US4830353A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Device for holding a stack of sheets and discharging them from the top thereof
Assignee: Canon Production Printing Netherlands BV
•
Filing: 1987-05-11
•
Granted: 1989-05-16
•
Expires: 2007-05-11
Abstract
Abstract A device for discharging sheets has a holder for a stack of sheets such that the stack is pressed against a conveyor roller disposed at a fixed location above the holder. The holder is pivotably secured to a movably mounted support with the pivot axis being parallel to the roller axis and being situated between the roller and the center of gravity of the holder and straight beneath the center of gravity of the stack. Springs are connected to the support which exert an upwardly directed force on the holder. As a result of this configuration, the stack, irrespective of its size, is pressed against the conveyor roller with a substantially constant force and the sheets are discharged in substantially the same direction.
Inventors
- 👤 Johannes S. Hendriks
- 👤 Gerardus A. J. Koeleman
- 👤 Franciscus J. H. Seelen
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-07 13:45
CPC Classifications
B; B65; B65H; B65H3/00; B65H3/46; B65H3/52; B65H3/5207; B65H3/5215; B65H3/5223; B65H1/00; B65H1/08; B65H1/12
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 7
Claim 1
Independent Claim
171 words
A device for discharging sheets from the top of a stack of sheets comprising: a holder to receive the stack; a first conveyor roller which is disposed at a fixed location above the holder and with which the top of the stack of sheets can be brought into contact to discharge a sheet therefrom; a moveable support to which the holder is pivotally secured, along a pivot axis which is perpendicular to the direction of sheet discharge, at a location which when considered in a horizontal direction is situated between the center of gravity of the holder and the first conveyor roller; and a spring means connected between the moveable support and a subframe, such that the spring means exerts an upwardly directed force on the holder at the place of the pivot axis such that the holder rests only on the moveable support, even when a stack of sheets is present therein in a thickness and unit weight of the maximum permissible value, and does not rest on the subframe.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
171 words
A device for discharging sheets from the top of a stack of sheets comprising: a holder to receive the stack; a first conveyor roller which is disposed at a fixed location above the holder and with which the top of the stack of sheets can be brought into contact to discharge a sheet therefrom; a moveable support to which the holder is pivotally secured, along a pivot axis which is perpendicular to the direction of sheet discharge, at a location which when considered in a horizontal direction is situated between the center of gravity of the holder and the first conveyor roller; and a spring means connected between the moveable support and a subframe, such that the spring means exerts an upwardly directed force on the holder at the place of the pivot axis such that the holder rests only on the moveable support, even when a stack of sheets is present therein in a thickness and unit weight of the maximum permissible value, and does not rest on the subframe.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
67 words
A device as described in claim 1 further comprising a member for retaining a sheet which is discharged with the top sheet of the stack, which member forms a nip with a second conveyor roller at a location situated beneath the plane passing through the pivot axis of the holder when in a bottom position and the contact point between the stack and the first conveyor roller.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
69 words
A device as described in claim 2 further comprising an operating member pivotally attached to a subframe which is displaceable between two positions, a first position wherein the operating member presses down on the holder in order to keep the holder or the sheet stack present therein apart from the first conveyor roller, and a second position in which the operating member cannot come into contact with the holder.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
49 words
A device as described in claim 3 wherein the operating member when in the first position also holds the retaining member and the second conveyor roller apart from one another and when in the second position allows the retaining member and the second conveyor roller to form a nip.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
16 words
A device as described in claim 4 wherein the operating member is a three armed lever.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
36 words
A device as described in claim 1 wherein the moveable support further comprises two arms pivotally attached at one end to a subframe with the holder being pivotally secured to the other ends of the arms.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
US3689062A
Cited
US3883133A
Cited
US4212456A
Cited
US4307878A
Cited
US4265442A
Cited
US4319740A
Cited
US4478401A
Cited
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1992-05-15 | 1992-11-14 | 1993-05-16 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1996-05-15 | 1996-11-14 | 1997-05-16 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2000-05-15 | 2000-11-14 | 2001-05-16 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |