US 5,098,074 A · Finishing apparatus

Abstract

A finishing apparatus adapted to receive and fasten collated sets of copy sheets is provided. The finishing apparatus includes a stacking tray in which successive sets of fastened copy sheets can be stacked. The copy sheets are compiled on a movable compiling member, a portion of which is positioned selectively over the stacking tray. A paper path is used to transport the copy sheets to both the stacking tray and the movable compiling member so as to position one portion of each copy sheet in the stacking tray with the remaining portion of each copy sheet being located in the movable compiling member. A fastener, such as a stapler is positioned adjacent to the movable compiling member. A retracting mechanism is employed to move the portion of the movable compiling member supporting the copy sheets away from both the copy sheets and the stacking tray after the copy sheets of the set of copy sheets have been fastened to one another so that the entire set of fastened copy sheets is supported in the stacking tray.

Claims42

Dependent claims

A finishing apparatus adapted to receive and fasten collated sets of copy sheets, comprising:

means for stacking at least one set of fastened copy sheets;
a movable compiling member having a portion thereof disposed selectively over said stacking means;
means for transporting the copy sheets to both said stacking means and said movable compiling member and stacking the copy sheets as a set so as to position one portion of the copy sheet set in said stacking means with the remaining portion of the copy sheet set being located in said movable compiling member, wherein, as each copy sheet is stacked as a set, each copy sheet is simultaneously supported by both the portion of said compiling member and said stacking means;
means for fastening a set of copy sheets to one another, said fastening means being positioned adjacent to said compiling member;
and
means for retracting said portion of said movable compiling member supporting the copy sheets away from both the copy sheets and said stacking means after the copy sheets of the set of copy sheets have been fastened to one another so that the entire set of fastened copy sheets is supported in said stacking means.

3 more elements

A finishing apparatus adapted to receive and fasten collated sets of copy sheets, comprising:

means for stacking at least one set of fastened copy sheets;
a movable compiling member having a portion thereof disposed selectively over said stacking means;
means for transporting the copy sheets to both said stacking means and said movable compiling member so as to position one portion of each copy sheet in said stacking means with the remaining portion of each copy sheet being located in said movable compiling member;
means for fastening a set of copy sheets to one another, said fastening means being positioned adjacent to said compiling member;
means for retracting said portion of said movable compiling member supporting the copy sheets away from both the copy sheets and said stacking means after the copy sheets of the set of copy sheets have been fastened to one another so that the entire set of fastened copy sheets is supported in said stacking means;
and
sensing means for sensing the height of the stack of sets collected in said stacking means, said sensing means being disposed remotely of said stacking means when said compiling means is retracted away from the copy sheets.

4 more elements

A finishing apparatus, adapted to receive and fasten collated sets of copy sheets, comprising:

means for stacking at least one set of fastened copy sheets;
a movable compiling member having a portion thereof disposed selectively over said stacking means;
means for transporting the copy sheets to both said stacking means and said movable compiling member so as to position one portion of each copy sheet in said stacking means with the remaining portion of each copy sheet being located in said movable compiling member;
means for fastening a set of copy sheets to one another, said fastening means being positioned adjacent to said compiling member, wherein said fastening means is positioned adjacent said movable compiling member in a fastening position;
means for retracting said portion of said movable compiling member supporting the copy sheets away from both the copy sheets and said stacking means after the copy sheets of the set of copy sheets have been fastened to one another so that the entire set of fastened copy sheets is supported in said stacking means;
and
means for registering the remaining portions of the copy sheets being located in said compiling member along at least one edge thereof to provide an aligned edge for the set within said fastening position of said fastening means whereby fastening of the set may be accomplished.

4 more elements

A finishing apparatus, adapted to receive and fasten collated sets of copy sheets, comprising:

means for stacking at least one set of fastened copy sheets, wherein said stacking means is a slanted tray;
a movable compiling member having a portion thereof disposed selectively over said stacking means;
means for transporting the copy sheets to both said stacking means and said movable compiling member so as to position one portion of each copy sheet in said stacking means with the remaining portion of each copy sheet being located in said movable compiling member;
means for fastening a set of copy sheets to one another, said fastening means being positioned adjacent to said compiling member;
means for retracting said portion of said movable compiling member supporting the copy sheets away from both the copy sheets and said stacking means after the copy sheets of the set of copy sheets have been fastened to one another so that the entire set of fastened copy sheets is supported in said stacking means;
elevator means for moving said stacking means to accommodate for changes in the height of the stack of sets collected in said stacking means;
a gate pivotally mounted to said elevator means, said gate being capable of moving between an open position and a closed position, said gate retaining one or more fastened sets in said slanted tray when said gate is in said closed position, and said sets being capable of sliding off of said tray when said gate is in said open position;
a plurality of slanted bins, each of said bins having an entrance opening;
a track being disposed adjacent said compiling member and said bins, said track being adapted to carry said elevator means, and hence said slanted tray, therealong, said slanted tray being transported to and aligned with respective ones of said slanted bins;
and
wherein when said gate is in said closed position a stack of fastened sets can be transported on said slanted tray from said compiling member to one of said bins, and upon said aligning of said slanted tray with said entrance opening of one of said slanted bins, said gate is movable to said open position so that the stack of stapled sets can be slid into said one slanted bin.

8 more elements

In a finisher for providing stapling of sets of sequentially produced reproduction sheets of the type including a set compiler, a stapling system for stapling the compiled sets, and a stacking tray for stacking the stapled sets, the improvement comprising:

a reciprocally movable partial compiling shelf having first and second positions;
means for moving reciprocally said partial compiling shelf between said first and second positions;
said first position of said partial compiling shelf being a compiling and stapling position in which said compiling shelf partially extends out over said stacking tray in a position to accumulate and partially support sheets for compiling and stapling as a set while those sheets are also partially supported by said stacking tray;
and
said second position of said partial compiling shelf being a stapled set unloading position in which said partial compiling shelf is moved away from said stacking tray and the stapled set to allow the stapled set to drop fully onto said stacking tray.

2 more elements

A finishing apparatus adapted to automatically compile, fasten, and stack in fastened sets copy sheets being sequentially outputted by a printing apparatus, comprising:

a reciprocally movable partial compiling shelf having first and second positions;
means for reciprocally moving said partial compiling shelf between said first and second positions;
a plurality of stacking trays for stacking at least one fastened set in each tray;
said first position of said partial compiling shelf being a compiling and fastening position in which said compiling shelf partially extends out over one said stacking tray in a position to accumulate and partially support sheets for compiling and fastening as a set while those same sheets are also partially supported by said one stacking tray;
fastening means for fastening said compiled set while it is in said first position to produce a said fastened set;
said second position of said partial compiling shelf being a fastened set unloading position in which said partial compiling shelf is moved away from said one stacking tray and said fastened set is allowed to drop fully onto said one stacking tray;
and
tray selecting means for moving at least one of said stacking trays relative to said partial compiling shelf so that a selected stacking tray can be operatively positioned in association with said compiling shelf for said compiling and fastening, and said fastened set unloading.

5 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Finishing apparatus

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Finishing apparatus

Life of this patent

Abstract

Claims42