Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 11
Claim 1
Independent Claim
149 words
Apparatus for inverting a sheet member comprising means defining a conveyor passage along which a sheet member can be advanced, a rotatable arm assembly mounted along said passage and including upper and lower arms defining an opening therebetween adapted for receiving said sheet member, means for rotating said arms 360° at a non-uniform speed from an initial position in which said opening faces upstream of said passage back to a coincident final position, said arms passing through an upright position and a position in which said opening faces downstream of said passage, said upper arm including a swingable clamp means for rotating in a direction opposite to the direction of rotation of said arms when going from said initial position to said upright position and for rotating in the same direction as said arms when going from said upright position to the position in which said opening faces downstream.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
149 words
Apparatus for inverting a sheet member comprising means defining a conveyor passage along which a sheet member can be advanced, a rotatable arm assembly mounted along said passage and including upper and lower arms defining an opening therebetween adapted for receiving said sheet member, means for rotating said arms 360° at a non-uniform speed from an initial position in which said opening faces upstream of said passage back to a coincident final position, said arms passing through an upright position and a position in which said opening faces downstream of said passage, said upper arm including a swingable clamp means for rotating in a direction opposite to the direction of rotation of said arms when going from said initial position to said upright position and for rotating in the same direction as said arms when going from said upright position to the position in which said opening faces downstream.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
22 words
Apparatus as claimed in claim 1 wherein said upper arm includes abutment means for limiting the swinging movement of said clamp means.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
43 words
Apparatus as claimed in claim 1 wherein said means for rotating said arms comprises a drive motor, and a change-speed mechanism drivingly coupling said drive motor and said arms, said change-speed mechanism including a pair of oval gears in mesh with one another.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
45 words
Apparatus as claimed in claim 1 wherein said clamp means comprises a clamp arm pivotably mounted relative to said upper arm, and cylinder means coupled to the lower arm and to said clamp arm for pivotably moving said clamp arm relative to said upper arm.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
21 words
Apparatus as claimed in claim 4 wherein said clamp arm includes an extension portion to which said cylinder means is attached.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
77 words
Apparatus as claimed in claim 1 wherein said means which rotates said arms acts to accelerate the arms in going from the initial position towards said upright position and to decelerate the arms in going from said upright position to the position in which said opening faces downwardly, said clamp means clamping the sheet against the lower arm during the acceleration stage and releasing the sheet while traveling away from said lower arm during the deceleration stage.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
27 words
Apparatus as claimed in claim 4 wherein said upper arm includes a portion fixed to said lower arm, said clamp arm being pivotably mounted on said portion.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
31 words
Apparatus as claimed in claim 7 comprising a shaft rotatably supporting said lower arm and said portion of the upper arm for rotation about an axis transverse to said conveyor passage.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
39 words
Apparatus as claimed in claim 8 comprising means for lowering said shaft below said conveyor passage during the time when the said arms are rotated from the position in which said opening faces downstream back to said initial position.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
24 words
Apparatus as claimed in claim 9 comprising means for accelerating the advancement of the sheet member on said conveyor passage downstream of said axis.