Patent US2335954A successfully refreshed from Google Patents.
Patent US3918706A successfully refreshed from Google Patents.
US3918706A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Pneumatic sheet transport and alignment mechanism
Assignee: International Business Machines Corp
•
Filing: 1974-06-24
•
Granted: 1975-11-11
•
Expires: 1994-06-24
Abstract
Abstract A pneumatic sheet transport and alignment mechanism is disclosed utilizing the orientation of the air jets in the pneumatic transport to cause the sheet being transported to be moved laterally to engage an edge guide such that the sheet is properly aligned for subsequent operations upon exiting from the transport and alignment mechanism. Additionally a technique is disclosed which allows the sheet to be progressively engaged with the edge guide or reference edge such that the trailing corner of the sheet as it progresses through the transport is engaged with the reference edge prior to the leading corner thereby avoiding jams and retarded sheets.
Inventors
- 👤 James Alexander Craft
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-31 23:25
CPC Classifications
B; B65; B65H; B65H5/00; B65H5/22; B65H5/228; B65H9/00
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 6
Claim 1
Independent Claim
159 words
A pneumatic sheet transporting and aligning device comprising a transport plane defined by restraining means positioned on two sides of said plane and an edge guide aligning means; a plurality of nozzles extending through said restraining means and the extensions thereof forming an acute angle with the transport plane; said plurality of nozzles divided into two groups, one group extending through each restraining means, and each of said groups further subdivided into subgroups of nozzles each having an angular orientation with the edge guide aligning means such that the first said subgroup has the largest angle therebetween and successive ones of said subgroups has a decreasing angular orientation thereby providing a progressively decreasing translating and aligning vector of force on a sheet and an increasing transporting vector of force on said sheet with the sheets progression through said transport and alignment device; said plurality of nozzles pneumatically connected to a pressurized air source to provide continuous air flow therethrough.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
159 words
A pneumatic sheet transporting and aligning device comprising a transport plane defined by restraining means positioned on two sides of said plane and an edge guide aligning means; a plurality of nozzles extending through said restraining means and the extensions thereof forming an acute angle with the transport plane; said plurality of nozzles divided into two groups, one group extending through each restraining means, and each of said groups further subdivided into subgroups of nozzles each having an angular orientation with the edge guide aligning means such that the first said subgroup has the largest angle therebetween and successive ones of said subgroups has a decreasing angular orientation thereby providing a progressively decreasing translating and aligning vector of force on a sheet and an increasing transporting vector of force on said sheet with the sheets progression through said transport and alignment device; said plurality of nozzles pneumatically connected to a pressurized air source to provide continuous air flow therethrough.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
90 words
A pneumatic transport and aligner for transporting sheet material and aligning said sheet with an edge alignment guide comprising: pneumatic propulsion means for aligning and transporting comprising a plurality of groups of nozzles; each of said groups of said nozzles angularly oriented with respect to said edge alignment guide to progressively provide a decreasing translating vector and an increasing transporting vector of force on said sheet, with respect to its direction of transportation; said plurality of nozzles pneumatically connected to a pressurized air source to provide continuous air flow therethrough.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
90 words
A pneumatic transport and aligner for transporting sheet material and aligning said sheet with an edge alignment guide comprising: pneumatic propulsion means for aligning and transporting comprising a plurality of groups of nozzles; each of said groups of said nozzles angularly oriented with respect to said edge alignment guide to progressively provide a decreasing translating vector and an increasing transporting vector of force on said sheet, with respect to its direction of transportation; said plurality of nozzles pneumatically connected to a pressurized air source to provide continuous air flow therethrough.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
85 words
The transport and alignment device of claim 2 wherein said groups of nozzles are positioned and angularly placed with respect to a sheet of said material that in addition to said translating vector and said transporting vector, at least one of said groups of said nozzles is angularly oriented with respect to others of said nozzles and said edge guide, that the cooperative forces of the air flow from said nozzles creates a turning movement about an axis perpendicular to the plane of said sheet.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
57 words
The transport and alignment device of claim 2 wherein the vectors of forces created by the orientation of said nozzles coact on said sheet to rotate said sheet to cause the trailing corner of the aligner engageable edge of said sheet to engage said edge aligner guide prior to the engagement of said edge of said sheet.
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) | 1978-11-10 | 1979-05-12 | 1979-11-11 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1982-11-10 | 1983-05-12 | 1983-11-11 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1986-11-10 | 1987-05-12 | 1987-11-11 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |