Accumulator for a sheet handling system

An apparatus (14) for accumulating sheet material in a sheet handling system (10) including a first conveyance (C1), a second conveyance (C2), an auxiliary conveyance (AC) and a processor (20) to control the conveyances based upon a selected operating mode. The first conveyance (C1) receives singulated sheets and conveys the sheets to an accumulator station (AS) to produce completed collations. The second conveyance (C2) is operative to dispense completed collations from the accumulator station (AS) and, receives the completed collations from the first conveyance (C1), in one operating mode, and from the auxiliary conveyance (AC) in another operating mode when the first conveyance (C1) is inoperative. The processor (20) is responsive to a next collation signal, to control the conveyances (C1,C2,AC) based upon a selected one of the operating modes.