(19)
(11) EP 1 683 751 A3

(12) EUROPEAN PATENT APPLICATION

(88) Date of publication A3:
18.10.2006 Bulletin 2006/42

(43) Date of publication A2:
26.07.2006 Bulletin 2006/30

(21) Application number: 06008777.2

(22) Date of filing: 24.06.2004
(51) International Patent Classification (IPC): 
B65H 29/12(2006.01)
B65H 31/30(2006.01)
 B65H 39/10(2006.01)
(84) Designated Contracting States:
DE FR GB

(30) Priority: 30.06.2003 US 611167

(62) Application number of the earlier application in accordance with Art. 76 EPC:
04014778.7 / 1493700

(71) Applicant: Pitney Bowes, Inc.
Stamford, CT 06926-0700 (US)

(72) Inventors:
  • Wright, William J.
    Killingworth Connecticut 06419 (US)
  • Sussmeier, John W.
    Cold Spring New York 10516 (US)
  • Masotta, John
    Bethel, Connecticut 06801 (US)
  • Fuller, Charles C.
    Shelton, Connecticut 06484 (US)
  • Auerbach, David R.
    West Redding, Connecticut 06896 (US)

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

   


(54) Apparatus and method for accumulating sheets


(57) An accumulator device with a downward angled input transport (42). Downstream, an accumulating receptacle (44,47) receives sheets. The accumulating receptacle has an upper guide (47) and a lower guide (44) forming a horizontal accumulating channel. Dump rollers (43) act as a stop during sheet accumulation, and as a transport for removing completed accumulations from the sheet accumulating device. A rear portion of sheets (1) buckle downward into a trap arrangement (45) below the input rollers (41). Preferably, the upper guide of the accumulating channel comprises a continuously rotating belt (47) to urge accumulating sheets against the dump rollers (43). Also, a positive air device (49) may be used to assist in the buckling of the rear portion of the sheets. To assist in handling large collations, when a sheet arrives at the dump rollers (43) they advance by a small predetermined incremental displacement slightly shingling the sheets (1) to maintain positive control for later reliable discharge.







Search report