US3893392A — Article feeding apparatus for engraving press or …

Claim 1

Independent Claim 153 words

Apparatus for performing an engraving operation on a substantially flat article, and comprising means for supplying a plurality of such articles in a stack and for feeding such articles substantially perpendicular to their faces, pivotally mounted means for removing an article from a stack of such articles and for tipping a removed article to a different plane of orientation, means for conveying the articles from said removing means to and through a work station, means for shifting said removing means in said plane of orientation and in the direction of movement of said conveying means for transfering the article to said conveying means, working means at said work station for performing an engraving operation on an article while associated with said conveying means, and means for operating said working means in timed relation to said conveying means for performing a working operation on an article by said working means at said work station.

Claim 2

Dependent Claim 153 words

Apparatus for performing an engraving operation on a substantially flat article, and comprising means for supplying a plurality of such articles in a stack and for feeding such articles substantially perpendicular to their faces, pivotally mounted means for removing an article from a stack of such articles and for tipping a removed article to a different plane of orientation, means for conveying the articles from said removing means to and through a work station, means for shifting said removing means in said plane of orientation and in the direction of movement of said conveying means for transfering the article to said conveying means, working means at said work station for performing an engraving operation on an article while associated with said conveying means, and means for operating said working means in timed relation to said conveying means for performing a working operation on an article by said working means at said work station.

Claim 3

Dependent Claim 37 words

Apparatus according to claim 1 in which said conveying means comprises a plurality of belts with adjacent runs such that the article is transferred to the bight of the belts and is gripped between said adjacent runs.

Claim 4

Dependent Claim 61 words

Apparatus according to claim 2 in which said pivoted article removing means comprises suction cups to grip the article for removal from the stack, and pneumatic motor means for reciprocating said article removing means along its pivotal axis in timed relation of the pivoting thereof sequentially to move each article along a predetermined path for insertion between said adjacent belt runs.

Claim 5

Dependent Claim 42 words

Apparatus according to claim 3 and further including an indexing station with photo-detection means that includes a device for generating a light beam, and means responsive to said photo-detection means for interrupting the movement of said belts upon detection of an article.

Claim 6

Dependent Claim 34 words

Apparatus according to claim 4 including circuit means for stopping the operation of said working means when the latter is in a predetermined position if said light beam is not broken by an article.

Claim 7

Dependent Claim 24 words

Apparatus according to claim 5 in which said working means is a ram and said circuit means includes switch means actuated by said ram.

Claim 8

Dependent Claim 55 words

Apparatus according to claim 1 including first driving means operating said working means, second driving means operating said conveying means independently of said first driving means, and circuit means for stopping the operation of said first driving means when the working means is in a predetermined position and said second driving means is in operation.

Claim 9

Dependent Claim 189 words

Apparatus comprising working means including a reciprocating ram, means for holding a supply of flat articles, pneumatic means for picking off articles in succession from said supply, air motor means for moving said articles, feed means comprising adjacent belt runs for receiving said articles fed therebetween by said air motor means for conveying said articles to an indexing station, means for driving said belts, a light source at said indexing station and a light-responsive device for receiving light from said source, circuit means responsive to the interruption of light from said source by an article for stopping said feed means so that the ram can move toward an article in fixed position for performing a working operation thereon, means for driving said ram independently of the drive for said belts, means comprising a first switch operated by the movement of said ram for controlling the operation of said picking off means and the operation of said air motor means, and means comprising a second switch controlled by the operation of the ram for stopping the movement thereof when the ram reaches a preDetermined position and said belts are running.

Claim 10

Dependent Claim 189 words

Apparatus comprising working means including a reciprocating ram, means for holding a supply of flat articles, pneumatic means for picking off articles in succession from said supply, air motor means for moving said articles, feed means comprising adjacent belt runs for receiving said articles fed therebetween by said air motor means for conveying said articles to an indexing station, means for driving said belts, a light source at said indexing station and a light-responsive device for receiving light from said source, circuit means responsive to the interruption of light from said source by an article for stopping said feed means so that the ram can move toward an article in fixed position for performing a working operation thereon, means for driving said ram independently of the drive for said belts, means comprising a first switch operated by the movement of said ram for controlling the operation of said picking off means and the operation of said air motor means, and means comprising a second switch controlled by the operation of the ram for stopping the movement thereof when the ram reaches a preDetermined position and said belts are running.

Claim 11

Dependent Claim 37 words

Apparatus according to claim 8 in which said working means performs an engraving operation, and said apparatus includes a feed table along which the articles move with an edge of the articles being gripped by said belts.

Claim 12

Dependent Claim 36 words

Apparatus according to claim 9 in which said belt runs extend beyond said working means whereby an engraved article is conveyed by said belts as another article is advanced by said belts into position for engraving.

Claim 13

Dependent Claim 25 words

Apparatus according to claim 10 in which said belt runs are constructed to invert said engraved articles prior to discharge from between said belt runs.

Claim 14

Dependent Claim 52 words

Apparatus as claimed in claim 1 in which the conveying means comprises a plurality of endless belts with with adjacent runs gripping the edges of articles, and in which there is a feed table along which the remaining portions of the articles are moved by the belts relative to the work station.

Annuity Stage	Window Opens	Payment Deadline	Surcharge Period Until	Estimated Fee	Status
3.5 Years (Year 4)	1978-07-07	1979-01-06	1979-07-08	$2000.00	Window Closed / Lapsed
7.5 Years (Year 8)	1982-07-07	1983-01-06	1983-07-08	$3760.00	Window Closed / Lapsed
11.5 Years (Year 12)	1986-07-07	1987-01-06	1987-07-08	$7700.00	Window Closed / Lapsed

Article feeding apparatus for engraving press or the like

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