US3591281A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Sheet-handling apparatus for photocopiers
Assignee: Pitney Bowes Inc
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Filing: 1968-12-23
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Granted: 1971-07-06
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Expires: 1988-12-23
Abstract
Abstract The disclosed sheet-handling apparatus includes a free-floating cylinder supported on and driven into rotation about its axis by a pair of spaced rollers. A third driven roller above the cylinder is biased downwardly against the cylinder surface to maintain the cylinder positionably supported by the two lower rollers. A document sheet moving with the cylinder surface passes through an exposure station pursuant to copy making. A gate selectively positioned adjacent the cylinder is effective to divert the document sheet away from the cylinder after a predetermined number of copies have been made.
Inventors
- 👤 Walter P Kruhlinski
- 👤 Robert C Dubois
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-08 14:57
CPC Classifications
G; G03; G03B; G03B27/00; G03B27/32; G03B27/52; G03B27/62; G03B27/6207; G03B27/625; G03B27/6257
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 18
Claim 1
Independent Claim
143 words
In a photocopy machine, apparatus for handling document sheets to be copied, said apparatus comprising A. a free-floating drum having a peripheral surface for supporting a document sheet on said peripheral surface, B. a pair of rollers having peripheral surfaces, C. means mounting said rollers in spaced parallel relation such that said rollers support said drum, D. means for rotating said drum about its axis thereby to translate the document sheet in an arcuate path pursuant to producing the document-borne image, and E. means including said rollers for maintaining said drum positionably supported by said rollers, for maintaining said document sheet in contiguous relationship with said peripheral surface of said drum, and for maintaining said document sheet in movement in unison with said peripheral surface of said drum through said arcuate path, said last-named means being separate and distinct from said drum. Pg,18
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
143 words
In a photocopy machine, apparatus for handling document sheets to be copied, said apparatus comprising A. a free-floating drum having a peripheral surface for supporting a document sheet on said peripheral surface, B. a pair of rollers having peripheral surfaces, C. means mounting said rollers in spaced parallel relation such that said rollers support said drum, D. means for rotating said drum about its axis thereby to translate the document sheet in an arcuate path pursuant to producing the document-borne image, and E. means including said rollers for maintaining said drum positionably supported by said rollers, for maintaining said document sheet in contiguous relationship with said peripheral surface of said drum, and for maintaining said document sheet in movement in unison with said peripheral surface of said drum through said arcuate path, said last-named means being separate and distinct from said drum. Pg,18
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
30 words
The apparatus defined in claim 1 wherein said maintaining means includes means resiliently biased radially downwardly against said drum peripheral surface to maintain said drum positionably supported on said rollers.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
41 words
said gate mechanism in said second position being ineffective to intercept the document; and B. a second arcuate guide plate positioned adjacent said drum intermediate two of said three rollers and beyond said gate mechanism in the direction of drum rotation,
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
41 words
said gate mechanism in said second position being ineffective to intercept the document; and B. a second arcuate guide plate positioned adjacent said drum intermediate two of said three rollers and beyond said gate mechanism in the direction of drum rotation,
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
32 words
The apparatus defined in claim 2 wherein said radially biased means is releasably mounted for movement to a latched position spaced from said drum peripheral surface to permit removal of said drum.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
54 words
The apparatus defined in claim 3 wherein said radially biased means comprises A. a roller disposed diametrically opposite said roller pair with its axis parallel to the axis of said roller pair and said drum, and B. an elastic drive element drivingly interconnecting at least one of said supporting rollers and said opposite roller.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
38 words
The apparatus defined in claim 4 wherein said pair of rollers are mounted beneath said drum in support thereof and said opposite roller is mounted above said drum and is resiliently biased downwardly against said drum peripheral surface.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
61 words
The apparatus defined in claim 4 wherein said means for rotating said drum comprises at least one of said supporting rollers being driven about its axis and wherein said elastic drive element is drivingly interconnected with said driven one of said supporting rollers whereby said drum is rotated by peripheral surface contact with said driven supporting roller and said opposite roller.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
39 words
The apparatus defined in claim 1 wherein said maintaining means includes a removable arcuate guide plate disposed in closely spaced relation to said drum to define in combination with said drum peripheral surface a portion of said arcuate path.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
47 words
The apparatus defined in claim 1 which further includes a gate mechanism having a least one diverter element selectively positioned relative to said drum peripheral surface to intercept the leading edge of the document and divert it away from said drum and out of said arcuate path.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
56 words
The apparatus defined in claim 8 wherein A. said drum is formed to have an annular surface groove aligned with each said diverter element, and B. each said diverter element is provided with a tapered end portion disposable in its aligned drum surface groove to intercept the document leading edge for diversion from said arcuate path.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
76 words
The apparatus defined in claim 9 wherein said gate mechanism is disposed adjacent one of said roller pair, A. said adjacent roller being formed having an annular surface groove aligned with each said diverter element, and B. said diverter tapered end portion disposable in its aligned roller surface groove in nonintercepting relation to the document leading edge, C. whereby the document continues moving in said arcuate path pursuant to a second reproduction of the document-borne image.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
26 words
The apparatus defined in claim 1 further including annular traction elements carried by the driven one of said rollers to enhance driving engagement with said drum.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
143 words
In a photocopier, apparatus for handling document sheets to be copied, said apparatus comprising A. a drum for supporting a document sheet on its peripheral surface; B. three elongate rollers mounted at spaced positions adjacent said drum said rollers having their axes parallel to said drum axis and their peripheral surfaces contacting said drum peripheral surface for maintaining said drum positionably supported by said rollers and for maintaining said document sheet in contiguous relationship with said peripheral surface of said drum; C. means including said rollers for rotating said drum about its respective axis to translate the document sheet with said drum surface in an arcuate path pursuant to reproducing the document-borne image; and D. an arcuate guide plate positioned adjacent said drum intermediate two of said three rollers to define with said drum peripheral surface a first portion of said arcuate path.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
143 words
In a photocopier, apparatus for handling document sheets to be copied, said apparatus comprising A. a drum for supporting a document sheet on its peripheral surface; B. three elongate rollers mounted at spaced positions adjacent said drum said rollers having their axes parallel to said drum axis and their peripheral surfaces contacting said drum peripheral surface for maintaining said drum positionably supported by said rollers and for maintaining said document sheet in contiguous relationship with said peripheral surface of said drum; C. means including said rollers for rotating said drum about its respective axis to translate the document sheet with said drum surface in an arcuate path pursuant to reproducing the document-borne image; and D. an arcuate guide plate positioned adjacent said drum intermediate two of said three rollers to define with said drum peripheral surface a first portion of said arcuate path.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
38 words
The apparatus defined in claim 12 further including A. a gate mechanism stationed adjacent said drum beyond said arcuate guide plate in the direction of drum rotation, said gate mechanism being selectively movable between first and second positions,
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
68 words
The apparatus defined in claim 13 wherein A. said drum is supported on the lowermost two of said three rollers the uppermost roller of said three rollers being resiliently biased downwardly against said drum surface to maintain said drum positionably supported on and in driving engagement with said two lowermost rollers, and C. said rotating means being drivingly connected to at least one of said lowermost two rollers.
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) | 1974-07-05 | 1975-01-04 | 1975-07-06 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1978-07-05 | 1979-01-04 | 1979-07-06 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1982-07-05 | 1983-01-04 | 1983-07-06 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |