US3584866A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Magnetic conveyor
Assignee: Ropak Manufacturing Co Inc
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Filing: 1968-05-27
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Granted: 1971-06-15
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Expires: 1988-05-27
Abstract
Abstract Mechanism for picking up a magnetically permeable sheet from a stack of such sheets and for transferring the sheet to a magnetic conveyor comprising a pickup arm that has both magnetic roller means and readily releasable suction cup means. Suction cup means grasp a sheet, preferably while magnetic roller means are not in contact with the sheet so that double sheeting is safely avoided, and then, by pivoting the pickup means, the sheet is contacted and held by magnetic roller means on the pickup arm, with the vacuum in the suction cup means then being released, before there is any motion of the sheet on a magnetic conveying belt so that tearing of the suction cup means and possible marking of the sheets are safely avoided.
Inventors
- 👤 Hugh Ross
- 👤 Franklin E Parke
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-04 12:25
CPC Classifications
B; B65; B65H; B65H3/00; B65H3/08; B65H3/0808; B65H3/0816; B21; B21D; B21D43/00; B21D43/20; B21D43/24; B66; B66C; B66C1/00; B66C1/02; B66C1/0231; B66C1/0256; B66C1/0293
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 12
Claim 1
Independent Claim
128 words
Apparatus for lifting a single sheet of paramagnetic material from a stack of such sheets, said apparatus comprising an arm having an upper end pivotally connected to a member above said stack and carrying releasable Suction cup means and magnetic roller means at its lower end, said suction cup means being pivotally connected to said arm at its lower end, said arm being so constructed and arranged that said suction cup means may be brought into contact with said sheet while said magnetic roller means remains out of contact with said sheet, and that said magnetic roller means may be brought into contact with said sheet before release of partial vacuum in said suction cup means but after disengagement of said single sheet from said stack of sheets.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
128 words
Apparatus for lifting a single sheet of paramagnetic material from a stack of such sheets, said apparatus comprising an arm having an upper end pivotally connected to a member above said stack and carrying releasable Suction cup means and magnetic roller means at its lower end, said suction cup means being pivotally connected to said arm at its lower end, said arm being so constructed and arranged that said suction cup means may be brought into contact with said sheet while said magnetic roller means remains out of contact with said sheet, and that said magnetic roller means may be brought into contact with said sheet before release of partial vacuum in said suction cup means but after disengagement of said single sheet from said stack of sheets.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
55 words
Apparatus as defined in claim 1 including a magnetic belt conveyor above said stack of sheets and to which said sheets are conveyed by said magnetic roller means, characterized in that said apparatus comprises means for releasing a partial vacuum in said suction cup means before said sheet is brought into contact with said conveyor.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
37 words
Apparatus as defined in claim 2, further characterized in that said magnetic conveyor is nonsagging, said magnetic conveyor comprising a magnet extending substantially throughout the length thereof and a belt containing magnetic material enclosed in flexible material.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
106 words
Apparatus as defined in claim 2, further characterized in that said arm comprises first and second arm segments, said first and second arm segments having means for maintaining a predetermined angular relationship between said segments, said first arm segment being pivotally connected to said magnetic conveyor, said second arm segment having first and second portions meeting in an obtuse angle, said magnetic roller means being positioned in the vicinity of the junction of said first and second portions and said suction cup means being pivotally connected to said second portion in the vicinity of the end of said second portion remote from said first arm segment.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
67 words
Apparatus as defined in claim 4, characterized in that said suction cup means comprises a valve containing an opening, a plunger member having a head adapted to register with and close said opening, and spring-biasing means for urging said head against said opening, said plunger means further having means for withdrawing said head from said opening to permit release of partial vacuum within said suction cup means.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
136 words
Apparatus as defined in claim 4, further characterized in that said suction cup means comprises a suction cup adapted to be brought into contact with a sheet to be raised by said suction cup means, a line communicating with the interior space of said suction cup and with a source of vacuum, and a valve within said line for causing said line to communicate with gas at least atmospheric pressure. 7,. Apparatus as defined in claim 6, further characterized in that said apparatus further comprises a solenoid operatively connected with said valve, a cam on said first arm segment of said arm, and means operated by said cam for causing said solenoid to operate said valve to effect release of pressure in said suction cup means when said arm is moved to a preselected angular position.
Claim 8
Independent Claim
132 words
A method for lifting a single sheet of paramagnetic material from a stack of such sheets, said method comprising moving into contact with said sheet through an arcuate path of travel a transfer means comprising a suction cup means and a magnetic roller means mounted on a pivoted arm, said suction cup means coming initially into contact with said sheet while said magnetic roller means remains out of contact with said sheet, initiating action of said suction cup means to create therein a partial vacuum by means of which said sheet is held to said transfer means, thereafter bringing into contact said magnetic roller means and said sheet so that the weight of said sheet is supported by said magnetic roller means, and releasing the partial vacuum in said suction cup means.
Claim 9
Independent Claim
132 words
A method for lifting a single sheet of paramagnetic material from a stack of such sheets, said method comprising moving into contact with said sheet through an arcuate path of travel a transfer means comprising a suction cup means and a magnetic roller means mounted on a pivoted arm, said suction cup means coming initially into contact with said sheet while said magnetic roller means remains out of contact with said sheet, initiating action of said suction cup means to create therein a partial vacuum by means of which said sheet is held to said transfer means, thereafter bringing into contact said magnetic roller means and said sheet so that the weight of said sheet is supported by said magnetic roller means, and releasing the partial vacuum in said suction cup means.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
74 words
A method as defined in claim 8, characterized in that said step of initiating partial vacuum in said suction cup means is done by communicating vacuum with space within said suction cup mEans from an external source of vacuum. 10 A method as defined in claim 8, characterized in that said step of initiating vacuum within said suction cup means is done by forcing air from said suction cup means through a valved opening.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
59 words
A method as defined in claim 8, said method further serving to convey said sheet to a reach of a magnetic conveyor, said method comprising the further step of moving said transfer means to a position such that said sheet supported by said magnetic roller means is brought into contact with a belt comprising said reach of said conveyor.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
31 words
A method as defined in claim 11, further characterized in that, while bringing said sheet into contact with said conveyor, said suction cup means is removed from contact with said sheet.
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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) | 1974-06-14 | 1974-12-14 | 1975-06-15 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1978-06-14 | 1978-12-14 | 1979-06-15 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1982-06-14 | 1982-12-14 | 1983-06-15 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |