USH17H
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Computer forms web copying apparatus
Assignee: Xerox Corp
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Filing: 1983-08-26
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Granted: 1986-02-04
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Expires: 2003-08-26
Abstract
Abstract In a continuous form document feeder for a copier, for incrementally feeding a computer form or the like web document from a fan-folded stack thereof to the imaging station of a copier with a web feeder, the improvement in the supply hopper in which the fan-fold web stack is stacked and from which the web is unfolded and fed out to be copied with said web feeder, wherein said supply hopper has a generally horizontal main stack supporting floor for supporting the principal portion of the stack of fan-fold web, a downstream stack edge retaining low wall extending upwardly not substantially above the maximum height of the stack of web to be fed from the supply hopper and adjacent the end of the supply hopper from which the web is to be fed out to be copied, this low wall being adapted to retain one end of the stack of fan-fold web in the supply hopper but to provide low friction and low angle feeding of the web from the stack thereover, and a raised stack floor portion adjacent the end of the supply hopper opposite from the low wall and extending upwardly from the main floor to slightly tilt upwardly (relative to the rest of the stack) the end of the stack of fan-fold web in the supply hopper opposite from the low wall sufficiently to substantially reduce variations in the resistance to unfolding and feeding of the web from the stack thereof by the web feeder. This raised stack floor portion preferably extends upwardly at approximately 10 degrees to the main floor and is adapted to raise the upstream end of the stack by at least approximately 1 centimeter relative to the rest of the stack.
Inventors
- 👤 Stephen J. Wenthe, Jr.
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-27 12:06
CPC Classifications
G; G03; G03G; G03G15/00; G03G15/60; G03B; G03B27/00; G03B27/32; G03B27/52; G03B27/62; G03B27/6207; G03B27/625; G03B27/6264; G03G2215/00; G03G2215/00172; G03G2215/00177; G03G2215/00181; G03G2215/00185; G03G2215/00206; G03G2215/00219; G03G2215/00223; G03G2215/00227
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 12
Claim 1
Independent Claim
261 words
In a continuous form document feeder for a copier, for incrementally feeding a fan-fold web form document from a fan-folded stack thereof in a generally horizontal stack support, to the generally horizontal imaging station of a copier with a web feeder, the improvement comprising: means for unfolding and pulling said fan-folded web form from said stack from one end of said stack support in a generally horizontal direction towards said imaging station with said web feeder with a low and substantially uniform unfolding and pulling resistance, said means including; means for providing said stack support on said copier horizontally spaced from one side of said imaging station, a low wall extending upwardly not substantially above the maximum height of the fan-folded stack and adjacent said end of said stack support from which said web is being pulled, said wall being adapted to retain one end of the fan-folded stack in said stack support and providing low friction and low angle feeding of said web from the top of the fan-folded stack over the top of said low wall, and stack end tilting means adjacent the opposite end of said stack support from said low wall and extending upwardly from said stack support for tilting upwardly (relative to the rest of the fan-folded stack) the end of the fan-folded stack opposite from said low wall by an amount of tilt sufficient to substantially reduce variations in said resistance to unfolding and pulling of said web from said fan-folded stack thereof over said low wall to said imaging station by said web feeder.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
261 words
In a continuous form document feeder for a copier, for incrementally feeding a fan-fold web form document from a fan-folded stack thereof in a generally horizontal stack support, to the generally horizontal imaging station of a copier with a web feeder, the improvement comprising: means for unfolding and pulling said fan-folded web form from said stack from one end of said stack support in a generally horizontal direction towards said imaging station with said web feeder with a low and substantially uniform unfolding and pulling resistance, said means including; means for providing said stack support on said copier horizontally spaced from one side of said imaging station, a low wall extending upwardly not substantially above the maximum height of the fan-folded stack and adjacent said end of said stack support from which said web is being pulled, said wall being adapted to retain one end of the fan-folded stack in said stack support and providing low friction and low angle feeding of said web from the top of the fan-folded stack over the top of said low wall, and stack end tilting means adjacent the opposite end of said stack support from said low wall and extending upwardly from said stack support for tilting upwardly (relative to the rest of the fan-folded stack) the end of the fan-folded stack opposite from said low wall by an amount of tilt sufficient to substantially reduce variations in said resistance to unfolding and pulling of said web from said fan-folded stack thereof over said low wall to said imaging station by said web feeder.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
58 words
The document feeder of claim 1 in which said stack end tilting means comprises a raised end portion of said generally horizontal stack support extending upwardly at approximately 10 degrees to said generally horizontal stack support for raising said opposite end of the stack by at least approximately 1 centimeter vertically relative to the rest of the stack.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
36 words
The document feeder of claim 1 in which said stack end tilting means is adapted to raise said opposite end of the stack by at least approximately 1 centimeter relative to the rest of the stack.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
27 words
The document feeder of claim 1 in which said low wall has a height of only approximately 8 centimeters or less above said generally horizontal stack support.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
44 words
The document feeder of claim 1 wherein said low wall is adjacent to said one side of said imaging station and said web is fed directly from over said low wall generally horizontally to said imaging station and without intermediate guides for said web.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
121 words
The document feeder of claim 1 wherein said web is fed across said imaging station under an auxiliary platen cover comprising a rigid or semi-rigid plate of dimensions corresponding generally to said imaging station and adapted to overly said imaging station and spacing means adjacent opposite edges of said imaging station for slightly spacing said plate from said imaging station to provide a web guide path between said plate and said imaging station closely confining the web over said imaging station, said plate being fully removable from said copier, and wherein said web is pulled to said web feeder from said imaging station and wherein said web feeder is at the opposite side of said imaging station from said stack support.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
47 words
The document feeder of claim 1 wherein said web feeder comprises an incrementally driven low torque motor mounted to one side of said copier adjacent the side of said imaging station opposite from said side of said imaging station where said stack support is on said copier.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
82 words
The document feeder of claim 6 wherein said copier has a document handler unit, including a platen cover, pivotally mounted to said copier over said imaging station, and wherein said auxiliary platen cover has integral protective means to prevent damage to said document handler unit from its attempted closure over said auxiliary platen cover on said imaging station, and wherein said auxiliary platen cover may be inserted and removed from said imaging station without removing said document handler unit from said copier.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
76 words
The document feeder of claim 1 wherein said stack end tilting means comprises a raised end portion of said stack support extending upwardly at approximately 10 degrees to said generally horizontal stack support for raising said opposite end of said stack by at least approximately 1 centimeter vertically relative to the rest of the stack; and wherein said low wall has a height of only approximately 8 centimeters or less above said generally horizontal stack support.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
189 words
The document feeder of claim 9 wherein said web is fed across said imaging station under an auxiliary platen cover comprising a rigid or semi-rigid plate adapted to overly said imaging station and spacing means adjacent opposite edges at said imaging station for slightly spacing said plate from said imaging station to provide a web guide path between said plate and said imaging station closely confining the web over said imaging station, said plate being fully removable from said copier, and wherein said web is pulled to said web feeder from said imaging station and wherein said web feeder is at the opposite side of said imaging station from said stack support; and wherein said copier has a document handler unit, including a platen cover, pivotally mounted to said copier over said imaging station, and wherein said auxiliary platen cover has integral protective means to prevent damage to said document handler unit from its attempted closure over said auxiliary platen cover on said imaging station, and wherein said auxiliary platen cover may be inserted and removed from said imaging station without removing said document handler unit from said copier.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
68 words
The document feeder of claim 1 wherein said low wall is adjacent one side of said imaging station and said web is fed directly from over said wall generaly horizontally to said imaging station; and wherein said stack support is integral the upper surface of said copier and wherein said low wall is pivotally mounted for pitoval movement to a generally horizontal non-obstructing position integral said stack support.
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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) | 1989-02-03 | 1989-08-05 | 1990-02-04 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1993-02-03 | 1993-08-05 | 1994-02-04 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1997-02-03 | 1997-08-05 | 1998-02-04 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |