Automatic device for diverting large sheets of paper to a bar

A sheet stacking apparatus, comprising:

• a frame having an inlet for sheet stock having at least first and second and third sizes and a main roller rotatable about an axle mounted on said frame, an axis of said axle being oriented perpendicular to a direction of movement of said sheet stock moving therepast;
• first and second sheet receiving means on said frame each adapted to receive therein said sheet stock of a selected one of said first and second and third sizes, said first sheet receiving means including a support means for supporting said sheet stock of said first size in an inverted U form and stacked array, said second sheet receiving means including a plurality of trays onto selected ones of which respective said sheet stock of said second and third sizes are to be placed in a stacked array;
• sheet guide means including a sheet guide member supported for movement between first and second positions for facilitating a guiding of said sheet stock to a respective one of said first and second sheet receiving means;
• sheet stock size selection means for producing control signals indicative of a size of said sheet stock inputted to said inlet;
• control means responsive to said control signals for controlling the movement of said sheet guide member to a respective one of said first and second positions so that said sheet stock fed to said input will be guided by said sheet guide member to respective said first and second sheet receiving means;
• said sheet guide means including a sheet clamp member movable into and out of engagement with said support means in response to said sheet guide member being moved to and from said first position so as to effectively clamp said sheet stock supported on said support means between said sheet clamp member and said support means;
• said sheet guide means additionally including an auxiliary roller mounted on said sheet guide member for movement with said sheet guide member toward and away from said main roller in response to a movement of said sheet guide member toward and away from said second position so that sheet stock of said second and third sizes will be guided by said sheet guide member between said main roller and said auxiliary roller;
• and
• said sheet guide means additionally including a separate lever arm movable independently of said sheet guide member between first and second positions, and link means interconnecting said lever arm, said sheet guide member and said sheet clamp member;
• whereby sheet stock fed to said inlet will cause said control means, in response to a first of said control signals indicative of sheet stock of said first size, movement of said sheet guide member to said first position to guide said sheet stock of said first size to said first receiving means or, in response to a second of said control signals indicative of sheet stock of said second and third size, movement of said sheet guide member to said second position to guide said sheet stock to said second receiving means.