US3708860A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Method and apparatus for chopping a plurality of articles and depositing the articles in complementary article receptors
Assignee: Eastman Kodak Co
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Filing: 1971-03-04
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Granted: 1973-01-09
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Expires: 1991-03-04
Abstract
Abstract A method and apparatus for simultaneously chopping a plurality of articles such as film chips from a web in which the film chips are contiguous or spaced a predetermined distance apart, transporting the film chips under the influence of gravity to a loading station and spreading the articles apart during such transport and precisely orienting and depositing the film chips in complementary film chip receptors which are positioned at the loading station in side-by-side relation. A plurality of guide tracks with the assistance of air jets transport the film chips from the chopping mechanism to the film chip receptors. Each of the guide tracks cooperates with mechanism at the loading station for precisely orienting and depositing each film chip in its complementary receptor.
Inventors
- 👤 G Bolster
- 👤 A Mathes
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-05 17:44
CPC Classifications
G; G03; G03D; G03D15/00; G03D15/04; G03D15/043; G03D15/046; Y; Y10; Y10S; Y10S29/00; Y10S29/044; Y10T; Y10T29/00; Y10T29/49; Y10T29/49826; Y10T29/49828; Y10T29/49829; Y10T29/51; Y10T29/5136; Y10T29/5137; Y10T29/5142; Y10T29/5191; Y10T29/5196; Y10T29/53; Y10T29/53539; Y10T29/53543
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 19
Claim 1
Independent Claim
91 words
In an article handling machine having chopping means at a chopping station for simultaneously chopping a plurality of articles from a web containing successive articles for deposit in spaced relation into complementary article receptors, the combination comprising for each article: means defining an article loading station; receiving and positioning means at said loading station for receiving and precisely positioning an article receptor; means for transporting a chopped article from said chopping station to said loading station; and means at said loading station for precisely orienting the article with the article receptor.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
91 words
In an article handling machine having chopping means at a chopping station for simultaneously chopping a plurality of articles from a web containing successive articles for deposit in spaced relation into complementary article receptors, the combination comprising for each article: means defining an article loading station; receiving and positioning means at said loading station for receiving and precisely positioning an article receptor; means for transporting a chopped article from said chopping station to said loading station; and means at said loading station for precisely orienting the article with the article receptor.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
24 words
The invention according to claim 1 wherein said orienting means couples said receiving and positioning means to said transporting means at said loading station.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
69 words
The invention according to claim 1 wherein said receiving and positioning means comprise a first platen for supporting an article receptor, a second platen having means movable into engagement with at least one side of said article receptor for precisely positioning the article receptor in a lateral direction and stop means on one of said first and second platens for precisely positioning the article receptor in a longitudinal direction.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
77 words
The invention according to claim 1 wherein said receiving and positioning means comprise a first platen for supporting an article receptor, a second platen defining an opening, said second platen further having means movable into engagement with at least one side of said article receptor for precisely positioning the article receptor in lateral registEr with said opening, and stop means on one of said platens for precisely positioning the articles receptor in longitudinal register with said opening.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
113 words
The invention according to claim 1 wherein said receiving and positioning means comprise a first platen for supporting an article receptor, a second platen defining an opening, said second platen further having means movable into engagement with at least one side of said article receptor for precisely positioning the article receptor in lateral register with said opening, stop means on one of said platens for precisely positioning the article receptor in longitudinal register with said opening, and said orienting means comprise a first fluid jet adapted when enabled to impart a fluid stream against an article entering said opening to assure proper registration of one edge of the article with the article receptor.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
132 words
The invention according to claim 1 wherein said receiving and positioning means comprise a first platen for supporting an article receptor, a second platen defining an opening, said second platen further having means movable into engagement with at least one side of said article receptor for precisely positioning the article receptor in lateral register with said opening, stop means on one of said platens for precisely positioning the article receptor in longitudinal register with said opening, and said orienting means comprise a vacuum port defined by said second platen in fluid communication with said opening to assure proper registration of one edge of the article with the article receptor and a fluid jet adapted when enabled to impart a fluid stream against the article for urging the article into the article receptor.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
137 words
The invention according to claim 1 wherein said receiving and positioning means comprise a first platen for supporting an article receptor, second platen defining an opening, said second platen being movable between a retracted position in which said second platen is spaced from said first platen for receiving an article receptor therebetween, and a loading position in which said second platen engages at least one side of the article receptor for precisely positioning the article receptor in lateral register with said opening, stop means on one of said platens for precisely positioning the article receptor in longitudinal register with said opening and said orienting means comprise a fluid jet adapted when enabled to impart a fluid stream against an article entering said opening to assure proper registration of one edge of the article with the article receptor.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
159 words
The invention according to claim 1 wherein said receiving and positioning means comprise a first platen for supporting an article receptor, a second platen defining an opening, said second platen further being movable between a retracted position in which said second platen is spaced from said first platen for receiving an article receptor therebetween, and a loading position in which said second platen engages at least one side of the article receptor for precisely positioning the article receptor in lateral register with said opening, stop means on one of said platens for precisely positioning the article receptor in longitudinal register with said opening, and said orienting means comprise a vacuum port defined by said second platen in fluid communication with said opening to assure proper registration of one edge of the article with the article receptor, and a fluid jet adapted when enabled to impart a fluid stream against the article for urging the article into the article receptor.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
78 words
The invention according to claim 1 wherein said receiving and positioning means comprise a first platen having vacuum means for supporting an article receptor, a second platen having means movable into engagement with at least one side of the article receptor for precisely positioning the article receptor in lateral register with said orienting means, and stop means on one of said first and second platens for precisely positioning the aRticle receptor in longitudinal register with said orienting means.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
79 words
The invention according to claim 1 wherein said receiving and positioning means comprise a first platen for supporting an article receptor and mounted on a movable conveyor, a second platen having means movable into engagement with at least one side of said article receptor for precisely positioning the article receptor in a lateral register with said orienting means, and stop means on one of said platens for precisely positioning the article receptor in longitudinal register with said orienting means.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
104 words
The invention according to claim 1 wherein said receiving and positioning means comprise a first platen for supporting an article receptor, a second platen having means movable into engagement with at least one side of said article receptor for precisely positioning the article receptor in lateral register with said orienting means, stop means on one of said first and second platens for precisely positioning the article receptor in longitudinal register with said orienting means, and said transporting means comprise a guide track having one end for receiving an article chopped off by said chopping means and its other end coupled to said second platen.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
43 words
The invention according to claim 11 wherein said second platen defines a first opening for receiving articles from said transporting means, said second platen further having a second opening adjacent said first opening for slidably receiving said other end of said guide track.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
77 words
A process for precisely positioning an article in an article receptor comprising the steps of: simultaneously chopping a plurality of articles from a web containing successive articles; transporting the articles to a loading station having article receptors in spaced relation; receiving and precisely positioning the article receptors at the loading station; and precisely orienting each of the transported articles received from the guide chutes at the loading station with a complementary article receptor at the loading station.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
77 words
A process for precisely positioning an article in an article receptor comprising the steps of: simultaneously chopping a plurality of articles from a web containing successive articles; transporting the articles to a loading station having article receptors in spaced relation; receiving and precisely positioning the article receptors at the loading station; and precisely orienting each of the transported articles received from the guide chutes at the loading station with a complementary article receptor at the loading station.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
87 words
A process for precisely positioning an article in an article receptor, comprising the steps of: simultaneously chopping a plurality of articles from a web containing spaced articles; transporting the articles by guide chutes to a loading station having article receptors in spaced relation and spreading the articles apart during such transport; receiving and precisely positioning the article receptors at the loading station; and precisely orienting each of the articles received from the guide chutes at the loading station with a complementary article receptor at the loading station.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
87 words
A process for precisely positioning an article in an article receptor, comprising the steps of: simultaneously chopping a plurality of articles from a web containing spaced articles; transporting the articles by guide chutes to a loading station having article receptors in spaced relation and spreading the articles apart during such transport; receiving and precisely positioning the article receptors at the loading station; and precisely orienting each of the articles received from the guide chutes at the loading station with a complementary article receptor at the loading station.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
119 words
A process for precisely positioning an article in an article receptor, comprising the steps of: simultaneously chopping a plurality of articles from a web containing articles in contiguous relation; imparting a predetermined position to the chopped articles; transporting the articles by guide chutes to a loading station having article receptors in spaced relation, and spreading the articles apart during such transport; receiving and precisely positioning the article receptors at the loading station; precisely orienting an edge of each of the articles received from the guide chutes at the loading station with an edge of an article receiving recess in the article receptor at the loading station; and depositing each of the oriented articles in its complementary article receiving recess.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
119 words
A process for precisely positioning an article in an article receptor, comprising the steps of: simultaneously chopping a plurality of articles from a web containing articles in contiguous relation; imparting a predetermined position to the chopped articles; transporting the articles by guide chutes to a loading station having article receptors in spaced relation, and spreading the articles apart during such transport; receiving and precisely positioning the article receptors at the loading station; precisely orienting an edge of each of the articles received from the guide chutes at the loading station with an edge of an article receiving recess in the article receptor at the loading station; and depositing each of the oriented articles in its complementary article receiving recess.
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) | 1976-01-09 | 1976-07-10 | 1977-01-09 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1980-01-09 | 1980-07-10 | 1981-01-09 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1984-01-09 | 1984-07-10 | 1985-01-09 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |