US 5,664,772 A · Apparatus and method for right angle turn over of sheet material

Abstract

Apparatus for receiving sheets fed in a first direction and guiding and controlling the sheets through a right angle turn includes at least one right angle turn over module which includes a lower plate with an input belt assembly for receiving the first documents conveyed thereto in a first direction; an upper plate including a 45.degree. turn over section cantilevered above the lower plate, and a turning guide positioned adjacent to the turn over section. The upper plate includes a plurality of output rollers rotatably mounted in the top of the upper plate and oriented for moving sheets at a right angle direction to the first direction. The turning guide includes an upwardly curved edge that extends a fixed distance from the turn over section for guiding sheets around the turn over section. An output belt assembly is suspended above the upper plate for conveying sheets in a second direction that is orthogonal to the first direction. The output belt assembly includes an endless belt moving around at least two rollers and further including structure for applying a normal force to the lower reach of the belt directly above each of the output rollers in the upper plate whereby the upper belt and the output rollers cooperate to convey the sheets out of the turn over section of the upper plate. The output belt assembly cooperates with the output rollers for conveying sheets received from a sheet feeding source that is in line with the output belt assembly.

Claims19

Dependent claims

Apparatus for receiving sheets fed in a first direction and guiding and controlling the sheets through a right angle turn, comprising:

input means for receiving first documents being conveyed seratim in a first direction along first deck level and transporting the first documents seriatim in said first direction;
output means adjacent said input means for transporting the first documents along a second deck level in a second direction that is orthogonal to said first direction;
a curved turn over chute angled at 45.degree. between said input means and said output means wherein said input means transports the first documents through said turn over chute to said output means;
and
said output means including means for receiving second documents being conveyed seriatim along said second deck level in said second direction and transporting said second documents in said second direction, said output means having an input end on said second deck level separate from said turn over chute, said output means further including idler output rollers at said second deck level and an upper endless belt suspended above said second deck level, said upper endless belt having a lower reach moving in said second direction, and means for applying a normal force against said lower reach of said upper endless belt toward said idler output rollers.

2 more elements

Apparatus for receiving sheets fed in a first direction and guiding and controlling the sheets through a right angle turn, comprising:

at least one right angle turn over module comprising:
a lower plate having input means at one end for receiving first documents conveyed thereto in a first direction along a first deck level;
an upper plate mounted a fixed distance above said lower plate, said upper plate including a turn over section adjacent to a downstream end of said input means, said turn over section angled at 45.degree. to the first direction, said upper plate further including means superposed over said input means for cooperating with said input means for transporting the first documents through said turn over section, said upper plate also including a plurality of output rollers rotatably mounted in the top of said upper plate and oriented for moving the first documents at a second direction that is orthogonal to the first direction;
and
a turning guide positioned adjacent said turn over section, said turning guide including a curved edge that extends a fixed distance from the turn over section for guiding the first documents around said turn over section;
means for driving said input means;
a belt assembly positioned above said upper plate and oriented for conveying the first documents in said second direction, said belt assembly including an endless upper belt moving around at least two rollers and further including means for applying a normal force to the lower reach of said upper belt directly above each of said output rollers whereby said upper belt and said output rollers cooperate to convey the first documents out of said turn over section of said upper plate;
and
means for driving said upper belt.

6 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Apparatus and method for right angle turn over of sheet material

Life of this patent

Apparatus and method for right angle turn over of sheet material

Life of this patent

Abstract

Claims19