US3908986A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Sheet aligning mechanism
Assignee: International Business Machines Corp
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Filing: 1973-06-15
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Granted: 1975-09-30
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Expires: 1993-06-15
Abstract
Abstract A sheet aligning mechanism for aligning varied types and weights of sheets which are hand fed thereto includes a continuously rotating feed roll cooperating with a pinch device for urging sheets into both a leading edge aligner and a side edge aligner for leading edge and side edge registration. The feed roll is eccentrically mounted and its clearance with the pinch device is controlled whereby light weight thin sheets are intermittently driven into the aligners. The intermittent sheet drive force prevents sheet buckling and creasing should the operator fail to properly release the sheet. Further, sheet buckling is prevented by the intermittent drive force once the sheet reaches an aligner since the sheet is allowed to restore during the non-drive portion of the feed roll rotation. Once the sheet is properly aligned against both aligners and the utilization device is ready to receive the sheet, an entry gate is actuated and the feed roll forwards the sheet to a sheet take-up device. Thick sheets are continuously driven by the feed roll since they exhibit little propensity toward buckling.
Inventors
- 👤 Charles Dale Bleau
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-26 21:18
CPC Classifications
B; B65; B65H; B65H9/00; B65H9/16; B65H9/166; B65H9/06; G; G03; G03B; G03B27/00; G03B27/32; G03B27/52; G03B27/62; G03B27/6207; G03B27/625
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 7
Claim 1
Independent Claim
256 words
A sheet aligner comprising: a sheet guide for supporting a sheet; a first aligner stop positioned adjacent said sheet guide for intercepting a sheet forwarded over the sheet guide; a second aligner stop positioned approximately perpendicular to said first aligner stop in the plane of sheet travel for intercepting a sheet forwarded over the sheet guide; a sheet forwarding device for intermittently forwarding a sheet over the sheet guide to the aligner stops, said sheet forwarding device including an eccentrically mounted roll and a cooperating pinch device, the clearance between the roll and the pinch device allowing alternate engagement and disengagement of a thin sheet fed between the pinch device and roll by the roll and pinch device as the roll rotates, said roll being canted with respect to said first aligner stop and said second aligner stop for simultaneously forwarding a sheet to said aligner stops; sensing means for sensing the registration of a sheet against the first aligner stop and the second aligner stop; actuable sheet gate means connected to said first aligner stop for positioning said first aligner stop in a non-intercepting position with respect to a sheet previously intercepted thereby; actuator means responsive to the sensing means for actuating the sheet gate means to position the first aligner stop to said non-intercepting position when a sheet is registered; sheet take-up means located beyond the first aligner stop in the sheet feed path for receiving sheets forwarded thereto by the sheet forwarding device when the first aligner stop is in the non-intercepting position.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
256 words
A sheet aligner comprising: a sheet guide for supporting a sheet; a first aligner stop positioned adjacent said sheet guide for intercepting a sheet forwarded over the sheet guide; a second aligner stop positioned approximately perpendicular to said first aligner stop in the plane of sheet travel for intercepting a sheet forwarded over the sheet guide; a sheet forwarding device for intermittently forwarding a sheet over the sheet guide to the aligner stops, said sheet forwarding device including an eccentrically mounted roll and a cooperating pinch device, the clearance between the roll and the pinch device allowing alternate engagement and disengagement of a thin sheet fed between the pinch device and roll by the roll and pinch device as the roll rotates, said roll being canted with respect to said first aligner stop and said second aligner stop for simultaneously forwarding a sheet to said aligner stops; sensing means for sensing the registration of a sheet against the first aligner stop and the second aligner stop; actuable sheet gate means connected to said first aligner stop for positioning said first aligner stop in a non-intercepting position with respect to a sheet previously intercepted thereby; actuator means responsive to the sensing means for actuating the sheet gate means to position the first aligner stop to said non-intercepting position when a sheet is registered; sheet take-up means located beyond the first aligner stop in the sheet feed path for receiving sheets forwarded thereto by the sheet forwarding device when the first aligner stop is in the non-intercepting position.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
42 words
The sheet aligner set forth in claim 1 wherein said clearance between the pinch device and driving roll allowing continuous engagement of a thick sheet fed between the pinch device and roll by the roll and pinch device as the roll rotates.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
43 words
The sheet aligner set forth in claim 1 wherein the pinch device includes a rotatable spherical bearing movable in a direction perpendicular to the sheet feed direction to facilitate the feeding of sheets of differing thicknesses between the pinch device and the roll.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
253 words
A sheet aligner comprising: a sheet guide for supporting a sheet; a first aligner stop positioned adjacent said sheet guide for intercepting a sheet forwarded over the sheet guide; a second aligner stop positioned approximately perpendicular to said first aligner stop in the plane of sheet travel for intercepting a sheet forwarded over the sheet guide; a sheet forwarding device for intermittently forwarding a sheet over the sheet guide to the aligner stops, said sheet forwarding device including an eccentrically mounted roll positioned canted with respect to each of said aligner stops for simultaneously forwardIng a sheet toward each of said aligner stops and a cooperating pinch device, the roll and the pinch device providing an intermittent sheet forwarding drive force to be applied to a sheet fed between the pinch device and roll by the roll and pinch device as the roll rotates; sensing means for sensing the registration of a sheet against the first aligner stop and the second aligner stop; actuable sheet gate means connected to said first aligner stop for positioning said first aligner stop in a non-intercepting position with respect to a sheet previously intercepted thereby; actuator means responsive to the sensing means for actuating the sheet gate means to position the first aligner stop to said non-intercepting position when a sheet is registered; sheet take-up means located beyond the first aligner stop in the sheet feed path for receiving sheets forwarded thereto by the sheet forwarding device when the first aligner stop is in the non-intercepting position.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
253 words
A sheet aligner comprising: a sheet guide for supporting a sheet; a first aligner stop positioned adjacent said sheet guide for intercepting a sheet forwarded over the sheet guide; a second aligner stop positioned approximately perpendicular to said first aligner stop in the plane of sheet travel for intercepting a sheet forwarded over the sheet guide; a sheet forwarding device for intermittently forwarding a sheet over the sheet guide to the aligner stops, said sheet forwarding device including an eccentrically mounted roll positioned canted with respect to each of said aligner stops for simultaneously forwardIng a sheet toward each of said aligner stops and a cooperating pinch device, the roll and the pinch device providing an intermittent sheet forwarding drive force to be applied to a sheet fed between the pinch device and roll by the roll and pinch device as the roll rotates; sensing means for sensing the registration of a sheet against the first aligner stop and the second aligner stop; actuable sheet gate means connected to said first aligner stop for positioning said first aligner stop in a non-intercepting position with respect to a sheet previously intercepted thereby; actuator means responsive to the sensing means for actuating the sheet gate means to position the first aligner stop to said non-intercepting position when a sheet is registered; sheet take-up means located beyond the first aligner stop in the sheet feed path for receiving sheets forwarded thereto by the sheet forwarding device when the first aligner stop is in the non-intercepting position.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
43 words
The sheet aligner set forth in claim 4 wherein the pinch device includes a rotatable spherical bearing movable in a direction perpendicular to the sheet feed direction to facilitate the feeding of sheets of differing thicknesses between the pinch device and the roll.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
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 |