초록 ▼

A sheet accumulating apparatus accumulates inputted sheets into a stack registered on all sides, wherein the sheets are controlled with minimum contact by components of the apparatus to minimize or eliminate smudging or marking of the sheets. The apparatus can be selectively adjusted to effect over-

A sheet accumulating apparatus accumulates inputted sheets into a stack registered on all sides, wherein the sheets are controlled with minimum contact by components of the apparatus to minimize or eliminate smudging or marking of the sheets. The apparatus can be selectively adjusted to effect over-accumulation or under-accumulation, and can be adjusted to accommodate different sheet sizes. The apparatus comprises an accumulation section defining a sheet feed plane therethrough. An upper ramp is disposed upstream from the accumulation section and is movable into and out of the sheet feed plane. An upper retaining member is linked to the upper ramp and is movable into and out of the sheet feed plane in alternating relation to the upper ramp. A lower ramp is disposed below the upper ramp and is movable into and out of the sheet feed plane in alternating relation to the upper ramp. A lower retaining member is linked to the lower ramp and movable into and out of the sheet feed plane in alternating relation to the upper ramp.

대표청구항 ▼

1. A sheet accumulating apparatus comprising:(a) an accumulation section defining a sheet feed plane therethrough; (b) an upper ramp disposed upstream from the accumulation section and movable into and out of the sheet feed plane; (c) an upper retaining member linked to the upper ramp and movable in

1. A sheet accumulating apparatus comprising:(a) an accumulation section defining a sheet feed plane therethrough; (b) an upper ramp disposed upstream from the accumulation section and movable into and out of the sheet feed plane; (c) an upper retaining member linked to the upper ramp and movable into and out of the sheet feed plane in alternating relation to the upper ramp; (d) a lower ramp disposed below the upper ramp and movable into and out of the sheet feed plane in alternating relation to the upper ramp; and (e) a lower retaining member linked to the lower ramp and movable into and out of the sheet feed plane in alternating relation to the upper ramp. 2. The apparatus according to claim 1 wherein the accumulation section comprises a plurality of upper elongate members and a plurality of lower elongate members, and the sheet feed plane is defined between the upper and lower elongate members.3. The apparatus according to claim 1 wherein the upper ramp, the upper retaining member, the lower ramp, and the lower retaining member are pivotably movable into and out of the sheet feed plane, the upper ramp is pivotable in an opposite direction in relation to the pivoting of the upper retaining member, and the lower ramp is pivotable in an opposite direction in relation to the pivoting of the lower retaining member.4. The apparatus according to claim 3 comprising an upper linkage linking the upper ramp to the upper retaining member and a lower linkage linking the lower ramp to the lower retaining member, wherein the upper linkage comprises a first upper linkage member pivotable with the upper ramp and a second upper linkage member pivotable with the upper retaining member in engagement with the first upper linkage member, and the lower linkage comprises a first lower linkage member pivotable with the lower ramp and a second lower linkage member pivotable with the lower retaining member in engagement with the first lower linkage member.5. The apparatus according to claim 4 wherein the first and second upper linkage members include respective toothed portions disposed in meshing engagement with each other, and the first and second lower linkage members include respective toothed portions disposed in meshing engagement with each other.6. The apparatus according to claim 1 comprising a front stop mechanism disposed downstream from the upper and lower ramps and movable into and out of the sheet feed plane.7. The apparatus according to claim 6 comprising a frame and a carriage assembly, the carriage assembly movably engaged with the frame and supporting the front stop mechanism, wherein the front stop mechanism is movable with the carriage assembly toward and away from the upper and lower ramps.8. The apparatus according to claim 1 comprising a sheet transport device comprising a sheet-engaging member, wherein the sheet-engaging member is movable through the accumulation section along the sheet feed plane.9. The apparatus according to claim 1 comprising left and right side jogging members disposed at respective lateral sides of the accumulation section, wherein the left and right side jogging members are movable toward and away from each other along a direction transverse to a sheet flow path through the accumulation section.10. A sheet accumulating apparatus comprising:(a) an accumulation section defining a sheet feed plane therethrough; and (b) an accumulating input assembly disposed upstream from the accumulation section and selectively adjustable to an over-accumulation position and an alternative under-accumulation position, the accumulating input assembly comprising: (i) a movable first ramp, a movable first retaining member, and a first linkage interconnecting the first ramp and the first retaining member; and (ii) a movable second ramp, a movable second retaining member, and a second linkage interconnecting the second ramp and the second retaining member; (c) wherein, at the over-accumulation position, the first ramp and the second retaining member are disposed out of the sheet feed plane and the second ramp and the first retaining member extend in the sheet feed plane and, at the alternative under-accumulation position, the first ramp and the second retaining member extend in the sheet feed plane and the second ramp and the first retaining member are disposed out of the sheet feed plane. 11. The apparatus according to claim 10 wherein the accumulation section comprises a plurality of upper elongate members and a plurality of lower elongate members, and the sheet feed plane is defined between the upper and lower elongate members.12. The apparatus according to claim 10 wherein the first ramp, the first retaining member, the second ramp, and the second retaining member are pivotably movable into and out of the sheet feed plane, the first ramp is pivotable in an opposite direction in relation to the pivoting of the first retaining member, and the second ramp is pivotable in an opposite direction in relation to the pivoting of the second retaining member.13. The apparatus according to claim 10 wherein the first linkage comprises a first upper linkage member pivotable with the first ramp and a second upper linkage member pivotable with the first retaining member in engagement with the first upper linkage member, and the second linkage comprises a first lower linkage member pivotable with the second ramp and a second lower linkage member pivotable with the second retaining member in engagement with the first lower linkage member.14. A sheet accumulating apparatus comprising:(a) an upper frame section having an upper input end and a lower frame section having a lower input end, wherein the upper and lower input ends define an input area and a sheet feed plane therebetween, and the sheet feed plane extends through the input area; (b) a first upper rotatable member disposed in the upper frame section and a second upper rotatable member engaging the first upper rotatable member, wherein rotation of the first upper rotatable member in one direction corresponds to rotation of the second upper rotatable member in an opposite direction; (c) an upper accumulation ramp connected to the first upper rotatable member and rotatable therewith into and out of the sheet feed plane; (d) an upper sheet guide member connected to the second upper rotatable member and rotatable therewith out of and into the sheet feed plane; (e) a first lower rotatable member disposed in the lower frame section and a second lower rotatable member engaging the first lower rotatable member, wherein rotation of the first lower rotatable member in one direction corresponds to rotation of the second lower rotatable member in an opposite direction; (f) a lower accumulation ramp connected to the first lower rotatable member and rotatable therewith into and out of the sheet feed plane; and (g) a lower sheet guide member connected to the second lower rotatable member and rotatable therewith out of and into the sheet feed plane. 15. The apparatus according to claim 14 wherein the sheet feed plane extends through the input area along a sheet feed direction, the first upper rotatable member comprises at least two first upper rotatable member portions, the second upper rotatable member comprises at least two second upper rotatable member portions, the first lower rotatable member comprises at least two first lower rotatable member portions, and the second lower rotatable member comprises at least two second lower rotatable member portions, the apparatus comprising:(a) an upper mounting member disposed transversely in relation to the sheet feed direction and interconnecting the at least two first upper rotatable member portions, wherein the upper accumulation ramp is mounted to the upper mounting member; and (b) a lower mounting member disposed transversely in relation to the sheet feed direction and interconnecting the at least two first lower rotatable member portions, wherein the lower accumulation ramp is mounted to the lower mounting member. 16. A sheet accumulating apparatus comprising:(a) an upper frame section having an upper end and a lower frame section having a lower end, the upper and lower frame sections defining an accumulation area therebetween, wherein the upper end pivotably engages the lower end to enable the upper section to pivot away from the lower section to provide access to the accumulation area; (b) a plurality of elongate upper sheet guides supported by the upper frame section and pivotable therewith, the upper sheet guides defining an upper boundary of the accumulation area; (c) a plurality of elongate lower sheet guides supported by the lower frame section, the lower sheet guides defining a lower boundary of the accumulation area; (d) an upper accumulation selection ramp supported by the upper frame section and pivotable therewith; and (e) a lower accumulation selection ramp supported by the lower frame section. 17. A material accumulating apparatus comprising:(a) a frame assembly comprising first and second lateral support plates; (b) an input section disposed at an upstream region of the frame assembly and defining a material flow path running between the first and second lateral support plates; (c) a carriage assembly comprising a front stop support plate extending between the first and second lateral support plates, a first carriage member movably connecting the front stop support plate to the first lateral support plate, and a second carriage member movably connecting the front stop support plate to the second lateral support plate whereby the front stop support plate is movable between the first and second lateral support plates by movement of the first and second carriage members along the first and second lateral support plates, respectively; and (d) a front stop mechanism disposed downstream from the input section and mounted to the front stop support plate, and at least one roller mounted to the front stop support plate downstream from the front stop mechanism, wherein translation of the front stop support plate along a general direction of the material flow path varies a distance between the front stop mechanism and the input section. 18. The apparatus according to claim 17 wherein the front stop mechanism comprises a front stop member and an actuator connected to the front stop member, wherein the front stop member is movable by the actuator into and out of the material flow path.19. The apparatus according to claim 18 wherein the front stop member is spring-mounted.20. A material accumulating apparatus comprising:(a) a sheet input device comprising a first input roller and a second input roller, wherein a material feed plane is defined between the first and second input rollers; (b) an accumulation area disposed generally downstream from the sheet input device, the accumulation area comprising a plurality of upper guide rods and a plurality of lower guide rods, wherein the material feed plane is disposed between the upper and lower guide rods; (c) a front stop mechanism disposed downstream from the sheet input device, the front stop mechanism comprising a front stop member and an actuator connected to the front stop member, wherein the front stop member is movable by the actuator into and out of the material feed plane; (d) first and second output rollers disposed at a fixed distance downstream from the front stop mechanism; and (e) a material transport device comprising movable material-engaging lugs between the first and second input rollers and the first and second output rollers. 21. A material accumulating apparatus comprising:(a) a frame assembly comprising first and second lateral support plates; (b) an input section disposed at an upstream region of the frame assembly and defining a material flow path running between the first and second lateral support plates; (c) a side jogging mechanism disposed downstream from the input section and comprising: (i) an upstream support rod extending between the first and second lateral support plates; (ii) a downstream support rod extending between the first and second lateral support plates; (iii) first and second mounting brackets, each mounting bracket having an upstream end slidably supported by the upstream support rod and a downstream end slidably supported by the downstream support rod; (iv) first and second side guides respectively linked to the first and second mounting brackets; and (v) first and second actuating devices respectively adapted to translate the first and second side guides along a direction transverse to the material flow path; and (d) a front stop mechanism disposed downstream from the input section and mounted to the front stop support plate, wherein translation of the front stop support plate along a general direction of the material flow path varies a distance between the front stop mechanism and the input section. 22. A material accumulating apparatus comprising:(a) a frame assembly comprising first and second lateral support plates; (b) an input section disposed at an upstream region of the frame assembly and defining a material flow path running between the first and second lateral support plates; (c) a carriage assembly comprising a front stop support plate extending between the first and second lateral support plates, a first carriage member movably connecting the front stop support plate to the first lateral support plate, and a second carriage member movably connecting the front stop support plate to the second lateral support plate; (d) a front stop mechanism disposed downstream from the input section and mounted to the front stop support plate, wherein translation of the front stop support plate along a general direction of the material flow path varies a distance between the front stop mechanism and the input section; and (e) a first rack gear mounted to the first lateral support plate, a second rack gear mounted to the second lateral support plate, a first pinion gear fixedly disposed in relation to the first carriage member and engaging the first rack gear, and a second pinion gear fixedly disposed in relation to the second carriage member and engaging the second rack gear, wherein rotation of the first and second pinion gears respectively along the first and second rack gears causes translation of the first and second carriage members respectively along the first and second rack gears. 23. A material accumulating apparatus comprising:(a) a frame assembly comprising first and second lateral support plates; (b) an input section disposed at an upstream region of the frame assembly and defining a material flow path running between the first and second lateral support plates; (c) a carriage assembly comprising a front stop support plate extending between the first and second lateral support plates, a first carriage member movably connecting the front stop support plate to the first lateral support plate, and a second carriage member movably connecting the front stop support plate to the second lateral support plate; (d) a front stop mechanism disposed downstream from the input section and mounted to the front stop support plate, wherein translation of the front stop support plate along a general direction of the material flow path varies a distance between the front stop mechanism and the input section; and (e) an upper output roller and a lower output roller, the upper and lower output rollers fixedly mounted in relation to the front stop mechanism and translatable therewith. 24. A material accumulating apparatus comprising:(a) a frame assembly comprising at least first and second lateral support plates for accumulating material in an accumulation area between the first and second lateral support plates; (b) an input section disposed at an upstream region of the frame assembly and defining a material flow path running between the first and second lateral support plates; (c) a front stop mechanism disposed downstream from the input section and being selectively movable into and out of the sheet feed path; (d) at least one roller fixedly positioned with respect to the front stop mechanism and downstream from the front stop mechanism for selectively advancing material accumulated in the accumulation area; and (e) the front stop mechanism and the at least one roller being simultaneously movable in fixed relation to one another along the sheet feed plane for adjusting a size of the accumulation area.