Abstract:
An apparatus for feeding sheetlike material from a stack, with a holder for receiving a stack for supporting the stack and opposed side guides for guiding sheetlike material of the stack in a feeding direction. One of the side guides is displaceable relative to the other one. As, further, one of the side guides is movable between a working position projecting relative to the platform for guiding sheets in a working area and a filling position in which the working area is at least partly cleared for passing therethrough sheets to be placed in the bolder, filling of the apparatus is facilitated and this can be carried out faster.

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     This invention relates to an apparatus for feeding sheetlike material from a stack. 
     Such apparatuses are known from practice in many forms. A random example of such an apparatus is known, for instant, in the form of a side feed-in of a copier of the type 2140 of the firm OCE. This side feed-in is provided with side guides. One of the side guides is adjustable in that it can be moved between positions at different distance from the other side guide. By moving the side guide into a suitable position, the distance between the side guides can be adjusted to the width of the paper to be processed. 
     A disadvantage of this holder is that filling the holder is rendered more difficult in that the stack of sheets is to be brought between the side guides. A further problem is that especially in placing thicker stacks, the stack easily slides off. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     It is an object of the invention to simplify filling of an apparatus for feeding sheetlike material and to enable this to be carried out faster, allowing the sheets to be better prevented from shifting relative to each other. 
     To that end, the invention provides an apparatus for feeding sheetlike material from a stack, comprising a holder for receiving a stack from sheetlike material with a platform for supporting the stack and opposed side guides for guiding sheetlike material from the sack in a feeding direction, at least one of the side guides being displaceable relative to the other one, and comprising a structure for feeding sheetlike material from the stack, wherein at least one of the side guides is movable between a working position projecting with respect to the platform for guiding sheets in a working area and a filling position in which the working area is at least partly cleared for passing therethrough sheets to be placed in the holder. 
     Further objects, aspects, effects and details of the invention are described in the following detailed description of a number of exemplary embodiments, with reference to the drawings. 
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
     FIG. 1 is a perspective view of an apparatus according to the invention in filled condition, 
     FIG. 2 is a cutaway side elevation of an example of an assembly with a triple apparatus according to FIG. 1 in operating condition, 
     FIG. 3 is a perspective view of the apparatus according to FIG. 1, but in unfilled condition ready to receive a stack of sheets, 
     FIG. 4 is a perspective view of a second example of an apparatus according to the invention, 
     FIG. 5 is a perspective view of a third example of an apparatus according to the invention, 
     FIG. 6 is a perspective view of a fourth example of an apparatus according to the invention, 
     FIG. 7 is a perspective view of a fifth example of an apparatus according to the invention, 
     FIG. 8 is a perspective view of a sixth example of an apparatus according to the invention, and 
     FIG. 9 is a perspective view of a seventh example of an apparatus according to the invention. 
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
     The apparatus shown in FIGS. 1-3 has a paper holder  10  with a platform  11  which is arranged for supporting sheetlike material. In this context, sheetlike material is understood to mean inter alia: paper sheets, sets of paper sheets, booklets, credit cards, and other flat information carriers which are substantially flat and lend themselves to forming a stack. According to this example, the dimensions of the platform  11  are such that it can receive a stack of A 4  size paper sheets. On a longitudinal side, the platform  11  has a side guide in the form of a sidewall  12  which extends upwards from the platform  11 . The side of the platform  11  located opposite the sidewall  12  is also provided with a side guide  14 . This side guide  14  is connected by means of a hinge  15  with the platform  11 , the axis of the hinge  15  being directed in the longitudinal direction of the platform  11 . Present on the platform  11  is a stack of paper sheets  16 . The side guide  14  can pivot relative to the platform  11  about the axis of the hinge  15  as is designated by the arrow A. Adjacent a downstream end, the holder  10  is provided with coupling elements  130  for coupling the holder to a frame of a sheet conveyor  1 . 
     According to this example, the sheet holder  10  is detachably coupled to a sheet conveyor  1 , which in turn can be part of, for instance, a mail item assembly system. The sheet conveyor  1  carries three separation devices  100  located above each other, each arranged for taking an uppermost sheet off the stack present in the paper holder  10 . The paper holders  10  are each detachable connected, by means of the coupling elements  130 , to the sheet conveyor  1 , the coupling elements  130  each engaging coupling parts  131  of the sheet conveyor  1 . Such separation devices  100  are described in applicant&#39;s international patent application PCT/NL91/00023, which is hereby referred to. The separation device  100  comprises a feed roller  106 , a separation roller  107 , a transport roller  108  and a pair of delivery rollers  109 . The rollers  106 - 109  are journaled in a frame  110 , which is suspended so as to be pivotable relative to the sheet conveyor  1  about a hinge  111 . Further, the frame  110  under the feed roller  106  is provided with a stop  113  against which the stack  16  abouts in the holder  10  in operating condition, as is shown in the upper separation device  100  in FIG.  2 . 
     In operation, the frame  110  assumes a pivoted position about the hinge  111 , such that the feed roller  106  rests on the stack  16 . Through rotation of the feed roller  106 , driven by a drive not shown, an uppermost sheet is then taken off the stack in a direction indicated by an arrow B directed in the longitudinal direction of the sheets, to the separation device  100 . The sheet thus taken off is then transported further between the rollers  107 ,  108 , under retention of any next sheet that may have been carried along, to pass between the rollers  109 . The rollers  109 , finally, transport this sheet into a waiting position and then, upon command, further via guides  112  in the direction of a transport track, not shown, for further transport by the sheet conveyor  1 . 
     In FIG. 3, the holder  10  is shown without paper, with the side guide  14  in a filling position. The side guide of the central holder  10  shown in FIG. 2 is also in the filing condition, ie., with the side guide  14  hinged downwards about the hinge  15 . As a result, a stack of paper can be introduced into the holder  10  unhindered. The arrow C indicates roughly along which paths the sheetlike material can be brought into the holder. Owing to the fact that the side guide  14  in the filing condition is located largely outside of the working area, filling can take place readily and fast without the side guide being in the way. This allows the stack of paper to be passed in a direction oblique or transverse to the longitudinal direction of the side guide  14  through the working area of that side guide. In this example, the stack of paper is positioned during filling by pushing the stack against the sidewall  12  and the stop  113  of the separation device  100 , with the angle included by the sidewall  12  and the stop  113  serving as stop, which is to ay that the other side guide also functions as stop, which further facilitates filling. The separation device  100  is in an upwardly swung position with respect to the platform  11  to thereby provide room under the feed roller  106  to introduce the stack  16  and also to bring the stop  113  in the stop position. 
     Owing to the side guide  14  in the filling position being moreover in a lowered position, it does not obstruct the view of the holder  10 , nor is it an obstacle to the hands of the person holding the stack  16  to be placed. 
     After filling, the side guide  14  is pivoted upwards about the hinge  15  into the working position. In the working position, the side guide  14  supports one side of the stack. Also, the separation device  100  is lowered, such that the roller  106  rests on the uppermost sheet of the stack  16 . When the separation device  100  takes a sheet off the stack, the uppermost sheet is displaced in the feeding direction designated by the arrow B, with the sheet being guided by the sidewall  12  and the side guide  14 . As the successive uppermost sheets are taken off the stack  16 , the separation device  100  moves down, as shown in the lowermost holder in FIG.  2 . As the side guide  14 , when it is being closed, moves towards the stack  16 , it additionally has a press-on effect, so that the stack, if necessary, is aligned further. 
     That the side guide  14  pivots about a pivot axis which is directed in the feeding direction provides the advantage that the side guide  14  in the filling condition projects only to a slight event. As this a is moreover located close to a plane dewed by the platform  11 , the side guide moreover pivots downwards from the working position to the filling position, so that in the filling position the side guide is located outside the working area, which is advantageous to further facilitate filling. 
     For refilling the holder  10 , the side guide  14  can then be moved from the working position to the filling position again, whereby the side guide  14  is placed outside the working area again and filling can take place unhindered. 
     FIG. 4 shows an alternative embodiment of the invention. The holder  20  is largely identical to the holder  10  according to the first exemplary embodiment, but is different as regards the construction of the movable side guide  214 . The working position of the side guide  214  corresponds to the working position as described in the first exemplary embodiment However, the side guide  214  is moved to the filling position by moving the side guide  214  substantially vertically in a direction away from the platform  11  and up along the stack of sheets, as indicated by an arrow D in FIG.  4 . In this embodiment, the side guide  214  is guided in that upwardly protecting guide bars  215  are guided in bushes (not shown) located above the side guide  214 . In the filling position, the side guide  214  is located outside the working area of the holder, so that filling of the holder  20  as described hereinbefore can take place in a simple manner. 
     FIG. 5 shows a further alternative embodiment of the invention. The holder  30  is largely identical to the holder  10  according to the first exemplary embodiment, but is different as regards the construction of the movable side guide  814 . The working position of the side guide  314  corresponds to the working position as described in the first exemplary embodiment. However, the side guide  314  is moved to the filling position by moving the side guide  314  substantially vertically downwards, as indicated by an arrow E in FIG. 5, with the side edges of the guide  314  sliding in guides  316  extending downwards from the platform  11  in the direction of arrow E. in the filling position, the side guide  314  is located below the level of the platform  11 , and hence outside the working area of the holder  30 , so that filling the holder  30  as described above can take place readily. 
     FIG. 6 shows a still further alternative embodiment of the invention. The holder  40  is again largely identical to the holder  10  according to the first exemplary embodiment, but is different as regards the construction of the movable side guide  414 . The side guide  414  is connected at one end to the back wall  13  by means of a hinge  415  directed transversely to the platform  11 . The working position of the side guide  414  corresponds to the working position as described in the first exemplary embodiment. However, the side guide  414  is moved to the filling position by swiveling the side guide  414  about the hinge  415  away from the platform  11 , as is indicated by an arrow F in FIG.  6 . In the filling position, the side guide  414  is swung clear from the platform  11 , and hance located outside the working area of the holder  40 , so that filling of the holder  40 , as described before, can take place readily. As the side guide  414  hinges on the hinge  415  like a door, it is easy to operate. In this embodiment too, the effect arises that, as the side guide  14  is brought into the working position, the stack is additionally aligned if necessary. 
     FIG. 7 shows a still further alternative embodiment of the invention. The holder  50  is largely identical to the holder  10  according to the first exemplary embodiment, but is different as regards the construction of the side guide  514 . The platform  11  is provided, adjacent the edge, with a coupling  515 . The side de  514  is provided, at a lower edge portion thereof, with a coupling  516  which is arranged to be coupled with the coupling  515  of the platform  11 . In the working position, the side guide  514  is connected to the platform  11  by means of the couplings  515  and  516 . To accomplish the filing position, the coupling between the couplings  515  and  516  is detached and the side guide  514  is removed from the platform  11 , as symbolized by the arrow G. The side guide  614  has thus been brought outside the working area of the holder  50 , so that filling the holder  50  as described hereinbefore can take place readily. Here, too, the stack  16  can be additionally aligned, if necessary, by pressing-on with the side guide  514 . 
     FIG. 8 shows a yet further alternative embodiment of the invention. The holder  60  is largely identical to the holder  10  according to the first exemplary embodiment, but differs as regards the construction of the side guide  614 . The side guide  614  is connected to the platform  11  by means of an adjustable slide  615 . By means of a slide  615 , the side guide  614  can be moved between the working position, wherein the side guide  614  rests against the stack, and a filling position which is located remote from the stack. In the filling position, the side guide  614  is located remote from the working area, in that it has been moved in the direction indicated by an arrow H. The side guide  614  is then located outside the prolongation of the sheet path which passes between the rollers  107 - 109  and is thus located outside the working area of the holder  60 , so that filling of the holder  60  is facilitated. When bringing the side guide  614  into the working position, the stack  16  can, if necessary, be additionally aligned through the press-on action of the side guide  614 . 
     In FIG. 9 a yet further exemplary embodiment of the invention is shown. An apparatus  70  according to this example comprises a platform  11 , a sidewall  12  and a side guide  814 , pivotally mounted by means of a hinge  15 , which side guide  814  corresponds to the side guide  14  from the first exemplary embodiment. 
     The separation device  800  corresponds to the separation device  100  from the foregoing examples. 
     The movable side guide  814  is provided with an axis  830  which extends in the prolongation of the hinge  815 . Adjacent the end of the axis  830  remote from the side guide  814 , a lever  835  is provided. This lever  835  in this example is designed as a substantially rectangular plate which is non-rotatably mounted with respect to the axis  830  and the side guide  814 , the plane of the lever  835  and the plane of the side guide  814  mutually including an angle of substantially 90°. Accordingly, the lever  835  is vertically upright if the side guide  814  has been brought into the filling position, and located approximately in the horizontal plane of the platform  11  if the side guide  814  has been brought into the work position. 
     The frame of the separation device  800  is provided with a cam  840  which is formed by a plate placed in a plane parallel to the longitudinal direction of the rollers  106 - 109 , with a slanted side  841  which extends from an area adjacent a first side of the frame  110  to a point adjacent a second side of the frame  110  in the direction of the rollers  106 - 109 . 
     In a condition of use, the feed roller  106  of the separation device  800  rests on the stack  16 , and sheets can be taken off the stack  16 . The side guide  814  is located in the working position, and the lever  835  is therefore located in the plane of the platform  11 . By now bringing the side guide  814  into the filling position by pivoting it in the direction A, the lever  835  is swung upwards from its horizontal position (arrow I). The end  836  of the lever  835  thereby engages the edge  841 . Upon further swiveling of the lever  835 , the end  836  of the lever  835  will slide further along the edge  841 . The frame  110  is thereby lifted by the lever  835  and thereby pivoted upwards about the hinge  111 . As a result, the feeding roller  106  comes clear of the uppermost sheet of the stack  16 , or of the bottom of the holder  10 . The side guide  814  is pivoted further into the filling position, with the lever  835  sliding further along the edge into the vertical position, whereby the frame  110  has reached its extreme upwardly swung position. The stack to be brought into the holder can now be readily brought under the feed roller  106 . 
     By means of this coupling, formed by lever  835  and edge  841 , bringing the side guide  814  into the filling position at the same time has as a consequence that the feeding of sheets is discontinued. This has as an advantage that no additional operations need to be performed by an operator to prevent sheets being taken off during filling. In addition, the separation device  800  is brought directly into a position which is most ideal for filling, while the opening for introducing a stack of paper into the holder  70  is large. 
     Although in this example the coupling between the side guide  814  and the device for switching off the separation device  800  is formed by a lever and a sliding edge, the invention is not limited to this embodiment. The invention is also applicable with other couplings between the side guide and the mechanism for releasing the feeding device and moving it away from the stack, such as, for instance, a pneumatic or hydraulic coupling or a logic coupling incorporated into operating software. 
     Alternatively, the holder  70  can be provided with a sensor  940 . This sensor  940  is so constructed and arranged with respect to the holder  70  that the sensor  940  can detect the position or movement of the movable side guide  814 . The sensor  940  can, for instance, be designed as a mechanical switch, an optical cell, or an inductive switch. The sensor  940  is arranged to produce a signal in response to the position of the side guide  814  and to deliver this signal via an output  945 . The output  945  is connected with a signaling circuit  950 , which is arranged for further processing the output signal of the sensor  940 . The signaling circuit  950  can contain a signal generator  951  for generating human-perceptible signals, such as acoustic or optical signals. An acoustic signal generator such as a buzzer or a bell is then preferred because signals therefrom can also be perceived when no attention is being paid to the signal generator. Preferably, the signaling circuit is then so designed that in response to the holder  70  reaching an empty or at any rate near-empty status, the acoustic signal is generated and that this signal subsequently ends in response to the signal that the side guide has been brought into the filling position. 
     For that matter, according to the invention, the sensor  940  can also be provided on the sheet conveyor  1  on which the holder  70  is fitted by means of coupling elements  130 . 
     Similarly to FIG. 2, the holder  70  is fitted on a sheet conveyor  1 . The signaling circuit  950  is connected with or forms part of a control system  960  of the paper processing apparatus  1 . 
     A signal indicating that the side guide  814  is in the filling position can be used to stop sheets being taken from the holder  70 . The holders can then be refilled while the apparatus runs without refilling conflicting with attempts of the apparatus to take off a sheet from a holder which is being refilled. To that end, the separation device  100  comprises a control unit  970  which can move the separation device  100  between a take-off position and a rest position. 
     It is also possible, in response to a holder  70  getting empty, as well as in response to a side guide being in the filling position, to activate an alternative separation device and to store information indicating that the side guide of the holder  70  which has been empty has been in the filling position, and to use this information as an indication that after the alternative device has become empty, a switch can be made again to feeding sheets from the previously empty, now refilled holder  70 . This provides the advantage that the apparatus makes a switch from feeding sheets from a different holder only if there is an indication that is has been refilled. 
     Further, a signal indicating that the holder  70  is being brought from the filling position to the working position can be used as a prompt to test whether paper is present in the holder  70 . 
     By using the formation obtained with the sensor  940  for the movable side guide  914  for different control purposes, the operation of the apparatus can be supported while the amount of costly sensors can be limited. 
     Although in the examples in each case a holder has been shown which is in principle suitable for receiving a single-size sheetlike material, the invention is not in any way limited thereto. According to the invention, the holder can be of adjustable design,  50  that it can receive different sizes of sheets. To that end, for instance, one of the side guides can be designed to be adjustable in the plane of the platform. It is then preferred that the side guide which is fixed in the examples be made of adjustable design, since constructionally this requires the least effort. Also, the back wall can be designed to be adjustable in the plane of the platform.