US4353542A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Sheet collection apparatus and sorters incorporating same
Assignee: Xerox Corp
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Filing: 1980-07-25
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Granted: 1982-10-12
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Expires: 2000-07-25
Abstract
Abstract A sheet collection apparatus for stacking sheets delivered thereto face-up in the order 1 to n with sheet 1 on the top of the stack. The apparatus includes one or more collection trays, such as the bins of a sorter which are indexed past a feed throat. Retractable support arms at the throat support the sheets already in a bin opposite the throat during delivery of a sheet thereto whereby the sheet enters the bin below the support arms.
Inventors
- 👤 Clifford Knight
- 👤 William Gilmour
- 👤 Bernard F. Page
- 👤 John Bilton
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-27 19:59
CPC Classifications
B; B65; B65H; B65H39/00; B65H39/10; B65H39/11; B65H2405/00; B65H2405/10; B65H2405/11; B65H2405/111; B65H2405/1114; B65H2408/00; B65H2408/10; B65H2408/11; B65H2408/113
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 9
Claim 1
Independent Claim
71 words
In a sorter comprising a generally-vertically arranged array of bins, a feed throat for delivering sheets to the bins, and means for vertically indexing the bins past the feed throat to receive sheets in turn, the improvement comprising retractable support means at the throat for supporting any sheets in a said bin opposite the throat during delivery of a sheet thereto whereby the sheet enters the bin below the support means.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
71 words
In a sorter comprising a generally-vertically arranged array of bins, a feed throat for delivering sheets to the bins, and means for vertically indexing the bins past the feed throat to receive sheets in turn, the improvement comprising retractable support means at the throat for supporting any sheets in a said bin opposite the throat during delivery of a sheet thereto whereby the sheet enters the bin below the support means.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
90 words
In a sorter comprising an array of bins, a feed throat for delivering sheets to the bins, and means for indexing the bins past the feed throat to receive sheets in turn, the improvement comprising retractable support means at the throat for supporting any sheets in a said bin opposite the throat during delivery of a sheet thereto whereby the sheet enters the bin below the support means, said bins and said retractable support means have support surfaces which each define a convex curve in the direction of sheet travel.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
90 words
In a sorter comprising an array of bins, a feed throat for delivering sheets to the bins, and means for indexing the bins past the feed throat to receive sheets in turn, the improvement comprising retractable support means at the throat for supporting any sheets in a said bin opposite the throat during delivery of a sheet thereto whereby the sheet enters the bin below the support means, said bins and said retractable support means have support surfaces which each define a convex curve in the direction of sheet travel.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
97 words
In a sorter comprising an array of bins, a feed throat for delivering sheets to the bins, and means for indexing the bins past the feed throat to receive sheets in turn, the improvement comprising retractable support means at the throat for supporting any sheets in a said bin opposite the throat during delivery of a sheet thereto whereby the sheet enters the bin below the support means, said retractable support means comprises a pair of arms movable between sheet supporting positions at opposite sides of a bin and retracted positions spaced laterally of the bin array.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
97 words
In a sorter comprising an array of bins, a feed throat for delivering sheets to the bins, and means for indexing the bins past the feed throat to receive sheets in turn, the improvement comprising retractable support means at the throat for supporting any sheets in a said bin opposite the throat during delivery of a sheet thereto whereby the sheet enters the bin below the support means, said retractable support means comprises a pair of arms movable between sheet supporting positions at opposite sides of a bin and retracted positions spaced laterally of the bin array.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
25 words
A sorter according to claim 3 in which in their retracted positions one support arm is disposed further from the bin array than the other.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
112 words
In a sorter comprising an array of bins, a feed throat for delivering sheets to the bins, and means for indexing the bins past the feed throat to receive sheets in turn, the improvement comprising retractable support means at the throat for supporting any sheets in a said bin opposite the throat during delivery of a sheet thereto whereby the sheet enters the bin below the support means, said bin array being indexed upwardly past the feed throat, the bins in turn being raised above the retracted support means, and following insertion of the support means lowered into alignment with the feed throat ready to receive a sheet through the feed throat.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
112 words
In a sorter comprising an array of bins, a feed throat for delivering sheets to the bins, and means for indexing the bins past the feed throat to receive sheets in turn, the improvement comprising retractable support means at the throat for supporting any sheets in a said bin opposite the throat during delivery of a sheet thereto whereby the sheet enters the bin below the support means, said bin array being indexed upwardly past the feed throat, the bins in turn being raised above the retracted support means, and following insertion of the support means lowered into alignment with the feed throat ready to receive a sheet through the feed throat.
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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) | 1985-10-11 | 1986-04-12 | 1986-10-12 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1989-10-11 | 1990-04-12 | 1990-10-12 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1993-10-11 | 1994-04-12 | 1994-10-12 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |