Patent ID: 6247692
Filing Date: 2001-06-19
Classification: B65H

Abstract:
A delivery apparatus for separating a stream of signatures into two or more streams, the apparatus comprising:two bucket assemblies, wherein each bucket assembly includes a plurality of buckets spaced from one another along a common axis, the respective common axis of each bucket assembly being disposed parallel to the common axis of the other, each of the buckets of one of the bucket assemblies being disposed adjacent to and in a respective common plane opposing a respective one of the buckets of the other of the bucket assemblies, each of the buckets including a plurality of blades, the tips of the blades of each bucket defining a outer circle wherein a respective outer circle of one bucket overlaps the outer circle of the opposing bucket disposed in the respective common plane, wherein a primary surface of a leading blade together with a secondary surface of a trailing blade together define a slot, each slot having an end at an inner circular portion of the bucket, each slot further including a first generally wedge-shaped portion defined by a first planar surface and a second planar surface disposed at a first angle from the first planar surface, and a second generally wedge shaped portion defined by a third planar surface and a fourth planar surface disposed at a second angle from the third planar surface, and wherein the second angle is smaller than the first angle.