High throughput right angle turn module
US8317190B2 · kind B2 · utility
Assignee
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | Dec 7, 2005 |
| Grant date | Nov 27, 2012 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Nov 20, 2030 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC B)Performing Operations; Transporting
- CPC primaryB65H2801/66
- WIPO fieldHandling
- WIPO sectorMechanical engineering
Abstract
A right angle turn module having a first transport that transports side-by-side sheets in a first direction. Downstream of the first sheet transport a barrier is positioned to stop the sheets. A sensor device detects an arrival of the side-by-side sheets at the stop arrangement. Then, an actuated second sheet transport, triggered by the sensor device, is activated to transport the sheets serially in a second direction substantially perpendicular to the first direction. In a preferred embodiment, a horizontal guide plate is positioned at a downstream end of the first sheet transport. With the guide plate thus positioned, a sheet traveling in the first direction and a sheet traveling in the second direction can temporarily be overlapped and a collision can be avoided. In a further preferred embodiment, the first transport further comprises overhead belts to urge the side-by-side pair of sheets in the first direction. The overhead belts may be tensioned so as to slip over a top surface of the side-by-side pair of sheets while urging the pair of sheets towards the stop arrangement.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.