Vertical tray collator with sheet discharge pusher member

A collating apparatus for producing a document packet from an incoming document page or pages, comprising:

• a) a collating means for producing the document packet, comprising:
• a first collating tray for receiving at least a first document page;
• a second collating tray secured to said first collating tray and having two opposing side walls and a bottom plate for receiving any second document page or pages;
• and
• b) outputting means for transferring the document packet created by said collating means to a subsequent processing means.

A collating apparatus for producing a document packet containing at least one document page from one or a plurality of incoming sources, comprising:

• a) collating means for creating the document packet from incoming document pages;
• b) first inputting means for feeding a first document page from a first incoming source into said collating means;
• c) second inputting means for feeding a second document page from a second incoming source into said collating means;
• and
• d) outputting means for transferring the document packet created by said collating means to a subsequent processing means.

A collating apparatus for producing a document packet containing at least one document page from one or a plurality of incoming sources, comprising:

• a) collating means for creating the document packet from incoming document pages;
• b) first inputting means for feeding a first document page from a first incoming source into said collating means;
• c) second inputting means, displaced approximately 90.degree. from said first inputting means, for feeding a second document page from a second incoming source into said collating means;
• d) outputting means for transferring the document packet created by said collating means to a subsequent processing means;
• and
• e) detection means for establishing whether said first document page has been delivered into said collating means, whether said second document page has been delivered into said collating means, and whether said document packet has exited said collating means.

A collating system for producing a plurality of document packets with each document packet having at least one document page, comprising:

• a) a database containing requisite information for forming each of the document packets;
• b) computer means for accessing said database for requisite information to control producing each of the document packets;
• c) a collating means having a plurality of vertically displaced collating trays with each said collating tray accepting a single document page or multiple document pages as directed by said computer means;
• d) outputting means coupled to said collating means for transferring said incoming page or pages from said collating means as a single document packet to a subsequent processing means.

A collating system for producing a plurality of document packets with each document packet having at least one page, comprising:

• a) a database containing requisite information for forming each of the document packets;
• b) computer means for accessing said database for requisite information to control producing each of the document packets;
• c) collating means for creating the document packet as directed by said computer means;
• d) first inputting means for feeding first document pages from a first source into said collating means as directed by said computer means;
• e) second inputting means, displaced approximately 90.degree. from said first inputting means, for feeding second document pages from a second source into said collating means as directed by said computer means;
• and
• f) outputting means for transferring each of the document packets created by said collating means to a subsequent processing means.