Method and device for forming files of sheets consisting of one or more sheets

Abstract

In a method and a device for forming groups of sheets consisting of one or of a plurality of sheets, a predetermined number of sheets is first supplied to a first position in a collecting station so as to form a first group of sheets. As soon as the first group of sheets has been formed, it is moved from the first position to a second position in the collecting station, and then a predetermined number of sheets is moved to the first position in the collecting station so as to form a second group of sheets.

What is claimed is:  
     
         1 . A method of forming groups of sheets consisting of one or of a plurality of sheets, comprising: 
 (a) supplying a predetermined number of sheets to a first position in a sheet feeding plane in a collecting station so as to form the first group of sheets;    (b) when the first group of sheets has been formed, moving the first group of sheets from said first position in the sheet feeding plane in the collecting station to a second position outside of the sheet feeding plane in the collecting station, and discharging the first group of sheets from the collecting station; and    (c) supplying a predetermined number of sheets to said first position in the sheet feeding plane in said collecting station so as to form a second group of sheets while the first group of sheets is being discharged from the collecting station.    
     
     
         2 . A method according to  claim 1 , wherein, in step (b), the first group is moved in a direction perpendicular to the sheet feeding direction into a sheet discharge plane.  
     
     
         3 . A method according to  claim 1 , wherein the first group is moved in the direction of a discharge unit of the collecting station.  
     
     
         4 . A method according to  claim 1 , wherein, in step (a), the sheets are moved against a stop in a sheet traveling direction.  
     
     
         5 . A method according to  claim 4 , wherein step (b) comprises the following steps: 
 (b.1.) moving the stop to an open position;    (b.2.) moving the formed group to a discharge unit; and    (b.3.) when the discharge unit has been reached, moving said discharge unit and said first group in a direction perpendicular to the sheet traveling direction and moving the stop to a closed position.    
     
     
         6 . A method according to  claim 5 , wherein the supply of sheets of the second group begins when the stop has reached the closed position in step (b.3.).  
     
     
         7 . A method according to  claim 1 , wherein the collecting station comprises a collecting means including at least two collecting compartments, wherein, in step (a), at least one inlet of a first collecting compartment is located in the sheet feeding plane and the sheets are supplied to said first collecting compartment, wherein, in step (c), at least one inlet of a second collecting compartment is located in the sheet feeding plane and the sheets are supplied to said second collecting compartment, and wherein said step (b) comprises the following step: 
 moving the collecting means in such a way that the second collecting compartment is available for a supply of sheets in step (c).    
     
     
         8 . A method according to  claim 7 , wherein the group of sheets and the collecting means are moved essentially simultaneously in step (b).  
     
     
         9 . A method according to  claim 7 , wherein the first group is moved in the direction of a discharge unit of the collecting station.  
     
     
         10 . A method according to  claim 7 , wherein, in step (a), the sheets are moved against a stop in a sheet travelling direction.  
     
     
         11 . A method according to  claim 10 , wherein step (b) comprises the following steps: 
 moving the stop to an open position:    moving the formed group to a discharge unit; and    when the discharge unit has been reached, moving the collecting means in such a way that the second collecting compartment is available for the supply of sheets in step (c).    
     
     
         12 . A method according to  claim 11 , wherein the supply of sheets of the second group is started when the second collecting compartment is available for the supply of sheets, the stop being moved to a closed position when the first group has been discharged.  
     
     
         13 . A method according to  claim 7 , wherein the collecting station is supported such that an outlet of the first collecting compartment and of the second collecting compartment are located essentially in the sheet discharge plane.  
     
     
         14 . A device for forming groups of sheets consisting of one or of a plurality of sheets, comprising: 
 a stationary collecting support for receiving thereon a predetermined number of sheets of a group of sheets;    a movable lifting means which moves a group of sheets accommodated on the collecting support from said collecting support to a further position; and    a control means which causes the collecting support to receive thereon a predetermined number of sheets of a first group of sheets, which causes the lifting means to move said first group of sheets to said further position ), and which causes the collecting support to receive thereon sheets of a second group of sheets.    
     
     
         15 . A device according to  claim 14 , wherein the lifting means moves the first group in a direction perpendicular to a direction in which sheets are supplied to the collecting support.  
     
     
         16 . A device according to  claim 14 , comprising a discharge unit, wherein the control means causes the discharge unit to discharge the first group while sheets of the second group are being supplied.  
     
     
         17 . A device according to  claim 14 , comprising a stop occupying a closed position so as to form groups of sheets on the collecting support and occupying an open position so as to move a group of sheets away from the collecting support.  
     
     
         18 . A device according to  claim 14 , wherein the lifting means is provided with first and second vertically adjustable side supports whose distance is adjustable in a direction transversely to the sheet travelling direction so as to be larger than or smaller than a width of a sheet of the group of sheets.  
     
     
         19 . A device for forming groups of sheets consisting of one or of a plurality of sheets, comprising: 
 a collecting means comprising a least two collecting compartments for receiving therein a predetermined number of sheets of a group of sheets;    a means for moving said collecting means so as to place one collecting compartment of the at least two collecting compartments ready for receiving sheets therein; and    a control means which causes a first collecting compartment to receive therein a predetermined number of sheets of a first group of sheets, which causes the first group of sheets to be discharged from the first collecting compartment, which causes said means to move the collecting means in this way, and which causes a second collecting compartment to be placed ready for the supply of sheets and to receive therein sheets of a second group of sheets while the first group of sheets is being discharged from the first collecting compartment.    
     
     
         20 . A device according to  claim 19 , comprising a discharge unit, wherein the control means causes the discharge unit to discharge the first group during the supply of sheets of the second group.  
     
     
         21 . A device according to  claim 19 , comprising a stop which occupies a closed position so as to form groups of sheets in the collecting compartment and which occupies an open position so as to move a group of sheets out of said collecting compartment.  
     
     
         22 . A device according to  claim 21 , wherein the control means causes the stop to move to an open position, causes the formed group to move to a discharge unit, causes, when the discharge unit has been reached, a movement of the collecting means in such a way that the second collecting compartment is placed ready for the supply of sheets, and causes the first group to be discharged from the collecting station.  
     
     
         23 . A device according to  claim 22 , wherein the control means causes the supply of sheets of the second group, when the second collecting compartment has been placed ready for the supply of sheets, said control means causing a movement of the stop to a closed position when the first group has been discharged.