US4903954A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Sheet transporting apparatus
Assignee: Pitney Bowes Inc
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Filing: 1988-05-11
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Granted: 1990-02-27
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Expires: 2008-05-11
Abstract
Abstract Apparatus is provided for transporting a sheet in a predetermined path of travel. The apparatus comprises a plate having a lower surface extending parallel to and defining the path of travel, and having an aperture formed therein. In addition, the apparatus comprises sheet feeding structure, including a first pair of rollers spaced apart from one another and an endless belt looped about the first rollers, wherein the belt has a lower belt run extending between the first rollers and beneath the plate. Further, the feeding structure includes instrumentalities for driving one of the first rollers for moving the lower belt run at a constant velocity in the direction of the path of travel. Moreover, the feeding structure includes a second pair of rollers which are disposed beneath the plate and are made of a compliant material. Still further, the feeding structure includes structure for resiliently urging the compliant rollers toward the path of travel for urging a sheet feed to the apparatus into contact with the belt and the lower surface of the plate, whereby the belt engages and feeds the sheet at a constant velocity with a portion thereof in the path of travel when fed past the aperture.
Inventors
- 👤 Atholl A. Robertson
- 👤 William G. Hart, Jr.
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-07 13:58
CPC Classifications
B; B65; B65H; B65H9/00; B65H9/16; B65H9/166; B41; B41J; B41J13/00; B41J13/26; B41J13/30; G; G07; G07B; G07B17/00; G07B17/00459; G07B17/00467; G07B2017/00491
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 26
Claim 1
Independent Claim
211 words
Apparatus for transporting a sheet in a predetermined path of travel, the apparatus comprising: a. a plate having a lower surface extending parallel to and defining the path of travel, the plate including an aperture; b. sheet feeding means including a first pair of rollers spaced apart from one another and an endless belt looped about the first rollers, the belt having a lower belt run extending between the first rollers and beneath the plate, the feeding means including means for driving one of the first rollers for moving the lower belt run in the direction of the path of travel, the feeding means including a second pair of rollers disposed beneath the plate, each of the second rollers being made of a compliant material, the feeding means including means for resiliently urging the compliant rollers toward the path of travel for urging a sheet feed to the apparatus into contact with the belt and the lower surface of the plate, whereby the belt engages and feeds the sheet with a portion thereof in the path of travel when fed past the aperture, and the resilient urging means including means for connecting the compliant rollers to one another for movement in unison with one another toward and away from the plate.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
211 words
Apparatus for transporting a sheet in a predetermined path of travel, the apparatus comprising: a. a plate having a lower surface extending parallel to and defining the path of travel, the plate including an aperture; b. sheet feeding means including a first pair of rollers spaced apart from one another and an endless belt looped about the first rollers, the belt having a lower belt run extending between the first rollers and beneath the plate, the feeding means including means for driving one of the first rollers for moving the lower belt run in the direction of the path of travel, the feeding means including a second pair of rollers disposed beneath the plate, each of the second rollers being made of a compliant material, the feeding means including means for resiliently urging the compliant rollers toward the path of travel for urging a sheet feed to the apparatus into contact with the belt and the lower surface of the plate, whereby the belt engages and feeds the sheet with a portion thereof in the path of travel when fed past the aperture, and the resilient urging means including means for connecting the compliant rollers to one another for movement in unison with one another toward and away from the plate.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
14 words
The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the connecting means includes a tie rod.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
49 words
The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the second pair of rollers is disposed beneath the belt for engagement therewith when the belt is not in engagement with a sheet whereby the second pair of rollers is driven by the belt when the belt is not moving a sheet.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
32 words
The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the driving means is adapted for driving said at least one roller and thus the belt and a sheet engaged thereby at a constant velocity.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
37 words
The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein a moving sheet in the path of travel moves in overlapping relationship with respect to the aperture, whereby the top surface of the moving sheet is exposed through the aperture.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
37 words
The apparatus according to claim 1 including spring means, and the spring means including a member located for engagement with a marginal edge of a sheet in the course of movement of a sheet by the belt.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
228 words
Apparatus for transporting a sheet in a predetermined path of travel, the apparatus comprising: a. a plate having a lower surface extending parallel to and defining the path of travel, the plate including an aperture; b. sheet feeding means including a first pair of rollers spaced apart from one another and an endless belt looped about the first rollers, the belt having a lower belt run extending between the first rollers and beneath the plate, the feeding means including means for driving one of the first rollers for moving the lower belt run in the direction of the path of travel, the feeding means including a second pair of rollers disposed beneath the plate, a pair of bifurcated supports rotatably supporting the second pair of roller, each of the second rollers being made of a compliant material, the feeding means including means for resiliently urging the compliant rollers toward the path of travel for urging a sheet feed to the apparatus into contact with the belt and the lower surface of the plate, whereby the belt engages and feeds the sheet with a portion thereof in the path of travel when fed past the aperture, and means for interconnecting the bifurcated supports for movement thereof in unison with one another, whereby the compliant rollers move toward and away from the path of travel in unison with one another.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
228 words
Apparatus for transporting a sheet in a predetermined path of travel, the apparatus comprising: a. a plate having a lower surface extending parallel to and defining the path of travel, the plate including an aperture; b. sheet feeding means including a first pair of rollers spaced apart from one another and an endless belt looped about the first rollers, the belt having a lower belt run extending between the first rollers and beneath the plate, the feeding means including means for driving one of the first rollers for moving the lower belt run in the direction of the path of travel, the feeding means including a second pair of rollers disposed beneath the plate, a pair of bifurcated supports rotatably supporting the second pair of roller, each of the second rollers being made of a compliant material, the feeding means including means for resiliently urging the compliant rollers toward the path of travel for urging a sheet feed to the apparatus into contact with the belt and the lower surface of the plate, whereby the belt engages and feeds the sheet with a portion thereof in the path of travel when fed past the aperture, and means for interconnecting the bifurcated supports for movement thereof in unison with one another, whereby the compliant rollers move toward and away from the path of travel in unison with one another.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
49 words
The apparatus according to claim 7, wherein the second pair of rollers is disposed beneath the belt for engagement therewith when the belt is not in engagement with a sheet whereby the second pair of rollers is driven by the belt when the belt is not moving a sheet.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
32 words
The apparatus according to claim 7, wherein the driving means is adapted for driving said at least one roller and thus the belt and a sheet engaged thereby at a constant velocity.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
37 words
The apparatus according to claim 7, wherein a moving sheet in the path of travel moves in overlapping relationship with respect to the aperture, whereby the top surface of the moving sheet is exposed through the aperture.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
37 words
The apparatus according to claim 7 including spring means, and the spring means including a member located for engagement with a marginal edge of a sheet in the course of movement of a sheet by the belt.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
206 words
Apparatus for transporting a letter, the apparatus comprising: a. a plate having a lower surface extending parallel to and defining a predetermined path of travel, the plate including an aperture; b. letter feeding means including a first pair of rollers spaced apart from one another and an endless belt looped about the first rollers, the belt having a lower belt run extending between the first rollers and beneath the plate, the feeding means including means for driving one of the first rollers for moving the lower belt run in the direction of the path of travel, the feeding means including a second pair of rollers disposed beneath the plate, each of the second rollers being made of a compliant material, the feeding means including means for resiliently urging the compliant rollers toward the path of travel for urging a letter fed to the apparatus into contact with the belt and the lower surface of the plate, whereby the belt engages and feeds the sheet with a portion thereof in the path of travel when fed past the aperture, and the resilient urging means including means for connecting the compliant rollers to one another for movement in unison with one another toward and away from the plate.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
206 words
Apparatus for transporting a letter, the apparatus comprising: a. a plate having a lower surface extending parallel to and defining a predetermined path of travel, the plate including an aperture; b. letter feeding means including a first pair of rollers spaced apart from one another and an endless belt looped about the first rollers, the belt having a lower belt run extending between the first rollers and beneath the plate, the feeding means including means for driving one of the first rollers for moving the lower belt run in the direction of the path of travel, the feeding means including a second pair of rollers disposed beneath the plate, each of the second rollers being made of a compliant material, the feeding means including means for resiliently urging the compliant rollers toward the path of travel for urging a letter fed to the apparatus into contact with the belt and the lower surface of the plate, whereby the belt engages and feeds the sheet with a portion thereof in the path of travel when fed past the aperture, and the resilient urging means including means for connecting the compliant rollers to one another for movement in unison with one another toward and away from the plate.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
14 words
The apparatus according to claim 12, wherein the connecting means includes a tie rod.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
49 words
The apparatus according to claim 12, wherein the second pair of rollers is disposed beneath the belt for engagement therewith when the belt is not in engagement with a letter whereby the second pair of rollers is driven by the belt when the belt is not moving a letter.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
32 words
The apparatus according to claim 12, wherein the driving means is adapted for driving said at least one roller and thus the belt and a letter engaged thereby at a constant velocity.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
36 words
The apparatus according to claim 12, wherein a letter in the path of travel moves in overlapping relationship with respect to the aperture, whereby the top surface of the moving letter is exposed through the aperture.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
37 words
The apparatus according to claim 12 including spring means, and the spring means including a member located for engagement with a marginal edge of a letter in the course of movement of a letter by the belt.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
224 words
Apparatus for transporting a letter, the apparatus comprising: a. a plate having a lower surface extending parallel to and defining a predetermined path of travel, the plate including an aperture; b. letter feeding means including a first pair of rollers spaced apart from one another and an endless belt looped about the first rollers, the belt having a lower belt run extending between the first rollers and beneath the plate, the feeding means including means for driving one of the first rollers for moving the lower belt run in the direction of the path of travel, the feeding means including a second pair of rollers disposed beneath the plate, a pair of bifurcated supports rotatably supporting the second pair of rollers, each of the second rollers being made of a compliant material, and the feeding means including means for resiliently urging the compliant rollers toward the path of travel for urging a letter fed to the apparatus into contact with the belt and the lower surface of the plate, whereby the belt engages and feeds the sheet with a portion thereof in the path of travel when fed past the aperture, and means for interconnecting the bifurcated supports for movement thereof in unison with one another, whereby the compliant rollers move toward and away from the path of travel in unison with one another.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
224 words
Apparatus for transporting a letter, the apparatus comprising: a. a plate having a lower surface extending parallel to and defining a predetermined path of travel, the plate including an aperture; b. letter feeding means including a first pair of rollers spaced apart from one another and an endless belt looped about the first rollers, the belt having a lower belt run extending between the first rollers and beneath the plate, the feeding means including means for driving one of the first rollers for moving the lower belt run in the direction of the path of travel, the feeding means including a second pair of rollers disposed beneath the plate, a pair of bifurcated supports rotatably supporting the second pair of rollers, each of the second rollers being made of a compliant material, and the feeding means including means for resiliently urging the compliant rollers toward the path of travel for urging a letter fed to the apparatus into contact with the belt and the lower surface of the plate, whereby the belt engages and feeds the sheet with a portion thereof in the path of travel when fed past the aperture, and means for interconnecting the bifurcated supports for movement thereof in unison with one another, whereby the compliant rollers move toward and away from the path of travel in unison with one another.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
49 words
The apparatus according to claim 18, wherein the second pair of rollers is disposed beneath the belt for engagement therewith when the belt is not in engagement with a letter whereby the second pair of rollers is driven by the belt when the belt is not moving a letter.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
32 words
The apparatus according to claim 18, wherein the driving means is adapted for driving said at least one roller and thus the belt and a letter engaged thereby at a constant velocity.
Claim 25
Dependent Claim
36 words
The apparatus according to claim 18, wherein a letter in the path of travel moves in overlapping relationship with respect to the aperture, whereby the top surface of the moving letter is exposed through the aperture.
Claim 26
Dependent Claim
37 words
The apparatus according to claim 18 including spring means, and the spring means including a member located for engagement with a marginal edge of a letter in the course of movement of a letter by the belt.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1993-02-26 | 1993-08-28 | 1994-02-27 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1997-02-26 | 1997-08-28 | 1998-02-27 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2001-02-26 | 2001-08-28 | 2002-02-27 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |