Patent · US Expired

Plot handling apparatus

US5459493A · kind A · utility

2Cited by
2References
20Claims
0Family size

Assignee

Inventor

Key dates

Filing dateDec 8, 1993
Grant dateOct 17, 1995
Priority date
Expiry dateDec 8, 2013

Classification

  • Technology area (CPC G)Physics
  • CPC primaryG01D15/28
  • WIPO fieldHandling
  • WIPO sectorMechanical engineering

Abstract

This is a pair of improvements for a plot rolling mechanism for a pen plotter or the like having a rolling mechanism with an entry opening and a receiving bin for receiving rolled plots. The first improvement comprises a sealing mechanism for sealing the entry opening during plotting, the sealing mechanism being rotatable between a sealing position blocking the entry opening and a retracted position not blocking the entry opening and apparatus for rotating the sealing mechanism between the sealing position and the retracted position. The second improvement comprises the receiving bin having a horizontal slot opening across the width adjacent a top edge thereof, the slot opening being of a height and width sufficient to pass a largest rolled plot therethrough; and, a flap hinged adjacent the top edge and extending over the slot, the flap having a weight sufficient to maintain it over the slot under normal use and light enough to deflect and open the slot under the weight of the lightest rolled plot expected when a rolled plot entering the receiving bin is rolling off a maximum number of allowed rolled plots already in the receiving bin.

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