Dynamic dual bin position collation system

Abstract

A system that eliminates return and reset of a pusher in a media collation system includes the use of bidirectional bins that allow accumulated sets of media in the bins to be collated in first or second directions and pushed to either of two banders rather than being restricted to one bander.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 - 20 . (canceled) 
     
     
         21 . A method for collecting media in a media collation system, comprising:
 providing a media collation station;   providing multiple bidirectional bins for collecting sets of media, said bidirectional bins each including front and back walls for receiving said sets of media over said front wall and against said back wall so that said sets of media will settle into each of said multiple bidirectional bins;   providing each of said multiple bidirectional bins in two separate parts with a passageway therebetween;   flipping said multiple directional bins into a first position to receive first multiple sets of media and afterwards flipping said multiple directional bins into a second position to receive second multiple sets of media; and   moving a bidirectional pusher through said passageway in forward and reverse directions to capture said sets of media in both directions and remove said sets of media out of said collation station.   
     
     
         22 . The method of  claim 21 , including moving said sets of media from said collation station into a first bander in said forward direction and into a second bander in said second direction. 
     
     
         23 . The method of  claim 21 , including providing each of said two separate parts of said multiple bidirectional bins with lip portions on opposite ends thereof. 
     
     
         24 . The method of  claim 23 , including using said lips portions provided on opposite ends of each of said separate parts of said multiple bidirectional bins for media support. 
     
     
         25 . The method of  claim 23 , including providing each of said multiple bidirectional bins with a smooth media support surface and using each of said lip portions positioned on said opposite ends of each of said separate parts of said multiple bidirectional bins as part of said smooth media support surface of each of said multiple bidirectional bins and as a bin flipping stop member for each of said multiple bidirectional bins. 
     
     
         26 . The method of  claim 25 , including registering media against a portion of a support surface of a first bin and against a back portion of a second bin positioned in front of said first bin. 
     
     
         27 . The method of  claim 21 , including providing each of said multiple bidirectional bins with end portions and using ends of said end portions as stop members for media entering said multiple bidirectional bins. 
     
     
         28 . A method for collecting media in a dynamic dual bin position collation system, comprising:
 providing a media collation station that receives media from an upstream source;   providing dual positioning bins within said collation station to receive said media;   rotating said dual positioning bins in a first direction to receive first sets of media;   rotating said dual positioning bins in a second direction to receive second sets of media;   providing each of said dual positioning bins with a passageway therethrough;   and   moving a bidirectional pusher through said passageway in a forward direction to remove said first sets of media and in a reverse direction to remove said second sets of media from said collation station.   
     
     
         29 . The method of  claim 28 , including conveying said first sets of media into a first bander. 
     
     
         30 . The method of  claim 29 , including conveying said second sets of media into a second bander. 
     
     
         31 . The method of  claim 30 , including rotating said dual positioning bins in said second direction immediately after said bidirectional pusher and first sets of media have cleared said dual positioning bins in said first direction to receive said second sets of media. 
     
     
         32 . The method of  claim 31 , including providing said dual positioning bins with media support surfaces that include multiple acute angled portions when positioned to receive media. 
     
     
         33 . The method of  claim 31 , including positioning a top front portion of one bin against a bottom rear lip portion of another bin when receiving said first sets of media. 
     
     
         34 . The method of  claim 33 , including positioning a bottom front lip portion of said one bin against a rear top portion of said another bin when receiving said second sets of media. 
     
     
         35 . A method for collating a plurality of media in a system, comprising:
 feeding media from a source;   providing a media collation station that receives media from said source, said media collection station including a plurality of dual positioning bins to receive said media;   pivoting said dual positioning bins into a first angle to receive first sets of media from said source;   pivoting said dual positioning bins into a second angle to receive second sets of media from said source;   providing each of said dual positioning bins with a passageway therethrough;   and   providing a bidirectional pusher and moving said bidirectional pusher through said passageway in a first direction to remove said first sets of media from said dual positioning bins and in a second direction to remove said second sets of media from said dual positioning bins.   
     
     
         36 . The method of  claim 35 , including conveying said first sets of media to a first bander and conveying said second sets of media to a second bander. 
     
     
         37 . The method of  claim 35 , pivoting said dual positing bins from said first angle into said second angle once said pusher and first sets of media have cleared said dual positioning bins for collection of said second sets of media.