US3576261A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Automatic feed for lifts of limp paper
Assignee: SOUTHWORTH MACHINE CO
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Filing: 1969-03-20
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Granted: 1971-04-27
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Expires: 1989-03-20
Abstract
Abstract An automatic apparatus for feeding lifts of limp paper from a stack in a magazine to the bed of a paper treatment machine, such as a punch. A combined stabber gripper penetrates the stack, clamps onto the lowermost lift, partially withdraws the lift and then moves out of the path of the lift. A pair of driven rolls then descend on the lift to press it against a lower endless conveyor and complete the withdrawal of the lift. When the trailing edges of the lift emerge from the nip, lateral shifting pressure is exerted, whereupon the lift engages a stop and is in position for treatment.
Inventors
- 👤 Edson H Stacy
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-08 16:28
CPC Classifications
B; B65; B65H; B65H3/00; B65H3/32; B65H2301/00; B65H2301/40; B65H2301/42; B65H2301/423; B65H2301/4232; B65H2301/42322
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 11
Claim 1
Independent Claim
205 words
In paper feed apparatus for automatically feeding lifts of limp sheets to a sheet-treatment machine, said apparatus being of the type having a bottom feed magazine supporting a stack of said sheets; conveyor means for conveying individual and successive lifts along a path from said magazine means through said machine, and a leading edge stop for halting each successive lift on said path for treatment in said machine, the combination of: combined segregation and extraction means comprising partial extraction means including a stabber gripper arranged to penetrate said stack to segregate a lift, to clamp on the front edges of said lift for extracting the same, and to release said lift; actuation means operatively connected to said stabber gripper, including mechanism guiding said stabber gripper from a position above said path at said magazine means to a position below said path, at a lift release zone along said path in front of said magazine means; said stabber gripper disappearing below the path of each lift after partially withdrawing a portion of the same from said magazine and releasing its grip on said lift; and final extraction means, on said apparatus, for gripping each said partially extracted lift and completing the withdrawal thereof from said magazine.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
205 words
In paper feed apparatus for automatically feeding lifts of limp sheets to a sheet-treatment machine, said apparatus being of the type having a bottom feed magazine supporting a stack of said sheets; conveyor means for conveying individual and successive lifts along a path from said magazine means through said machine, and a leading edge stop for halting each successive lift on said path for treatment in said machine, the combination of: combined segregation and extraction means comprising partial extraction means including a stabber gripper arranged to penetrate said stack to segregate a lift, to clamp on the front edges of said lift for extracting the same, and to release said lift; actuation means operatively connected to said stabber gripper, including mechanism guiding said stabber gripper from a position above said path at said magazine means to a position below said path, at a lift release zone along said path in front of said magazine means; said stabber gripper disappearing below the path of each lift after partially withdrawing a portion of the same from said magazine and releasing its grip on said lift; and final extraction means, on said apparatus, for gripping each said partially extracted lift and completing the withdrawal thereof from said magazine.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
50 words
Apparatus as specified in claim 1, wherein: said stabber gripper includes an unYieldable upper jaw and a yieldable lower jaw, resiliently pivotable relative to said upper jaw, said jaws sliding onto a lift with minimal resistance, but firmly clamping the same, when moved in a direction away from said lift.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
36 words
Apparatus as specified in claim 1, wherein: said stabber gripper includes a pivoted clamping jaw spring biased toward closure, and said actuation means includes cam means for opening said jaw during retraction of said stabber gripper.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
58 words
Apparatus as specified in claim 1, wherein: said final extraction means comprises pressure roll means on said path in rear of said magazine means and operatively connected to said actuation means, said means cooperating with said conveyor means to grip each successive lift, partially extracted from said magazine means by said stabber gripper, and complete the extraction thereof.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
56 words
Apparatus as specified in claim 4, wherein: said actuation means includes means for rotating said pressure roll means at a surface speed greater than the surface speed of said conveyor means for fanning the upper sheets in each lift forwardly; whereby the leading edges of said fanned sheets are aligned by engaging said leading edge stop.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
66 words
Apparatus as specified in claim 4, plus: lateral shifting means mounted alongside said path in rear of said magazine means, said means continuously exerting gentle pressure on the side edges of each lift being advanced thereby in the grip of said pressure roll means; whereby said pressure is effective to shift said lift laterally upon release of the trailing edges thereof by said pressure roll means.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
185 words
In paper feed apparatus for automatically feeding lifts of limp sheets to a sheet-treatment machine, said apparatus being of the type having a bottom feed magazine, endless conveyor means extending along a path from said magazine through a treatment station of said machine to a discharge zone, and a leading edge stop for halting each successive left at said treatment station, the combination of: extraction means including a stabber gripper movable above said path for penetrating into said magazine, segregating the leading edges of the lowermost lift therein, gripping said leading edges, partially withdrawing said lift a predetermined distance over said endless conveyor means, releasing said grip, and then movable below said path until said released lift has advanced thereover; and pressure roll means just in rear of said magazine means and cooperable with said conveyor means, said pressure roll means including at least one driven roll normally spaced from said conveyor means but arranged to move into a pressure nip relationship therewith to grip the leading edges of each lift released by said stabber gripper and to complete the withdrawal thereof from said magazine.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
185 words
In paper feed apparatus for automatically feeding lifts of limp sheets to a sheet-treatment machine, said apparatus being of the type having a bottom feed magazine, endless conveyor means extending along a path from said magazine through a treatment station of said machine to a discharge zone, and a leading edge stop for halting each successive left at said treatment station, the combination of: extraction means including a stabber gripper movable above said path for penetrating into said magazine, segregating the leading edges of the lowermost lift therein, gripping said leading edges, partially withdrawing said lift a predetermined distance over said endless conveyor means, releasing said grip, and then movable below said path until said released lift has advanced thereover; and pressure roll means just in rear of said magazine means and cooperable with said conveyor means, said pressure roll means including at least one driven roll normally spaced from said conveyor means but arranged to move into a pressure nip relationship therewith to grip the leading edges of each lift released by said stabber gripper and to complete the withdrawal thereof from said magazine.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
153 words
Apparatus for feeding lifts of limp sheets individually and successively along a path to a paper punch, said apparatus comprising: magazine means supporting a stack of said sheets at one end of said path; conveyor means extending along said path from said magazine means to said paper punch; partial extraction means, including a stabber gripper arranged to enter said stack, grip and partially withdrawn each successive bottommost lift, and release the same at a predetermined location along said path: and final extraction means, at said location on said path just in rear of said magazine means, including a pair of rotating pressure rolls, each on an opposite side of the path of said stabber gripper and normally raised above said path, said rolls being movable downwardly to engage each lift released by said stabber gripper in a pressure nip with said conveyor means and complete the extraction of said lift from said stack.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
153 words
Apparatus for feeding lifts of limp sheets individually and successively along a path to a paper punch, said apparatus comprising: magazine means supporting a stack of said sheets at one end of said path; conveyor means extending along said path from said magazine means to said paper punch; partial extraction means, including a stabber gripper arranged to enter said stack, grip and partially withdrawn each successive bottommost lift, and release the same at a predetermined location along said path: and final extraction means, at said location on said path just in rear of said magazine means, including a pair of rotating pressure rolls, each on an opposite side of the path of said stabber gripper and normally raised above said path, said rolls being movable downwardly to engage each lift released by said stabber gripper in a pressure nip with said conveyor means and complete the extraction of said lift from said stack.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
US3327873A
Cited
US3391806A
Cited
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1974-04-26 | 1974-10-26 | 1975-04-27 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1978-04-26 | 1978-10-26 | 1979-04-27 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1982-04-26 | 1982-10-26 | 1983-04-27 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |