US3908983A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Card feeder
Assignee: Individual
•
Filing: 1974-01-21
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Granted: 1975-09-30
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Expires: 1994-01-21
Abstract
Abstract A device for feeding cards or like paper stock singly from a stack of such cards, in which each card is guided downwardly and fanned forwardly to bear obliquely against a circular friction means and against the next preceding card until that preceding card has passed beneath the friction means along a conveyor platform. The friction means is rotated in proportion to the linear speed of the platform and at approximately the speed of advancement of the cards being fanned forwardly.
Inventors
- 👤 John Albert Long
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-26 13:14
CPC Classifications
B; B65; B65H; B65H3/00; B65H3/02; B65H3/04; B65H3/042; B65H1/00; B65H1/04; B65H1/06; B65H3/06; B65H3/063
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 11
Claim 1
Independent Claim
213 words
A device for feeding cards and like paper stock singly from a stack thereof, comprising: a conveyor having a planar, forwardly movable platform and drive means therefor; means to hold the stack of cards above the platform in a downwardly sloping position in the forward direction of travel of the platform and spaced therefrom, said holding means comprising a forward guide bar and a rearward retainer bar each having a forwardly curving lOwer portion to fan the bottom cards of the stack forwardly as the cards move downwardly in the holding means between the bars under the weight of the stack; circular, rotatable friction means positioned above the platform forwardly of the guide bar of the holding means and a vertical plane lying in the direction of movement of the platform, the friction means being spaced from the platform to provide a gap allowing free passage of a single card therethrough and projecting below the forwardly curving lower portion of the guide bar to provide an exposed arc whereby as the cards move downwardly and forwardly in the stack the leading edge of the lowest card held by the stack contacts the exposed arc of the friction means; and means to rotate the friction means to advance said lowest card towards said gap.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
213 words
A device for feeding cards and like paper stock singly from a stack thereof, comprising: a conveyor having a planar, forwardly movable platform and drive means therefor; means to hold the stack of cards above the platform in a downwardly sloping position in the forward direction of travel of the platform and spaced therefrom, said holding means comprising a forward guide bar and a rearward retainer bar each having a forwardly curving lOwer portion to fan the bottom cards of the stack forwardly as the cards move downwardly in the holding means between the bars under the weight of the stack; circular, rotatable friction means positioned above the platform forwardly of the guide bar of the holding means and a vertical plane lying in the direction of movement of the platform, the friction means being spaced from the platform to provide a gap allowing free passage of a single card therethrough and projecting below the forwardly curving lower portion of the guide bar to provide an exposed arc whereby as the cards move downwardly and forwardly in the stack the leading edge of the lowest card held by the stack contacts the exposed arc of the friction means; and means to rotate the friction means to advance said lowest card towards said gap.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
31 words
A device as claimed in claim 1 in which the means to rotate the friction means comprises reduction gear means connected with the platform drive means and with the friction means.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
24 words
A device as claimed in claim 1 in which the friction means comprises a wheel with a rim having a high coefficient of friction.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
20 words
A device as claimed in claim 3 in which the wheel is steel having a rim of tungsten carbide thereon.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
27 words
A device as claimed in claim 1 including means to adjust the friction means at least in a direction towards the platform while the platform is moving.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
61 words
A device as claimed in claim 5 in which the friction means comprises a wheel keyed on a shaft, a spaced pair of arms each pivotably mounted on a fixed frame, adjustment means linked to each arm on one side of the pivot axis and the shaft being freely journalled in each arm on the other side of the pivot axis.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
51 words
A device as claimed in claim 6 in which the means to rotate the friction means comprises reduction gear means connected with the platform drive means and connected with the friction means by endless drive means, and means to keep the endless drive means taut on adjustment of the friction means.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
37 words
A device as claimed in claim 1 in which the forwardly curving lower portion of the guide bar carries a slot, the lower portion of the friction means projecting through the slot to provide the exposed arc.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
28 words
A device as claimed in claim 1, in which the guide bar includes a tongue extending forwardly from the lower curved portion thereof and spaced from the platform.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
40 words
A device as claimed in claim 1 in which the guide bar is adjustable for orientation with the friction means, and the guide bar and the retainer bar are adjustable to orient the card stack with respect to the platform.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
US1637833A
Cited
US3705719A
Cited
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1978-09-29 | 1979-03-31 | 1979-09-30 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1982-09-29 | 1983-03-31 | 1983-09-30 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1986-09-29 | 1987-03-31 | 1987-09-30 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |