US3575507A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Automatic camera and loose sheet turner using vacuum conveyor belts
Assignee: COMMERCE USA
•
Filing: 1969-05-09
•
Granted: 1971-04-20
•
Expires: 1989-05-09
Abstract
Abstract An arrangement is described for photographing both sides of loose sheets arranged in a stack. A sheet is carried on a vacuum belt to a first area where side A is photographed. The sheet is then turned and transferred to another vacuum belt which moves the sheet to a second area while a second sheet is moved to the first area. Side B of the first sheet and side A of the second sheet are then photographed. Included are means for detecting a double sheet fed to the first belt or a sheet not fed completely off the second belt.
Inventors
- 👤 Robert J Varson
- 👤 Philip O Hackelton
- 👤 Anthony A Berlinsky
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-29 00:42
CPC Classifications
G; G03; G03B; G03B27/00; G03B27/32; G03B27/52; G03B27/62; G03B27/6207; G03B27/625; G03B27/6264
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 13
Claim 1
Independent Claim
439 words
A camera and automatic sheet turner comprising: a first and second perforated conveyor belt; photographing means positioned to photograph a first and second area including a part of the first and second belt, respectively; at least one vacuum source; means for applying the output of said vacuum source to a first section of said first belt and to a first section of said second belt; feeding means for feeding a sheet, having a side A and a side B, to the first section of said first belt, the sheet being fed to the latter section with its side A up; first drive means for driving said first belt; first activating means for activating said first drive means, whereby said first belt carries a sheet to said first area; first inactivating means for inactivating said first drive means in such a way that said first belt is stopped with a sheet in said first area; second activating means for activating said first drive means, whereby said first belt carries a sheet from the first area to a transfer area; a first portion of said first and second belt being positioned with their faces adjacent to each other and moving in opposite directions in said transFer area; means for applying the output of said vacuum source to the first portion of said second belt located in the transfer area; transfer means for selectively applying the output of said vacuum source to a part of said first portion of said first belt in the transfer area; the distance between the belts in the transfer area and the magnitude of the output of the vacuum source being such that a sheet is transferred from the first to the second belt with its side B up when said transfer means is selectively operated; control means for selectively operating said transfer means; second drive means for driving said second belt; third activating means for activating said second drive means; second inactivating means for inactivating said second drive means in such a way that said second belt is stopped with a sheet in said second area; first operating means for activating said photographing means when a sheet is at rest in said first area, whereby side A of the sheet is photographed; second operating means for activating said photographing means when a sheet is at rest in said first area and another sheet is at rest in said second area, whereby side A of the first sheet and side B of the latter sheet are photographed simultaneously; and a sheet stacker positioned to receive a sheet as it leaves the first section of said second belt.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
439 words
A camera and automatic sheet turner comprising: a first and second perforated conveyor belt; photographing means positioned to photograph a first and second area including a part of the first and second belt, respectively; at least one vacuum source; means for applying the output of said vacuum source to a first section of said first belt and to a first section of said second belt; feeding means for feeding a sheet, having a side A and a side B, to the first section of said first belt, the sheet being fed to the latter section with its side A up; first drive means for driving said first belt; first activating means for activating said first drive means, whereby said first belt carries a sheet to said first area; first inactivating means for inactivating said first drive means in such a way that said first belt is stopped with a sheet in said first area; second activating means for activating said first drive means, whereby said first belt carries a sheet from the first area to a transfer area; a first portion of said first and second belt being positioned with their faces adjacent to each other and moving in opposite directions in said transFer area; means for applying the output of said vacuum source to the first portion of said second belt located in the transfer area; transfer means for selectively applying the output of said vacuum source to a part of said first portion of said first belt in the transfer area; the distance between the belts in the transfer area and the magnitude of the output of the vacuum source being such that a sheet is transferred from the first to the second belt with its side B up when said transfer means is selectively operated; control means for selectively operating said transfer means; second drive means for driving said second belt; third activating means for activating said second drive means; second inactivating means for inactivating said second drive means in such a way that said second belt is stopped with a sheet in said second area; first operating means for activating said photographing means when a sheet is at rest in said first area, whereby side A of the sheet is photographed; second operating means for activating said photographing means when a sheet is at rest in said first area and another sheet is at rest in said second area, whereby side A of the first sheet and side B of the latter sheet are photographed simultaneously; and a sheet stacker positioned to receive a sheet as it leaves the first section of said second belt.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
63 words
The camera and automatic sheet turner set forth in claim 1 including: means for detecting the presence of a sheet on the first section of said first belt and wherein: said first inactivating means includes: means responsive to the output of said detecting means for inactivating said first drive means, whereby the first belt is stopped with a sheet in the first area.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
110 words
The camera and automatic sheet turner set forth in claim 1 including: first means for detecting the movement of a sheet from the feeding means to said first area; second means for detecting the presence of a first sheet in the first area, and wherein: said first inactivating means includes: means responsive to the output of said second detecting means for inactivating said first drive means, whereby the first belt is stopped with a sheet in the first area; and said first operating means includes: means responsive to the output of said first and second detecting means for activating said photographing means, whereby side A of a sheet is photographed.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
95 words
The camera and automatic sheet turner set forth in claim 1 including: means responsive to the operation of said photographing means for generating a first control signal, and wherein: said feeding means includes: means responsive to said first control signal for feeding a sheet with its side A up to the first section of said first belt, and wherein: said first activating means includes: means responsive to said first control signal for activating said first drive means, whereby the first belt carries one sheet to said transfer area and another sheet to said first area.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
103 words
The camera and automatic sheet turner set forth in claim 4 including: means for generating a second control signal when an item having a thickness greater than a single sheet is fed by said feeding means to the first section of said first belt; and means responsive to said second control signal for inhibiting the operation of said photographing means when the item is in said first area, whereby the first control signal is not generated so that another sheet is not fed to the first belt, the first belt is not driven and said item remains at rest in said first area.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
124 words
The camera and automatic sheet turner set forth in claim 1 including: means responsive to the presence of a sheet in the first area for conditioning said third activating means for operation; means responsive to the operation of said photographing means when a sheet is in the first area for generating a control signal, and wherein: Said second activating means includes: means responsive to said control signal for activating said first drive means, whereby the first belt carries a sheet from the first area to the transfer area; and said third activating means includes: means responsive to the movement of a sheet from the first area to the transfer area for activating said second drive means, whereby the latter means drives said second belt.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
60 words
The camera and sheet turner set forth in claim 6 including: means for detecting the presence of a sheet in the second area, and wherein: said second inactivating means includes: means responsive to the output of the detecting means for inactivating said second drive means, whereby said second belt is stopped when a sheet is positioned in the second area.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
73 words
The camera and automatic sheet turner set forth in claim 1 including: means responsive to the movement of a sheet from said feeding means to said first area for generating a first control signal; means responsive to the presence of a sheet in the first area for generating a second control signal, and wherein: said first operating means includes: means responsive to said first and second control signal for activating said photographing means.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
92 words
The camera and automatic sheet turner set forth in claim 1 including: means responsive to the movement of a sheet from said feeding means to said first area for generating a first control signals; means responsive to the presence of a sheet in said first area for generating a second control signal; means responsive to the presence of a sheet in said second area for generating a third control signal; and wherein said second operating means includes: means responsive to said first, second, and third control signal for activating said photographing means.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
79 words
The camera and sheet turner set forth in claim 1 wherein: said transfer means in one mode of operation applies the output of said vacuum source to said first portion of said first belt in the transfer area; and said control means includes: means responsive to the movement of a sheet from the first area to the transfer area for removing the output of said vacuum source from said first portion of said first belt in said transfer area.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
34 words
The camera and sheet turner set forth in claim 1 including means for continuously applying the output of said vacuum source to a second portion of said first belt located in the transfer area.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
49 words
The camera and automatic sheet turner set forth in claim 1 including: means for detecting the presence of a sheet on said second belt between the second area and the stacker; and means responsive to the output of the detecting means for inhibiting the operation of said photographing means.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
US2194808A
Cited
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1974-04-19 | 1974-10-19 | 1975-04-20 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1978-04-19 | 1978-10-19 | 1979-04-20 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1982-04-19 | 1982-10-19 | 1983-04-20 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |