US3856607A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Apparatus for automatically registering and combining two sheet members
Assignee: NJM Inc
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Filing: 1972-08-14
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Granted: 1974-12-24
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Expires: 1992-08-14
Abstract
Abstract The apparatus includes first means for shifting one sheet member deposited askew on a conveyor, transversely of the latter until an edge of such one sheet member extending in the direction of feed of the conveyor is brought into alignment with a reference line offset from but parallel to the longitudinal centerline of the conveyor, and second means for searching in a direction longitudinally of the conveyor for such one sheet member in its shifted position on the conveyor while such one sheet is being conveyed to a place of registration, and for simultaneously transporting a second sheet member to such place of registration, and when said second means has found such one sheet member at the placed of registration and locked it in registration with the second sheet being transported, said second means deposits the second sheet member upon the first sheet member. Photocell units carried by the first and second means control the transverse shifting movements of the first means and search for the shifted first sheet member.
Inventors
- 👤 M Faltot
- 👤 H Voltmer
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-04 23:19
CPC Classifications
B; B65; B65G; B65G47/00; B65G47/22; B65G47/24; B65G47/244; B65B; B65B41/00; B65B41/18; B65G2203/00; B65G2203/04; B65G2203/042
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 23
Claim 1
Independent Claim
234 words
Apparatus for automatically registering and combining two sheet members, comprising means for carrying a plurality of first sheets having adhesive thereon in spaced apart relation along a given path, means for successively repositioning said first sheets on said carrying means so that a given line extending lengthwise of said path on the sheet shifted is brought into registered alignment with a reference line located to one side of and in spaced parallel relation to the longitudinal centerline of said carrying means, said repositioning means comprising a plurality of sensing means movable transversely of said carrying means and each capable of developing a signal when sensing said given lengthwise line on a first sheet, means for moving said sensing means independently until each has found such given lengthwise line, said sensing means each having associated therewith means for gripping a first sheet at different locations thereof when such given lengthwise line has been found, and means for moving in coactive relation the gripping means associated with the sensing means to shift the gripped sheet until said given lengthwise line thereof is brought into alignment with said reference line, and means for searching in a direction longitudinally of said path for a given line disposed transversely of said path on such repositioned sheet and for depositing on such sheet when found a second sheet so as to bring both of such sheets into adhesive face-to-face relation.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
234 words
Apparatus for automatically registering and combining two sheet members, comprising means for carrying a plurality of first sheets having adhesive thereon in spaced apart relation along a given path, means for successively repositioning said first sheets on said carrying means so that a given line extending lengthwise of said path on the sheet shifted is brought into registered alignment with a reference line located to one side of and in spaced parallel relation to the longitudinal centerline of said carrying means, said repositioning means comprising a plurality of sensing means movable transversely of said carrying means and each capable of developing a signal when sensing said given lengthwise line on a first sheet, means for moving said sensing means independently until each has found such given lengthwise line, said sensing means each having associated therewith means for gripping a first sheet at different locations thereof when such given lengthwise line has been found, and means for moving in coactive relation the gripping means associated with the sensing means to shift the gripped sheet until said given lengthwise line thereof is brought into alignment with said reference line, and means for searching in a direction longitudinally of said path for a given line disposed transversely of said path on such repositioned sheet and for depositing on such sheet when found a second sheet so as to bring both of such sheets into adhesive face-to-face relation.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
139 words
Apparatus as defined in claim 1, in which said repositioning means is located at one station along the path of movement of said carrying means and said searching and depositing means is located at a following station along such path, and including means for depositing said first sheets on said carrying means in an askew fashion with their longitudinal centerlines contained in a longitudinal area of given width and having a longitudinal centerline located to the other side of and in spaced parallel relation to said longitudinal centerline of said carrying means, said first sheet when repositioned by said repositioning means having their longitudinal centerlines located to said one side of and in spaced parallel relation to said longitudinal centerline of said carrying means during their travel on said carrying means from said one station to said following station.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
203 words
Apparatus for automatically registering and combining two sheet members, comprising means for carrying a plurality of first sheets having adhesive thereon in spaced apart relation along a given path, said carrying means including an endless perforated sheet carrier, and means for providing a suction condition at the sheet carrying surfce of said carrier sufficient to hold the sheets adhered thereto, means for successively repositioning said first sheets on said carrying means so that a given line extending lengthwise of said path on the sheet being shifted is brought into registered alignment with a reference line located to one side of and in spaced parallel relation to the longitudinal centerline of said carrying means, means for reducing such suction condition at the sheet carrying surface of said carrier in the localized region of action of said repositioning means sUfficient to enable the latter to shift said first sheets relative to such carrier surface to their repositioned locations, and means for searching in a direction longitudinally of said path for a given line disposed transversely of said path on such repositioned sheet and for depositing on such sheet when found a second sheet so as to bring both of such sheets into adhesive face-to-face relation.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
203 words
Apparatus for automatically registering and combining two sheet members, comprising means for carrying a plurality of first sheets having adhesive thereon in spaced apart relation along a given path, said carrying means including an endless perforated sheet carrier, and means for providing a suction condition at the sheet carrying surfce of said carrier sufficient to hold the sheets adhered thereto, means for successively repositioning said first sheets on said carrying means so that a given line extending lengthwise of said path on the sheet being shifted is brought into registered alignment with a reference line located to one side of and in spaced parallel relation to the longitudinal centerline of said carrying means, means for reducing such suction condition at the sheet carrying surface of said carrier in the localized region of action of said repositioning means sUfficient to enable the latter to shift said first sheets relative to such carrier surface to their repositioned locations, and means for searching in a direction longitudinally of said path for a given line disposed transversely of said path on such repositioned sheet and for depositing on such sheet when found a second sheet so as to bring both of such sheets into adhesive face-to-face relation.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
235 words
Apparatus for automatically registering and combining two sheet members, comprising means for carrying a plurality of first sheets having adhesive thereon in spaced apart relation along a given path, means for successively repositioning said first sheets on said carrying means so that a given line extending lengthwise of said path on the sheet being shifted is brought into registered alignment with a reference line located to one side of and in spaced parallel relation to the longitudinal centerline of said carrying means, said repositioning means comprising a plurality of devices movable transversely of said carrying means and each provided with means for sensing and given lengthwise line on a first sheet and means for gripping such sheet when such line has been found, first means for moving said devices independently until the sensing means of each has found such given lengthwise line, second means for rendering said gripping means operable to grip the sheet when said sensing means have completed their search, and third means for moving said devices to shift the gripped sheet until said given lengthwise line thereof is brought into alignment with said reference line, and means for searching in a direction longitudinally of said path for a given line disposed transversely of said path on such repositioned sheet and for depositing on such sheet when found a second sheet so as to bring both of such sheets into adhesive face-to-face relation.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
235 words
Apparatus for automatically registering and combining two sheet members, comprising means for carrying a plurality of first sheets having adhesive thereon in spaced apart relation along a given path, means for successively repositioning said first sheets on said carrying means so that a given line extending lengthwise of said path on the sheet being shifted is brought into registered alignment with a reference line located to one side of and in spaced parallel relation to the longitudinal centerline of said carrying means, said repositioning means comprising a plurality of devices movable transversely of said carrying means and each provided with means for sensing and given lengthwise line on a first sheet and means for gripping such sheet when such line has been found, first means for moving said devices independently until the sensing means of each has found such given lengthwise line, second means for rendering said gripping means operable to grip the sheet when said sensing means have completed their search, and third means for moving said devices to shift the gripped sheet until said given lengthwise line thereof is brought into alignment with said reference line, and means for searching in a direction longitudinally of said path for a given line disposed transversely of said path on such repositioned sheet and for depositing on such sheet when found a second sheet so as to bring both of such sheets into adhesive face-to-face relation.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
64 words
Apparatus as defined in claim 4, in which said gripping means on said devices comprise suction cups, means operable to advance said suction cups from a retracted raised position to a position just above a first sheet found by said sensing means and for providing a sufficient suction in said cups to enable them to suck up and grip portions of the found sheet.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
35 words
Apparatus as defined in claim 5, including means for providing a positive air pressure in said suction cups to free the gripped first sheet therefrom when said sheet has become registered with said reference line.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
54 words
Apparatus as defined in claim 4, including means operable to lock said first means as soon as the sensing means thereof has found said given lengthwise line, said third means controlling said first means and rendering the latter operable to move said devices simultaneously when the sensing means of both have found such line.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
198 words
Apparatus for automatically registering and combining two sheet members, comprising means for carrying a plurality of first sheets having adhesive thereon in spaced apart relation along a given path, means for successively repositioning said first sheets on said carrying means so that a given line extending lengthwise of said path on the sheet being shifted is brought into registered alignment with a reference line located to one side of and in spaced relation to the longitudinal centerline of said carrying means, and means for searching in a direction longitudinally of said path for a given line disposed transversely of said path on such repositioned sheet and for depositing on such sheet when found a second sheet as as to bring both of such sheets into adhesive face-to-face relation, said searching and depositing means including means movable longitudinally of said path in the direction of travel of said first repositioned sheet and provided with means for sensing said given transverse line on such repositioned sheet, and means for transporting a second sheet from a pick-up source thereof to such first repositioned sheet and positively depositing such second sheet on a first repositioned sheet found by said longitudinally Movable means.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
198 words
Apparatus for automatically registering and combining two sheet members, comprising means for carrying a plurality of first sheets having adhesive thereon in spaced apart relation along a given path, means for successively repositioning said first sheets on said carrying means so that a given line extending lengthwise of said path on the sheet being shifted is brought into registered alignment with a reference line located to one side of and in spaced relation to the longitudinal centerline of said carrying means, and means for searching in a direction longitudinally of said path for a given line disposed transversely of said path on such repositioned sheet and for depositing on such sheet when found a second sheet as as to bring both of such sheets into adhesive face-to-face relation, said searching and depositing means including means movable longitudinally of said path in the direction of travel of said first repositioned sheet and provided with means for sensing said given transverse line on such repositioned sheet, and means for transporting a second sheet from a pick-up source thereof to such first repositioned sheet and positively depositing such second sheet on a first repositioned sheet found by said longitudinally Movable means.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
37 words
Apparatus as defined in claim 8, including means for simultaneously moving said longitudinally movable means and said transporting means so that the searching of such first repositioned sheet and the transporting of said second sheet occur simultaneously.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
90 words
Apparatus as defined in claim 8, in which said carrying means advances said first sheet with a step-by-step movement, and includng means controlling the searching movement of said longitudinally movable so that the sensing carried thereby finds a repositioned first sheet at the place for deposition of said second sheet during a dwell period in the movement of said carrying means, and means operative to prevent the deposition of a second sheet by said transporting means in he event said longitudinally movable means does not find a repositioned first sheet.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
68 words
Apparatus as defined in claim 8, in which said longitudinally movable means comprises a slide carrying said sensing means and means for reciprocating said slide in directions parallel to said given path, and in which said transporting means is carried by said slide and is mounted for pivotal movement about an axis parallel to said path, and means for pivotally moving said transporting means relative to said slide.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
54 words
Apparatus as defined in claim 11, in which said pivotally moving means comprises a gear wheel connected to said transporting means and movable about the pivotal axis of the latter, a vertically disposed rack engaging said gear wheel, means for vertically reciprocating said rack, and a universal connection between said rack and reciprocating means.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
101 words
Apparatus as defined in claim 12, in which said reciprocating means comprises a vertically disposed cam rod offset from said rack, a guided, vertically slidable member connected to the lower end of said cam rod, and means for reciprocating said slidable member, and in which said universal connection comprises a member connected to the upper end of said cam rod and projecting laterally therefrom, a member connected to the lower end of sid rack and projecting laterally therefrom, and means hingedly connecting the projecting ends of said members together to provide for swinging movement of said rack about a vertical axis.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
63 words
Apparatus as defined in claim 11, in which said pivotally moving means comprises a first member connected to said transporting means and movable about the pivotal axis of the latter, a reciprocating member operatively connected to said first member, means for actuating said reciprocating member to pivotally move said first member, and a universal connection between said reciprocating member and said actuating means.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
49 words
Apparatus as defined in claim 14, including means operative to interrupt the pivotal movement of said transporting means, and lost motion coupling means connecting said first member to said transporting means to permit an overstroke of said first member by said reciprocating member on interruption of said transporting means.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
81 words
Apparatus as defined in claim 8, including means for registering said second sheets at a place to be picked-up by said searching and depositing means, and in which said transporting means comprises means for gripping a registered second sheet at said place of pick-up at a localized area thereof within the area defined by the edges of such second sheet and for positively pressing the gripped second sheet into engagement with a registered first sheet at the place of deposition thereof.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
90 words
Apparatus as defined in claim 16, including a box-staying machine, and conveyor means for successively delivering boxes from said machine to said place of pick-up, and in which said registering means includes stops at the delivery end of said conveyor means to properly align the leading box for pick-up and being constructed and arranged to engage the aligned box at its front corners adjacent to the bottom of such box, and in which said gripping means engages the inside surface of the box bottom to transport and deposiT the same.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
95 words
Apparatus as defined in claim 16, in which said gripping means comprise suction cups connected to a source of suction, said transporting means comprising pivotal means, vacuum cup supporting means provided on said pivotal means, means for oscillating said pivotal means foom said place of pick-up to said place of deposition, and means for rotating said vacuum cup supporting means during the advancing stroke of said pivotal means to maintain a second sheet carried by said suction cups substantially parallel to a first registered sheet on said carrying means throughout the extent of such stroke.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
50 words
Apparatus as defined in claim 18, including means controlled by the vacuum condition in said suction cups for interrupting the advancing movement of said pivotal means and preventing the suction cups from engaging with a registered first sheet in the event such suction cups are not griping a second sheet.
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) | 1977-12-23 | 1978-06-24 | 1978-12-24 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1981-12-23 | 1982-06-24 | 1982-12-24 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1985-12-23 | 1986-06-24 | 1986-12-24 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |