US3552739A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Sheet handling apparatus
Assignee: Xerox Corp
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Filing: 1968-09-12
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Granted: 1971-01-05
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Expires: 1988-09-12
Abstract
Abstract Sheet handling apparatus for forwarding sheets of a stack of documents to be copied. The apparatus sequentially feeds the sheets past an exposure station and then returns them to the top of the stack so that they may be refed in a recirculating manner. This permits the creating of a precollated output of copy when used in conjunction with a continuous and automatic reproducing machine.
Inventors
- 👤 Russell R Roberts
- 👤 James D Smith
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-24 23:22
CPC Classifications
G; G03; G03B; G03B27/00; G03B27/32; G03B27/52; G03B27/62; G03B27/6207; G03B27/625; G03B27/6264
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 6
Claim 1
Independent Claim
169 words
Sheet material handling apparatus including: a sheet material supporting station adapted to support a stack of indicia bearing sheets to be handled; feed belt means in contact with the face of the lowermost sheet in said sheet supporting station to sequentially feed sheets therefrom along a path of travel beginning adjacent the bottom of said sheet supporting station and terminating when placed upon the topmost sheet in said sheet supporting station; baffle plate means positioned along the path of travel, said plate means and having a transparent portion formed therein; belt means positioned in operative contact with said plate means to slide sheets fed from said sheet supporting station across said plate means and said transparent portion; supplemental guide means in operative association with said last mentioned belt means to slidingly redirect fed sheets back toward the top of said supporting station; means to drive said first and second mentioned belt means; and means to inactivate said first belt means while said second belt means continues to feed sheets.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
169 words
Sheet material handling apparatus including: a sheet material supporting station adapted to support a stack of indicia bearing sheets to be handled; feed belt means in contact with the face of the lowermost sheet in said sheet supporting station to sequentially feed sheets therefrom along a path of travel beginning adjacent the bottom of said sheet supporting station and terminating when placed upon the topmost sheet in said sheet supporting station; baffle plate means positioned along the path of travel, said plate means and having a transparent portion formed therein; belt means positioned in operative contact with said plate means to slide sheets fed from said sheet supporting station across said plate means and said transparent portion; supplemental guide means in operative association with said last mentioned belt means to slidingly redirect fed sheets back toward the top of said supporting station; means to drive said first and second mentioned belt means; and means to inactivate said first belt means while said second belt means continues to feed sheets.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
192 words
Sheet material handling apparatus including: a sheet material supporting station adapted to support a stack of indicia bearing sheets to be handled; feed means in contact with the face of the lowermost sheet in said sheet supporting station to sequentially feed sheets therefrom along a path of travel beginning adjacent the bottom of said sheet supporting station and terminating when placed upon the topmost sheet in said sheet supporting station; Baffle plate means positioned beneath the path of travel, said plate means and having a transparent area formed therein; belt means positioned in operative contact with said plate means to slide sheets fed from said sheet supporting station across said plate means and said transparent area; supplemental guide means in operative association with said belt means to redirect fed sheets back toward the top of said supporting station; roller means along the path of travel between said transparent area and said sheet supporting station to prohibit the feeding of double sheets along the path of travel; means to drive said feed means and said belt means; and means to disengage the operation of said feed means while said belt means continues functioning.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
192 words
Sheet material handling apparatus including: a sheet material supporting station adapted to support a stack of indicia bearing sheets to be handled; feed means in contact with the face of the lowermost sheet in said sheet supporting station to sequentially feed sheets therefrom along a path of travel beginning adjacent the bottom of said sheet supporting station and terminating when placed upon the topmost sheet in said sheet supporting station; Baffle plate means positioned beneath the path of travel, said plate means and having a transparent area formed therein; belt means positioned in operative contact with said plate means to slide sheets fed from said sheet supporting station across said plate means and said transparent area; supplemental guide means in operative association with said belt means to redirect fed sheets back toward the top of said supporting station; roller means along the path of travel between said transparent area and said sheet supporting station to prohibit the feeding of double sheets along the path of travel; means to drive said feed means and said belt means; and means to disengage the operation of said feed means while said belt means continues functioning.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
230 words
Document handling apparatus including: a document supporting station adapted to support a stack of documents in the form of indicia bearing sheets; first belt means in contact with the face of the lowermost sheet in said sheet supporting station to sequentially feed sheets therefrom along a path of travel beginning adjacent the bottom of said sheet supporting station and terminating when placed upon the topmost sheet in said sheet supporting station; first plate means positioned along the path of travel, said first plate means being provided with a transparent portion therein; second belt means positioned in operative contact with said first plate means to slide documents fed from said sheet supporting station across said first plate means and said transparent portion; second plate means in operative association with said second belt means to slide fed sheets back toward the top of said supporting station; roller means along the path of travel between said transparent portion and said sheEt supporting station to prohibit the feeding of double sheets therepast; an abutment surface positioned along the path of travel between said roller means and said transparent portion adapted to stop and align the fed sheet as it is fed by said second belt means and to thereafter release the aligned sheet at a predetermined time for movement across the transparent portion; and means to drive said first and second mentioned belt means.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
230 words
Document handling apparatus including: a document supporting station adapted to support a stack of documents in the form of indicia bearing sheets; first belt means in contact with the face of the lowermost sheet in said sheet supporting station to sequentially feed sheets therefrom along a path of travel beginning adjacent the bottom of said sheet supporting station and terminating when placed upon the topmost sheet in said sheet supporting station; first plate means positioned along the path of travel, said first plate means being provided with a transparent portion therein; second belt means positioned in operative contact with said first plate means to slide documents fed from said sheet supporting station across said first plate means and said transparent portion; second plate means in operative association with said second belt means to slide fed sheets back toward the top of said supporting station; roller means along the path of travel between said transparent portion and said sheEt supporting station to prohibit the feeding of double sheets therepast; an abutment surface positioned along the path of travel between said roller means and said transparent portion adapted to stop and align the fed sheet as it is fed by said second belt means and to thereafter release the aligned sheet at a predetermined time for movement across the transparent portion; and means to drive said first and second mentioned belt means.
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USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1974-01-04 | 1974-07-06 | 1975-01-05 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1978-01-04 | 1978-07-06 | 1979-01-05 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1982-01-04 | 1982-07-06 | 1983-01-05 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |