US3844551A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Sheet shuttle feed
Assignee: Bell and Howell Co
•
Filing: 1973-09-27
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Granted: 1974-10-29
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Expires: 1993-09-27
Abstract
Abstract A vacuum-type sheet feeding device is described which comprises a reciprocating shuttle plate having a gated vacuum groove. In operation, as suction is applied to the groove and a sheet to be fed is thereby sucked into the groove, the vacuum gate, which closes off one end of the vacuum groove, yields to allow the sheet to move into the groove. The sheet feeding apparatus also includes a sheet magazine which comprises a separating ledge for supporting a bottom front corner of a sheet stack, a sucker cup for pulling the bottom sheet (the sheet to be fed) off of the separating ledge, and adjustable lifters for supporting the rear corners of the stack at different heights. In addition, the sheet feeding apparatus includes a throat-knife mechanism which comprises a narrow throat knife mounted on a pivoted throat-knife bracket. If the pivoted throat-knife bracket is in an active position, the throat knife protrudes downwardly in front of the shuttle-plate grove when the shuttle plate is under a sheet stack, and adjacent to the shuttle-plate groove when the shuttle plate is feeding.
Inventors
- 👤 W Morrison
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-30 12:52
CPC Classifications
B; B65; B65H; B65H3/00; B65H3/46; B65H3/56; B65H3/08; B65H3/0808; B65H3/085; B65H3/0883; B65H3/12
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 16
Claim 1
Independent Claim
202 words
A vacuum-type sheet feeding device for feeding the bottom sheet from a stack of flat sheets, said device comprising: a movable shuttle plate having a surface on which said stack rests, for gripping said bottom sheet and pulling said bottom sheet out of said sheet stack, said movable shuttle plate having motion in a direction substantially parallel to the plane of said flat sheets, said surface defining an elongated narrow groove therein which is elongated in a direction parallel to said direction of said shuttle-plate motion, and said narrow groove terminating at a back end thereof so that said back end is closed off and said groove extending to an edge of said shuttle plate at a front end thereof so that said front end is open; a gate mounted on said shuttle plate for closing off said groove near said front end, but for yielding to allow said bottom sheet to be sucked into said groove; and a pneumatic-suction means for creating a pneumatic suction in said groove to suck the bottom sheet into said groove; wherein said bottom sheet which is sucked into said groove is thereby adhered to said shuttle plate so that it moves with said shuttle plate.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
202 words
A vacuum-type sheet feeding device for feeding the bottom sheet from a stack of flat sheets, said device comprising: a movable shuttle plate having a surface on which said stack rests, for gripping said bottom sheet and pulling said bottom sheet out of said sheet stack, said movable shuttle plate having motion in a direction substantially parallel to the plane of said flat sheets, said surface defining an elongated narrow groove therein which is elongated in a direction parallel to said direction of said shuttle-plate motion, and said narrow groove terminating at a back end thereof so that said back end is closed off and said groove extending to an edge of said shuttle plate at a front end thereof so that said front end is open; a gate mounted on said shuttle plate for closing off said groove near said front end, but for yielding to allow said bottom sheet to be sucked into said groove; and a pneumatic-suction means for creating a pneumatic suction in said groove to suck the bottom sheet into said groove; wherein said bottom sheet which is sucked into said groove is thereby adhered to said shuttle plate so that it moves with said shuttle plate.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
19 words
A vacuum-type sheet feeding device as claimed in claim 1 wherein said gate comprises two independently swinging half gates.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
53 words
A vacuum-type sheet feeding device as claimed in claim 1 wherein is further included; a magazine for holding said sheet stack said magazine including a ledge for supporting one corner of said sheet stack; and a separating means for disengaging the corner of the bottom sheet of said sheet stack from said ledge.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
36 words
A vacuum-type sheet feeding device as claimed in claim 3 wherein said separating means comprises a reciprocating sucker cup which pneumatically grips the bottom sheet of said sheet stack and pulls said sheet off said ledge.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
45 words
A vacuum-type sheet feeding device as claimed in claim 1 wherein is further included: a magazine for holding said sheet stack; and adjustable lifters for providing supports for each of the rear corners of said sheet stack and for allowing vertical adjustment of said supports.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
50 words
A vacuum-type sheet feeding device as claimed in claim 5 wherein: said adjustable lifter comprise vertically oriented rods with said supports positioned at the lower ends of said rods and with handles located at the upper ends of said rods; and said rods are clamp-knob mounted to a stationary frame.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
53 words
A vacuum-type sheet feeding device as claimed in claim 5 wherein is further included: a magazine for holding said sheet stack, said magazine including a ledge for supporting one corner of said sheet stack; and a separating means for disengaging the corner of the bottom sheet of said sheet stack from said ledge.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
36 words
A vacuum-type sheet feeding device as claimed in claim 7 wherein said separating means comprises a reciprocating sucker cup which pneumatically grips the bottom sheet of said sheet stack and pulls said sheet off said ledge.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
62 words
A vacuum-type sheet feeding device as claimed in claim 1 wherein a throat knife is positionable in front of said shuttle plate when said shuttle plate is under said sheet stack so that as said shuttle plate feeds said bottom sheet of said sheet stack, said elongated narrow groove is immediately adjacent to said throat knife and passes under said throat knife.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
41 words
A vacuum-type sheet feeding device as claimed in claim 9 wherein said throat knife is elongated and an end tip thereof faces said groove, with the width of said throat knife being less than the width of said elongated narrow groove.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
19 words
A vacuum-type sheet feeding device as claimed in claim 10 wherein said gate comprises two independently swinging half gates.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
38 words
A vacuum-type sheet feeding device as claimed in claim 10 wherein a mounting means is included for said throat knife which allows selective movement of said throat knife to said active position and out of said active position.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
53 words
A vacuum-type sheet feeding device as claimed in claim 12 wherein is further included: a magazine for holding said sheet stack, said magazine including a ledge for supporting one corner of said sheet stack; and a separating means for disengaging the corner of the bottom sheet of said sheet stack from said ledge.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
53 words
A vacuum-type sheet feeding device as claimed in claim 10 wherein is further included: a magazine for holding said sheet stack, said magazine including a ledge for supporting one corner of said sheet stack; and a separating means for disengaging the corner of the bottom sheet of said sheet stack from said ledge.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
56 words
A vacuum-type sheet feeding device as claimed in claim 10 wherein said throat knife is positioned such that said throat-knife end-tip protrudes into said elongated narrow groove when said shuttle plate feeds said bottom sheet, and said gate has an indentation formed at the top thereof to allow said gate to pass beneath said throat knife.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
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US2902280A
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US3105681A
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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) | 1977-10-28 | 1978-04-29 | 1978-10-29 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1981-10-28 | 1982-04-29 | 1982-10-29 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1985-10-28 | 1986-04-29 | 1986-10-29 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |