Universal sled for adaptation of existing sheet stack processing machine for use with sheet handling system

Abstract

A universal sled for adapting an existing sheet processing station for use with a sheet handling system, a sheet handling system including an existing sheet processing station, and a method of performing the same. The sled is supported on and moveable relative to a platform of the existing sheet processing station. The sled includes a plurality of parallel support surfaces that collectively form a sheet support surface that may be intermeshed with a plurality of parallel support surfaces that form a sheet support surface of a cart, the sheet support surfaces of the cart being intermeshable with the support surfaces of other modules of the system.

1 . A sled for use in adapting a sheet processing machine for use with a sheet handling system, the machine comprising a platform, the sheet handling system comprising a cart having a plurality of parallel cart surfaces forming a sheet support surface for supporting a stack of sheets, the sled comprising 
 a plurality of elongated support surfaces for supporting the stack of sheets, said sled elongated support surfaces being secured together in their relative positions, the plurality of sled elongated support surfaces being spaced to permit the location of the plurality of parallel cart surfaces, and    a lower surface adapted to be disposed toward the platform, the sled being selectively movable relative to the platform.    
   
   
       2 . The sled of  claim 1  further comprising at least one low friction support disposed subjacent at least a portion of the lower surface of the sled, the low friction support supporting the sled on the platform and facilitating relative movement between the sled lower surface and the platform.  
   
   
       3 . The sled of  claim 2  wherein the low friction support comprises at least one of a polytetrafluoroethylene surface, furniture glide, caster, roller, or ball bearing.  
   
   
       4 . The sled of  claim 1  further comprising a base, said plurality of sled elongated support surfaces extending from the base, said base securing the sled elongated support surfaces in their relative positions.  
   
   
       5 . The sled of  claim 1  further comprising a locking arrangement, the locking arrangement selectively securing the sled to the platform.  
   
   
       6 . The sled of  claim 2  wherein the locking arrangement limits relative movement between the sled and the platform.  
   
   
       7 . The sled of  claim 5  wherein the locking arrangement comprises at least one bracket secured to the platform and the sled comprises at least one slot, the slot being disposed and sized to slide along the bracket.  
   
   
       8 . The sled of  claim 5  wherein the platform comprises an edge, and the locking arrangement secures the sled to the edge of the platform.  
   
   
       9 . The sled of  claim 8  wherein the locking arrangement comprises at least a hook, the hook being coupled to the sled and disposed and sized to selectively engage the edge of the platform.  
   
   
       10 . The sled of  claim 9  wherein the locking arrangement comprises a pivotably mounted pawl, the pawl including the hook.  
   
   
       11 . The sled of  claim 1  wherein the sled has an overall footprint, said foot print being no greater than 15 by 20 inches.  
   
   
       12 . The sled of  claim 1  wherein the elongated support surfaces comprise 3-7 fingers.  
   
   
       13 . The sled of  claim 1  wherein the elongated support surfaces have an upper surface width, the upper surface width of at least a portion of the elongated support surfaces being 1-2 inches wide.  
   
   
       14 . The sled of  claim 1  wherein at least one of the elongated support surfaces has a tapered leading edge.  
   
   
       15 . The sled of  claim 1  wherein the elongated support surfaces are spaced 1-2 inches apart.  
   
   
       16 . The sled of  claim 1  wherein the elongated support surfaces each have a centerline, and the distance between the centerlines of at least two adjacently disposed elongated support surfaces is 2-4 1/2 inches.  
   
   
       17 . A sheet handling system for performing at least one operation on successive sheets or stacks of sheets, the document handling system comprising: 
 a transportation cart, the transportation cart comprising a plurality of elongated support surfaces disposed to collectively present a cart sheet support surface,    at least one processing station for performing an operation on said successive sheets or stacks of sheets, the processing station comprising a platform having an upper surface,    a sled comprising a plurality of elongated support surfaces collectively presenting a sled sheet support surface, said sled being supported on the upper surface and being movable in at least one direction in a plane parallel to the upper surface, and    at least one module selected from the group consisting of an elevator transfer station, a modular transfer station, a storage station, and a second modular processing station for performing an operation on said successive sheets or stacks of sheets, said at least one module comprising a plurality of elongated support surfaces disposed to collectively present a sheet support surface,    at least a portion of said plurality of elongated support surfaces of the transportation cart and the sled being sized and disposable to intermesh to create a joint sheet support surface such that sheets or stacks of sheets disposed on the plurality of elongated support surfaces of one of the transportation cart or the sled may be transferred to the plurality of elongated support surfaces of the other of the transportation cart and the sled,    at least a portion of said plurality of elongated support surfaces of the transportation cart and the at least one module being sized and disposable to intermesh to create a joint sheet support surface such that sheets or stacks of sheets disposed on the plurality of elongated support surfaces of one of the transportation cart or the at least one module may be transferred to the plurality of elongated support surfaces of the other of the transportation cart and the at least one module,    whereby said successive sheets or stacks of sheets are moved between the transportation cart and the sled, and between the transportation cart and the at least one module in the sheet handling system.    
   
   
       18 . The sheet handling system of  claim 17  further comprising at least one low friction support disposed subjacent at least a portion of the lower surface of the sled, the low friction support supporting the sled on the platform and facilitating relative movement between the sled lower surface and the platform.  
   
   
       19 . The sheet handling system of  claim 18  wherein the low friction support comprises at least one of a polytetrafluoroethylene surface, caster, roller, or ball bearing.  
   
   
       20 . The sheet handling system of  claim 17  wherein the modular processing station comprises an elevator disposed to move the platform in a substantially vertical direction  
   
   
       21 . The sheet handling system of  claim 20  further comprising a locking arrangement, the locking arrangement being disposed to selectively limit relative movement between the sled and the platform.  
   
   
       22 . The sheet handling system of  claim 21  wherein the platform comprises an edge, and the locking arrangement secures the sled to the edge of the platform.  
   
   
       23 . The sheet handling system of  claim 21  wherein the locking arrangement comprises at least one bracket secured to the platform and the sled comprises at least one slot, the slot being disposed and sized to slide along the bracket.  
   
   
       24 . The sheet handling system of  claim 21  wherein the locking arrangement comprises at least a hook, the hook being coupled to the sled and disposed and sized to selectively engage the edge of the platform.  
   
   
       25 . The sheet handling system of  claim 17  wherein the modular processing station comprises a second sled comprising the plurality of elongated support surfaces of the at least one module.  
   
   
       26 . A method of adapting an existing processing station for use in a sheet stack handling system for processing a stack of sheets, the handling system comprising a transportation cart and at least one module selected from the group consisting of an elevator transfer station, a modular transfer station, a storage station, and a second modular processing station for performing an operation on said successive sheets or stacks of sheets, said at least one module and said cart each comprising a plurality of elongated support surfaces disposed to collectively present respective sheet support surfaces, at least a portion of said plurality of elongated support surfaces of the transportation cart and the at least one module being sized and disposable to intermesh to create a joint sheet support surface such that sheets or stacks of sheets disposed on the plurality of elongated support surfaces of one of the transportation cart and the at least one module may be transferred to the plurality of elongated support surfaces of the other of the transportation cart and the at least one module, the method comprising the steps of 
 providing a sled comprising a plurality of elongated support surfaces collectively presenting a sled sheet support surface, at least a portion of said plurality of elongated support surfaces of the transportation cart and the sled being sized and disposable to intermesh to create a joint sheet support surface such that the stack of sheets disposed on the plurality of elongated support surfaces of one of the transportation cart or the sled may be transferred to the plurality of elongated support surfaces on another of the transportation cart or the sled,    supporting said sled on a platform of the existing processing station, the sled being movable in at least one direction in a plane parallel to the platform.    
   
   
       27 . The method of  claim 26  further comprising the step of providing the existing processing station with the platform.  
   
   
       28 . The method of  claim 27  further comprising the step of locking the sled to the platform while transferring the stack of sheets between the transportation cart and the sled.  
   
   
       29 . The method of  claim 27  wherein the sled is movable in more than one direction in a plane parallel to the platform.  
   
   
       28 . The method of  claim 27  wherein the locking step comprises the step of sliding slots in the sled along brackets to advance the sled to an edge of the platform.  
   
   
       29 . The method of  claim 27  wherein the locking step comprises the step of engaging a hook coupled to the sled to an edge of the platform.