US3857525A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Plotting system
Assignee: Gerber Systems Corp
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Filing: 1973-04-20
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Granted: 1974-12-31
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Expires: 1993-04-20
Abstract
Abstract A plotting system utilizing a drum plotter includes apparatus for steering a strip of recording paper or other recording material as the paper is fed back and forth by a plotting drum relative to a plotting head. The strip of paper is fed back and forth between two storage reels which are located at opposite sides of the plotting drum and the angular relationship of the storage reels relative to the plotting drum is controlled by servomotors to achieve steering of the paper as it passes over the drum. Between each of the storage reels and the plotting drum is a vacuum trough in which the strip of recording paper is accumulated to make paper immediately available during rapid movements of the plotting drum. The walls of the vacuum trough over which the paper is pulled have a waffled surface to reduce the area contacting the paper and the electrostatic charge buildup. The plotting head carries a slender shaft of consumable marking material, such as pencil lead or graphite, which is capable of producing uniform line intensity at any plotting speed as long as a light stylus pressure is applied to the shaft. By plotting a mirror image of a desired graphic display with a lead containing a dye, it is possible to produce a master from which duplicate copies of the graphic display can be printed in a conventional dye transfer process.
Inventors
- 👤 H Gerber
- 👤 L Rich
- 👤 E Chase
- 👤 Onofrio A D
- 👤 R Webster
- 👤 R Martino
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-26 16:10
CPC Classifications
G; G01; G01D; G01D15/00; G01D15/16; B; B65; B65H; B65H23/00; B65H23/02; B65H23/032; B65H23/038; G01D15/24; B65H2408/00; B65H2408/20; B65H2408/21; B65H2408/215
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 23
Claim 1
Independent Claim
153 words
Apparatus for winding a strip of sheet material onto a rotatably driven reel comprising: adjustable support means including a reel support having an adjustable member at one end of the reel defining the tram of the reel in the support for holding the strip and the rotatably driven reel with the axial direction of the reel and the longitudinal direction of the strip angularly adjustable relative to one another; motor means connected with the adjustable member in the adjustable support means for varying the angular adjustment of the axial direction of the reel and the longitudinal direction of the strip; sensing means for detecting the lateral position of the strip; and motor control means interconnecting the sensing means and the motor means for causing the angular adjustment of said axial and longitudinal directions to be varied to thereby limit the axial shifting of the strip as the strip is wound onto the reel.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
153 words
Apparatus for winding a strip of sheet material onto a rotatably driven reel comprising: adjustable support means including a reel support having an adjustable member at one end of the reel defining the tram of the reel in the support for holding the strip and the rotatably driven reel with the axial direction of the reel and the longitudinal direction of the strip angularly adjustable relative to one another; motor means connected with the adjustable member in the adjustable support means for varying the angular adjustment of the axial direction of the reel and the longitudinal direction of the strip; sensing means for detecting the lateral position of the strip; and motor control means interconnecting the sensing means and the motor means for causing the angular adjustment of said axial and longitudinal directions to be varied to thereby limit the axial shifting of the strip as the strip is wound onto the reel.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
30 words
Apparatus for winding a strip of sheet material as defined in claim 1 wherein the sensing means is located at a station along the strip in advance of the reel.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
31 words
Apparatus for winding a strip of sheet material as defined in claim 1 wherein the sensing means comprises a light sensor positioned adjacent and detecting a longitudinal edge of the strip.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
78 words
Apparatus for winding as defined in claim 1 wherein the sensing means comprises at least three photocells located generally in a linear array adjacent a longitudinal edge of the strip, the first of the cells being positioned under and covered by the strip, the second of the cells being located at the nominal position of the longitudinal edge of the strip and the third of the cells being laterally displaced away from the longitudinal edge of the strip.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
37 words
Apparatus for winding as defined in claim 1 wherein the adjustable member is movable relative to the rest of the reel support in a direction generally parallel with the longitudinal direction of the strip at the reel.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
54 words
Apparatus for winding as defined in claim 1 wherein the reel support includes a first journal bearing fixedly located on the support and connecting with a first axial end of the reel, and a second journal bearing mounted on the adjustable member and connecting with the other or second axial end of the reel.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
30 words
Apparatus for winding as defined in claim 6 wherein the sensing means is located adjacent the longitudinal edge of the strip wound onto the reel adjacent the first axial end.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
33 words
Apparatus for winding as defined in claim 6 wherein the adjustable member of the reel support comprises a slide block carrying the second journal bearing at the second axial end of the reel.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
133 words
In a feed mechanism having a driving drum which engages and advances a strip of sheet material along a feed path from a rotatable storage reel to the drum, the drum having one set of drive sprockets fixed at one axial end to engage apertures along one longitudinal edge of the strip and another set of drive sprockets shiftable axially on the drum at the other axial end to engage apErtures along the other longitudinal edge of the strip, the improvement comprising: means for selectively steering the strip of sheet material toward a laterally offset position at a station in advance of the drum as the strip moves toward the drum, the position being laterally offset toward said other longitudinal edge of the strip engaged by the axially shiftable set of drive sprockets.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
133 words
In a feed mechanism having a driving drum which engages and advances a strip of sheet material along a feed path from a rotatable storage reel to the drum, the drum having one set of drive sprockets fixed at one axial end to engage apertures along one longitudinal edge of the strip and another set of drive sprockets shiftable axially on the drum at the other axial end to engage apErtures along the other longitudinal edge of the strip, the improvement comprising: means for selectively steering the strip of sheet material toward a laterally offset position at a station in advance of the drum as the strip moves toward the drum, the position being laterally offset toward said other longitudinal edge of the strip engaged by the axially shiftable set of drive sprockets.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
36 words
The improvement as defined in claim 9 in the feed mechanism having a reversibly driven drum wherein the means for selectively steering includes energizing means responsive to strip advancement from the storage reel toward the drum.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
32 words
The improvement as defined in claim 9 further including means positioned along the feed path between the storage reel and the drum for holding the strip of sheet material in a loop.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
32 words
The improvement as defined in claim 11 wherein the means for holding includes a support beam extending transversely of the strip along the feed path between the storage reel and the drum.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
39 words
The improvement of claim 11 wherein the means for selectively steering comprises means for adjusting the angular relationship of the rotatable storage reel and the drum to thereby shift the depending portion of the loop laterally of the strip.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
28 words
The improvement as defined in claim 9 wherein the means for selectively steering comprises means for adjusting the angular relationship of the rotatable storage reel and the drum.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
33 words
The improvement as defined in claim 14 wherein the means for adjusting comprises an adjustable member supporting the storage reel at one axial end and a displacement motor connected to the adjustable member.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
55 words
The improvement as defined in claim 15 wherein the adjustable member at one axial end of the storage reel is slidably adjustable generally perpendicular to the axis of the storage reel and in the same general direction as the longitudinal edge of the strip of sheet material at said one axial end of the reel.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
29 words
The improvement of claim 11 wherein the means for holding comprises a vacuum trough located adjacent the drum on the feed path between the storage reeel and the drum.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
52 words
The improvement of claim 8 further including a pair of vacuum troughs, vacuum ducts interconnecting the troughs and a vacuum pump connected to the ducts for evacuating the troughs, the troughs being located at opposite sides of the drum respectively along the feed path followed by the sheet material over the drum.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
166 words
Apparatus for feeding a strip of sheet material longitudinally back and forth along a feed path over a drum and between first and second rotatable storage reels on which the strip is wound and unwound at opposite sides of the drum comprising in combination: an adjustable support holding the first storage reel for angular adjustment of the axis of rotation of the reel relative to the longitudinal direction of the strip; a motor connected to the adjustable support for positioning the support and angularly adjusting the storage reel and strip; a vacuum trough located along the feed path of the strip between the first storage reel and the drum for holding a portion of the strip between the first storage reel and the drum in a loop; and strip position sensing means located along the strip between the vacuum trough and the first storage reel and connected to the motor for controlling the adjustment of the first storage reel in accordance with the sensed strip position.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
166 words
Apparatus for feeding a strip of sheet material longitudinally back and forth along a feed path over a drum and between first and second rotatable storage reels on which the strip is wound and unwound at opposite sides of the drum comprising in combination: an adjustable support holding the first storage reel for angular adjustment of the axis of rotation of the reel relative to the longitudinal direction of the strip; a motor connected to the adjustable support for positioning the support and angularly adjusting the storage reel and strip; a vacuum trough located along the feed path of the strip between the first storage reel and the drum for holding a portion of the strip between the first storage reel and the drum in a loop; and strip position sensing means located along the strip between the vacuum trough and the first storage reel and connected to the motor for controlling the adjustment of the first storage reel in accordance with the sensed strip position.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
50 words
Apparatus for feeding a strip of sheet material as defined in claim 19 further including: a first support beam extending transversely of the strip and supporting the strip between the vacuum trough and the first storage reel; and wherein the strip position sensing means is located on the support beam.
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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) | 1977-12-30 | 1978-07-01 | 1978-12-31 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1981-12-30 | 1982-07-01 | 1982-12-31 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1985-12-30 | 1986-07-01 | 1986-12-31 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |