Patent · US Expired

Pneumatic feed device

US4018434A · kind A · utility

13Cited by
5References
19Claims
0Family size

Assignee

Inventors

Key dates

Filing dateApr 12, 1976
Grant dateApr 19, 1977
Priority date
Expiry dateApr 12, 1996

Classification

  • Technology area (CPC B)Performing Operations; Transporting
  • CPC primaryB65H2515/34
  • WIPO fieldHandling
  • WIPO sectorMechanical engineering

Abstract

An endless conveyor belt having a series of perforations is positioned between a vacuum outlet and a carrier having a stack of substantially flat documents. The vacuum is operated only when the perforations in the belt are positioned in front of the vacuum outlet to reduce drag on the belt. When the vacuum is operational, the belt will attract one of the documents from the stack and deliver it to a subsequent processing station. Means are provided for maintaining the documents in spaced relation from the belt when the vacuum is inoperative to preclude premature removal of a document from the stack by frictional contact of the document and the belt. A deflectable roller is also located adjacent the belt which rotates counter to the direction of travel of the belt to preclude the feeding of more than one document at a time by the belt to the subsequent processing station.

Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.