Apparatus and system for handling cut sheets and web forms to form discrete batches

Apparatus for conveying both individual sheets of paper and a web of forms having equally spaced, successive, transverse lines of weakening along a longitudinal path and for separating the forms along said transverse lines of weakening and merging the cut sheets and the separated forms for further processing, comprising:

• a longitudinally extending support structure;
• a bursting section including means for advancing the web of forms along a first paper path and means for bursting said web into separate forms and conveying said separate forms along said first paper path;
• a transport section, superposed over said bursting section, including at least one upper and one lower belt and pulley assembly for conveying individual sheets along a second paper path, said second paper path merging into said first paper path, and means for detaining the individual sheets at a position along said second paper path before said second paper path merges into said first paper path, whereby said individual sheets and said separated forms are thereafter processed along said first paper path;
• wherein said means for bursting includes a bottom pair of upper and lower, vertically spaced feed rollers rotatably supported by said structure, and a pair of upper and lower, vertically spaced burster rollers, said lower burster roller having a shaft and being rotatably supported by said structure downstream of said bottom feed rollers;
• said transport section including a clam shell housing pivotably mounted on said lower burster roller shaft, wherein said upper burster roller is supported by said clam shell housing;
• and
• a top pair of upper and lower, vertically spaced feed rollers rotatably supported by said clam shell housing.