inoperative position, a powered conveyor tape supported by the conveyor frame and having substantially horizontal run when the frame is positioned in operative position for conveying sheets from the outfeed end of the copy machine to the infeed end of the collator device, the conveyor tape terminating adjacent the vertically moving sheet conveying means of the collator device, driving means operatively connected to the collator device and tape of the infeed conveyor for commonly driving the same; and power means powering the driving means.

2. The system of claim 1 including means for applying vacuum pressure to the surface of the endless distributor conveyor tape to aid in retaining moving sheets there against for movement thereby, and stationary members mounted on the conveyor frame above and opposite the endless distributor conveyor tape to assist in maintaining the moving sheets against the conveyor tape.

3. The system of claim 1 wherein the driving means includes a powered rotatable member of the sheet collator device operatively connected to the power means, a circular driving gear attached for rotation to the powered rotatable member, a circular driven gear operatively connected to the endless distributor conveyor tape of the infeed conveyor, and a transfer gear journaled for rotation to the infeed conveyor frame and in mesh with the driving and driven gears when the infeed conveyor is in operative position.

4. The system of claim 3 wherein the transfer gear disengages from the driving gear on movement of the conveyor frame from an operative position to an inoperative position.

5. The system of claim 3 wherein the infeed conveyor frame is secured about a pivot point to the infeed end of the sheet collator device, the transfer gear is axially journaled to the frame of the conveyor at the pivot point and the driven gear is in constant mesh with the transfer gear in operative or inoperative position.