US3622151A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Fluidic letter flipover method and apparatus
Assignee: Bowles Fluidics Corp
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Filing: 1970-02-04
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Granted: 1971-11-23
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Expires: 1990-02-04
Abstract
Abstract A flipover device for flipping substantially flat articles outof-plane includes a modified Bernoulli conveyor in which the conveyor surface is twisted out-of-plane in a graduated manner about an axis parallel to a transport path defined along the conveyor surface. Articles received by the conveyor are propelled therealong and attracted thereto by angled air jets issuing from the conveyor surface. The articles follow the surface contour and are thereby rotated out-of-plane. The conveyor may be disposed in a cylindrical guide tube with one longitudinally extending edge of the conveyor being disposed along the central axis of the tube and serving as the axis about which the conveyor surface is twisted. Angled air jets issued into the tube aid in propelling transported articles. The tube also serves to guide rigid articles which might not be capable of conforming to the twisted conveyor surface.
Inventors
- 👤 Richard J Range
- 👤 James T Pfeiffer
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-31 08:18
CPC Classifications
B; B65; B65H; B65H15/00; B07; B07C; B07C1/00; B07C1/18; B07C1/20; B65H2301/00; B65H2301/30; B65H2301/33; B65H2301/332; B65H2301/3321; B65H2301/33212; B65H2301/3322; B65H2301/33224; B65H2406/00; B65H2406/10; B65H2406/11; B65H2701/00; B65H2701/10; B65H2701/19; B65H2701/1916
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 14
Claim 1
Independent Claim
100 words
A Bernoulli conveyor for reorienting relatively flat articles out-of-plane while transporting said articles along a transport path, said conveyor comprising a member having a transport surface along which said transport path is defined, said transport surface being twisted out-of-plane about an axis parallel to said transport path, said member having a plurality of nozzles defined therethrough and terminating at said transport surface, said nozzles being oriented relative to one another to define said transport path, each nozzle being angled relative to said transport surface to impart to fluid flowing through that nozzle a flow component directed along said transport path.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
100 words
A Bernoulli conveyor for reorienting relatively flat articles out-of-plane while transporting said articles along a transport path, said conveyor comprising a member having a transport surface along which said transport path is defined, said transport surface being twisted out-of-plane about an axis parallel to said transport path, said member having a plurality of nozzles defined therethrough and terminating at said transport surface, said nozzles being oriented relative to one another to define said transport path, each nozzle being angled relative to said transport surface to impart to fluid flowing through that nozzle a flow component directed along said transport path.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
32 words
The conveyor according to claim 2 wherein all cross sections of said transport surface taken transversely of said transport path are planar and wherein no two of said cross sections are coplanar.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
79 words
The conveyor according to claim 2 wherein said axis is coaxial with a first longitudinally extending edge of said transport surface, said conveyor further comprising a guide tube of generally cylindrical configuration and having a central longitudinal axis, said member being disposed with said guide tube with said first longitudinally extending edge of said transport surface coaxially aligned with said central longitudinal axis, said guide tube having a diameter D and said transport surface having a width approximately D/2.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
57 words
The conveyor according to claim 3 wherein said guide tube includes means for issuing pressurized fluid from a plurality of ports defined in said guide tube, said plurality of ports being arranged to issue said fluid internally of said guide tube with a flow component in the direction in which articles are transported along said transport path.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
27 words
The conveyor according to claim 4 further comprising output means for receiving articles which have traversed said transport path and propelling such articles away from said member.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
17 words
The conveyor according to claim 2 wherein the out-of-plane twist of said transport surface is approximately 180*.
Claim 8
Independent Claim
188 words
A device for turning relatively flat articles approximately 180* out-of-plane, said device comprising; a modified Bernoulli conveyor having a transport surface with an input end, an output end and two generally longitudinally extending sides, said transport surface being twisted out-of-plane about an axis comprising a first of said longitudinally extending sides such that all cross sections of said transport surFace taken normal to said first longitudinally extending side are planar and none of said cross sections between said input and output ends are coplanar, said conveyor having a plurality of nozzles defined therethrough and terminating at said transport surface, said nozzles being oriented along said transport surface to define a transport path from said input end to said output end between said longitudinally extending sides, each nozzle being angled relative to said transport surface to impart to fluid flowing through that nozzle a flow component directed along said transport path; a guide tube of generally cylindrical configuration within which said conveyor is disposed, said guide tube having a central longitudinal axis disposed coaxially with said first longitudinally extending side; and means for applying pressurized fluid to said nozzles.
Claim 9
Independent Claim
188 words
A device for turning relatively flat articles approximately 180* out-of-plane, said device comprising; a modified Bernoulli conveyor having a transport surface with an input end, an output end and two generally longitudinally extending sides, said transport surface being twisted out-of-plane about an axis comprising a first of said longitudinally extending sides such that all cross sections of said transport surFace taken normal to said first longitudinally extending side are planar and none of said cross sections between said input and output ends are coplanar, said conveyor having a plurality of nozzles defined therethrough and terminating at said transport surface, said nozzles being oriented along said transport surface to define a transport path from said input end to said output end between said longitudinally extending sides, each nozzle being angled relative to said transport surface to impart to fluid flowing through that nozzle a flow component directed along said transport path; a guide tube of generally cylindrical configuration within which said conveyor is disposed, said guide tube having a central longitudinal axis disposed coaxially with said first longitudinally extending side; and means for applying pressurized fluid to said nozzles.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
37 words
The device according to claim 7 wherein a plurality of ports are defined through said guide tube and arranged to issue pressurized fluid interiorly of said guide tube with flow components generally parallel to said transport path.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
23 words
The device according to claim 8 wherein said transport surface is twisted a total of approximately 180* about said first longitudinally extending side.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
31 words
The device according to claim 9 wherein the width of said transport surface between said longitudinally extending sides is substantially uniform and equal to one-half the diameter of said guide tube.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
85 words
The device according to claim 10 wherein said input and output ends of said transport surface are disposed generally vertically, said input end being at a lower vertical level than said output end, said device further comprising: a generally planar guide surface extending substantially coplanar with the second of said longitudinally extending sides at said input end; and means for delivering substantially flat articles to said transport surface at said input end, said articles being so delivered with one edge resting on said guide surface.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
24 words
The device according to claim 10 further comprising a further Bernoulli conveyor having a transport surface arranged to receive articles from said output end.
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) | 1974-11-22 | 1975-05-24 | 1975-11-23 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1978-11-22 | 1979-05-24 | 1979-11-23 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1982-11-22 | 1983-05-24 | 1983-11-23 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |