US3663012A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Document handling device provided with a number of rotatable hollow drums with suction openings
Assignee: International Business Machines Corp
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Filing: 1969-12-03
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Granted: 1972-05-16
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Expires: 1989-12-03
Abstract
Abstract Suction openings in a rotating drum are alternately connected to or disconnected from the vacuum maintained inside the drum, when this is necessary to grip and transport a document, and to release it, respectively. Activation of a group of suction openings is effected by a diaphragm valve, supported by the drum in the interior thereof, with associated pneumatic logical switching means to operate the valve. The switching means have ports, connected to the high and low pneumatic feed levels, existing outside and inside the drum, respectively, and to a pneumatic signal line, providing a connection, insensitive to the drum rotation, with an external, fixed source of control signals for document transport. Other control signals may be generated by the presence or absence of a document on the drum. Various drums of this kind, rotating in opposite directions, are disposed closely together to form a high speed selective document transport system.
Inventors
- 👤 Taco H Van Den Honert
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-25 05:25
CPC Classifications
F; F15; F15C; F15C1/00; F15C1/001; G; G06; G06K; G06K13/00; G06K13/02; G06K13/07; G06K13/073; G06K13/08; G06K13/10; G06K13/107
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 8
Claim 1
Independent Claim
143 words
Apparatus for transporting documents comprising: a rotatably supported drum having at least one first opening and one second opening in the surface thereof communicating with the interior of said drum, said openings being spaced on said surface to be covered by the leading and trailing portions respectively, of a document carried on said drum surface; means providing a vacuum within said drum interior; first and second valve means, each actuatable to selectively connect their respective first and second openings with said vacuum to attract a said document to said surface; first switching means in said drum for actuating said first valve means in response to a fluid pressure signal; and second switching means in said drum including an observation port on said surface for actuating said second valve means in response to the presence of a said document being carried on said surface.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
143 words
Apparatus for transporting documents comprising: a rotatably supported drum having at least one first opening and one second opening in the surface thereof communicating with the interior of said drum, said openings being spaced on said surface to be covered by the leading and trailing portions respectively, of a document carried on said drum surface; means providing a vacuum within said drum interior; first and second valve means, each actuatable to selectively connect their respective first and second openings with said vacuum to attract a said document to said surface; first switching means in said drum for actuating said first valve means in response to a fluid pressure signal; and second switching means in said drum including an observation port on said surface for actuating said second valve means in response to the presence of a said document being carried on said surface.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
32 words
Apparatus as described in claim 1 wherein said observation port is located on said surface between said first and second openings to be covered by a document when carried by said drum.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
59 words
Apparatus as described in claim 7 wherein said second switching means includes a duct connected to said observation port and said duct includes a bleeder orifice connected with said drum vacuum, said bleeder orifice being of a size to establish a fluid pressure in said duct less than ambient pressure when said observation port is covered by said document.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
78 words
Apparatus as described in claim 1 wherein said first valve means is actuatable between a first position to connect its said openings to said vacuum and a second position to connect said openings with fluid at the ambient pressure, and said first switching means is operable in response to first fluid pressure signals to actuate said first valve means to said first position and to second fluid pressure signals to actuate said valve means to said second position.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
35 words
Apparatus as described in claim 1, wherein said first valve means includes a flexible diaphragm and said first switching means includes a fluid pressure amplifier responsive to said fluid pressure signals for actuating said diaphragm.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
38 words
Apparatus as described in claim 5 further including wall means enclosing said first openings, and converging to a valve port facing said flexible diaphragm therefor that is narrower than the portion of drum surface having said openings therein.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
48 words
Apparatus as described in claim 6 wherein said flexible diaphragm is adapted to block said converging valve port from said vacuum and has an area greater than said valve port exposed to the output pressure of said amplifier which contributes a force to keeping said valve port closed.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
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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) | 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 |