Intermediate storage apparatus

An intermediate sheet storage apparatus, comprising:

• a first conveyor belt;
• a second endless conveyor belt;
• an inlet station;
• first mounting means for mounting said first and second conveyor belts so as to define therebetween a first feed path from said inlet station;
• a third endless conveyor belt upon which a stack of sheets can be formed;
• a rail mounted above said stack;
• a carriage mounted for movement along said rail;
• a plurality of guide rollers mounted on said carriage, said first and second belts engaging said guide rollers so that the first and second belts change in geometry as said carriage moves along said rail;
• first and second outlet stations;
• second mounting means for mounting said second and third conveyor belts so as to define therebetween a transportation path between said first and second outlet stations;
• drive means for driving said conveyor belts;
• and
• control means for controlling said drive means selectably (a) in an acceptance mode in which said third belt is stationary and in which said first and second conveyor belts are moved together by their drive means along said feed path and said carriage is moved along said rail such that a sheet nipped between said first and second feed conveyor belts, from said inlet station is conveyed to said carriage and is rolled around one of the guide rollers to form a stationary stack on said third belt, and (b) in a transportation mode in which said second and third conveyor belts are moved together along said transportation path so as to transport said stack nipped between said second and third conveyor belts in one direction to said first outlet station and in a reversed direction to said second outlet station.

An intermediate sheet storage apparatus, comprising:

• a first conveyor belt;
• a second endless conveyor belt;
• an inlet station;
• first mounting means for mounting said first and second conveyor belts so as to define therebetween a first and second feed path from said inlet station;
• a third endless conveyor belt;
• first and second outlet stations;
• second mounting means for mounting said second and third conveyor belts so as to define therebetween a transportation path between said first and second outlet stations;
• drive means for driving said conveyor belts;
• and
• control means for controlling said drive means selectably (a) in an acceptance mode in which said third belt is stationary and in which said first and second conveyor belts are moved together by their drive means along said feed paths so as to feed sheets nipped therebetween from said inlet station along said feed path to form a stationary stack on said third belt, said sheets being held tightly between said conveyor belt and the remainder of the stack while being conveyed onto the stack, and (b) in a transportation mode in which said second and third conveyor belts are moved together along said transportation path so as to transport said stack nipped between said second and third conveyor belts in one direction to said first outlet station and in a reversed direction to said second outlet station.

An intermediate storage sheet apparatus comprising:

• first and second outlet stations;
• a transporter upon which a stationary stack of one or more sheets can be formed during an acceptance cycle, the transporter being associated with the first or second outlet station and wherein the transporter is stationary during the acceptance cycle;
• and
• a first roller and a conveyor wherein sheets are conveyed to the first roller by the conveyor, and are rolled onto the transporter during the acceptance cycle while under the control of the first roller, and wherein the transporter moves the stack during a transport cycle to the first or second outlet station.

An intermediate storage apparatus comprising:

• at least two outlet stations;
• means for rolling a sheet onto a transporter to form a stationary stack of one or more sheets, the sheet being under the control of the rolling means while being rolled onto the stack;
• means for conveying a sheet to the means for rolling wherein the sheet is gripped between an endless belt and a feed belt;
• and
• means for selectively transporting the stack to one of the at least two outlet stations, wherein the stack is gripped between the endless belt and a transport belt.

A method of handling sheets comprising:

• conveying a sheet gripped between an endless belt and a feed belt during an acceptance cycle to a first roller;
• rolling the sheet onto a transporter which is stationary during the acceptance cycle to form a stationary stack of one or more sheets;
• determining which one of at least two destinations to transport the stack;
• entering a transport cycle;
• and
• transporting the stack during the transport cycle to one of the destinations, wherein the stack is clamped between the endless belt and a transport belt.

An intermediate storage apparatus comprising:

• first and second outlet stations;
• transporter means upon which a stationary stack of one or more sheets can be formed during an acceptance cycle, the transporter means operable to transport the stack to either the first or second outlet stations during a transport cycle, wherein the stack is gripped between an endless belt and a transport belt;
• rolling means for rolling a sheet onto the transporter means to form a stack of one or more sheets, wherein a first sheet is rolled onto the transporter means;
• and
• conveying means for conveying a sheet to the rolling means wherein the sheet is gripped between the endless belt and a feed belt.