BEWEGUNGSSTEUERUNG FUER EINE BELEGABLAGE-PLATTFORM

1404401 Delivering sheets INTERNATIONAL BUSINESS MACHINES CORP 25 Jan 1973 [6 March 1972] 3711/73 Heading B8R Sheets 25, Fig. 4, delivered from between belts 10, 15 on to a stack support platform 22, deflect upwards a spring member 30 as they pass over the support, whereupon a shutter plate 32 causes a signal to be emitted by a photo-electric detector 40. At this time, the next sheet has not reached a second photo-electric detector 45, which emits no signal. When the stack reaches a predetermined height, the detector 40 remains activated after the sheet has settled on the stack, so that when the next sheet reaches the detector 45, signals from both detectors activate a motor 50, Fig. 3, to lower the platform a predetermined distance equal to several sheet thicknesses, whereupon the cycle is repeated. The motor rotates a lead screw 58 to lower a nut 59 and allow a member 23 supporting the platform 22 to move downwards along a rod 51. When an upper limit switch 70 is closed by the nut 59, after the operation of a start key causes the motor to move the platform upwards, the motor will stop and the circuits are ready for normal operation. When the stack is full, the nut 59 closes a lower limit switch 71 to prevent further downwardly-directed rotation of the motor, and to light a "stack full" lamp. In a "jam" situation, Fig. 8, the spring member 30 will be held upwards to activate the detector 30 long enough for two successive signals to be emitted by the detector 45 by following sheets, opening two immediately consecutive "lower" instructions, the effect of which is to stop the sheet transport and light a "jam" lamp.