Apparatus and method for collating sheets

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(11)

EP 1 297 969 A3

(12)	EUROPEAN PATENT APPLICATION

(88)	Date of publication A3:
	19.11.2003 Bulletin 2003/47

(43)	Date of publication A2:
	02.04.2003 Bulletin 2003/14

(21)	Application number: 02021821.0

(22)	Date of filing: 27.09.2002

(51)	International Patent Classification (IPC)⁷: B43M 3/04, B65H 39/10, B65H 45/14

(84)	Designated Contracting States:
	AT BE BG CH CY CZ DE DK EE ES FI FR GB GR IE IT LI LU MC NL PT SE SK TR
	Designated Extension States:
	AL LT LV MK RO SI

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Priority:

28.09.2001 GB 0123405

(71)	Applicant: Pitney Bowes Limited
	Harlow, Essex CM19 5BD (GB)

(72)	Inventor:
	Chapman, Carl R. Monroe, Connecticut 06468 (US)

(74)	Representative: HOFFMANN - EITLE
	Patent- und Rechtsanwälte Arabellastrasse 4 81925 München 81925 München (DE)

(54)	Apparatus and method for collating sheets

(57) Sheet collation apparatus is disclosed in which an initial sheet (A₁) from a sheet feeder (4) is advanced to a collation station (10), reversed into an accumulation station (8) and then returned to the collation station where it is collated with the next sheet (A₂) from the sheet feeder. This process may be repeated any number of times to form a collation of sheets of any required number.

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