US4369959A — Sheet feed machine

Claim 1

Independent Claim 459 words

An improved sheet material processing apparatus for feeding successive sheets of said sheet material to a printer of the type having a suction arm over a printer elevator of said printer, said suction arm removing successive top sheets from a stack of sheets therebelow, said apparatus comprising, in combination: (a) a portable self contained frame supporting structure including an upstanding stanchion member with its lower end adapted to be supported on the floor which supports said printer, a frame having an input end and an output end, said frame being mounted to the upper end of said stanchion member by its input end, said frame protruding in cantilever fashion from said stanchion member, said stanchion member supporting said frame at a height such that the output end will protrude into a position vertically between said elevator and said suction arm and said input end is vertically outwardly of said printer when said stanchion member is positioned on the floor adjacent to the end of said printer; (b) a sheet material input station spaced from said output end and mounted on said input end of said frame, with said input station detailed to permit sheet material being processed to be successively added to one portion of said input station while being simultaneously removed from another portion of said station; (c) a sheet material output station mounted on said output end of said frame, with said output station detailed to permit sheet material being processed to produce a stack of sheets such sheet material at said output station and below said suction arm and also to permit successive sheets of said sheet material to be progressively fed to the bottom of the stack of sheets of sheet material and for permitting said suction arm to successively remove the topmost sheet from said stack of sheet material at said output station while sheets of said sheet material are being simultaneously added to the bottom of said stack in said output station; (d) sheet material transfer means supported on said frame and operable for effecting a transfer of sheets of said sheet material from said other portion of said input station to said output station for progressively replenishing said stack; (e) control means on said frame structure operable for sensing a predetermined accumulation of sheets of said sheet material in said output station and operable for initiating operation of said transfer means when the sheet accumulation in said stack drops below a predetermined amount and stopping operation of said transfer means in response to the accumulation of a predetermined amount; and (f) means for removeably securing said apparatus to the end of said printer in a position in which said output station is disposed below said suction arm and over said printer elevator.

Claim 2

Dependent Claim 459 words

An improved sheet material processing apparatus for feeding successive sheets of said sheet material to a printer of the type having a suction arm over a printer elevator of said printer, said suction arm removing successive top sheets from a stack of sheets therebelow, said apparatus comprising, in combination: (a) a portable self contained frame supporting structure including an upstanding stanchion member with its lower end adapted to be supported on the floor which supports said printer, a frame having an input end and an output end, said frame being mounted to the upper end of said stanchion member by its input end, said frame protruding in cantilever fashion from said stanchion member, said stanchion member supporting said frame at a height such that the output end will protrude into a position vertically between said elevator and said suction arm and said input end is vertically outwardly of said printer when said stanchion member is positioned on the floor adjacent to the end of said printer; (b) a sheet material input station spaced from said output end and mounted on said input end of said frame, with said input station detailed to permit sheet material being processed to be successively added to one portion of said input station while being simultaneously removed from another portion of said station; (c) a sheet material output station mounted on said output end of said frame, with said output station detailed to permit sheet material being processed to produce a stack of sheets such sheet material at said output station and below said suction arm and also to permit successive sheets of said sheet material to be progressively fed to the bottom of the stack of sheets of sheet material and for permitting said suction arm to successively remove the topmost sheet from said stack of sheet material at said output station while sheets of said sheet material are being simultaneously added to the bottom of said stack in said output station; (d) sheet material transfer means supported on said frame and operable for effecting a transfer of sheets of said sheet material from said other portion of said input station to said output station for progressively replenishing said stack; (e) control means on said frame structure operable for sensing a predetermined accumulation of sheets of said sheet material in said output station and operable for initiating operation of said transfer means when the sheet accumulation in said stack drops below a predetermined amount and stopping operation of said transfer means in response to the accumulation of a predetermined amount; and (f) means for removeably securing said apparatus to the end of said printer in a position in which said output station is disposed below said suction arm and over said printer elevator.

Claim 3

Dependent Claim 34 words

An improved sheet material processing apparatus as defined in claim 1 further characterized in that said input station and said output station includes adjustment means to permit various thickness sheet material to be processed.

Claim 4

Dependent Claim 57 words

An improved sheet material processing apparatus as defined in claim 1, further characterized in that said transfer means includes a conveyor system detailed for successively removing sheet material from the bottom of a stack in said input station, inverting said sheet material, and delivering said sheet material to the bottom of a stack in said output station.

Claim 5

Dependent Claim 46 words

An improved sheet material processing apparatus as defined in claim 3 further characterized in that said conveyor system is detailed to transfer said sheet material from said input station to said output station in a stream of sheets with adjacent sheets positioned in an overlapped configuration.

Claim 6

Dependent Claim 29 words

An improved sheet material processing apparatus as defined in claim 1 further characterized in that said apparatus includes an independent power means for effecting operation of said transfer means.

Claim 7

Dependent Claim 367 words

A sheet feed machine for positioning sheets in a position to be received by a printer comprising: (a) a platform; (b) an upstanding external stanchion assembly secured by its lower end to said platform; (c) a frame carried by the upper end portion of said stanchion assembly, said frame having a sheet material input portion above said stanchion assembly and a sheet material output portion connected by its inner end to the upper end portion of said stanchion assembly, said output portion protruding in cantilever fashion from said stanchion assembly over said platform, the outer end portion of said output portion being of a height to extend over the end portion of said printer; (d) a front leg extending downwardly from the outer end portion of said output portion for being received by its lower end portion on said printer; (e) said sheet material input portion having an endless feed belt with an upper flight and a lower flight, roller means for supporting and driving said feed belt, a generally upright retaining plate carried by said frame for maintaining a plurality of sheets in a stack over the upper flight of said feed belt, the lower end portion of said plate terminating immediately above the upper flight of said belt in spaced relationship thereto, means for moving said plate toward and away from said belt to vary the space between said belt and lower end of said plate for enabling said belt to feed said sheets successively from the bottom portion of the stack, and a second endless belt having an inner portion tangentially around the end portion of said feed belt and around a portion of one of its roller means for guiding said sheets successively around the end portion of said feed belt; (f) a third endless belt carried by said frame in said output portion and having an upper flight disposed generally horizontally with its inner end below said feed belt for receiving said sheets from said feed belt and for moving said sheets toward the outer end of said third belt; and (g) control means for sensing an accumulation of said sheets on said belt for stopping the operation of the aforesaid belts.

Claim 8

Dependent Claim 367 words

A sheet feed machine for positioning sheets in a position to be received by a printer comprising: (a) a platform; (b) an upstanding external stanchion assembly secured by its lower end to said platform; (c) a frame carried by the upper end portion of said stanchion assembly, said frame having a sheet material input portion above said stanchion assembly and a sheet material output portion connected by its inner end to the upper end portion of said stanchion assembly, said output portion protruding in cantilever fashion from said stanchion assembly over said platform, the outer end portion of said output portion being of a height to extend over the end portion of said printer; (d) a front leg extending downwardly from the outer end portion of said output portion for being received by its lower end portion on said printer; (e) said sheet material input portion having an endless feed belt with an upper flight and a lower flight, roller means for supporting and driving said feed belt, a generally upright retaining plate carried by said frame for maintaining a plurality of sheets in a stack over the upper flight of said feed belt, the lower end portion of said plate terminating immediately above the upper flight of said belt in spaced relationship thereto, means for moving said plate toward and away from said belt to vary the space between said belt and lower end of said plate for enabling said belt to feed said sheets successively from the bottom portion of the stack, and a second endless belt having an inner portion tangentially around the end portion of said feed belt and around a portion of one of its roller means for guiding said sheets successively around the end portion of said feed belt; (f) a third endless belt carried by said frame in said output portion and having an upper flight disposed generally horizontally with its inner end below said feed belt for receiving said sheets from said feed belt and for moving said sheets toward the outer end of said third belt; and (g) control means for sensing an accumulation of said sheets on said belt for stopping the operation of the aforesaid belts.

Claim 9

Dependent Claim 23 words

The sheet feed machine defined in claim 6 wherein said stanchion assembly includes a telescoping stanchion for varying the height of said frame.

Claim 10

Dependent Claim 57 words

The improved sheet material processing apparatus defined in claim 1 including support means carried by said output end of said frame for being received on said printer elevator when said output end is positioned below said suction arm and above said printer elevator so that the output end of said frame is supported by said printer elevator.

Claim 11

Dependent Claim 49 words

The improved sheet material processing apparatus defined in claim 8 wherein said support means includes a U-shaped leg mounted by its ends to said frame, said U-shaped leg protruding downwardly from said frame and terminating below said frame for being received by its lowermost portion on said printer elevator.

Claim 12

Dependent Claim 22 words

The improved sheet material processing apparatus defined in claim 9 wherein said ends of said legs are pivotally mounted to said frame.

Claim 13

Dependent Claim 40 words

The improved sheet material processing apparatus defined in claim 1 wherein said means for removeably securing said apparatus to the end of said printer includes a strap for extending from said upright stanchion member to the end of said printer.

Claim 14

Dependent Claim 24 words

The improved sheet material processing apparatus defined in claim 1 wherein said stanchion member is adjustable vertically for adjusting the height of said frame.

Claim 15

Dependent Claim 35 words

The improved sheet material processing apparatus defined in claim 12 including a leg spaced laterally from said stanchion member, said leg extending downwardly from and being pivotally carried by said output end of said frame.

Claim 16

Dependent Claim 72 words

The improved sheet material processing apparatus defined in claim 1 including a leg extending downwardly from the output end of said frame, said leg being spaced from and being shorter than said stanchion member, whereby when said leg is resting upon said printer elevator and said stanchion member is on the floor adjacent to said printer, the frame is supported by said stanchion member and said leg in about a horizontal position.

Claim 17

Dependent Claim 107 words

The improved sheet material processing apparatus defined in claim 1 wherein said sheet material transfer means includes a roller carried by said frame at the output end of said frame, a second roller carried by said frame at the input end of said frame, an endless belt carried by said rollers, said endless belt having an upper flight and a lower flight, and a stop on said frame adjacent to the end of said upper flight and on said output end of said frame for operating with said upper flight for forming said stack in said output station and on said upper flight at said output station.

Annuity Stage	Window Opens	Payment Deadline	Surcharge Period Until	Estimated Fee	Status
3.5 Years (Year 4)	1986-01-24	1986-07-26	1987-01-25	$2000.00	Window Closed / Lapsed
7.5 Years (Year 8)	1990-01-24	1990-07-26	1991-01-25	$3760.00	Window Closed / Lapsed
11.5 Years (Year 12)	1994-01-24	1994-07-26	1995-01-25	$7700.00	Window Closed / Lapsed

Sheet feed machine

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