Collator

Abstract: A plurality of rows (A,B) of sheet loading stations (A1-A4, B1-B4) for receiving a supply of sheets to be collated are spaced in parallel with one another. A sheet receiving and transfering line (28) having a plurality of sheet receiving stations (34,35) aligned for receiving sheets from the sheet loading stations is arranged. A sheet feeding mechanism is (21,22) provided for repeatedly feeding sheets from each row of sheet loading stations to the sheet receiving stations, with first clip mechanisms (21) feeding sheets from a first row (A) of sheet loading stations (A1-A4), and second clip mechanisms (22) feeding sheets from a second row (B) of sheet loading stations (B1-B4). A mechanism (32,33) for transfering sheets received at each sheet receiving station to the respective next sheet receiving station on the sheet receiving and transfering line is also provided in order to receive sheets fed from another row of sheet loading stations according to a predetermined collation sequence (as illustrated in Fig.3). Even in case a great number of pages should be collated, a reduction of the horizontal dimension of the collator is achieved so as to economize space for installing the collator.

Description: This invention relates to a collator, particularly to a horizontal collator. A collator of this kind is disclosed in GB-A-654 442. The collator described in GB-A-654 442 comprises a number of pile supports disposed in parallel rows, one collecting path in association with each of the rows, a collecting cage at the end of each collecting path, and a set of grippers for transferring a sheet from each pile to the corresponding collecting path. A conveyor co-operates with each collecting path for stepwise movement of the sheets in the collecting path towards the delivering end of the path. An elevator is provided for stepwise movement of the groups of sheets collected in the collecting cages. An ejector transfer the final complete group of sheets from the collecting cage to a delivering table. The grippers comprise air suckers for each pile row. The suckers are secured to a common pipe turnably mounted on arms which can he turned about an axis parallel to the pipe for simulataneous transfer of a sheet from each pile to the corresponding collecting path. The conveyors comprise a conveying belt extending in parallel with each collecting path and provided with conveying pins. In this arrangement, a plurality of pairs of a pile support row and an collecting path are arranged in parallel with each other. That is to say, one collecting path is divided into sub-collecting paths for the respective pile support rows, therefore only one pile support row is arranged along a collecting path. Sheets are collected in a collecting cage for each sub-collecting path and the collected sheets are transferred to a predetermined collecting cage by an elevator. In this collator, the dimension in the direction perpendicular to a collecting path is increased, although the length of each collecting path is reduced. Furthermore, a considerable time is required for collating operation due to a complex sheet transfer mechanism. It is, therefore, the object of the present invention to provide a more compact collator being able to achieve the minimum occupation of space and. According to the present invention, there is provided a collator including a plurality of rows of sheet loading stations arranged in parallel with one another for receiving a supply of sheets to be collated, and a sheet receiving and transferring line having a plurality of sheet receiving stations aligned £or receiving sheets from the sheet loading stations. The sheet receiving and transferring line is arranged in parallel with each row of sheet loading stations. Sheet feeding means is provided for repeatedly feeding sheets all together from each row of sheet loading stations to the sheet receiving stations on the sheet receiving and transferring line. Means are provided for transferring sheets received at the sheet receiving stations on the sheet receiving and transferring line to the respective next sheet receiving stations on the sheet receiving and transferring line synchronously with the following sheet feeding operation by the sheet feeding means in order to receive sheets fed from another row of sheet loading stations according to a predetermined collation sequence. For solving the above mentioned object of the invention, the sheet feeding means comprises a pair of shafts, one of which is disposed under the outermost row of sheet loading stations in parallel therewith, the other of which is disposed immediately in front of the sheet receiving and transferring line in parallel therewith. Each of the shafts is provided with a first chain wheel at its ends. The sheet feeding means further comprises a pair of first endless chains extending between the pair of shafts through the first chain wheels, a motor for driving one of the shaft pair through a drive belt, and a plurality of connecting members extending between the pair of first endless chains. The connecting members are arranged at appropriate spaces. A plurality of clip means are connected to each connecting member for picking out sheets all together from the corresponding row of sheet loading stations so as to deliver the sheets to the sheet receiving stations on the sheet receiving and transferring line. Sheet delivering means is arranged for each sheet loading station. The sheet delivering means is provided for delivering sheets one by one from the sheet loading station to the clip means. In accordance with a preferred embodiment, each clip means comprises a fixed portion supported by the connecting member, a movable portion pivotably supported on a shaft fixed to the connecting member. The movable portion is provided with a cam follower. Each clip means further comprises a spring for urging the tip of the movable portion toward the fixed portion, and a cam provided with a cam groove in which the cam follower of the movable portion is guided, whereby the movable portion is movable between an open position whereat its tip is away from the fixed portion against the urging force of the spring and a closed position whereat its tip is pushed toward the fixed portion by the urging force of the spring. In accordance with another preferred embodiment, the plurality of sheet receiving stations are continuously arranged on the sheet receiving and transferring line. In addition, the means for transferring sheets received at the sheet receiving stations on the sheet receiving and transferring line to the respective next sheet receiving stations on the sheet receiving and transferring line comprises a pair of second chain wheels each disposed at the both ends of the sheet receiving and transferring line, respectively, a second endless chain extending between the pair of second chain wheels, the second endless chain being arranged in parallel with the sheet receiving and transferring line, and a plurality of arms attached to the second endless chain at predetermined spaces and projecting toward the sheet receiving and transferring line so as to move sheets received at sheet receiving stations on the sheet receiving and transferring line to the respective next sheet receiving stations on the sheet receiving and transferring line through circulation of the second endless chain. In accordance with still another preferred embodiment, a set of bevel gears is provided for transmitting the rotation of the first chain wheel to one of the second chain wheels of the second endless chain so as to synchronize the sheet transferring operation by the means for transferring sheets received at the sheet receiving stations on the sheet receiving and transferring line to the respective next sheet receiving stations on the sheet receiving and transferring line with the sheet feeding operation by the sheet feeding means. If there are provided M rows of sheet loading stations and each row consists of N sheet loading stations, NxM pages can be collated. However, in this case, the transverse dimension of the collator corresponds to no more than the length of one row of sheet loading stations. Consequently, even in case a number of pages should be collated, a compact collator is provided so as to minimize space for installing the collator. The other objects and features of this invention will become understood from the following description with reference to the accompanying drawings wherein: Fig. 1 is a perspective view of one embodiment of a collator in accordance with the present invention. Fig. 2 is a plan view showing an arrangement of sheet loading shelves in the collator shown in Fig. 1. Fig. 3 is a plan view showing an arrangement of sheet loading shelves in another embodiment of a collator in accordance with the present invention. Fig. 4 is a side view of a first clip mechanism of the collator shown in Fig. 1. Fig. 5 is a side view of a second clip mechanism of the collator shown in Fig. 1. Fig. 6 is a perspective view of the clip mechanisms shown in Figs. 4 and 5. Fig. 7 is a plan view of a cam employed in the first clip mechanism shown in Fig. 4. Fig. 8 is a plan view of a cam employed in the second clip mechanism shown in Fig. 5. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS Fig. 1 and Fig. 2 illustrate an embodiment of a collator in accordance with the present invention. In Figs. 1 and 2, two rows of sheet loading stations for receiving a supply of sheets to be collated are parallely arranged at appropriate spacing and the respective rows consist of four sheet loading stations transversely aligned at regular spaces. The symbols (A1) - (A4) designate the sheet loading stations composing a first row, respectively and the symbols (B1) - (B4) designate the sheet loading stations composing a second row, respectively. The respective sheet loading stations (A1) - (A4) of the first row and the respective sheet loading stations (B1) - (B4) of the second row are alternately arranged in the transverse direction. And these sheet loading stations are arranged in such a manner that sheets are collated in the collation order (A1) - (B1) - (A2) - (B2) - ··· ··· (A4) - (B4). In Fig. 2, the number assigned to each sheet loading station corresponds to the collation sequence. As shown in Fig. 4, each of the sheet loading stations are provided with a front plate (42) attached to a machine frame for serving as a stopper to define the front ends of sheets of a paper sheet stack (A) and a sheet supporting plate (41) with the stack (A) horizontally attached to the machine frame. The sheet supporting plate (41) is disposed perpendicular to the surface of the front plate (42) at a certain distance from the front end of the sheet supporting plate (41). Furthermore, the front end portion of the lower surface of the stack (A) is supported on a receiving screw (43) attached to the front plate (42). Referring to Fig. 1, a sheet receiving and transferring line (28) is arranged in parallel with the rows of sheet loading stations for receiving sheets from the sheet loading stations. As shown in Fig. 4, the sheet receiving and transferring line (28) comprises a base plate (56) inclined downward to the rear and a guide plate (55) disposed perpendicular to the base plate (56) at a certain distance from the upper surface of the base plate (56). As shown in Fig. 2, there are provided a plurality of sheet receiving stations aligned on the sheet receiving and transferring line (28), for example, in this embodiment, there are eight sheet collating stations in all. In this embodiment, adjacent sheet receiving stations are partially overlapped with each other. A sheet feeding mechanism is provided for repeatedly feeding sheets all together from each row of sheet loading stations. Referring to Figs. 1, 4 and 5, the sheet feeding mechanism includes a pair of shafts (36) one of which is disposed under the second row of sheet loading stations in parallel therewith, the other of which is disposed immediately before the sheet receiving and transferring line (28) in parallel therewith, each of the shafts (36) being provided with a first chain wheel (25) at its ends, a pair of first endless chains (26), (26) extending between that pair of shafts (36) through the first chain wheels (25) and a motor (27) for driving one of the shafts through a drive belt (37). Thus the pair of first endless chains (26) are driven between the second row of sheet loading stations and the sheet receiving and transferring line (28). Furthermore, two first connecting members (23) and two second connecting members (24) extend between the chain pair (26), respectively. The first and second connecting members (23), (24) are arranged alternately at appropriate spaces. Then a plurality of first clip mechanisms (21) are connected to the respective first connecting members (23) and a plurality of second clip mechanisms (22) are connected to the respective second connecting members (24). Each first clip mechanism (21) is associated with a sheet loading stations of the first row and each second clip mechanism (22) is associated with the sheet loading stations of the second row. There are provided two first connecting members (23) and two second connecting members (24) in the embodiment shown in Fig. 1 because it is intended that during a single revolution of the first chain pair (26), hence, a double revolution of the chain wheel pair (25), sheets are fed twice from each row of sheet loading stations. When the pair of first endless chains (26) are driven by the chain wheels (25), the first and second connecting members (23), (24) are moved, respectively, which leads to the same movement of the clip mechanisms connected to the same connecting members. At the beginning sheets are fed by the first clip mechanisms (21) all together from the first row of sheet loading stations to the sheet receiving stations on the sheet receiving and transferring line (28) and successively fed by the sheet feeding mechanisms (22) all together from the second row of sheet loading stations to the sheet receiving stations an the sheet receiving and transferring line (28). The first clip mechanism (21) and the second clip mechanism (22) are shown in detail in Fig. 4 and Fig. 5, respectively. And Fig. 6 is a perspective view of the clip mechanism shown in Figs. 4 and 5. As shown in Figs. 4 and 5, each sheet loading station is provided with a sucker (44) for delivering sheets one by one from the sheet loading station to the associated clip mechanism. In Fig. 4, the sucker (44) is disposed between the sheet supporting plate (41) and the front plate (42) for swing about a shaft (45) fixed to the machine frame. The sucker (44) is movable between a first position in which it is engageable with the lowermost sheet of the stack (A) and a second position in which it is retracted below from the bottom surface of the stack to draw out the lowermost sheet. When air is blown from an air pipe (not shown) located forwardly of the front plate (42) to separate from the lowermost sheet of the stack from the stack, the sucker (44) rotates clockwise to the first position so as to suck it. After the suction, the sucker (44) moves counterclockwise to the second position shown in Fig. 4 to deliver the sheet to the first clip mechanism (21). The clip mechanism (46) includes a movable portion (48) pivotably supported an a shaft (47) fixed to the connecting member (23) and a fixed portion (49) supported by the connecting member (23). The tip of the movable portion (48) is pushed toward the fixed portion (49) through the urging force of a spring (not shown). The movable portion (48) is provided with a cam follower (50) which is guided within a cam groove (52) of a cam (51) fixed to the machine frame. Thus the movable portion (48) is movable between an open position whereat its tip is away from the fixed portion (49) against the urging force of the spring and a closed positian whereat its tip is pushed toward the fixed portion (49) by the urging force of the spring in order to clip a sheet between the movable and fixed portions during drive of the pair of first endless chains (26). Fig. 7 shows the cam (51) and the cam groove (52). In Fig. 6, for explicity, the cam follower (50) is shown in the same side as the shaft (47), but the cam follower (50) is actually positioned at the opposite side. At the second position of the sucker (44), the sheet is delivered from the sucker (44) to the clip mechanism (46). Then the clip mechanism (46) is moved by the drive of the first chain pairs (26) toward the sheet receiving and transferring line (28) with the sheet clipped thereby. Then the clip mechanism (46) reaches the sheet receiving and transferring line (28), where the sheet clipped by the clip mechanism (46) is put an the base plate (56) of the sheet receiving and transferring line (28) with the help of the guide plate (55). At this moment, the movable portian (48) is rotated to the open position shown by a broken line in Fig. 4, so that the sheet (A) is released from the clipment by the clip mechanism (46) to fall an the base plate (56). Then the movable portian (48) is moved to the closed positian again and traveled with drive of the first endless chains. Thereafter another clip mechanism (46A) is close to the sucker (44) being at the second positian and a movable portion (48) of the clip mechanism (46A) is moved to the open position by the movement of the cam follower (50) within the cam groove (52) so as to perform the next sheet clipping operation. In Fig. 5, the second clip mechanisms (22), (22A) associated with the second row of sheet loading stations performs the same sheet feeding operation as the first clip mechasnisms (21), (21A) shown in Fig. 4. However, as shown in Fig. 8, a cam groove (52A) of a cam (51A) is a little different from the cam groove (52) of the cam (51) because the second clip mechanisms (22), (22A) draw out sheets from the second row of sheet loading stations which is arranged behind the first row of sheet loading stations. Thus the above-mentioned sheet feeding operation of the sheet feeding mechanism is repeated. There is provided a mechanism (29) for transferring sheets received at the sheet receiving stations an the sheet receiving and transferring line (28) to the respective next sheet receiving stations on the sheet receiving and transferring line (28) in order to receive sheets fed from another row of sheet loading stations according to a predetermined collation sequence. The mechanism (29) comprises a pair of chain wheels (31), (31) attached to the machine frame (20), each of the chain wheel pair being disposed at the ends of the base plate (56) of the sheet receiving and transferring line (28), a set of bevel gears (30) far transmitting the rotation of the first chain wheel (25) to one of the second chain wheels (31), an second endless chain (32) extending between a pair of chain wheels (31) in parallel with the sheet receiving and transferring line (28), a plurality of arms (33) attached to the second endless chain (32) at appropriate spaces. The respective arms (33) are arranged in such a manner that they project toward the base plate (56) through the clearance between the base plate (56) and the guide plate (55). The arms (33) are all transversely moved by the rotation of the chain (32) along the sheet receiving and transferring line (28). The movement of the arms (33) is synchronized with the sheet feeding operation in such a manner that each arm pushes the side of each sheet set received at the sheet receiving stations on the sheet receiving and transferring line (28) from the respective next sheet receiving stations on the sheet receiving and transferring line (28) after each sheet feeding operation. Thus at the beginning the sheet feeding operation of the first clip mechanisms is performed and sheets are simultaneously fed from every sheet loading station of the first row. At this time a sheet is fed from the first sheet loading station (A1) of the first row to a first sheet receiving station on the sheet receiving and transferring line (28). Then the sheet is transferred by the associated arm (33) from the first sheet receiving station to a second sheet receiving station on the sheet receiving and transferring line (28) synchronously with the sheet feeding operation of the second clip mechanisms, so that a sheet fed from the first sheet loading station (B1) of the second row is overlapped with the sheet positioned at the second sheet receiving station. Further the sheet set is transferred by the associated arm (33) from the second sheet receiving station to a third sheet receiving station synchronously with the following sheet feeding operation of the first clip mechanisms, so that a sheet fed from the first sheet loading station (A1) of the first row to the first sheet receiving station and a sheet fed from the second sheet loading station (A2) of the first row is overlapped with the sheet set positioned at the third sheet receiving station. Fig. 1 illustrates the situation in which sheet sets (34) are positioned at the second, fourth, sixth and eighth sheet receiving stations on the sheet receiving and transferring line (28) and Fig. 2 illustrates the situation in which sheet sets (34) are positioned at the first, third, fifth, seventh and nineth sheet receiving stations on the sheet receiving and transferring line (28). Such operation is repeated and finally, a complete set of sheets is collated in the eighth sheet receiving station an the sheet receiving and transferring line (28). The completed sheet set (35) is moved by the associated arm (33) from the eighth sheet receiving station to the station shown as the rightest side station in Fig. 2, where it is took out from the sheet receiving and transferring line (28). Although the embodiment provided with two rows of sheet loading stations has been explained, more than two rows can be arranged in the collator. Fig. 3 shows another embodiment provided with three rows of sheet loading stations. In Fig. 3, the symbols (C1) - (C4) designate sheet loading stations composing a third row and the number assigned to each sheet loading station corresponds to the collation sequence and the numbers appearing underside of each set of sheets (34) correspond to the collation sequence. According to the present invention, even in case a number of pages should be collated, a compact collator is provided so as to minimize space for installing the collator. While the preferred embodiments of the present invention have been shown and described, it is to be understood these disclosures are for the purpose of illustration and that various changes and modifications may he made without departing from the scope of the invention as set forth in the appended claims.

Claims: A collator including a plurality of rows of sheet loading stations (A1-A4;B1-B4) for receiving a supply of sheets to be collated, said plurality of rows of sheet loading stations (A1-A4;B1-B4) being arranged in parallel with one another, a sheet receiving and transferring line (28) having a plurality of sheet receiving stations aligned for receiving sheets from said sheet loading stations (A1-A4;B1-B4), said sheet receiving and transferring line (28) being arranged in parallel with said each row of sheet loading stations (A1-A4;B1-B4), sheet feeding means provided for repeatedly feeding sheets all together from said each row of sheet loading stations (A1-A4;B1-B4) to said plurality of sheet receiving stations on said sheet receiving and transferring line (28), and means (29) for transferring sheets received at said sheet receiving stations on said sheet receiving and transferring line (28) to the respective next sheet receiving stations on said sheet receiving and transferring line (28) synchronously with the following sheet feeding operation by said sheet feeding means in order to receive sheets fed from another row of sheet loading stations (A1-A4;B1-B4) according to a predetermined collation sequence, characterized in that said sheet feeding means comprises a pair of shafts (36), one of which is disposed under the outermost row of sheet loading stations in parallel therewith, the other of which is disposed immediately in front of said sheet receiving and transferring line (28) in parallel therewith, said each shaft (36) being provided with a first chain wheel (25) at its ends; a pair of first endless chains (26) extending between said pair of shafts (36) through said first chain wheels (25); a motor (27) for driving one of said shaft pair (36) through a drive belt (37); a plurality of connecting members (23;24) extending between said pair of first endless chains (26), said plurality of connecting members (23;24) being arranged at appropriate spaces; a plurality of clip means (21;22) connected to said each connecting member (23;24) for picking out sheets all together from the corresponding row of sheet loading stations (A1-A4;B1-B4) so as to deliver the sheets to said sheet receiving stations on said sheet receiving and transferring line (28); and sheet delivering means (44) arranged for said each sheet loading station (A1-A4;B1-B4), said sheet delivering means (44) being provided for delivering sheets one by one from said sheet loading station (A1-A4;B1-B4) to said clip means (21;22). The collator of claim 1, characterized in that said each clip means (21;22) comprises: a fixed portion (49) supported by said connecting member (23); a movable portion (48) pivotably supported on a shaft (47) fixed to said connecting member (23), said movable portion (48) being provided with a cam follower (50); a spring for urging the tip of said movable portion (48) toward said fixed portion (49); and a cam (51) provided with a cam groove (52), said cam follower (50) of said movable portion (48) being guided within said cam groove (52), whereby said movable portion (48) is movable between an open position whereat its tip is away from said fixed portion (49) against the urging force of said spring and a closed position whereat its tip is pushed toward said fixed portion (49) by the urging force of said spring. The collator of claim 2, characterized in that said plurality of sheet receiving stations are continuously arranged on said sheet receiving and transferring line (28) and said means (29) for transferring sheets received at the sheet receiving stations on the sheet receiving and transferring line to the respective next sheet receiving stations on the sheet receiving and transferring line comprises: a pair of second chain wheels (31) each disposed at the both ends of said sheet receiving and transferring line (28), respectively; a second endless chain (32) extending between said pair of second chain wheels (31), said second endless chain (32) being arranged in parallel with said sheet receiving and transferring line (28); and a plurality of arms (33) attached to said second endless chain (32) at predetermined spaces and projecting toward said sheet receiving and transferring line (28) so as to move sheets received at sheet receiving stations on said sheet receiving and transferring line (28) to the respective next sheet receiving stations on said sheet receiving and transferring line (28) through circulation of said second endless chain (32). The collator of claim 3, characterized by a set of bevel gears (30) for transmitting the rotation of said first chain wheel (25) to one of said second chain wheels (31) of said second endless chain (32) so as to synchronize the sheet transferring operation by said means for transferring sheets received at the sheet receiving stations on the sheet receiving and transferring line to the respective next sheet receiving stations on the sheet receiving and transferring line with the sheet feeding operation by said sheet feeding means.

Inventors: OISHI KOJI, OISHI, KOJI
Applicants: HORIZON INT INC, HORIZON INTERNATIONAL INC.
Application year: 1992
Main classification: B65H39
IPC codes: B65H39, B42B9, B42C1