Patent ID: 6015145
Filing Date: 2000-01-18
Classification: B65H

Abstract:
For use with a single pocket of a saddle stitcher including a frame, a stacking tray, suction take-off means to remove sheets of paper, one at a time from the stacking tray, a cylindrical gripper disc mounted on a rotating shaft, gripper means on the gripper disc for clamping the leading edge of a sheet of paper, and a saddle shuttle,a separator guide for an outside Z folded sheet, said sheet comprising first and second flaps joined at a first fold and second and third flaps joined at a second fold, wherein the free edge of the third flap terminates in close proximity to, but short of the first fold, the Z-folded sheet placed on the stacking tray with the first fold forming the leading edge of the sheet as the sheet is withdrawn from the stacking tray and is transferred to the saddle shuttle, said device comprising:a) a cam mounted on the shaft on one side of the gripper disc;b) a cam follower operatively engaging the cam;c) means for translating the motion of the cam follower into reciprocating linear motion;d) at least one sheet guide connected to the translating motion means movable linearly toward the gripper disc after a first flap of the Z-folded sheet is removed from the stacking tray by the suction take-offs; ande) pneumatic means to deflect the edge of the third flap into contact with the guide to cause the flap to be biased toward, and clamped by the gripping means along with the first fold of the sheet.