US3556519A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Method and apparatus for stacking paper sheets or the like
Assignee: Individual
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Filing: 1968-06-18
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Granted: 1971-01-19
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Expires: 1988-06-18
Abstract
Abstract Freshly printed paper sheets 10 issuing from the printing unit 2 of a printing machine 1 are conveyed seriatim to a position above and in registry with a collecting station 60, and are thereupon caused to descend toward the collecting station to form a growing stack 7. A stream of compressed air is blown by one or more nozzles 24 below each successive sheet in a direction from the downstream side toward the upstream side of the collecting station while the respective sheet advances toward the position of registry with the collecting station. The air stream contains comminuted solid material which deposits on the topmost sheet 12 of the stack and at the underside of each advancing sheet. Suction orifices 58 at the upstream side of the collecting station evacuate air and the surplus of comminuted material. Jets of compressed air are blown downwardly by auxiliary nozzles 32 at both sides of the path of successive sheets to assist in the generation of uniform suction in all zones of the gap 24 wherein the air stream conveys comminuted material, and to thus insure that the sheets can rapidly descend toward the collecting station without undue bulging or flexing.
Inventors
- 👤 Leo Keller
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-30 01:29
CPC Classifications
B; B41; B41F; B41F23/00; B41F23/04; B41F23/06
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 35
Claim 1
Independent Claim
149 words
A method of stacking sheets of printed paper or the like at a collecting station comprising the steps of transporting a series of sheets edgewise along a predetermined path at least a portion of which extends above and is spaced from the collecting station to bring each advancing sheet into a position of registry with the collecting station; blowing a stream of gas between each advancing sheet and said collecting station as the advancing sheet from the space between said advancing sheet and said collecting station at least during the time of conveying said stream of gas so as to prevent said stream of gas to form a gas cushion under the advancing sheet and to thus effect fast downward movement of each of said series of sheets from said position of registry towards said collecting station so that each succeeding sheet comes to rest on the preceeding sheet.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
149 words
A method of stacking sheets of printed paper or the like at a collecting station comprising the steps of transporting a series of sheets edgewise along a predetermined path at least a portion of which extends above and is spaced from the collecting station to bring each advancing sheet into a position of registry with the collecting station; blowing a stream of gas between each advancing sheet and said collecting station as the advancing sheet from the space between said advancing sheet and said collecting station at least during the time of conveying said stream of gas so as to prevent said stream of gas to form a gas cushion under the advancing sheet and to thus effect fast downward movement of each of said series of sheets from said position of registry towards said collecting station so that each succeeding sheet comes to rest on the preceeding sheet.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
22 words
A method as defined in claim 1, wherein said conveying step comprises blowing air between each advancing sheet and said collecting station.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
37 words
A method as defined in claim 1, wherein said conveying step comprises blowing air between each advancing sheet and the collecting station when the respective sheet is located at a predetermined distance from said position of registry.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
28 words
A method as defined in claim 1, wherein said conveying step comprises blowing air counter to the direction in which the sheets advance toward said position of registry.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
30 words
A method as defined in claim 1, wherein said conveying step comprises blowing air in substantial parallelism with the direction in which the sheets advance toward said position of registry.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
40 words
A method as defined in claim 1, wherein said conveying step comprises blowing air from at least one point located downstream of said collecting station as considered in the direction in which the sheets advance toward said position of registry.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
29 words
A method as defined in claim 1, wherein the step of withdrawing the air stream is performed from at least at one point located upstream of said collecting station.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
40 words
A method as defined in claim 1, further comprising the step of holding each preceding sheet against movement with reference to said collecting station, at least while said gas stream is conveyed between such preceding sheet and the succeeding sheet.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
41 words
A method as defined in claim 8, wherein said holding step comprises retaining the preceding sheet by suction at the downstream side of said collecting station as considered in the direction in which the sheets advance toward said position of registry.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
28 words
A method as defined in claim 1, wherein said conveying step is terminated when the respective sheet is located at a predetermined distance from said position of registry.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
68 words
A method as defined in claim 1, for stacking of flexible sheets, and further comprising the step of conveying at least one auxiliary gas stream along the path of said first mentioned gas stream so as to produce substantially uniform suction between each advancing sheet and said collecting station and to thus prevent excessive flexing of sheets prior to and during downward movement of sheets toward said station.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
46 words
A method as defined in claim 1, further comprising the step of feeding finely comminuted solid material between said path and said collecting station so that such material deposits on sheets advancing along said path as well as on the topmost sheet at said collecting station.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
49 words
A method as defined in claim 12, wherein said feeding step comprises introducing at least some of said comminuted material into said gas stream so that such stream carries the comminuted material along the sheet advancing toward said position of registry and the topmost sheet at said collecting station.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
19 words
A method as defined in claim 13, wherein all of said comminuted material is introduced into said gas stream.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
27 words
A method as defined in claim 14, wherein said gas stream is mixed with comminuted solid material prior to admission between said path and said collecting station.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
48 words
A method as defined in claim 12, wherein said comminuted material is fed in quantities exceeding those which accumulate on sheets flanking said gas stream, and further comprising the step of evacuating the surplus of comminuted material by suction before the respective sheet reaches said position of registry.
Claim 18
Independent Claim
149 words
A method for stacking sheets of printed paper or the like at a collecting station comprising the steps of transporting a series of sheets edgewise toward a position of registry with the collecting station along a predetermined path at lEast a portion of which extends above the collecting station and is separated therefrom by a gap having at least one open side; blowing a stream of gas across said gap; and conveying a second stream of gas along said open side in a direction having at least one component which is normal to the plane of the lower surface of said gap so as to produce substantially uniform suction in all zones of said gap to thus effect fast downward movement of each of said series of sheets from the position of registry towards said collecting station so that each succeeding sheet comes to rest on the preceding sheet.
Claim 19
Independent Claim
149 words
A method for stacking sheets of printed paper or the like at a collecting station comprising the steps of transporting a series of sheets edgewise toward a position of registry with the collecting station along a predetermined path at lEast a portion of which extends above the collecting station and is separated therefrom by a gap having at least one open side; blowing a stream of gas across said gap; and conveying a second stream of gas along said open side in a direction having at least one component which is normal to the plane of the lower surface of said gap so as to produce substantially uniform suction in all zones of said gap to thus effect fast downward movement of each of said series of sheets from the position of registry towards said collecting station so that each succeeding sheet comes to rest on the preceding sheet.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
47 words
A method as defined in claim 17, wherein said gap has two open sides extending in parallelism with the direction in which the sheets advance toward said position of registry, said further step comprising conveying a second stream of gas along each open side of said gap.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
21 words
A method as defined in claim 17, further comprising the step of adjusting at least a portion of said second stream.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
40 words
A method as defined in claim 19, wherein said adjusting step comprises changing at least one of a series of characteristics of said portion of the second stream including the velocity, direction and cross-sectional area of said last named portion.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
42 words
A method as defined in claim 17, wherein the second stream of gas is conveyed substantially transversal to the plane of the upper surface of the collecting station, the second stream is passing the open side of the gap from above down.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
141 words
In an apparatus for stacking sheets of printed paper or the like, a combination comprising support means defining a collecting station; transporting means for moving a series of sheets edgewise along a predetermined path at least a portion of which extends above and is spaced from said support means so that each of the thus transported sheets advances towards and requires an interval of time to move into registry with said collecting station; and conveying means for conveying a gas stream between each advancing sheet and said collecting station, at least during a portion of the respective interval, said conveying means comprising at least one nozzle arranged to discharge a stream of compressed gas at a level above and to one side of said collecting station and means for withdrawing said gas stream from the opposite side of said collecting station.
Claim 25
Dependent Claim
141 words
In an apparatus for stacking sheets of printed paper or the like, a combination comprising support means defining a collecting station; transporting means for moving a series of sheets edgewise along a predetermined path at least a portion of which extends above and is spaced from said support means so that each of the thus transported sheets advances towards and requires an interval of time to move into registry with said collecting station; and conveying means for conveying a gas stream between each advancing sheet and said collecting station, at least during a portion of the respective interval, said conveying means comprising at least one nozzle arranged to discharge a stream of compressed gas at a level above and to one side of said collecting station and means for withdrawing said gas stream from the opposite side of said collecting station.
Claim 26
Dependent Claim
23 words
A combination as defined in claim 22, further comprising adjusting means for changing the position of said nozzle with reference to said path.
Claim 27
Dependent Claim
27 words
A combination as defined in claim 23, wherein said adjusting means comprises movable carrier means connected with said nozzle and drive means for moving said carrier means.
Claim 28
Dependent Claim
82 words
A combination as defined in claim 24, wherein the sheets reaching said position of registry are permitted to descend toward and to accumulate on top of each other at said collecting station to form a stack, and further comprising holding means provided on said carrier means and arranged to hold the topmost sheet of said stack against movement with reference to said support means while said nozzle admits a gas stream between such topmost sheet and a sheet advancing along said path.
Claim 29
Dependent Claim
18 words
A combination as defined in claim 25, wherein said holding means comprises at least one suction-operated holding member.
Claim 30
Dependent Claim
57 words
A combination as defined in claim 22, wherein said portion of said path is separated from said collecting station by a gap having at least one open side and wherein said nozzle discharges compressed air into said gap, and further comprising second conveying means for conveying a second gas stream along the open side of said gap.
Claim 31
Dependent Claim
39 words
A combination as defined in claim 27, wherein said gas streams produce suction in said gap and further comprising adjusting means for said second conveying means to facilitate establishment of substantially uniform suction in all zones of said gap.
Claim 32
Dependent Claim
55 words
A combination as defined in claim 25, wherein said gap has two open sides extendiNg in parallelism with the direction in which the sheets advance toward said position of registry, and wherein said second conveying means comprises two rows of nozzles each arranged to discharge jets of compressed air along one side of said gap.
Claim 33
Dependent Claim
51 words
A combination as defined in claim 29, wherein said first mentioned nozzle is located at the downstream side of said collecting station as considered in said direction and is arranged to blow said stream of compressed gas in substantial parallelism with said portion of said path and counter to said direction.
Claim 34
Dependent Claim
61 words
A combination as defined in claim 22, wherein said nozzle is arranged to blow compressed gas in substantial parallelism with said portion of said path and counter to the direction of sheet advance toward said position of registry, said withdrawing means comprising means for evacuating said gas by suction at the upstream end of said station as considered in said direction.
Claim 35
Dependent Claim
20 words
A combination as defined in claim 22, further comprising means for admitting comminuted solid particulate material into said gas stream.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1974-01-18 | 1974-07-20 | 1975-01-19 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1978-01-18 | 1978-07-20 | 1979-01-19 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1982-01-18 | 1982-07-20 | 1983-01-19 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |