Patent US3840130A successfully refreshed from Google Patents.
US3840130A
Expired / Lapsed
US
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Method and apparatus for storing sheet material articles
Assignee: AB Dick Co
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Filing: 1972-11-01
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Granted: 1974-10-08
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Expires: 1992-11-01
Abstract
Abstract An improved method and apparatus is utilized to store sheet material articles in a movable storage module which can be transported from a loading location to a storage location and subsequently transported to an unloading location. At the loading location, an overlapping series of sheet material articles is transferred from a shingled stream of sheet material articles onto a support pallet or tray. This support tray is then positioned to form a tier within a frame or casing of a storage module. This is repeated until the frame is filled with vertically aligned tiers on each of which is a series of overlapping sheet material articles. The support trays are then pressed downwardly to clamp the sheet material articles against movement. Each of the support trays includes an upwardly projecting support block having an angularly disposed surface which supportingly engages the first one of a series of sheet material articles. In addition, each of the support trays includes a downwardly projecting pressure block having an angularly disposed surface which is utilized to press the last one of the series of sheet material articles in a direction to compact the articles both horizontally and vertically.
Inventors
- 👤 J Wise
- 👤 V Rana
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-04 21:50
CPC Classifications
B; B65; B65H; B65H31/00; B65H31/24
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 45
Claim 1
Independent Claim
184 words
An apparatus for use in storing a series of sheet material articles in a frame, said apparatus comprising longitudinally extending base means having a flat longitudinally extending upper surface for supporting a series of overlapping sheet material articles, support means disposed adjacent to one end portion of said base and including first face surface means extending upwardly at an acute angle to said upper surface of said base means for engaging a side surface of a first sheet material article in a series of overlapping sheet material articles disposed on said base means to support the first sheet material article with its side surface extending at an acute angle to said support surface, and pressure applicator means disposed adjacent to another end portion of said base means opposite from said one end portion and including second face surface means extending dowwardly at an acute angle to said upper surface of said base means for engaging a side surface of a last sheet material article in a series of sheet material articles disposed beneath said base means to press the last sheet material article downwardly.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
184 words
An apparatus for use in storing a series of sheet material articles in a frame, said apparatus comprising longitudinally extending base means having a flat longitudinally extending upper surface for supporting a series of overlapping sheet material articles, support means disposed adjacent to one end portion of said base and including first face surface means extending upwardly at an acute angle to said upper surface of said base means for engaging a side surface of a first sheet material article in a series of overlapping sheet material articles disposed on said base means to support the first sheet material article with its side surface extending at an acute angle to said support surface, and pressure applicator means disposed adjacent to another end portion of said base means opposite from said one end portion and including second face surface means extending dowwardly at an acute angle to said upper surface of said base means for engaging a side surface of a last sheet material article in a series of sheet material articles disposed beneath said base means to press the last sheet material article downwardly.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
71 words
An apparatus as set forth in claim 1 further including first positioning means extending outwardly from said one end portion of said base means for use in positioning said one end portion of said base means relative to the frame, and second positioning means extending outwardly from said other end portion of said base means for use in positioning said other end portion of said base means relative to the frame.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
28 words
An apparatus as set forth in claim 1 wherein said first and second face surface means extend parallel to each other and are disposed in spaced apart planes.
Claim 5
Independent Claim
377 words
An apparatus for use in storing sheet material articles, said apparatus comprising movable frame meAns for holding a plurality of tiers of overlapping sheet material articles, said frame means inclduing first and second spaced apart upright end walls extending parallel to each other, a plurality of relatively movable support means disposed within said frame means, each of said support means including a longitudinally extending base having an upper surface means for supporting an associated longitudinally extending series of overlapping sheet material articles, a lower surface means for engaging an upper portion of an overlapping series of sheet material articles disposed beneath said base, a first face surface means disposed adjacent to a first end portion of said base and extending upwardly at an acute angle from said upper surface means of said base for abuttingly engaging a lower side surface of the first sheet material article in the series of sheet material articles associated with said upper surface means to position the first sheet material article at an acute angle relative to said base, a second face surface means disposed adjacent to a second end portion of said base and extending downwardly at an acute angle from said lower surface means of said base for abuttingly engaging an upper side surface of the last sheet material article in a series of sheet material articles disposed beneath said base, first positioning surface means at said one end portion of said base for slidably engaging said first upright end wall of said frame means, and second positioning surface means at said other end portion of said base for slidably engaging said second upright end wall of said frame means, said apparatus further including means for pressing said support means downwardly to press the lower surfaces of at least some of said support means downwardly against the upper portions of at least some of the overlapping series of sheet material articles and to press the second face surfaces of at least some of said support means against the upper side surfaces of the last sheet material article in at least some of the overlapping series of sheet material articles to hold the series of sheet material articles against movement relative to said support means during movement of said frame means.
Claim 6
Independent Claim
377 words
An apparatus for use in storing sheet material articles, said apparatus comprising movable frame meAns for holding a plurality of tiers of overlapping sheet material articles, said frame means inclduing first and second spaced apart upright end walls extending parallel to each other, a plurality of relatively movable support means disposed within said frame means, each of said support means including a longitudinally extending base having an upper surface means for supporting an associated longitudinally extending series of overlapping sheet material articles, a lower surface means for engaging an upper portion of an overlapping series of sheet material articles disposed beneath said base, a first face surface means disposed adjacent to a first end portion of said base and extending upwardly at an acute angle from said upper surface means of said base for abuttingly engaging a lower side surface of the first sheet material article in the series of sheet material articles associated with said upper surface means to position the first sheet material article at an acute angle relative to said base, a second face surface means disposed adjacent to a second end portion of said base and extending downwardly at an acute angle from said lower surface means of said base for abuttingly engaging an upper side surface of the last sheet material article in a series of sheet material articles disposed beneath said base, first positioning surface means at said one end portion of said base for slidably engaging said first upright end wall of said frame means, and second positioning surface means at said other end portion of said base for slidably engaging said second upright end wall of said frame means, said apparatus further including means for pressing said support means downwardly to press the lower surfaces of at least some of said support means downwardly against the upper portions of at least some of the overlapping series of sheet material articles and to press the second face surfaces of at least some of said support means against the upper side surfaces of the last sheet material article in at least some of the overlapping series of sheet material articles to hold the series of sheet material articles against movement relative to said support means during movement of said frame means.
Claim 7
Independent Claim
227 words
A method of storing sheet material articles, said method comprising the steps of providing a plurality of support devices each of which has a generally flat longitudinally extending support surface, said step of providing a plurality of support devices includes the step of providing a plurality of support devices each of which has a face surface extending downwardly at an acute angle relative to the associated support surface adjacent to one end of the support device, providing a movable frame for holding the support devices in a vertically tiered relationship, forming a plurality of vertically aligned and horizontally extending tiers of overlapping sheet material articles in the frame, said step of forming a plurality of tiers of overlapping sheet material articles including the step of positioning longitudinally extending series of sheet material articles in an overlapping relationship on each of the support devices, and holding the sheet material articles against movement relative to the support devices by applying a downwardly directed pressure against the uppermost portion of each series of overlapped sheet material articles to press them against the associated support devices, said step of holding the sheet material articles against movement includes the step of pressing the face surface on a support device located above one series of sheet material articles downwardly against the last sheet material article in the one series of sheet material articles.
Claim 8
Independent Claim
227 words
A method of storing sheet material articles, said method comprising the steps of providing a plurality of support devices each of which has a generally flat longitudinally extending support surface, said step of providing a plurality of support devices includes the step of providing a plurality of support devices each of which has a face surface extending downwardly at an acute angle relative to the associated support surface adjacent to one end of the support device, providing a movable frame for holding the support devices in a vertically tiered relationship, forming a plurality of vertically aligned and horizontally extending tiers of overlapping sheet material articles in the frame, said step of forming a plurality of tiers of overlapping sheet material articles including the step of positioning longitudinally extending series of sheet material articles in an overlapping relationship on each of the support devices, and holding the sheet material articles against movement relative to the support devices by applying a downwardly directed pressure against the uppermost portion of each series of overlapped sheet material articles to press them against the associated support devices, said step of holding the sheet material articles against movement includes the step of pressing the face surface on a support device located above one series of sheet material articles downwardly against the last sheet material article in the one series of sheet material articles.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
29 words
A method as set forth in claim 5 further including the step of moving said frame and vertically aligned tiers of overlapping sheet material articles to a storage location.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
53 words
A method as set forth in claim 5 wherein said step of positioning a longitudinally extending series of overlapping sheet material articles on each of the Support devices includes the step of operating a conveyor to move at least a portion of a stream of overlapping sheet material articles onto a support device.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
78 words
A method as set forth in claim 5 wherein said step of positioning a longitudinally extending series of sheet material articles on the support devices is performed at a loading location spaced from said frame, said step of forming a plurality of tiers of overlapping sheet material articles in the frame further including the step of moving each of the support devices with a series of overlapping sheet material articles thereon from the loading location to the frame.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
51 words
A method as set forth in claim 5 wherein said step of holding the sheet material articles against movement relative to the support devices includes the step of moving an upper support device downwardly against the upper portion of a series of sheet material articles disposed on a lower support device.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
120 words
A method as set forth in claim 5 wherein said step of providing a plurality of support devices includes the step of providing a plurality of support devices each of which has a face surface extending upwardly at an acute angle relative to the associated support surface adjacent to one end of the support device, said step of positioning a series of sheet material articles on each of the support devices includes the step of positioning a first sheet material article in each series of sheet material articles in abutting engagement with an associated face surface to support the first sheet material article in each series of sheet material articles at an acute angle relative to the associated support surface.
Claim 14
Independent Claim
276 words
An apparatus for use in storing sheet material articles, said apparatus comprising movable frame means for holding a plurality of tiers of overlapping sheet material articles against movement relative to each other during movement of said frame means from one location to another, a plurality of longitudinally extending support means for supporting a plurality of vertically aligned series of overlapping sheet material articles in said frame means to thereby form the plurality of tiers of overlapping sheet material articles, each of said support means including a longitudinally extending support surface means for holding a longitudinally extending series of overlapping sheet material articles with the longitudinal axis of the series of sheet material articles extending parallel to the longitudinal axis of said support means and face surface means disposed adjacent to one end portion of said one support means and extending downwardly at an acute angle to the support surface means of said one support means for engaging a side surface of a last sheet material article of the series of sheet material articles disposed beneath said one support means, and retainer means for holding the plurality of series of overlapping sheet material articles against movement relative to their associated support means during movement of said frame means, said retainer means including means for applying pressure against the upper portion of a series of overlapping sheet material articles to press the series of overlapping sheet material articles downwardly toward the associated support means, said retainer means being operable to press said face surface means against the side surface of the last sheet material article of the series of sheet material articles disposed beneath said one support means.
Claim 15
Independent Claim
276 words
An apparatus for use in storing sheet material articles, said apparatus comprising movable frame means for holding a plurality of tiers of overlapping sheet material articles against movement relative to each other during movement of said frame means from one location to another, a plurality of longitudinally extending support means for supporting a plurality of vertically aligned series of overlapping sheet material articles in said frame means to thereby form the plurality of tiers of overlapping sheet material articles, each of said support means including a longitudinally extending support surface means for holding a longitudinally extending series of overlapping sheet material articles with the longitudinal axis of the series of sheet material articles extending parallel to the longitudinal axis of said support means and face surface means disposed adjacent to one end portion of said one support means and extending downwardly at an acute angle to the support surface means of said one support means for engaging a side surface of a last sheet material article of the series of sheet material articles disposed beneath said one support means, and retainer means for holding the plurality of series of overlapping sheet material articles against movement relative to their associated support means during movement of said frame means, said retainer means including means for applying pressure against the upper portion of a series of overlapping sheet material articles to press the series of overlapping sheet material articles downwardly toward the associated support means, said retainer means being operable to press said face surface means against the side surface of the last sheet material article of the series of sheet material articles disposed beneath said one support means.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
94 words
An apparatus as set forth in claim 11 wherein each one of said support means includes face surface means disposed adjacent to one end portion of said one support means and extending upwardly at an acute angle to the support surface means of said one support means for engaging a first sheet material article in the series of sheet material articles associated with said one support means and for supporting the first sheet material article with its side surfaces extending at an acute angle to the support surface means of said one support means.
Claim 17
Independent Claim
239 words
An apparatus for use in storing sheet material articles, said apparatus comprising movable frame means for holding a plurality of tiers of overlapping sheet material articles against movement relative to each other during movement of said frame means from one location to another, said frame means including top, bottom and side walls which are interconnected and circumscribe the plurality of tiers of overlapping sheet material articles, a plurality of longitudinally extending support means for supporting a plurality of vertically aligned series of overlapping sheet material articles in said frame means to thereby form the plurality of tiers of overlapping sheet material articles, each of said support means including a longitudinally extending support surface means for holding a longitudinally extending series of overlapping sheet material articles with the longitudinal axis of the series of sheet material articles extending parallel to the longitudinal axis of said support means, said walls of said frame means cooperating to define a pair of opposite side openings through which said support means may be moved into and out of said frame means, and retainer means for holding the plurality of series of overlapping sheet material articles against movement relative to their associated support means during movement of said frame means, said retainer means including means for applying pressure against the upper portion of a series of overlapping sheet material articles to press the series of overlapping sheet material articles downwardly toward the associated support means.
Claim 18
Independent Claim
239 words
An apparatus for use in storing sheet material articles, said apparatus comprising movable frame means for holding a plurality of tiers of overlapping sheet material articles against movement relative to each other during movement of said frame means from one location to another, said frame means including top, bottom and side walls which are interconnected and circumscribe the plurality of tiers of overlapping sheet material articles, a plurality of longitudinally extending support means for supporting a plurality of vertically aligned series of overlapping sheet material articles in said frame means to thereby form the plurality of tiers of overlapping sheet material articles, each of said support means including a longitudinally extending support surface means for holding a longitudinally extending series of overlapping sheet material articles with the longitudinal axis of the series of sheet material articles extending parallel to the longitudinal axis of said support means, said walls of said frame means cooperating to define a pair of opposite side openings through which said support means may be moved into and out of said frame means, and retainer means for holding the plurality of series of overlapping sheet material articles against movement relative to their associated support means during movement of said frame means, said retainer means including means for applying pressure against the upper portion of a series of overlapping sheet material articles to press the series of overlapping sheet material articles downwardly toward the associated support means.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
43 words
An apparatus as set forth in claim 13 wherein said retainer means includes means for pressing at least a portion of one support means downwardly against a series of overlapping sheet material articles disposed on a support means beneath said one support means.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
94 words
An apparatus as set forth in claim 13 wherein each one of said support means includes face surface means disposed adjacent to one end portion of said one support means and extending upwardly at an acute angle to the support surface means of said one support means for engaging a first sheet material article in the series of sheet material articles associated with said one support means and for supporting the first sheet material article with its side surfaces extending at an acute angle to the support surface means of said one support means.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
105 words
An apparatus as set forth in claim 13 wherein each one of said support means includes face surface means disposed adjacent to one end portion of said one support means and extending downwardly at an acute angle to the support surface means of said one support means for engaging a side surface of a last sheet material article of the series of sheet material articles disposed beneath said one support means, said retainer means being operable to press said face surface means against the side surface of the last sheet material article of the series of sheet material articles disposed beneath said one support means.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
167 words
An apparatus as set forth in claim 13 wherein each of said support means includes a longitudinally extending base having an upper portion defining said support surface means, a first face surface means disposed adjacent to one end portion of said base and extending upwardly at an acute angle to said support surface means for engaging a side surface of a first sheet material article in a series of overlapping sheet material articles disposed on said base means to support the first sheet material article with its side surface extending at an acute angle to said support surface means, and pressure applicator means disposed adjacent to another end portion of said base means opposite from said one end portion and including second face surface means extending downwardly at an acute angle to said support surface means for engaging a side surface of a last sheet material article in a series of sheet material articles disposed beneath said base means to press the last sheet material article downwardly.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
71 words
An apparatus as set forth in claim 13 further including first positioning means extending outwardly from one end portion of said support means for use in positioning said one end portion of said support means relative to said frame means, and second positioning means extending outwardly from another end portion of said support means for use in positioning said other end portion of said support means relative to said frame means.
Claim 24
Independent Claim
289 words
An apparatus for use in storing sheet material articles, said apparatus comprising movable frame means for holding a plurality of tiers of overlapping sheet material articles against movement relative to each other during movement of said frame means from one location to another, a plurality of longitudinally extending support means for supporting a plurality of vertically aligned series of overlapping sheet material articles in said frame means to thereby form the plurality of tiers of overlapping sheet material articles, each one of said support means including a longitudinally extending support surface means for holding a longitudinally extending series of overlapping sheet material articles with the longitudinal axis of the series of sheet material articles extending parallel to the longitudinal axis of said one support means and face surface means disposed adjacent to one end portion of said one support means and extending downwardly at an acute angle to the support surface means of said one support means for engaging a side surface of a last sheet material article of the series of sheet material articles disposed beneath said one support means, and retaianer means for holding the plurality of series of overlapping sheet material articles against movement relative to their associated support means during movement of said frame means, said retainer means including means for applying pressure against the upper portion of a series of overlapping sheet material articles to press the series of overlapping sheet material articles downwardly toward the associated support means, said retainer means being operable to press said face surface means on an upper one of said support means against the side surface of the last sheet material article of the series of sheet material articles disposed beneath said upper one of said support means.
Claim 25
Independent Claim
289 words
An apparatus for use in storing sheet material articles, said apparatus comprising movable frame means for holding a plurality of tiers of overlapping sheet material articles against movement relative to each other during movement of said frame means from one location to another, a plurality of longitudinally extending support means for supporting a plurality of vertically aligned series of overlapping sheet material articles in said frame means to thereby form the plurality of tiers of overlapping sheet material articles, each one of said support means including a longitudinally extending support surface means for holding a longitudinally extending series of overlapping sheet material articles with the longitudinal axis of the series of sheet material articles extending parallel to the longitudinal axis of said one support means and face surface means disposed adjacent to one end portion of said one support means and extending downwardly at an acute angle to the support surface means of said one support means for engaging a side surface of a last sheet material article of the series of sheet material articles disposed beneath said one support means, and retaianer means for holding the plurality of series of overlapping sheet material articles against movement relative to their associated support means during movement of said frame means, said retainer means including means for applying pressure against the upper portion of a series of overlapping sheet material articles to press the series of overlapping sheet material articles downwardly toward the associated support means, said retainer means being operable to press said face surface means on an upper one of said support means against the side surface of the last sheet material article of the series of sheet material articles disposed beneath said upper one of said support means.
Claim 26
Dependent Claim
52 words
A method of storing sheet material articles as set forth in claim 19 further including the step of providing a movable frame for holding the trays in the vertically tiered relationship, said step of stacking the trays in a vertically tiered relationship including the step of positioning the trays in the frame.
Claim 27
Dependent Claim
26 words
A method as set forth in claim 20 further including the step of moving said frame and vertically aligned tiers of trays to a storage location.
Claim 28
Dependent Claim
68 words
A method as set forth in claim 19 wherein said step of positioning a longitudinally extending series of sheet material articles on the trays is performed at a loading location spaced from the frame, said step of positioning the trays in the frame includes the step of moving each of the trays with a series of overlapping sheet material articles thereon from the loading location to the frame.
Claim 29
Dependent Claim
37 words
A method as set forth in claim 19 wherein said step of applying downwardly directed pressure against the uppermost tier includes the step of applying a downwardly directed pressure against the uppermost series of sheet material articles.
Claim 30
Dependent Claim
53 words
A method as set forth in claim 19 wherein said step of positioning a longitudinally extending series of overlapping sheet material articles on each of the support trays includes the step of operating a conveyor to move at least a portion of a stream of overlapping sheet material articles onto a support tray.
Claim 31
Dependent Claim
97 words
A method as set forth in claim 19 wherein said step of providing a plurality of trays includes the step of providing a plurality of trays each of which has a face surface extending downwardly at an acute angle relative to the associated support surface adjacent to one end of the tray, said step of holding the sheet material articles against movement further includes the step of pressing the face surface on a tray located above one series of sheet material articles downwardly against the last sheet material article in the one series of sheet material articles.
Claim 32
Dependent Claim
117 words
A method as set forth in claim 19 wherein said step of providing a plurality of trays includes the step of providing a plurality of trays each of which has a face surface disposed at one end of the tray and extending upwardly at an acute angle relative to the associated support surface, said step of positioning a series of sheet material articles on each of the trays includes the step of positioning a first sheet material article in each series of sheet material articles in abutting engagement with an associated face surface to support the first sheet material article in each series of sheet material articles at an acute angle relative to the associated support surface.
Claim 33
Independent Claim
195 words
A method of storing sheet material articles, said method comprising the steps of providing a plurality of support trays each of which has a generally flat longitudinally extending support surface and an end surface extending upwardly at an acute angle relative to the associated support surface adjacent one end of the tray, positioning a longitudinally extending series of sheet material articles in an overlapping relationship on each support surface of each of the trays, said step of positioning a series of said step of positioning a series of sheet material articles on each of the support trays includes the step of positioning a first sheet material article in each series of sheet material articles in abutting engagement with an associated end surface to support the first sheet material article in each series of sheet material articles at an acute angle relative to the associated support surface, and clamping each series of sheet material articles against movement relative to the associated support tray by applying pressure against a major surface of the last sheet material article in each series of sheet material articles to press each series of sheet material articles toward the associated end surface.
Claim 34
Independent Claim
195 words
A method of storing sheet material articles, said method comprising the steps of providing a plurality of support trays each of which has a generally flat longitudinally extending support surface and an end surface extending upwardly at an acute angle relative to the associated support surface adjacent one end of the tray, positioning a longitudinally extending series of sheet material articles in an overlapping relationship on each support surface of each of the trays, said step of positioning a series of said step of positioning a series of sheet material articles on each of the support trays includes the step of positioning a first sheet material article in each series of sheet material articles in abutting engagement with an associated end surface to support the first sheet material article in each series of sheet material articles at an acute angle relative to the associated support surface, and clamping each series of sheet material articles against movement relative to the associated support tray by applying pressure against a major surface of the last sheet material article in each series of sheet material articles to press each series of sheet material articles toward the associated end surface.
Claim 35
Independent Claim
178 words
A method of storing sheet material articles, said method comprising the steps of providing a plurality of support trays each of which has a generally flat longitudinally extending support surface and an end surface extending upwardly at an acute angle relative to the associated support surface adjacent one end of the tray, positioning a longitudinally extending series of sheet material articles in an overlapping relationship on each support surface of each of the trays, said step of positioning a series of sheet material articles on each of the support trays includes the step of positioning a first sheet material article in each series of sheet material articles in abutting engagement with an associated end surface to support the first sheet material article in each series of sheet material articles at an acute angle relative to the associated support surface, providing a movable frame having upstanding sidewalls for holding the trays in a vertically tiered relationship, and forming a plurality of vertically aligned and horizontally extending tiers of overlapping sheet material articles between the upstanding sidewalls of the frame.
Claim 36
Independent Claim
178 words
A method of storing sheet material articles, said method comprising the steps of providing a plurality of support trays each of which has a generally flat longitudinally extending support surface and an end surface extending upwardly at an acute angle relative to the associated support surface adjacent one end of the tray, positioning a longitudinally extending series of sheet material articles in an overlapping relationship on each support surface of each of the trays, said step of positioning a series of sheet material articles on each of the support trays includes the step of positioning a first sheet material article in each series of sheet material articles in abutting engagement with an associated end surface to support the first sheet material article in each series of sheet material articles at an acute angle relative to the associated support surface, providing a movable frame having upstanding sidewalls for holding the trays in a vertically tiered relationship, and forming a plurality of vertically aligned and horizontally extending tiers of overlapping sheet material articles between the upstanding sidewalls of the frame.
Claim 37
Dependent Claim
34 words
A method as set forth in claim 28 further including the step of moving said frame with said vertically aligned tiers of overlapping sheet material articles between the upstanding sidewalls to a storage location.
Claim 38
Independent Claim
185 words
An apparatus for use in storing sheet material articles, said apparatus comprising movable frame means for holding a plurality of tiers of overlapping sheet material articles against movement relative to each other during movement of said frame means from one location to another, a plurality of longitudinally extending support trays for supporting a plurality of vertically aligned series of overlapping sheet material articles in said frame means to thereby form the plurality of tiers of Overlapping sheet material articles, each of said trays including a longitudinally extending support surface means for holding a longitudinally extending series of overlapping sheet material articles with the longitudinal axis of the series of sheet material articles extending parallel to the longitudinal axis of said support surface means, and retainer means for holding the plurality of series of overlapping sheet material articles against movement relative to their associated support tray during movement of said frame means, said retainer means including means for pressing at least a portion of one support tray downwardly against a series of overlapping sheet material articles disposed on a support tray beneath said one support tray.
Claim 39
Independent Claim
185 words
An apparatus for use in storing sheet material articles, said apparatus comprising movable frame means for holding a plurality of tiers of overlapping sheet material articles against movement relative to each other during movement of said frame means from one location to another, a plurality of longitudinally extending support trays for supporting a plurality of vertically aligned series of overlapping sheet material articles in said frame means to thereby form the plurality of tiers of Overlapping sheet material articles, each of said trays including a longitudinally extending support surface means for holding a longitudinally extending series of overlapping sheet material articles with the longitudinal axis of the series of sheet material articles extending parallel to the longitudinal axis of said support surface means, and retainer means for holding the plurality of series of overlapping sheet material articles against movement relative to their associated support tray during movement of said frame means, said retainer means including means for pressing at least a portion of one support tray downwardly against a series of overlapping sheet material articles disposed on a support tray beneath said one support tray.
Claim 40
Dependent Claim
82 words
An apparatus as set forth in claim 30 wherein each one of said trays includes end surface means extending upwardly at an acute angle to the support surface means of said one tray for engaging a first sheet material article in the series of sheet material articles associated with said one of said trays and for supporting the first sheet material article with its side surfaces extending at an acute angle to the support surface means of said one of said trays.
Claim 41
Dependent Claim
57 words
An apparatus as set forth in claim 30 wherein said frame means has top, bottom and side walls which are interconnected and circumscribe the plurality of tiers of overlapping sheet material articles, said walls cooperating to define a pair of opposite side openings through which said tray may be moved into and out of said frame means.
Claim 42
Independent Claim
154 words
An apparatus for use in storing a series of sheet material articles, said apparatus comprising longitudinally extending base means having a flat longitudinally extending upper surface for supporting a series of overlapping sheet material articles, support means disposed adjacent to one end portion of said base and including first face surface means extending upwardly at an acute angle to said upper surface of said base means for engaging a side surface of a first sheet material article in a series of overlapping sheet material articles disposed on said base means to support the first sheet material article with its side surface extending at an acute angle to said support surface, and pressure applicator means disposed adjacent to another end portion of said base means opposite from said one end portion and including second face surface means for engaging a side surface of a last sheet material article in a series of sheet material articles.
Claim 43
Independent Claim
154 words
An apparatus for use in storing a series of sheet material articles, said apparatus comprising longitudinally extending base means having a flat longitudinally extending upper surface for supporting a series of overlapping sheet material articles, support means disposed adjacent to one end portion of said base and including first face surface means extending upwardly at an acute angle to said upper surface of said base means for engaging a side surface of a first sheet material article in a series of overlapping sheet material articles disposed on said base means to support the first sheet material article with its side surface extending at an acute angle to said support surface, and pressure applicator means disposed adjacent to another end portion of said base means opposite from said one end portion and including second face surface means for engaging a side surface of a last sheet material article in a series of sheet material articles.
Claim 44
Dependent Claim
63 words
An apparatus as set forth in claim 33 further including first positioning means extending outwardly from said one end portion of said base means for use in positioning said one end portion of said base means, and second positioning means extending outwardly from said other end portion of said base means for use in positioning said other end portion of said base means.
Claim 45
Dependent Claim
28 words
An apparatus as set forth in claim 33 wherein said first and second face surface means extend parallel to each other and are disposed in spaced apart planes.
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) | 1977-10-07 | 1978-04-08 | 1978-10-08 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1981-10-07 | 1982-04-08 | 1982-10-08 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1985-10-07 | 1986-04-08 | 1986-10-08 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |