Apparatus for collating sheets into sets and finishing thereof

An offset collator/offset stapler apparatus wherein sheets to be collated into a plurality of sets of sheets are supplied thereto in a sequence of the first sheets of each set, numbering up to and corresponding to the number of said sets to be collated, and the subsequent feeding, in turn, and in order, of additional sheets of each set numbering up to and corresponding to the number of sheets in a set, whereupon, after offset collation, the offset collated sets are offset stapled to form finished sets, said apparatus comprising:

• reciprocating sheet transport means for transporting along a predetermined path and then releasing in said sequence, said supplied sheets of sets to be offset collated and offset stapled;
• sheet receiving means for receiving, in said sequence, said transported sheets of sets to be offset collated and for holding all the sheets of said sets in contiguous relationship to one another forming a single, continuous stack, said sheet receiving means including means for receiving and forming a single stack of each said first sheet of each set to be offset collated and offset stapled;
• means for moving horizontally with respect to said transport means to offset each said released first sheet from adjacent first sheets in an alternate offset posture in said single stack clearly demarcating each of said first sheets from adjacent first sheets;
• means for separating said offset demarcated sheets of said single stack for receiving therebetween a second sheet of each set to be offset collated and offset stapled contiguous to each of said first sheets of its set, and transport of additional sheets of each set to be offset collated and offset stapled, if required by the number of sheets in said sets, contiguous and in the same alternate offset posture to each of the prior sheets of its sets;
• offset stapling means rotatably disposed adjacent to one side of said sheet receiving means for offset stapling said offset collated sets, said offset stapling means including means cooperating with said sheet receiving means for moving from an inoperative position to an operative position;
• and means for sequentially stapling said offset sets of said single stack while maintained in their alternate offset posture to each of the other sets of the stack before, during and after offset stapling thereof;
• and
• means for controlling said sheet transport means, said sheet receiving means and said offset stapling means to maintain said offset stapling means in said inoperative position during the forming of said offset collated sets, to move said offset stapling means into said operative position after the forming of said offset collated sets in said sheet receiving means, and to disassociate said sheet transport means from said sheet receiving means whereby said offset collated sets are stapled.

An offset stapler apparatus for corner stapling offset sets in a single stack of collated sets or jobs comprising:

• movable sheet receiving bin means for receiving collated sets or sorted jobs disposed therein in an alternate offset posture to form said offset sets in said stack each said set having an alternate offset portion thereof and for maintaining said collated sets or said sorted jobs in said alternate offset posture;
• stapler separation means for initially engaging said alternate offset portion of a bottom one of said alternate offset sets and thereby supporting said stack, releasing the bottommost set, and for cooperating with said movable sheet receiving bin means for sequentially engaging said alternate offset portion of successive ones of said alternate offset sets or jobs and thereby supporting the remainder of said stack while successively releasing ones of said sets or jobs;
• and
• offset stapling means disposed adjacent to one side of said movable sheet receiving bin means for offset stapling said collated sets or said sorted jobs, said movable sheet receiving bin cooperating with said offset stapling means and said stapler separation means to move each of said released collated sets or said released sorted jobs into said stapling means, to corner staple said set or job and to remove said set or job from said offset stapling means, whereby said collated sets or sorted jobs of said offset stack are corner stapled in sequence, all of the collated sets or the sorted jobs being maintained in their alternate offset posture to each of the other sets or jobs of said offset stack before, during and after offset stapling thereof.

Apparatus for offset collating sequentially supplied sheets, comprising:

• movable receiver means for translating between each of at least two different positions and for receiving sheets while in said positions to form clearly demarcated offset sheets, said receiving means holding all the collated sheets in contiguous contacting relationship to one another, forming a single, continuous stack;
• insertion means for sequentially engaging each of said sequentially supplied sheets and for sequentially inserting said sheets in said receiver means, forming a single stack;
• means to control said receiver means and said insertion means for positioning each said sheet in one of said different positions than that for the immediately preceding sheet, said sheets being offset thereby;
• and
• separation means at said receiver means for engaging said inserted offset sheets and separating differently offset adjacent sheets of said stack to allow said insertion means to insert a further sequentially supplied sheet between said separated sheets.