Apparatus for repositioning paper documents from lateral to vertical relation

Abstract

A first paper document is vacuum-secured atop a first vacuum belt that extends from a first trailing roller to a first leading roller. A second paper document is vacuum-secured below a second vacuum belt that extends from a second trailing roller to a second leading roller. The first and second trailing rollers are laterally disposed with respect to one another with the first trailing roller being at a lower elevation than the second trailing roller and with the first leading roller positioned below the second leading roller. The first and second leading rollers are centered with respect to the first and second trailing rollers so that the first and second vacuum belts converge toward one another. The first paper document therefore underlies the second paper document when the respective leading edges of the paper documents arrive at the first and second leading rollers.

1 . (canceled) 
     
     
         2 . (canceled) 
     
     
         3 . A machine for handling paper, comprising:
 a first vacuum belt that extends from a first trailing roller to a first leading roller;   a second vacuum belt that extends from a second trailing roller to a second leading roller;   said first and second trailing rollers disposed in lateral relation to one another;   said first trailing roller being disposed at a lower elevation than said second trailing roller;   said first leading roller positioned below said second leading roller;   said first and second leading rollers being centered with respect to said first and second trailing rollers so that said first and second vacuum belts converge toward one another;   said first vacuum belt adapted to carry a first paper document on a forward-traveling top surface thereof;   said second vacuum belt adapted to carry a second paper document on a forward-traveling bottom surface thereof;   said first paper document being disposed in underlying relation to said second paper document when said first and second paper documents arrive at said first and second leading rollers; and   said first and second trailing rollers and said first and second leading rollers having a common width.