Above the deck 11, an insert 20 rests in an insert feeder 21. Insert feeder 21 includes feed nips to feed inserts 20 to the horizontal deck 11 below. Downstream of the insert feeder 21, preferably within one insert 21 length, driven accumulator nip 14 is positioned in line with the horizontal deck 11 to receive both inserts 20, from above, and sheets 1, from the horizontal deck 11.
Immediately downstream of the driven accumulator nip 14, a recessed deck 30 is positioned to receive sheets. Preferably a stop 32 is in a stopping position to keep sheets in the recessed deck while they are being accumulated. Preferably the recessed deck is inclined at an angle of less than 25 degrees, with the lower end immediately downstream of nip 14. A guide 31 above the recessed deck also helps keep the accumulating sheets in place. Further an air blower 41, having an air pressure source 40, can provide an air pressure burst to help a tail end of the sheets clear the nip 14 in the recessed deck 30.
When a pusher finger 12 has pushed sheet 1 into the recessed deck 30 the accumulation is complete, and an actuator 33 causes stop 32 to open and the finger 12 pushes the completed collation out of the recessed deck 30 area.
A controller 5 controls the operation of the insert feeder 21, the stop actuator 33, and the air source 41 to achieve the operation that is functionally depicted in the sequence of
Although the invention has been described with respect to preferred embodiments thereof, it will be understood by those skilled in the art that the foregoing and various other changes, omissions and deviations in the form and detail thereof may be made without departing from the spirit and scope of this invention.