FIELD OF INVENTION

This invention relates to apparatus for the storage and supply of continuous sheet material, for example continuous stationery such as is used in printers associated with computers, word processors, accounting machines and the like.

In the operation of high speed printers using continuous stationery, it is desirable to be able to change readily from one type of stationery to another, and therefore not only to have a supply of several stationery types readily available at the printer, but also to have quick access to that supply to avoid wasting time in the change from one type to another. Analagous desiderata apply in other situations where the storage and supply of several alternative types of continuous sheet materials is required. DISCLOSURE OF INVENTION

According to the invention there is provided apparatus for the storage and supply of continuous sheet materials said apparatus co prising:- a) a plurality of storage locations each adapted to store its own supply of continuous sheet material , b) a plurality of sheet exit guides each adapted to receive a supply of sheet material from one of the storage locations so that a given sheet material may be drawn from a storage location via an exit guide, and, c) sheet retention means associated with each exit guide operable to maintain the sheet in co-operation with and projecting from its ^" guide so that it may be readily drawn therefrom.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Figure 1 is a perspective view of one embodiment of a continuous stationery storage and supply cabinet according to the present invention;

Figure 2 is a fragmentary cross-section taken on the lines 2-2 of Figure 1; and

Figure 3 is a view similiar to Figure 1 of a second

embodiment of the invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE EMBODIMENTS

The open-fronted cabinet illustrated in Figures 1 and 2 comprises sides 10, back 11 and a base 12 to the lower surface of which are attached castors 13. Mounted in the cabinet are four shelves 14 each being for the storage of a particular type of continuous stationery.

The cabinet top 15 extends from the back 11 to a point short of the front of the cabinet, to enable paper from the shelves 14 to pass upwardly through a series of exit guides located between the front edge of the top 15 and the front of the cabinet.

Each of these paper guides consists of a rail 16 of circular cross- section which is journalled at each end in bars 20 attached to the inner surface of the sides 10. Fixed to each but the forwardmost of the rails 16 is a plate 17 each of which extends substanially over the entire length of its associated rail, and as seen in Figure 2, • overlaps the forwardly adjacent rail. In the central region of each plate 17 there is fixed a strip 18 of resilient material such as foam plastic, and as shown in Figure 2, each of the strips 18 is interposed- between the outer or forwardmost portion of the plate 17 and the adjacent rail 16.

Again with the exception of the forwardmost rail 16, the rails 16, or their associated plates 17, are biased by means of springs 19 in an anti-clockwise direction as viewed in Figure 2, so that the plates 17 and the resilient strips 18 are resiliently biased towards the adjacent rail 16.

It will be observed that the shelves 14 terminate inwardly of the front of the cabinet, and at a position approximately corresponding to the forward edge of the top 15. In this way, continuous stationery of different types may be placed respectively on the shelves 14 and on the base 12 of the cabinet, and may be drawn upward from its storage position to pass between the rails 16, the paper stored on the upper

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shelf 14 being drawn between the rearmost pair of rails, the paper stored on the second shelf from the top passing through the next pair of rails 16 and so on. Due to the biasing of the plates 17 and resilient strips 18, paper which has been drawn between a pair of rails 16 will be gripped between a forward rail and resilient strip 18, and will therefore not fall back into the cabinet.

In this way a short length of each continuous stationery is available above the guide structure, and may be readily selected and drawn upwardly for engagement with the printer. When changing from one type of stationery to another, the operator merely tears off the excess sheet of the paper last employed in the printer, leaving a suitable length of that paper extending beyond its guide, and selects the next stationery type.

The cabinet is constructed so that it may be wheeled into position behind a continuous printer, with printed stationery being collected from the printer onto the cabinet top 15.

In the modification of the invention shown in Figure 3, the cabinet includes a metal framework having front uprights 30, rear uprights 31 ., and top cross-ties 32 which project beyond the front uprights 30 so that the paper guides are forward of the front of the cabinet. As with the first embodiment, the guide rails 16 are journalled at each end in the cross-ties 32. A keeper plate 33 is fixed to each of the rails 16 except the forwardmost one. Unlike the first embodiment, these plates 33 do not extend over the entire length of the respective rails 16 but rather are centrally located to span the middle portion of the sheet which passes between an associated rail and plate 33.

Whereas in the first embodiment, the plate 17 were spring biased to their respective rails, the keeper plates 33 are merely biased by their over centre weight. Each keeper plate 33 has a pad of resilient materials 18 to grip the sheet meterial. As can be seen the Figure 3 there is a forward guide 34 which directs the sheet from the printer onto the top 15. A stop 35 is provided to ensure that the material is retained on the top 15.

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The rear of the cabinet is closed by a panel 37, however, the sides 36 are open to provide additional access to the shelves 14. In this instance, the shelves 14 are horizontal not inclined as is the case with the first embodiment. In all other respects, the second embodiment and the manner of use is the same.

It will be appreciated that many variations are possible in the construction of continuous sheet storage and supply devices in. accordance with the invention, and that the illustrated embodiments are given only by way of example. For example, many different forms of paper guide are possible, and the particular forms of guide illustrated may be modified, for example by substituting counter-weight levers for the biasing springs 19, or by the substitution of entirely different means of preventing paper falling back from the guide.

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