US3779546A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Vacuum wheel document direction changing device
Assignee: Unisys Corp
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Filing: 1972-12-11
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Granted: 1973-12-18
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Expires: 1992-12-11
Abstract
Abstract Apparatus is described which comprises a continuously rotating wheel assembly having disposed thereon one or more vacuum platens for transporting documents in aidrection changes. The apparatus is effective in changing the direction or the direction and orientation of documents, such as mail pieces, being transported in single file at high speed. For example, the device may be employed to abruptly change the direction of a moving document approximately through 90* within substantially the same plane. Additionally, the last-mentioned document may enter the device in a direction parallel to one of its axes (directed along the length of its flat surface) and may exit the device in a direction parallel to the other of its axes (directed along its width). Depending upon the application, the device platens may be arranged to provide a variety of document exit orientations along with a choice of substantially planar direction changes.
Inventors
- 👤 E Wojtowicz
- 👤 J Hunter
- 👤 S Lazzarotti
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-30 16:18
CPC Classifications
B; B07; B07C; B07C1/00; B07C1/18
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 11
Claim 1
Independent Claim
337 words
A vacuum wheel device for changing the direction of a moving document through a desired angle substantially within the same plane comprising: a wheel assembly rotatably mounted on a stationary shaft having a hollow center portion adapted to be coupled to a source of vacuum pressure, at least one platen affixed to a shaft having a hollow center portion, the platen shaft being mounted on said wheel assembly for rotation therewith, said platen having an apertured face portion adapted to contact said document at a predetermined input point, a passage within said platen connecting the aperture in said face portion to the hollow center portion of said platen shaft, a nonrotating sleeve member affixed to the wheel assembly shaft and having a sector-like opEning disposed therein, an aperture in a wall of said last mentioned shaft leading from said hollow center portion thereof to said sector-like opening, a substantially radial passageway in said wheel assembly adapted to rotate therewith and having one of its pair of extremities at the hollow center portion of said platen shaft, and its other extremity at said sector-like opening, said sector-like opening in said sleeve being so oriented with respect to said radial passageway that initial alignment of the latter with the former occurs at said predetermined input point during rotation of said wheel assembly, thereby completing a path for said vacuum pressure and permitting said pressure to be applied to said document positioned adjacent the face portion of said platen, the arc subtended by said sector-like opening being such that with continued rotation of said wheel assembly subsequent to the attainment of said input point, said vacuum pressure is maintained until said platen and the document attached thereto reach a document output point corresponding to said desired angular direction change, said radial passageway and said sector-like opening being misaligned at said output point such that the path for said vacuum pressure is closed thereby, the termination of said vacuum pressure on said document permitting the release thereof at said output point.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
337 words
A vacuum wheel device for changing the direction of a moving document through a desired angle substantially within the same plane comprising: a wheel assembly rotatably mounted on a stationary shaft having a hollow center portion adapted to be coupled to a source of vacuum pressure, at least one platen affixed to a shaft having a hollow center portion, the platen shaft being mounted on said wheel assembly for rotation therewith, said platen having an apertured face portion adapted to contact said document at a predetermined input point, a passage within said platen connecting the aperture in said face portion to the hollow center portion of said platen shaft, a nonrotating sleeve member affixed to the wheel assembly shaft and having a sector-like opEning disposed therein, an aperture in a wall of said last mentioned shaft leading from said hollow center portion thereof to said sector-like opening, a substantially radial passageway in said wheel assembly adapted to rotate therewith and having one of its pair of extremities at the hollow center portion of said platen shaft, and its other extremity at said sector-like opening, said sector-like opening in said sleeve being so oriented with respect to said radial passageway that initial alignment of the latter with the former occurs at said predetermined input point during rotation of said wheel assembly, thereby completing a path for said vacuum pressure and permitting said pressure to be applied to said document positioned adjacent the face portion of said platen, the arc subtended by said sector-like opening being such that with continued rotation of said wheel assembly subsequent to the attainment of said input point, said vacuum pressure is maintained until said platen and the document attached thereto reach a document output point corresponding to said desired angular direction change, said radial passageway and said sector-like opening being misaligned at said output point such that the path for said vacuum pressure is closed thereby, the termination of said vacuum pressure on said document permitting the release thereof at said output point.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
64 words
A direction-changing device as defined in claim 1 further including a venting passage leading from the external surface of said wheel assembly to said radial passageway, said radial passageway being aligned with said venting passage at said document output point and providing a venting to atmosphere of any residual vacuum pressure present at the face of said platen at the termination of said pressure.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
51 words
A direction-changing device as defined in claim 2 further characterized in that said platen shaft is rotatably mounted on said wheel assembly, whereby said platen is capable of independent rotation, and means coupled to said last-mentioned shaft for causing a desired rotation thereof concurrent with the rotation of said wheel assembly.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
48 words
A direction-changing device as defined in claim 3 wherein said means for causing a desired rotation of said platen shaft comprises first and second toothed pulleys attached respectively to the shafts of said platen and said wheel assembly and a toothed belt linking said first and second pulleys.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
52 words
A direction-changing device as defined in claim 4 wherein the physical relationship of said first and second pulleys is such that for any given angular rotation of said wheel assembly in one direction, said belt linking said pulleys will cause said platen to rotate by an equal angle in the opposite direction.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
51 words
A direction-changing device as defined in claim 5 wherein said desired directional change is 90*, said document entering said device in a substantially horizontal direction parallel to its lengthwise axis at said input point and exiting said device in a vertical direction parallel to its widthwise axis at said output point.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
37 words
A direction-changing device as defined in claim 6 further characterized in that the face portion of said platen is comprised of high frictional material having a plurality of interconnected elongated slots with at least one aperture therein.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
43 words
A direction-changing device as defined in claim 7 further characterized in that said wheel assembly includes a toothed pulley attached to its periphery and drive belt means linked to said last-mentioned pulley and being operatively connected to effect rotation of said wheel assembly.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
41 words
A direction-changing device as defined in claim 8 further including a rotating brush assembly positioned at said input point in close proximity to said platen to assure intimate contact of the document with the platen at the inception of vacuum pressure.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
102 words
A direction-changing device as defined in claim 1 wherein said device includes a pair of platens spaced 180* apart, each of said platens being affixed to a hollow shaft rotatably mounted on said wheel assembly, each of said platens being capable of independent rotation about its center, a pair of first timing pulleys attached respectively to the platen shafts, a first timing belt linking said first timing pulleys, a pair of second timing pulleys attached respectively to the shaft of one of said platens and the stationary shaft of said wheel assembly, and a second timing belt linking said second timing pulleys.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
US2810575A
Cited
US3041065A
Cited
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1976-12-17 | 1977-06-18 | 1977-12-18 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1980-12-17 | 1981-06-18 | 1981-12-18 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1984-12-17 | 1985-06-18 | 1985-12-18 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |