US3873083A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Apparatus for distributing and sorting discharged sheets
Assignee: Ricoh Co Ltd
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Filing: 1973-07-19
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Granted: 1975-03-25
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Expires: 1993-07-19
Abstract
Abstract An apparatus is provided which distributes processed sheets, as discharged from a discharge port, to the lateral sides with respect to the direction of discharge, by using a distributing shaft arranged along the direction of sheet discharge in the sheet discharge path and capable of reversible rotation. The apparatus includes a quick feed member which compensates for a diversion lag of the rear portion of a diverted sheet in the diverting direction.
Inventors
- 👤 Sakae Fujimoto
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-27 08:12
CPC Classifications
B; B07; B07C; B07C1/00; B07C1/02; B07C1/04; B65; B65H; B65H29/00; B65H29/58; B65H29/60; B65H31/00; B65H31/24; B65H2405/00; B65H2405/10; B65H2405/11; B65H2405/111; B65H2405/1115; B65H2405/30; B65H2405/33; B65H2405/331; B65H2405/3311
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 12
Claim 1
Independent Claim
97 words
An apparatus for distributing sheets discharged from a feed path along a discharge path, comprising a distributing shaft disposed to extend along the direction of sheet discharge within the discharge path for the sheets and capable of reversible rotation for diverting discharged sheets which come into contact therewith to lateral sides with respect to the direction of discharge, and means for controlling the direction of rotation of the distributing shaft, said controlling means responsive to the discharge of a selected number of sheets discharged along said path to change the direction of rotation of said distributing shaft.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
97 words
An apparatus for distributing sheets discharged from a feed path along a discharge path, comprising a distributing shaft disposed to extend along the direction of sheet discharge within the discharge path for the sheets and capable of reversible rotation for diverting discharged sheets which come into contact therewith to lateral sides with respect to the direction of discharge, and means for controlling the direction of rotation of the distributing shaft, said controlling means responsive to the discharge of a selected number of sheets discharged along said path to change the direction of rotation of said distributing shaft.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
65 words
An apparatus for distributing discharged sheets as in claim 1 including a quick feed member fixedly mounted on the distributing shaft to rotate therewith, said quick feed member having a diameter greater than that of the distributing shaft and disposed to contact the trailing end of a sheet discharged along the discharge path and to quickly move said trailing edge in the direction of diversion.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
45 words
An apparatus as in claim 1 wherein the controlling means includes means for counting sheets discharged along said discharge path and means or changing the direction of rotation of the distributing shaft after a selected number of sheets have been counted by the counting means.
Claim 5
Independent Claim
119 words
An apparatus for distributing sheets discharged from a feed path along a discharge path, comprising a distributing shaft disposed to extend along the direction of sheet discharge within the discharge path for the sheets and capable of reversible rotation to divert discharged sheets which come into contact therewith to lateral sides with respect to the direction of discharge, means for controlling the direction of rotation of the distributing shaft, and a quick feed member fixedly mounted on the distributing shaft to rotate therewith and adapted to contact the trailing end of a discharged sheet after the sheet moves into contact with the distributing shaft and is diverted thereby to rapidly move the trailing end in the direction of diversion.
Claim 6
Independent Claim
119 words
An apparatus for distributing sheets discharged from a feed path along a discharge path, comprising a distributing shaft disposed to extend along the direction of sheet discharge within the discharge path for the sheets and capable of reversible rotation to divert discharged sheets which come into contact therewith to lateral sides with respect to the direction of discharge, means for controlling the direction of rotation of the distributing shaft, and a quick feed member fixedly mounted on the distributing shaft to rotate therewith and adapted to contact the trailing end of a discharged sheet after the sheet moves into contact with the distributing shaft and is diverted thereby to rapidly move the trailing end in the direction of diversion.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
19 words
An apparatus for distributing discharged sheets according to claim 4 including a reversible motor for driving the distributing shaft.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
41 words
An appatatus for distributing discharged sheets according to claim 3 in which the quick feed member comprises a doughnut-shaped body of a material having a high coeffecient of friction and having a diameter greater than the diameter of the distributing shaft.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
53 words
An apparatus for distributing discharged sheets according to claim 5 including means for counting the number of sheets discharged along said discharge path and for providing a switching signal upon a selected count of discharged sheets, and means for changing the direction of rotation of the motor in response to said switching signal.
Claim 10
Independent Claim
142 words
An apparatus for distributing sheets discharged from a discharge port along a discharged path, comprising a distributing shaft disposed to extend along the direction of sheet discharge along said discharge path, means for rotating the shaft along a selected direction to divert discharged sheets which come into contact therewith to lateral sides with respect to the discharge direction depending on the direction of rotation of the shaft, said distributing shaft disposed in a position to be contacted first by the leading edge of the sheet discharged along the discharge path, and a quick feed member fixedly mounted on the portion of the distributing shaft which is closer to the discharge port to rotate with the shaft and to contact the trailing end of a sheet discharged from the port, said feed member having a diameter greater than that of the distributing shaft.
Claim 11
Independent Claim
142 words
An apparatus for distributing sheets discharged from a discharge port along a discharged path, comprising a distributing shaft disposed to extend along the direction of sheet discharge along said discharge path, means for rotating the shaft along a selected direction to divert discharged sheets which come into contact therewith to lateral sides with respect to the discharge direction depending on the direction of rotation of the shaft, said distributing shaft disposed in a position to be contacted first by the leading edge of the sheet discharged along the discharge path, and a quick feed member fixedly mounted on the portion of the distributing shaft which is closer to the discharge port to rotate with the shaft and to contact the trailing end of a sheet discharged from the port, said feed member having a diameter greater than that of the distributing shaft.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
41 words
An apparatus as in claim 8 including means for counting sheets discharged from the port and means for changing the direction of rotation of the distributing shaft after a selected number of sheets have been counted by the means for counting.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
US1282626A
Cited
US2605910A
Cited
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1978-03-24 | 1978-09-23 | 1979-03-25 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1982-03-24 | 1982-09-23 | 1983-03-25 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1986-03-24 | 1986-09-23 | 1987-03-25 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |