US3717336A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Sheet feeding and aligning apparatus
Assignee: FMC Corp
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Filing: 1971-11-08
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Granted: 1973-02-20
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Expires: 1991-11-08
Abstract
Abstract An apparatus for aligning two sheets of veneer in parallel relationship and feeding the veneer while in that relationship to a receiving station with such apparatus including a section for storing several stacks of veneer, conveying means for advancing individual sheets of veneer from the storage stacks to an alignment section of the apparatus, laterally shiftable fences in the alignment section for moving the veneer into adjacent sideby-side relationship, and controls for automatically controlling the operation of the apparatus.
Inventors
- 👤 C Short
- 👤 R Billett
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-05 13:35
CPC Classifications
B; B65; B65H; B65H3/00; B65H3/44; B65H3/443; B65H5/00; B65H9/00
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 16
Claim 1
Independent Claim
211 words
An apparatus for aligning sheets of material in side-by-side relationship comprising in combination a frame having an input end and an output end, conveyor means mounted on said frame for advancing said sheets of material from the input end to the output end of the frame, a gate at said output end which is alternately movable between open and closed positions, means for moving said gate between said open and closed positions, a stationary side wall extending substantially from the input to the output end of said framE along one side thereof, a first fence means extending substantially parallel to said side wall along the other side of said frame and being mounted for movement toward and away from said side wall, a second fence means extending substantially parallel to said first fence means between said first fence means and said side wall and also being mounted for movement toward and away from said side wall, said first and second fence means having retaining means for selectively holding the fence means in their positions furthest removed from said side wall, means operatively associated with said first fence means for moving said first means toward said side wall, and control means for controlling said movement of said first and second fence means.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
211 words
An apparatus for aligning sheets of material in side-by-side relationship comprising in combination a frame having an input end and an output end, conveyor means mounted on said frame for advancing said sheets of material from the input end to the output end of the frame, a gate at said output end which is alternately movable between open and closed positions, means for moving said gate between said open and closed positions, a stationary side wall extending substantially from the input to the output end of said framE along one side thereof, a first fence means extending substantially parallel to said side wall along the other side of said frame and being mounted for movement toward and away from said side wall, a second fence means extending substantially parallel to said first fence means between said first fence means and said side wall and also being mounted for movement toward and away from said side wall, said first and second fence means having retaining means for selectively holding the fence means in their positions furthest removed from said side wall, means operatively associated with said first fence means for moving said first means toward said side wall, and control means for controlling said movement of said first and second fence means.
Claim 3
Independent Claim
211 words
An apparatus for aligning sheets of material in side-by-side relationship comprising in combination a frame having an input end and an output end, conveyor means mounted on said frame for advancing said sheets of material from the input end to the output end of the frame, a gate at said output end which is alternately movable between open and closed positions, means for moving said gate between said open and closed positions, a stationary side wall extending substantially from the input to the output end of said framE along one side thereof, a first fence means extending substantially parallel to said side wall along the other side of said frame and being mounted for movement toward and away from said side wall, a second fence means extending substantially parallel to said first fence means between said first fence means and said side wall and also being mounted for movement toward and away from said side wall, said first and second fence means having retaining means for selectively holding the fence means in their positions furthest removed from said side wall, means operatively associated with said first fence means for moving said first means toward said side wall, and control means for controlling said movement of said first and second fence means.
Claim 4
Independent Claim
211 words
An apparatus for aligning sheets of material in side-by-side relationship comprising in combination a frame having an input end and an output end, conveyor means mounted on said frame for advancing said sheets of material from the input end to the output end of the frame, a gate at said output end which is alternately movable between open and closed positions, means for moving said gate between said open and closed positions, a stationary side wall extending substantially from the input to the output end of said framE along one side thereof, a first fence means extending substantially parallel to said side wall along the other side of said frame and being mounted for movement toward and away from said side wall, a second fence means extending substantially parallel to said first fence means between said first fence means and said side wall and also being mounted for movement toward and away from said side wall, said first and second fence means having retaining means for selectively holding the fence means in their positions furthest removed from said side wall, means operatively associated with said first fence means for moving said first means toward said side wall, and control means for controlling said movement of said first and second fence means.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
39 words
The apparatus of claim 1 further including feeding means near said input end for selectively feeding sheets of material between said side wall and said second fence means and between said second fence means and said first fence means.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
37 words
The apparatus of claim 2 wherein said feeding means includes rotatably mounted nip rollers having parallel axes of rotation, said rollers being spaced such that the sheet material cannot pass therebetween unless the nip rollers are rotated.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
18 words
The apparatus of claim 3 including drive means for selectively rotating one of said nip rollers. flip-flop 442.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
69 words
The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said conveyor means includes a plurality of rotatably mounted conveyor rollers having their rotational axes extending transversely of said side wall and said fence means, said conveyor rollers having one end rotatably mounted adjacent said side wall and the other end rotatably mounted adjacent said first fence means when said first fence means is in its farthest removed position from said side wall.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
39 words
The apparatus of claim 5 further including means for rotating said conveyor rollers in a manner such that the sheet material supported by said conveyor rollers will be moved from the input to the output end of said frame.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
70 words
The apparatus of claim 6 wherein the end of each of said conveyor rollers mounted adjacent said first fence means is closer to the output end of said frame than the corresponding end of each of said conveyor rollers mounted adjacent said side wall whereby sheet material supported by said conveyor rollers will be urged toward said side wall as it is moved toward the output end of said frame.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
37 words
The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said retaining means for said first and second fence means comprises first and second power cylinders respectively each having extensible piston rods for operably engaging said first and second fence means.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
30 words
The apparatus of claim 8 wherein said means for moving said first fence means toward said side wall comprises resilient means biasing said first fence means toward said side wall.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
29 words
The apparatus of claim 1 further including storage means for storing stacks of the sheet material and means for delivering pairs of sheets from said stacks to said frame.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
33 words
The apparatus of claim 10 further including control means for controlling the operation of said delivery means so that said sheet material is only delivered to said frame when said frame is empty.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
36 words
The apparatus of claim 11 wherein said control means includes sheet sensing means adjacent said sheet delivery means and adjacent said gate for sensing the presence or absence of sheets of material at the respective locations.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
13 words
The apparatus of claim 12 wherein said sheet sensing means comprise photo-electric cells.
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) | 1976-02-20 | 1976-08-21 | 1977-02-20 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1980-02-20 | 1980-08-21 | 1981-02-20 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1984-02-20 | 1984-08-21 | 1985-02-20 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |