US3773162A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Document card transport mechanism
Assignee: International Business Machines Corp
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Filing: 1971-11-05
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Granted: 1973-11-20
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Expires: 1991-11-05
Abstract
Abstract Apparatus for changing the position of a document card so that it may be printed in a plurality of print positions and in a plurality of print rows including card engaging segments disposed on the ends of flexible arms, a solenoid for flexing the arms so as to increment the card forwardly, and a stepper motor for incrementally rotating the segments so as to step the card transversely.
Inventors
- 👤 R Lentz
- 👤 R Turley
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-28 03:24
CPC Classifications
B; B41; B41J; B41J13/00; B41J13/10; B41J13/12; B41J13/26; B41J13/32; Y; Y10; Y10S; Y10S400/00; Y10S400/902; Y10S400/903
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 13
Claim 1
Independent Claim
177 words
Mechanism for processing document cards comprising: a row of operators for operating on a document card at a plurality of spaced positions along a predetermined line on the card when the card is in a certain position in registry with said operators, means for gripping said card and holding it in said position and including a flexible arm and a pressure member disposed opposite the end of the arm for gripping the card between them, an actuator effective on said arm to flex the arm so as to cause said card to move in the direction of said predetermined line so that said operators may operate at intermediate positions along said line, and means for rotating said arm through a small angle in the direction at right angles to the direction of its movement caused by said actuator so as to move the document card in a direction at right angles to said predetermined line whereby said operators may operate on the document card in a second predetermined line which is parallel to said first-named predetermined line.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
177 words
Mechanism for processing document cards comprising: a row of operators for operating on a document card at a plurality of spaced positions along a predetermined line on the card when the card is in a certain position in registry with said operators, means for gripping said card and holding it in said position and including a flexible arm and a pressure member disposed opposite the end of the arm for gripping the card between them, an actuator effective on said arm to flex the arm so as to cause said card to move in the direction of said predetermined line so that said operators may operate at intermediate positions along said line, and means for rotating said arm through a small angle in the direction at right angles to the direction of its movement caused by said actuator so as to move the document card in a direction at right angles to said predetermined line whereby said operators may operate on the document card in a second predetermined line which is parallel to said first-named predetermined line.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
47 words
Mechanism for processing document cards as set forth in claim 1, said row of operators including a row of print wheels at one face of said card and a row of print hammers at the other face of said card and in registry with said print wheels.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
27 words
Mechanism for processing document cards as set forth in claim 1, said flexible arm being of sheet material extending in the direction of rotation of said arm.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
72 words
Mechanism for processing document cards as set forth in claim 1, said card gripping means also including a second flexible arm which is coaxially disposed with respect to and is rotatable along with said first-named flexible arm, said pressure member constituting a roll disposed opposite said first-named flexible arm and said gripping means including a second roll disposed opposite said second-named flexible arm and coaxially disposed with respect to said first-named roll.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
53 words
Mechanism for processing document cards as set forth in claim 4, said means for rotating said arms including a stepper motor for incrementing said arms through a plurality of small angled steps so that said operators are operative in a third predetermined line on the document card parallel with said first-named predetermined line.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
39 words
Mechanism for processing document cards as set forth in claim 4 and including a pair of nipped rolls for moving the card into its said certain position and a gate for holding the card in its said certain position.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
99 words
Mechanism for processing document cards as set forth in claim 6 and including means for mounting said two rolls disposed opposite said flexible arms so that they may be moved into and out of contact with the document card, means for movably mounting one of said nipped rolls so that it may be moved into and out of contact with the document card, and means for interconnecting said two mounting means so that said one nipped roll is moved out of contact with the document card while said two first-named rolls are moved into contact with the document card.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
175 words
Mechanism for moving a document card in two different directions comprising: an arm of flexible sheet material which is formed with a curved edge surface on one end of the arm, means for rotatably mounting said arm at its other end about an axis extending transversely of the sheet material of the arm, a pressure applying part opposite said curved edge surface of said arm for gripping the document card between said curved edge surface and said pressure applying part, means effective on said arm for flexing the arm in a direction extending transversely of the sheet material of the arm so as to move the document card from one position to another position in a first one of said directions while the card is gripped between the arm and said pressure applying part, and means for rotating said arm through a small angle about its said axis of rotation so as to move the card in the other of said directions while the card is gripped between the arm and said pressure applying part.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
175 words
Mechanism for moving a document card in two different directions comprising: an arm of flexible sheet material which is formed with a curved edge surface on one end of the arm, means for rotatably mounting said arm at its other end about an axis extending transversely of the sheet material of the arm, a pressure applying part opposite said curved edge surface of said arm for gripping the document card between said curved edge surface and said pressure applying part, means effective on said arm for flexing the arm in a direction extending transversely of the sheet material of the arm so as to move the document card from one position to another position in a first one of said directions while the card is gripped between the arm and said pressure applying part, and means for rotating said arm through a small angle about its said axis of rotation so as to move the card in the other of said directions while the card is gripped between the arm and said pressure applying part.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
51 words
Mechanism for moving a document card as set forth in claim 8, said pressure applying part including a roll, and means for mounting said roll so that the roll is rotatable and is moveable axially of the roll so as to allow the card to be moved in said two directions.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
67 words
Mechanism for moving a document card as set forth in claim 9 and including means for moving the document card initially in the direction of the axis of said roll, and a gate for holding the card in a position between said roll and said curved edge surface of said arm so that said flexible sheet material arm may move the document card in said two directions.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
126 words
Mechanism for moving a document card as set forth in claim 9 and including a pair of rolls for initially propelling the card in the direction parallel with respect to the axis of said first named roll, means for moving one of the rolls of said roll pair away from the other roll of said roll pair for rendering the roll pair inoperative to propel the document card, means for moving said first named roll toward and away from said curved arm edge surface, and means for interconnecting said two roll moving means so that one of said rolls of said roll pair is moved away from the other roll of said roll pair when said first named roll is moved toward said curved arm surface.
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USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1976-11-19 | 1977-05-21 | 1977-11-20 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1980-11-19 | 1981-05-21 | 1981-11-20 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1984-11-19 | 1985-05-21 | 1985-11-20 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |