US3851871A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
High speed sheet feeding apparatus
Assignee: Individual
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Filing: 1973-12-10
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Granted: 1974-12-03
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Expires: 1993-12-10
Abstract
Abstract A high speed sheet feeding apparatus in which the lowermost sheet of a stack is propelled from the stack by a rotating perforate cylindrical member connected to a source of vacuum. A pawl actuated by an adjustable cam governs the amount of rotation of the cylindrical member for each sheet in accordance with the length of the sheet. At the start of each feeding cycle a detent on the pawl urges the cylindrical member in the direction opposite its feeding rotation for a short distance. As a result, the lowermost sheet is initially slightly buckled, freeing it from the next adjacent sheet and insuring single sheet feed.
Inventors
- 👤 T Aronson
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-27 10:20
CPC Classifications
B; B65; B65H; B65H5/00; B65H5/06; B65H5/062; B65H3/00; B65H3/08; B65H3/10; B65H2403/00; B65H2403/70
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 12
Claim 1
Independent Claim
291 words
A high speed sheet feeding apparatus for leading individual sheets out of a stack of sheets along a desired path comprising a base plate, spaced upstanding side plates secured to the base plate, opposed first and second shafts carried by the side plates at their outer ends and extending inwardly of the side plates toward each other, a clutch member coupled to the first shaft, means including a drive shaft to impart rotary motion to the clutch member, a hollow perforate cylindrical sheet feed member coaxially carried between the first and second shafts, a hollow cylindrical vacuum chamber within the feed member, said vacuum chamber having at least one slot therein in communication with the interior thereof and a constant source of vacuum attached to said vacuum chamber, a rotatable plate operatively coupled to the sheet feed member, a plurality of spaced pins carried by the plate and extending outwardly thereof, a pawl swingably disposed in the path of the pins to normally restrain the pins, a cam adjacent said pawl to swing the pawl into and out of engagement with the pins, a hopper to receive the stack of sheets having a bottom support and upstanding walls, said bottom support being provided with an opening therein through which the lowermost sheet can be extracted, said bottom support being non-vertically disposed and with the lowermost sheet in contact with the sheet feed member through the bottom member opening, rollers to guide the sheet as it is being fed by the sheet feed member, and a depending detent partially encircling the pin upon which it is brought to rest whereby when the pawl is initially released from the pin, the detent will impart a short counter revolution to the sheet feed member.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
291 words
A high speed sheet feeding apparatus for leading individual sheets out of a stack of sheets along a desired path comprising a base plate, spaced upstanding side plates secured to the base plate, opposed first and second shafts carried by the side plates at their outer ends and extending inwardly of the side plates toward each other, a clutch member coupled to the first shaft, means including a drive shaft to impart rotary motion to the clutch member, a hollow perforate cylindrical sheet feed member coaxially carried between the first and second shafts, a hollow cylindrical vacuum chamber within the feed member, said vacuum chamber having at least one slot therein in communication with the interior thereof and a constant source of vacuum attached to said vacuum chamber, a rotatable plate operatively coupled to the sheet feed member, a plurality of spaced pins carried by the plate and extending outwardly thereof, a pawl swingably disposed in the path of the pins to normally restrain the pins, a cam adjacent said pawl to swing the pawl into and out of engagement with the pins, a hopper to receive the stack of sheets having a bottom support and upstanding walls, said bottom support being provided with an opening therein through which the lowermost sheet can be extracted, said bottom support being non-vertically disposed and with the lowermost sheet in contact with the sheet feed member through the bottom member opening, rollers to guide the sheet as it is being fed by the sheet feed member, and a depending detent partially encircling the pin upon which it is brought to rest whereby when the pawl is initially released from the pin, the detent will impart a short counter revolution to the sheet feed member.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
54 words
Apparatus according to claim 1 in which the first and second shafts are hollow, an elongated driven shaft is disposed within the first shaft secured at its outer portion to the clutch member and at its inner end to the sheet feed member and the vacuum source is connected to the second hollow shaft.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
33 words
Apparatus according to claim 2 in which the clutch member includes the rotatable plate operatively coupled to the elongated driven shaft and an inner second plate for driving engagement with the first plate.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
36 words
Apparatus according to claim 2 in which the feed member is freely carried upon the vacuum chAmber and grasps the sheet along that portion of the feed member opening in register with the vacuum chamber slots.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
47 words
Apparatus according to claim 2 in which the pawl is in the form of a bell crank lever having a roller thereon disposed in the path of the cam, and a spring is coupled to the pawl to yieldably urge it in the direction of the pins.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
61 words
Apparatus according to claim 2 in which the rollers include spaced rollers on each side of the feed member, spaced yieldable rollers carried upon a transverse shaft, driven by the power source and riding upon the feed member rollers and at least one pair of pinch rollers transversely carried between the side plates to receive sheets coming from the feed member.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
62 words
Apparatus according to claim 1 in which the cam comprises a first and a second disc carried upon the drive shaft, a cam lobe on each of the discs disposed in the path of the pawl bell crank lever and means to adjust the lobes with respect to each other to increase or decrease the dwell of the pawl bell crank lever.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
235 words
A high speed sheet feeding apparatus comprising a frame, opposed first and second shafts carried by the frame at their outer ends and extending inwardly toward each other, clutch means coupled to the first shaft, means including a drive shaft to impart rotary motion to the clutch member, a hollow perforate cylindrical sheet feed member carried between the first and second shafts, a hollow cylindrical vacuum chamber within the feed member, said vacuum chamber having at least one slot therein, a source of vacuum in communication with the interior of said vacuum chamber, a rotatable plate operatively coupled to the sheet feed member, a plurality of spaced pins carried by the plate and extending outwardly thereof, a pawl swingably disposed in the path of the pins to normally restrain at least one of the pins, cam means to swing the pawl into and out of engagement with the pins, a non-vertically disposed hopper to receive the stack of sheets, a bottom support for said hopper, said bottom support being provided with an opening therein through which the lowermost sheet can be extracted, said lowermost sheet adopted to contact the sheet feed member through the bottom member opening, and a depending detent partially encircling the pin upon which it is brought to rest whereby when the pawl is initially released from the pin, the detent will impart a short counter revolution to the sheet feed member.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
235 words
A high speed sheet feeding apparatus comprising a frame, opposed first and second shafts carried by the frame at their outer ends and extending inwardly toward each other, clutch means coupled to the first shaft, means including a drive shaft to impart rotary motion to the clutch member, a hollow perforate cylindrical sheet feed member carried between the first and second shafts, a hollow cylindrical vacuum chamber within the feed member, said vacuum chamber having at least one slot therein, a source of vacuum in communication with the interior of said vacuum chamber, a rotatable plate operatively coupled to the sheet feed member, a plurality of spaced pins carried by the plate and extending outwardly thereof, a pawl swingably disposed in the path of the pins to normally restrain at least one of the pins, cam means to swing the pawl into and out of engagement with the pins, a non-vertically disposed hopper to receive the stack of sheets, a bottom support for said hopper, said bottom support being provided with an opening therein through which the lowermost sheet can be extracted, said lowermost sheet adopted to contact the sheet feed member through the bottom member opening, and a depending detent partially encircling the pin upon which it is brought to rest whereby when the pawl is initially released from the pin, the detent will impart a short counter revolution to the sheet feed member.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
154 words
A high speed sheet feeding apparatus comprising a hollow cylindrical vacuum chamber having at least one slot in the wall thereof communicating between the exterior and interior thereof, a hollow perforate cylindrical sheet feed member rotatably carried upon the vacuum chamber, hopper means for supporting a stack of sheets adjacent the sheet feed member, drive means for rotating the sheet feed member so as to bring successive perforations in register with the vacuum chamber slots, clutch means interconnecting the drive means and the sheet feed member, a plate operatively coupled to the clutch means, a plurality of outwardly extending pins on said plate, a swingable pawl disposed in the path of the pins, a detent on said pawl adapted to overlie at least one of said pins when it is brought to rest and cam means to bring the pawl into and out of engagement with the pins to interrupt the sheet feeding apparatus.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
154 words
A high speed sheet feeding apparatus comprising a hollow cylindrical vacuum chamber having at least one slot in the wall thereof communicating between the exterior and interior thereof, a hollow perforate cylindrical sheet feed member rotatably carried upon the vacuum chamber, hopper means for supporting a stack of sheets adjacent the sheet feed member, drive means for rotating the sheet feed member so as to bring successive perforations in register with the vacuum chamber slots, clutch means interconnecting the drive means and the sheet feed member, a plate operatively coupled to the clutch means, a plurality of outwardly extending pins on said plate, a swingable pawl disposed in the path of the pins, a detent on said pawl adapted to overlie at least one of said pins when it is brought to rest and cam means to bring the pawl into and out of engagement with the pins to interrupt the sheet feeding apparatus.
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) | 1977-12-02 | 1978-06-03 | 1978-12-03 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1981-12-02 | 1982-06-03 | 1982-12-03 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1985-12-02 | 1986-06-03 | 1986-12-03 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |