ES369834A1 - Vertical collator - Google Patents

Abstract

In apparatus for collating sheets wherein a predetermined number of sheets, e.g., constituting a book is fed by devices 16, Fig. 1, into a compartment 44 of a conveyer, and succeeding complements are fed into succeeding compartments, the compartments move downwardly and in a rectilinear path adjacent to the feed devices 16, and a nember is provided, operating in timed relationship to the movement of the compartments to depress the last sheets of a complement of sheets out of their normal path to ensure their separation from the first sheets of a succeeding complement. The member comprises a cam 20 rotated in synchronism with the conveyer movement to move the last sheets of one complement downwardly to ensure that they pass beneath the bottom of the next compartment and clear of the leading edges of the leading sheets of the next complement. The conveyer comprises two endless chains 40 each carrying forks 42 and driven continuously so that the forks move downwardly at the side adjacent to the devices 16. Each compartment 44 is formed by two adjacent pairs of forks 42. A delivery conveyer 18 with fingers 92 removes the collated sets of sheets from the compartments 44. Each fork 42 is adjustably attached by a clamping plate 138, Fig. 3, and screws 140, 142 to a block 126 having shoulders 128 seated on a pair of chain link extension plates 130, 132, the block 126 being retained between the plates by an abutment plate 134 screwed to the block 126. This arrangement permits of angular or lengthwise adjustment of each fork. A fixed rail 144 provides a bearing surface 146 for the chain rollers 148. Guide rails 152, 154 are fixed in front of the chain to provide surfaces against which bear projecting end portions 158 of pins 160 connecting the extension plates 130, 132 to the chain. Spring-pressed plates 164 bear against the pins 160 to hold the pins against the rails 152, 154. The construction described prevents unwanted movement of the fork tips. The drive sprocket 48, Figs. 1, 6, for each chain is adjustably attached by bolts 125 to plates 120, 122 clamped between plates 106, 108 carrying heads 102, 104 engaging grooves 98, 100 in the drive shaft 60. To handle sheet complements of different widths, means are provided for adjusting the distance apart of the chains 40, the cams 20 and parts of the delivery conveyer being simultaneously adjusted. Gauges.-For adjusting the conveyer compartments for varying lengths of sheets, an adjustable stop bar 180, Fig. 3, engaged by the leading edges of the sheets is provided. A pair of rotating discs 72, Fig. 2, the distance between which is adjustable, align the side edges of the sheets as they enter a compartment 44.