Patent Publication Number: US-2007113751-A1

Title: Page indexing system and apparatus for forming page shapes of system

Description:
RELATED APPLICATIONS  
      This application is a continuation of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 11/092,171, filed Mar. 28, 2005, entitled PAGE INDEXING SYSTEM AND APPARATUS FOR FORMING PAGE SHAPES OF SYSTEM, which was a divisional application of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 10/251,520, filed Sep. 20, 2002, entitled PAGE INDEXING SYSTEM AND APPARATUS FOR FORMING PAGE SHAPES OF SYSTEM.  
    
    
     BACKGROUND  
      The present invention relates to an innovation in the shapes of pages of documents, pages of books or other stacked paper which functions in cooperation with the thumb and/or fingers and other parts of the human hand to facilitate the ease of quickly turning pages in a stack of documents, one by one, without accidentally missing a page, and to apparatus for forming such shapes of the pages.  
      The process of turning pages in a stack of documents while reading typically involves several common methods. One method is to thumb through the pages by grasping the stack of pages with the human hand with the fingers under the stack pressing the underside of the stack upwardly causing the edge of the stack to come in contact with the thumb causing a fanning out of the pages for quick scanning and reading. While this method is good for quick scanning, some pages may stick together or simply move as a group causing the reader to accidentally miss seeing some of the pages of the document. Another method of turning pages involves pealing back the edge of the top sheet of paper from the stack, sliding the hand under and turning the page by moving the hand across the pages in the stack. Since stacks of paper contain sheets of generally thin and uniform size paper, it is possible to accidentally peal back more than one sheet of paper from the stack and turn it by moving the hand across the pages in the stack, causing the reader to accidentally miss seeing one or more of the pages of the document. Another method of turning pages involves the wetting of the thumb or fingers to provide adhesion to the top page of a stack of documents. The increased friction of adhesion caused by wetting the fingers or thumb allows the movement of a single sheet for turning by moving the hand across the pages in the stack, but this method also allows for the accidental movement of more than one sheet of paper at a time, causing the reader to accidentally miss seeing some of the pages of the document. Also, wetting the fingers which come in contact with the page with saliva causes discoloration, smearing, contamination and deformation of the paper documents, especially if the fingers are dirty.  
      Apparatus for reconfiguring page sheets are known. For example, U.S. Pat. No. 4,220,323 to Smith discloses a sheet receiving and stacking apparatus for alternating the sheets of a stack in a face up, face down, face up . . . manner. Also, U.S. Pat. No. 3,928,268 to Gilhula discloses a system of pressure sensitive adhesive strips added to the edge of the paper to form index tabs. However, none of the apparatus of the prior art is believed to provide the features and advantages of the present invention. In particular, the system of Gilhula is believed to be excessively expensive to operate in that the adhesive strips would be more costly than the sheets to which they are applied, being impractical for application on every sheet of a stack for this reason as well as for excessive bulkiness of the stack.  
      Thus there is a need for a system facilitating sequential and/or selective viewing of stacked sheets, and a way to alter sheets of a stack to facilitate the viewing of the sheets, that is easy to use, and inexpensive to provide.  
     SUMMARY  
      The present invention meets this need by providing an indexing device wherein voids or notches that are formed at alternating locations in successive flexible sheets, producing an innovative shape of the paper which takes into account the functions of the thumb and/or fingers and other parts of the human hand to provide a new method of turning pages in a stack of documents quickly, one by one, without accidentally missing a page, without wetting a page and without moving the hand across the stack of documents (which would temporarily obscure view of successive pages on the stack). The invention also provides apparatus for producing the innovative shape of the paper. In one aspect of the invention, a hand operated sheet turning device includes a stack of sheets of flexible material having a void or notch shape extending inwardly from the edge of each sheet, the void or notch shapes alternating in position with each successive sheet in the stack, wherein the alternating positions are spaced apart by a distance of between approximately 2 inches and approximately 4 inches for engagement at a corresponding spacing between a user&#39;s thumb and finger. The alternating alignment can be of respective first and second sets of the voids or notches, at least one of the first and second sets being preferably formed with an outwardly beveled portion extending to the edge of the sheet opposite the other of the first and second sets for facilitating clearance with the user&#39;s thumb.  
      The void/s or notch/s can be cut into the edge of a standard size of paper selected from the set consisting of executive, letter, legal, tabloid, A, A4, B, C, D, E and memo size paper. The void/s or notch/s can be cut into the edge of paper selected from the set consisting of copy paper, color copy paper, printer paper, printed paper, laser paper, colored laser paper, ink jet paper, colored ink jet paper, premium color ink jet paper, photo ink jet paper, specialty ink jet paper, fax paper, multipurpose paper, colored paper, computer paper, stationery, business forms, loose leaf filler paper, paper rolls, design paper, specialty paper, presentation paper, colored card stock, fine business paper, card stock, poster stock, construction paper, drawing paper, watercolor paper, satin design paper, tracing paper, newsprint, columnar paper, perforated paper, hole punched paper, silk paper, rag paper, carbon paper, napkins, rice paper and art paper. The sheets of flexible material can include photograph paper, proof sheets, transparency film, transparency protectors/sleeves, laminated sheets, sheet protectors, sheet sleeves, photographs, or a ledger.  
      The sheets of flexible material can be bound together along one edge thereof, and the void or notch shapes are preferably located in spaced relation to the bound edge for free movement of sheet portions containing the void or notch shapes. The sheets of flexible material can be located in a multiple ring binder as one or more of pages, dividers, pockets and pouches. The sheets of flexible material can be releasably held together by a self-stick substance. The sheets in the stack additionally can have alternating void or notch shapes formed for each chapter or alphabetical letter or section or division of the stack of sheets.  
      The alternating void or notch shapes preferably have respective first and second contours, the void or notch shapes of the first contour being aligned and the void or notch shapes of the second contour being aligned in offset relation to those of the first contour for facilitating tactile discrimination between even and odd sheets of the device. The first contour can include a generally semicircular arc and the second contour can include a generally arcuate portion and a generally angled enlargement portion extending away from the alignment of the first contour for facilitating passage of the user&#39;s thumb.  
      In another aspect of the invention, an indexing system includes removal of material from each sheet of stacked material to create a void or notch cut inward from the edge of each sheet of the stacked material with alternating alignment on each successive sheet of stacked material to form an indexing system which allows quick one by one separation or turning of each sheet without missing a sheet, wherein the alternating alignment is at a spacing of between approximately 2 inches and approximately 4 inches for engagement at a corresponding spacing between a user&#39;s thumb and finger. The alternating alignment can be of respective first and second sets of the voids or notches, at least one of the first and second sets being preferably formed with the outwardly beveled portion for facilitating clearance with the user&#39;s thumb.  
      In a further aspect of the invention, a method for turning the pages of a stack of pages without missing a page, includes:  
      (a) providing the stack with material removed from each page of the stack to create a void or notch extending inwardly from the edge of each page with alternating alignment of the voids or notches on odd and even pages, wherein the alternating alignment is at a spacing of between approximately 2 inches and approximately 4 inches;  
      (b) placing a thumb in the void or notch of one of an odd page and an even of the stack and against the next page;  
      (c) turning the one page while holding the thumb or finger against the next page;  
      (d) placing a finger in the void or notch of the next page of the stack and against a succeeding page;  
      (e) turning the next page while holding the finger against the succeeding page;  
      (f) keeping the thumb in proximate alignment with void or notch alignment of one of the odd and even pages;  
      (g) keeping the finger in proximate alignment with the void or notch alignment of the other of the odd and even pages; and  
      (h) alternatively releasing the thumb and the finger from respective next pages, thereby sequentially turning at least some of the pages of the stack without missing a page.  
      The method can further include using the thumb or finger in the void or notch to depress the next page through the void or notch; and hooking and/or lifting an edge portion of the void or notch. The turning can include holding the stack of pages in a curved condition for urging page turning.  
      In yet a further aspect of the invention, an apparatus for forming the hand operated sheet turning device includes a feeder mechanism for moving sheet material in a feed path; notch die mechanism including a die cutter and a die anvil, and means for periodically advancing the die cutter into engagement with the die anvil from opposite sides of the paper path; index means for registering a leading edge of the sheet material at alternating offset distances ahead of the notch die mechanism prior to successive operations of the notch die mechanism, whereby successive sheets are formed with alternating alignment of the voids or notches therein.  
      The feeder mechanism can include first and second synchronized and counter-rotating drums on opposite sides of the feed path; the notch die mechanism can further include the die cutter being a first die cutter mounted on the first drum and the die anvil being a first die anvil being mounted on the second drum in registration for engagement by the first die cutter in successive rotations of the drums, a counterpart second die cutter being mounted on the first drum in circumferentially spaced relation to the first die cutter, and a counterpart second die anvil being mounted on the second drum in registration for engagement by the second die cutter; and the index means can include first and second cutter blades mounted transversely on the first drum in respective different circumferentially advanced relations to the first and second die cutters, and respective first and second cutter anvils mounted transversely on the second drum in registration for engagement by the first and second cutter blades in the successive rotations of the drums, whereby the cutter blades form leading edges of successive pairs of sheets from the sheet material and the die cutters form the voids or notches with alternating alignment in respective sheets of each pair in the successive rotations of the drums. The notch die mechanism can further include counterparts of the first and second die cutters mounted in axially spaced relation on the first drum, and counterparts of the first and second die anvils being correspondingly mounted in axially spaced relation on the second drum for forming counterpart voids or notches along opposite side edges of the sheet material; the apparatus further including a means for longitudinally folding formed sheets to form nested pairs of pages. The feeder mechanism can include first and second paper trays at opposite sides of the feed path, the first paper tray being adapted for receiving the sheet material in the form of stacked sheets, the second paper tray being adapted for sequentially receiving sheets from the feed path; and means synchronized with the notch die mechanism for sequentially advancing a top sheet from the first paper tray into the feed path; and the index means can include a stop mechanism coupled to the notch die mechanism for periodically blocking leading edges of alternating sheets at different distances beyond the die cutter and die anvil of the notch die mechanism.  
      The means for advancing of the feeder mechanism can include a suction cup mounted for reciprocal movement relative to the first paper tray between a first position proximate a top stacked sheet and a second position laterally displaced from the first paper tray and aligned with the feed path, in synchronism with the notch die mechanism; and a source of intermittent vacuum synchronized with the notch die mechanism and fluid coupled to the suction cup, the vacuum being applied in the first position of the suction cup and released in the second position of the suction cup. The feeder mechanism can include first and second paper trays at opposite extremities of the feed path, the first paper tray being adapted for receiving the sheet material in the form of stacked sheets, the second paper tray being adapted for sequentially receiving sheets from the feed path; and means for sequentially advancing a top sheet from the first paper tray into the feed path; and the index means can include a control mechanism for positioning and holding successive sheets in the feed path with leading edges thereof at different predetermined distances beyond the die cutter and die anvil of the notch die mechanism prior to successive operations thereof. The feeder mechanism can include first and second synchronized and counter-rotating drums on opposite sides of the feed path; the notch die mechanism can further include the die cutter being a first die cutter mounted on the first drum and the die anvil being a first die anvil being mounted on the second drum in registration for engagement by the first die cutter in successive rotations of the drums, a counterpart second die cutter being mounted on the first drum in circumferentially spaced relation to the first die cutter, and a counterpart second die anvil being mounted on the second drum in registration for engagement by the second die cutter; and the index means can include first and second cutter blades mounted transversely on the first drum in respective different circumferentially advanced relations to the first and second die cutters, and respective first and second cutter anvils mounted transversely on the second drum in registration for engagement by the first and second cutter blades in the successive rotations of the drums, whereby the cutter blades form leading edges of successive pairs of sheets from the sheet material and the die cutters form the voids or notches with alternating alignment in respective sheets of each pair in the successive rotations of the drums. The die cutter and anvil can be a first die cutter and anvil for producing the first contour of the void or notch shapes, the apparatus preferably also including a second die cutter and anvil for producing the second, different contour of the void or notch shapes for facilitating the tactile discrimination between even and odd sheets of the device. The first contour can include the semicircular arc and the second contour can include the generally arcuate and angled portions for facilitating passage of the user&#39;s thumb.  
      In yet a further aspect of the invention, a tool for forming the hand operated sheet turning device includes a hand-operated punch and die for forming respective ones of the void or notch shapes; and a stop mechanism for locating leading edges of alternating sheets at respective different distances beyond the void or notch shapes formed by the punch and die. The stop mechanism can include first and second stop members for locating leading edges of alternating sheets at respective different distances beyond the punch and die. The first and second stop members can be movably mounted on a scale member having indicia thereon for showing respective distances between the stop members and the punch and die. The punch and die can be a first punch and die unit, the device further including a second hand operated punch and die unit laterally spaced from the first punch and die, the stop mechanism comprising a stop member located at a first distance from the first punch and die and at a second distance from the second punch and die, the difference between the first and second distances being the lateral spacing between the first and second punches and dies. The stop member can be movably mounted relative to the first and second punch and die units on a scale member having indicia thereon for showing a relative distance between the stop member and the punch and die units. The punch and die units can also be formed for producing the first and second contours of the void or notch shapes for facilitating tactile discrimination between even and odd sheets of the device. The first contour can include the generally semicircular arc and the second contour can include the generally arcuate and angled enlargement portions for facilitating passage of the user&#39;s thumb.  
      In yet another aspect, the invention provides a process for converting respective sets of sheets having voids or notches formed inwardly from each page into a device for one by one separation or turning of each sheet without missing a sheet, the sheets of each set having the notches or voids in matching configurations and offset from the notches or voids of the sheets not included in the same set. The process includes (a) providing a first supply of sheets of a first set of the sheets; (b) providing a second supply of sheets of a second set of the sheets; (c) advancing an nth sheet from the first supply in a feed path; (d) advancing an nth+1 sheet from the second supply into stacked relation to one surface of the nth sheet; (e) advancing an nth+2 sheet from the first supply into stacked relation to the nth+1 sheet opposite the nth sheet; and (f) repeating (d) and (e) with n incremented by two in each instance for completing the device as a stack of sheets having the void or notch shapes alternating in position with each successive sheet in the stack. The first and second supplies of sheets can include respective first and second stacks of sheets, the advancing of the nth and nth+2 sheets including moving the sheets from one end of the first stack, and the advancing of the nth+1 sheet can include moving the sheets from an opposite end of the second stack. 
    
    
     DRAWINGS  
      These and other features, aspects, and advantages of the present invention will become better understood with reference to the following description, appended claims, and accompanying drawings, where:  
       FIG. 1  is a perspective view of a stack of documents in the hands of a reader showing an improvement in the shape of the paper;  
       FIG. 2  is a perspective view of the document stack of  FIG. 1  showing the movement of finger or thumb into a void or notch provided in the top sheet of paper which allows the top sheet of paper to move away from the stack;  
       FIG. 3  is a perspective view of the document stack of  FIG. 1  showing the top sheet of paper moved away from the stack;  
       FIG. 4  is a perspective view of the document stack of  FIG. 1  showing the movement of finger or thumb into a non-aligned void or notch in the second sheet of paper which allows the second sheet of paper to move away from the stack;  
       FIG. 5  is a perspective view of the document stack of  FIG. 1  showing the movement of finger or thumb into a non-aligned void or notch in the third sheet of paper which allows the third sheet of paper to move away from the stack;  
       FIG. 6  is a perspective view as in  FIG. 1 , showing the user&#39;s thumb and index finger positioned at respective notch locations of successive sheets, the index finger being in the void or notch of the top sheet of paper;  
       FIG. 7  is a perspective view as in  FIG. 2 , showing the top sheet having been released by temporary retraction of the user&#39;s thumb, the thumb having been returned to within the notch location of the second sheet as the second sheet is restrained by the index finger remaining at the location previously occupied by the notch of the top sheet;  
       FIG. 8  is a plan view of sheets of material in a stack fanned out to reveal alternating void or notch shapes formed in each sheet;  
       FIG. 9  is a plan view as in  FIG. 8 , showing the alternating voids or notches formed on different edges of the sheets;  
       FIG. 10  is a plan view as in  FIG. 8 , showing an alternative arrangement of the voids or notches;  
       FIG. 11  is a plan view as in  FIG. 8 , showing the voids or notches formed on different edges of the sheets;  
       FIG. 12  is a plan view as in  FIG. 8 , showing an alternative arrangement of the voids or notches;  
       FIG. 13  is a plan view as in  FIG. 12 , showing the voids or notches formed on different edges of the sheets;  
       FIG. 14  is a plan view as in  FIG. 8 , showing an alternative arrangement of the voids or notches;  
       FIG. 15  is a plan view as in  FIG. 14 , showing the voids or notches formed on different edges of the sheets;  
       FIG. 16  is a plan view of sheets of material in a stack fanned out to reveal alternating void or notch shapes formed on plural edges of each sheet;  
       FIG. 17  is a perspective view of a cutting machine for producing stacked sheets having alternating voids or notches according to the present invention from a web of sheet material;  
       FIG. 18  is a perspective partially phantom view of a machine for producing alternating voids or notches in stacked sheets according to the present invention;  
       FIG. 19  is a perspective view showing a process of interleaving odd and even notched sheets according to the present invention;  
       FIG. 20  is a perspective view of a hand-operated punch for producing the alternatingly aligned voids or notches;  
       FIG. 21  is a perspective view showing a machine for producing a programmed sequence of alternating voids or notches in stacked sheets;  
       FIG. 22  is a perspective view showing an alternative configuration of the hand-operated punch of  FIG. 20 ; and  
       FIG. 23  is a perspective view of a process of interleaving pairs of sheets having alternating voids or notches using an alternative configuration of the cutting machine of  FIG. 17 . 
    
    
     DESCRIPTION  
      The present invention is directed to an indexing system or device for viewing successive flexible sheets of a stack using an innovative shape of the paper which takes into account the functions of the thumb and/or fingers and other parts of the human hand in a new method of turning pages in a stack of documents quickly, one by one, without accidentally missing a page, without wetting a page and without having to move the hand across the stack of documents; and to apparatus for high speed modification of the sheets to provide the innovative shapes. With reference to  FIGS. 1-16  of the drawings, a sheet turning device  10  facilitating a new method of turning pages utilizes an improvement of the typically rectangular or square sheets of paper that make up stacks of paper or documents. The improvement relates to a change in the shape of the rectangular or square sheets that allows for the finger and/or thumb and the other parts of the human hand to function together to turn the pages as described herein.  
      One preferred embodiment of the method uses a generally rectangular or square sheet of paper with the formation of a void or notch  21  cut into the edge of the generally rectangular or square sheet of paper. This sheet with a void or notch would be the top sheet  1  of a stack of like sheets. The next sheet  2  of like paper under the top sheet would have a void or notch  22  positioned out of alignment with the void or notch  21  in the top sheet. Subsequent sheets in the stack would be numbered  3 ,  4 ,  5 ,  6  . . . up to the total number of sheets in the stack. The void or notch  21  in sheet number  1  would align with the void or notch in all sheets in the stack having odd numbers such as  1 ,  3 ,  5 ,  7  . . . . The void or notch  22  in sheet number  2  would align with the void or notch in all the sheets in the stack having even numbers such as  2 ,  4 ,  6 ,  8  . . . . Placing the thumb or finger in the void or notch of sheet  1  of the stack of sheets would make it possible to turn sheet  1  while keeping a thumb of finger on sheet  2 , thereby stopping sheet  2  from being turned with sheet  1 . When sheet  1  is turned, the void or notch on sheet  2  is exposed. A finger or thumb is placed in the void or notch in sheet  2  allowing sheet  2  to be turned while leaving a finger or thumb on sheet  3  so it cannot be turned with sheet  2 . By alternating the placement of finger and/or thumb on the void or notch of each sheet of odd, then even, then odd, then even, then odd, then even, pages can be quickly turned with complete control of each page without missing any pages in the stack.  
      For example,  FIG. 1  shows the device  10  with a spine portion  12  thereof supported by a user&#39;s left hand  14 , the users right hand  16  holding the sheets deflected in a curved configuration with a digit such as the thumb  18  of the right hand restraining the pages from turning. More particularly, the thumb  18  is displaced from the void or notch  21  of sheet  1 , preventing sheet  1  from turning.  FIG. 2  shows the thumb  18  moved to a position against sheet  2  formerly occupied by the void or notch  21  of sheet  1 , sheet  1  being released and turning as a result of the notch  21  passing the thumb  18 , sheet  2  being stopped from turning by the thumb  18 .  FIG. 3  shows sheet  1  turned or moved away from the stack, exposing facing portions of sheets  1  and  2  for reading without requiring the hand  16  to move across the pages being exposed while turning a page.  FIG. 4  shows the thumb  18  moving into the notch  22  of sheet  2 , releasing and allowing turning of sheet  2 . Thus facing portions of sheets  2  and  3  are exposed for reading, again without requiring the hand  16  to move across the pages being exposed.  FIG. 5  shows the thumb  18  moving into the void or notch  23  of sheet  3 , releasing sheet  3  to turn or move away from the stack, other subsequent pages being turned in sequence by a continuation of this process. Preferably the voids or notches of the odd sheets are aligned, in displaced relation to those of the even sheets, being likewise aligned.  
       FIGS. 6 and 7  show a particularly advantageous method for sequentially turning the pages of the device  10  being configured with the voids or notches of the odd pages being uniformly displaced from those of the even pages by a distance S being a spacing between the thumb  18  and a finger  19  of the user&#39;s hand  16 .  
      Appropriate marks, including but not limited to page numbers and/or chapter numbers, are preferably applied to pages so as to be visible through the void or notch shape cuts. Also, in order to avoid difficulty locating the void or notch shape cut on the edge of a sheet, suitable means for differentiating the void or notch shape at the edge of the sheet by a visual and/or tactile identification of the shape. Thus a visual mark can be placed near and/or on the edge of each sheet which alternates position, color, and/or shape with each successive sheet in a stack of sheets making the void or notch more readily visible. The marks serve as guides for where to press and flip, enabling easier and quicker visual and/or tactile identification of the appropriate void or notch for sheet turning.  
      If a page is removed from the stack, regardless of whether an odd or even numbered sheet, the pattern of alternating void or notch locations would be interrupted and the voids or notches of the double odd or double even sheets would line up causing a condition where the two double odd or double even sheets could move together causing some information on the second sheet of the double odd or double even to be missed. The present invention also contemplates partially or completely covering the void or notch in the second sheet of the double odd or double even sheets, thereby causing the first and second sheets of the double odd or double even sheets to be separated for viewing each sheet without missing a sheet.  
      Referring to the drawings in greater detail, there is shown in  FIG. 1 a  unique shape of the paper which functions in cooperation with the thumb and/or fingers and the other parts of the human hand to provide a one by one page turning action without missing a page.  FIG. 2  shows the movement or turning of the top sheet of the stack which exposes the second sheet of the stack. The location of the finger or thumb in the void or notch created by the improvement to the shape of the sheet allows the movement or turning of the top sheet but stops the movement or turning of the second sheet in the stack.  FIG. 3  illustrates how the movement or turning of the top sheet reveals that the second sheet in the stack also has a void or notch improvement in the shape of the sheet. The void or notch in the second sheet is out of alignment with the void or notch in the top sheet.  FIG. 4  illustrates the placement of the finger or thumb in the void or notch of the second sheet in the stack and the removal of the finger or thumb from where the void or notch was when the top sheet was still in place, which allows the movement or turning of the second sheet in the stack while the movement or turning of the third sheet in the stack is stopped.  FIG. 5  illustrates the top sheet and the second sheet of the stack after movement or turning from the stack and the placement of the finger or thumb in the void or notch of the third sheet which allows the movement or turning of the third sheet in the stack while the movement or turning of the fourth sheet is stopped.  
       FIG. 6  shows the user&#39;s finger  19  placed in the void or notch of one sheet of a stack being held in a curved condition by the left hand  14 , the user&#39;s thumb  18  preventing the first sheet from turning, the thumb  18  being spaced a comfortable distance from the finger  19  and aligned at the spacing S from the finger  19  with the underlying notch or void of the second sheet as depicted in  FIG. 7 .  FIG. 7  also shows the first sheet having been released by the thumb  18 , which has been returned to its previous position while the finger  19  continues to restrain the second sheet. Thus the pages can be easily and reliably turned one-by-one simply by alternatingly lifting the thumb  18  and the finger  19  while maintaining both in alignment with respective sets of the alternating voids or notches of the odd and even sheets of the stack  12 . More particularly, page turning proceeds with placing a thumb in the void or notch of one of an odd page and an even of the stack and against the next page; turning the one page while holding the thumb or finger against the next page; placing a finger in the void or notch of the next page of the stack and against a succeeding page; turning the next page while holding the finger against the succeeding page; keeping the thumb in proximate alignment with void or notch alignment of one of the odd and even pages; keeping the finger in proximate alignment with the void or notch alignment of the other of the odd and even pages; and alternatively releasing the thumb and the finger from respective next pages, thereby sequentially turning at least some of the pages of the stack without missing a page.  
       FIG. 8  shows the alternating shape improvements where the odd sheets align with each other. The even sheets align with each other. The odd numbered shape improvements do not align with the even numbered shape improvements.  FIG. 9  shows a left-handed version of the right-handed embodiment illustrated in  FIG. 8 .  FIG. 10  shows the addition of voids or notches that provide an alternating chapter or alphabetical letter or section or division of a stack of sheets.  FIG. 11  is a left-handed version of the right-handed embodiment illustrated in  FIG. 10 .  FIG. 12  shows alternative placement locations for the shape improvements.  FIG. 13  is a left-handed version of the right-handed embodiment illustrated in  FIG. 12 . It is contemplated that the void or notch shape improvements can be located on any edge and/or side of the sheets of material.  FIG. 14  shows the alternating void or notch shapes located in multiple places along the edges of the sheets of material.  FIG. 15  is a left-handed version of the right-handed embodiment illustrated in  FIG. 14 .  FIG. 16  shows the alternating void or notch shape improvements located in multiple places along multiple edges of the sheets of material. It is further contemplated that the void or notch shape improvements can be located near or on any corner, and/or anywhere along the top, bottom or sides of the sheets of material. The method and variations thereof described above also allow the sheets of the stack under the void or notch to be pushed downward so the edge of the void or notch can be hooked and/or lifted and turned over with a press and flip motion of the user&#39;s hand. These are examples of several of the preferred sheet configurations to be provided by the present invention, it being understood that the invention is not limited to providing the examples illustrated.  
      With further reference to  FIGS. 17-23 , the present invention also encompasses variant forming means, including but not limited to cutting, drilling and/or punching, to produce inward from the edge of each sheet at least one void or notch shape cut which alternates position with each successive sheet in a stack of sheets which results in a product comprising a stack of sheets with shape improvements that allow the indexing function. The apparatus can function independently or be unified with an imprinting machine, such as a printer, copier, fax machine, or any other machine dealing with paper or flexible material.  
      More particularly,  FIG. 17  illustrates a sheet material cutting machine  40  that creates one embodiment of the sheet turning device  10  from advancing sheet material  41 . Although any size of sheet of material is covered by this innovation, standard letter size paper would be a proper representative sample for illustrative purposes. The exemplary form of the machine  40  shown in  FIG. 17  includes a counter-clockwise-rotating (CCW) drum  42  having a CCW axle  43  rotating in a support frame  44 . Similarly, a clockwise (CW) drum  46  having a CW axle  47  is rotatably supported in a pair of carriers  48  that slidably engage respective main channels  50  and an alignment channels  51  of the support frame  44 , the CW drum  46  being biased against the CCW drum  42  by a pair of springs  52 . Thus the material  41  is squeezed and advanced between the drums  42  and  46  as they rotate against each other, relative alignment of the drums being further effected by an alignment screw  54  that threadingly engages one or both of the frame  44  and the carrier  48 . It will be understood that precise alignment of the drums  42  and  46  can be by any suitable means known to those skilled in the web-printing art.  
      As the CCW and CW drums  42  and  46  rotate, an even sheet cutter blade  56  of the CCW drum  42  slices the advancing sheet material  41  against an even cutter anvil  57  of the CW drum  46 , thereby defining a transverse sheet edge, an even sheet die cutter  58  of the drum  42  and an even die anvil  59  of the CW drum  46  subsequently forming a notch at a predetermined distance from the previously formed transverse sheet edge. During further rotation of the drums  42  and  46 , an odd sheet cutter blade  60  of the CCW drum  42  (opposite the even blade  56 ) slices the material  41  against an odd cutter anvil  61  of the CW drum  46 , separating a sheet from the material  41  and forming a counterpart transverse edge of the material  41 , an odd sheet die cutter  62  of the CCW drum  42  and an odd die anvil of the CW drum  46  forming a counterpart notch at a different predetermined distance from the newly formed transverse edge of the material  41 , the difference in the predetermined distances corresponding to the spacing S of odd and even sheet voids or notches  21  et seq. The drums  42  and  46  are driven in synchronization with each other, the CCW drum  42  having a CCW gear  64  rotating therewith, in mesh with a CW gear  65  of the CW drum  46  to maintain precise cutter alignment, the alignment being slightly adjustable by means of the above-described adjustment screw  54 .  
      An air vacuum device  66  is connected for sucking die-cut waste paper through a vacuum tube  68  that is aligned for receiving such waste proximate the path of the die anvils  59  and  63  downstream of the contacting regions of the drums  42  and  46 .  
      As further shown in  FIG. 17 , an odd sheet  70  being formed by the machine  40  and having an odd void or notch  72  is further advanced by a pair of exit rollers  74 , a presently formed even sheet  76  having an even void or notch  78  falling onto a previously formed odd sheet  80  having an odd void or notch  82 . These sheets are stacked on other previously formed sheets, an even sheet  84  having an even void or notch  86 , etc. Thus the even voids or notches  78  and  86  are out of alignment with interleaved odd voids or notches  82  and  88 .  
      A drive gear  90  that engages the CW gear  65  is powered by a motor  92  for driving the drums  42  and  46 , the exit rollers  74  being suitably powered by any suitable means (not shown) for clearing the severed sheets from the drums  42  and  46  and forming the stack of completed sheets. The sheet material  41  is maintained in lateral alignment by any suitable means such as alignment rollers engaging opposite side edges of the material  41 , one such roller being shown in  FIG. 17  at  94 .  
      With particular reference to  FIG. 18 , a notching machine  100  is configured for forming the device  10  from stacked precut sheets. A start button  102  of this machine operates a switch lever  103  for closing a momentary-on power switch  104 , thereby activating a suitable motor (not shown) to cause a motor shaft  106  to rotate an eccentric cam  107  that engages a slot  108  of an arm  109  for reciprocal movement thereof, the arm being linearly guided by a pair of guide pins  110 . Initially, the movement of the arm  109  displaces a die punch  112  to an open position relative to a die anvil  113 , and also causing an actuator arm  114  to pivot on an actuator pin  115 , the arm  114  having a suction cup  116  at an upper extremity thereof. Also, the actuator arm  114  slidably engages a drive pin  117 , pivoting a bottom arm  118  on a bottom pivot  119 , a lower extremity of the bottom arm  118  thereby displacing a bellows pivot  120  that engages a bellows plate  121  for expanding a bellows  122 . The bellows  122  is fluid-coupled through a nipple  123  and a vacuum tube  124  to the suction cup  116  so as to clampingly attract a single sheet  126  from an upper stack  128  of precut sheets as the suction cup  116  is brought into contact with the stack, a leading portion  130  of the sheet being directed toward a contoured gate member  132  as the suction cup moves away from the stack as shown in  FIG. 18 . At the same time, the movement of the actuator arm  114  is reversed, causing the single sheet  126  to be released as the bellows  121  blows instead of sucking as the eccentric cam  107  further rotates to cause the change of motion.  
      The released single sheet  126  of paper then falls by gravity through the mouth of the die punch  112  and anvil  113  and onto an alternating height paper stop  136 , the stop being pivoted into its upper position as indicated at  134  in  FIG. 18 , the sheet  126  being cut by the punch  112  to form a void or notch as described above (even). A next piece of paper from the upper stack  128  is similarly fed, but with the paper stop  136  being pivoted to a lower stop position  142  by an eccentric control link  138 . The link  138  is coupled between a link coupling  140  that projects from the paper stop  136  and a rotating cam gear  172  that is driven at half-speed by a counterpart of the drive gear  90  that rotates with the motor shaft  106 , the cam gear  172  having an opposed pair of notches  144  formed thereon for engagement by a roller follower tip  174  of the switch lever  103 . The switch lever  103  operates the power switch  104  as described above for powering the motor from a wall transformer  170  that is coupled through a power cord  178 . The combination of the start button  102 , the switch lever  103 , the power switch  104 , and the cam gear  172 , provides that the machine  100  runs continuously until the button  102  is released, the machine stopping at 0 or 180 degree positions of the cam gear  172  when the button  102  is released.  
      Thus the eccentric control link  138  pivots the paper stop  136  to project into the upper stop position  134  for one rotation of the motor shaft  106  and to occupy the lower stop position  142  for the next rotation of the motor shaft  106 , and repeating thereafter to produce an alternating pattern of stopping the paper at different heights for each cut of the die punch  112 . A vertically spaced pair of guide bars  148  are located above and below the lower stop position of the paper stop  136 , the guide bars  148  and a lower extremity of the upper tray serving to fend the leading sheet portions from retracing portions of the paper stop  136 , thereby facilitating gravity feed of the single sheets  126 .  
      A refuse chute  156  directs punched scrap  157  into a refuse collection bin  158 . Also, the upper stack  128  is supported in an upper tray  168  having a shelf  160  and an extendable upper support extension  162 , the support extension having a handle  164  that projects upwardly and rearwardly from a barb  166  that defines a lower travel limit relative to the upper tray  168 .  
      After the single sheets  126  are die cut to form the voids or notches  21 , etc., in proper alternating position, they fall to a lower shelf  150  as indicated at  152 , forming a lower stack  154  of the sheets, the lower stack  154  being in the same order and orientation as the upper stack  128 . The completed lower stack  154  is removable from the machine  100  by withdrawal upwardly and forwardly from the lower shelf  150 . Die cut sheet refuse from the die punch  112  slid down a refuse chute  156  into a refuse collection bin  158  for disposal and recycling.  
      As shown in  FIG. 19 , the device  10  of the present invention can be produced in a sheet conversion process  180 , which is contemplated to be performed either manually or with suitable commercially available equipment. In an exemplary form, the process  180  includes providing an even sheet stack  182  having even spaced voids or notches  183  aligned therein, and a separate odd sheet stack  184  having odd spaced voids or notches  185  aligned therein. An even sheet  188  having an even void or notch  189  is withdrawn and advanced from the even sheet stack  182 , and an odd sheet  190  having an odd void or notch is withdrawn from the odd sheet stack and advanced below the even sheet  188 , but above an even moving sheet  194  having been previously fed from the even sheet stack. The even moving sheet  194  itself is moved over a yet previously fed odd moving sheet  196 , in a stream of alternating sheets which is fed onto and forming a counterpart of the sheet turning device of the present invention, designated  198  in  FIG. 19 . In the exemplary form of the process  180  shown in  FIG. 19 , even sheets are fed from the bottom of the even sheet stack  182  whereas odd sheets are fed from the top of the odd sheet stack  184 . It will be understood that the relationship of the stacks can be reversed, and further that the feeding can be from either the top or bottom of both stacks; moreover, the stack forming the sheet turning device  198  can be fed from the bottom rather than the top. In any case, the process  180  facilitates utilization of sheet stacks  182  and  184  having the respective voids or notches formed therein by punch or shear operations on the stacks as a whole. More generally, the sheets being used do not have to be stacked initially, but may rather be sets of sheets from any respective forming operations that produce the voids or notches voids or notches  183  and  185 . Additionally, there may also be more than two sets of the sheets. Thus the sheets of each set have the notches or voids in matching configurations and offset from the notches or voids of the sheets not included in the same set, and the process can be characterized as (a) providing a first supply of sheets of a first set of the sheets; (b) providing a second supply of sheets of a second set of the sheets; (c) advancing an nth sheet from the first supply in a feed path; (d) advancing an nth+1 sheet from the second supply into stacked relation to one surface of the nth sheet; (e) advancing an nth+2 sheet from the first supply into stacked relation to the nth+1 sheet opposite the nth sheet; and (f) repeating (d) and (e) with n incremented by two in each instance for completing the device as a stack of sheets having the void or notch shapes alternating in position with each successive sheet in the stack. In the above sequence, “n” is a number that represents particular sheets of the device  10  being formed in the process  180 .  
      As shown in  FIG. 20 a  hand punch  200  provides a low cost alternative to the notching machine  40 . The punch  200  includes a stationary edge guide  210  and a coplanar moving (pivoting) edge guide  212  for alignment of sheets to be punched. A first slidable block  214  has a first stop edge  216  for registration of alternating (even, for example) sheets, the block  214  being identified such as with the indicia “A” in  FIG. 20 . The block  214  is slidably supported on an integrally formed continuation of the stationary edge guide  210 , which has scale indicia  215  formed thereon to facilitate repeatable positioning of the block  214 . A thumb grip  218  is also integrally formed with the stationary edge guide  210 , the hand punch  200  being held in the hand in the manner of scissors, a finger grip  220  and a hand grip  222  being integrally formed with the moving edge guide  212 , which is pivotably connected to the stationary edge guide  210  at a fulcrum  24 . The moving edge guide  212  forms a cutter arm  226  having a die punch  228  formed thereon, the punch  222  being closed against a die anvil  230 , the anvil  230  being integrally formed with the stationary edge guide  210 , by squeezing of the finger and hand grips  220  and  222  toward the thumb grip  218  for forming a void or notch by cutting a waste paper blank  232  from each successive sheet being cut by the hand punch  200 . The blanks  232  form a waste stack  234  in a waste container  236  that is removably supported under the stationary edge guide  210  by a connector  238 .  
      A second slidable block  240  having a second stop edge  242  (and being identified with the indicia “B”) is also slidably supported on the continuation of the stationary edge guide  210  for registration of alternating (odd) sheets to be punched. Advantageously, the sheets to be punched are aligned on opposite sides of the die cutter  228  and anvil  230  against the stationary and moving edge guides  210  and  212 , being conveniently positioned for alternating alignment of the voids or notches to be formed by alternate engagement of the sheets against the first and second stop edges  216  and  242  of the first and second slidable blocks  214  and  240 . It will be understood that the blocks  214  and  240  incorporate suitable spring members (not shown) for frictionally retaining same as positioned by the user. Similarly, another spring member (not shown) can be coupled between the stationary edge guide  210  and the moving edge guide  212  for biasing the hand punch  200  toward the open condition shown in  FIG. 20 . It will be understood that the hand punch  200  of  FIG. 20  has a non-symmetrical (right-handed) configuration, and that an opposite (left-handed) configuration is also contemplated within the scope of the present invention.  
       FIG. 21  shows an alternative configuration of the notching machine of  FIG. 18 , designated notching machine  250 , that provides programmed positioning of the voids or notches being formed in stacked sheets which can be of large format (in either landscape orientation as indicated at  251  or portrait orientation as indicated at  252 ). The machine  250  includes a paper tray  254 , a tray shelf  256  outwardly projecting from a lower extremity of the tray  254 , which also has a series of vertically oriented alignment rules  258  and a measurement scale  260  for facilitating positioning of the paper stacks  251  and  252 . A paper support edge  262  is also extendable above the paper tray  254  on a tray extension  264 .  
      A vertically oriented alignment guide  266  projects from a die cutter head  268  that is horizontally adjustable along a cutter track  270 , the guide  266  being positioned against the left side of the landscape stack  251  or the portrait stack  252  as the case may be (positioning against the stack  252  being shown in  FIG. 21 ). A plurality of computer controlled primary advance rollers  272  are coaxially supported in horizontally adjustable locations between the alignment guide  266  and the right side of the paper tray  254  for feeding single sheets from the stack  252  (or  251 ) and controllably advancing same along the alignment guide  266 . With the leading edges of each sheet positioned to predetermined positions beyond the die cutter head  268 , the cutter head is activated to cut the above-described void or notch therefrom. Computer control of the predetermined positions is provided using methods that are well within the ordinary skill of those in the computer control arts. After cutting, a pair of secondary advance rollers  274  may be used for clearing the sheets from the die cutter head  268  and feeding same onto a face-up, ordered sheet stack  276  ready for removal from the front of the machine  250 . It will be understood that plural voids or notches can be formed in selected sheets under computer control for facilitating rapid turning of sheets to chapter headings and the like as described above in connection with  FIGS. 10 and 11 .  
       FIG. 22  shows an alternative configuration of the hand punch of  FIG. 20 , designated  300 , includes a base or body  301  for axially slidably supporting a first die button  302  and a second die button  304  at a fixed spacing (the spacing S of  FIGS. 7 and 8 , for example). The buttons  302  and  304  are spring loaded for movement out of engagement with respective first and second die anvils  306  and  308 . An alignment scale  310  having a corner stop  312  is also slidably supported by the body  301  for alignment of a first paper sheet  314 , a next sheet  316 , etc., in space between the die buttons  302  and  304  and the respective die anvils  306  and  308 , the scale  310  having an elongate clearance opening  318  for permitting adjustment of the scale relative to the body  301  for a predetermined offset distance from the corner stop  312  and a void or notch  320  to be cut in the first sheet  314  by the first die button  302  (in correspondence with the distance B of  FIG. 8 ). The body  301  is provided with suitable means (not shown) for frictionally engaging an engagement surface  322  of the scale  310  to yieldably hold same in fixed relation to the body  301 .  
      In operation, the first die button  302  is operated with first sheet  314  registered against the scale  310  and the corner stop  312  thereof, and the second die button  304  is operated with the first sheet  314  replaced by the next sheet  316 , the process being repeated for subsequent pairs of sheets.  
      As shown in various ones of the drawings, and in particular  FIG. 22 , the respective voids or notches formed in the device  10  of the present invention may be differently shaped. For example, the void or notch  320  of the first sheet  314  is generally semi-circular, the first die button  302  being marked correspondingly. On the contrary, the second die button  304  is marked for forming an arcuate/beveled void or notch  321  in the next sheet  316 , the different shapes of the voids or notches facilitating operation of the sheet turning device  10  of the present invention by functioning in cooperation with the thumb and/or fingers and other parts of the human hand to facilitate the ease of quickly turning pages in a stack of documents one by one, without accidentally missing a page. The different shapes of the voids or notches also facilitate operation of the sheet turning device  10  of the present invention by permitting tactile discrimination between the voids or notches present in respective even and odd sheets of the device  10 . This feature of the present invention is available in the embodiments of  FIGS. 17, 19 ,  22 , and  23  (described below). Further, the notching machine  250  of FIG.  21  can also cut different shapes by providing the die cutter head  268  with plural punch and die sets having the different shapes. The computer control would utilize appropriate separate offset distances to the respective die sets in registering the corresponding sheets to be punched. Alternatively, separate in-line die cutter heads would incorporate the differently shaped punch and die sets.  
       FIG. 23  shows a process  330  for forming folded pairs of sheets using an alternative configuration of the cutting machine of  FIG. 17 , designated  340 . The cutting machine  340  has counterparts of the CCW drum and axle, designated  342  and  342 , and of the CW drum and axle, designated  344  and  346 , but with die cutters and anvils at opposite ends thereof for forming respective voids or notches along opposite edges of a double-wide web of sheet material. As the drums  342  and  344  rotate, an even sheet  348  is cut from the web as described above, convexly and concavely beveled counterparts of the exit rollers, designated  350 , progressively fold the sheet  348  to form a pair of pages. In similar manner as described above, the exit rollers  350  also feed the even sheet  348  in a path behind and over an odd sheet  352 , another even sheet  354  having voids or notches  356  formed therein that are out of alignment with those of a previous odd sheet  358  that is identical to the odd sheet  352 , etc., onto a folded sheet stack  360 , thereby forming a counterpart of the sheet turning device  10  of the present invention.  
      Although the present invention has been described in considerable detail with reference to certain preferred versions thereof, other versions are possible. For example, the notching machine  100  of  FIG. 18  can be provided with means for maintaining continuous operation without having to keep pressing the start button  102 , such as by including a toggle mechanism coupled between the button and the switch lever  103 , or by using an electrical switch wired in parallel with the power switch  104 , preferably with the inclusion of a suitable paper-out interlock for terminating operation once a full stack is processed.  
      The notching machine  250  of  FIG. 21  can have the secondary advance rollers configured as the exit rollers  350  of the cutting machine  350  of  FIG. 23 , the machine  250  incorporating oppositely facing counterparts of the alignment guide  266 , and the die cutter head  268  to form folded pairs of pages from single sheets. Also, the machines of  FIGS. 17, 18 ,  21 , and  23  can include printing heads for combining cutting and printing functions. Therefore, the spirit and scope of the appended claims should not necessarily be limited to the description of the preferred versions contained herein.