EXTENSION APPARATUS AND METHOD

摘要

The present invention relates to an apparatus and method for providing a conveying path for advancing sheet articles between sheet processing apparatuses. Conventional apparatuses for providing conveying paths of varying lengths include a translatable extension table with a sliding belt/pulley arrangement. Such arrangements prevented complete abutment of the table with the downstream sheet processing apparatus and required manual adjustment of belt tension. The present invention overcomes these disadvantages through a novel extension apparatus. The extension apparatus (10) includes a base bracket (40) with a pair of rotatably movable spring-loaded bracket arms (44A, 44B) attached to a shaft (42) extending therethrough. A pair of bracket arms rollers (46A, 46B, 48A, 48B) are attached to each of the bracket arms. An extension plate (30) is positioned above and slidably movable on the base bracket, and a pair of rotatable extension rollers (20A, 20B) are rotatably attached to a shaft (22) extending through the extension plate such that slidable movement of the extension plate simultaneously and identically moves the extension rollers. A pair of rear rollers (R2, R4) are utilized and are operatively aligned with an extension roller and a pair of bracket arm rollers. A pair of belts extend at least partially around and operatively engage one of the rear rollers, one of the extension rollers, and a pair of the bracket arm rollers of one of the bracket arms. The belts have an upper reach section and a lower reach section between the rear rollers and the extension rollers, and the upper reach section of the belts from a conveying path for advancement of the sheet articles while the bracket arm rollers engage each belt in the lower reach section.