Patent US4350333A successfully refreshed from Google Patents.
US4350333A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Large-capacity sheet-stacking apparatus
Assignee: Spectrum Sciences BV
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Filing: 1980-07-11
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Granted: 1982-09-21
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Expires: 2000-07-11
Abstract
Abstract Apparatus for receiving and stacking a large number of sheets such as electrophotographic copies in which the height of a support to which sheets are successively delivered is adjusted in response to a photodetector arranged to sense the height of the stack of sheets on the support. The sheet support is raised and lowered by rotating a lead screw engaging a follower carried by the support and is limited in its excursion by stops on the follower which circumferentially intercept stops carried by the lead screw to prevent further rotation of the screw.
Inventors
- 👤 Benzion Landa
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-02 01:23
CPC Classifications
B; B65; B65H; B65H31/00; B65H31/04; B65H31/12; B65H31/18; B65H43/00; B65H43/08; B65H2801/00; B65H2801/03; B65H2801/06
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 14
Claim 1
Independent Claim
119 words
Sheet-stacking apparatus including in combination means adapted to support a stack of sheets, means for feeding sheets to said supporting means to form a stack thereon, means for sensing the level of the top of the stack, a lead screw, a follower engaging said lead screw, means coupling said follower to said supporting means, means responsive to said sensing means for driving said lead screw to control the level of said supporting means, a first stop extending radially from said lead screw, and a second stop extending axially from said follower, said second stop being so disposed as to intercept said first stop at a predetermined position of said follower to prevent the further rotation of said lead screw.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
119 words
Sheet-stacking apparatus including in combination means adapted to support a stack of sheets, means for feeding sheets to said supporting means to form a stack thereon, means for sensing the level of the top of the stack, a lead screw, a follower engaging said lead screw, means coupling said follower to said supporting means, means responsive to said sensing means for driving said lead screw to control the level of said supporting means, a first stop extending radially from said lead screw, and a second stop extending axially from said follower, said second stop being so disposed as to intercept said first stop at a predetermined position of said follower to prevent the further rotation of said lead screw.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
98 words
Apparatus including in combination means adapted to support a stack of sheets, a lead screw, a follower engaging said lead screw, means coupling said follower to said supporting means, means for driving said lead screw to control the level of said supporting means, a first stop carried by said lead screw, and a second stop carried by said follower, said second stop being so disposed as to intercept a leading portion of said first stop with respect to the circumferential movement thereof at a predetermined position of said follower to prevent the further rotation of said lead screw.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
98 words
Apparatus including in combination means adapted to support a stack of sheets, a lead screw, a follower engaging said lead screw, means coupling said follower to said supporting means, means for driving said lead screw to control the level of said supporting means, a first stop carried by said lead screw, and a second stop carried by said follower, said second stop being so disposed as to intercept a leading portion of said first stop with respect to the circumferential movement thereof at a predetermined position of said follower to prevent the further rotation of said lead screw.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
102 words
Apparatus including in combination means adapted to support a stack of sheets, a lead screw, a follower engaging said lead screw, means coupling said follower to said supporting means, means including a slipping element for driving said lead screw to control the level of said supporting means, a first stop carried by said lead screw, and a second stop carried by said follower, said second stop being so disposed as to intercept a leading portion of said first stop with respect to the circumferential movement thereof at a predetermined position of said follower to prevent the further rotation of said lead screw.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
102 words
Apparatus including in combination means adapted to support a stack of sheets, a lead screw, a follower engaging said lead screw, means coupling said follower to said supporting means, means including a slipping element for driving said lead screw to control the level of said supporting means, a first stop carried by said lead screw, and a second stop carried by said follower, said second stop being so disposed as to intercept a leading portion of said first stop with respect to the circumferential movement thereof at a predetermined position of said follower to prevent the further rotation of said lead screw.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
89 words
Apparatus including in combination means adapted to support a stack of sheets, a lead screw, a follower engaging said lead screw, means coupling said follower to said supporting means, means for driving said lead screw to control the level of said supporting means, a first stop extending radially from said lead screw, and a second stop extending axially from said follower, said second stop being so disposed as to intercept said first stop at a predetermined position of said follower to prevent the further rotation of said lead screw.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
89 words
Apparatus including in combination means adapted to support a stack of sheets, a lead screw, a follower engaging said lead screw, means coupling said follower to said supporting means, means for driving said lead screw to control the level of said supporting means, a first stop extending radially from said lead screw, and a second stop extending axially from said follower, said second stop being so disposed as to intercept said first stop at a predetermined position of said follower to prevent the further rotation of said lead screw.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
111 words
Apparatus including in combination means adapted to support a stack of sheets, means for feeding sheets to said supporting means to form a stack thereon, a lead screw, a follower engaging said lead screw, means coupling said follower to said supporting means, means for driving said lead screw to control the level of said supporting means, a first stop carried by said lead screw, and a second stop carried by said follower, said second stop being so disposed as to intercept a leading portion of said first stop with respect to the circumferential movement thereof at a predetermined position of said follower to prevent the further rotation of said lead screw.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
111 words
Apparatus including in combination means adapted to support a stack of sheets, means for feeding sheets to said supporting means to form a stack thereon, a lead screw, a follower engaging said lead screw, means coupling said follower to said supporting means, means for driving said lead screw to control the level of said supporting means, a first stop carried by said lead screw, and a second stop carried by said follower, said second stop being so disposed as to intercept a leading portion of said first stop with respect to the circumferential movement thereof at a predetermined position of said follower to prevent the further rotation of said lead screw.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
118 words
Sheet-stacking apparatus including in combination means adapted to support a stack of sheets, means for feeding sheets in a certain direction to said supporting means to form a stack thereon, said feeding means being selectively operable to deliver sheets to said supporting means at laterally offset locations with respect to said direction of feed, means for retaining the trailing edge of said stack with reference to said direction of feed, said supporting means being inclined in such a manner as to bias said stack against said retaining means, means for sensing the level of the top of said trailing edge of said stack, and means responsive to said sensing means for controlling the level of said supporting means.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
118 words
Sheet-stacking apparatus including in combination means adapted to support a stack of sheets, means for feeding sheets in a certain direction to said supporting means to form a stack thereon, said feeding means being selectively operable to deliver sheets to said supporting means at laterally offset locations with respect to said direction of feed, means for retaining the trailing edge of said stack with reference to said direction of feed, said supporting means being inclined in such a manner as to bias said stack against said retaining means, means for sensing the level of the top of said trailing edge of said stack, and means responsive to said sensing means for controlling the level of said supporting means.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
121 words
Sheet-stacking apparatus including in combination means adapted to support a stack of sheets, means for feeding sheets in a certain direction to said supporting means to form a stack thereon, said feeding means being selectively operable to deliver sheets to said supporting means at laterally offset locations with respect to said direction of feed, means for retaining the trailing edge of said stack with reference to said direction of feed, said supporting means being inclined in such a manner as to bias said stack against said retaining means, means for sensing the level of the top of a portion of said stack adjacent said retaining means, and means responsive to said sensing means for controlling the level of said supporting means.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
121 words
Sheet-stacking apparatus including in combination means adapted to support a stack of sheets, means for feeding sheets in a certain direction to said supporting means to form a stack thereon, said feeding means being selectively operable to deliver sheets to said supporting means at laterally offset locations with respect to said direction of feed, means for retaining the trailing edge of said stack with reference to said direction of feed, said supporting means being inclined in such a manner as to bias said stack against said retaining means, means for sensing the level of the top of a portion of said stack adjacent said retaining means, and means responsive to said sensing means for controlling the level of said supporting means.
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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) | 1985-09-20 | 1986-03-22 | 1986-09-21 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1989-09-20 | 1990-03-22 | 1990-09-21 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1993-09-20 | 1994-03-22 | 1994-09-21 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |