Conveyors: power-driven – Conveyor section – Load simultaneously engaged between and moved by a plurality...
Reexamination Certificate
1996-12-04
2001-10-30
Valenza, Joseph E. (Department: 3651)
Conveyors: power-driven
Conveyor section
Load simultaneously engaged between and moved by a plurality...
C198S624000, C198S620000, C271S273000, C271S274000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06308820
ABSTRACT:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
This invention relates to an assembly for conveying stacked documents along a particular conveying path in a conveying direction.
Such assemblies are used inter alia for conveying documents and annexes gathered into a stack, to an inserting position in an inserter station.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
In practice, assemblies for conveying stacked documents along a particular conveying path in a conveying direction are typically provided with a circulating conveying surface having a section extending along the conveying path and with a conveyor roller which is suspended opposite the section of the circulating conveying surface for reciprocating movement between positions at different distances from that section of the circulating conveying surface and in operating condition exerts a press-on force in the direction of that section of the circulating conveying surface, and a transmission for driving the conveyor roller with a couple in the conveying sense, which couple causes the conveyor roller to rotate in operation in such a manner that a circumferential section of the conveyor roller facing the above-mentioned section of the conveying surface is moved in the conveying direction.
In conveying a stack of documents, the problem occurs that when the stack is brought between a conveyor roller and a conveying surface, an irregularity in the conveyance occurs each time the conveyor roller, or at least a belt extending around the conveyor roller, butts against the leading edge of the stack. More particularly, a shock load is produced, which is stronger according as the stack is thicker.
Further, the documents stacked onto each other are shifted relative to each other in the conveying direction. Stacked documents that have shifted relative to each other in the conveying direction are difficult to process further. If the next operation consists, for instance, in inserting the documents into an envelope, the chances of problems are increased, because the total length of the stack in the conveying direction has increased and the documents must, at least partly, shift back relative to each other again so as to allow closure of the envelope with the documents inserted therein. Owing to increased relative friction of the documents brought between the walls of the envelope, alignment or re-alignment of documents in the envelope is relatively unreliable.
If the next operation consists, for instance, in the folding of the stack of documents, only a very slight relative shift of the supplied documents gathered into a stack can be accepted, because the relative shift can no longer be undone after a fold in a direction transverse to the conveying direction has been provided.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The object of the invention is to provide an assembly for conveying documents gathered into a stack, whereby the entry of the stacked documents between the conveyor roller and the conveying surface located opposite the conveyor roller is accompanied by a lesser shock load and whereby the stacked documents while passing between the conveyor roller and the conveying surface located opposite the conveyor roller, shift relative to each other to a lesser extent.
This object is achieved according to the present invention in that in an assembly of the type as discussed hereinbefore the transmission is coupled with the conveyor roller in such a manner that if the transmission exerts a couple on the conveyor roller in the conveying sense, it also exerts a force on the conveyor roller directed against the press-on force.
The invention utilizes the following insights. The infeed of thicker stacks of documents gives rise to a temporary increase of the resistance to be overcome, inasmuch as the conveyor roller, while rolling over the leading edge of the stack, is moved against the press-on force. This results in a temporary reduction of the circumferential speed of the conveyor roller and a temporary increase of the driving couple exerted. This effect is further enhanced in that the transmission of a greater couple also gives rise to a greater friction in the transmission.
By virtue of the feature that the transmission is coupled with the conveyor roller in such a manner that while the couple is being exerted on the conveyor roller in the conveying sense, at the same time a force directed against the press-on force is exerted on the conveyor roller, the press-on force which the conveyor roller exerts in the direction of the conveying surface is temporarily reduced during the infeed of a stack of documents. As a result, in turn the temporary increase of the couple and hence the shock load of the assembly is limited. Also, attendant noise during the infeed is limited.
Owing to the peak load of the drive being limited, further the temporary reduction of the circumferential speed of the conveyor roller is limited. This counteracts shifting of documents on the side of the conveyor roller relative to the other documents in the stack due to variations in the conveying speed.
REFERENCES:
patent: 1849238 (1932-03-01), Lindgren
patent: 2957574 (1960-10-01), Compton
patent: 3246822 (1966-04-01), Skeen
patent: 3844399 (1974-10-01), Sellers, Jr. et al.
patent: 5094443 (1992-03-01), Young, Jr.
patent: 5303913 (1994-04-01), Trouquilla
patent: 5426497 (1995-06-01), Morganti et al.
patent: 5673910 (1997-10-01), Wamsley
patent: 0 535 543 (1993-04-01), None
Burns Doane , Swecker, Mathis LLP
Hadew B.V.
Mackey Patrick
Valenza Joseph E.
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