US3729187A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Sheet handling device
Assignee: Singer Co
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Filing: 1971-09-17
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Granted: 1973-04-24
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Expires: 1991-09-17
Abstract
Abstract A sheet handling device for changing the feed direction of a conveyed sheet. A hub secured axially on a rotatable shaft has a plurality of gripping members pivotable in different radial planes disposed thereabout. Each gripping member has a finger portion engageable with a cylindrical sheet guiding surface portion of the hub, and a camming portion engageable with a camming race on a stationary block. A garter spring biases each gripping finger toward the sheet guiding surface to grip the edge of the sheet therebetween. The camming portion and race bias each gripping finger away from the sheet guiding surface over a predetermined angular path. As the hub is rotated, the spring causes successive finger portions to grip the sheet and convey it along a curved path through a predetermined angle. Thereafter, the action of the race on the camming portion of successive fingers causes the sheet to be released in a predetermined exit direction.
Inventors
- 👤 H Waibel
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-29 11:20
CPC Classifications
G; G03; G03G; G03G15/00; G03G15/65; G03G15/6529; B; B65; B65H; B65H29/00; B65H29/02; B65H29/06; B65H5/00; B65H5/08; B65H5/12
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 21
Claim 1
Independent Claim
132 words
A sheet handling device comprising: a frame; a rotatable shaft journaled in said frame; a hub mounted on said shaft for rotation therewith, said hub having a substantially cylindrical sheet guiding surface; a plurality of gripping members pivotally mounted on said hub about the axis of said shaft in different substantially radial pivotal planes, each gripping member having a finger portion with a surface engageable with said sheet guiding surface for gripping a sheet therebetween; first means for biasing said gripping fingers toward said sheet guiding surface over a first predetermined angular path; and second means for biasing said gripping fingers away from said sheet guiding surface over a second predetermined angular path, said first means including a single spring disposed about said hub and coupled to each of said gripping members.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
132 words
A sheet handling device comprising: a frame; a rotatable shaft journaled in said frame; a hub mounted on said shaft for rotation therewith, said hub having a substantially cylindrical sheet guiding surface; a plurality of gripping members pivotally mounted on said hub about the axis of said shaft in different substantially radial pivotal planes, each gripping member having a finger portion with a surface engageable with said sheet guiding surface for gripping a sheet therebetween; first means for biasing said gripping fingers toward said sheet guiding surface over a first predetermined angular path; and second means for biasing said gripping fingers away from said sheet guiding surface over a second predetermined angular path, said first means including a single spring disposed about said hub and coupled to each of said gripping members.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
33 words
The apparatus of claim 1 wherein each of said gripping members is provided with an aperture inboard of the pivotal axis and said single spring is disposed within each of one said apertures.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
40 words
The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said hub is provided with an axially adjustable means for mounting said hub on said shaft and further including means for adjustably mounting said second bias means along a path parallel to sAid shaft.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
41 words
The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said second means comprises a stationary camming block having a camming race defining said second predetermined angular path and each of said gripping members is provided with a camming portion engageable with said camming race.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
17 words
The apparatus of claim 4 wherein said camming race comprises the inner surface of said camming block.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
40 words
The apparatus of claim 4 wherein said hub is provided with an axially adjustable mounting means for mounting said hub on said shaft and further including means for adjustably mounting said camming block along a path parallel to said shaft.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
27 words
The apparatus of claim 6 wherein said camming block mounting means includes a track for defining said path and a tongue member slidably disposed on said track.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
71 words
The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said hub is provided with a plurality of radially extending slotted boss members each having a pivot pin bore, and each of said gripping members is provided with a corresponding bore and positioned in a different one of said slotted boss members with said bores aligned, and further including a plurality of pivot pins each secured in a different one of said pivot pin bores.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
24 words
The apparatus of claim 1 further including a substantially cylindrical sheet guiding member secured inboard of said hub on said shaft for rotation therewith.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
17 words
The apparatus of claim 1 further including a curved sheet deflector mounting adjacent said sheet guiding surface.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
151 words
A sheet handling device comprising: a frame; a rotatable shaft journaled in said frame; a pair of hubs mounted on said shaft, each said hub having a substantially cylindrical sheet guiding surface; a plurality of gripping members each pivotally mounted on different ones of said hubs about the axis of said shaft in substantially radial pivotal planes, each gripping member having a finger portion with a surface engagable with one of said sheet guiding surfaces for gripping a sheet therebetween; first means for biasing said gripping fingers toward said sheet guiding surfaces over a first predetermined angular path; second means for biasing said gripping fingers away from said sheet guiding surfaces over a second predetermined angular path; and said first means comprising a pair of springs each disposed about a different one of said hubs and coupled to each of said gripping members mounted on said different one of said hubs.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
151 words
A sheet handling device comprising: a frame; a rotatable shaft journaled in said frame; a pair of hubs mounted on said shaft, each said hub having a substantially cylindrical sheet guiding surface; a plurality of gripping members each pivotally mounted on different ones of said hubs about the axis of said shaft in substantially radial pivotal planes, each gripping member having a finger portion with a surface engagable with one of said sheet guiding surfaces for gripping a sheet therebetween; first means for biasing said gripping fingers toward said sheet guiding surfaces over a first predetermined angular path; second means for biasing said gripping fingers away from said sheet guiding surfaces over a second predetermined angular path; and said first means comprising a pair of springs each disposed about a different one of said hubs and coupled to each of said gripping members mounted on said different one of said hubs.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
47 words
The apparatus of claim 11 wherein each of said gripping members on each one of said hubs is provided with an aperture inboard of the pivotal axis and each said spring is disposed within one of said apertures in said gripping members mounted on the associated hub.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
44 words
The apparatus of claim 11 wherein at least one of said hubs is provided with an axially adjustable means for mounting said hub on said shaft and further including means for adjustably mounting said second bias means along a path parallel to said shaft.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
60 words
The apparatus of claim 11 wherein said second means comprises a pair of stationary camming blocks each mounted adjacent a different one of said hubs and each having a camming race defining said second predetermined angular path, and wherein each of said gripping members is provided with a camming portion engageable with said camming race of said adjacent camming block.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
20 words
The apparatus of claim 14 wherein each of said camming races comprises the inner surface of the associated camming block.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
46 words
The apparatus of claim 14 wherein at least one of said hubs is provided with an axially adjustable mounting means for mounting said hub on said shaft, and further including means for adjustably mounting said adjacent camming block along a path substantially parallel to said shaft.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
27 words
The apparatus of claim 16 wherein said camming block mounting means includes a track for defining said path and a tongue member slidably disposed on said track.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
73 words
The apparatus of claim 11 wherein each of said hubs is provided with a plurality of radially extending slotted boss members each having a pivot pin bore, and each of said gripping members is provided with a corresponding bore and positioned in a different one of said slotted boss members with said bores aligned, and further including a plurality of pivot pins each secured in a different one of said pivot pin bores.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
23 words
The apparatus of claim 11 further including a substantially cylindrical sheet guiding member secured between said hubs on said shaft for rotation therewith.
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) | 1976-04-23 | 1976-10-23 | 1977-04-24 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1980-04-23 | 1980-10-23 | 1981-04-24 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1984-04-23 | 1984-10-23 | 1985-04-24 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |