Method and apparatus for set binding, stapling and stacking

Abstract

Apparatus is provided for receiving and assembling sheets in a binding station at which thermal binding strips are automatically supplied to the side edges of the assembled sets, the sheet receiving trays at the binding station are laterally moved apart to allow a set of assembled bound or unbound sheets to gravitate to a stapling station at which an assembled set of sheets may be stapled together, and the trays forming the stapling station are moved laterally apart to allow the stapled set to gravitate to a stacker tray which is allowed to move downwardly as progressive sets are deposited on the stacker tray and the stacker tray is moved upwardly to a set receiving position following removal of finished sets.

We claim:  
     
         1 . A set finishing and stacking apparatus for sheets fed from an image producing machine comprising: 
 a finishing station adapted to receive sheets fed into the set finishing and stacking apparatus;    a stacker below the finishing station;    the finishing station including a multiple part tray containing at least two parts, and a mechanism adapted to move the at least two parts of the multiple part tray horizontally from a position for receiving a set of sheets to a position at which the set of sheets is permitted by the motion of the at least two parts of the multiple part tray to pass downwardly through the former position of the at least two parts of the multiple part tray to the stacker.    
     
     
         2 . The apparatus of  claim 1  wherein the finishing station includes a thermal strip binder.  
     
     
         3 . The apparatus of  claim 2 , further comprising: 
 the thermal strip binder further comprises: 
 a shelf supporting an edge of the set of sheets for binding in the thermal strip binder; and  
 a supporting mechanism adapted to support the shelf for downward movement and to release the edge when the at least two parts of the multiple part tray are positioned to pass the set of sheets downwardly.  
   
     
     
         4 . The apparatus of  claim 1  wherein the finishing station includes an automatic stapler.  
     
     
         5 . The apparatus of  claim 4 , further comprising: 
 the automatic stapler further comprises: 
 a shelf supporting an edge of the set of sheets for binding in the automatic stapler; and  
 a supporting mechanism adapted to support the shelf for downward movement and to release the edge when the at least two parts of the multiple part tray are positioned to pass the set of sheets downwardly.  
   
     
     
         6 . A set finishing and stacking apparatus for sheets fed from an image producing machine comprising: 
 a finishing means for receiving sheets fed into the set finishing and stacking apparatus;    a stacker means positioned below the finishing means, for stacking finished sets of sheets;    the finishing means further comprising: 
 a multiple part tray containing at least two parts, and  
 a tray operating means for moving the at least two parts of the multiple part tray from a position for receiving a set of sheets to a position at which the set of sheets is permitted by the motion of the at least two parts of the multiple part tray to pass downwardly through the former position of the at least two parts of the multiple part tray to the stacker means.  
   
     
     
         7 . The apparatus of  claim 6  wherein the finishing means includes a thermal strip binder.  
     
     
         8 . The apparatus of  claim 7 , further comprising: 
 the thermal strip binder further comprises: 
 a shelf supporting an edge of the set of sheets for binding in the thermal strip binder; and  
 a supporting means for supporting the shelf for downward movement and to release the edge when the at least two parts of the multiple part tray are positioned to pass the set of sheets downwardly.  
   
     
     
         9 . The apparatus of  claim 1  wherein the finishing means includes an automatic stapler.  
     
     
         10 . The apparatus of  claim 9 , further comprising: 
 the automatic stapler further comprises: 
 a shelf supporting an edge of the set of sheets for binding in the automatic stapler; and  
 a supporting means for supporting the shelf for downward movement and to release the edge when the at least two parts of the multiple part tray are positioned to pass the set of sheets downwardly.  
   
     
     
         11 . A method of set finishing and stacking for utilization with sheets fed from an image producing machine comprising: 
 providing a finishing station which receives sheets fed from the image producing machine;    positioning a stacker below the finishing station and stacking finished sets of sheets in the stacker;    utilizing a multiple part tray containing at least two parts, and operating the multiple part tray by moving the at least two parts of the multiple part tray from a position for receiving a set of sheets to a position at which the set of sheets is permitted by the motion of the at least two parts of the multiple part tray to pass downwardly through the former position of the at least two parts of the multiple part tray to the stacker.    
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 11  further comprising finishing the set of sheets with a thermal strip binder.  
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 12 , further comprising: 
 supporting an edge of the set of sheets in the thermal strip binder on a shelf during binding in the thermal strip binder; and    supporting the shelf for downward movement and to release the edge when the at least two parts of the multiple part tray are positioned to pass the set of sheets downwardly.    
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 11  wherein further comprising finishing the set of sheets with an automatic stapler.  
     
     
         15 . The apparatus of  claim 14 , further comprising: 
 supporting an edge of the set of sheets in the stapler on a shelf during binding in the stapler; and    supporting the shelf for downward movement and to release the edge when the at least two parts of the multiple part tray are positioned to pass the set of sheets downwardly.