Patent US3829080A successfully refreshed from Google Patents.
US3829080A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Fan-folded paper stacker for high speed printer
Assignee: DECISION DATA Inc A CORP OF
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Filing: 1971-08-19
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Granted: 1974-08-13
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Expires: 1991-08-19
Abstract
Abstract Fan-folded printout from a high speed printer is stacked by feeding the paper down a vertically inclined surface onto a platform located at an angle with the surface to cause the paper to stack. The paper is fed down the vertically inclined surface by a pair of conventional paper feed tractors engaging edge perforations in the paper. A vacuum chamber buffer is provided between the printer and the inclined surface and when a minimum amount of web is photoelectrically sensed in the buffer, the stacker is conditioned to discontinue stacking when the first fold pointing away from the inclined surface above the top of the stacked paper on the platform is one form length above the top of the stack. The precise time at which to discontinue stacking is determined by tracking the shaft driving the tractors with a counter. Since the top of the stack continually rises, another counter is provided to track the stack''s top.
Inventors
- 👤 H Braen
- 👤 R Hafner
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-07 11:10
CPC Classifications
B; B41; B41J; B41J15/00; B41J15/16; B65; B65H; B65H45/00; B65H45/02; B65H45/06; B65H45/10; B65H45/101; B65H45/1015; B65H2408/00; B65H2408/20; B65H2408/21; B65H2408/215
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 22
Claim 1
Independent Claim
168 words
In an apparatus for stacking an elongated Web having transversely extending folds which are longitudinally spaced with alternate folds pointing in opposite directions, the apparatus being of the type having a member with an inclined vertically descending surface, means for longitudinally feeding said web down said surface such that alternate folds point toward and away from said surface, and a platform adapted to receive said web from said surface and positioned at an angle to said surface so that as said web is received it is folded in a zigzag manner along the folds stacked on the platform, the improvement comprising: means for conditioning said feeding means to discontinue stacking said web on said platform; means for indicating when the first fold pointing away from said inclined surface above the top of the stack on said platform is a predetermined distance above the top of said stack; and means, responsive to said indicating means, for stopping said feeding means when said feeding means is conditioned to discontinue stacking.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
168 words
In an apparatus for stacking an elongated Web having transversely extending folds which are longitudinally spaced with alternate folds pointing in opposite directions, the apparatus being of the type having a member with an inclined vertically descending surface, means for longitudinally feeding said web down said surface such that alternate folds point toward and away from said surface, and a platform adapted to receive said web from said surface and positioned at an angle to said surface so that as said web is received it is folded in a zigzag manner along the folds stacked on the platform, the improvement comprising: means for conditioning said feeding means to discontinue stacking said web on said platform; means for indicating when the first fold pointing away from said inclined surface above the top of the stack on said platform is a predetermined distance above the top of said stack; and means, responsive to said indicating means, for stopping said feeding means when said feeding means is conditioned to discontinue stacking.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
18 words
The apparatus as recited in claim 1 wherein said inclined vertically descending surface is approximately 15* from vertical.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
18 words
The apparatus as recited in claim 2 wherein said platform is at approximately 90* with said inclined surface.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
17 words
The apparatus as recited in claim 1 wherein the transverse folds are equally spaced along said web.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
30 words
The apparatus as recited in claim 4 wherein the spacing between the transverse folds substantially equals said predetermined distance above the top of said stack indicated by said indicating means.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
42 words
The apparatus as recited in claim 5 wherein said indicating means comprises first means for signaling each time a first predetermined length of said web is fed down said inclined-surface, said first predetermined length having a predetermined relationship with said predetermined distance.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
17 words
The apparatus as recited in claim 6 wherein said first predetermined length is twice said predetermined distance.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
62 words
The apparatus as recited in claim 6 wherein said web has equally spaced perforations longitudinally arranged along its length, and said indicating means further comprises means for sensing said perforations, means for counting said sensed perforations and indicating when a predetermined number of perforations have been sensed, said predetermined number being the number of perforations in said first predetermined length of web.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
61 words
The apparatus as recited in claim 6 wherein said feeding means comprises a movable member adapted to engage said web, the movement of said member bearing a predetermined relationship to the length of web fed, and wherein said first signaling means is responsive to the movement of said member to indicate each time said first predetermined length of web is fed.
Claim 11
Independent Claim
74 words
The apparatus as recited in class 6 wherein said feeding means comprises a rotatable shaft and means for engaging said web, said engaging means being rotatable with said shaft, the amount of rotation of said shaft bearing a predetermined relationship to the length of web fed, and wherein said first signaling means is responsive to the amount of rotation of said shaft to indicate each time said first predetermined length of web is fed.
Claim 12
Independent Claim
74 words
The apparatus as recited in class 6 wherein said feeding means comprises a rotatable shaft and means for engaging said web, said engaging means being rotatable with said shaft, the amount of rotation of said shaft bearing a predetermined relationship to the length of web fed, and wherein said first signaling means is responsive to the amount of rotation of said shaft to indicate each time said first predetermined length of web is fed.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
44 words
The apparatus as recited in claim 10 wherein said web has perforations arranged along its edges, said web engaging means comprises a pair of tractors having sprockets adapted to drivingly engage said edge perforation and said shaft is driven and drivingly engages said tractors.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
37 words
The apparatus as recited in claim 6 further including means for selectively adjusting said first signaling means to indicate different first predetermined lengths so that the apparatus may stack different webs having different spacings between their folds.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
85 words
The apparatus as recited in claim 6 wherein said indicating means further includes second means for signalling each time a second predetermined length of said web is fed down said surface, said second predetermined length haviNg a predetermined relationship with the thickness of said web, and wherein, in response to said second signaling means, said first signal means signals each time a third predetermined length of web is fed, said third predetermined length being less than said first but greater than said second predetermined lengths.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
38 words
The apparatus as recited in claim 13 further including means for selectively adjusting said second signalling means to indicate different second predetermined lengths corresponding to different web thicknesses so that the apparatus may stack webs of different thicknesses.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
59 words
The apparatus as recited in claim 1 further including a first web buffer through which said web passes before being fed down said inclined surface and wherein said conditioning means comprises means for determining when a predetermined low amount of web is in said buffer and said feeding means is conditioned to discontinue stacking when said low amount occurs.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
24 words
The apparatus as recited in claim 15 wherein said first web buffer comprises a vacuum chamber for containing a downwardly extending loop of web.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
30 words
The apparatus as recited in claim 1 and further including means for resiliently supporting said web as an upwardly extending loop immediately before it is fed down said inclined surface.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
25 words
The apparatus as recited in claim 17 wherein said supporting means comprises means for crating an air bearing within the top portion of said loop.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
23 words
The apparatus as recited in claim 1 further including means, located on said vertically descending surface, for discharging static electrically from said web.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
55 words
The apparatus as recited in claim 1 wherein said platform is hinged to said inclined surface and adapted to be placed adjacent and essentially parallel to said surface, and further including means for holding said platform adjacent and essentially parallel to said surface, whereby the platform may be placed and held in a storage 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) | 1977-08-12 | 1978-02-11 | 1978-08-13 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1981-08-12 | 1982-02-11 | 1982-08-13 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1985-08-12 | 1986-02-11 | 1986-08-13 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |