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US 6,062,556 AGranted
Method and apparatus for merging sheets
AssigneeBell & Howell Mail and Messaging Technologies Company
InventorSteve W. McCay
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
Apparatus and method for merging sheet streams conveyed in side-by-side streams in a conveying direction into a single stream. An infeed conveyor conveys at least two sheet streams side-by side in a direction toward a merger. The merger separates and separately conveys the sheet streams to a merge location. The sheet streams are transported at different accelerations or speeds, such that each article of one of the sheet streams is directed into a gap between the articles of the other sheet stream in order to produce a single, merged sheet stream traveling at an accelerated outfeed speed for further processing.
Claims36
An apparatus for merging sheet streams conveyed in side-by-side streams in a conveying direction into a single stream, comprising:
- (a) an infeed conveyor for conveying at least a first sheet stream and a second sheet stream side-by-side in a conveying direction;
- and
- (b) a merger for merging said side-by-side first and second sheet streams such that said first and second sheet streams are conveyed in a single stream, said merger comprising:
- (i) means for separating said side-by-side first and second conveyed sheet streams;
- and
- (ii) means for separately conveying said first and second separated sheet streams to a merge location for merger of said first and second sheet streams into a single stream, wherein said first sheet stream includes a plurality of gaps defined between each adjacent sheet in said first sheet stream and said separately conveying means increases each gap in said first sheet stream, increases the speed of said sheets in said first sheet stream, and increases the speed of said sheets in said second sheet stream.
3 more elements
An apparatus for merging sheet streams conveyed side-by-side in a conveying direction such that said sheet streams are merged into a single stream, comprising:
- (a) conveying means for conveying said side-by-side sheet streams in a conveying direction;
- and
- (b) means for merging said side-by-side conveyed sheet streams such that said sheet streams are conveyed in a single stream in said conveying direction and not inverted, said means for merging comprising:
- (i) curved guide members for separating said side-by-side sheet streams;
- and
- (ii) at least first and second conveyors for separately conveying said separated sheet streams to a merge location for merger of said sheet articles whereby each of said sheet articles is conveyed to said merge location into a seriatim manner.
3 more elements
A method of merging sheets conveyed in two side-by-side streams into a single stream of sheets, comprising the steps of:
- (a) conveying at least first and second streams of sheets in a side-by-side relationship in a conveying direction, said first stream of sheets including a plurality of gaps defined between each adjacent sheet in said first sheet stream;
- (b) merging said side-by-side first and second streams of sheets such that said first and second streams of sheets are conveyed in a single stream, whereby merging said first and second sheet streams is accomplished by:
- (i) separating said side-by-side first and second sheet streams;
- and
- (ii) separately conveying said separated first and second sheet streams to a merge location where said first and second sheet streams are merged into a single stream by directing said first sheet stream to a first sheet conveying means and directing said second sheet stream to a second sheet conveying means, wherein said first sheet conveying means increases each gap in said first sheet stream and increases the speed of sheets in said first sheet stream, and said second conveying means increases the speed of sheets in said second sheet stream.
2 more elements
An apparatus for merging sheet streams comprising:
- (a) a microprocessor-based control device;
- (b) means for feeding sheets along an infeed path including infeed driving means electronically communicating with the control device;
- (c) a first guide means for receiving a first stream of sheets from the sheet feeding means and transporting the first stream of sheets along a first sheet stream path;
- (d) a second guide means for receiving a second stream of sheets from the sheet feeding means and transporting the second stream of sheets along a second sheet stream path;
- (e) a plurality of successive first driving means for transporting the first stream of sheets along the first sheet stream path to a merge location, wherein each of the first driving means accelerates the first stream of sheets at a rate different from adjacent first driving means, the plurality of first driving means collectively define a first acceleration profile, and each of the first driving means electronically communicates with the control device;
- and
- (f) a plurality of successive second driving means for transporting the second stream of sheets along the second sheet stream path to the merge location, each of the second driving means electronically communicating with the control device.
4 more elements
An apparatus for merging sheet streams conveyed in side-by-side streams in a conveying direction into a single stream, comprising:
- (a) an infeed conveyor for conveying at least a first sheet stream and a second sheet stream side-by-side in a conveying direction;
- and
- (b) a merger for merging said side-by-side first and second sheet streams such that said first and second sheet streams are conveyed in a single stream, said merger comprising:
- (i) means for separating said side-by-side first and second conveyed sheet streams;
- (ii) means for separately conveying said first and second separated sheet streams to a merge location for merger of said first and second sheet streams into a single stream, said separately conveying means including first and second independently controlled sheet driving means, said first sheet driving means producing a first acceleration/speed profile for said first sheet stream and said second driving means producing a second acceleration/speed profile for said second sheet stream, said first acceleration/speed profile being different from said second acceleration/speed profile, and wherein said first and second sheet driving means convey said first and second separated sheet streams according to said different first and second acceleration/speed profiles to accelerate said first and second sheet streams to an outfeed speed and convey said first and second sheet streams to said merge location and merge said first and second sheet streams into a single stream;
- and
- (iii) first and second stationary curved guide members for directing said first and second sheet streams to said first and second sheet driving means, respectively.
4 more elements
An apparatus for merging sheet streams conveyed in side-by-side streams in a conveying direction into a single stream, comprising:
- (a) an infeed conveyor for conveying at least a first sheet stream and a second sheet stream side-by-side in a conveying direction;
- and
- (b) a merger for merging said side-by-side first and second sheet streams such that said first and second sheet streams are conveyed in a single stream, said merger comprising:
- (i) means for separating said side-by-side first and second conveyed sheet streams;
- (ii) means for separately conveying said first and second separated sheet streams to a merge location for merger of said first and second sheet streams into a single stream, said separately conveying means including first and second independently controlled sheet driving means, said first sheet driving means including a plurality of first independently driven conveyors and producing a first acceleration/speed profile for said first sheet stream, and said second driving means including a plurality of second independently driven conveyors and producing a second acceleration/speed profile for said second sheet stream, said first acceleration/speed profile being different from said second acceleration/speed profile, and wherein said first and second sheet driving means convey said first and second separated sheet streams according to said different first and second acceleration/speed profiles to accelerate said first and second sheet streams to an outfeed speed and convey said first and second sheet streams to said merge location and merge said first and second sheet streams into a single stream;
- and
- (iii) first and second stationary curved guide members for directing said first and second sheet streams to said first and second sheet driving means, respectively.
4 more elements
An apparatus for merging sheet streams conveyed in side-by-side streams in a conveying direction into a single stream, comprising:
- (a) an infeed conveyor for conveying at least a first sheet stream and a second sheet stream side-by-side in a conveying direction;
- and
- (b) a merger for merging said side-by-side first and second sheet streams such that said first and second sheet streams are conveyed in a single stream, said merger comprising:
- (i) means for separating said side-by-side first and second conveyed sheet streams;
- (ii) means for separately conveying said first and second separated sheet streams to a merge location for merger of said first and second sheet streams into a single stream, said separately conveying means including first and second independently controlled sheet driving means, said first sheet driving means including a plurality of first independently driven conveyors, each of the first independently driven conveyors including a one-way clutch, and said first sheet driving means producing a first acceleration/speed profile for said first sheet stream, and said second driving means including a plurality of second independently driven conveyors, each of the second independently driven conveyors including a one-way clutch, and said second driving means producing a second acceleration/speed profile for said second sheet stream, said first acceleration/speed profile being different from said second acceleration/speed profile, and wherein said first and second sheet driving means convey said first and second separated sheet streams according to said different first and second acceleration/speed profiles to accelerate said first and second sheet streams to an outfeed speed and convey said first and second sheet streams to said merge location and merge said first and second sheet streams into a single stream;
- and
- (iii) first and second stationary curved guide members for directing said first and second sheet streams to said first and second sheet driving means, respectively.
4 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.