Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 10
Claim 1
Independent Claim
218 words
In apparatus for side registering a sheet to a registration edge guide during forward movement of the sheet, with means for moving the sheet along a generally planar path with a forward direction of movement and a lateral direction of movement substantially normal to said forward direction, with said lateral movement of the sheet causing one side edge of the sheet to engage said registration edge guide so as to be aligned thereby with said registration edge guide, said means for moving the sheet comprising a sheet engaging and driving nip between rollers mounted adjacent said registration edge guide; the improvement wherein: said registration edge guide extends substantially along one plane for straightening a sheet, but has a small localized arcuate deformation out of said plane adjacent said nip, said localized arcuate deformation of said edge guide casing localized arcuate deformation of the sheet being aligned thereby out of said plane; and wherein said nip is also spaced from said plane by an amount corresponding to the amount of said arcuate deformation of said edge guide from said plane; said localized arcuate deformation of said edge guide and said corresponding spacing of said nip providing localized bending from said plane of a portion of the sheet, which is in said nip, for improved side registering of the sheet.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
218 words
In apparatus for side registering a sheet to a registration edge guide during forward movement of the sheet, with means for moving the sheet along a generally planar path with a forward direction of movement and a lateral direction of movement substantially normal to said forward direction, with said lateral movement of the sheet causing one side edge of the sheet to engage said registration edge guide so as to be aligned thereby with said registration edge guide, said means for moving the sheet comprising a sheet engaging and driving nip between rollers mounted adjacent said registration edge guide; the improvement wherein: said registration edge guide extends substantially along one plane for straightening a sheet, but has a small localized arcuate deformation out of said plane adjacent said nip, said localized arcuate deformation of said edge guide casing localized arcuate deformation of the sheet being aligned thereby out of said plane; and wherein said nip is also spaced from said plane by an amount corresponding to the amount of said arcuate deformation of said edge guide from said plane; said localized arcuate deformation of said edge guide and said corresponding spacing of said nip providing localized bending from said plane of a portion of the sheet, which is in said nip, for improved side registering of the sheet.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
60 words
Apparatus for side registering a sheet according to claim 1, wherein said registration edge guide comprises a smooth-bottomed sheet edge confining slot which is generally linear and guides a sheet therein in a generally planar configuration, said registration edge guide slot having said small localized arcuate deformation is smoothly integral thereof and localized directly adjacent said nip of said rollers.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
32 words
Apparatus for side registering a sheet according to claim 1, wherein said nip of said rollers is approximately at the level of the greatest extent of said arcuate deformation from said plane.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
64 words
Apparatus for side registering a sheet according to claim 1, wherein said registration edge guide comprises a substantially linear, smooth bottomed, V-shaped channel slot for engaging one edge of the sheet therein and directing said sheet edge toward said smooth bottom, said smooth bottom comprising only a small portion of said slot and lying substantially in said plane except at said localized acruate deformation.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
55 words
Apparatus for side registering a sheet according to claim 1, wherein said means for moving the sheet includes a first single pair of crossed-rollers, and further includes additional crossed-rollers spaced substantially upstream along said path from first crossed-rollers, said additional crossed-rollers having nips substantially in said plane and not adjacent to said localized arcuate deformation.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
31 words
Apparatus for side registering a sheet according to claim 1, wherein said nip is positioned approximately 11/2 to 2 millimeters above said plane, and approximately 2.5 centimeters from said edge guide.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
24 words
Apparatus for side registering a sheet according to claim 4, wherein said V-shaped channel of said registration edge guide comprises thick nickel plated aluminum.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
40 words
Apparatus for side registering a sheet according to claim 1, in which closely spaced generally planar and parallel baffles are provided extending from said edge guide to flatten the sheet therebetween except at said localized arcuate deformation and said nip.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
113 words
Apparatus for side registering a sheet according to claim 1; wherein said registration edge guide comprises a smooth-bottomed "V" shaped sheet edge confining slot which is generally linear and guides a sheet therein in a generally planar configuration, said registration edge guide slot having said small localized arcuate deformation which is smoothly integral thereof and localized directly adjacent said nip of said rollers; wherein said nip of said rollers is approximately in the plane of the greatest extent of said arcuate deformation from said plane; and wherein said means for moving the sheet includes a first single pair of crossed-rollers, and further includes additional cross-rollers spaced upstream along said path from first crossed-rollers.