Apparatus for collating sheets

Apparatus for collating sheets, comprising:

• (ix) a collation station including a pair of rollers defining a nip;
• (x) power means operable for selectively applying drive to the rollers;
• (xi) feeding means for feeding a plurality of sheets one at a time along a first path to the collation station and into the nip of the rollers when they are non-driven;
• (xii) an accumulation station, there being a second path interposed between the accumulation station and the collation station;
• and
• (xiii) a diverter positioned between the first path and the collation station and movable between a first position permitting the feeding of each sheet along the first path to the collation station and a second position;
• wherein
• (xiv) the power means is arranged to apply drive to the rollers to initially drive the sheet(s) located in the nip of the roller along a third path from the collation station in one direction until the trailing edge of the sheet(s) moves clear of the diverter, whereafter the direction of drive is reversed, the diverter which is then in its second position diverting the sheet(s) along said second path to the accumulation station;
• (xv) the accumulation station has driving means operable for selectively applying drive to the sheet(s) diverted to the accumulation station and for thereafter returning the sheet(s) along the second path to the collation station at which the nip of the rollers, which are then non driven, collates those sheets and the next of the successively fed sheets;
• and
• (xvi) such collation is repeated, in operation of the sheet collating apparatus, until a sheet collation of a predetermined number of sheets is formed at the collation station, the power means then being arranged to apply drive to the rollers to drive the collation along the third path in said one direction.

A method of collating sheets, comprising:

• (i) successively feeding a plurality of sheets one at a time along a first path to a collation station;
• (ii) transferring the sheet(s) at the collation station, after each feeding of a sheet to that station, along a second path to an accumulation station;
• (iii) returning the sheet(s) at the accumulation station to the collation station;
• (iv) collating those sheet(s) and the next of the successively fed sheets at the collating station, such collation being repeated until a sheet collation of a predetermined number of sheets is formed at the collation station;
• and
• (v) driving said collation of a predetermined number of sheets from the collation station along a third path.