US3768644A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Method and apparatus for individually diverting selected sheets from a corrugator bridge
Assignee: OI Glass Inc
•
Filing: 1972-09-11
•
Granted: 1973-10-30
•
Expires: 1992-09-11
Abstract
Abstract Apparatus and method for individually diverting sheets of corrugated paperboard from one of the bridges of a corrugator. A plurality of sheet diverting mechanisms are positioned between and below the conveyor belts of a corrugator bridge. A pivotally mounted sheet lifting arm is normally held down by a biasing air pressure on an air motor which operates the arm. When it is desired to divert a sheet, the biasing air pressure is removed, and a lower air pressure on the opposite side of a piston in the air motor starts to pivot the arm. However, the weight of sheets on the arm is sufficient to overcome the force of the lower air pressure and movement of the arm is stopped. When the sheet passes off of the arm, it is moved all the way up, tripping a valve which admits high-pressure air to hold the arm up. Thus, the next sheet in line is diverted from its path of travel. Either by operator action or by a preset timer, the high-pressure air is then removed, allowing subsequent sheets to force the arm downward again which, in part, resets the system for a future diverting cycle.
Inventors
- 👤 Frank F Di
- 👤 T Vogt
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-08 03:26
CPC Classifications
B; B65; B65H; B65H29/00; B65H29/58; B65H29/62; B65H2701/00; B65H2701/10; B65H2701/17; B65H2701/176; B65H2701/1762; Y; Y10; Y10S; Y10S209/00; Y10S209/942
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 19
Claim 1
Independent Claim
176 words
Apparatus for individually diverting sheets of corrugated paperboard moving in a substantially horizontal plane in a longitudinally spaced-apart pattern along at least one bridge of a corrugator comprising, in combination: a plurality of sheet lifting arms pivotally mounted below the horizontal plane of travel of said sheets in a substantially linear array across the width of said bridge, said lifting arms having a rest position below the horizontal plane of travel of said sheets, an active position interfering with the plane of travel of said sheets, and a sensing position intermediate said rest and active positions; power means for pivoting said lifting arms; and control means connected to said power means for: a. holding all of said lifting arms in said rest position, b. substantially simultaneously moving all of said lifting arms into said sensing position when sheets are to be diverted, and c. individually moving said lifting arms into said active position in response to a gap between successive sheets of paperboard to thereby divert sheets of paperboard from their normal plane of horizontal travel.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
176 words
Apparatus for individually diverting sheets of corrugated paperboard moving in a substantially horizontal plane in a longitudinally spaced-apart pattern along at least one bridge of a corrugator comprising, in combination: a plurality of sheet lifting arms pivotally mounted below the horizontal plane of travel of said sheets in a substantially linear array across the width of said bridge, said lifting arms having a rest position below the horizontal plane of travel of said sheets, an active position interfering with the plane of travel of said sheets, and a sensing position intermediate said rest and active positions; power means for pivoting said lifting arms; and control means connected to said power means for: a. holding all of said lifting arms in said rest position, b. substantially simultaneously moving all of said lifting arms into said sensing position when sheets are to be diverted, and c. individually moving said lifting arms into said active position in response to a gap between successive sheets of paperboard to thereby divert sheets of paperboard from their normal plane of horizontal travel.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
16 words
The apparatus of claim 1, wherein said power means comprises a plurality of reciprocating air motors.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
67 words
The apparatus of claim 2, further including: means for individually pivotally mounting said plurality of air motors adjacent each of said lifting arms; a slidable piston contained within each of said air motors; an extensible operating rod attached to and movable with each of said pistons; and means for pivotally attaching the extending end of said operating rod to the lifting arm with which it is associated.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
123 words
The apparatus of claim 3, wherein said control means includes: a source of low-pressure air; a source of high-pressure air; means for connecting said source of low-pressure air to all of said reciprocating air motors, the pressure of said low-pressure air being such that the net force exerted on said pistons by said low-pressure air is less than the net downward force of said sheets of paperboard on said lifting arms; and, means for connecting said source of high-pressure air to all of said reciprocating air motors, the pressure of said high-pressure air being such that the net force exerted on said pistons by said high-pressure air is greater than the net downward force of said sheets of paperboard on said lifting arms.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
204 words
The apparatus of claim 4, wherein said means for connecting said source of low-pressure air to all of said reciprocating air motors comprises: a plurality, equal in number to the number of said lifting arms, of fourway cam operated, spring return valves mounted adjacent to each of said reciprocating air motors, each of said cam operated valves having a first, second and third inlet port and a first and second outlet port; means for connecting said source of low-pressure air to said first inlet port of all of said cam operated valves; means for connecting said first outlet port of said cam operated valves to the side of said pistons opposite said operating rod; a movable operating stem extending from each of said cam operated valves, said cam operated valves being so constructed that when said stem is depressed, said first inlet port is connected to said first outlet port, said second inlet port is connected to said second outlet port, and said third inlet port is blocked, and when said stem is not depressed, said third inlet port is connected to said first outlet port, said first inlet port is connected to said second outlet port, and said second inlet port is blocked.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
52 words
The apparatus of claim 5, wherein said control means further includes: a plurality of cam followeRs, one cam follower being mounted on each of said operating stems; and a plurality of cams, one cam being positioned on each of said lifting arms to engage said cam followers and hold said stems depressed.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
207 words
The apparatus of claim 5, wherein said means for connecting said source of high-pressure air to all of said reciprocating air motors comprises: a four-way, electrical solenoid operated, spring return valve, said solenoid valve being de-energized when said lifting arms are in said rest position, said solenoid valve having a first, second and third inlet port and a first and second outlet port; means for connecting said source of high-pressure air to said first inlet port of said solenoid valve; means for connecting said first outlet port of said solenoid valve to said second inlet port of all of said cam operated valves, said solenoid valve being so constructed that when said solenoid valve is de-energized, said first inlet port is connected to said first outlet port, said third inlet port is connected to said second outlet port, and said second inlet port is blocked, and when said solenoid valve is energized, said first inlet port is connected to said second outlet port, said second inlet port is connected to said first outlet port, and said third inlet port is blocked; and means for connecting said second outlet port of said cam operated valves to the side of said pistons to which said operating rods are attached.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
50 words
The apparatus of claim 7, wherein said control means further includes: means for connecting said second outlet port of said solenoid valve to said third inlet port of all of said cam operated valves; and electrical circuit means connected to said solenoid valve for energizing and de-energizing said solenoid valve.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
39 words
The apparatus of claim 8, wherein said electrical circuit means includes sensing means for initiating the energization of said solenoid valve; and means carried by said sheet for activating said sensing means when diversion of a sheet is desired.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
85 words
Apparatus for selectively, upwardly, diverting sheets of corrugated paperboard from a bridge of a corrugator, comprising a plurality of deflector members positioned at spaced intervals across the width of the bridge and normally below the path of travel of the sheets, poweroperated, deflector-actuating means connected to each of said deflector members for moving said deflectors upwardly into sheet-contacting position and means responsive to further movement of any individual deflector member to a predetermined upward position for maintaining said deflector member in fully-up, sheet deflecting position.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
85 words
Apparatus for selectively, upwardly, diverting sheets of corrugated paperboard from a bridge of a corrugator, comprising a plurality of deflector members positioned at spaced intervals across the width of the bridge and normally below the path of travel of the sheets, poweroperated, deflector-actuating means connected to each of said deflector members for moving said deflectors upwardly into sheet-contacting position and means responsive to further movement of any individual deflector member to a predetermined upward position for maintaining said deflector member in fully-up, sheet deflecting position.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
27 words
The apparatus of claim 10, further including timing means connected to said deflector-actuating means for effecting retraction of said deflector member after a predetermined period of operation.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
32 words
The apparatus of claim 10, further including sensing means connected to said deflector-actuating means, and means carried by the sheet for activating said sensing means when deflection of a sheet is desired.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
23 words
The apparatus of claim 10, in which said deflector-actuating means comprises an air-operated, reciprocated piston, motor and a source of air under pressure.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
48 words
The apparatus of claim 13, wherein said means responsive to further upward movement of said deflector means, comprises a cam-actuated valve between said air source and said motor, and cam means carried by said deflector for operating said valve in response to movement thereof to a predetermined position.
Claim 17
Independent Claim
156 words
A method for individually diverting sheets of corrugated paperboard moving in a substantially horizontal plane in a longitudinally spaced-apart pattern along at least one bridge of a corrugator comprising the steps of: a. simultaneously moving a plurality of sheet lifting arms arranged in a substantially linear array across the width of said bridge from a first position below the horizontal path of travel of said sheets to a second position in contact with the underside of said sheets; b. maintaining said lifting arms in said second position; c. individually moving said lifting arms from said second position to a third position interfering with the horizontal path of travel of said sheets as a gap between sheets occurs; d. holding said lifting arms in said third position with a force greater than the net downward force of said sheets; and thereby e. diverting sheets from their horizontal path of travel by contact with said held lifting arms.
Claim 18
Independent Claim
156 words
A method for individually diverting sheets of corrugated paperboard moving in a substantially horizontal plane in a longitudinally spaced-apart pattern along at least one bridge of a corrugator comprising the steps of: a. simultaneously moving a plurality of sheet lifting arms arranged in a substantially linear array across the width of said bridge from a first position below the horizontal path of travel of said sheets to a second position in contact with the underside of said sheets; b. maintaining said lifting arms in said second position; c. individually moving said lifting arms from said second position to a third position interfering with the horizontal path of travel of said sheets as a gap between sheets occurs; d. holding said lifting arms in said third position with a force greater than the net downward force of said sheets; and thereby e. diverting sheets from their horizontal path of travel by contact with said held lifting arms.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
46 words
The method of claim 15, further including the steps of: f. substantially simultaneously moving all of said lifting arms from said third position to said first position after diverting as many sheets as desired; and g. holding all of said lifting arms in said first position.
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) | 1976-10-29 | 1977-04-30 | 1977-10-30 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1980-10-29 | 1981-04-30 | 1981-10-30 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1984-10-29 | 1985-04-30 | 1985-10-30 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |