Patent US5201508A successfully refreshed from Google Patents.
US5201508A
Expired / Lapsed
US
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Self-adjusting closed-loop friction feeder
Assignee: Xerox Corp
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Filing: 1992-08-14
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Granted: 1993-04-13
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Expires: 2012-08-14
Abstract
Abstract An apparatus feeds and separates sheets individually from a stack of sheets. A nudger is disposed adjacent to at least a portion of the stack, and a mechanism, including a rotatable friction feed belt thereon, is disposed adjacent a sheet on the stack to be fed. A variable normal force is provided between the nudger and the friction feed belt of the mechanism. A sensor detects a lead edge of a sheet at a preselected location relative to the mechanism, and the increase in the normal force between the mechanism and the nudger is stopped when the lead edge of a sheet is detected by the sensor.
Inventors
- 👤 Youti Kuo
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-09 14:21
CPC Classifications
B; B65; B65H; B65H3/00; B65H3/02; B65H3/04; B65H3/042; B65H3/46; B65H3/52; B65H3/5207; B65H3/523; B65H3/5238; G; G03; G03G; G03G15/00; G03G15/60; B65H2515/00; B65H2515/30; B65H2515/34
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 8
Claim 1
Independent Claim
130 words
An apparatus for feeding and separating sheets individually from a stack of sheets, comprising: a mechanism, disposed adjacent a sheet to be separated from the stack, including a friction feed belt thereon for sheet feeding engagement of the sheet; a nudger bumper, adapted to be urged toward at least a portion of the stack; sensor means, for detecting a lead edge of a sheet being fed at at least one location relative to the mechanism; urging means for urging the mechanism and the nudger bumper toward at least a portion of the stack, thereby creating a normal force on at least a portion of the stack between the mechanism and the nudger bumper; and control means, responsive to the sensor means, for regulating the normal force via the urging means.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
130 words
An apparatus for feeding and separating sheets individually from a stack of sheets, comprising: a mechanism, disposed adjacent a sheet to be separated from the stack, including a friction feed belt thereon for sheet feeding engagement of the sheet; a nudger bumper, adapted to be urged toward at least a portion of the stack; sensor means, for detecting a lead edge of a sheet being fed at at least one location relative to the mechanism; urging means for urging the mechanism and the nudger bumper toward at least a portion of the stack, thereby creating a normal force on at least a portion of the stack between the mechanism and the nudger bumper; and control means, responsive to the sensor means, for regulating the normal force via the urging means.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
43 words
An apparatus as in claim 1, wherein the mechanism includes means defining a track slot, and a cam rotatable against the track slot, whereby rotation of the cam against the track slot will cause the mechanism to be urged toward the nudger bumper.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
36 words
An apparatus as in claim 1, wherein the sensor means includes first and second sensors, disposed respectively at first and second locations relative to the mechanism, each adapted to detect the lead edge of a sheet.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
71 words
An apparatus as in claim 3, wherein the control means is adapted to cause the urging means to increase the normal force until the lead edge of a sheet being moved by the friction feed belt is detected by the first sensor, to maintain the last value of the normal force until the lead edge of the sheet is detected by the second sensor, and then to decrease the normal force.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
17 words
An apparatus as in claim 3, further including pick-up rolls disposed between the first and second locations.
Claim 7
Independent Claim
219 words
An apparatus for feeding and separating sheets individually from a stack of sheets, comprising: a mechanism, disposed adjacent a sheet to be separated from the stack, including a rotatable friction feed belt, for sheet feeding engagement of the sheet, means defining a track slot, and a cam rotatable against the track slot, whereby rotation of the cam against the track slot will cause the mechanism to be urged toward the stack; a nudger bumper, adapted to be urged toward at least a portion of the stack; first and second sensors, disposed respectively at first and second locations relative to the mechanism, each adapted to detect the lead edge of a sheet; urging means for rotating the cam and urging the nudger bumper toward at least a portion of the stack, thereby creating a normal force on at least a portion of the stack between the mechanism and the nudger bumper; control means, responsive to the first and second sensor means, for causing the urging means to increase the normal force until the lead edge of a sheet being moved by the friction feed belt is detected by the first sensor, to maintain the last value of the normal force until the lead edge of the sheet is detected by the second sensor, and then to decrease the normal force.
Claim 8
Independent Claim
219 words
An apparatus for feeding and separating sheets individually from a stack of sheets, comprising: a mechanism, disposed adjacent a sheet to be separated from the stack, including a rotatable friction feed belt, for sheet feeding engagement of the sheet, means defining a track slot, and a cam rotatable against the track slot, whereby rotation of the cam against the track slot will cause the mechanism to be urged toward the stack; a nudger bumper, adapted to be urged toward at least a portion of the stack; first and second sensors, disposed respectively at first and second locations relative to the mechanism, each adapted to detect the lead edge of a sheet; urging means for rotating the cam and urging the nudger bumper toward at least a portion of the stack, thereby creating a normal force on at least a portion of the stack between the mechanism and the nudger bumper; control means, responsive to the first and second sensor means, for causing the urging means to increase the normal force until the lead edge of a sheet being moved by the friction feed belt is detected by the first sensor, to maintain the last value of the normal force until the lead edge of the sheet is detected by the second sensor, and then to decrease the normal force.
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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) | 1996-04-12 | 1996-10-12 | 1997-04-13 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 2000-04-12 | 2000-10-12 | 2001-04-13 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2004-04-12 | 2004-10-12 | 2005-04-13 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |