Sheet-like material processing apparatus

Claim 2

A sheet processing apparatus comprising: sheet take-out/transfer means for taking out sheets set in a sheet supply section on a sheet-by-sheet basis and for transferring said sheets; inspecting means for classifying said transferred sheets into at least a first and second class; transfer/sorting means for transferring and sorting said classified sheets into first and second classes; first collecting means for collecting a predetermined number of said sorted sheets for each of said first and second classes; first bundling means for bundling said collected sheets together into packets of said first class; transfer means for transferring said packets; second collecting means for collecting a predetermined number of said transferred packets of said first class; and invalidated means for invalidating a predetermined number of said second class sheets.

Claim 3

A sheet processing apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising second bundling means for bundling said packets of said first class sheets into bundles.

Claim 4

A sheet processing apparatus comprising: sheet take-out/transfer means for taking out sheets set in a sheet supply section on a sheet-by-sheet basis and for transferring said sheets; inspecting means for classifying said transferred sheets into at least a first and second class; transfer/sorting means for transferring and sorting said classified sheets into said first and second classes; first collecting means for collecting a predetermined number of said sorted sheets for each of said first and second classes; first bundling means for bundling said collected sheets together into packets for each of said first and second classes; transfer means for transferring said packets; second collecting means for collecting a predetermined number of said transferred packets for each of said first and second classes; and second bundling means for bundling said collected packets together into bundles for each of said first and second classes.

Claim 5

A sheet processing apparatus comprising: sheet take-out/transfer means for taking out sheets set in a sheet supply section on a sheet-by-sheet basis and for transferring said sheets; inspecting means for classifying said transferred sheets into at least a first and second class; transfer/sorting means for transferring and sorting said classified sheets into said first and second classes; first collecting means for collecting a predetermined number of said sorted sheets for each of said first and second classes; first bundling means for bundling said collected sheets together into packets for each of said first and second classes; transfer means for transferring said packets; second collecting means for collecting a predetermined number of said transferred packets for each of said first and second classes; and second bundling means for bundling said collected packets together into bundles for each of said first and second classes.

Claim 6

A sheet processing apparatus according to claim 3, wherein said second bundling means comprises: relatively movable chuck means for holding said collected packets; means for moving said chuck means between holding and released positions so that said collected packets can be held and released, respectively, by said chuck means upon predetermined operation of said moving means; winding means for winding a tape in one direction around said collected packets when said chuck means is in said holding position; and rotating means for rotating said collected packets when said chuck means is in said released position through an angle of about 90° so that upon operation of said winding means after said rotating means rotates said collected packets, said tape is wound around said collected packets by said winding means in a direction substantially normal to said first mentioned direction.

Claim 7

A sheet processing apparatus as in claim 4 further comprising supply means for supplying said collected packets to said chuck means and chuck transfer means for transferring said collected packets from said chuck means.

Claim 8

A sheet processing apparatus according to claim 3, further comprising means defining a common transfer path for transferring said packets for each of said first and second classes bundled by said first bundling means.

Claim 9

A sheet processing apparatus according to claim 3, further comprising means defining a common transfer path for transferring said packets for each of said first and second classes bundled by said first bundling means and detecting means for detecting a predetermined feature of a strip on said packets at the midportion of said common path.

Claim 10

A sheet processing apparatus according to claim 7, wherein said detecting means includes means for determining the color of said strip.

Claim 11

A sheet processing apparatus according to claim 3, wherein said transfer means includes means defining a common transfer path for transferring said packets for each of said first and second classes, and means for pushing said packets in a direction normal to said common transfer path thereby sorting said packets into said first and second classes.

Claim 12

A sheet processing apparatus according to claim 3, wherein said transfer means includes means defining a common transfer path for transferring said packets for each of said first and second classes, and means for pushing said packets in a direction normal to said common transfer path thereby sorting said packets into said first and second classes, said transfer means including with the kinds of the material, and a collecting means for collecting a predetermined number of sheets erroneously sorted, said collecting means being provided on a path extending from said common transfer path.

Claim 13

A sheet processing apparatus according to claim 3, further comprising vertical transfer means for transferring the packets for each of said first and second classes in a substantially vertical state.

Claim 14

A sheet processing apparatus according to claim 3, wherein said transfer means transfers said packets for each of said first and second classes in a substantially vertical state, said transfer means further comprising sorting means for sorting said packets into said first and second classes, after said packets are pushed from said transfer means.

Claim 15

A sheet processing apparatus according to claim 12, wherein said sorting means successively processes a couple of superposed packets each of said packets includng a predetermined number of sheets after said sheets have been sorted into said first and second classes.

Claim 16

A sheet processing apparatus according to claim 3, wherein said first bundling means includes single bundling means for bundling said collected sheets together into packets for each of said first and second classes.

Claim 17

A sheet processing appparatus according to claim 3, wherein said bundling means further includes checking means for checking whether the proper number of packets for each of said first and second classes have been bundled.

Claim 18

A sheet processing apparatus according to claim 15, wherein said checking means is a weight measuring apparatus.

Claim 19

A sheet processing apparatus according to claim 15, wherein said checking means is a thickness measuring apparatus.

Claim 20

A sheet processing apparatus according to claim 3, wherein said second bundling means winds, in a crossing manner, a strip around a predetermined number of said collected packets for each of said first and second classes.

Claim 21

A sheet processing apparatus according to claim 15, wherein said transfer means includes means for pushing out the acceptable bundles of packets from said transfer means and for transferring the unacceptable bundles of packets to a collecting means provided at a location extending from said transfer means.

Claim 22

A sheet processing apparatus comprising: sheet take-out/transfer means for taking out sheets set in a sheet supply section on a sheet-by-sheet basis and for transferring said sheets; inspecting means for classifying said transferred sheets into at least a first and second class; transfer/sorting means for transferring and sorting said classified sheets into first and second classes; first collecting means for collecting a predetermined number of said sorted sheets for each of said first and second classes; first bundling means for bundling said collected sheets together into packets for each of said first and second classes; transfer means for transferring said packets; second collecting means for collecting a predetermined number of said transferred packets for each of said first and second classes; and invalidating means for invalidating at least one packet of said second class sheets transferred by said transfer means.

Claim 23

A sheet processing apparatus comprising: sheet take-out/transfer means for taking out sheets set in a sheet supply section on a sheet-by-sheet basis and for transferring said sheets; inspecting means for classifying said transferred sheets into at least a first and second class; transfer/sorting means for transferring and sorting said classified sheets into first and second classes; first collecting means for collecting a predetermined number of said sorted sheets for each of said first and second classes; first bundling means for bundling said collected sheets together into packets for each of said first and second classes; transfer means for transferring said packets; second collecting means for collecting a predetermined number of said transferred packets for each of said first and second classes; and invalidating means for invalidating at least one packet of said second class sheets transferred by said transfer means.

Claim 24

A sheet processing apparatus according to claim 20, wherein said invalidating means further comprises punching means for punching said predetermined number of second class packets thereby invalidating them, and a transfer belt for transferring said predetermined number of second class packets through said punching means.

Claim 25

A sheet processing apparatus according to claim 21, wherein said punching means includes pin means projectable into the transfer path of said predetermined number of second class packets for stopping said second class packets within said punching means.

Claim 26

A sheet processing apparatus comprising: sheet take-out/transfer means for taking out sheets set in a sheet supply section on a sheet-by-sheet basis and for transferring said sheets; inspecting means for classifying said transferred sheets into at least a first and a second class; transfer/sorting means for transferring and sorting said classified sheets into said first and second classes; first collecting means for collecting a predetermined number of said sorted sheets for each of said first and second classes; first bundling means for bundling said collected sheets together into packets for each of said first and second classes; transfer means for transferring said packets; second collecting means for collecting a predetermined number of said transferred packets for each of said first and second classes; and invalidating means for invalidating a predetermined number of said second class sheets prior to being collected by said second collecting means.

Claim 27

A sheet processing apparatus comprising: sheet take-out/transfer means for taking out sheets set in a sheet supply section on a sheet-by-sheet basis and for transferring said sheets; inspecting means for classifying said transferred sheets into at least a first and a second class; transfer/sorting means for transferring and sorting said classified sheets into said first and second classes; first collecting means for collecting a predetermined number of said sorted sheets for each of said first and second classes; first bundling means for bundling said collected sheets together into packets for each of said first and second classes; transfer means for transferring said packets; second collecting means for collecting a predetermined number of said transferred packets for each of said first and second classes; and invalidating means for invalidating a predetermined number of said second class sheets prior to being collected by said second collecting means.

Claim 28

A sheet processing apparatus according to claim 23 wherein said invalidating means further comprises punching means for punching said predetermined number of second class sheets thereby invalidating them, and a transfer belt for transferring said predetermined number of second class sheets through said punching means.

Claim 29

A sheet processing apparatus according to claim 24 wherein said punching means includes pin means projectable into the transfer path of said predetermined number of second class sheets for stopping said second class sheets within said punching means.

Claim 30

A sheet processing apparatus comprising: sheet take-out/transfer means for taking out sheets set in a sheet supply section on a sheet-by-sheet basis and for transferring said sheets; inspecting means for classifying said transferred sheets into at least a first and second class; transfer/sorting means for transferring and sorting said classified sheets into said first and second classes; first collecting means for collecting a predetermined number of said sorted sheets for each of said first and second classes; first bundling means for bundling said collected sheets together into packets for each of said first and second classes; first bundling means for bundling said collected sheets together into packets for each of said first and second classes; transfer means for transferring said packets; second collecting means for collecting a predetermined number of said transferred packets for each of said first and second classes; invalidating means for invalidating at least one packet of said second class sheets transferred by said transfer means; and second bundling means for bundling said collected packets together into bundles for each of said first and second class.

Claim 31

A sheet processing apparatus comprising: sheet take-out/transfer means for taking out sheets set in a sheet supply section on a sheet-by-sheet basis and for transferring said sheets; inspecting means for classifying said transferred sheets into at least a first and second class; transfer/sorting means for transferring and sorting said classified sheets into said first and second classes; first collecting means for collecting a predetermined number of said sorted sheets for each of said first and second classes; first bundling means for bundling said collected sheets together into packets for each of said first and second classes; first bundling means for bundling said collected sheets together into packets for each of said first and second classes; transfer means for transferring said packets; second collecting means for collecting a predetermined number of said transferred packets for each of said first and second classes; invalidating means for invalidating at least one packet of said second class sheets transferred by said transfer means; and second bundling means for bundling said collected packets together into bundles for each of said first and second class.

Claim 32

A sheet processing apparatus comprising: sheet take-out/transfer means for taking out sheets set in a sheet supply section on a sheet-by-sheet basis and for transferring said sheets; inspecting means for classifying said transferred sheets into at least a first and second class; transfer/sorting means for transferring and sorting said classified sheets into said first and second classes; first collecting means for collecting a predetermined number of said sorted sheets for each of said first and second classes; first bundling means for bundling said collected sheets together into packets for each of said first and second classes; transfer means for transferring said packets; second collecting means for collecting a predetermined number of said transferred packets for each of said first and second classes; invalidating means for invalidating a predetermined number of said second class sheets prior to being collected by said second collecting means; and second bundling means for bundling said collected packets together into bundles for each of said first and second classes.

Claim 33

A sheet processing apparatus comprising: sheet take-out/transfer means for taking out sheets set in a sheet supply section on a sheet-by-sheet basis and for transferring said sheets; inspecting means for classifying said transferred sheets into at least a first and second class; transfer/sorting means for transferring and sorting said classified sheets into said first and second classes; first collecting means for collecting a predetermined number of said sorted sheets for each of said first and second classes; first bundling means for bundling said collected sheets together into packets for each of said first and second classes; transfer means for transferring said packets; second collecting means for collecting a predetermined number of said transferred packets for each of said first and second classes; invalidating means for invalidating a predetermined number of said second class sheets prior to being collected by said second collecting means; and second bundling means for bundling said collected packets together into bundles for each of said first and second classes.

Claim 34

A sheet processing apparatus comprising: sheet take-out/transfer means for taking out sheets set in a sheet supply section on a sheet-by-sheet basis and for transferring said sheets; inspecting means for classifying said transferred sheets into at least a first and second class; transfer/sorting means for transferring and sorting said classified sheets into said first and second classes; first collecting means for collecting a predetermined number of said sorted sheets for each of said first and second classes; first bundling means for bundling said collected sheets of at least said first class together into packets; transfer means for transferring said packets; second collecting means for collecting a predetermined number of said transferred packets of at least said first class; and second bundling means for bundling said collected packets together into bundles of at least said first class.

Claim 35

A sheet processing apparatus comprising: sheet take-out/transfer means for taking out sheets set in a sheet supply section on a sheet-by-sheet basis and for transferring said sheets; inspecting means for classifying said transferred sheets into at least a first and second class; transfer/sorting means for transferring and sorting said classified sheets into said first and second classes; first collecting means for collecting a predetermined number of said sorted sheets for each of said first and second classes; first bundling means for bundling said collected sheets of at least said first class together into packets; transfer means for transferring said packets; second collecting means for collecting a predetermined number of said transferred packets of at least said first class; and second bundling means for bundling said collected packets together into bundles of at least said first class.

Claim 36

A sheet processing apparatus comprising: sheet take-out/transfer means for taking out sheets set in a sheet supply section on a sheet-by-sheet basis and for transferring said sheets; inspecting means for classifying said transferred sheets into at least a first and second class; transfer/sorting means for transferring and sorting said classified sheets into said first and second classes; first collecting means for collecting a predetermined number of said sorted sheets for each of said first and second classes; first bundling means for bundling said collected sheets together into packets for each of said first and second classes; transfer means for transferring said packets; second collecting means for collecting a predetermined number of said transferred packets of at least said first class; and second bundling means for bundling said collected packets together into bundles of at least said first class.

Claim 37

A sheet processing apparatus comprising: sheet take-out/transfer means for taking out sheets set in a sheet supply section on a sheet-by-sheet basis and for transferring said sheets; inspecting means for classifying said transferred sheets into at least a first and second class; transfer/sorting means for transferring and sorting said classified sheets into said first and second classes; first collecting means for collecting a predetermined number of said sorted sheets for each of said first and second classes; first bundling means for bundling said collected sheets together into packets for each of said first and second classes; transfer means for transferring said packets; second collecting means for collecting a predetermined number of said transferred packets of at least said first class; and second bundling means for bundling said collected packets together into bundles of at least said first class.