Patent GB-1167728-A (GB)
Title: Improvements in Sheet-delivery Mechanisms
Inventor: MARSH HUGH ROBERT WARING
IPC: B65H33/14
Filed: 1965-12-23
Abstract: 1,167,728. Sheet delivery apparatus. MASSON SCOTT THRISSELL ENG. Ltd. 19 Dec., 1966 [23 Dec., 1965], No. 54705/65. Heading B8R. A sheet delivery device comprises means for conveying sheets in succession along a main path, deflector means operable to deflect selected sheets into either of two branch paths, three separate stacking devices for sheets deflected into each of said branch paths and for sheets remaining in the main path, and means for controlling said deflector means so that the stacking devices have idle periods one at a time in rotation and so that during the idle period of each stacking device alternate sheets reaching the deflector means are fed to the other two stacking devices. Paper &c. sheets produced from web cutter device 1 are delivered between lower belt conveyers 2, 3, 4 and 5, and upper conveyer 6. Assembly 21 deflects rejected sheets into receiver X. Assemblies 31, 41 serve to deflect selected sheets into branch paths leading to sheet stackers C and B. Photo-electric sheet-sensing devices 34B, 34M, 44B, 44M serve to control the operation of deflecting assemblies 31 and 41 in accordance with a programme as set out below by way of a control circuit (not shown). As shown in Fig. 1, stacker A is empty, B is half full, C is full. At this point, say " phase 1," deflector 31 remains inoperative so that no more sheets reach C, which may be emptied, while deflector 41 is operated whenever a sheet passes device 44M and returned to its inoperative condition (i.e. no deflection) whenever a sheet passes device 44B, resulting in the delivery of alternate sheets to stacker A and stacker B. Signals provided by devices 44M and 44B operate one or more counters which determine when " phase 1 " is complete, i.e. when stacker B is full. The control circuit then sets the device for " phase 2 " wherein sheets are fed alternately to stackers A and C while B is emptied. In " phase 3 " alternate feed is to stackers B and C; " phase 1 " then begins again. Stackers A, B and C may be moved into a horizontal position for unloading a stack, on to an " air table," by means of a pusher plate travelling normal to the plane of Fig. 1. Assemblies 33, 43 and 53 serve to decelerate the sheets and transfer them to the stackers. Assembly 53 shown in Fig. 2 comprises variable speed conveyers 56 and 57. A sheet approaching A at the linear speed of conveyers 5 and 6 crosses bridge 55 and when it ceases to be engaged by conveyers 5 and 6 the speed of conveyers 56 and 57 is charged (in this case reduced) until the sheet leaves their grip to be deposited in stacker A, whereupon the speed of conveyers 56 and 57 is again increased to that of conveyers 5 and 6 to receive the next sheet. In an alternative embodiment sensing devices 34B, 34M, 44B, 44M are replaced by sensing devices 34, 44 such that at the start of a "phase 1 " (stacker C full), deflector 31 is inoperative and deflector 41 is at first inoperative so that the first sheet goes to A. As the trailing edge of this sheet passes device 44 deflector 41 is rendered operative so that the next sheet is delivered at B. When B is full deflector 41 is rendered inoperative and deflector 31 is operated as above by sensing device 34. It is stated that the sensing means may be fitted for detecting the height or weight of the stacks in A, B and C to determine when they are full and that the decelerating means may comprise rollers.