Document collating apparatus

Abstract

An apparatus for collating sheets, the apparatus comprising: a collating station having a collating position limited at its downstream end by a stop member against which the sheets abut whilst they are being collated; means for conveying sheets to the collating position so as to form a collated sheet set comprising a predetermined number of stacked sheets; a collating station eject device for moving the collated sheet set away from the collating position to an exit position; and means for conveying the collated sheet set from the exit position out of the apparatus to a downstream sheet handling device; wherein the collating station eject device comprises at least one movable pawl arranged to push each collated sheet set away from the collating position to the exit position and wherein the apparatus is adapted to collate a second sheet set at least partially overlying the first sheet set.

1 . An apparatus for collating sheets, the apparatus comprising:
 a collating station having a collating position limited at its downstream end by a stop member against which the sheets abut whilst they are being collated;   means for conveying sheets to the collating position so as to form a collated sheet set comprising a predetermined number of stacked sheets;   a collating station eject device for moving the collated sheet set away from the collating position to an exit position; and   means for conveying the collated sheet set from the exit position out of the apparatus to a downstream sheet handling device;   wherein the collating station eject device comprises at least one movable pawl arranged to push each collated sheet set away from the collating position to the exit position and wherein the apparatus is adapted to collate a second sheet set at least partially overlying the first sheet set.   
     
     
         2 . An apparatus according to  claim 1  wherein the collating station eject device and the exit conveying means are operable independently of each other. 
     
     
         3 . An apparatus according to  claim 1  wherein the exit conveying means comprises a pair of holding rollers. 
     
     
         4 . An apparatus according to  claim 1  wherein the pawl is mounted on an outer surface of a belt, and further comprising means to drive the belt. 
     
     
         5 . An apparatus according to  claim 4  wherein the belt is an endless belt. 
     
     
         6 . An apparatus according to  claim 5  comprising two pawls mounted at generally equidistantly spaced intervals on the belt. 
     
     
         7 . An apparatus according to  claim 1  wherein the stop member is spring loaded. 
     
     
         8 . An apparatus according to  claim 7  wherein the stop member comprises a spring loaded ball. 
     
     
         9 . An apparatus according to  claim 1  wherein the location of the stop member and the collating station eject device is adjustable depending on the length of the sheets to be collated. 
     
     
         10 . An apparatus according to  claim 1  further comprising a sensor arranged to detect the presence of a sheet at the collating position. 
     
     
         11 . An apparatus according to  claim 1  further comprising a sensor arranged to detect the presence of a sheet set at the exit position. 
     
     
         12 . An apparatus according to  claim 1  wherein the means for determining sheet data for each sheet comprises a scanner arranged to read machine control data printed on sheets entering the apparatus. 
     
     
         13 . An apparatus according to  claim 1  further comprising at least one hold point upstream of the collating station. 
     
     
         14 . A method for collating sheets comprising:
 conveying sheets to a collating position in a collating station so as to form a collated sheet set comprising a predetermined number of stacked sheets;   ejecting the collated sheet set from the collating position by using a pawl to push it away from the collating position to an exit position; at least beginning to form a second collated sheet set in the collating position partially overlapping the first sheet set in the exit position; and   subsequently conveying the first collated sheet set out of the exit position to a sheet handling device downstream of the apparatus when the downstream device is ready.   
     
     
         15 . A method according to  claim 14  wherein the movement of sheet sets from the collating position to the exit position is independent of the movement of sheet sets from the exit position. 
     
     
         16 . A method according to  claim 14  comprising sensing when a sheet is present at the collating position. 
     
     
         17 . A method according to  claim 14  wherein at least the first sheet of the second sheet set is arranged to at least partially overlap the first sheet set in the collating position. 
     
     
         18 . A method according to  claim 14  wherein the collating position is movable relative to the exit position to accommodate different sizes of sheets. 
     
     
         19 . A method according to  claim 14  comprising scanning the sheets for machine control data prior to transporting the sheets to the collating station.