Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 9
Claim 1
Independent Claim
163 words
In the method of conveying sheets in succession from a first location along a plurality of separate in-line conveyors to a stacker wherein a stack of a predetermined number of sheets is to be formed, and wherein said sheets are first slowed and shingled into groups at a shingling location, the groups of shingled sheets are increased in speed, and the said conveyors are then individually slowed in a downstream direction, the step of: shingling the said sheets in multiple stages at said shingling location so that a multi-stage slowdown of said sheets occurs, said shingling step including: (a) pre-shingling said sheets at a speed less than the speed of the sheets at said first location, (b) and then re-shingling said pre-shingled sheets at a speed less than the speed of said pre-shingling, (c) said pre-shingling step being performed at a fixed speed, (d) and said re-shingling step being performed at a variable speed correlated to the fixed speed of said pre-shingling step.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
163 words
In the method of conveying sheets in succession from a first location along a plurality of separate in-line conveyors to a stacker wherein a stack of a predetermined number of sheets is to be formed, and wherein said sheets are first slowed and shingled into groups at a shingling location, the groups of shingled sheets are increased in speed, and the said conveyors are then individually slowed in a downstream direction, the step of: shingling the said sheets in multiple stages at said shingling location so that a multi-stage slowdown of said sheets occurs, said shingling step including: (a) pre-shingling said sheets at a speed less than the speed of the sheets at said first location, (b) and then re-shingling said pre-shingled sheets at a speed less than the speed of said pre-shingling, (c) said pre-shingling step being performed at a fixed speed, (d) and said re-shingling step being performed at a variable speed correlated to the fixed speed of said pre-shingling step.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
60 words
The method of claim 1 which includes the steps of: (a) cutting said sheets to a desired length from a traveling web of material upstream of said first location, (b) and setting the speed of sheets during said pre-shingling step in accordance with the speed of said sheets at said first location and with the length of said cut sheets.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
186 words
In a device for conveying sheets in succession from a first location along a plurality of separate in-line conveyors to a stacker wherein a stack of a predetermined number of sheets is to be formed and which includes a shingling location for slowing and shingling said sheets into groups, and which includes means to increase the speed of the shingled sheets and wherein the conveyors are positioned and controlled to individually slow in a downstream direction, the improvement comprising: means to shingle said sheets in multiple stages at said shingling location so that a multi-stage slowdown of said sheets occurs and with said shingling means comprising: (a) means to pre-shingle said sheets at a speed less than the speed of the sheets at said first location, (b) and means to then re-shingle said pre-shingled sheets at a speed less than the speed of the sheets traveling through said pre-shingling means, (c) said pre-shingling means including means to pre-shingle said sheets at a fixed speed, (d) and said re-shingling means including means to re-shingle said sheets at a variable speed which is correlated to said fixed speed.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
186 words
In a device for conveying sheets in succession from a first location along a plurality of separate in-line conveyors to a stacker wherein a stack of a predetermined number of sheets is to be formed and which includes a shingling location for slowing and shingling said sheets into groups, and which includes means to increase the speed of the shingled sheets and wherein the conveyors are positioned and controlled to individually slow in a downstream direction, the improvement comprising: means to shingle said sheets in multiple stages at said shingling location so that a multi-stage slowdown of said sheets occurs and with said shingling means comprising: (a) means to pre-shingle said sheets at a speed less than the speed of the sheets at said first location, (b) and means to then re-shingle said pre-shingled sheets at a speed less than the speed of the sheets traveling through said pre-shingling means, (c) said pre-shingling means including means to pre-shingle said sheets at a fixed speed, (d) and said re-shingling means including means to re-shingle said sheets at a variable speed which is correlated to said fixed speed.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
65 words
The device of claim 3 which includes: (a) cutting means disposed upstream of said first location to cut said sheets to a desired length from a traveling web of material, (b) and means to set the speed of said sheets traveling through said pre-shingling means in accordance with the speed of said sheets at said first location and with the length of said cut sheets.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
35 words
The device of claim 3 wherein: (a) said pre-shingling means includes a pre-shingling vacuum conveyor having a first drive means, (b) and said re-shingling means includes a re-shingling vacuum conveyor having a second drive means.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
40 words
The device of claim 5 which includes: a setting control means connected to said first drive means with said control means being responsive to the speed of said sheets at said first location and to the length of said sheets.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
29 words
The device of claim 6 which includes: a further control means connected to said second drive means for varying the speed of said sheets at said re-shingling vacuum conveyor.