Vacuum operated sheet registration mechanism

Claim 2

A feeding mechanism for selectively providing registration of material to either a first side or a second side comprising feed means movable from a nominal central location towards either said first side or towards said second side, follower means secured to said feed means, cam means positioned to cooperate with said follower means and constructed to have at least a first cam face and a second cam face, drive means for driving said cam means, first bias means for forcing said follower means into engagement with said first cam face, second bias means for forcing said follower means into engagement with said second cam face and control means for selectively causing either said first bias means or said second bias means to function, said first cam face being configurated such that said feed means will be driven from said nominal location toward said first side when said first bias means is functioning and from said nominal location toward said second side when said second bias means is functioning and material is being fed by said feeding mechanism.

Claim 3

A feeding mechanism as claimed in claim 1 wherein said feed means is a vacuum operated means that employs suction for feeding said material.

Claim 4

A feeding mechanism as claimed in claim 2 wherein said first bias means comprises a compressible first spring which when compressed forces said follower means into engagement with said first cam face and said second bias means comprises a compressible second spring when compressed forces said follower means into engagement with said second cam face and said control means is selectively operable so as to compress either said first spring or said second spring.

Claim 5

A feeding mechanism as claimed in claim 1 wherein said first bias means comprises a compressible first spring which when compressed forces said follower means into engagement with said first cam face and said second bias means comprises a compressible second spring when compressed forces said follower means into engagement with said second cam face and said control is selectively operable so as to compress either said first spring or said second spring.

Claim 6

A feeding mechanism as claimed in claim 4 wherein said feed means has a bore that extends part of the way through said feed means, said control means comprises a rod having an inner end which extends into said bore and a collar which surrounds said rod intermediate its inner and outer ends, said first spring is positioned in said bore between the inner end of said bore and the inner end of said rod such that said rod will compress said first spring when said rod is forced toward the inner end of said bore, said second spring is positioned to encircle said rod and is disposed between said collar and the outer end of said bore, a bearing for said rod is disposed adjacent the outer end of said bore such that said second spring will be compressed between said collar and said bearing when said rod is forced away from the inner end of said bore and said feeding mechanism comprises lock means for locking said rod in position once either said first or said second spring has been selectively compressed.

Claim 7

A feeding mechanism as claimed in claim 1 wherein said mechanism comprises a frame having first and second spaced-apart frame members located at said first and said second sides, respectively, and said feed means is mounted so as to be movable between said frame members.

Claim 8

A feeding mechanism as claimed in claim 6 wherein said feed means is a vacuum operated means that employs suction for feeding said material.

Claim 9

A feeding mechanism as claimed in claim 6 wherein said first bias means comprises a compressible first spring which when compressed forces said follower means into engagement with said first cam face and said second bias means comprises a compressible second spring when compressed forces said follower means into engagement with said second cam face and said control means is selectively operable so as to compress either said first spring or said second spring.

Claim 10

A feeding mechanism as set forth in claim 8 wherein said feeding mechanism comprises an elongated member that extends between said first and second frame members and first and second limit stops are supported by said elongated member and are adjustable along said elongated member for limiting the motion of said feed means towards said first and said second sides, respectively.

Claim 11

A feeding mechanism as claimed in claim 8 wherein said feed means has a bore that extends part of the way through said feed means, said control means comprises a rod having an inner end which extends into said bore and a collar which surrounds said rod intermediate its inner and outer ends, said first spring is positioned in said bore between the inner end of said bore and the inner end of said rod such that said rod will compress said first spring when said rod is forced toward the inner end of said bore, said second spring is positioned to encircle said rod and is disposed between said collar and the outer end of said bore, a bearing for said rod is disposed adjacent the outer end of said bore such that said second spring will be compressed between said collar and said bearing when said rod is forced away from the inner end of said bore and said feeding mechanism comprises lock means for locking said rod in position once either said first or said second spring has been selectively compressed.

Claim 12

A feeding mechanism as claimed in claim 10 wherein said rod has a transverse pin running therethrough, said rod extends through an aperture in said first frame member and said first frame member has an inner surface and an outer surface and a slot therethrough which allows for passage of said pin when said slot and said pin are in alignment so that said pin may be selectively locked against the inner surface of said first frame member when said first spring is to be compressed and against the outer surface of said first frame member when said second spring is to be compressed.

Claim 13

A feeding mechanism as set forth in claim 11 wherein said feeding mechanism comprises an elongated member that extends between said first and second frame members and first and second limit stops are supported by said elongated member and are adjustable along said elongated member for limiting the motion of said feed means toward said first and said second sides, respectively.

Claim 14

A feeding mechanism as claimed in claim 12 wherein said feed means is a vacuum operated means that employs suction for feeding said material.

Claim 15

A feeding mechanism for selectively accommodating different widths of material comprising an elongated outer member having a bore therein and a plurality of apertures located along the length thereof which are in communication with said bore, a hollow elongated rotatable inner member having a section which is constructed to fit into said bore and which has a plurality of apertures therein which lead to the hollow interior of said inner member and means to supply a vacuum to said hollow interior of said inner member, said plurality of apertures in said inner and outer members being positioned in said respective inner and outer members such that when relative rotation occurs between said inner and outer members the resulting vacuum may occur at a selected one of a number of possible areas along the length of said feeding mechanism due to the alignment of predetermined apertures in said inner and outer members so as to accommodate the particular width of the material that is to be fed by said feeding mechanism, said apertures of said inner and outer members being positioned such that a plurality of apertures in said inner member and a corresponding number of apertures in said outer member may be aligned at each of said possible areas by rotation of said inner member through predetermined angles with respect to said outer member wherein each of said possible areas is represented by a predetermined angular rotational Setting of said inner member, said inner member comprising a plurality of indentations each of which corresponds to a particular angular rotational setting of said inner member and said feeding mechanism comprising a resiliently biased detent means for cooperation with said indentations for providing detent action in correspondence with the selection of any of said possible areas, said inner member being completely removable from said outer member by applying an outwardly directed force on said inner member and having a groove therein and said feeding mechanism further comprising a resiliently biased holding means for cooperation with said groove for providing holding action of said inner member with respect to said outer member which may be overcome by the application of sufficient outwardly directed force on said inner member.

Claim 16

A feeding mechanism for selectively accommodating different widths of material comprising an elongated outer member having a bore therein and a plurality of apertures located along the length thereof which are in communication with said bore, a hollow elongated rotatable inner member having a section which is constructed to fit into said bore and which has a plurality of apertures therein which lead to the hollow interior of said inner member and means to supply a vacuum to said hollow interior of said inner member, said plurality of apertures in said inner and outer members being positioned in said respective inner and outer members such that when relative rotation occurs between said inner and outer members the resulting vacuum may occur at a selected one of a number of possible areas along the length of said feeding mechanism due to the alignment of predetermined apertures in said inner and outer members so as to accommodate the particular width of the material that is to be fed by said feeding mechanism, said apertures of said inner and outer members being positioned such that a plurality of apertures in said inner member and a corresponding number of apertures in said outer member may be aligned at each of said possible areas by rotation of said inner member through predetermined angles with respect to said outer member wherein each of said possible areas is represented by a predetermined angular rotational Setting of said inner member, said inner member comprising a plurality of indentations each of which corresponds to a particular angular rotational setting of said inner member and said feeding mechanism comprising a resiliently biased detent means for cooperation with said indentations for providing detent action in correspondence with the selection of any of said possible areas, said inner member being completely removable from said outer member by applying an outwardly directed force on said inner member and having a groove therein and said feeding mechanism further comprising a resiliently biased holding means for cooperation with said groove for providing holding action of said inner member with respect to said outer member which may be overcome by the application of sufficient outwardly directed force on said inner member.

Claim 17

A feeding mechanism for selectively accommodating different widths of material comprising an elongated outer member having a bore therein and a plurality of apertures located along the length thereof which are in communication with said bore, a hollow elongated rotatable inner member having a section which is constructed to fit into said bore and which has a plurality of apertures therein which lead to the hollow interior of said inner member and means to supply a vacuum to said hollow interior of said inner member, said plurality of apertures in said inner and outer members being positioned to said respective inner and outer members such that when relative rotation occurs between said inner and outer members the resulting vacuum may occur at a selected one of a number of possible areas along the length of said feeding mechanism due to the alignment of predetermined apertures in said inner and outer members so as to accommodate the particular width of the material that is to be fed by said feeding mechanism, said inner member being completely removable from said outer member by applying an outwardly directed force on said inner member and having a groove therein and said feeding mechanism further comprising a resiliently biased holding means for cooperation with said groove for providing holding action of said inner member with respect to said outer member which may be overcome by the application of sufficient outwardly directed force on said inner member.

Claim 18

A feeding mechanism for selectively accommodating different widths of material comprising an elongated outer member having a bore therein and a plurality of apertures located along the length thereof which are in communication with said bore, a hollow elongated rotatable inner member having a section which is constructed to fit into said bore and which has a plurality of apertures therein which lead to the hollow interior of said inner member and means to supply a vacuum to said hollow interior of said inner member, said plurality of apertures in said inner and outer members being positioned to said respective inner and outer members such that when relative rotation occurs between said inner and outer members the resulting vacuum may occur at a selected one of a number of possible areas along the length of said feeding mechanism due to the alignment of predetermined apertures in said inner and outer members so as to accommodate the particular width of the material that is to be fed by said feeding mechanism, said inner member being completely removable from said outer member by applying an outwardly directed force on said inner member and having a groove therein and said feeding mechanism further comprising a resiliently biased holding means for cooperation with said groove for providing holding action of said inner member with respect to said outer member which may be overcome by the application of sufficient outwardly directed force on said inner member.

Claim 19

A feeding mechanism for accommodating different widths of material and for selectively providing registration of said material to either a first side or to a second side comprising an elongated outer member which has a bore therein and a plurality of apertures therein which are in communication with said bore and is movable from a nominal central location towards either said first side or towards said second side, a hollow elongated rotatable elongated inner member having a section which is constructed to fit into said bore so as to be movable therewith and which has a plurality of apertures therein which lead to the hollow interior of said inner member and means to supply a vacuum to said hollow interior of said inner member, said plurality of apertures in said inner and outer members being positioned in said respective inner and outer members such that when relative rotation occurs between said inner and outer members the resulting vacuum may occur at a selected one of a number of possible areas along the length of said feeding mechanism due to the alignment of predetermined apertures in said inner and outer members so as to accommodate the particular width of the material that is to be fed by said feeding mechanism, follower means secured to said outer member, cam means positioned to cooperate with said follower means and constructed to have at least a first cam face and a second cam face, drive means for driving said cam means, first bias means for forcing said following means into engagement with said first cam face, second bias means for forcing said follower means into engagement with said second cam face and control means for selectively causing either said first bias means or said second bias means to function, said first cam face being configurated such that said outer member will be driven from said central location toward said first side when said first bias means is functioning and from said nominal location toward said second side when said second bias means is functioning and material is being fed by said feeding mechanism.

Claim 20

A feeding mechanism for accommodating different widths of material and for selectively providing registration of said material to either a first side or to a second side comprising an elongated outer member which has a bore therein and a plurality of apertures therein which are in communication with said bore and is movable from a nominal central location towards either said first side or towards said second side, a hollow elongated rotatable elongated inner member having a section which is constructed to fit into said bore so as to be movable therewith and which has a plurality of apertures therein which lead to the hollow interior of said inner member and means to supply a vacuum to said hollow interior of said inner member, said plurality of apertures in said inner and outer members being positioned in said respective inner and outer members such that when relative rotation occurs between said inner and outer members the resulting vacuum may occur at a selected one of a number of possible areas along the length of said feeding mechanism due to the alignment of predetermined apertures in said inner and outer members so as to accommodate the particular width of the material that is to be fed by said feeding mechanism, follower means secured to said outer member, cam means positioned to cooperate with said follower means and constructed to have at least a first cam face and a second cam face, drive means for driving said cam means, first bias means for forcing said following means into engagement with said first cam face, second bias means for forcing said follower means into engagement with said second cam face and control means for selectively causing either said first bias means or said second bias means to function, said first cam face being configurated such that said outer member will be driven from said central location toward said first side when said first bias means is functioning and from said nominal location toward said second side when said second bias means is functioning and material is being fed by said feeding mechanism.

Claim 21

A feeding mechanism as claimed in claim 16 wherein said first bias means comprising a compressible first spring which when compressed forces said follower means into engagement with said first cam face and said second bias means comprises a compressible second spring when compressed forces said follower means into engagement with said second cam face and said control means is selectively operable so as to compress either said first spring or said second spring.

Claim 22

A feeding mechanism as claimed in claim 16 wherein said mechanism comprises a frame having first and second spaced-apart frame members located at said first and said second sides, respectively, and said feed means is mounted so as to be movable between said frame members.

Claim 23

A feeding mechanism as claimed in claim 18 wherein said first bias means comprises a compressible first spring which when compressed forces said follower means into engagement with said first cam face and said second bias means comprises a compressible second spring when compressed forces said follower means into engagement with said second cam face and said control means is selectively operable so as to compress either said first spring or said second spring.

Claim 24

A feeding mechanism as claimed in claim 19 wherein said feed means has a bore that extends part of the way through said feed means, said control means comprises a rod having an inner end which extends into said bore and a collar which surrounds said rod intermediate its inner and outer ends, said first spring is positioned in said bore between the inner end of said bore and the inner end of said rod such that said rod will compress said first spring when said rod is forced toward the inner end of said bore, said second spring is positioned to encircle said rod and is disposed between said collar and the outer end of said bore, a bearing for said rod is disposed adjacent the outer end of said bore such that said second spring will be compressed between said collar and said bearing when said rod is forced away from the inner end of said bore and said feeding mechanism comprises lock means for locking said rod in position once either said first or said second spring has been selectively compressed.

Claim 25

A feeding mechanism as claimed in claim 20 wherein said rod has a transverse pin running therethrough, said rod extends through an aperture in said first frame member and said first frame member has an inner surface and an outer surface and a slot therethrough which allows for passage of said pin when said slot and said pin are in alignment so that said pin may be selectively locked against the inner surface of said first frame member when said first spring is to be compressed or against the outer surface of said first frame member when said second spring is to be compressed.

Claim 26

A feeding mechanism as claimed in claim 16 wherein said apertures of said inner and outer members are positioned such that a plurality of apertures in said inner member and a corresponding number of apertures in said outer member may be aligned at each of said possible areas by rotation of said inner member through predetermined angles with respect to said outer member.

Claim 27

A feeding mechanism as claimed in claim 22 wherein each of said possible areas is represented by a predetermined angular rotational setting of said inner member, said inner member comprises a plurality of indentations each of which corresponds to a particular angular rotational setting of said inner member and said feeding mechanism comprises a resiliently biased detent means for cooperation with said indentations for providing detent action in correspondence with the sElection of any of said possible areas.

Claim 28

A feeding mechanism as claimed in claim 23 wherein said inner member may be completely removed from said outer member by applying an outwardly directed force on said inner member.

Claim 29

A feeding mechanism as claimed in claim 24 wherein said inner member has a groove therein and said feeding mechanism comprises a resiliently biased holding means for cooperation with said groove for providing holding action of said inner member with respect to said outer member which may be overcome by the application of sufficient outwardly directed force on said inner member.

Claim 30

A feeding mechanism as claimed in claim 16 wherein said inner member may be completely removed from said outer member by applying an outwardly directed force on said inner member.

Claim 31

A feeding mechanism as claimed in claim 26 wherein said inner member has a groove therein and said feeding mechanism comprises a resiliently biased holding means for cooperation with said groove for providing holding action of said inner member with respect to said outer member which may be overcome by the application of sufficient outwardly directed force on said inner member.