Patent ID: 6499731
Filing Date: 2002-12-31
Classification: B65G,B65H

Abstract:
An apparatus for maintaining a pusher in a high speed sheet feeder machine in a substantially nonrotated position, comprising: a pair of parallel, longitudinally disposed, transversely spaced apart sidewalls having a forward end and a rearward end; a sheet insertion station disposed adjacent said forward end of said sidewalls; a first continuous chain that follows a loop-shaped path of travel between a forward end and a rearward end of a first sidewall of said pair of sidewalls; a second continuous chain that follows a loop-shaped path of travel between a forward end and a rearward end of a second sidewall of said pair of sidewalls; said loop-shaped path of travel including a forward bight region, a rearward bight region, and a pair of vertically spaced apart straight sections extending between said forward and rearward bight regions; a transversely disposed rod that extends between said sidewalls; first interconnecting means for interconnecting said transversely disposed rod and said first chain; second interconnecting means for interconnecting said transversely disposed rod and said second chain; at least one pusher for sequentially inserting sheets into envelopes, said at least one pusher being longitudinally disposed; said at least one pusher having a head at a forward, leading end thereof, said head adapted to abuttingly engage and insert a sheet into an envelope at said sheet insertion station; a trailing end of said at least one pusher being rotatably engaged to said transversely disposed rod at a preselected point between said first and second chains; said at least one pusher traveling rearwardly from said sheet insertion station to a rearwardmost position where said trailing end of said pusher is substantially coincident with a rearwardmost end of said first and second sidewalls, and said at least one pusher traveling forwardly from said rearwardmost position to said sheet insertion station as said first and second continuous chains follow said loop-shaped path of travel; a guide means for guiding said transversely disposed rod about said loop-shaped path of travel; a first carriage member having a trailing end nonrotatably engaged to a first end of said transversely disposed rod; a second carriage member having a trailing end nonrotatably engaged to a second end of said transversely disposed rod; a first barrier means secured to a rearward end of said first sidewall; a second barrier means secured to a rearward end of said second sidewall; an upstanding stop member disposed at a trailing end of each of said carriage members; said upstanding stop members slidingly engaging their associated barrier means when said trailing end of said at least one pusher traverses said rearward bight region; whereby said at least one pusher maintains its substantially nonrotated position throughout its path of travel.