US3834289A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Photoelectric counter for paper conveyor
Assignee: GRAPHIC ENGINEERS Inc
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Filing: 1973-04-02
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Granted: 1974-09-10
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Expires: 1993-04-02
Abstract
Abstract A photoelectric counter for a belt conveyor system that transports a continuous stream of shingled papers, said conveyor system comprising first and second conveyor sections, the first section delivering the papers to the second section, and the discharge end of the first section being elevated above the receiving end of the second section, so that the trailing edges of the papers flip downwardly as they leave the first section. A photoelectric cell and lamp are mounted under the conveyor sections at the point where the papers transfer from one to the other, with the light beam from the lamp positioned where it is interrupted by the downward flipping of the trailing edges of the papers. A wheel resting on the top surface of the papers presses the papers downwardly and bends them into an arcuate curve of relatively short radius, causing the trailing edges to flip smartly downwardly in a brisk and positive movement, to interrupt the light beam and actuate the photoelectric cell.
Inventors
- 👤 R Behrens
- 👤 L Donahue
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-09 13:48
CPC Classifications
G; G06; G06M; G06M7/00; G06M7/08; G06M7/10; G06M2207/00; G06M2207/02; Y; Y10; Y10S; Y10S198/00; Y10S198/958
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 8
Claim 1
Independent Claim
244 words
In a belt conveyor system for transporting a stream of shingled papers, including a first conveyor section and a second conveyor section arranged end-to-end, said first conveyor section delivering said papers to said second conveyor section, and the discharge end of said first conveyor section being elevated above the receiving end of said second conveyor section, whereby the papers are caused to flip their trailing edges downwardly as they leave said first conveyor section, a photoelectric counter comprising: a photoelectric cell mounted on the end of one of said conveyor sections below the stream of papers; a light source mounted on the adjacent end of the other conveyor section below said papers, the beam of light from said light source extending generally parallel to the line of travel of the papers, and said light beam being positioned where it is interrupted by the downward flipping of the trailing edges of the papers; and a wheel riding on the top surface of the papers and bearing downwardly thereon as the papers pass from said first conveyor section to said second conveyor section, for bending the papers downwardly into an arc of relatively short radius, whereby the trailing edges of the papers are caused to flip smartly downward in a brisk and positive movement to interrupt the light beam and actuate said photoelectric cell, said wheel being journaled on a vertically movable support, and the radius of said wheel being approximately the radius of said arc.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
244 words
In a belt conveyor system for transporting a stream of shingled papers, including a first conveyor section and a second conveyor section arranged end-to-end, said first conveyor section delivering said papers to said second conveyor section, and the discharge end of said first conveyor section being elevated above the receiving end of said second conveyor section, whereby the papers are caused to flip their trailing edges downwardly as they leave said first conveyor section, a photoelectric counter comprising: a photoelectric cell mounted on the end of one of said conveyor sections below the stream of papers; a light source mounted on the adjacent end of the other conveyor section below said papers, the beam of light from said light source extending generally parallel to the line of travel of the papers, and said light beam being positioned where it is interrupted by the downward flipping of the trailing edges of the papers; and a wheel riding on the top surface of the papers and bearing downwardly thereon as the papers pass from said first conveyor section to said second conveyor section, for bending the papers downwardly into an arc of relatively short radius, whereby the trailing edges of the papers are caused to flip smartly downward in a brisk and positive movement to interrupt the light beam and actuate said photoelectric cell, said wheel being journaled on a vertically movable support, and the radius of said wheel being approximately the radius of said arc.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
118 words
The apparatus of claim 1, wherein said wheel support is movable along the line of travel of the papers on said conveyor, so that said wheel can be shifted to the optimum distance from the discharge end of said first conveyor section, as determined by the thickness of the papers on the conveyor, said optimum distance being the point where the radial distance from the axis of said wheel to the point on said first conveyor section where the trailing edge of the papers drops, is the same as the radial distance from the wheel axis to the top of said second conveyor section, the distance in each case including the thickness of the papers on the conveyor.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
42 words
The apparatus of claim 1, wherein said wheel is journaled at the end of an arm, the other end of said arm being pivoted for vertical swinging movement about an axis located above said papers, transverse to the line of travel thereof.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
72 words
The apparatus of claim 1, wherein said photoelectric cell is mounted on said first conveyor section, with its aperture aimed downwardly and in the direction of travel of the papers, and said light source comprises a lamp mounted on a yoke that is pivoted on said first conveyor section for vertical swinging movement, said lamp being positioned under said second conveyor section, with its beam of light aimed at said photoelectric cell.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
32 words
The apparatus of claim 1, wherein means is provided for driving said wheel so that its peripheral speed is substantially the same as the linear speed of the papers on the conveyor.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
68 words
The apparatus of claim 3, which further includes a coil spring drive belt passing around said wheel and around a second wheel rotatable about said pivot axis of said support arm, and means operatively connected to said conveyor for driving said second wheel at a speed such that the peripheral speed of said first wheel is always substantially the same as the linear speed of the belt conveyor.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
49 words
The apparatus of claim 6, wherein said conveyor belts are driven by pulleys at opposite ends of the conveyor sections, and said second wheel is driven by a second drive belt passing around a drive pulley on said conveyor pulley and a driven pulley connected to said second wheel.
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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) | 1977-09-09 | 1978-03-11 | 1978-09-10 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1981-09-09 | 1982-03-11 | 1982-09-10 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1985-09-09 | 1986-03-11 | 1986-09-10 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |