US5211387A
Expired / Lapsed
US
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Method and apparatus for feeding articles
Assignee: De la Rue International Ltd
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Filing: 1991-12-20
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Granted: 1993-05-18
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Expires: 2011-12-20
Abstract
Abstract Apparatus for feeding articles, such as banknotes, along a feed path comprises first and second separately driven feed systems the second feed system being operated at a substantially constant speed. The first feed system feeds articles to the second feed system. A sensing system includes a sensor for sensing the passage of articles. The sensor is connected to a motor control system which controls the feed rate of the first feed system by controlling a motor of the first feed system so that the separation between successive articles passing through the second feed system satisfies at least one predetermined condition.
Inventors
- 👤 Paul D. V. Lloyd
- 👤 Michael Potter
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-03 02:35
CPC Classifications
B; B65; B65H; B65H29/00; B65H29/58; B65G; B65G43/00; B65G43/08; B65H7/00; B65H7/18; B65H2301/00; B65H2301/40; B65H2301/44; B65H2301/445; B65H2301/4452; B65H2511/00; B65H2511/10; B65H2511/13; B65H2511/20; B65H2511/22; B65H2511/30; B65H2511/40; B65H2511/50; B65H2511/51; B65H2511/514; B65H2513/00; B65H2513/10; B65H2701/00; B65H2701/10; B65H2701/13; B65H2701/131; B65H2701/1311; B65H2701/1313; B65H2701/19; B65H2701/1912
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 20
Claim 1
Independent Claim
135 words
A method of feeding articles along a feed path defined by first and second separately driven feed systems in which the articles are fed from said first to said second feed systems, the method comprising sensing the separation between articles fed through said second feed system; and, during the feeding of articles by said feed systems, adjusting the rate at which articles are fed by said first feed system when the separation between successive articles passing through said second feed system does not satisfy at least one predetermined condition, where said second feed system operates at a substantially constant speed, and further comprising increasing said feed rate of the first feed system after a predetermined number of articles have passed through said second feed system without said at least one predetermined condition not being satisfied.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
135 words
A method of feeding articles along a feed path defined by first and second separately driven feed systems in which the articles are fed from said first to said second feed systems, the method comprising sensing the separation between articles fed through said second feed system; and, during the feeding of articles by said feed systems, adjusting the rate at which articles are fed by said first feed system when the separation between successive articles passing through said second feed system does not satisfy at least one predetermined condition, where said second feed system operates at a substantially constant speed, and further comprising increasing said feed rate of the first feed system after a predetermined number of articles have passed through said second feed system without said at least one predetermined condition not being satisfied.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
48 words
A method according to claim 1, wherein said adjusting step comprises adjusting the article feed rate of said first feed system so that the distance between the trailing edge of one article and the leading edge of the next article is maintained at or above a minimum value.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
54 words
A method according to claim 1, wherein said sensing step comprising sensing the distance between leading edges of successive articles, and the adjusting step comprises adjusting said article feed rate of the first feed system so that the distance between the leading edges of successive articles is maintained at or above a predetermined minimum.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
59 words
A method according to claim 1, wherein said sensing step comprises sensing the time between successive articles, and said adjusting step comprises adjusting the article feed rate of said first feed system so that the time between the trailing edge of one article and the leading edge of the next article is maintained at or above a minimum value.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
54 words
A method according to claim 1, wherein said sensing step comprises sensing the time between leading edges of successive articles, and said adjusting step comprises adjusting the article feed rate of said first feed system so that the time between the leading edges of successive articles is maintained at or above a predetermined minimum.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
11 words
A method according to claim 1, wherein said articles comprise sheets.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
18 words
A method according to claim 6, wherein said first feed system draws said sheets from a sheet stack.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
14 words
A method according to claim 1, wherein said first feed system is continuously operating.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
12 words
A method according to claim 1, wherein said articles are substantially identical.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
11 words
A method according to claim 1, wherein said articles comprise banknotes.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
151 words
Apparatus for feeding articles, the apparatus comprising first and second separately driven feed systems, wherein said first feed system feeds articles to said second feed system, and wherein said second feed system operates at a substantially constant speed; a sensing system including a sensor for sensing the separation between articles fed through said second feed system; and control means responsive to said sensing system to adjust the feed rate of said first feed system during the feeding of articles by said feed systems when the separation between successive articles passing through said second feed system does not satisfy at least one predetermined condition, and further wherein said control means includes a counter for counting the number of articles which pass through said second feed system while said at least one predetermined condition is satisfied and for increasing the feed rate of said first feed system when said count exceeds a threshold.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
151 words
Apparatus for feeding articles, the apparatus comprising first and second separately driven feed systems, wherein said first feed system feeds articles to said second feed system, and wherein said second feed system operates at a substantially constant speed; a sensing system including a sensor for sensing the separation between articles fed through said second feed system; and control means responsive to said sensing system to adjust the feed rate of said first feed system during the feeding of articles by said feed systems when the separation between successive articles passing through said second feed system does not satisfy at least one predetermined condition, and further wherein said control means includes a counter for counting the number of articles which pass through said second feed system while said at least one predetermined condition is satisfied and for increasing the feed rate of said first feed system when said count exceeds a threshold.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
26 words
Apparatus according to claim 11, wherein said sensing system monitors one or both of the inter-article separation and the separation between leading edges of the articles.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
24 words
Apparatus according to claim 11, wherein the separation between articles is defined as one or both of a distance separation and a time separation.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
50 words
Apparatus according to claim 11, wherein said control means comprises a first counter holding a count which defines the feed rate of said first feed system and which is incremented after the passage of the predetermined number of articles and which is decremented when a predetermined condition is not satisfied.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
57 words
Apparatus according to claim 14, further comprising a second counter which generates a count value corresponding to the separation between successive articles, and a comparator for comparing the count value in said second counter with a minimum value, said comparator causing the count in the first counter to be decremented when the minimum count is not exceeded.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
49 words
Apparatus according to claim 15, wherein two second counters are provided, one of which derives a count value related to the separation between the trailing edge of one article and the leading edge of the next article and the other of which detects the separation between successive leading edges.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
23 words
Apparatus according to claim 11, wherein the articles comprise sheets, and wherein said first feed system draws said sheets from a sheet stack.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
18 words
Apparatus according to claim 11, wherein said second feed system is the transport of an article sorting machine.
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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) | 1996-05-17 | 1996-11-16 | 1997-05-18 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 2000-05-17 | 2000-11-16 | 2001-05-18 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2004-05-17 | 2004-11-16 | 2005-05-18 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |