Patent GB-1296146-A (GB)
IPC: G06K13/08
Filed: 1970-02-16
Abstract: 1296146 Sheet-delivery apparatus PITNEYBOWES Inc 16 Feb 1970 [11 March 1969] 7381/70 Heading B8R In a machine for printing, punching, &c., documents, means for ejecting a processed document from the machine comprise a pair of opposed document-engaging members normally spaced apart, means for driving at least one of the members, and means actuated in timed relationship to the operation of the machine to bring the document-engaging members towards one another to engage the document and feed it out of the machine. As shown, two rollers 12, 14, projecting through openings in a document-support deck 9, are driven when processing of a document is completed, and two normallyraised rollers 22, 24 are lowered on to the rollers 12, 14 respectively so that the rollers co-operate to eject the document to the right. The ejecting device may be incorporated in a machine for printing postage stamps of selected value on letters L, Fig. 2. The rollers 22, 24 are carried by an arm 25 pivoted at 40 to a slide 20 movable vertically in guides 28 on the machine frame. A finger 64 on a spring-pressed latch 62 pivoted at 66 can engage a notch in the slide 20 to hold the slide and rollers 22, 24 in the raised position. A link 46 is pivoted at one end 39 to the arm 25 and at its other end is connected to a a lever 50 pivoted at 52. A spring 54 attached to the lever 50 at 56 tends to rotate the lever 50 so as to move the rollers 22, 24 into engagement with a letter L resting on the rollers 12, 14 but the latch 64 normally holds the slide 20 raised. A front stop 84 is provided to align the leading edge of the letter L. When the letter is aligned against the stop 84 either manually or by an automatic feed, its presence is sensed and a cycle of the machine is initiated. A platen normally having its upper surface in the plane of the deck 9 is raised to press the latter against dies which print the stamp. At the same time, a member 92 is moved upwardly and raises the front stop 84 as described below. A spring-urged pivoted finger 93, Fig. 2, engages a projecting part 83 on the stop to hold the stop in raised position. When printing has been effected, an arm 90 is operated to move the member 92 and a rod 94 attached thereto downwardly. A trip element 96 on the rod 94 engages, during downward movement of the rod, a surface 98 on a spring-urged lever 100, so that an arm 106 of the lever engages a projection on the latch 62 to move the nger 64 out of engagement with the slide 20. The slide 20, arm 25 and rollers 22, 24 now move rapidly downwardly so that the rollers 22, 24 contact the letter. At the same time as the arm 90 is operated, the drive to the rollers 12, 14 is connected, so that the letter is fed rapidly out of the machine. During this operation, the front edge of the letter engages the finger 93 and moves it downwardly so that the stop 84 can drop to its original position. The roller 22 has an axial taper which serves to ensure that the letter travels in a straight line. Additional ejection feed rollers may be provided beyond the stop 84. Resetting of the ejection devices is effected by a cam-and-lever actuated cocking plunger 132, Fig. 8, which engages a flat surface 140 on the lower end of the slide 20 to raise the slide to a position where it is relatched by the latch 62. Front registering stops.-The front stop 84 is pivoted at 86 on the member 92, a spring 85 normally holding the stop with its nose 87 resting on the deck 9. Associated with the stop 84 is a deflector cam 88 pivoted at 89 and spring-urged so that it presses upwardly against the letter L to ensure registration of the leading edge of the letter with the stop. As described above, the stop is raised to the position 84<SP>1</SP> when the member 92 moves upwardly and is held in that position by the finger 93 until the finger is pushed downwardly by the front edge of the sheet during ejection.