Paper handling cassette system and cassette

Abstract

Sheet handling mechanism comprising a cassette having a top wall, bottom wall and opposed side walls. The cassette has an open front and is formed with a plurality of shelves to form bins. The bins are positioned on top of each other and are adapted to receive a set of sheets. A feeding mechanism is provided to feed sheets into the bins.

1 . Sheet handling mechanism comprising a cassette, said cassette having a top wall, bottom wall and opposed side walls, said cassette having an open front and a plurality of shelves to form bins, said bins being positioned on top of each other and being adapted to receive a set of sheets and means are provided for feeding sets into the said bins.  
   
   
       2 . A mechanism as set forth in  claim 1  wherein a divider is provided parallel to said side walls to form a plurality of columns with each column having a plurality of bins.  
   
   
       3 . A mechanism as set forth in  claim 2  wherein an elevator assembly are provided to receive said cassette, said elevator assembly being adapted to move said cassette vertically from a lowermost position to an uppermost position.  
   
   
       4 . A mechanism as set forth in  claim 3  wherein means are provided to place the elevator assembly at its lowermost position and wherein means are provided to raise said elevator as each bin is filled with a set.  
   
   
       5 . A mechanism as set forth in  claim 4  wherein means are provided for placing the bins in alignment with one of said columns opposite said feeding mechanism to receive sets therefrom.  
   
   
       6 . A mechanism as set forth in  claim 5  wherein means are provided to move the cassette to align another column of said cassette with the loading mechanism when the bins in the first column are filled.  
   
   
       7 . A mechanism as set forth in  claim 6  wherein said moving means are activated when the elevator reaches its uppermost position so that the said another column is placed in alignment with the loading mechanism.  
   
   
       8 . A mechanism as set forth in  claim 7  wherein means are provided for lowering the elevator one notch or step as each bin in the second column is filled.  
   
   
       9 . A mechanism as set forth in  claim 8  wherein a conveyor assembly is provided to move the cassette from one position to another.  
   
   
       10 . A mechanism as set forth in  claim 9  wherein said conveyor assembly comprises a cassette loading section to place a cassette on said elevator assembly.  
   
   
       11 . A mechanism as set forth in  claim 10  wherein a cassette removal section is provided on said conveyor assembly to remove filled cassettes from the cassette loading section.  
   
   
       12 . A mechanism as set forth in  claim 11  wherein said conveyor assembly comprises a cassette feeder section to move cassettes to the cassette loading section.  
   
   
       13 . A mechanism as set forth in  claim 12  wherein wheels are provided on said cassette to permit the cassette to be moved from one position to another.  
   
   
       14 . A mechanism as set forth in  claim 13  wherein cut sheet printing means are provided to print separate sheets and to accumulate said sheets to form sets.  
   
   
       15 . A method for handling sheets comprising a cassette, having a top wall, bottom wall and opposed side walls and having a plurality of shelves to form said receiving bins and open front which said bins are positioned one on top of the other and having a divider parallel to said side walls to form a plurality of columns with each column having a plurality of bins, said method comprising feeding sets into the said bins.  
   
   
       16 . A method as set forth in  claim 15  wherein said cassette is moved vertically after a set is fed to a bin.  
   
   
       17 . A mechanism as set forth in  claim 16  wherein the bin is placed at its lowermost position and wherein said cassette is raised one notch or stop as each bin is filled with a set.  
   
   
       18 . A method as set forth in  claim 17  wherein the bins of one of said columns are placed opposite said feeding mechanism and wherein the cassette is moved to align another column of said cassette with the loading mechanism when the bins in one of the columns are filled.  
   
   
       19 . A method as set forth in  claim 18  wherein when the cassette reaches its uppermost position the cassette is moved so that the second column is placed in alignment with the loading mechanism.  
   
   
       20 . A method as set forth in  claim 19  wherein said cassette is lowered one notch or step as each bin in the second column is filled.