| 摘要 |
Apparatus for collating, stacking or otherwise sorting successive sheets of paper delivered from the output station of a sheet-delivering device, for example, from a photocopier. A compact stack of a selected number of sheet-receiving trays is lifted above the output station and the trays are caused to drop one at a time to a position below the output station such that each can receive one or more sheets from the output station. In a preferred embodiment, the trays are mounted to move between the top and bottom of a vertically movable frame in which the trays are lifted to form an upper stack from which they are successively dropped to form a lower compact stack with an intervening space into which the sheets are delivered to be deposited on the uppermost tray of the lower stack. The top of the frame is supported by the upper stack and the bottom of the frame supports the lower stack whereby, as the height of the upper stack is progressively reduced, the height of the lower stack is increased, but since the frame lowers with the upper stack, the position and dimensions of the sheet-receiving space between stacks remains substantially constant. Mechanical and electrical devices and controls are provided for automatic or manual operation in various modes and in proper timed relation with delivery of sheets from the output station.
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