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Sorter with rotary spirals and guide rails

  • US 5,305,994 A
  • Filed: 07/13/1992
  • Issued: 04/26/1994
  • Est. Priority Date: 07/16/1991
  • Status: Expired due to Term
First Claim
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1. A sorter comprising:

  • a plurality of bin trays arranged in a vertical direction, each bin tray having a specified width and length and adapted for bearing a sheet;

    shifting means for shifting the plurality of bin trays in the vertical direction; and

    moving means for moving a bin tray at a predetermined position in said sorter, in a lengthwise direction of the respective bin tray;

    said moving means including disengaging means for disengaging the bin tray from the shifting means;

    said shifting means including;

    a pair of rotatable upstanding cylinders arranged on opposite sides of the plurality of bin trays, each cylinder having a guide surface extending spirally on a surface of the cylinder;

    a pair of pins projecting horizontally from opposite sides of each bin tray and slidable on the guide surface and disengagable therefrom at said position; and

    driving means for rotating the pair of cylinders;

    whereby the pins slide on the guide surface in response to rotation of the cylinders so as to shift the plurality of bin trays in the vertical direction.

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