Patent ID: 6568676
Filing Date: 2003-05-27
Classification: B65H

Abstract:
A turnbar for use in a sheet accumulator having an accumulating assembly, wherein the accumulating assembly accumulates a plurality of sheets that serially and separately enter an entry point so as to allow these sheets to overlap each other and thereby form a stack at an exit point, said sheet accumulator having a plurality of paths connecting the entry point and the exit point with each path having a different path length, and means for controlling said paths so as to allow each sheet of said plurality of sheets to travel a different path such that a sheet entering the entry point travels a shorter path than a preceding sheet, wherein the sheets travel alonga first direction prior to entering the entry point; a second direction different from the first direction after entering the entry point; a third direction different from the second direction prior to leaving the exit point; and a fourth direction different from the third direction after leaving the exit point, said turnbar comprising: first means located in the proximity of the entry point for directing the sheets entering the entry point from the first direction to the second direction; second means located in the proximity of the exit point for directing the sheets leaving the exit point from the third direction to the fourth direction; and a mounting mechanism for removably mounting the turnbar on said sheet accumulator.