US3663010A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Document transport system
Assignee: Unisys Corp
•
Filing: 1970-07-06
•
Granted: 1972-05-16
•
Expires: 1990-07-06
Abstract
Abstract This invention applies to a document transport system for rapid and precise movement and positioning of sheet material and particularly to such a system adapted for use in business machines. The system includes reciprocating sheet gripping means for moving and positioning a document having machine readable and human readable portions thereon. The document gripper provision includes a pair of jaw assemblies for gripping the leading edge portion of a document inserted into the throat of the machine. Each jaw is individually mounted on a support arm or rail for mutual travel in a bi-directional fashion perpendicular to the document inserting throat. A reversely rotatable drive shaft is coupled to the jaw assemblies, such as by elongated flexible members, for imparting precise bi-directional movements to the jaw assemblies concurrently in the same direction and at relatively high speeds along their respective rails and for accurately stopping the document in different positions in the machine. The gripper jaws are normally biased to a closed position but are activated to open condition only when the jaws are at their terminal position adjacent to the throat for receiving the leading edge of an inserted document or for releasing a document already handled by the machine. The pull and push action of the document gripping mechanisms are assisted by document engaging rollers adjacent to the throat of the machine whose speed and direction of rotation is controlled so as to impose a tension on the document at all times while it is in the machine. The movement and positioning of the document is under the control of mechanism which senses the machine readable portion of the document and governs the direction and distance of rotation of the drive shaft and the sheet engaging rollers thereby precisely moving and positioning the document as machine operations are performed.
Inventors
- 👤 Harold M Frederick
- 👤 Edward A Nicol
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-09 23:20
CPC Classifications
G; G06; G06K; G06K13/00; G06K13/02; B; B41; B41J; B41J11/00; B41J11/007
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 53
Claim 1
Independent Claim
197 words
A machine for automatically handling and sequentially operating upon flexible nonself supporting unit records each having a machine readable portion thereof, the machine including, in combination: a. an insertion throat, (b) at least one guide track leading away from the insertion throat, c. gripper means mounted for travel along said guiding track and operable to grip the leading edge of a flexible nonself supporting unit record introduced into the throat, d. means for moving the gripper means along its respective guiding track both away from and toward the insertion throat thereby to pull a gripped unit record therewith away from the throat along a prescribed path of travel extending parallel to said track and to push the gripped leading edge of the record unit toward the throat, e. transducer means positioned adjacent to the path of travel of a unit record gripped and moved by said gripper means and operable to read the mAchine readable portion thereof as it is moved thereby, and f. means acting on the unit record as it is gripped and moved by said gripper means to maintain the unit record in taut condition when either pulled or pushed by the gripper means.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
197 words
A machine for automatically handling and sequentially operating upon flexible nonself supporting unit records each having a machine readable portion thereof, the machine including, in combination: a. an insertion throat, (b) at least one guide track leading away from the insertion throat, c. gripper means mounted for travel along said guiding track and operable to grip the leading edge of a flexible nonself supporting unit record introduced into the throat, d. means for moving the gripper means along its respective guiding track both away from and toward the insertion throat thereby to pull a gripped unit record therewith away from the throat along a prescribed path of travel extending parallel to said track and to push the gripped leading edge of the record unit toward the throat, e. transducer means positioned adjacent to the path of travel of a unit record gripped and moved by said gripper means and operable to read the mAchine readable portion thereof as it is moved thereby, and f. means acting on the unit record as it is gripped and moved by said gripper means to maintain the unit record in taut condition when either pulled or pushed by the gripper means.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
202 words
A machine for automatically handling and sequentially operating upon unit records each having a machine readable portion thereof, the machine including, in combination: a. an insertion throat, b. at least one guide track leading away from the insertion throat, c. gripper means mounted for travel along said guiding track and operable to grip the leading edge of a unit record introduced into the throat, d. means for moving the gripper means along its respective guiding track both away from and toward the insertion throat thereby to move a gripped unit record therewith along a prescribed path of travel extending parallel to said track, e. transducer means positioned adjacent to the path of travel of a unit record gripped and moved by said gripper means and operable to read the machine readable portion thereof as it is moved thereby, f. a roller having its axis extending transverse to the guiding track and positioned adjacent to the path of travel of the unit record so as to engage a unit record gripped and moved by the gripper means, and g. means for operating said roller so that its peripheral speed differs from the linear speed imparted by the gripper means to the unit record.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
202 words
A machine for automatically handling and sequentially operating upon unit records each having a machine readable portion thereof, the machine including, in combination: a. an insertion throat, b. at least one guide track leading away from the insertion throat, c. gripper means mounted for travel along said guiding track and operable to grip the leading edge of a unit record introduced into the throat, d. means for moving the gripper means along its respective guiding track both away from and toward the insertion throat thereby to move a gripped unit record therewith along a prescribed path of travel extending parallel to said track, e. transducer means positioned adjacent to the path of travel of a unit record gripped and moved by said gripper means and operable to read the machine readable portion thereof as it is moved thereby, f. a roller having its axis extending transverse to the guiding track and positioned adjacent to the path of travel of the unit record so as to engage a unit record gripped and moved by the gripper means, and g. means for operating said roller so that its peripheral speed differs from the linear speed imparted by the gripper means to the unit record.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
229 words
A machine for automatically handling and sequentially operating upon unit records each having a machine readable portion thereof, the machine including, in combination: a. an insertion throat, b. at least one guiding track leading away from the insertion throat, c. gripper means mounted for travel along said guiding track and operable to grip the leading edge of a unit record introduced into the throat, d. means for moving the gripper means along its respective guiding track both away from and toward the insertion throat thereby to move a gripped unit record therewith along a prescribed path of travel extending parallel to said track, e. transducer means positioned adjacent to the path of travel of a unit record gripped and moved by said gripper means and operable to read the machine readable portion thereof as it is moved thereby, f. means mounting one or more rollers on a common axis adjacent to the insertion throat of the machine for engaging a unit record inserted thereinto and with their common axis extending transversely to the path of travel of a unit record moved by said gripper means, and g. means for rotating said one or more rollers so as to urge a unit record engaged thereby in the same direction as the record is moved by said gripper means but at a rate of speed exceeding that of the gripper means.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
229 words
A machine for automatically handling and sequentially operating upon unit records each having a machine readable portion thereof, the machine including, in combination: a. an insertion throat, b. at least one guiding track leading away from the insertion throat, c. gripper means mounted for travel along said guiding track and operable to grip the leading edge of a unit record introduced into the throat, d. means for moving the gripper means along its respective guiding track both away from and toward the insertion throat thereby to move a gripped unit record therewith along a prescribed path of travel extending parallel to said track, e. transducer means positioned adjacent to the path of travel of a unit record gripped and moved by said gripper means and operable to read the machine readable portion thereof as it is moved thereby, f. means mounting one or more rollers on a common axis adjacent to the insertion throat of the machine for engaging a unit record inserted thereinto and with their common axis extending transversely to the path of travel of a unit record moved by said gripper means, and g. means for rotating said one or more rollers so as to urge a unit record engaged thereby in the same direction as the record is moved by said gripper means but at a rate of speed exceeding that of the gripper means.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
194 words
A machine for automatically handling and sequentially operating upon unit records each having a machine readable portion thereof, the machine including, in combination: a. an insertion throat, b. at least one guide track leading away from the insertion throat, c. gripper means mounted for travel along said guiding track and operable to grip the leading edge of a unit record introduced into the throat, d. means for moving the gripper means along its respective guiding track both away from and toward the insertion throat thereby to move a gripped unit record therewith along a prescribed path of travel extending parallel to said track, e. transducer means positioned adjacent to the path of travel of a unit record gripped and moved by said gripper means and operable to read the machine readable portion thereof as it is moved thereby, f. said means for moving the gripper means including a drive shaft extending transversely to the guiding track, and g. means providing an operative connection between the gripper means and the shaft for moving the gripper means in one or the opposite direction along the guiding track depending upon the directIon of rotation of the shaft.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
194 words
A machine for automatically handling and sequentially operating upon unit records each having a machine readable portion thereof, the machine including, in combination: a. an insertion throat, b. at least one guide track leading away from the insertion throat, c. gripper means mounted for travel along said guiding track and operable to grip the leading edge of a unit record introduced into the throat, d. means for moving the gripper means along its respective guiding track both away from and toward the insertion throat thereby to move a gripped unit record therewith along a prescribed path of travel extending parallel to said track, e. transducer means positioned adjacent to the path of travel of a unit record gripped and moved by said gripper means and operable to read the machine readable portion thereof as it is moved thereby, f. said means for moving the gripper means including a drive shaft extending transversely to the guiding track, and g. means providing an operative connection between the gripper means and the shaft for moving the gripper means in one or the opposite direction along the guiding track depending upon the directIon of rotation of the shaft.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
30 words
A machine as defined in claim 4 characterized in that the guiding track is formed on a member having a slidable connection to the drive shaft for axial adjustment therealong.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
38 words
A machine as defined in claim 4 characterized in that the guiding track is formed on a member pivotally and slidably connected to drive shaft for both angular movement about the axis thereof and for axial movement therealong.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
221 words
A machine for automatically handling and sequentially operating upon documents each having a machine recordable and readable section thereof, the machine comprising: a. an insertion throat, b. a pair of parallelly extending rail members leading from the insertion throat, c. a gripper guided on each of said rail members for movement therealong and being operable adjacent to the insertion throat to grip the leading edge of a document introduced thereinto, d. stationary transducer means positioned adjacent to the insertion throat and operable to record upon or to read said section of an inserted document as it is moved thereby, e. a drive shaft extending traversely to the pair of rail members adjacent to the ends thereof remote from said insertion throat, and f. means rendering each gripper responsive to the rotation of the shaft and including a loop of flexible material connected to each gripper and so trained about the shaft and a part of the rail member upon which the gripper moves that when the shaft is rotated in one direction is causes the grippers and a document gripped thereby to move away from the throat at the same rate of speed and when rotated in the opposite direction it will cause the grippers and a document gripped thereby to move toward the throat at the same rate of speed.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
221 words
A machine for automatically handling and sequentially operating upon documents each having a machine recordable and readable section thereof, the machine comprising: a. an insertion throat, b. a pair of parallelly extending rail members leading from the insertion throat, c. a gripper guided on each of said rail members for movement therealong and being operable adjacent to the insertion throat to grip the leading edge of a document introduced thereinto, d. stationary transducer means positioned adjacent to the insertion throat and operable to record upon or to read said section of an inserted document as it is moved thereby, e. a drive shaft extending traversely to the pair of rail members adjacent to the ends thereof remote from said insertion throat, and f. means rendering each gripper responsive to the rotation of the shaft and including a loop of flexible material connected to each gripper and so trained about the shaft and a part of the rail member upon which the gripper moves that when the shaft is rotated in one direction is causes the grippers and a document gripped thereby to move away from the throat at the same rate of speed and when rotated in the opposite direction it will cause the grippers and a document gripped thereby to move toward the throat at the same rate of speed.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
79 words
A machine as defined in claim 7 characterized in that roller means is provided adjacent to the path of travel of the unit record and so as to engage a document gripped and moved by the grippers, and further characterized in that power means is provided for rotating said roller means at a peripheral speed which is greater than that imparted by the grippers to the document when the same is moved in the direction toward the insertion throat.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
92 words
A machine as defined in claim 7 characterized in that a roller is positioned adjacent to the insertion throat of the machine for engaging a document inserted thereinto and having its axis extending transversely to the path of travel of a document moved by said grippers, and further characterized in that means is provided for rotating said roller so as to urge a document engaged thereby in the same direction as the document is moved by said grippers but at a peripheral velocity slightly exceeding the linear velocity of the gripping means.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
31 words
A machine as defined in claim 7 characterized in that the ends of the rail members remote from the insertion throat are journalingly mounted on the drive shaft for support therefrom.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
210 words
A machine for automatically handling unit records having a narrow machine readable section thereof, the machine including, in combination: a. a throat into which the leading edge of unit records are individually introduced and removed from the machine, b. a pair of parallelly extending rails leading away from the throat in the direction of the introduction of each unit record into said throat, c. a reciprocable carriage guided for travel along each of said rails, d. a pair of opposing gripper jaws forming part of each said carriage and similarly arranged for receiving and gripping laterally spaced apart portions of the leading edge of a unit record introduced into the throat, e. a transducer positioned adjacent to the throat and operable to read the narrow machine readable section of a unit record as it is moved thereby, and f. a reversely rotatable shaft common to said rails and their respective carriages having means coupled to the carriages for moving the carriages in the same direction and at the same speed alOng their respective rails both away from and toward the throat whereby the narrow machine readable section of a unit record gripped by the jaws of said carriages is accurately conveyed past the transducer in either direction of movement thereof.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
210 words
A machine for automatically handling unit records having a narrow machine readable section thereof, the machine including, in combination: a. a throat into which the leading edge of unit records are individually introduced and removed from the machine, b. a pair of parallelly extending rails leading away from the throat in the direction of the introduction of each unit record into said throat, c. a reciprocable carriage guided for travel along each of said rails, d. a pair of opposing gripper jaws forming part of each said carriage and similarly arranged for receiving and gripping laterally spaced apart portions of the leading edge of a unit record introduced into the throat, e. a transducer positioned adjacent to the throat and operable to read the narrow machine readable section of a unit record as it is moved thereby, and f. a reversely rotatable shaft common to said rails and their respective carriages having means coupled to the carriages for moving the carriages in the same direction and at the same speed alOng their respective rails both away from and toward the throat whereby the narrow machine readable section of a unit record gripped by the jaws of said carriages is accurately conveyed past the transducer in either direction of movement thereof.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
51 words
A machine as defined in claim 11 characterized in that means is effective to open the gripper jaws of each carriage only when the carriages are at the throat otherwise the gripper jaws are maintained in closed sheet gripping condition in all other positions of the carriages on their respective rails.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
204 words
In precision sheet feeding apparatus, the combination comprising: a. a sheet insertion entrance, b. a supporting frame member extending generally perpendicularly away from aid insertion entrance and forming a straight track, c. gripping means mounted on the supporting frame member for reciprocal travel along its track toward and away from the insertion entrance and including jaw-like elements for gripping the leading edge of a flexible sheet inserted into the entrance, d. means effective to open the jaw-like elements only at the insertion entrance position of the gripping means otherwise the jaw elements are maintained in closed sheet gripping condition in all other positions of the gripping means during its travel along the track, e. means for causing the gripping means to travel along the track first away from the insertion entrance while pulling a sheet gripped by its jaw elements and then thereafter returning the gripping means to the insertion entrance where a sheet gripped by the jaw elements is released, and f. means adjacent to the sheet insertion entrance and engageable with the sheet as it is moved thereby, said last means being effective to maintain the sheet which it engages in taut condition during movement in either direction by the gripping means.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
204 words
In precision sheet feeding apparatus, the combination comprising: a. a sheet insertion entrance, b. a supporting frame member extending generally perpendicularly away from aid insertion entrance and forming a straight track, c. gripping means mounted on the supporting frame member for reciprocal travel along its track toward and away from the insertion entrance and including jaw-like elements for gripping the leading edge of a flexible sheet inserted into the entrance, d. means effective to open the jaw-like elements only at the insertion entrance position of the gripping means otherwise the jaw elements are maintained in closed sheet gripping condition in all other positions of the gripping means during its travel along the track, e. means for causing the gripping means to travel along the track first away from the insertion entrance while pulling a sheet gripped by its jaw elements and then thereafter returning the gripping means to the insertion entrance where a sheet gripped by the jaw elements is released, and f. means adjacent to the sheet insertion entrance and engageable with the sheet as it is moved thereby, said last means being effective to maintain the sheet which it engages in taut condition during movement in either direction by the gripping means.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
198 words
In precision sheet feeding apparatus, the combination comprising: a. a sheet insertion entrance to the apparatus, b. a straight track extending away from the sheet insertion entrance, c. sheet gripping means mounted on the track for travel therealong from a terminal position adjacent to the sheet inserting entrance and including jaw-like elements for gripping the leading edge of a flexible sheet inserted into the entrance, d. means effective to open the jaw elements of said gripping means only when at its terminal position adjacent to the insertion entrance in order to receive and grip the leading edge of a sheet introduced thereinto, otherwise the jaw elements are maintained in closed sheet gripping condition in all other positions of the sheet gripping means on the track, e. means for causing reciprocable motion of the gripping means on the track first away from its terminal position at the entrance and then returning the same thereto at which time the jaw elements will open to release a sheet gripped thereby, and f. means engageable with the sheet gripped by said gripping means and effective to maintain the sheet in taut condition throughout the time it is gripped by the gripping means.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
198 words
In precision sheet feeding apparatus, the combination comprising: a. a sheet insertion entrance to the apparatus, b. a straight track extending away from the sheet insertion entrance, c. sheet gripping means mounted on the track for travel therealong from a terminal position adjacent to the sheet inserting entrance and including jaw-like elements for gripping the leading edge of a flexible sheet inserted into the entrance, d. means effective to open the jaw elements of said gripping means only when at its terminal position adjacent to the insertion entrance in order to receive and grip the leading edge of a sheet introduced thereinto, otherwise the jaw elements are maintained in closed sheet gripping condition in all other positions of the sheet gripping means on the track, e. means for causing reciprocable motion of the gripping means on the track first away from its terminal position at the entrance and then returning the same thereto at which time the jaw elements will open to release a sheet gripped thereby, and f. means engageable with the sheet gripped by said gripping means and effective to maintain the sheet in taut condition throughout the time it is gripped by the gripping means.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
36 words
Sheet feeding apparatus as defined in claim 14 characterized in that the track forms part of a straight bar and further in that the gripping means forms part of a carriage reciprocably movable along the track.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
39 words
Sheet feeding apparatus as defined in claim 14 characterized in that the track is composed of two parallel rails and in that the sheet gripping means is composed of two such means individually mounted for travel on the rails.
Claim 25
Dependent Claim
28 words
Sheet feeding apparatus as defined in claim 16 characterized in that one of the rails is bodily adjustable with respect to the other to vary the spacing therebetween.
Claim 26
Dependent Claim
233 words
Sheet feeding mechanism for a business machine capable of operating upon record sheets having a machine readable portion and a human readable portion, comprising in combination: a. a sheet insertion entrance, b. a straight track having two terminal positions with one adjacent to the sheet insertion entrance and the other remote therefrom, c. a carriage reciprocably movable along the track for travel between said two terminal positions and including normally closed jaw-like elements, d. means effective to open the jaw elements only when the carriage is at the terminal position of the track adjacent to the sheet insertion entrance in order to receive and grip an edge of a flexible sheet inserted thereinto, otherwise the jaw elements are closed in sheet gripping condition in all other positions of the carriage on the track, e. a reversible rotatable shaft operatively coupled to the carriage for causing reciprocating motion of the carriage along the track first away from the terminal position adjacent to the insertion entrance when rotated in one direction and thereafter returning the same thereto when rotated in the opposite direction at which time the jaw elements will open to release a sheet gripped thereby, and f. means for stopping the rotation of the shaft at any one of a plurality of angular positions and thereby stop the travel of the carriage at different positions along the track intermediate said two terminal positions.
Claim 27
Dependent Claim
233 words
Sheet feeding mechanism for a business machine capable of operating upon record sheets having a machine readable portion and a human readable portion, comprising in combination: a. a sheet insertion entrance, b. a straight track having two terminal positions with one adjacent to the sheet insertion entrance and the other remote therefrom, c. a carriage reciprocably movable along the track for travel between said two terminal positions and including normally closed jaw-like elements, d. means effective to open the jaw elements only when the carriage is at the terminal position of the track adjacent to the sheet insertion entrance in order to receive and grip an edge of a flexible sheet inserted thereinto, otherwise the jaw elements are closed in sheet gripping condition in all other positions of the carriage on the track, e. a reversible rotatable shaft operatively coupled to the carriage for causing reciprocating motion of the carriage along the track first away from the terminal position adjacent to the insertion entrance when rotated in one direction and thereafter returning the same thereto when rotated in the opposite direction at which time the jaw elements will open to release a sheet gripped thereby, and f. means for stopping the rotation of the shaft at any one of a plurality of angular positions and thereby stop the travel of the carriage at different positions along the track intermediate said two terminal positions.
Claim 28
Dependent Claim
159 words
Sheet feeding mechanism for a business machine capable of operating upon a document having a machine readable portion comprising, in combination: a. a pair of spaced apart parallelly extending rail members, b. gripper means guided on each of said rail members for movement therealong between two terminal positions and operable adjacent to one terminal position to grip an edge of a document and move the same therewith, c. a reversely rotatable drive shaft extending transversely to the rail members adjacent to the other of said terminal positions, and d. an operative drive connection extending substantially the full length of each rail member and serving to couple to the gripper means thereon the drive shaft, each said drive connection responding to the rotation of the shaft in either direction by moving its respective gripper means in the same direction and at the same speed as the other gripper means thereby to move a gripped document undeviatingly along a prescribed path.
Claim 29
Dependent Claim
159 words
Sheet feeding mechanism for a business machine capable of operating upon a document having a machine readable portion comprising, in combination: a. a pair of spaced apart parallelly extending rail members, b. gripper means guided on each of said rail members for movement therealong between two terminal positions and operable adjacent to one terminal position to grip an edge of a document and move the same therewith, c. a reversely rotatable drive shaft extending transversely to the rail members adjacent to the other of said terminal positions, and d. an operative drive connection extending substantially the full length of each rail member and serving to couple to the gripper means thereon the drive shaft, each said drive connection responding to the rotation of the shaft in either direction by moving its respective gripper means in the same direction and at the same speed as the other gripper means thereby to move a gripped document undeviatingly along a prescribed path.
Claim 30
Dependent Claim
64 words
A machine as defined in claim 19 characterized in that each operative drive connection serving to couple the gripping means to the drive shaft comprises a flexible cable arranged in a loop extending substantially the full length of the rail member with which it is associated and coupled intermediate its end to the gripper means and at its opposite ends to the drive shaft.
Claim 31
Dependent Claim
25 words
A machine as defined in claim 20 characterized in that the opposite ends of each flexible cable are similarly reversely wound about the drive shaft.
Claim 32
Dependent Claim
25 words
A machine as defined in claim 19 characterized in that support means is provided for suspending the rail members in a generally horizontally extending plane.
Claim 33
Dependent Claim
25 words
A machine as defined in claim 22 characterized in that the gripper means associated with each rail member is guided therealong in underslung relationship thereto.
Claim 34
Dependent Claim
89 words
A machine as defined in claim 19 characterized in that a toothed wheel is jointly rotatable with said drive shaft, the teeth of which signify different positions capable of being assumed by the gripper means on their respective rail members, and in that a pair of detents are operable to engage the opposite sides of a selected tooth of the wheel and stop the rotation of the wheel and shaft and thus stop the gripper means at a position on their rail members corresponding to the tooth thus engaged.
Claim 35
Dependent Claim
23 words
A machine as defined in claim 19 characterized in that the rail members are connected to and receive support from the drive shaft.
Claim 36
Dependent Claim
215 words
A machine for automatically handling and sequentially acting upon flexible documents comprising: a. a document insertion entrance, b. at least one rail member extending generally away from the insertion entrance, c. a carriage mounted on the rail member for reciprocal travel therealong toward and away from the insertion entrance and including a pair of opposing jaw-like elements for gripping the leading edge of a flexible document inserted into the entrance, d. means effective to open the jaw-like elements of the carriage only at the insertion entrance position of the carriage to receive or release the leading edge of a document introduced thereinto, otherwise the jaw elements are maintained in closed document gripping condition in all other positions of the carriage during its travel along the rail member, e. means for causing the carriage to travel along the rail member first away from the insertion entrance while pulling a document gripped by its jaw elements and then thereafter returning the carriage to the insertion entrance where the jaw elements release the document, and f. means adjacent to the document insertion entrance effective to engage a document gripped by the jaw elements of the carriage and to maintain the document in taut condition while the leading edge of the document is gripped and moved by the carriage.
Claim 37
Dependent Claim
215 words
A machine for automatically handling and sequentially acting upon flexible documents comprising: a. a document insertion entrance, b. at least one rail member extending generally away from the insertion entrance, c. a carriage mounted on the rail member for reciprocal travel therealong toward and away from the insertion entrance and including a pair of opposing jaw-like elements for gripping the leading edge of a flexible document inserted into the entrance, d. means effective to open the jaw-like elements of the carriage only at the insertion entrance position of the carriage to receive or release the leading edge of a document introduced thereinto, otherwise the jaw elements are maintained in closed document gripping condition in all other positions of the carriage during its travel along the rail member, e. means for causing the carriage to travel along the rail member first away from the insertion entrance while pulling a document gripped by its jaw elements and then thereafter returning the carriage to the insertion entrance where the jaw elements release the document, and f. means adjacent to the document insertion entrance effective to engage a document gripped by the jaw elements of the carriage and to maintain the document in taut condition while the leading edge of the document is gripped and moved by the carriage.
Claim 38
Dependent Claim
37 words
A machine as defined in claim 26 characterized in that the rail member extends in an approximately horizontal direction and in that the carriage is suspended relative to the rail member for travel along the underside thereof.
Claim 39
Dependent Claim
63 words
A machine as defined in claim 26 characterized in that the document engaging and taut maintaining means is a rotatable member having a resiliently yieldable periphery for engaging the document and in that means is provided for rotating the member at a peripheral velocity exceeding the rate of travel of the document when the latter is moved toward the member by the carriage.
Claim 40
Dependent Claim
81 words
A machine as defined in claim 1 characterized in that said taut maintaining means comprises a roller having its axis extending transverse to the guiding track and positioned adjacent to the path of travel of the unit record so as to engage a unit record gripped and moved by the gripper means, and means for operating said roller so that its peripheral speed differs from that imparted by the gripper means to the unit record when the latter is moved thereby.
Claim 41
Dependent Claim
111 words
A machine as defined in claim 1 characterized in that said taut maintaining means comprises one or more rollers mounted on a common axis adjacent to the insertion throat of the machine for engaging a unit record inserted thereinto and with their common axis extending transversely to the path of travel of a unit record moved by said gripper means, and further characterized in that means is provided for rotating said one or more rollers so as to urge a unit record engaged thereby in the same direction as the unit record is pushed by said gripper means but at a peripheral speed exceeding the linear speed of the gripper means.
Claim 42
Dependent Claim
64 words
A machine as defined in claim 1 characterized in that said gripper moving means comprises a drive shaft extending transversely to the guiding track and further characterized in that an operative connection extends between the gripper means and the shaft for moving the gripper means in one or the opposite direction along the guiding track depending upon the direction of rotation of the shaft.
Claim 43
Dependent Claim
30 words
A machine as defined in claim 31 characterized in that the guiding track is formed on a member having a slidable connection to the drive shaft for axial adjustment therealong.
Claim 44
Dependent Claim
39 words
A machine as defined in claim 31 characterized in that the guiding track is formed on a member pivotally and slidably connected to the drive shaft for both angular movement about the axis thereof and for axial movement therealong.
Claim 45
Dependent Claim
83 words
Sheet feeding mechanism as defined in claim 18 characterized in that said shaft stopping means comprises a toothed wheel jointly rotatable with the shaft, the teeth of which signify different positions capable of being assumed by the carriage on the track, and further characterized in that means is operable to engage a selected tooth of the wheel and stop the rotation of the wheel and shaft and thus stop the carriage at a position on the trAck corresponding to the tooth thus engaged.
Claim 46
Dependent Claim
190 words
In precision sheet feeding apparatus, the combination comprising: a. a sheet insertion entrance to the apparatus, b. a straight bar extending away from the sheet insertion entrance and forming a track, c. a carriage mounted on the track for travel therealong from a terminal position adjacent to the sheet inserting entrance to one or more positions remote therefrom and including sheet gripping means in the form of a pair of opposing jaw-like elements for gripping the leading edge of a sheet inserted into the entrance, d. means effective to open the jaw elements of said carriage only when at its terminal position adjacent to the insertion entrance in order to receive and grip the leading edge of a sheet introduced thereinto, otherwise the jaw elements are maintained in closed sheet gripping condition in all other positions of the carriage on the track, and e. means for causing reciprocable motion of the carriage on the track first away from said terminal position for pulling a gripped sheet therewith and then returning the carriage thereto at which time the jaw elements will open to release the gripped sheet at the insertion entrance.
Claim 47
Dependent Claim
190 words
In precision sheet feeding apparatus, the combination comprising: a. a sheet insertion entrance to the apparatus, b. a straight bar extending away from the sheet insertion entrance and forming a track, c. a carriage mounted on the track for travel therealong from a terminal position adjacent to the sheet inserting entrance to one or more positions remote therefrom and including sheet gripping means in the form of a pair of opposing jaw-like elements for gripping the leading edge of a sheet inserted into the entrance, d. means effective to open the jaw elements of said carriage only when at its terminal position adjacent to the insertion entrance in order to receive and grip the leading edge of a sheet introduced thereinto, otherwise the jaw elements are maintained in closed sheet gripping condition in all other positions of the carriage on the track, and e. means for causing reciprocable motion of the carriage on the track first away from said terminal position for pulling a gripped sheet therewith and then returning the carriage thereto at which time the jaw elements will open to release the gripped sheet at the insertion entrance.
Claim 48
Dependent Claim
31 words
Sheet feeding apparatus as defined in claim 35 characterized in that the track is composed of two parallel rails each individually mounting a carriage of the character aforesaid for travel therealong.
Claim 49
Dependent Claim
28 words
Sheet feeding apparatus as defined in claim 36 characterized in that one of the rails is bodily adjustable with respect to the other to vary the spacing therebetween.
Claim 50
Dependent Claim
257 words
Sheet feeding mechanism for a business machine capable of operating upon record sheets having a machine readable portion and a human readable portion, comprising in combination: a. a sheet insertion entrance, b. a track having two terminal positions with one adjacent to the sheet insertion entrance and the other remote therefrom, c. a carriage reciprocably movable along the track for travel between said two terminal positions and including a pair opposing normally closed jaw-like elements, d. means effective to open the jaw elements when the carriage is at the terminal position of the track adjacent to the sheet insertion entrance in order to receive and grip an edge of a flexible sheet inserted thereinto and thereafter effective to close the jaw elements onto the edge of the sheet to grip the same, e. a reversible rotatable shaft operatively coupled to the carriage for causing reciprocating motion of the carriage and a sheet gripped by the jaw elements thereof first along the track away from the terminal position adjacent to the insertion entrance when the shaft is rotated in one direction and thereafter returning the same carriage and sheet to the insertion entrance when the shaft is rotated in the opposite direction at which time the jaw elements will open to release a sheet gripped thereby, and f. means for stopping the rotation of the shaft at any one of a plurality of angular positions and thereby stop the travel of the carriage and a gripped sheet at different positions along the track intermediate its two terminal positions.
Claim 51
Dependent Claim
257 words
Sheet feeding mechanism for a business machine capable of operating upon record sheets having a machine readable portion and a human readable portion, comprising in combination: a. a sheet insertion entrance, b. a track having two terminal positions with one adjacent to the sheet insertion entrance and the other remote therefrom, c. a carriage reciprocably movable along the track for travel between said two terminal positions and including a pair opposing normally closed jaw-like elements, d. means effective to open the jaw elements when the carriage is at the terminal position of the track adjacent to the sheet insertion entrance in order to receive and grip an edge of a flexible sheet inserted thereinto and thereafter effective to close the jaw elements onto the edge of the sheet to grip the same, e. a reversible rotatable shaft operatively coupled to the carriage for causing reciprocating motion of the carriage and a sheet gripped by the jaw elements thereof first along the track away from the terminal position adjacent to the insertion entrance when the shaft is rotated in one direction and thereafter returning the same carriage and sheet to the insertion entrance when the shaft is rotated in the opposite direction at which time the jaw elements will open to release a sheet gripped thereby, and f. means for stopping the rotation of the shaft at any one of a plurality of angular positions and thereby stop the travel of the carriage and a gripped sheet at different positions along the track intermediate its two terminal positions.
Claim 52
Dependent Claim
34 words
Sheet feeding mechanism as defined in claim 38 including means engageable with a sheet gripped by said pair of jaw elements and effective to maintain the gripped sheet in taut condition throughout its motion.
Claim 53
Dependent Claim
69 words
Sheet feeding mechanism as defined in claim 38 including one or more powered rollers located adjacent to the sheet insertion entrance with their axes extending transversely to the path of travel of a sheet gripped and moved by the jaw elements, said one or more rollers being powered to rotate at a peripheral speed different from the linear speed of the sheet gripped and moved by the jaw elements.
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) | 1975-05-16 | 1975-11-15 | 1976-05-16 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1979-05-16 | 1979-11-15 | 1980-05-16 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1983-05-16 | 1983-11-15 | 1984-05-16 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |