Patent US3614089A successfully refreshed from Google Patents.
US3614089A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Automatic original feeder for copying machine
Assignee: COPYSTATICS Inc C/O LOWENTHAL A DE CORP
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Filing: 1969-06-16
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Granted: 1971-10-19
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Expires: 1989-06-16
Abstract
Abstract An automatic feed mechanism for feeding individual sheets in succession from a stack of sheets. A series of blowers decreases the pressure above the uppermost sheet in the stack so that it is raised. The sheet strikes against a series of rotating belts which cause it to move forward. A series of stripper wheels, rotating in the same direction as the belt, is disposed forward of the forwardmost edges of the sheets in the stack and below the belt. In the event more than one sheet have been lifted from the stack and are moving in the forward direction, the stripper wheels bear against the lower surface of the lowermost sheet and force it back into the stack. The force imparted by the stripper wheels is greater than the normal friction force between two adjacent sheets. The stripper wheels have no effect on a single sheet moving in the forward direction because the reverse force imparted by the wheels to this sheet is less than the forward force imparted by the belts.
Inventors
- 👤 John A Van Auken
- 👤 Christopher Rush
- 👤 Fritz A Blank
- 👤 Lionel Hoffman
- 👤 Robert Barto
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-03 06:05
CPC Classifications
B; B65; B65H; B65H3/00; B65H3/46; B65H3/52; B65H3/5246; B65H3/5253; B65H3/5261; B65H3/08; B65H3/12; B65H3/124; B65H3/128; G; G03; G03B; G03B27/00; G03B27/32; G03B27/52; G03B27/62; G03B27/6207; G03B27/625; G03B27/6264
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 25
Claim 1
Independent Claim
115 words
An automatic feed mechanism for feeding individual sheets in succession from a vertically disposed stack of substantially horizontal sheets comprising means for lifting the uppermost sheet in said stack, means for imparting a force in the forward direction to the uppermost sheet lIfted from said stack, and positive means for imparting a force in the reverse direction to the lowermost sheet in any group of sheets which may have been lifted from said stack and are moving in the forward direction, the force imparted in said reverse direction being greater than the normal friction force between two adjacent sheets and being less than the force imparted in the forward direction to the uppermost lifted sheet.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
115 words
An automatic feed mechanism for feeding individual sheets in succession from a vertically disposed stack of substantially horizontal sheets comprising means for lifting the uppermost sheet in said stack, means for imparting a force in the forward direction to the uppermost sheet lIfted from said stack, and positive means for imparting a force in the reverse direction to the lowermost sheet in any group of sheets which may have been lifted from said stack and are moving in the forward direction, the force imparted in said reverse direction being greater than the normal friction force between two adjacent sheets and being less than the force imparted in the forward direction to the uppermost lifted sheet.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
36 words
An automatic feed mechanism in accordance with claim 1 wherein said lifting means includes means for creating a decreased air pressure above the uppermost sheet in said stack relative to the sheets underneath said uppermost sheet.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
41 words
An automatic feed mechanism in accordance with claim 1 wherein said forward force-imparting means includes rotating means for bearing against the top surface of the uppermost sheet lifted from said stack and for moving said uppermost sheet in the forward direction.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
72 words
An automatic feed mechanism in accordance with claim 3 wherein said reverse force-imparting means includes rotating means disposed in a position forward of the forwardmost edges of the sheets in said stack and below said forward force-imparting means, said reverse force-imparting means rotating in the same direction as said forward force-imparting means and bearing against the lower surface of the lowest sheet in any group of sheets moving in the forward direction.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
32 words
An automatic feed mechanism in accordance with claim 4 further including a single motor for energizing said lifting means, for driving said forward force-imparting means and for driving said reverse force-imparting means.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
104 words
An automatic feed mechanism in accordance with claim 2 wherein said forward force-imparting means includes rotating means for bearing against the top surface of the uppermost sheet lifted from said stack and for moving said uppermost sheet in the forward direction, and said reverse force-imparting means includes rotating means disposed in a position forward of the forwardmost edges of the sheets in said stack and below said forward force-imparting means, said reverse force-imparting means rotating in the same direction as said forward force-imparting means and bearing against the lower surface of the lowest sheet in any group of sheets moving in the forward direction.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
31 words
An automatic feed mechanism in accordance with claim 6 wherein said forward force-imparting means includes a plurality of rotating belts and said reverse force-imparting means includes a plurality of stripper wheels.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
45 words
An automatic feed mechanism in accordance with claim 6 further including guide means for forcing the leading edge of the uppermost sheet in any group of sheets moving in the forward direction to be directed down toward and out of the bottom of the mechanism.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
60 words
An automatic feed mechanism in accordance with claim 8 wherein said lifting means further include means for creating an increased air pressure above the uppermost sheet in a group of sheets moving in the forward direction at a position forward of the forward edges of the sheets in said stack for arching the uppermost sheet lifted by said lifting means.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
120 words
An automatic feed mechanism for feeding individual sheets in succession from a vertically disposed stack of substantially horizontal sheets comprising means for imparting a force in the forward direction to the uppermost of one of the sheets in said stack, and positive means for imparting a force in the reverse direction to the lowermost sheet in any group of sheets which are moving in the forward direction, said reverse force-imparting means being operative to force said lowermost sheet back into said stack, the force imparted in said reverse direction being greater than the normal friction force between two adjacent sheets moving in the forward direction and being less than the force imparted in the forward direction to said uppermost sheet.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
120 words
An automatic feed mechanism for feeding individual sheets in succession from a vertically disposed stack of substantially horizontal sheets comprising means for imparting a force in the forward direction to the uppermost of one of the sheets in said stack, and positive means for imparting a force in the reverse direction to the lowermost sheet in any group of sheets which are moving in the forward direction, said reverse force-imparting means being operative to force said lowermost sheet back into said stack, the force imparted in said reverse direction being greater than the normal friction force between two adjacent sheets moving in the forward direction and being less than the force imparted in the forward direction to said uppermost sheet.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
103 words
An automatic feed mechanism in accordance with claim 10 wherein said forward force-imparting means includes rotAting means for bearing against the top surface of the uppermost sheet in said stack and for moving said uppermost sheet in the forward direction, and said reverse force-imparting means includes rotating means disposed in a position forward of the forwardmost edges of the sheets in said stack and below said forward force-imparting means, said reverse force-imparting means rotating in the same direction as said forward force-imparting means and bearing against the lower surface of the lowest sheet in any group of sheets moving in the forward direction.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
31 words
An automatic feed mechanism in accordance with claim 11 wherein said forward force-imparting means includes a plurality of rotating belts and said reverse force-imparting means includes a plurality of stripper wheels.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
106 words
An automatic feed mechanism for feeding individual sheets in succession from a vertically disposed stack of substantially horizontal sheets comprising blower means for lifting the uppermost sheet in said stack, transport means disposed above the uppermost sheet in said stack, means for rotating said transport means to move in the forward direction a sheet lifted by said blower means against said transport means, and stripper means disposed in a position forward of the forward edges of the sheets in said stack and below said transport means for bearing against the lower surface of the lowest sheet in any group of sheets moving in the forward direction.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
106 words
An automatic feed mechanism for feeding individual sheets in succession from a vertically disposed stack of substantially horizontal sheets comprising blower means for lifting the uppermost sheet in said stack, transport means disposed above the uppermost sheet in said stack, means for rotating said transport means to move in the forward direction a sheet lifted by said blower means against said transport means, and stripper means disposed in a position forward of the forward edges of the sheets in said stack and below said transport means for bearing against the lower surface of the lowest sheet in any group of sheets moving in the forward direction.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
35 words
An automatic feed mechanism in accordance with claim 13 wherein said transport means includes a plurality of belts and further including means for rotating said stripper means in the same direction as said transport means.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
26 words
An automatic feed mechanism in accordance with claim 14 further including a single motor for driving said blower means, said transport means and said stripper means.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
199 words
An automatic feed mechanism for feeding individual sheets substantially horizontally and in succession from a stack of sheets comprising a tray for supporting said stack in position for the individual feeding of the uppermost sheet in succession from the top of said stack, a conveyor disposed above said tray and including at least a lower and substantially horizontal run spaced above said stack, means for driving said conveyor such that successive uppermost sheets when lifted into frictional contact with said lower run are fed by a feeding force in a forward direction, means for creating a decreased air pressure above said tray such that successive uppermost sheets in said stack are lifted against the force of gravity into frictional contact with said lower run of said conveyor for feed in said forward direction and positive means for imparting a separating force in the reverse direction to the lowermost sheet in any group of sheets which may have been inadvertently lifted from said stack and moved in said forward direction, said departing force being greater than the normal frictional force between two adjacent sheets and being less than said feeding force imparted in said forward direction to successive uppermost sheets.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
199 words
An automatic feed mechanism for feeding individual sheets substantially horizontally and in succession from a stack of sheets comprising a tray for supporting said stack in position for the individual feeding of the uppermost sheet in succession from the top of said stack, a conveyor disposed above said tray and including at least a lower and substantially horizontal run spaced above said stack, means for driving said conveyor such that successive uppermost sheets when lifted into frictional contact with said lower run are fed by a feeding force in a forward direction, means for creating a decreased air pressure above said tray such that successive uppermost sheets in said stack are lifted against the force of gravity into frictional contact with said lower run of said conveyor for feed in said forward direction and positive means for imparting a separating force in the reverse direction to the lowermost sheet in any group of sheets which may have been inadvertently lifted from said stack and moved in said forward direction, said departing force being greater than the normal frictional force between two adjacent sheets and being less than said feeding force imparted in said forward direction to successive uppermost sheets.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
59 words
An automatic feed mechanism according to claim 16 wherein the means for creating a decreased air pressure includes an air blower having at least one air inlet duct disposed within the width of said tray and conveyor, said air inlet duct being spaced from the forward end of said conveyor and terminating above said lower run of said conveyor.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
56 words
An automatic feed mechanism according to claim 17 wherein said air blower has an air outlet duct disposed within the width of said tray and conveyor, said air outlet duct extending toward said forward end of said conveyor and being arranged to create a downward airflow for deflecting successive uppermost sheets moving in said forward direction.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
70 words
An automatic feed mechanism according to claim 16 wherein the means for creating a decreased air pressure includes a plurality of air blowers having a corresponding plurality of air inlet ducts disposed at spaced locations across the wIdth of said tray and conveyor, said air inlet ducts being spaced from the forward end of said conveyor and terminating in a common horizontal plane above said lower run of said conveyor.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
63 words
An automatic feed mechanism according to claim 17 wherein said plurality of air blowers have a corresponding plurality of air outlet ducts disposed at spaced locations across the width of said tray and conveyor, said air outlet ducts extending toward said forward end of said conveyor and being arranged to create downward airflows for deflecting successive uppermost sheets moving in said forward direction.
Claim 25
Dependent Claim
72 words
An automatic feed mechanism according to claim 16 wherein the means for imparting said separating force includes a plurality of stripper rollers disposed at spaced locations across the width of said tray contiguous to and spaced forwardly thereof, said stripper rollers being spaced from and below said lower run of said conveyor and dimensioned to engage the lowermost sheet in any group of sheets which may have been lifted from said stack.
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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) | 1974-10-18 | 1975-04-19 | 1975-10-19 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1978-10-18 | 1979-04-19 | 1979-10-19 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1982-10-18 | 1983-04-19 | 1983-10-19 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |