US3680855A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Pick-off head for sorting machine
Assignee: BH Bunn Co
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Filing: 1970-06-29
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Granted: 1972-08-01
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Expires: 1990-06-29
Abstract
Abstract A pick-off head for a machine for sorting cards or the like which uses subatmospheric pressure to pull the bottom card from its adjacent card to effect a separation of the two cards, and a mechanical thickness gauging device to insure singular lateral movement of the bottom card relative to its adjacent card. The bottom card is distorted by the subatmospheric pressure to remove its central region from contact with the adjacent card, but if static or other conditions prevent such separation, the thickness gauging device physically bars the second card from moving with the first.
Inventors
- 👤 Robert G Brown
- 👤 John R Sorrells
- 👤 Joseph E Trent
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-31 21:42
CPC Classifications
G; G06; G06K; G06K13/00; G06K13/02; G06K13/08; G06K13/10; G06K13/103
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 7
Claim 1
Independent Claim
204 words
A pick-off head for a machine for handling singly the cards of a stack of cards, said head comprising a base plate for supporting such stack of cards on edge, means for drawing the central region of the foremost card of said stack of cards away from the card immediately adjacent the foremost card to effect a separation of a major portion of said foremost card and the card immediately adjacent thereto, and means for imparting lateral motion to the separated foremost card while restraining the immediately adjacent card from said lateral movement, said means for drawing the central region of the foremost card away from the card immediately adjacent the foremost card comprising a pair of laterally spaced abutments, means urging the stack against said abutments, a third abutment disposed between said laterally spaced abutments and in proximity to the said foremost card, an opening in said third abutment, means establishing a pressure differential across said opening, said third abutment beiNg removed from a flat plane connecting said pair of laterally spaced abutments such that said differential in pressure causes the foremost card to be moved against the opening to assume a curved shape while said adjacent card retains a substantially flat shape.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
204 words
A pick-off head for a machine for handling singly the cards of a stack of cards, said head comprising a base plate for supporting such stack of cards on edge, means for drawing the central region of the foremost card of said stack of cards away from the card immediately adjacent the foremost card to effect a separation of a major portion of said foremost card and the card immediately adjacent thereto, and means for imparting lateral motion to the separated foremost card while restraining the immediately adjacent card from said lateral movement, said means for drawing the central region of the foremost card away from the card immediately adjacent the foremost card comprising a pair of laterally spaced abutments, means urging the stack against said abutments, a third abutment disposed between said laterally spaced abutments and in proximity to the said foremost card, an opening in said third abutment, means establishing a pressure differential across said opening, said third abutment beiNg removed from a flat plane connecting said pair of laterally spaced abutments such that said differential in pressure causes the foremost card to be moved against the opening to assume a curved shape while said adjacent card retains a substantially flat shape.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
42 words
A pick-off head as described in claim 1, said laterally spaced abutments comprising a substantially flat transverse wall extending vertically across the foremost card of a stack and a vertical rib on said wall projecting outward from the surface of said wall.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
23 words
A pick-off head as described in claim 1, and said lateral motion imparting means for the foremost card extending intermittently through said opening.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
97 words
A pick-off head as described in claim 1, and comprising further, means for establishing a gate slightly wider than the thickness of one card, but narrower than the thickness of two cards, through which the foremost card is driven by the lateral motion imparting means, said gate establishing means comprising a vertical abutment on the base plate disposed along the side of a stack of cards, a flat spring extending toward one of said abutments into the path of movement of a laterally moving card, and means for establishing a dual rate of deflection of said spring.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
177 words
A pick-off head for a machine for handling singly the cards of a stack of cards, said head comprising a base plate for supporting such stack of cards on edge, means for drawing the central region of the foremost card of said stack of cards away from the card immediately adjacent the foremost card to effect a separation of a major portion of said foremost card and the card immediately adjacent thereto, and means for imparting lateral motion to the separated foremost card while restraining the immediately adjacent card from said lateral movement, and comprising further, means for establishing a gate slightly wider than the thickness of one card but narrower than the thickness of two cards, through which the foremost card is driven by the lateral motion imparting means, said gate establishing means comprising a vertical abutment on the base plate disposed along the side of a stack of cards, a flat spring extending into the path of movement of a laterally moving card, and means for establishing a dual rate of deflection of said spring.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
177 words
A pick-off head for a machine for handling singly the cards of a stack of cards, said head comprising a base plate for supporting such stack of cards on edge, means for drawing the central region of the foremost card of said stack of cards away from the card immediately adjacent the foremost card to effect a separation of a major portion of said foremost card and the card immediately adjacent thereto, and means for imparting lateral motion to the separated foremost card while restraining the immediately adjacent card from said lateral movement, and comprising further, means for establishing a gate slightly wider than the thickness of one card but narrower than the thickness of two cards, through which the foremost card is driven by the lateral motion imparting means, said gate establishing means comprising a vertical abutment on the base plate disposed along the side of a stack of cards, a flat spring extending into the path of movement of a laterally moving card, and means for establishing a dual rate of deflection of said spring.
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) | 1975-08-01 | 1976-01-31 | 1976-08-01 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1979-08-01 | 1980-01-31 | 1980-08-01 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1983-08-01 | 1984-01-31 | 1984-08-01 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |