US 4,116,429 AGranted

Sorting apparatus and reproducing machine

AssigneeXerox Corporation

InventorsWarren T. VanBuskirk, Donald W. Tates

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Abstract

A sorting apparatus and reproducing machine comprising a plurality of sheet receiving bins supported in a first frame. A sheet transport is supported in a second frame. The frames are arranged for relative movement between a first closed position wherein the transport is operatively associated with the bins and a second open position to provide access to the transport and the bins for sheet clearance. The second frame supports a guide member for guiding a sheet along the transport. The guide member is supported for movement between a first position wherein it is spaced closely adjacent to the transport and a second position wherein it is more widely spaced therefrom. A cam and follower arrangement is utilized to move the guide member between its respective first and second positions in response to the opening and closing of the frames.

Claims19

Dependent claims

In a sorting apparatus for collating the output of a reproducing machine, said apparatus comprising:

a plurality of sheet receiving bins;
a first frame for supporting said sheet receiving bins;
sheet transport means for transporting said sheets to said bins;
a second frame for supporting said sheet transport means;
means for supporting said frames for relative movement between a first closed position wherein said transport means is operatively associated with said bins and a second open position to provide access to said transport means and said bins for sheet clearance therefrom;
the improvement wherein, said apparatus further includes:
means supported in said second frame for guiding a sheet along said transport means;
means for supporting said guide means for movement between a first position wherein said guide means is spaced closely adjacent to said transport means and a second position wherein said guide means is more widely spaced apart from said transport means to allow sheets to be removed from between said guide means and said transport means;
and
means for moving said guide means between said first position and said second position in response to the relative movement of said frames from said first closed position to said second position;
whereby clearance of said sheets from said sheet transport means is facilitated.

8 more elements

In a sorting apparatus for collating the output of a reproducing machine, said apparatus comprising:

a plurality of sheet receiving bins;
a first frame for supporting said sheet receiving bins;
sheet transport means, including at least one belt under a desired tension for transporting said sheets to said bins;
a second frame for supporting said sheet transport means;
means for supporting said frames for relative movement between a first closed position wherein said sheet transport means is operatively associated with said bins, and a second opened position wherein access is provided to said sheet transport means, and said bins for sheet clearance therefrom;
and
means for reducing said desired belt tension responsive to the relative movement of said frames from said first closed position to said second open position;
the improvement wherein, said apparatus further includes:
means supported in said second frame for guiding a sheet along said transport means;
means for supporting said guide means for movement between a first position wherein said guide means is spaced closely adjacent to said transport means and a second position wherein said guide means is more widely spaced apart from said transport means to allow sheets to be removed from between said guide means and said transport means;
and
means for moving said guide means between said first position and said second position in response to the relative movement of said frames from said first closed position to said second open position;
whereby clearance of said sheets from said sheet transport means is facilitated.

10 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.