US4033576A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Paper feeding and receiving systems for presses and duplicators
Assignee: J I M CORP
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Filing: 1975-11-11
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Granted: 1977-07-05
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Expires: 1995-11-11
Abstract
Abstract A paper feeding and receiving system for use on presses and duplicators, such system including a paper feed regulator assembly which has a microswitch mounted on a supporting arm above a vertically reciprocable feed table for sensing the height of papers vertically stacked thereon. An electrically actuated solenoid is mountable on the duplicator or press, and operates in response to closure of the microswitch to actuate a pawl latch lever and mechanical linkage to control and effect the incremental elevation of the paper feed table disposed below the microswitch. The paper feed and receiving system further includes a balance beam subassembly mounted on the paper feed table for supporting dual, horizontally spaced, vertically extending stacks of paper to facilitate simultaneous feeding of two sheets of paper to the press or duplicator. Finally, the system of the invention includes a receiver-conveyor table detachably mounted at the discharge side of the duplicator or press for receiving printed papers from the press and moving such papers to a point of disposition. The receiver-conveyor table includes a plurality of belts and a needle drive mechanism which periodically engages the belts and drives them in reciprocation through a predetermined increment of travel to advance received paper stock deposited on the table from the press toward a location of disposition spaced from the press or duplicator.
Inventors
- 👤 Jay E. Stanfield
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-09 17:02
CPC Classifications
B; B65; B65H; B65H1/00; B65H1/08; B65H1/18; B65H3/00; B65H3/08; B65H3/0808; B65H3/0816
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 33
Claim 1
Independent Claim
202 words
An assembly for feeding paper stock to a duplicating machine comprising: a paper feed table; means for elevating the paper feed table; a microswitch assembly spaced vertically from, and disposed over, the paper feed table, said microswitch assembly comprising: a housing; a microswitch mounted in the housing and including a switch contact movable to open and close the microswitch; and a contactor plate mounted in the housing below the microswitch and movable to contact and move the microswitch contact; an actuator needle subassembly mounted between the feed table and microswitch assembly and comprising: a tubular member; a sleeve mounted concentrically inside the tubular member; and needle means reciprocably mounted in the tubular member below said contactor plate for vertical reciprocation therein and limited in its downward movement in said tubular member by said sleeve, said needle means being positioned to strike and move said contactor plate upwardly to a switch closing position during upward reciprocating movement and to be contacted by a stack of paper stock supported on said feed table; and electro-mechanical means connected to said microswitch and to said means for elevating the paper feed table to activate and inactivate said elevating means when said microswitch is opened and closed.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
202 words
An assembly for feeding paper stock to a duplicating machine comprising: a paper feed table; means for elevating the paper feed table; a microswitch assembly spaced vertically from, and disposed over, the paper feed table, said microswitch assembly comprising: a housing; a microswitch mounted in the housing and including a switch contact movable to open and close the microswitch; and a contactor plate mounted in the housing below the microswitch and movable to contact and move the microswitch contact; an actuator needle subassembly mounted between the feed table and microswitch assembly and comprising: a tubular member; a sleeve mounted concentrically inside the tubular member; and needle means reciprocably mounted in the tubular member below said contactor plate for vertical reciprocation therein and limited in its downward movement in said tubular member by said sleeve, said needle means being positioned to strike and move said contactor plate upwardly to a switch closing position during upward reciprocating movement and to be contacted by a stack of paper stock supported on said feed table; and electro-mechanical means connected to said microswitch and to said means for elevating the paper feed table to activate and inactivate said elevating means when said microswitch is opened and closed.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
69 words
An assembly for feeding paper stock to a duplicating machine as defined in claim 1 wherein said housing has an upper side having a hole in it and a lower side; and wherein said microswitch assembly is further characterized in including: a light in said housing and visible through the upper side thereof; and an electrical circuit including a portion of said electro-mechanical means, said light and said microswitch.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
49 words
An assembly for feeding paper stock to a duplicating machine as defined in claim 1 wherein said needle means comprises: a stem extending through said sleeve and into said tubular member; and a conically shaped head connected to said stem and positioned at least partially within said tubular member.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
39 words
An assembly for feeding paper stock to a duplicating machine as defined in claim 1 and further characterized as including: a balance beam subassembly mounted on said feed table for concurrently supporting a plurality of stacks of paper thereon.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
72 words
An assembly for feeding paper stock to a duplicating machine as defined in claim 2 wherein the lower side of said housing has a hole therethrough, and said needle means is aligned with the hole in the lower side of said housing for reciprocation therethrough; and wherein said contactor plate is pivotally supported on the lower side of said housing and extends across the hole in the lower side of said housing.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
49 words
An assembly for feeding paper stock to a duplicating machine as defined in claim 5 wherein said needle means comprises: a stem extending through said sleeve and into said tubular member; and a conically shaped head connected to said stem and positioned at least partially within said tubular member.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
39 words
An assembly for feeding paper stock to a duplicating machine as defined in claim 6 and further characterized as including: a balance beam subassembly mounted on said feed table for concurrently supporting a plurality of stacks of paper thereon.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
222 words
In a printing machine of the type having a vertically reciprocable paper feed table, having suction means for picking up and feeding sheets of paper to a printing mechanism, and having means for incrementally elevating the feed table in the direction of said suction means, the improvement comprising: supporting bracket means mounted in said machine at a location which is vertically higher than said feed table; an elongated, substantially horizontally projecting plate movably mounted on said supporting bracket for adjustable positioning over the feed table; an elongated switch plate having a first end secured to said horizontally projecting plate and projecting from said first end along and directly above said horizontally projecting plate; an adjusting screw subassembly connected between said switch plate and said horizontally projecting plate for adjusting the distance which separates the second end of said switch plate from said horizontally projecting plate by moving a portion of said switch plate upwardly; microswitch means carried on the end of said switch plate; and an actuating needle subassembly carried on said horizontally extending plate below said microswitch means and including a needle movable upwardly to a position adjacent said microswitch means upon contact with a vertically moved stack of papers on said feed table, and downwardly away from said microswitch means when papers are removed from the top of said stack.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
222 words
In a printing machine of the type having a vertically reciprocable paper feed table, having suction means for picking up and feeding sheets of paper to a printing mechanism, and having means for incrementally elevating the feed table in the direction of said suction means, the improvement comprising: supporting bracket means mounted in said machine at a location which is vertically higher than said feed table; an elongated, substantially horizontally projecting plate movably mounted on said supporting bracket for adjustable positioning over the feed table; an elongated switch plate having a first end secured to said horizontally projecting plate and projecting from said first end along and directly above said horizontally projecting plate; an adjusting screw subassembly connected between said switch plate and said horizontally projecting plate for adjusting the distance which separates the second end of said switch plate from said horizontally projecting plate by moving a portion of said switch plate upwardly; microswitch means carried on the end of said switch plate; and an actuating needle subassembly carried on said horizontally extending plate below said microswitch means and including a needle movable upwardly to a position adjacent said microswitch means upon contact with a vertically moved stack of papers on said feed table, and downwardly away from said microswitch means when papers are removed from the top of said stack.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
46 words
The improvement defined in claim 8 wherein said adjusting screw subassembly comprises: an internally threaded sleeve on said switch plate; and a threaded screw shank threaded through said sleeve and extending through said switch plate into contact with the upper surface of said horizontally projecting plate.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
57 words
The improvement defined in claim 8 wherein said actuating needle subassembly comprises: a tubular member having its bore aligned with a hole through said horizontally projecting plate; an actuator needle movably mounted in said tubular member for reciprocation in said tubular member; and stop means for limiting the downward movement of said needle in said tubular member.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
44 words
The improvement defined in claim 10 wherein said microswitch means comprises: a microswitch including a contact; a contactor plate extending across said contact aligned with said needle for cooperation with said needle during the movement thereof to move said contact to close said microswitch.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
44 words
The improvement defined in claim 11 wherein said microswitch means further includes: a housing having an opening therein; a light connected to said microswitch and visible through said housing opening; and hinge means pivotally securing one end of said contactor plate to said housing.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
44 words
The improvement defined in claim 11 and further characterized as including: a feed table; means for elevating the feed table in increments of vertical travel; and electro-mechanical means interconnecting said microswitch and elevating means for actuating said elevating means when said microswitch is opened.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
65 words
The improvement defined in claim 13 wherein said adjusting screw subassembly comprises: a vertically extending, internally threaded sleeve positioned over said switch plate and having its lower end in contact with said switch plate; and a threaded screw shank threaded into said sleeve and extending through said switch plate, said screw shank having an end secured to the upper surface of said horizontally projecting plate.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
44 words
The improvement defined in claim 14 wherein said microswitch means further includes: a housing having an opening therein; a light connected to said microswitch and visible through said housing opening; and hinge means pivotally securing one end of said contactor plate to said housing.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
135 words
An assembly for incrementally elevating two vertically extending stacks of paper into a paper sensing and feeding system of a duplicating machine comprising: a feed table; means for elevating the feed table in response to a signal from said sensing and feeding means; means for retaining the uppermost papers in the two stacks in a common horizontal plane spaced vertically above the feed table; an elongated balance beam pivotally supported on the feed table for pivotation about a horizontal axis above the feed table and extending through the center of the balance beam; and a pair of upwardly facing pans pivotally secured on the opposite ends of the balance beam and positioned to support spaced, vertically extending stacks of paper in a position such that the uppermost paper in each stack contacts said retaining means.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
135 words
An assembly for incrementally elevating two vertically extending stacks of paper into a paper sensing and feeding system of a duplicating machine comprising: a feed table; means for elevating the feed table in response to a signal from said sensing and feeding means; means for retaining the uppermost papers in the two stacks in a common horizontal plane spaced vertically above the feed table; an elongated balance beam pivotally supported on the feed table for pivotation about a horizontal axis above the feed table and extending through the center of the balance beam; and a pair of upwardly facing pans pivotally secured on the opposite ends of the balance beam and positioned to support spaced, vertically extending stacks of paper in a position such that the uppermost paper in each stack contacts said retaining means.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
37 words
An assembly as defined in claim 16 wherein said retaining means comprises a paper bale rod having a web portion extending horizontally at a location spaced above said feed table and directly over said stacks of paper.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
224 words
In a duplicating machine of the type having a vertically reciprocable feed table; means for picking up and feeding sheets of paper from said feed table to a printing mechanism; means for incrementally elevating the feed table in the direction of said picking up means; means for implacing indicia on said sheets of paper in individual sequence; means for discharging sheets of paper in sequence after implacing the indicia thereon; and reciprocating jogger means adjacent said discharge means, the improvement which comprises: a housing; a pair of spaced belt-supporting rollers rotatably mounted in said housing; at least one endless belt extended around said rollers and extending under said discharging means; an oscillating needle drive structure supported in said housing and comprising: a needle-carrying plate; needles on said needle-carrying plate; and guide element means secured to said housing and movably supporting said needle-carrying plate in a position adjacent said belt; and driving means mounted in said housing and including: a drive rod having a portion projecting from said housing in alignment with said jogger means for cooperation with said jogger means; and linkage means interconnecting said drive rod with said needle-carrying plate for reciprocating said needle-carrying plate, said linkage means cooperating with said guide element to oscillate said plate to periodically impale said needles in said belt, and alternately, release said needles from said belt.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
224 words
In a duplicating machine of the type having a vertically reciprocable feed table; means for picking up and feeding sheets of paper from said feed table to a printing mechanism; means for incrementally elevating the feed table in the direction of said picking up means; means for implacing indicia on said sheets of paper in individual sequence; means for discharging sheets of paper in sequence after implacing the indicia thereon; and reciprocating jogger means adjacent said discharge means, the improvement which comprises: a housing; a pair of spaced belt-supporting rollers rotatably mounted in said housing; at least one endless belt extended around said rollers and extending under said discharging means; an oscillating needle drive structure supported in said housing and comprising: a needle-carrying plate; needles on said needle-carrying plate; and guide element means secured to said housing and movably supporting said needle-carrying plate in a position adjacent said belt; and driving means mounted in said housing and including: a drive rod having a portion projecting from said housing in alignment with said jogger means for cooperation with said jogger means; and linkage means interconnecting said drive rod with said needle-carrying plate for reciprocating said needle-carrying plate, said linkage means cooperating with said guide element to oscillate said plate to periodically impale said needles in said belt, and alternately, release said needles from said belt.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
67 words
The improvement defined in claim 18 wherein said guide element means is further characterized as including: a U-shaped guide element including a pair of opposed, substantially parallel legs; and a pivot rod slidably mounted on said legs and pivotally supporting said needle-carrying plate for pivotation about an axis extending normal to said legs and substantially parallel to the planes occupied by the runs of said endless belts.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
80 words
The improvement defined in claim 19 wherein said linkage means comprises: a bell crank lever having a first arm connected to said first mentioned drive rod; and a second drive rod connected between said bell crank lever and said needle-carrying plate for reciprocating said needle-carrying plate and pivot rod on said U-shaped guide element and concurrently pivoting said needle-carrying plate about said axis on said pivot rod when said bell crank lever is pivoted by said first mentioned drive rod.
Claim 25
Dependent Claim
50 words
The improvement defined in claim 18 wherein said drive means is further characterized as including a spring attached to said housing and to said drive rod for axially moving said drive rod in one direction after said drive rod has been driven in the opposite direction by said jogger means.
Claim 26
Dependent Claim
60 words
The improvement defined in claim 19 wherein said oscillating needle drive structure further comprises: a drive plate secured to said needle-carrying plate and projecting normal thereto, said drive plate being flexibly connected to said linkage means; and a retainer clamp secured to said needle-carrying plate adjacent said drive plate for cooperating with said drive plate to retain said pivot rod.
Claim 27
Dependent Claim
33 words
The improvement defined in claim 18 and further characterized as including a balance beam subassembly mounted on the upper side of said feed table for supporting a plurality of stacks of paper stock.
Claim 28
Dependent Claim
121 words
A receiver-conveyor for attachment to a duplicating machine to receive printed papers therefrom comprising: means for supporting an endless belt in a form to provide an upper belt run and a lower belt run extending parallel to the upper belt run; an endless belt supported on said supporting mean; means connected to said supporting means to detachably mount said supporting means to the discharge side of a duplicating machine in a position to receive printed papers on the upper run of said endless belt; and needle drive means movably mounted in said supporting means for intermittent engagement with said belt to alternately engage and pull one of the runs of said belts in a closed circuitous path about said supporting means.
Claim 29
Dependent Claim
121 words
A receiver-conveyor for attachment to a duplicating machine to receive printed papers therefrom comprising: means for supporting an endless belt in a form to provide an upper belt run and a lower belt run extending parallel to the upper belt run; an endless belt supported on said supporting mean; means connected to said supporting means to detachably mount said supporting means to the discharge side of a duplicating machine in a position to receive printed papers on the upper run of said endless belt; and needle drive means movably mounted in said supporting means for intermittent engagement with said belt to alternately engage and pull one of the runs of said belts in a closed circuitous path about said supporting means.
Claim 30
Dependent Claim
28 words
A receiver-conveyor for attachment to a duplicating machine to receive printed papers therefrom as defined in claim 24 wherein said supporting means comprises a pair of spaced rollers.
Claim 31
Dependent Claim
33 words
A receiver-conveyor for attachment to a duplicating machine to receive printed papers therefrom as defined in claim 25 wherein said means connected to said supporting means comprises a housing rotatably supporting said rollers.
Claim 32
Dependent Claim
71 words
A receiver-conveyor for attachment to a duplicating machine to receive printed papers therefrom as defined in claim 26 wherein said needle drive means comprises: a needle-carrying plate; needles on one end of said plate adjacent said belt; and means to oscillate said plate in a combined reciprocating and pivotal motion to sequentially impale said needles in said belt, pull said belt around said rollers and release said needles from said belt.
Claim 33
Dependent Claim
52 words
A receiver-conveyor for attachment to a duplicating machine to receive printed papers therefrom as defined in claim 27 wherein said needle drive means further includes a drive rod projecting from one side of said housing and adapted for cooperation with a moving part of said duplicating machine to reciprocate in said housing.
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) | 1980-07-04 | 1981-01-03 | 1981-07-05 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1984-07-04 | 1985-01-03 | 1985-07-05 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1988-07-04 | 1989-01-03 | 1989-07-05 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |