Patent US1595557A successfully refreshed from Google Patents.
Patent US3667663A successfully refreshed from Google Patents.
US3667663A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Feeder unit
Assignee: Harris Graphics Corp
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Filing: 1970-03-13
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Granted: 1972-06-06
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Expires: 1990-03-13
Abstract
Abstract An improved apparatus for processing a stream of articles formed from sheet material with the articles arranged in interconnected rows extending transverse to the direction of movement of the articles includes a first means for transporting the articles at a first speed and a second means for receiving the articles from the first means and conveying the articles at a second speed which is in excess of the first speed. The second means for receiving the articles includes a conveyor unit and a plurality of rollers operatively associated with the conveyor unit and each of which have an article conveying position and an inactive position in which the roller does not cooperate with the conveyor to convey the articles. Means are provided for selectively moving at least one of the rollers between its positions so that the one roller may engage with one of the transversely extending rows of articles as the trailing edge of that row of articles passes from the first means. The one row of articles is then speeded up relative to the next successive row of articles which is engaged with the first means to thereby disconnect the one row from the next row of articles to thereby space the one row of articles relative to the next successive row of articles so as to facilitate processing of the articles as they move through the apparatus. The selective operation of the one roller enables the apparatus to process articles having a wide variety of configurations.
Inventors
- 👤 Thomas J Kacmarcik
- 👤 Robert K Norton
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-01 16:38
CPC Classifications
B; B65; B65H; B65H35/00; B65H35/10; Y; Y10; Y10T; Y10T225/00; Y10T225/30; Y10T225/35
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 10
Claim 1
Independent Claim
402 words
Apparatus for processing a plurality of articles arranged in rows which extend transverse to the direction of movement of the articles, said apparatus comprising first means for transporting the articles at a first speed, second means for receiving the articles from said first means and conveying the articles at a second speed in excess of said first speed, said second means including a first speed up roller having an article conveying position and an inactive position in which said first speed up roller does not convey articles, means for selectively locking said first speed up roller in said article conveying or said inactive position, operating means for moving said first speed up roller from said inactive position to said article conveying position when said first speed up roller is not locked in either of said positions to engage said first speed up roller with one of the transversely extending rows of articles at about the time that the trailing edge of the one row of articles passes from said first means to thereby speed up the one row of articles relative to the next succeeding row of articles to thereby effect a spacing of the one row of articles relative to the next successive row of articles, said second means further including a second speed up roller spaced from said first speed up roller in the direction of movement of the articles, said second speed up roller having an article conveying position and an inactive position, said operating means including a member connectable with said second speed up roller when said first speed up roller has been locked in said inactive position to thereby provide for movement of said second speed up roller from said inactive position to said article conveying position to engage said second speed up roller with one of the transversely extending rows of articles at about the time that the trailing edge of the row of articles passes from said first means to thereby speed up the row of articles engaged with said second speed up roller relative to the next successive row of articles engaged with said first means to thereby effect spacing of the one row of articles relative to the next successive row of articles, and means for locking said second speed up roller in said article conveying position or said inactive position when said second speed up roller is not connected with said member.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
402 words
Apparatus for processing a plurality of articles arranged in rows which extend transverse to the direction of movement of the articles, said apparatus comprising first means for transporting the articles at a first speed, second means for receiving the articles from said first means and conveying the articles at a second speed in excess of said first speed, said second means including a first speed up roller having an article conveying position and an inactive position in which said first speed up roller does not convey articles, means for selectively locking said first speed up roller in said article conveying or said inactive position, operating means for moving said first speed up roller from said inactive position to said article conveying position when said first speed up roller is not locked in either of said positions to engage said first speed up roller with one of the transversely extending rows of articles at about the time that the trailing edge of the one row of articles passes from said first means to thereby speed up the one row of articles relative to the next succeeding row of articles to thereby effect a spacing of the one row of articles relative to the next successive row of articles, said second means further including a second speed up roller spaced from said first speed up roller in the direction of movement of the articles, said second speed up roller having an article conveying position and an inactive position, said operating means including a member connectable with said second speed up roller when said first speed up roller has been locked in said inactive position to thereby provide for movement of said second speed up roller from said inactive position to said article conveying position to engage said second speed up roller with one of the transversely extending rows of articles at about the time that the trailing edge of the row of articles passes from said first means to thereby speed up the row of articles engaged with said second speed up roller relative to the next successive row of articles engaged with said first means to thereby effect spacing of the one row of articles relative to the next successive row of articles, and means for locking said second speed up roller in said article conveying position or said inactive position when said second speed up roller is not connected with said member.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
113 words
Apparatus for processing a plurality of articles as defined in claim 1 wherein said second means further includes conveyor means for receiving the articles from said first means and conveying the articles at a second speed which is in excess of said first speed, said conveyor means being located adjacent to said first and second speed up rollers when said speed up rollers are in said article conveying position so that said speed up rollers may engage with the articles and bias the articles into engagement with said conveyor means to thereby enable the articles that are biased into engagement with said conveyor means to move at the speed of said conveyor means.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
112 words
Apparatus for processing a plurality of articles as defined in claim 2 wherein said operating means for moving said first speed up roller between said positions includes a linkage operatively associated with said first speed up roller for moving said first speed up roller from said inactive position to said article conveying position, a cam follower interconnected with said linkage for moving said linkage to thereby Move said first speed up roller, and cam means movable in a timed relationship to the flow of the articles through said second means and engageable with said cam follower to thereby move said cam follower and effect movement of said first roller between its positions.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
69 words
Apparatus for processing a plurality of articles as defined in claim 3 wherein said member is operatively associated with said linkage and connectable with said first speed up roller when said second speed up roller is locked in one of its positions to thereby provide for movement of said first speed up roller from said inactive position to said article conveying position in response to movement of said linkage.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
107 words
Apparatus for processing articles as defined in claim 4 wherein said cam means includes a movable cam holder, and a plurality of cam members mounted on said cam holder for movement therewith, said cam members being movable relative to said cam holder so as to engage with said cam follower and effect selective movement of a speed up roller connected with said member between its positions at variable intervals which are directly related to the position of said cam members on said cam holders to thereby enable said second means to separate successive rows of articles having various lengths and offset lead edges without skewing the articles.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
292 words
Apparatus for processing a plurality of articles arranged in rows which extend transverse to the direction of movement of the articles, said apparatus comprising first means for transporting the articles at a first speed, second means for receiving the articles from said first means and conveying the articles at a second speed in excess of said first speed, said second means including a first speed up roller having an article conveying position and an inactive position in which said first speed up roller does not convey articles, means for selectively locking said first speed up roller in said article conveying or said inactive position, operating means for moving said first speed up roller from said inactive position to said article conveying position when said first speed up roller is not locked in either of said positions to engage said first speed up roller with one of the transversely extending rows of articles at about the time that the trailing edge of the one row of articles passes from said first means to thereby speed up the one row of articles relative to the next succeeding row of articles to thereby effect a spacing of the one row of articles relative to the next successive row of articles, said operating means for moving said first speed up roller including a linkage associated with said first speed up roller, and adjustable cam means operatively associated with said linkage for moving said first speed up roller from said inactive position to said article conveying position, said cam means being movable in a timed relationship with the movement of the articles to effect movement of said first speed up roller from said inactive position to said article conveying position as articles move through said second means.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
292 words
Apparatus for processing a plurality of articles arranged in rows which extend transverse to the direction of movement of the articles, said apparatus comprising first means for transporting the articles at a first speed, second means for receiving the articles from said first means and conveying the articles at a second speed in excess of said first speed, said second means including a first speed up roller having an article conveying position and an inactive position in which said first speed up roller does not convey articles, means for selectively locking said first speed up roller in said article conveying or said inactive position, operating means for moving said first speed up roller from said inactive position to said article conveying position when said first speed up roller is not locked in either of said positions to engage said first speed up roller with one of the transversely extending rows of articles at about the time that the trailing edge of the one row of articles passes from said first means to thereby speed up the one row of articles relative to the next succeeding row of articles to thereby effect a spacing of the one row of articles relative to the next successive row of articles, said operating means for moving said first speed up roller including a linkage associated with said first speed up roller, and adjustable cam means operatively associated with said linkage for moving said first speed up roller from said inactive position to said article conveying position, said cam means being movable in a timed relationship with the movement of the articles to effect movement of said first speed up roller from said inactive position to said article conveying position as articles move through said second means.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
294 words
Apparatus for processing a plurality of articles arranged in rows which extend transverse to the direction of movement of the articles, said apparatus comprising first means for transporting the articles at a first speed, second means for receiving the articles from said first means and conveying the articles at a second speed in excess of said first speed, said second means including a first speed up roller having an article conveying position and an inactive position in which said first speed up roller does not convey articles, means for selectively locking said first speed up roller in said article conveying or said inactive position, and operating means for moving said first speed up roller from said inactive position to said article conveying position when said first speed up roller is not locked in either of said positions to engage said first speed up roller with one of the transversely extending rows of articles at About the time that the trailing edge of the one row of articles passes from said first means to thereby speed up the one row of articles relative to the next succeeding row of articles to thereby effect a spacing of the one row of articles relative to the next successive row of articles, said operating means for moving said first speed up roller including an adjustable cam and linkage assembly for moving said first speed up roller from said inactive position to said article conveying position and which is adjustable so as to enable said first speed up roller to be moved to said article conveying position to engage with the body portion of articles having offset lead edges after the offset lead edges have moved past said first speed up roller to thereby prevent skewing of said articles.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
294 words
Apparatus for processing a plurality of articles arranged in rows which extend transverse to the direction of movement of the articles, said apparatus comprising first means for transporting the articles at a first speed, second means for receiving the articles from said first means and conveying the articles at a second speed in excess of said first speed, said second means including a first speed up roller having an article conveying position and an inactive position in which said first speed up roller does not convey articles, means for selectively locking said first speed up roller in said article conveying or said inactive position, and operating means for moving said first speed up roller from said inactive position to said article conveying position when said first speed up roller is not locked in either of said positions to engage said first speed up roller with one of the transversely extending rows of articles at About the time that the trailing edge of the one row of articles passes from said first means to thereby speed up the one row of articles relative to the next succeeding row of articles to thereby effect a spacing of the one row of articles relative to the next successive row of articles, said operating means for moving said first speed up roller including an adjustable cam and linkage assembly for moving said first speed up roller from said inactive position to said article conveying position and which is adjustable so as to enable said first speed up roller to be moved to said article conveying position to engage with the body portion of articles having offset lead edges after the offset lead edges have moved past said first speed up roller to thereby prevent skewing of said articles.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
US2655842A
Cited
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1975-06-06 | 1975-12-06 | 1976-06-06 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1979-06-06 | 1979-12-06 | 1980-06-06 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1983-06-06 | 1983-12-06 | 1984-06-06 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |