US3645526A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
No-moving parts, pneumatic hopper/separator
Assignee: International Business Machines Corp
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Filing: 1969-12-29
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Granted: 1972-02-29
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Expires: 1989-12-29
Abstract
Abstract The disclosure pertains to a document hopper separator mechanism which is wholly pneumatically actuated to feed documents serially from the bottom of a document deck disposed therein. Riffle jets introduce air to support the deck and separate the lowermost documents from the document guide surface and one another while selectively operable eject jets function to eject the lowermost document from the hopper to a transport mechanism.
Inventors
- 👤 Joseph J Holecek
- 👤 Larry D Zolnosky
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-02 12:17
CPC Classifications
G; G06; G06K; G06K13/00; G06K13/02; G06K13/08; G06K13/10; G06K13/107
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 12
Claim 1
Independent Claim
207 words
A hopper-separator device for separating and feeding documents serially from the bottom of a document deck disposed therein comprising; a base member presenting a generally horizontal document guide surface; transversely spaced sidewalls extending upwardly from said guide surface; a rear wall extending between said sidewalls and upwardly from said guide surface at the rear end of said hopper; a throat bar extending between said sidewalls and vertically spaced from a guide surface to define a slotted throat opening therebetween; a series of riffle jets along each sidewall emitting air unDer pressure transversely inward, closely adjacent said guide surface for isolating the bottom document from the remainder of the deck; and selectively operable eject jet means for creating a moving layer of air intermediate said bottom document and guide surface which creates a drag force on said bottom document to propel said document aerodynamically through said slotted throat opening, said eject jet means including a series of passageways terminating in apertured openings in said base member guide surface disposed intermediate said rear wall and said throat bar, said passageways being inclined at an acute angle toward said throat bar to establish said moving layer of air between said guide surface and lowermost document progressing toward said throat opening.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
207 words
A hopper-separator device for separating and feeding documents serially from the bottom of a document deck disposed therein comprising; a base member presenting a generally horizontal document guide surface; transversely spaced sidewalls extending upwardly from said guide surface; a rear wall extending between said sidewalls and upwardly from said guide surface at the rear end of said hopper; a throat bar extending between said sidewalls and vertically spaced from a guide surface to define a slotted throat opening therebetween; a series of riffle jets along each sidewall emitting air unDer pressure transversely inward, closely adjacent said guide surface for isolating the bottom document from the remainder of the deck; and selectively operable eject jet means for creating a moving layer of air intermediate said bottom document and guide surface which creates a drag force on said bottom document to propel said document aerodynamically through said slotted throat opening, said eject jet means including a series of passageways terminating in apertured openings in said base member guide surface disposed intermediate said rear wall and said throat bar, said passageways being inclined at an acute angle toward said throat bar to establish said moving layer of air between said guide surface and lowermost document progressing toward said throat opening.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
172 words
A hopper-separator device for separating and feeding documents serially from the bottom of a document deck disposed therein comprising; a base member presenting a generally horizontal document guide surface; transversely spaced sidewalls extending upwardly from said guide surface; a rear wall extending between said sidewalls and upwardly from said guide surface at the rear end of said hopper; a throat bar extending between said sidewalls and vertically spaced from a guide surface to define a slotted throat opening therebetween; a slotted opening in said throat bar wall surface which defines the hopper end wall, said slotted opening extending upward from said slotted throat opening; a series of riffle jets along each sidewall emitting air under pressure transversely inward closely adjacent said guide surface for isolating the bottom document from the remainder of the deck; selectively operable eject jet means for creating a moving layer of air intermediate said bottom document and guide surface which creates a drag force on said bottom document to propel said document aerodynamically through said slotted throat opening.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
172 words
A hopper-separator device for separating and feeding documents serially from the bottom of a document deck disposed therein comprising; a base member presenting a generally horizontal document guide surface; transversely spaced sidewalls extending upwardly from said guide surface; a rear wall extending between said sidewalls and upwardly from said guide surface at the rear end of said hopper; a throat bar extending between said sidewalls and vertically spaced from a guide surface to define a slotted throat opening therebetween; a slotted opening in said throat bar wall surface which defines the hopper end wall, said slotted opening extending upward from said slotted throat opening; a series of riffle jets along each sidewall emitting air under pressure transversely inward closely adjacent said guide surface for isolating the bottom document from the remainder of the deck; selectively operable eject jet means for creating a moving layer of air intermediate said bottom document and guide surface which creates a drag force on said bottom document to propel said document aerodynamically through said slotted throat opening.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
176 words
A hopper-separator device for separating and feeding documents serially from the bottom of a document deck disposed therein comprising; a base member presenting a generally horizontal document guide surface; transversely spaced sidewalls extending upwardly from said guide surface; a rear wall extending between said sidewalls and upwardly from said guide surface at the rear end of said hopper; a longitudinal recess in said base member guide surface extending from said rear wall; an upwardly extending vent slot in said rear wall communicating with said longitudinal recess; a throat bar extending between said sidewalls and vertically spaced from a guide surface to define a slotted throat opening therebetween; a series of riffle jets along each sidewall emitting air under pressure transversely inward closely adjacent said guide surface for isolating the bottom document from the remainder of the deck; and selectively operable eject jet means for creating a moving layer of air intermediate said bottom document and guide surface which creates a drag force on said bottom document to propel said document aerodynamically through said slotted throat opening.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
176 words
A hopper-separator device for separating and feeding documents serially from the bottom of a document deck disposed therein comprising; a base member presenting a generally horizontal document guide surface; transversely spaced sidewalls extending upwardly from said guide surface; a rear wall extending between said sidewalls and upwardly from said guide surface at the rear end of said hopper; a longitudinal recess in said base member guide surface extending from said rear wall; an upwardly extending vent slot in said rear wall communicating with said longitudinal recess; a throat bar extending between said sidewalls and vertically spaced from a guide surface to define a slotted throat opening therebetween; a series of riffle jets along each sidewall emitting air under pressure transversely inward closely adjacent said guide surface for isolating the bottom document from the remainder of the deck; and selectively operable eject jet means for creating a moving layer of air intermediate said bottom document and guide surface which creates a drag force on said bottom document to propel said document aerodynamically through said slotted throat opening.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
42 words
The hopper-separator of claim 2, wherein; said eject jet means includes a series of apertured openings in said base member guide surface disposed longitudinally intermediate the forward end of said longitudinal recess and said throat opening and inclined toward said throat opening.
Claim 8
Independent Claim
154 words
A device for pneumatically separating and feeding documents in sequence from the bottom of a document deck comprising: a guide member presenting a generally horizontal guide surface above which said document deck is supported; air inlet means disposed at each transverse side of said document deck adjacent said guide surface for supporting said deck and separating the lowermost document from the balance of said deck; pneumatic eject means for selectively delivering a layer of moving air over said guide surface in the longitudinal direction in which doCuments are to be fed and imparting a longitudinal force to the lowermost document; said pneumatic eject means including passage means inclined at an acute angle with the document supporting surface of said guide member in the direction of document travel from said deck; and sidewall means extending along each transverse side of said deck adjacent said guide surface with said pneumatic eject means air delivery effected therebetween.
Claim 9
Independent Claim
154 words
A device for pneumatically separating and feeding documents in sequence from the bottom of a document deck comprising: a guide member presenting a generally horizontal guide surface above which said document deck is supported; air inlet means disposed at each transverse side of said document deck adjacent said guide surface for supporting said deck and separating the lowermost document from the balance of said deck; pneumatic eject means for selectively delivering a layer of moving air over said guide surface in the longitudinal direction in which doCuments are to be fed and imparting a longitudinal force to the lowermost document; said pneumatic eject means including passage means inclined at an acute angle with the document supporting surface of said guide member in the direction of document travel from said deck; and sidewall means extending along each transverse side of said deck adjacent said guide surface with said pneumatic eject means air delivery effected therebetween.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
41 words
The device of claim 5, further comprising a rear wall member extending between said sidewall means with an exhaust opening formed therein and a longitudinally extending relief slot formed in said guide surface and communicating with said rear wall exhaust opening.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
86 words
The device of claim 6 further comprising a throat bar extending between sidewalls at the hopper end opposite said rear wall and defining with said sidewalls and said guide surface a throat through which documents are fed from said device and pneumatic outlet passageways inclined in the direction of document travel at an acute angle to the document path and terminating adjacent said document path at said throat, whereby a propelling force along the document path is imparted to a document delivered into said throat opening.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
35 words
The device of claim 7, comprising; a shallow recess in the throat bar surface which defines the forward boundary of said hopper, said recess extending upwardly from the lower edge of said throat bar surface.
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) | 1975-02-28 | 1975-08-30 | 1976-02-29 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1979-02-28 | 1979-08-30 | 1980-02-29 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1983-02-28 | 1983-08-30 | 1984-02-29 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |