Sheet feeding or delivering – Delivering – To receiver for pack of sheets
Reexamination Certificate
1999-04-16
2001-03-20
Skaggs, H. Grant (Department: 3651)
Sheet feeding or delivering
Delivering
To receiver for pack of sheets
C271S233000, C271S272000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06203006
ABSTRACT:
RELATED PATENTS
The invention described herein is related to the inventions disclosed and/or claimed in U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,244,200 and 5,590,873, both assigned to the present assignee and both of whose contents are entirely incorporated herein by reference.
TECHNICAL FIELD
The present invention relates generally to sheet accumulator apparatuses and methods. More particularly, the present invention relates to a sheet-size and stacking direction adjustable accumulator and method.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
The use of accumulators to gather or accumulate individual sheets into groups of sheets is well known in the paper handling arts. Such devices send sheets seriatim towards an accumulating area where the sheets accumulate either one on top of the other (“over-accumulating”) or one below the other (“under-accumulating”).
A problem that has been faced in accumulators to-date concerns the use of a single accumulator to accumulate sheets of differing size. In the instant invention, the difference in size contemplated concerns differences in width between sheets. To meet the requirement that the accumulator may handle sheets of differing widths, the accumulator needs to be adjustable in the transverse direction in some manner.
A second problem which has been faced in accumulators to-date concerns the changing from over to under accumulating and vice-versa without the need for substantial reconstruction of the accumulator.
While solutions that make accumulators adjustable with respect to sheet width have been offered (U.S. Pat. No. 5,244,200 and U.S. Pat. No. 5,590,873), as will be described below, each has its limitations. Furthermore, there are no accumulators out in the market that allow for the easy changing from over to under accumulating.
Accordingly, there remains room for improvement within the art of sheet accumulators.
OBJECTS OF THE INVENTION
It is an object of the present invention to provide a sheet-size and stacking direction adjustable accumulator that can be easily adjusted to handle sheet material of different widths.
It is a further object of the present invention to provide a sheet-size and stacking direction adjustable accumulator that can be easily adjusted to handle sheet material of different widths without having to deconstruct the accumulator.
It is still yet a further object of the present invention to provide a sheet-size and stacking direction adjustable accumulator that can be easily adjusted to handle sheet material of different widths and which requires no special skill to modify or adjust.
It is still yet a further object of the present invention to provide a sheet-size and stacking direction adjustable accumulator that can also be easily changed from over to under accumulating.
These and other objects of the invention are achieved by a sheet-size and stacking direction adjustable accumulator, comprising a conveyor mechanism for moving sheets along a sheet path and towards an accumulation area, and at least one ramp for deflecting said sheet into said accumulation area, said at least one ramp removable from said accumulator without having to deconstruct said accumulator.
REFERENCES:
patent: 4009878 (1977-03-01), Scheck
patent: 4018433 (1977-04-01), Woods
patent: 4640506 (1987-02-01), Luperti et al.
patent: 5083769 (1992-01-01), Young, Jr.
patent: 5123639 (1992-06-01), Edwards
patent: 5147092 (1992-09-01), Driscoll et al.
patent: 5244200 (1993-09-01), Manzke
patent: 5590873 (1997-01-01), Smart et al.
patent: 5692745 (1997-12-01), Neifert et al.
patent: 5775689 (1998-07-01), Moser et al.
patent: 5915687 (1999-06-01), Rieck
patent: 5954473 (1999-09-01), Folsom
patent: 360197546 (1985-10-01), None
Semanick John J.
Vitko John H.
Bell & Howell Mail and Messaging Technologies Company
Bower Kenneth W
Jenkins & Wilson, P.A.
Skaggs H. Grant
LandOfFree
Sheet-size and stacking direction adjustable accumulator... does not yet have a rating. At this time, there are no reviews or comments for this patent.
If you have personal experience with Sheet-size and stacking direction adjustable accumulator..., we encourage you to share that experience with our LandOfFree.com community. Your opinion is very important and Sheet-size and stacking direction adjustable accumulator... will most certainly appreciate the feedback.
Profile ID: LFUS-PAI-O-2549484