US3848752A — Apparatus for transferring sheet material

Claim 1

Independent Claim 279 words

Apparatus for transferring sheets of glass across an open space defining a transfer path from a first location to a to a second location comprising: suction means mounted above the transfer path and extending between those locations; a series of driven rollers mounted in the suction means at a level to project below the bottom of the suction means and each extending transversely of the transfer path, the extent of which projection is such that when a sheet is drawn by suction against the driven rollers the gap between the upper face of the sheet and the bottom of the suction means constitutes an air flow restrictor which creates reduced pressure over the sheet to suctionally hold the sheet against the rollers; air flow restriction means in the suction means to restrict the flow of air drawn between said driven rollers in the absence of a sheet; said suction means comprising a suction hood in the bottom of which said series of driven rollers are housed, the hood having an open bottom through which the driven rollers project; division means in the hood defining a separate release chamber adjacent the second location; suction control means operable to cut off the suction when a sheet has been transferred to a required second location so that the sheet drops away from the drive elements at that location; actuating means arranged to be actuated by movement of a sheet to the second location; and valve means controlled by the actuating means for cutting off the suction in only a part of the suction hood associated with the second location so as to release the sheet when it has reached the second location.

Claim 2

Dependent Claim 279 words

Apparatus for transferring sheets of glass across an open space defining a transfer path from a first location to a to a second location comprising: suction means mounted above the transfer path and extending between those locations; a series of driven rollers mounted in the suction means at a level to project below the bottom of the suction means and each extending transversely of the transfer path, the extent of which projection is such that when a sheet is drawn by suction against the driven rollers the gap between the upper face of the sheet and the bottom of the suction means constitutes an air flow restrictor which creates reduced pressure over the sheet to suctionally hold the sheet against the rollers; air flow restriction means in the suction means to restrict the flow of air drawn between said driven rollers in the absence of a sheet; said suction means comprising a suction hood in the bottom of which said series of driven rollers are housed, the hood having an open bottom through which the driven rollers project; division means in the hood defining a separate release chamber adjacent the second location; suction control means operable to cut off the suction when a sheet has been transferred to a required second location so that the sheet drops away from the drive elements at that location; actuating means arranged to be actuated by movement of a sheet to the second location; and valve means controlled by the actuating means for cutting off the suction in only a part of the suction hood associated with the second location so as to release the sheet when it has reached the second location.

Claim 3

Dependent Claim 28 words

a series of driven rollers mounted in the open bottom of a suction hood and projecting through that open bottom each roller extending transversely of the transfer path,

Claim 4

Dependent Claim 28 words

a series of driven rollers mounted in the open bottom of a suction hood and projecting through that open bottom each roller extending transversely of the transfer path,

Claim 5

Dependent Claim 194 words

Apparatus for transferring sheet material from a first location to a second location comprising: a suction hood mounted above the transfer path between those locations which hood has an open bottom, a series of driven rollers mounted in the open bottom of the suction hood and projecting through that open bottom each roller extending transversely of the transfer path, a suction duct connected to the suction hood for applying suction to the hood to create a reduced pressure over a sheet and thereby draw the sheet against the driven rollers for advancement along the transfer path, division means in the hood defining a separate release chamber adjacent the second location, a damper member located in an aperture connecting said release chamber to the main part of the suction hood, and suction release actuating means connected to the damper means and including a switch device positioned in the transfer path for operation by a sheet as it advances to the second location to cause the actuating means to close the damper member thereby cutting off the suction only in the release chamber so as to release the sheet when it has reached the second location.

Claim 6

Dependent Claim 194 words

Apparatus for transferring sheet material from a first location to a second location comprising: a suction hood mounted above the transfer path between those locations which hood has an open bottom, a series of driven rollers mounted in the open bottom of the suction hood and projecting through that open bottom each roller extending transversely of the transfer path, a suction duct connected to the suction hood for applying suction to the hood to create a reduced pressure over a sheet and thereby draw the sheet against the driven rollers for advancement along the transfer path, division means in the hood defining a separate release chamber adjacent the second location, a damper member located in an aperture connecting said release chamber to the main part of the suction hood, and suction release actuating means connected to the damper means and including a switch device positioned in the transfer path for operation by a sheet as it advances to the second location to cause the actuating means to close the damper member thereby cutting off the suction only in the release chamber so as to release the sheet when it has reached the second location.

Claim 7

Dependent Claim 22 words

a suction duct connected to the suction hood for applying suction to the hood to create a reduced pressure over a sheet,

Claim 8

Dependent Claim 22 words

a suction duct connected to the suction hood for applying suction to the hood to create a reduced pressure over a sheet,

Claim 9

Dependent Claim 27 words

a series of driven rollers mounted in the suction hood and projecting through the open bottom of the hood each roller extending transversely of the transfer path,

Claim 10

Dependent Claim 27 words

a series of driven rollers mounted in the suction hood and projecting through the open bottom of the hood each roller extending transversely of the transfer path,

Claim 11

Dependent Claim 27 words

a series of driven rollers mounted in the suction hood and projecting through the open bottom of the hood each roller extending transversely of the transfer path,

Claim 12

Dependent Claim 27 words

a series of driven rollers mounted in the suction hood and projecting through the open bottom of the hood each roller extending transversely of the transfer path,

Claim 13

Dependent Claim 108 words

a series of cylindrical driven rollers mounted in the open bottom of the suction hood and projecting through that open bottom each roller extending transversely of the transfer path, against which rollers a sheet to be transferred is drawn by suction in the hood, a. the rollers being mounted in closely spaced relationship with the outer driven rollers adjacent the end walls of the hood, and b. restricted gaps defined between the closely spaced rollers and between the outer driven rollers and the end walls of the hood acting to restrict air flow and prevent undesirably high air flow when no sheet is present beneath the driven rollers,

Claim 14

Dependent Claim 108 words

a series of cylindrical driven rollers mounted in the open bottom of the suction hood and projecting through that open bottom each roller extending transversely of the transfer path, against which rollers a sheet to be transferred is drawn by suction in the hood, a. the rollers being mounted in closely spaced relationship with the outer driven rollers adjacent the end walls of the hood, and b. restricted gaps defined between the closely spaced rollers and between the outer driven rollers and the end walls of the hood acting to restrict air flow and prevent undesirably high air flow when no sheet is present beneath the driven rollers,

Claim 15

Dependent Claim 33 words

a suction duct connected to the suction hood to create a reduced pressure over a sheet and thereby draw the sheet against the driven rollers for advancing thereby along the transfer path, and

Claim 16

Dependent Claim 33 words

a suction duct connected to the suction hood to create a reduced pressure over a sheet and thereby draw the sheet against the driven rollers for advancing thereby along the transfer path, and

Claim 17

Dependent Claim 14 words

Apparatus for transferring sheet material from a first location to a second location comprising:

Claim 18

Dependent Claim 14 words

Apparatus for transferring sheet material from a first location to a second location comprising:

Claim 19

Dependent Claim 38 words

a suction duct connected to the suction hood for applying suction to the hood to create a reduced pressure over a sheet and thereby draw the sheet against the driven rollers for advancing thereby along the transfer path,

Claim 20

Dependent Claim 38 words

a suction duct connected to the suction hood for applying suction to the hood to create a reduced pressure over a sheet and thereby draw the sheet against the driven rollers for advancing thereby along the transfer path,

Claim 21

Dependent Claim 33 words

a suction duct connected to the suction hood to create a reduced pressure over a sheet and thereby draw the sheet against the driven rollers for advancing thereby along the transfer path, and

Claim 22

Dependent Claim 33 words

a suction duct connected to the suction hood to create a reduced pressure over a sheet and thereby draw the sheet against the driven rollers for advancing thereby along the transfer path, and

Claim 23

Dependent Claim 115 words

suction control means to release the suction when a sheet has been transferred to a required second location so that the sheet drops away from the driven rollers at that location, including a. a plate mounted across the hood above the rollers which plate has formed therein at spaced intervals suction paths to the chamber thereby defined in the head below the plate, b. a slidable baffle member located between the tops of the rollers and said plate and adjustable in position along the succession of rollers to subdivide said chamber so that the part of said chamber in which suction is released is of length dependent on the length of the sheet being transferred.

Claim 24

Dependent Claim 115 words

suction control means to release the suction when a sheet has been transferred to a required second location so that the sheet drops away from the driven rollers at that location, including a. a plate mounted across the hood above the rollers which plate has formed therein at spaced intervals suction paths to the chamber thereby defined in the head below the plate, b. a slidable baffle member located between the tops of the rollers and said plate and adjustable in position along the succession of rollers to subdivide said chamber so that the part of said chamber in which suction is released is of length dependent on the length of the sheet being transferred.

Claim 25

Dependent Claim 137 words

suction control means to release the suction when a sheet has been transferred to a required second location so that the sheet drops away from the driven rollers at that location, including a. a plate mounted across the hood above the rollers which plate has formed therein at spaced intervals suction paths to the chamber thereby defined in the hood below the plate, b. a plurality of baffle flaps each pivoted to the plate above one of the rollers, which flaps are selectively movable to close the space between the plate and the roller above which it is pivoted, and therebY subdivide said chamber, the flap moved to the closed position being selected so that the part of said chamber in which suction is released is of length dependent on the length of the sheet being transferred.

Claim 26

Dependent Claim 137 words

suction control means to release the suction when a sheet has been transferred to a required second location so that the sheet drops away from the driven rollers at that location, including a. a plate mounted across the hood above the rollers which plate has formed therein at spaced intervals suction paths to the chamber thereby defined in the hood below the plate, b. a plurality of baffle flaps each pivoted to the plate above one of the rollers, which flaps are selectively movable to close the space between the plate and the roller above which it is pivoted, and therebY subdivide said chamber, the flap moved to the closed position being selected so that the part of said chamber in which suction is released is of length dependent on the length of the sheet being transferred.

Claim 27

Dependent Claim 52 words

a low resistance air flow passage defined adjacent one driven roller at the beginning of the transfer path so that suction is applied when a sheet bridges that passage and is released when the trailing edge of the sheet passes said one roller thereby depositing the sheet at the second location, and

Claim 28

Dependent Claim 52 words

a low resistance air flow passage defined adjacent one driven roller at the beginning of the transfer path so that suction is applied when a sheet bridges that passage and is released when the trailing edge of the sheet passes said one roller thereby depositing the sheet at the second location, and

Claim 29

Dependent Claim 45 words

Apparatus according to claim 3 in which the said one roller in the suction hood comprises two spaced disc members together with an adjustable damper member between them, the damper being adjustable to alter the restriction of the air flow passage between the disc members.

Claim 30

Dependent Claim 24 words

means mounting the last drive roller at the second location for vertical movement to a level below that of the other drive rollers, and

Claim 31

Dependent Claim 24 words

means mounting the last drive roller at the second location for vertical movement to a level below that of the other drive rollers, and

Claim 32

Dependent Claim 49 words

actuating means connected to said means for vertically moving the last drive roller arranged in the transfer path to be tripped by a sheet being transferred towards the second location to initiate the lowering of said last drive roller so that the sheet is deposited at the second location.

Claim 33

Dependent Claim 49 words

actuating means connected to said means for vertically moving the last drive roller arranged in the transfer path to be tripped by a sheet being transferred towards the second location to initiate the lowering of said last drive roller so that the sheet is deposited at the second location.

Claim 34

Dependent Claim 45 words

Apparatus according to claim 3 in which the gap between the said one roller and the next roller in the suction hood is substantially larger than the gap between other rollers in the hood and an adjustable damper member is located in the larger gap.

Claim 35

Dependent Claim 22 words

a selectively operable restricting device mounted to restrict said passage when it is required to transfer a sheet past the second location.

Claim 36

Dependent Claim 22 words

a selectively operable restricting device mounted to restrict said passage when it is required to transfer a sheet past the second location.

Claim 37

Dependent Claim 14 words

Apparatus for transferring sheet material from a first location to a second location comprising:

Claim 38

Dependent Claim 14 words

Apparatus for transferring sheet material from a first location to a second location comprising:

Claim 39

Dependent Claim 14 words

Apparatus for transferring sheet material from a first location to a second location comprising:

Claim 40

Dependent Claim 14 words

Apparatus for transferring sheet material from a first location to a second location comprising:

Claim 41

Dependent Claim 14 words

Apparatus for transferring sheet material from a first location to a seocnd location comprising:

Claim 42

Dependent Claim 14 words

Apparatus for transferring sheet material from a first location to a seocnd location comprising:

Claim 43

Dependent Claim 176 words

Apparatus for transferring sheets of glass across an open space defining a transfer path from a first location to a second location comprising: a suction hood mounted above the transfer path between those locations, which hood has an open bottom; a series of driven rollers mounted in the open bottom of the suction hood and projecting through that open bottom, each roller extending transversely of the transfer path; a suction duct connected to the suction hood for applying suction to the hood to create a reduced pressure over a sheet and thereby draw the sheet against the driven rollers for advancement along the transfer path; division means in the hood defining a separate release chamber adjacent to the second location; actuating means arranged to be actuated by movement of a sheet to the second location; and valve means controlled by the actuating means and associated with said separate release chamber for cutting off the suction in in the release chamber to release a sheet which thereby drops away from the driven rollers at the second location.

Claim 44

Dependent Claim 176 words

Apparatus for transferring sheets of glass across an open space defining a transfer path from a first location to a second location comprising: a suction hood mounted above the transfer path between those locations, which hood has an open bottom; a series of driven rollers mounted in the open bottom of the suction hood and projecting through that open bottom, each roller extending transversely of the transfer path; a suction duct connected to the suction hood for applying suction to the hood to create a reduced pressure over a sheet and thereby draw the sheet against the driven rollers for advancement along the transfer path; division means in the hood defining a separate release chamber adjacent to the second location; actuating means arranged to be actuated by movement of a sheet to the second location; and valve means controlled by the actuating means and associated with said separate release chamber for cutting off the suction in in the release chamber to release a sheet which thereby drops away from the driven rollers at the second location.

Claim 45

Dependent Claim 56 words

Apparatus according to claim 9 wherein the suction hood comprises a plurality of suction chambers each having an open bottom which embraces a driven roller which is thereby housed within its suction chamber and projects through the open bottom of its chamber, each chamber being roofed by an apertured plate which comprises air flow restriction means.

Claim 46

Dependent Claim 166 words

Apparatus for transferring sheet material from a first location to a second location comprising: a suction hood mounted above the transfer path between those locations, which hood has an open bottom; roller means including a series of driven rollers mounted in the open bottom of the suction hood and projecting through that open bottom, each roller extending transversely of the transfer path; a suction duct connected to the suction hood for applying suction to the hood to create a reduced pressure over a sheet and thereby draw the sheet against the driven rollers for advancement along the transfer path; and suction control means, icluding a low resistance suction air flow passage adjacent an end roller, the low resistance air flow passage cooperable with the suction hood, and responsive to the position of a sheet for selectively creating and releasing suction in a portion of the suction hood, and the suction control means being operable during continuous application of suction to the hood by the suction duct.

Claim 47

Dependent Claim 166 words

Apparatus for transferring sheet material from a first location to a second location comprising: a suction hood mounted above the transfer path between those locations, which hood has an open bottom; roller means including a series of driven rollers mounted in the open bottom of the suction hood and projecting through that open bottom, each roller extending transversely of the transfer path; a suction duct connected to the suction hood for applying suction to the hood to create a reduced pressure over a sheet and thereby draw the sheet against the driven rollers for advancement along the transfer path; and suction control means, icluding a low resistance suction air flow passage adjacent an end roller, the low resistance air flow passage cooperable with the suction hood, and responsive to the position of a sheet for selectively creating and releasing suction in a portion of the suction hood, and the suction control means being operable during continuous application of suction to the hood by the suction duct.

Claim 48

Dependent Claim 70 words

Apparatus according to claim 11 wherein the driven rollers are cylindrical rollers mounted in closely spaced relationship with the outer driven rollers adjacent the end walls of the suction hood, the restricted gaps between adjacent driven rollers and between the outer driven rollers and the end walls of the hood acting to restrict air flow and prevent undesirably high air flow when no sheet is present beneath the driven rollers.

Claim 49

Dependent Claim 71 words

Apparatus as claimed in claim 12 in which a low resistance air flow passage is provided adjacent one driven roller at the beginning of the path through the suction hood so that suction is applied when a sheet bridges the low resistance passage adjacent the said one roller but is released when the trailing edge of the sheet passes the said one roller, thereby depositing the sheet at the second location.

Claim 50

Dependent Claim 57 words

Apparatus according to claim 11, including an apertured air flow restrictor plate mounted across the hood above the rollers and a plurality of flexible flaps depending from the restrictor plate onto the driven rollers to isolate the space between adjacent driven rollers from each other, the restrictor plate being formed with apertures associated with each isolated space.

Claim 51

Dependent Claim 55 words

Apparatus according to claim 14 in which a low resistance air flow passage is provided adjacent one roller at the beginning of the path through the hood so that suction is applied when a sheet bridges the low resistance passage but is released when the trailing edge of the sheet passes the said one roller.

Claim 52

Dependent Claim 41 words

Apparatus according to claim 11, wherein said suction control means is operable to cut off the suction when a sheet has been transferred to a required second location so that the sheet drops away from the driven rollers at that location.

Claim 53

Dependent Claim 79 words

Apparatus according to claim 16 in which a plate is mounted across the hood above the rollers, suction paths being provided at spaced positions to the chamber below the plate, and baffle means being interposable between a selected roller and the plate between the said suction paths so as to subdivide the suction chamber below the plate and prevent suction being released in one part of the chamber when suction is released in the other part of the chamber.

Annuity Stage	Window Opens	Payment Deadline	Surcharge Period Until	Estimated Fee	Status
3.5 Years (Year 4)	1977-11-18	1978-05-20	1978-11-19	$2000.00	Window Closed / Lapsed
7.5 Years (Year 8)	1981-11-18	1982-05-20	1982-11-19	$3760.00	Window Closed / Lapsed
11.5 Years (Year 12)	1985-11-18	1986-05-20	1986-11-19	$7700.00	Window Closed / Lapsed

Apparatus for transferring sheet material

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