Streak free apparatus for processing and stacking printed forms

An apparatus for processing and stacking printed forms adapted to feed said forms for processing downstream thereof comprising:

• a dual registering stacking interface for receiving continuously fed forms, transversely registering said forms and selectively stacking and transporting said forms to a first output end;
• a sequencer merger for receiving said forms from said first output end, directing said forms in a selected order and transporting said forms to a second output end, said sequencer merger adaptable to process said forms as a stack of forms;
• an accumulator having at least one upper and at least one lower transport belts that are in operative relation to one another to accumulate forms into a single set and transport said forms from an input end to a third output end, said at least one upper and at least one lower transport belts being drivable by an output drive at the third output end, an input drive at the input end, a disengagement clutch at the input end drive being independent of the third output end output drive for controlling the drive to the at least one upper belt at the input end, whereby the belts are relatively moveable to each other;
• said accumulator capable of transporting said forms to said third output end from which said forms are fed therefrom for use or further processing downstream thereof.

A register located between a form feed apparatus and a sequencer merger apparatus;

• said register having an input end and an output end;
• said register providing left and right channel control of forms prior to merging said forms into a set such that said channels are controllable to place said forms in a stack prior to ejecting said forms to said sequencer merger;
• and
• said register having transport belts to provide transverse registering;
• said transport belts being selectively engaged to a drive at said output end to stop and start transporting forms and engaged to said drive at the input end;
• and,
• a disengagement clutch at the input end for disengaging at least one transport belt from the drive independently of said output end selective engagement.

An accumulator for receiving and stacking forms comprising:

• a lower set of transport belts mounted on idler pulleys arranged along a lower input shaft driven by a first gear at an input end of said accumulator;
• an upper set of transport belts mounted on pulleys arranged along an upper input shaft operatively connected to a second gear at said input end;
• said second gear being driven by said first gear and said first gear being connected to a first drive;
• a disengagement clutch for disengaging said lower shaft from said first drive;
• said accumulator having an output end opposite the input end, wherein said upper and lower transport belts are mounted on pulleys arranged along upper and lower output shafts, said lower output shaft operably connected to a second drive, said output shafts drivingly connected whereby to be operable together;
• and,
• said second drive being operable independently of said first drive and wherein said disengagement clutch allows said lower input shaft to rotate without rotating said idler pulleys thereon.

An apparatus for processing and stacking printed forms adapted to feed said forms for processing downstream thereof comprising:

• a dual registering stacking interface for receiving continuously fed forms, transversely registering said forms and selectively stacking and transporting said forms to a first output end;
• a sequencer merger for receiving said forms from said first output end, directing said forms in a selected order and transporting said forms to a second output end, said sequencer merger adaptable to process said forms as a stack of forms;
• an accumulator for accumulating forms into a single set and transporting said forms to a third output end from which said forms are fed therefrom;
• a folder for folding said accumulated forms and transporting said forms to a fourth output end;
• and,
• a collector for receiving said folded forms from the fourth output end and transporting them to a fifth output end for further use or processing downstream thereof, said collector and said folder having a common drive, said collector including a drive pulley operably engaged to said drive and having an input shaft mounted thereon, at least one belt pulley arranged along said input shaft, each said at least one belt pulley having a transport belt engaged thereto for carrying folded pieces along a path, said collector further including at least one other belt pulley each engaged to a transport belt and being mounted on an output shaft at an output end thereof to be rotatable with a first said at least one belt pulley, said collector having a selectively moveable pinch mechanism operable to pinch a folded form against a transport belt and moveable away therefrom upon the transporting of said form outwardly of said output end, and a disengagement clutch for disengaging said input shaft from said drive pulley to stop transport belt movement.