Non-marking accumulator and related methods

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.

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.

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.

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;
• 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.

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.

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.

A method for registering one or more sheets during or after accumulation of the sheets in an accumulating apparatus, the method comprising the steps of:

• (a) providing an accumulation section defining a sheet feed plane;
• (b) moving a front stop into the sheet feed plane;
• (c) moving a back stop into the sheet feed plane at a position upstream from the front stop;
• (d) moving a sheet along an input path past the back stop into the accumulation section, whereby the sheet contacts the front stop and is recoiled thereby toward the back stop;
• and
• (e) alternately translating the sheet along opposing directions transverse to the input path.

A method for adjusting an accumulating apparatus between an over-accumulating mode and an under-accumulating mode, comprising the steps of:

• (a) providing an accumulating section defining a sheet feed plane extending therethrough;
• (b) providing an accumulating assembly generally disposed upstream from the accumulating section and comprising an upper ramp, an upper retaining member movably linked to the upper ramp, a lower ramp, and a lower retaining member movably linked to the lower ramp;
• (c) setting an over-accumulating mode by causing the upper ramp to move out of the sheet feed plane whereby the upper retaining member moves into the sheet feed plane, and causing the lower ramp to move into the sheet feed plane whereby the lower retaining member moves out of the sheet feed plane;
• and
• (d) alternatively setting an under-accumulating mode by causing the upper ramp to move into the sheet feed plane whereby the upper retaining member moves out of the sheet feed plane, and causing the lower ramp to move out of the sheet feed plane whereby the lower retaining member moves into the sheet feed plane.

A method for over-accumulating sheets, comprising the steps of:

• (a) providing an accumulating section defining a sheet feed plane extending therethrough;
• (b) providing an accumulating assembly generally disposed upstream from the accumulating section and comprising an upper retaining member and a lower ramp, wherein the upper retaining member and the lower ramp extend into the sheet feed plane;
• (c) moving an incoming sheet generally along the sheet feed plane toward the lower ramp;
• (d) causing the incoming sheet to contact the lower ramp and move over the lower ramp;
• and
• (e) causing the incoming sheet to contact the upper retaining member and be guided downwardly thereby, whereby the incoming sheet enters the accumulating section between the upper retaining member and a preceding sheet residing in the accumulating section.

A method for under-accumulating sheets, comprising the steps of:

• (a) providing an accumulating section defining a sheet feed plane extending therethrough;
• (b) providing an accumulating assembly generally disposed upstream from the accumulating section and comprising an upper ramp and a lower retaining member, wherein the upper ramp and the lower retaining member extend into the sheet feed plane;
• (c) moving an incoming sheet generally along the sheet feed plane toward the upper ramp;
• (d) causing the incoming sheet to contact the upper ramp and move below the upper ramp;
• and
• (e) causing the incoming sheet to contact the lower retaining member and be guided upwardly thereby, whereby the incoming sheet enters the accumulating section between the lower retaining member and a preceding sheet residing in the accumulating section.

A method for over-accumulating sheets comprising the steps of:

• (a) inputting a first sheet along a sheet feed plane toward an accumulation area;
• (b) diverting the first sheet above the sheet feed plane;
• (c) urging the first sheet downwardly as the first sheet moves into the accumulation area, whereby the first sheet comes to rest in the accumulation area;
• (d) inputting a second sheet along the sheet feed plane toward the accumulation area;
• (e) diverting the second sheet above the sheet feed plane;
• and
• (f) urging the second sheet downwardly as the second sheet moves into the accumulation area, whereby the second sheet comes to rest in the accumulation area on top of the first sheet.

A method for under-accumulating sheets comprising the steps of:

• (a) inputting a first sheet along a sheet feed plane toward an accumulation area;
• (b) diverting the first sheet below the sheet feed plane;
• (c) urging a trailing edge of the first sheet upwardly as the first sheet moves into the accumulation area, whereby the first sheet comes to rest in the accumulation area with its trailing edge elevated above the sheet feed plane;
• (d) inputting a second sheet along the sheet feed plane toward the accumulation area;
• (e) diverting the second sheet below the sheet feed plane and below the trailing edge of the first sheet;
• (f) urging a trailing edge of the second sheet upwardly as the second sheet moves into the accumulation area, whereby the second sheet comes to rest in the accumulation area underneath the first sheet, and with the trailing edge of the second sheet elevated above the sheet feed plane.