Patent ID: 7396006

Claim:
A collating apparatus comprising: (a) a substantially elongated raceway conveyor adapted to convey a plurality of document sets consecutively along a substantially horizontal conveying pathway from an initial upstream position to a downstream position; (b) a plurality of pivotable pusher members movably mounted to the raceway conveyor adapted to advance a first document set, said pivotable pusher members adapted to pivot from a substantially vertical first position relative to the conveyor to a substantially horizontal second position below the raceway conveyor; (c) a plurality of fixed positioned pusher members movably mounted to the raceway conveyor adapted to advance a second document set; (d) an actuating deck plate positioned on a upper surface of the raceway conveyor and parallel to the substantially horizontal conveying pathway; (e) a selective actuating mechanism adapted to raise one end of the actuating deck plate from an initial position substantially flush with the upper surface of the raceway conveyor to a predetermined position above the upper surface of the raceway conveyor; and (f) a collating station comprising a first elevated platform mounted on the upper surface of the raceway conveyor downstream from the actuating deck plate.