US 5,692,746 A · Sheet rotator and justifier

Abstract

A sheet justifier provides a table having at least one rotational surface thereon that is substantially aligned with the table. A sheet is input to the table into contact with the rotational surface. A weighted ball is positioned over the rotating surface proximate an outer edge of the rotating surface. The sheet is grasped between the ball and the rotating surface and forced against a raised guide edge. Once the sheet is forced against the guide edge, all rotational driving force is translated in a downstream direction there along so that the sheet is driven out of the guide edge with its edge aligned therewith in a justified orientation. A rotator can be provided to the sheet justifier according to this invention. The rotator can include one or more weighted balls that engage a rotating surface at points remote from an axis of rotation of the rotating surface and rotate a corner of the sheet 90.degree. as the corner passes through a gap between an upstream and a downstream portion of an edge guide. Sheets are received from the rotator by a justifier for transport further downstream.

Claims30

Dependent claims

A sheet rotator comprising:

a supporting surface for supporting sheets and having an upstream end for receiving sheets and a downstream end for outputting sheets;
a rotating surface approximately coplanar with the supporting surface and adjacent the supporting surface, the rotating surface rotating on an axis substantially perpendicular to the supporting surface;
a raised edge guide positioned upstream of the rotating surface and downstream of the rotating surface;
and
a mass that contacts the rotating surface therewith, the mass having a contact point on the rotating surface that is positioned remote from a center of rotation of the rotating surface constructed and arranged so that each of the sheets entering from the upstream end and passing through the contact point is rotated so that an upstream end of each of the sheets is moved array from the edge guide at a location upstream of the rotating surface and a forward-facing edge of each of the sheets is rotated toward the edge guide at a location downstream of the rotating surface.

2 more elements

A method for rotating sheets comprising the steps of:

directing sheets along an edge guide in a downstream direction on a supporting surface to a rotating surface having an axis of rotation substantially perpendicular to a plane defined by the supporting surface;
engaging each of the sheets between the rotating surface and a mass that contacts the rotating surface at a position remote from the axis of rotation of the rotating surface;
generating components of force at a contact point of the mass with the rotating surface that rotates each of the sheets in an area adjacent a corner of each of the sheets including directing the corner into a gap in the edge guide and pivoting the sheets against an end wall that defines the gap;
justifying the sheets upstream of the rotating surface by engaging the sheets with an upstream justifying rotating surface having a freely rotating mass engaging the justifying rotating surface at a position remote from an axis of rotation of the justifying rotating surface:
moving the upstream justifying rotating surface in an upstream-to-downstream direction based upon a size of sheets to be rotated;
and
receiving each of the rotated sheets at an edge guide located downstream of the rotating surface and driving each of the sheets along the edge guide away from the rotating surface.

4 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Sheet rotator and justifier

Life of this patent

Sheet rotator and justifier

Life of this patent

Abstract

Claims30