Apparatus for handling a continuous web of Z-fold computer paper discharged from a printer includes a conveyor having spaced apart paper stacking and stacked paper removing regions. Included in the apparatus is a plurality of stacking blades moveable in a generally horizontal plane between extended and retracted positions. The blades are also moveable between upper and lower positions; in their upper position the extended blades are directly above the stacking region in a position to intercept a stream of paper from the printer, the intercepted paper forming an intermediate stack on the extended blades. When the blades are in their upper and retracted positions, they are positioned out of the stream of paper. In their lower position, the extended blades are directly below the conveyor paper stacking region. The extended blades and conveyor are relatively configured so that the blades can pass through the conveyor stacking region on their way to their lower position so that an intermediate stack of paper on the blades is deposited onto the stacking region for completion of the stack.
Auxiliary Paper Feeding Apparatus For High Speed Computer Printers
An auxiliary paper feeding apparatus is provided for feeding a continuous web of fan-fold paper from one or more serially-arranged stacks of paper into a printer. A plurality of elongate, slender turn bars are non-rotatably mounted to the frame for causing a web of paper from a source to change direction as required to feed the web of paper from the outside paper source through the access opening and into the paper storage and feeding region of the printer and into the paper feed mechanism. Each turn bar is hollow and has a number of holes through the side wall. An air pump supplies pressurized air to each of the turn bars so that the flow of air out through the holes forms an air cushion over which the web of paper passes, thereby reducing frictional drag on the paper web and enabling the printer paper drive mechanism to be the sole motive power for advancing the paper web. A paper edge guide is provided which also employs an air cushion to reduce paper friction. An associated conveyor is provided for serially conveying stacks of fan-fold paper to a pick-up position from which paper is routed to the turn bars on the frame.
