DOCUMENT COLLECTOR, DIVERTER AND STAGER APPARATUS AND METHOD

摘要

The present invention relates to an apparatus and method for collecting sheet articles, diverting or advancing the collected sheet articles and staging and further advancing the advanced sheet articles at a predetermined time. Conventional article processing apparatuses utilize solenoid divert gates, stop bracket/movable roller arrangements, lugged timing belt conveyors, and metal chain/push pin conveyors, which limited article processing speeds and increased machine complexity and wear. In accordance with the invention, a document collector, stager and diverter apparatus (10) and method are provided for processing sheet articles through first and second stages (20,20') without utilizing the above devices. The first stage (20) receives sheet articles (SA) advanced thereto and collected therein and includes a first transport mechanism (22A, 22B) being operative for selectively diverting collected sheet article s in a divert direction opposite to the conveying direction of the sheet articles. Alternately, the first transport mechanism is operative for selectively advancing the collected sheet articles from the first stage to the second stage. In the second stage, sheet articles can be independently processed and held until a predetermined time when they can be advanced from the second stage by asecond transport mechanism (22A',22B'). The first and second transport mechanisms each preferably includes plastic chains each with plastic lugs (LA1-LB4') thereon . The chains of the first and second transport mechanisms are simultaneously rotatably movable by a motor (M, M') and gears (36A, 36B) or pulleys associated therewith.