US3879028A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Process and apparatus for transferring separated material
Assignee: RL Crain Ltd
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Filing: 1973-06-21
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Granted: 1975-04-22
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Expires: 1993-06-21
Abstract
Abstract An apparatus and process are to be disclosed for transferring separated material from a continuous or non-continuous source onto a web of indeterminate length. The web is adapted to be conveyed at the predetermined line speed through a collating apparatus or the like. The transfer mechanism herein includes a support member which receives separated material from a source and accelerates that material to a velocity having a component equal to the line speed of the web for application to that web. The separated material can be in the form of an envelope, separate plies of paper or other sheet material on which information can be printed, credit cards, or the like. The separated material is received from a source at a pick-up position and carried by the transfer mechanism to a transfer position for placement on the web with selected positioning. This preferably involves spacing one item of separated material in a predetermined orientation relative to the web and at a selected spacing from a previously transferred item. The separated material is accelerated preferably by causing it to travel along a path eccentrically of an axis of rotation. In a preferred embodiment of applicant''s transfer mechanism the separated material is accelerated by varying the radial spacing of that material from an axis of rotation. The radial positioning of the separated material relative to the axis of rotation, for instance, can be a minimum at the pick-up position adjacent the source of such material, and at a maximum at the transfer position. Movement of the separated material eccentrically of the axis of rotation is achieved preferably by following a circular path whose center is spaced from the axis of rotation.
Inventors
- 👤 John F Frank
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-29 16:21
CPC Classifications
B; B65; B65H; B65H39/00; B65H39/14
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 18
Claim 1
Independent Claim
180 words
A transfer mechanism mountable in a collating apparatus or the like through which a web of indeterminate length is to be carried, said mechanism being operable to transfer separated material of a selected length from a source to said web, comprising: a support member to receive the separated material, and having retainer means thereon engageable with said material to hold the latter securely; a main shaft rotatably mountable iN spaced apart frame elements in said apparatus for rotation about an axis extending coaxially of the shaft, said main shaft being adapted to be driven in synchronism with the collating apparatus; and connecting means supported by a bearing assembly for guided reciprocal movement relative to said axis of rotation; said connecting means being operative to carry the support member and coact in response to rotation of the main shaft with support structure in the collating apparatus to move the support member along a path eccentrically of the axis of rotation, whereby separated material is carried by the support member to a transfer position for placement onto said web with preselected positioning.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
180 words
A transfer mechanism mountable in a collating apparatus or the like through which a web of indeterminate length is to be carried, said mechanism being operable to transfer separated material of a selected length from a source to said web, comprising: a support member to receive the separated material, and having retainer means thereon engageable with said material to hold the latter securely; a main shaft rotatably mountable iN spaced apart frame elements in said apparatus for rotation about an axis extending coaxially of the shaft, said main shaft being adapted to be driven in synchronism with the collating apparatus; and connecting means supported by a bearing assembly for guided reciprocal movement relative to said axis of rotation; said connecting means being operative to carry the support member and coact in response to rotation of the main shaft with support structure in the collating apparatus to move the support member along a path eccentrically of the axis of rotation, whereby separated material is carried by the support member to a transfer position for placement onto said web with preselected positioning.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
180 words
A transfer mechanism mountable in a collating apparatus or the like through which a web of indeterminate length is to be carried, said mechanism being operable to transfer separated material of a selected length from a source to said web, comprising: a support member to receive the separated material, and having retainer means thereon engageable with said material to hold the latter securely; a main shaft rotatably mountable iN spaced apart frame elements in said apparatus for rotation about an axis extending coaxially of the shaft, said main shaft being adapted to be driven in synchronism with the collating apparatus; and connecting means supported by a bearing assembly for guided reciprocal movement relative to said axis of rotation; said connecting means being operative to carry the support member and coact in response to rotation of the main shaft with support structure in the collating apparatus to move the support member along a path eccentrically of the axis of rotation, whereby separated material is carried by the support member to a transfer position for placement onto said web with preselected positioning.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
180 words
A transfer mechanism mountable in a collating apparatus or the like through which a web of indeterminate length is to be carried, said mechanism being operable to transfer separated material of a selected length from a source to said web, comprising: a support member to receive the separated material, and having retainer means thereon engageable with said material to hold the latter securely; a main shaft rotatably mountable iN spaced apart frame elements in said apparatus for rotation about an axis extending coaxially of the shaft, said main shaft being adapted to be driven in synchronism with the collating apparatus; and connecting means supported by a bearing assembly for guided reciprocal movement relative to said axis of rotation; said connecting means being operative to carry the support member and coact in response to rotation of the main shaft with support structure in the collating apparatus to move the support member along a path eccentrically of the axis of rotation, whereby separated material is carried by the support member to a transfer position for placement onto said web with preselected positioning.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
49 words
The transfer mechanism defined in claim 1, wherein said connecting means and support structure cause radial positioning of the support member relative to the axis of rotation, said positioning to be varied from a minimum when receiving separated material to a maximum when transferring said material onto the web.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
29 words
The transfer mechanism defined in claim 2, wherein said retainer means comprises feed pins spaced equally apart to be received in complementary feed holes provided in said separated material.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
76 words
The transfer mechanism defined in claim 3, whrein said feed pins are mounted on a base segment, biased to urge the separated material against a guide plate provided on the collating apparatus, the guide plate being delimited by a leading edge disposed in operative relation to receive material in cooperation with said support member from said source, and by a trailing edge disposed in said transfer position and spaced slightly above said web of indeterminate length.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
40 words
The transfer mechanism defined in claim 1, wherein the connecting means is provided with follower means to be engageable with a race of a predetermined orientation relative to said axis of rotation, said race forming part of the support structure.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
47 words
The transfer mechanism defined in claim 1, wherein said separated material is accelerated from a rate of delivery from said source to a transfer speed substantially equal to a predetermined line speed at which said web of indeterminate length is to be carried through the collating apparatus.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
53 words
The transfer mechanism defined in claim 1, wherein said bearing assembly is secured to the main shaft for rotation therewith, said bearing assembly and connecting means being provided with mating coupling elements which limit movement of the connecting means relative to the bearing element to a direction radially of the axis of rotation.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
81 words
The transfer mechanism defined in claim 7, wherein the support member and connecting means are rigidly interconnected and wherein said connecting means comprises a generally U-shaped saddle member having at least one guide pin secured thereto and projecting toward said axis of rotation, the bearing assembly being formed with apertures in alignment with said guide pin to receive and limit the latter while said main shaft is rotated to reciprocal movement of the support member radially of the axis of rotation.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
122 words
The transfer mechanism defined in claim 1, wherein said support member comprises a curved elongated plate removably attach at each of a pair of opposed edges thereof to a replaceable spacer block, the spacer blocks being mounted on rods having opposed free ends each of which is fixedly secured to a U-shaped saddle member at a free end of one arm of the U, the other arm of the U being provided with follower means engageable with an adjustably positionable circular race whose center is located off-set from the axis of said main shaft, whereby rotation of the main shaft causes the curved plate and separated material carried thereon to traverse a path eccentrically of the axis of rotation of said shaft.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
46 words
The transfer mechanism defined in claim 9, wherein said spacer blocks are replaceable to vary the radial positioning of the curved plate from the axis of rotation, and wherein said circular race is concurRently adjustable to retain without change a pick-up position for the separated material.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
154 words
A transfer mechanism for use with a collating apparatus or the like through which a web of indeterminate length is to be carried, the mechanism being operable to transfer separated material of a selected length from a source to said web; comprising: an elongated support member having retainer means thereon operable to receive material from said source and hold said material securely; a bearing assembly adapted to be supported on a drive shaft for rotation therewith about an axis of rotation, the bearing assembly including coupling elements oriented in a direction radially of the axis of rotation; and connecting means supported by said bearing assembly, the connecting means being operative to mount the support member for movement along a path eccentrically of said axis of rotation, and including a complementally formed member thereon engageable with one of said coupling elements to provide reciprocal movement of the support member radially of said axis of rotation.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
154 words
A transfer mechanism for use with a collating apparatus or the like through which a web of indeterminate length is to be carried, the mechanism being operable to transfer separated material of a selected length from a source to said web; comprising: an elongated support member having retainer means thereon operable to receive material from said source and hold said material securely; a bearing assembly adapted to be supported on a drive shaft for rotation therewith about an axis of rotation, the bearing assembly including coupling elements oriented in a direction radially of the axis of rotation; and connecting means supported by said bearing assembly, the connecting means being operative to mount the support member for movement along a path eccentrically of said axis of rotation, and including a complementally formed member thereon engageable with one of said coupling elements to provide reciprocal movement of the support member radially of said axis of rotation.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
72 words
The transfer mechanism of claim 11, wherein the connecting means comprises a generally U-shaped saddle member having a guide pin thereon which constitute said complementally formed member, one arm of the U-shaped saddle member being adapted to carry said support member, and the other arm being provided with one portion of a two part cam follower and race system so arranged as to yield said movement eccentrically of the axis of rotation.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
50 words
The transfer mechanism defined in claim 11, wherein said separated material is arranged to be accelerated from a rate of delivery from said source to a transfer speed substantially equal to a predetermined line speed at which said web of indeterminate length is to be carried through the collating apparatus.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
47 words
The transfer mechanism defined in claim 11, wherein said connecting means and bearing assembly cause radial positioning of the support member relative to the axis of rotation to be varied from a minimum when receiving separated material to a maximum when transferring said material onto the web.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
US3097844A
Cited
US3147969A
Cited
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1978-04-21 | 1978-10-21 | 1979-04-22 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1982-04-21 | 1982-10-21 | 1983-04-22 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1986-04-21 | 1986-10-21 | 1987-04-22 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |