Cut sheet streamer and merger
US6460844B1 · kind B1 · utility
Assignee
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | Oct 31, 2000 |
| Grant date | Oct 8, 2002 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Feb 25, 2021 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC Y)Emerging Cross-Sectional Technologies
- CPC primaryY10S83/934
- WIPO fieldHandling
- WIPO sectorMechanical engineering
Abstract
An apparatus for selectively streaming and merging side-by-side sheets is provided. In general, sheets enter in a side-by-side orientation onto an input feed surface and are directed selectively upwardly or downwardly onto overlying upper and lower feed surfaces by a diverter assembly having two diverter sides. The diverter sides can be independently moved to direct sheets upwardly or downwardly. The upper feed surface and lower feed surface have opposing edge guides. The upper feed surface and lower feed surface can be moved with respect to each other so that the edge guides are placed one sheet width apart or more than two sheet widths apart. By orienting the two diverter halves, and setting the desired distance between the upper and lower edge guides, sheets can pass along each of the upper and lower surfaces in a side-by-side streamed or over-lapping merge orientation. Sheets pass out of each of the upper and lower feed surfaces onto a common output surface through an output ramp at which time they are either side-by-side streamed or merged. Each edge guide can include an offset actuator that moves at selected times to provide an offset to selected sheets as they enter the outp…
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.