Direct loading accumulator

Abstract

An apparatus including a log accumulator is provided. The log accumulator can have logs load therein while they travel along a path that is generally parallel to a path along which the logs are separated from a building stream of sheets, such as when exiting a folder. The logs may be loaded into buckets of the accumulator without requiring lateral accelerations out of a mechanism transferring the separated logs to the accumulator. Similarly, logs may be initially removed from buckets of the accumulator without requiring lateral accelerations. Further, an accumulator unloading apparatus may initially index the logs perpendicular to a length to clear the path of the buckets of the accumulator and then accelerate the logs parallel to a length of the logs once removed from the path of the buckets.

1 . A method of loading an accumulator with logs of folded sheets being formed by being separated from a continuously forming stream of sheets exiting a sheet folder, the stream of folded sheet being formed along a stacking axis, the method comprising:
 moving a log holding bucket along a loading path, the log holding bucket having a log supporting surface;   transporting a log of folded sheets separated from the stream of sheets away from the stream of sheets along the loading path; and   loading the log of folded sheets onto the log support surface while the log of folded sheets and the log holding bucket travel along the loading path.   
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein:
 the step of transporting the log of folded sheets away from the stream of sheets includes transporting the log with a finger of a carriage;   the step of loading the log of folded sheets onto the log support surface includes abutting a side of the log of folded sheets against an abutment adjacent the loading path by retracting the finger from the loading path, the abutment preventing the log of folded sheets from being retracted from the loading path with the finger thereby removing the log of folded sheets from the finger and transferring to the log of folded sheets to the supporting surface.   
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein:
 the step of loading the log of folded sheets onto the log supporting surface includes:
 transporting, at a first speed, the log of folded sheets along the loading path with the log of folded sheets supported by a finger of a carriage; 
 moving the log holding bucket along the loading path at a second speed slower than the first speed such that the finger of the carriage passes the log supporting surface along the loading path and the log is transferred to the log supporting surface. 
   
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising tipping the bucket after the step of loading the log of folded sheets onto the log support surface such that the log support surface is less orthogonal to the loading path than during the step of loading the log of folded sheets onto the log support surface. 
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein:
 the loading path is coaxial with the stacking axis such that the sheets forming the log of folded sheets travel along a single axis while:
 in the stream of sheet; 
 being separated from the stream of sheets to form the log; 
 being transported away from the stream of sheets while being part of the log; and 
 being loaded onto the log support surface. 
   
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 1 , further including:
 building the log of folded sheets on a build finger;   separating the log of folded sheets from the stream of sheets with the log of folded sheets supported by the build finger; and   wherein:   the step of transporting the log of folded sheets along the loading path includes transporting the log of folded sheets along the loading path using the build finger; and   the step of loading the log of folded sheets onto the log support surface includes directly transferring the log of folded sheets from the build finger to the log support surface while the bucket and build finger travel along the loading path.   
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 6 , wherein the step of loading the log of folded sheets onto the log support surface includes:
 retracting the build finger from the loading path; and   abutting a side of the log of folded sheets against an abutment adjacent the loading path as the build finger is being retracted from the loading path such that the log of folded sheets is prevented from being retracted from the loading path with the build finger thereby removing the log of folded sheets from the build finger and transferring to the log of folded sheets to the supporting surface.   
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 1 , further including:
 building the log of folded sheets on a build finger;   separating the log folded sheets from the stream of sheets, while the sheets forming the log of folded sheets are supported by the build finger;   transferring the log of folded sheets to a transfer finger;   wherein:   the step of transporting the log of folded sheets along the loading path includes transporting the log of folded sheets along the loading path using the transfer finger; and   the step of loading the log of folded sheets onto the log support surface includes directly transferring the log of folded sheets from the transfer finger to the log support surface while the bucket and transfer finger travel along the loading path.   
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 8 , wherein the step of loading the log of folded sheets onto the log support surface includes:
 retracting the transfer finger from the loading path; and   abutting a side of the log of folded sheets against an abutment adjacent the loading path as the transfer finger is being retracted from the loading path such that the log of folded sheets is prevented from being retracted from the loading path with the transfer finger thereby removing the log of folded sheets from the transfer finger and transferring to the log of folded sheets to the supporting surface.   
     
     
         10 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the step of loading the log of folded sheets onto the log support surface does not include transporting the log of folded sheets along an axis transverse to the loading path. 
     
     
         11 . The method of  claim 1 , further including:
 building the log of folded sheets along the stacking axis, the stacking axis being a vertical axis that is coaxial with the loading axis;   separating the log of folded sheets from the stream of sheets; and   wherein the buckets and log of folded sheets move vertically downward while traveling along the loading path; and   further comprising tipping the bucket after the step of loading the log of folded sheets onto the log support surface such that the log support surface is less orthogonal to the loading path than during the step of loading the log of folded sheets onto the log support surface, wherein after the bucket has been tipped, the log of folded sheets is vertically supported on at least two sides of the log of folded sheets.   
     
     
         12 . (canceled) 
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein:
 the step of loading the log of folded sheets onto the log supporting surface includes:
 transporting, in a first direction, the log of folded sheets along the loading path with the log of folded sheets supported by a finger of a carriage; 
 moving the log holding bucket along the loading path in a second direction such that the finger of the carriage passes the log supporting surface along the loading path and the log is transferred to the log supporting surface. 
   
     
     
         14 . (canceled) 
     
     
         15 . An apparatus comprising:
 an accumulator for holding a plurality of logs of folded sheets, the accumulator comprising a plurality of buckets carried along a continuous path, a portion of the continuous path including a loading path;   a log transport mechanism configured to carry a log of folded sheets along the loading path;   means for transferring the log of folded sheets from the log transport mechanism to one of the buckets of the plurality of buckets while the log of folded sheets and the bucket travel along the loading path.   
     
     
         16 . The apparatus of  claim 15 , wherein the means for transferring the log of folded sheets from the log transport mechanism to one of the buckets of the plurality of buckets while the log of folded sheets and the bucket travel along the loading path includes:
 a finger of the log transport mechanism that can be retracted from the loading path; and   an abutment adjacent the loading path that prevents the log from being removed from the loading path as the finger is retracted from the loading path.   
     
     
         17 . The apparatus of  claim 15 , wherein the means for transferring the log of folded sheets from the log transport mechanism to one of the buckets of the plurality of buckets while the log of folded sheets and the bucket travel along the loading path includes:
 a finger of the log transport mechanism that travels along the loading path at a speed greater than the bucket travels along the loading path such that the finger passes the bucket while traveling along the loading path and the log of folded sheets is transferred to the bucket.   
     
     
         18 . The apparatus of  claim 17 , wherein the bucket includes a plurality of spaced apart bucket portions forming gaps therebetween and the finger includes a plurality of finger portions forming gaps therebetween, the finger portions passing through the gaps formed between adjacent bucket portions as the finger passes the bucket such that the bucket portions abut a side of the log of folded sheets that is being supported by the finger portions thereby transferring the log of folded sheets to the bucket portions. 
     
     
         19 . The apparatus of  claim 15 , wherein the log of folded sheets is separated from a stream of sheets forming along a stacking axis, the stacking axis being coaxial with the loading path. 
     
     
         20 . The apparatus of  claim 19 , wherein the stacking axis and loading path are coaxial such that the sheets forming the log of folded sheets travel along a single axis while:
 in the stream of sheets;   are carried by the log transport mechanism; and   are transferred from the log transport mechanism to the bucket.   
     
     
         21 . The apparatus of  claim 15 , wherein:
 the buckets travel along the loading path with a log support surface upon which the logs are supported when the logs are transferred to the buckets being substantially orthogonal to the loading path; and   the buckets tip after receiving a log of folded sheets such that the log support surface is less orthogonal to the loading path after receiving the log of folded sheets and the log of folded sheets is supported on at least two sides.   
     
     
         22 - 23 . (canceled) 
     
     
         24 . The apparatus of  claim 15 , wherein the means for transferring the log of folded sheets from the log transport mechanism to one of the buckets of the plurality of buckets while the log of folded sheets and the bucket travel along the loading path includes a transport mechanism that carries the log along the loading path at an opposite direction as the bucket travels along the loading path. 
     
     
         25 . (canceled) 
     
     
         26 . The apparatus of  claim 15 , further comprising a log unloading arrangement including a slide table having plurality of laterally spaced bucket unloading portions forming gaps therebetween:
 wherein:
 a portion of the continuous path of the accumulator includes at least one unloading path, each bucket travels along the unloading path and unloads the log of folded sheets carried thereby onto the bucket unloading portions of the slide table; 
 the laterally spaced bucket unloading portions extend into the unloading path; 
 each bucket passes through the gaps formed between the laterally spaced bucket unloading portions to transfer the log of folded sheets to the slide table. 
   
     
     
         27 - 28 . (canceled) 
     
     
         29 . The apparatus of claim  25 , wherein the unloaded log has a length, a width and a height that are perpendicular to one another, the length being the greatest dimension and being at least three times the width dimension, the height being aligned with the unloading path as the bucket travels along the unloading path, the at least one pusher paddle transporting the unloaded log along an axis that is aligned with the width such that the unloaded log is transported entirely out of the unloading path. 
     
     
         30 . The apparatus of  claim 26 , further including at least one pusher paddle configured to transport an unloaded log supported by the bucket unloading portions of the slide table along the slide table and out of the unloading path;
 wherein:
 the at least one pusher paddle has a paddle member and a support leg; 
 the paddle member is located vertically above the slide table and abuts a vertical side of the unloaded log when the at least one pusher paddle transports the unloaded log out of the unloading path; 
 the support leg supports the paddle member and extends vertically through a slot formed in the slide table. 
   
     
     
         31 . The apparatus of  claim 30 , wherein the slot through which the support leg extends is formed, at least in part, in the bucket unloading portion and is not provided by a gap through which the bucket passes as the log is transferred from the bucket to the bucket unloading portions of the slide table. 
     
     
         32 . The apparatus of  claim 26 , further including at least one pusher paddle configured to transport an unloaded log supported by the bucket unloading portions of the slide table along the slide table and out of the unloading path;
 further comprising a longitudinal conveyor having first and second conveyor belts having adjustable spacing therebetween, the longitudinal conveyor configured to transport the unloaded log parallel to the length of the unloaded log, the at least one pusher paddle transporting the unloaded log from the slide table into the longitudinal conveyor and between the first and second conveyor belts.   
     
     
         33 - 44 . (canceled) 
     
     
         45 . An accumulator unloading apparatus for unloading a log of folded sheets from a bucket of an accumulator traveling along an unloading path, the log having a length, a width and a height, the length being greater than the width and the height, the apparatus comprising:
 a slide table having a log support surface, the slide table including laterally spaced apart bucket unloading portions forming a log receiving region that intersects the unloading path, the slide table has gaps formed between adjacent bucket unloading portions configured to permit portions of the bucket supporting the log to pass through the log receiving region as the bucket travels along the unloading path;   a longitudinal conveyor including a first conveyor belt and a second conveyor belt spaced apart from the first conveyor belt, the first and second conveyor belts being moveable relative to one another to adjust a spacing therebetween including a first spacing that is greater than the height of the log and a second spacing that is equal to or less than the height of the log, the longitudinal conveyor configured to transport the log parallel to the length of the log; and   at least one pusher paddle actuatable parallel to a pusher paddle axis that is parallel to a width of the log to transport the log from the log receiving region into the longitudinal conveyor between the first and second conveyor belts.   
     
     
         46 - 53 . (canceled) 
     
     
         54 . An apparatus comprising:
 an accumulator for holding a plurality of logs of folded sheets, the accumulator comprising a plurality of buckets carried along a continuous path, a portion of the continuous path including a loading path;   a log transport mechanism having a finger configured to carry a log of folded sheets along the loading path, the finger being retractable from the loading path; and   an abutment adjacent the loading path that prevents the log from being removed from the loading path as the finger is retracted from the loading path;   wherein when the finger is retracted from the loading path, the log of folded sheets is transferred from the finger to one of the buckets of the plurality of buckets while the log of folded sheets and the bucket travel along the loading path.   
     
     
         55 . An apparatus comprising:
 an accumulator for holding a plurality of logs of folded sheets, the accumulator comprising a plurality of buckets carried along a continuous path, a portion of the continuous path including a loading path; and   a log transport mechanism having a finger configured to carry a log of folded sheets along the loading path, the finger configured to travel along the loading path at a speed greater than or direction different than the bucket travels along the loading path such that the finger passes the bucket and the log of folded sheets is transferred to the bucket while the bucket and finger travel along the loading path.