US4842264A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Sorting machine
Assignee: Ikegami Tsushinki Co Ltd
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Filing: 1987-09-01
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Granted: 1989-06-27
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Expires: 2007-09-01
Abstract
Abstract A recorded sheet is turned from a face-up condition to a face-down condition by horizontal transport belts, a first guide member, vertical transport belts, and a second guide member. The recorded sheet is guided to a discharge device, and discharged to a tray by the discharge device. During a sorting action, the discharge device is transferred by a transfer device to the tray to which a sheet is to be discharged. In response to this transfer, a hold member is extended or shortened in a vertical direction and holds a sheet being transported between the hold member and the vertical transport belts in such a manner as to avoid interference with its transport, so that the sheet can be prevented from falling by gravity.
Inventors
- 👤 Kenji Kosaka
- 👤 Akihiro Suzuki
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-01 03:28
CPC Classifications
G; G03; G03G; G03G15/00; G03G15/65; G03G15/6538; B; B65; B65H; B65H31/00; B65H31/24; B65H39/00; B65H39/10; B65H39/11; B65H2403/00; B65H2403/50; B65H2403/51; B65H2403/511; B65H2405/00; B65H2405/10; B65H2405/11; B65H2405/111; B65H2405/1111; B65H2408/00; B65H2408/10; B65H2408/11; B65H2408/112
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 10
Claim 1
Independent Claim
230 words
A sorting machine comprising: a plurality of trays vertically stacked for receiving recorded sheets, each tray having a tray pin on each side of the tray's sheet entry end; horizontal transport means for transporting the recorded sheets horizontally; first guide means for deflecting said horizontally transported sheets to a vertical direction; vertical transport means for transporting said deflected sheets vertically; discharge means for discharging into one of said plurality of trays the recorded sheets transported by said vertical transport means; second guide means for guiding the sheets transported by said vertical transport means to said discharge means and deflecting the sheets back to a horizontal direction in a face-down condition; transfer means for transferring said discharge means and said second guide means, said transfer means comprising entry forming means for forming an entry for a tray to which recorded sheets are to be discharged according to the transfer of said discharge means; hold means, being retractile in the vertical transport direction of said sheets according to the movement of said discharge means, for holding said recorded sheets between said hold means and said vertical transport means; and tray support means, having plungers which are retracted by said tray pins of said trays when said entry forming means has formed an entry, for allowing vertical movement of said trays and for supporting said tray pins when said trays are at rest.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
230 words
A sorting machine comprising: a plurality of trays vertically stacked for receiving recorded sheets, each tray having a tray pin on each side of the tray's sheet entry end; horizontal transport means for transporting the recorded sheets horizontally; first guide means for deflecting said horizontally transported sheets to a vertical direction; vertical transport means for transporting said deflected sheets vertically; discharge means for discharging into one of said plurality of trays the recorded sheets transported by said vertical transport means; second guide means for guiding the sheets transported by said vertical transport means to said discharge means and deflecting the sheets back to a horizontal direction in a face-down condition; transfer means for transferring said discharge means and said second guide means, said transfer means comprising entry forming means for forming an entry for a tray to which recorded sheets are to be discharged according to the transfer of said discharge means; hold means, being retractile in the vertical transport direction of said sheets according to the movement of said discharge means, for holding said recorded sheets between said hold means and said vertical transport means; and tray support means, having plungers which are retracted by said tray pins of said trays when said entry forming means has formed an entry, for allowing vertical movement of said trays and for supporting said tray pins when said trays are at rest.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
41 words
A sorting machine as claimed in claim 1, wherein said hold means comprises at least one spiral spring of elastic strip material which has one end held wound around a rotatable member and the other end fastened to said discharge means.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
30 words
A sorting machine as claimed in claim 1, wherein said horizontal transport means and said vertical transport means comprise transport belts which transport said recorded sheets by means of friction.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
103 words
A sorting machine as claimed in claim 1, wherein said transfer means comprises second hold means for holding said discharge means and said second guide means, a first guide shaft which guides said second hold means slidably upwardly and downwardly, tray entry forming means for guiding said tray pins into said groove which is fastened to said second hold means, and having a helical groove, and, and a second guide shaft which permits vertical sliding of said tray entry forming means and said second hold means and transfers said tray entry forming means upwardly and downwardly by rotating said tray entry forming means.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
197 words
A sorting machine comprising: a plurality of trays vertically stacked for receiving recorded sheets, each tray having a tray pin on each side of at least the tray's sheet entry end; horizontal transport means for transporting the recorded sheets horizontally; first guide means for deflecting said horizontally transported sheets to a vertical direction; vertical transport means for transporting said deflected sheets vertically; discharge means for discharging into one of said plurality of trays the recorded sheets transported by said vertical transport means; second guide means for guiding the sheets transported by said vertical transport means to said discharge means and deflecting the sheets back to a horizontal direction in a face-down condition; transfer means for transferring said discharge means and said second guide member; hold means, being retractile in the vertical transport direction of said sheets according to the movement of said discharge means, for holding said recorded sheets between said hold means and said vertical transport means; a light-shutting member which is tilted down by the recorded sheets discharged by said discharge means; and an optical sensor which detects the discharge of said recorded sheets to a tray by detecting the tilt-down of said light-shutting member.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
197 words
A sorting machine comprising: a plurality of trays vertically stacked for receiving recorded sheets, each tray having a tray pin on each side of at least the tray's sheet entry end; horizontal transport means for transporting the recorded sheets horizontally; first guide means for deflecting said horizontally transported sheets to a vertical direction; vertical transport means for transporting said deflected sheets vertically; discharge means for discharging into one of said plurality of trays the recorded sheets transported by said vertical transport means; second guide means for guiding the sheets transported by said vertical transport means to said discharge means and deflecting the sheets back to a horizontal direction in a face-down condition; transfer means for transferring said discharge means and said second guide member; hold means, being retractile in the vertical transport direction of said sheets according to the movement of said discharge means, for holding said recorded sheets between said hold means and said vertical transport means; a light-shutting member which is tilted down by the recorded sheets discharged by said discharge means; and an optical sensor which detects the discharge of said recorded sheets to a tray by detecting the tilt-down of said light-shutting member.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
41 words
A sorting machine as claimed in claim 5, wherein said hold means comprises at least one spiral spring of elastic strip material which has one end held wound around a rotatable member and the other end fastened to said discharge means.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
30 words
A sorting machine as claimed in claim 5, wherein said horizontal transport means and said vertical transport means comprise transport belts which transport said recorded sheets by means of friction.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
103 words
A sorting machine as claimed in claim 5, wherein said transfer means comprises second hold means for holding said discharge means and said second guide means, a first guide shaft which guides said second hold means slidably upwardly and downwardly, tray entry forming means for guiding said tray pins into said groove which is fastened to said second hold means, and having a helical groove, and, and a second guide shaft which permits vertical sliding of said tray entry forming means and said second hold means and transfers said tray enter forming means upwardly and downwardly by rotating said tray entry forming means.
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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) | 1992-06-26 | 1992-12-26 | 1993-06-27 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1996-06-26 | 1996-12-26 | 1997-06-27 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2000-06-26 | 2000-12-26 | 2001-06-27 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |