Patent US3586311A successfully refreshed from Google Patents.
US3586311A
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US
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Selecting apparatus
Assignee: AB Dick Co
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Filing: 1969-05-23
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Granted: 1971-06-22
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Expires: 1989-05-23
Abstract
Abstract An apparatus to choose one or more of a plurality of destination bins and to divert one or more sheets into the selected bins. One of a plurality of devices is to be selected for operation to divert sheets into the selected bin. The sheets are carried by a conveyor, and a diverter at each bin extends into the path of the sheets to divert the sheets into the bin. A diverter is usually mechanical in nature, and is part of a mechanism known to the art as a gate. Each diverter is controlled by a plurality of tumblers which must be aligned to allow diverter operation. Each tumbler is movable into one of two positions by a drive device. A notch on the tumbler surface is either in operation position, or not. All must be in operation position to cause the diverter to be active. The drive device for each diverter is operated from a remote control station to select the proper diverter at the proper time.
Inventors
- 👤 Erwin F C Schulze
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-27 20:57
CPC Classifications
B; B65; B65H; B65H39/00; B65H39/10; B65H39/11; B65H2405/00; B65H2405/30; B65H2405/33; B65H2405/332; B65H2408/00; B65H2408/10; B65H2408/11; B65H2408/111
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 20
Claim 1
Independent Claim
122 words
An apparatus having means for selectively distributing sheets to a plurality of disposed along a sheet path, a plurality of gate devices to be selectively actuated, each gate device being positioned adjacent a respective outlet, each of said devices having a code number assigned thereto, a plurality of mechanical operators movable to a plurality of position, a plurality of code elements associated with each gate device, each of said operators being mechanically connected to one which corresponds to the position of the operator, respective actuating means for each gate device responsive to a given permutation of the corresponding code element for actuating the corresponding gate device to one position and to other permutations for maintaining the gate device in a different position.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
122 words
An apparatus having means for selectively distributing sheets to a plurality of disposed along a sheet path, a plurality of gate devices to be selectively actuated, each gate device being positioned adjacent a respective outlet, each of said devices having a code number assigned thereto, a plurality of mechanical operators movable to a plurality of position, a plurality of code elements associated with each gate device, each of said operators being mechanically connected to one which corresponds to the position of the operator, respective actuating means for each gate device responsive to a given permutation of the corresponding code element for actuating the corresponding gate device to one position and to other permutations for maintaining the gate device in a different position.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
37 words
An apparatus as defined in claim 1 wherein said mechanical operators are bistable mechanisms each set in one position by the energization of one electromagnet and in a second position by the energization of a second electromagnet.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
25 words
An apparatus as defined in claim 1 wherein said operators are wires and said code elements are tumblers connected to be set by said wires.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
84 words
An apparatus as defined in claim 1 wherein said code elements are tumblers which have recesses herein with the recesses in the tumblers corresponding to each device being aligned when the tumblers are set to the permutation assigned to the device, and said actuating means at each device comprises a member moved from a first position in which it is disposed when the recesses in the tumblers are not aligned to a second position in which it is received in the recesses when aligned.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
37 words
An apparatus as defined in claim 4 wherein said operators are wires and each of said operators are set to one position by a corresponding first electromagnet and to a second position by a corresponding second electromagnet.
Claim 7
Independent Claim
164 words
An apparatus having means for distributing sheets selectively to a plurality of bins disposed along a sheet path, each of said bins having a number assigned thereto, a mechanical mechanism for each digit Of the number having a stable stage for each digit value, means for registering a number in said mechanical mechanism by setting said mechanism in accordance with the corresponding digit of the number, a sheet gate adjacent each bin, a mechanical code means for each gate, said code means each having code elements connected to be set by said mechanisms to register therein a condition corresponding to the number to which the mechanical mechanisms are set, and means at each gate actuated by the setting of the code means for the gate to a particular number assigned to the gate to actuate the gate to a sheet diverting position and actuated by a change from said particular number to a different number to actuate the gate to a sheet nondiverting position.
Claim 8
Independent Claim
164 words
An apparatus having means for distributing sheets selectively to a plurality of bins disposed along a sheet path, each of said bins having a number assigned thereto, a mechanical mechanism for each digit Of the number having a stable stage for each digit value, means for registering a number in said mechanical mechanism by setting said mechanism in accordance with the corresponding digit of the number, a sheet gate adjacent each bin, a mechanical code means for each gate, said code means each having code elements connected to be set by said mechanisms to register therein a condition corresponding to the number to which the mechanical mechanisms are set, and means at each gate actuated by the setting of the code means for the gate to a particular number assigned to the gate to actuate the gate to a sheet diverting position and actuated by a change from said particular number to a different number to actuate the gate to a sheet nondiverting position.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
32 words
An apparatus as defined in claim 6, wherein said mechanisms are bistable mechanisms and each comprises spaced rocker members, wire operators extending therebetween, and means connecting said operators to said code elements.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
35 words
An apparatus as defined in claim 6 wherein said bistable mechanisms each include a first electromagnet energizable to operate it to one position and a second electromagnet energizable to set it to a different position.
Claim 11
Independent Claim
210 words
An apparatus comprising a plurality of bins arranged along a sheet path, gate adjacent each bin and movable from a position clear of the sheet path and a sheet diverting position of diverting a sheet from the path into the adjacent bin, each of said gates having a particular number assigned thereto in accordance with a permutation code, a plurality of operators each settable to any selected one of a plurality of positions in accordance with said permutation code, actuating means operable to set said operators in accordance with the permutation code, code means associated with each gate comprised of a plurality of mechanical code elements each shiftable to a plurality of positions corresponding to the possible settings of said operators, each of said operators being connected to a corresponding code element in each code means to set the code elements into positions in accordance with the position of the operator, and gate actuating means at each gate responsive to the setting of the code elements at the gate to the particular permutation to actuate the corresponding gate to a sheet diverting position and to shift the gate from a sheet diverting position when the permutation of the associated code elements is changed to one different from the particular permutation.
Claim 12
Independent Claim
210 words
An apparatus comprising a plurality of bins arranged along a sheet path, gate adjacent each bin and movable from a position clear of the sheet path and a sheet diverting position of diverting a sheet from the path into the adjacent bin, each of said gates having a particular number assigned thereto in accordance with a permutation code, a plurality of operators each settable to any selected one of a plurality of positions in accordance with said permutation code, actuating means operable to set said operators in accordance with the permutation code, code means associated with each gate comprised of a plurality of mechanical code elements each shiftable to a plurality of positions corresponding to the possible settings of said operators, each of said operators being connected to a corresponding code element in each code means to set the code elements into positions in accordance with the position of the operator, and gate actuating means at each gate responsive to the setting of the code elements at the gate to the particular permutation to actuate the corresponding gate to a sheet diverting position and to shift the gate from a sheet diverting position when the permutation of the associated code elements is changed to one different from the particular permutation.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
133 words
An apparatus as defined in claim 9 wherein said code elements associated with each gate have a recess therein with the recesses of the code elements corresponding to a gate being disposed along a given line when the elements are set in accordance with the particular permutation for the gate, said gate actuating means for each gate comprising a gate control member adjacent said line and received in said recesses when the recesses are all disposed along said line and moved therefrom to a sheet nondiverting position when a code element for the gate is shifted to destroy the permutation for the gate, and means interconnecting each control member and the corresponding gate for moving the gate between its positions in movement of the control member into and out of the adjacent recesses.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
67 words
An apparatus as defined in claim 10 wherein said code elements are levers and said control members are spring urged to ride on the peripheries of the levers for the corresponding gate, said control members normally being held in a sheet nondiverting position by at least one of the levers for the corresponding gate unless the recesses of all of the levers for the gate are aligned.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
38 words
An apparatus as defined in claim 9 wherein said operators are a plurality of wires and said code elements and wires having interengaging elements thereon for setting the coding elements in accordance with the settings of the wires.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
81 words
In a sheet distributor as defined in claim 9 wherein said actuating means for said operators comprises a plurAlity of electromagnets, one for each setting of each of said operators whereby the operator may be set to a particular setting by energizing the corresponding electromagnet and means for energizing one of the electromagnets of those associated with each operator to set the operator in accordance with the permutation assigned to a particular gate as a sheet approaches along the sheet path.
Claim 17
Independent Claim
165 words
An apparatus having means for distributing sheets to a plurality of outlets disposed along a sheet path, said apparatus having a code mechanism for operating a gate device between two positions, said gate device being positioned adjacent a respective outlet, said mechanism comprising a group of code elements each settable to a plurality of positions, each of said code elements having a recess therein, a control member movable from a first position in which it is biased and normally held by the periphery of at least one of said elements, said recesses in said elements being alignable along a line adjacent said control member so as to receive the latter by setting said elements to a particular permutation and said control member moving into said recess and to a second position when said recesses are aligned, and connecting means connecting said control member to said device to actuate said device between two positions as said control member moves between its first and second positions respectively.
Claim 18
Independent Claim
165 words
An apparatus having means for distributing sheets to a plurality of outlets disposed along a sheet path, said apparatus having a code mechanism for operating a gate device between two positions, said gate device being positioned adjacent a respective outlet, said mechanism comprising a group of code elements each settable to a plurality of positions, each of said code elements having a recess therein, a control member movable from a first position in which it is biased and normally held by the periphery of at least one of said elements, said recesses in said elements being alignable along a line adjacent said control member so as to receive the latter by setting said elements to a particular permutation and said control member moving into said recess and to a second position when said recesses are aligned, and connecting means connecting said control member to said device to actuate said device between two positions as said control member moves between its first and second positions respectively.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
67 words
An apparatus as defined in claim 14 wherein said connecting means comprises a lever arm on which said control member is mounted, means rockably supporting said lever arm to provide for movement of said control member between its said positions, a rockable shaft connected to the gate to rock the latter upon the rocking of the shaft, and crank means interconnecting said lever arm and said shaft.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
30 words
An apparatus as defined in claim 14 in which said elements cam said control rod to its first position when one of said elements is moved from said particular permutation.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
No citation records indexed.
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1974-06-21 | 1974-12-21 | 1975-06-22 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1978-06-21 | 1978-12-21 | 1979-06-22 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1982-06-21 | 1982-12-21 | 1983-06-22 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |