US4013284A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Decurler device
Assignee: Eastern Graphic Products Inc
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Filing: 1975-10-14
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Granted: 1977-03-22
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Expires: 1995-10-14
Abstract
Abstract An improved decurler device, in the form of a rounded, substantially M-shaped vacuum bar, is provided for drawing curled sheet material into its rounded trough where a multiplicity of spaced vacuum openings are located thereby reversely bending the sheet and taking out the curl previously imparted to it. The bar is made of a reinforced plastic material with a hard and very smooth surface which wears well and does not scratch, mar or otherwise destruct the face of the sheet materials. A dispersion of fine carbon particles in the surface material of the bar is also effective to eliminate static electric charges built up in the sheet material incident to previous processing operations.
Inventors
- 👤 S. Gordon Demetre
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-29 21:20
CPC Classifications
B; B65; B65H; B65H29/00; B65H29/68; B65H29/686; B65H23/00; B65H23/04; B65H23/34; B65H2301/00; B65H2301/50; B65H2301/51; B65H2301/512; B65H2301/5125; B65H2301/51256; B65H2801/00; B65H2801/03; B65H2801/21
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 6
Claim 1
Independent Claim
201 words
An improved device for decurling curled sheets in a sheet handling apparatus having means for positively moving successive sheets along a delivery path comprising, in combination, an elongated suction bar disposed across the delivery path substantially transverse to the direction of sheet movement, said suction bar having a substantially M-shaped cross section with two smoothly rounded crests whose curvature is in the same direction as the curl of the sheets and a rounded U-shaped trough between said crests and having a multiplicity of apertures therein, means bridging the legs of said M-shaped cross section below said trough for forming a vacuum manifold closed except for said apertures, means for drawing a vacuum in said manifold, the radius of said trough being substantially less than the radius of said crests so that as a curled sheet is moved across said crests and drawn into said trough by said vacuum it is progressively bent in a compound reverse curvature the sharpest bend of which is opposite the original direction of curl, and said crests and trough being coated with a smooth, hard plastic gel coat containing a dispersion of fine carbon particles and said bar having di-electric properties to electrically destaticize said sheets.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
201 words
An improved device for decurling curled sheets in a sheet handling apparatus having means for positively moving successive sheets along a delivery path comprising, in combination, an elongated suction bar disposed across the delivery path substantially transverse to the direction of sheet movement, said suction bar having a substantially M-shaped cross section with two smoothly rounded crests whose curvature is in the same direction as the curl of the sheets and a rounded U-shaped trough between said crests and having a multiplicity of apertures therein, means bridging the legs of said M-shaped cross section below said trough for forming a vacuum manifold closed except for said apertures, means for drawing a vacuum in said manifold, the radius of said trough being substantially less than the radius of said crests so that as a curled sheet is moved across said crests and drawn into said trough by said vacuum it is progressively bent in a compound reverse curvature the sharpest bend of which is opposite the original direction of curl, and said crests and trough being coated with a smooth, hard plastic gel coat containing a dispersion of fine carbon particles and said bar having di-electric properties to electrically destaticize said sheets.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
31 words
An improved decurler device as defined in claim 1 wherein the ratio of the radii of said crests to the radius of said trough is greater than about 5 to 1.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
33 words
An improved decurler device as defined in claim 2 wherein the depth of said trough is substantially equal to one-half the span between the said crests along a line of common tangency thereto.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
48 words
An improved decurler device as defined in claim 1 wherein said apertures are slightly countersunk in the bottom of said trough and occupy less than about one-third of the length of said trough and extend substantially completely across said trough as viewed in the direction of sheet movement.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
33 words
An improved decurler device as defined in claim 1 wherein the inside surface of said vacuum manifold is polished and waxed to prevent the accumulation of dust and particles from clogging said manifold.
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) | 1980-03-21 | 1980-09-20 | 1981-03-22 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1984-03-21 | 1984-09-20 | 1985-03-22 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1988-03-21 | 1988-09-20 | 1989-03-22 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |