US3738643A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Paper feeder
Assignee: Datatype Corp
•
Filing: 1971-10-12
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Granted: 1973-06-12
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Expires: 1991-10-12
Abstract
Abstract A paper feed and alignment mechanism comprising a device for moving sheets of paper longitudinally forwardly and a cooperating guide system, the guide system including a longitudinally extending alignment reference for engaging one side edge portion of such sheets and a device for urging such sheets against the reference. The moving device includes wheels which are proportioned and designed intermittently to engage such sheets and urge them forwardly as the wheels rotate. The alignment mechanism acts on the sheets to align them with the reference during the periods of disengagement by the wheels.
Inventors
- 👤 D Hendrickson
- 👤 R Bell
- 👤 D Snyder
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-02 19:16
CPC Classifications
G; G06; G06K; G06K13/00; G06K13/02; G06K13/08; G06K13/10; G06K13/103; B; B65; B65H; B65H9/00; B65H9/10; B65H9/101
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 32
Claim 1
Independent Claim
90 words
A paper feed and alignment apparatus comprising a chute for holding paper, means for moving sheets of such paper longitudinally forwardly, and guide means for such sheets paced forwardly of said moving means and cooperating therewith to align such sheets, said moving means being spaced forwardly of said chute, said moving means being proportioned and designed intermittently to engage such sheets to urge them forwardly into engagement with said guide means, and said guide means being effective to align such sheets during the periods of disengagement by said moving means.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
90 words
A paper feed and alignment apparatus comprising a chute for holding paper, means for moving sheets of such paper longitudinally forwardly, and guide means for such sheets paced forwardly of said moving means and cooperating therewith to align such sheets, said moving means being spaced forwardly of said chute, said moving means being proportioned and designed intermittently to engage such sheets to urge them forwardly into engagement with said guide means, and said guide means being effective to align such sheets during the periods of disengagement by said moving means.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
60 words
The apparatus of claim 1 in which said moving means includes wheel means and means for driving said wheel means, said wheel means being provided with peripherally spaced apart radially outwardly disposed protrusions which momentarily engage such sheets as said wheel means rotates and surfaces between adjacent protrusions disPosed at a radius such that such sheets are not engaged thereby.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
72 words
The apparatus of claim 1 in which said moving means includes wheel means and means for driving said wheel means, said wheel means including a pair of laterally spaced apart rubber-like wheels journalled for rotation about an axis generally perpendicular to the direction such sheets are fed, each said wheel being provided with a plurality of peripherally spaced apart radially outwardly extending portions for momentarily engaging such sheets as said wheel rotates.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
122 words
The apparatus of claim 1 in which said moving means includes wheel means and means for driving said wheel means, said wheel means including a pair of laterally spaced apart rubber-like wheels journalled for rotation about an axis generally perpendicular to the direction such sheets are fed, each said wheel being provided with a plurality of peripherally spaced apart flat portions on its outer periphery and cylindrical portions between adjacent flat portions, each said flat portion being parallel to the axis of said wheel and perpendicular to a radial plane including said axis, each said wheel being disposed such that its cylindrical portions momentarily engage such sheets as said wheel rotates while its flat portions are out of contact with such sheets.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
111 words
The apparatus of claim 1 including a support surface on which such sheets are longitudinally forwardly moved by said moving means, and in which said moving means includes a pair of rubber-like wheels laterally spaced apart and disposed above said support surface for rotation about an axis parallel to said surface and perpendicular to the direction in which such sheets are moved thereon, and means for driving said wheels about said axis, each said wheel being provided with peripherally spaced apart radially outwardly disposed protrusions which momentarily engage such sheets as said wheel rotates and surfaces between adjacent protrusions disposed at a radius such that such sheets are not engaged thereby.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
41 words
The apparatus of claim 5 in which each said wheel is formed such that said surfaces are flat surfaces parallel to said axis and perpendicular to a radial plane including said axis and said protrusions are cylindrically formed about said axis.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
20 words
The apparatus of claim 6 in which each said wheel is formed to have six equally peripherally spaced flat surfaces.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
74 words
The apparatus of claim 5 including a shaft upon which said wheels are mounted, means for journal mounting the ends of said shaft, said journal mounting means being supported for movement between a lower position and a higher position, said journal mounting means and said wheels being proportioned and designed such that, when said journal mounting means is in its said lower position, said surfaces between said protrusions will not contact said support surface.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
23 words
The apparatus of claim 8 in which said journal mounting means is driven upwardly by each protrusion as it engages said support surface.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
42 words
The apparatus of claim 8 including a second shaft journal mounted above said chute, drive roller means mounted on said second shaft and arranged to engage such sheets and feed them to said wheels, and a motor for driving said second shaft.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
26 words
The apparatus of claim 10 in which said means for driving said wheels includes means for drivingly connecting said first mentioned shaft to said second shaft.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
79 words
The apparatus of claim 11 including electrically-operated clutch means for drivingly connecting said second shaft to said motor, feed roller means for receiving such sheets from said wheels and moving them longitudinally forwardly in a step-by-step manner, a second motor, second electrically-operated clutch means for drivingly connecting said feed roller means to said second motor, and control means for operating said first mentioned and second clutch means to drive said wheels each time said feed roller means is advanced.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
42 words
The apparatus of claim 5 including a second shaft journal mounted above said chute, dRive roller means mounted on said second shaft and arranged to engage such sheets and feed them to said wheels, and a motor for driving said second shaft.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
26 words
The apparatus of claim 13 in which said means for driving said wheels includes means for drivingly connecting said first mentioned shaft to said second shaft.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
79 words
The apparatus of claim 14 including electrically-operated clutch means for drivingly connecting said second shaft to said motor, feed roller means for receiving such sheets from said wheels and moving them longitudinally forwardly in a step-by-step manner, a second motor, second electrically-operated clutch means for drivingly connecting said feed roller means to said second motor, and control means for operating said first mentioned and second clutch means to drive said wheels each time said feed roller means is advanced.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
42 words
The apparatus of claim 1 in which said guide means includes a longitudinally extending reference guide for engaging one side edge of such sheets and means for engaging the other side edge of such sheets and urging them toward said reference guide.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
35 words
The apparatus of claim 1 in which said guide means includes a longitudinally extending reference guide for engaging one side edge of such sheets and means for urging such sheets into engagement with said guide.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
25 words
The apparatus of claim 17 including means for engaging the top surface of such sheets to prevent them from being buckled by said urging means.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
38 words
The apparatus of claim 17 in which said urging means includes a longitudinally extending, laterally movable guide for engaging the opposite side edge of such sheets and spring means for urging said movable guide toward said reference guide.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
53 words
The apparatus of claim 2 in which said guide means includes a longitudinally extending rigid reference guide for engaging one side edge of such sheets, a longitudinally extending, laterally movable guide for engaging the opposite side edge of such sheets, and spring means for yieldably urging said movable guide toward said rigid guide.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
53 words
The apparatus of claim 3 in which said guide means includes a longitudinally extending rigid reference guide for engaging one side edge of such sheets, a longitudinally extending, laterally movable guide for engaging the opposite side edge of such sheets, and spring means for yieldably urging said movable guide toward said rigid guide.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
53 words
The apparatus of claim 5 in which said guide means includes a longitudinally extending rigid reference guide for engaging one side edge of such sheets, a longitudinally extending, laterally movable guide for engaging the opposite side edge of such sheets, and spring means for yieldably urging said movable guide toward said rigid guide.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
53 words
The apparatus of claim 12 in which said guide means includes a longitudinally extending rigid reference guide for engaging one side edge of such sheets, a longitudinally extending, laterally movable guide for engaging the opposite side edge of such sheets, and spring means for yieldably urging said movable guide toward said rigid guide.
Claim 25
Dependent Claim
80 words
A paper feed and alignment mechanism comprising means for moving sheets of paper longitudinally forwardly and guide means spaced forwardly of said moving means, said guide means including longitudinally extending alignment reference means and means for urging such sheets against said reference means, said moving means including means for intermittently engaging such sheets and urging them forwardly, and said urging means being effective to move such sheets toward said reference means during the periods of disengagement by said moving means.
Claim 26
Dependent Claim
80 words
A paper feed and alignment mechanism comprising means for moving sheets of paper longitudinally forwardly and guide means spaced forwardly of said moving means, said guide means including longitudinally extending alignment reference means and means for urging such sheets against said reference means, said moving means including means for intermittently engaging such sheets and urging them forwardly, and said urging means being effective to move such sheets toward said reference means during the periods of disengagement by said moving means.
Claim 27
Dependent Claim
133 words
The mechanism of claim 24 including feed roller means for receiving such sheets from said moving means and moving them longitudinally forwardly, a motor, electrically-operated clutch means for drivingly connecting said roller means to said motor, means for scanning longitudinally spaced apart and transversely extending lines of data on such sheets, control means for operating Said clutch means to drive said feed roller means in a step-by-step manner to place each such line of data in a position to be scanned by said scanning means, said moving means including wheel means providing peripherally spaced apart radially outwardly disposed protrusions which momentarily engage such sheets as said wheel means rotates and surfaces between adjacent protrusions disposed at a radius such that such sheets are not engaged thereby, and means for rotating said wheel means.
Claim 28
Dependent Claim
41 words
The mechanism of claim 25 including a chute for holding a stack of such sheets, friction roller means journalled above said chute and arranged to feed such sheets to said wheel means, and a drive motor for said friction roller means.
Claim 29
Dependent Claim
47 words
The mechanism of claim 26 including another electrically-operated clutch means for drivingly connecting said friction roller means to its said drive motor, said second mentioned clutch means being operated by said control means to advance said friction roller means each time said feed roller means is advanced.
Claim 30
Dependent Claim
27 words
The mechanism of claim 27 in which said means for rotating said wheel means includes means for drivingly connecting said wheel means to said friction roller means.
Claim 31
Dependent Claim
149 words
The mechanism of claim 24 including a horizontally extending, upwardly facing support surface on which such sheets are longitudinally forwardly moved by said moving means and in which said moving means includes a shaft extending perpendicularly to the direction in which such sheets are fed, a journal block for each end of said shaft, means for supporting each journal block for movement between a lower position and an upper position, a pair of wheels mounted on said shaft and axially separated to engage opposite lateral side edge portions of such sheets, and means for driving said shaft, each of said wheels providing peripherally spaced apart radially outwardly disposed protrusions for momentarily engaging such sheets and moving them forwardly on said support surface and radially inwardly disposed surfaces between adjacent protrusions, said protrusions being effective to lift said journal blocks from their lower position when they engage said support surface.
Claim 32
Dependent Claim
38 words
The mechanism of claim 29 in which said means for urging such sheets against said reference means includes a longitudinally extending movable member for engaging such sheets and spring means for urging said member toward said reference means.
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) | 1976-06-11 | 1976-12-11 | 1977-06-12 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1980-06-11 | 1980-12-11 | 1981-06-12 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1984-06-11 | 1984-12-11 | 1985-06-12 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |