US4139765A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Apparatus for counting printed products arriving upon a conveyor path in an imbricated product stream and method of operating such apparatus
Assignee: Ferag AG
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Filing: 1977-09-19
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Granted: 1979-02-13
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Expires: 1997-09-19
Abstract
Abstract An apparatus for counting printed products arriving at a conveyor path or track in an imbricated product stream, comprising a feeler bearing under the action of a contact force upon the product stream and secured against entrainment in the conveying direction of the product stream; this feeler cooperating with an electrical signal transmitter. The feeler comprises an overhang arm of a sound pick-up like transducer cell mounted in a support. The support possesses a support element which serves to bear upon the imbricated product stream. The free end of the overhang arm is structured such that it scans or feels the surface of the imbricated product stream at the region of bearing contact of the support element. The method of operating such apparatus for counting folded printed products is manifested by the features that the overhang arm of the transducer cell is directed to that side of the imbricated product stream at which there is accessible the edges of the printed products located opposite the fold.
Inventors
- 👤 Rene Pomey
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-03 01:27
CPC Classifications
G; G06; G06M; G06M7/00; G06M7/08; G06M7/10; B; B65; B65H; B65H29/00; B65H29/001; G06M1/00; G06M1/08; G06M1/10; G06M1/108; G06M2207/00; G06M2207/02
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 12
Claim 1
Independent Claim
227 words
Apparatus for counting multisheet folded printed products conveyed in a continuous imbricated product stream in which the folded edge of each product is leading in the conveying direction and overlapping the preceding printed products and the edge opposite the folded edge is trailing comprising: conveyor means for conveying the imbricated product stream, said conveyor means having a first side and a second side, said imbricated product stream being conveyed on said first side such that the trailing edges of the products opposite the folded edges bear against said first side; means arranged relative to said imbricated product stream for urging the same against the first side of said conveyor means; transducer cell means of a sound pick-up type having a feeler tip for generating a sequence of electrical signals when the feeler tip is engaged by the trailing edge of a product; means mounting said transducer cell means at the second side of said conveyor means in the region of said urging means such that said transducer cell means extends from said second side through said conveyor means and protrudes beyond said first side toward said imbricated product stream with said feeler tip engageable with said product stream; and counter circuit means connected to said transducer cell means and responsive to a first electrical signal of each generated signal sequence for counting the products of said stream.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
227 words
Apparatus for counting multisheet folded printed products conveyed in a continuous imbricated product stream in which the folded edge of each product is leading in the conveying direction and overlapping the preceding printed products and the edge opposite the folded edge is trailing comprising: conveyor means for conveying the imbricated product stream, said conveyor means having a first side and a second side, said imbricated product stream being conveyed on said first side such that the trailing edges of the products opposite the folded edges bear against said first side; means arranged relative to said imbricated product stream for urging the same against the first side of said conveyor means; transducer cell means of a sound pick-up type having a feeler tip for generating a sequence of electrical signals when the feeler tip is engaged by the trailing edge of a product; means mounting said transducer cell means at the second side of said conveyor means in the region of said urging means such that said transducer cell means extends from said second side through said conveyor means and protrudes beyond said first side toward said imbricated product stream with said feeler tip engageable with said product stream; and counter circuit means connected to said transducer cell means and responsive to a first electrical signal of each generated signal sequence for counting the products of said stream.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
30 words
The apparatus as defined in claim 1, wherein: said transducer cell means comprises at least one runner and a housing; said runner being attached to said housing and protruding therefrom.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
35 words
The apparatus as defined in claim 2, further including: means for pivotably mounting said housing for pivotable motion about a pivot axis; and spring means for resiliently pre-biasing said runner against said imbricated product stream.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
23 words
The apparatus as defined in claim 3, wherein: said runner is dispositioned substantially at right angles to the pivot axis of said housing.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
25 words
The apparatus as defined in claim 4, wherein: said feeler tip of said transducer cell means extends substantially in the same direction as the runner.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
36 words
The apparatus as defined in claim 4, wherein: said runner comprises a flexed arm at an end thereof; and said feeler tip having an end which intersects the flexed arm at the end of said runner.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
61 words
The apparatus as defined in claim 1, wherein: said means mounting said transducer cell means comprises: a stationarily mounted guide tube; a sleeve displaceably mounted upon said guide tube and protruding therefrom; said sleeve having a protruding end equipped with a support surface; means mounting said transducer cell means in said sleeve with the feeler tip extending through said support surface.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
20 words
The apparatus as defined in claim 7, further including: spring means for forcing the sleeve away from the guide tube.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
47 words
The apparatus as defined in claim 8, wherein: said protruding end of said sleeve possesses a rounded portion extending up to the support surface; said feeler tip comprising a pin; said support surface having a bore; and said pin extending through said bore of said support surface.
Claim 11
Independent Claim
160 words
A method of counting multisheet folded printed products conveyed in a continuous imbricated product steam in which the folded edge of each product is leading in the conveying direction and overlapping the preceding printed products and the edge opposite the folded edge is trailing comprising the steps of: conveying the imbricated product stream on a conveyor having a first side and a second side, said imbricated product stream being conveyed on said first side such that the trailing edges of the products opposite the folded edges bear against said first side; urging the imbricated product stream against the first side of the conveyor at a location along the path of travel of said stream; sensing, by means of a sound pick-up type transducer cell, the trailing edges of said products, at said urging location; generating a sequence of electrical signals in response to the sensing of said trailing edges; and counting a first electrical signal of each generated signal sequence.
Claim 12
Independent Claim
160 words
A method of counting multisheet folded printed products conveyed in a continuous imbricated product steam in which the folded edge of each product is leading in the conveying direction and overlapping the preceding printed products and the edge opposite the folded edge is trailing comprising the steps of: conveying the imbricated product stream on a conveyor having a first side and a second side, said imbricated product stream being conveyed on said first side such that the trailing edges of the products opposite the folded edges bear against said first side; urging the imbricated product stream against the first side of the conveyor at a location along the path of travel of said stream; sensing, by means of a sound pick-up type transducer cell, the trailing edges of said products, at said urging location; generating a sequence of electrical signals in response to the sensing of said trailing edges; and counting a first electrical signal of each generated signal sequence.
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USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1982-02-12 | 1982-08-14 | 1983-02-13 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1986-02-12 | 1986-08-14 | 1987-02-13 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1990-02-12 | 1990-08-14 | 1991-02-13 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |