US3735976A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Document picker
Assignee: RCA Corp
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Filing: 1971-11-12
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Granted: 1973-05-29
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Expires: 1991-11-12
Abstract
Abstract Vacuum-operated document picking and transporting apparatus includes a moving belt formed with two rows of apertures therein extending in the length direction of the belt either row of which may be coupled to a vacuum source. Apertures in one row may be located at different positions than those in the other and the apertures in one row may be spaced apart different distances than those in the other. Then as a portion of the belt containing an aperture passes between a stack of documents and the vacuum source, a document may be separated from the stack and transported by the belt. The phasing of the pickup and/or the number of documents picked up in a given interval of time may be changed without changing the belt speed by switching the vacuum to the other row of apertures.
Inventors
- 👤 J P Watson
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-01 00:51
CPC Classifications
B; B65; B65H; B65H5/00; B65H5/22; B65H5/222; B65H5/224; B65H3/00; B65H3/08; B65H3/12; B65H3/124; B65H2404/00; B65H2404/20; B65H2404/22; B65H2404/24; B65H2404/242
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 7
Claim 1
Independent Claim
153 words
An arrangement for picking documents from the end of a stack of said documents comprising, in combination: a driven belt means which passes one end of the stack with the front surface of the belt facing and adjacent to the exposed surface of the end document in the stack, said belt means being formed with two rows of apertures therethrough, each row extending in the direction of the length dimension of the belt means, aperturEs in one row being located at different positions than apertures in the other row; means for creating a vacuum at the region of the belt means opposite the end document of the stack and means for selectively continuously applying said vacuum solely to one of the two rows of apertures through the back surface of the belt, whereby the timing and rate of document pick-up is determined by the row of apertures to which said vacuum is applied.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
153 words
An arrangement for picking documents from the end of a stack of said documents comprising, in combination: a driven belt means which passes one end of the stack with the front surface of the belt facing and adjacent to the exposed surface of the end document in the stack, said belt means being formed with two rows of apertures therethrough, each row extending in the direction of the length dimension of the belt means, aperturEs in one row being located at different positions than apertures in the other row; means for creating a vacuum at the region of the belt means opposite the end document of the stack and means for selectively continuously applying said vacuum solely to one of the two rows of apertures through the back surface of the belt, whereby the timing and rate of document pick-up is determined by the row of apertures to which said vacuum is applied.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
161 words
An arrangement for picking documents from the end of a stack of said documents comprising, in combination: a driven belt which passes one end of the stack with the front surface of the belt facing and adjacent to the exposed surface of the end document in the stack, said belt being formed with two rows of apertures therethrough, each row extending in the direction of the length dimension of the belt, there being a substantially greater number of apertures in one row than in the other, the apertures in said one row being spaced substantially closer together than in said other row; means for creating a vacuum at the region of the belt which overlaps the last portion of the end document on the stack passed by the belt, and which extends a substantial distance beyond that last portion; and means for selectively applying said vacuum to one of the two rows of apertures through the back surface of the belt.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
161 words
An arrangement for picking documents from the end of a stack of said documents comprising, in combination: a driven belt which passes one end of the stack with the front surface of the belt facing and adjacent to the exposed surface of the end document in the stack, said belt being formed with two rows of apertures therethrough, each row extending in the direction of the length dimension of the belt, there being a substantially greater number of apertures in one row than in the other, the apertures in said one row being spaced substantially closer together than in said other row; means for creating a vacuum at the region of the belt which overlaps the last portion of the end document on the stack passed by the belt, and which extends a substantial distance beyond that last portion; and means for selectively applying said vacuum to one of the two rows of apertures through the back surface of the belt.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
28 words
An arrangement as set forth in claim 2 wherein adjacent apertures in said one row are spaced apart a distance somewhat greater than the length of a document.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
213 words
An arrangement for picking documents from the end of a stack of said documents comprising, in combination: a driven belt which passes one end of the stack with the front surface of the belt facing and adjacent to the exposed surface of the end document of the stack, said belt being formed with two rows of apertures therethrough, each row extending in the direction of the length dimension of the belt, apertures in one row being located at different positions than apertures in the other row and wherein the apertures in each row occur in clusters, each cluster of apertures in one row being spaced from the next adjacent cluster in that row a distance somewhat greater than a document length, and each cluster of apertures in the other row being spaced from the adjacent cluster of apertures in that row a distance substantially greater than the distance between clusters in said one row; means for creating a vacuum at the region of the belt which overlaps the last portion of the end document on the stack passed by the belt, and which extends a substantial distance beyond that last portion; and means for selectively applying said vacuum to one of the two rows of apertures through the back surface of the belt.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
213 words
An arrangement for picking documents from the end of a stack of said documents comprising, in combination: a driven belt which passes one end of the stack with the front surface of the belt facing and adjacent to the exposed surface of the end document of the stack, said belt being formed with two rows of apertures therethrough, each row extending in the direction of the length dimension of the belt, apertures in one row being located at different positions than apertures in the other row and wherein the apertures in each row occur in clusters, each cluster of apertures in one row being spaced from the next adjacent cluster in that row a distance somewhat greater than a document length, and each cluster of apertures in the other row being spaced from the adjacent cluster of apertures in that row a distance substantially greater than the distance between clusters in said one row; means for creating a vacuum at the region of the belt which overlaps the last portion of the end document on the stack passed by the belt, and which extends a substantial distance beyond that last portion; and means for selectively applying said vacuum to one of the two rows of apertures through the back surface of the belt.
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) | 1976-05-28 | 1976-11-27 | 1977-05-29 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1980-05-28 | 1980-11-27 | 1981-05-29 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1984-05-28 | 1984-11-27 | 1985-05-29 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |