US4045018A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Document deskewing apparatus
Assignee: NCR Voyix Corp
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Filing: 1976-09-16
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Granted: 1977-08-30
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Expires: 1996-09-16
Abstract
Abstract A plurality of drive rollers, flexibly supported, are positioned along the inside track of a document transport passageway to drive the documents therealong, and a plurality of idler rollers, in opposed relationship to the drive rollers, are positioned along the outside track of the passageway. Each of the drive rollers and the idler rollers is supported from a pivot pin offset from the center of the roller to permit the roller to be canted by reason of gravity and elastic force, and thereby drive the documents in a forwardly and downwardly direction against a fixed edge guide to insure straight and longitudinal travel of the documents at a predetermined level along the passageway.
Inventors
- 👤 Gunnar P. Michelson
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-23 05:43
CPC Classifications
B; B65; B65H; B65H9/00; B65H9/16; B65H9/166; B65H5/00; B65H5/06; B65H5/062; B65H2301/00; B65H2301/30; B65H2301/32; B65H2301/321; B65H2301/33; B65H2301/331
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 17
Claim 1
Independent Claim
88 words
Apparatus for aligning documents comprising a passageway along which documents are transported in edgewise manner, rotatable drive means normally assuming an inclined attitude and engageable with the documents for driving thereof in a downwardly inclined direction along said passageway, and rotatable idler means operably associated with the documents and including bearing means pivotally supported off center of rotation of said idler means to permit said idler means to correspond with the attitude of said drive means in urging the documents into a longitudinally aligned position along said passageway.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
88 words
Apparatus for aligning documents comprising a passageway along which documents are transported in edgewise manner, rotatable drive means normally assuming an inclined attitude and engageable with the documents for driving thereof in a downwardly inclined direction along said passageway, and rotatable idler means operably associated with the documents and including bearing means pivotally supported off center of rotation of said idler means to permit said idler means to correspond with the attitude of said drive means in urging the documents into a longitudinally aligned position along said passageway.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
33 words
The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said drive means includes flexible coupling means permitting said inclined attitude and driving relationship thereof with said idler means to urge the documents into said aligned position.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
37 words
The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said drive means includes a drive roller pivotally supported off center of rotation thereof and flexible coupling means supporting said drive roller enabling said drive roller to assume said inclined attitude.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
26 words
The apparatus of claim 3 wherein said idler means comprises an idler roller cooperating with said drive roller to urge the documents toward the longitudinal position.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
123 words
In a document sorter having a hopper adapted to support a plurality of documents therein, feed and separating means adjacent said hopper for initiating transport of documents therefrom in singular manner, an upright passageway beyond the feed and separating means for transporting documents, rotatable drive means pivotally mounted to attain a normally inclined position and engageable with the documents for driving thereof downwardly within and along said passageway, and rotatable idler means operably associated with said drive means and including bearing means pivotally mounted off center of rotation of said idler means to permit said idler means to cooperate with said drive means as positioned to continually urge the documents into a longitudinally aligned attitude as the documents are transported along said passageway.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
123 words
In a document sorter having a hopper adapted to support a plurality of documents therein, feed and separating means adjacent said hopper for initiating transport of documents therefrom in singular manner, an upright passageway beyond the feed and separating means for transporting documents, rotatable drive means pivotally mounted to attain a normally inclined position and engageable with the documents for driving thereof downwardly within and along said passageway, and rotatable idler means operably associated with said drive means and including bearing means pivotally mounted off center of rotation of said idler means to permit said idler means to cooperate with said drive means as positioned to continually urge the documents into a longitudinally aligned attitude as the documents are transported along said passageway.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
21 words
In the sorter of claim 5 wherein said drive means is supported by a flexible coupling and frictionally engages the documents.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
49 words
In the sorter of claim 5 wherein said drive means includes a drive roller carried by flexible coupling means and pivotally supported off center of rotation thereof permitting inclined positioning of said drive roller in driving relationship with said idler means to urge the documents toward the aligned position.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
28 words
In the sorter of claim 6 wherein said drive means includes a support pivot off center of rotation thereof enabling said drive means to assume said inclined position.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
37 words
In the sorter of claim 8 wherein said idler means includes a support pivot spaced from the center of rotation thereof enabling said idler means to assume an inclined position corresponding with that of said drive means.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
23 words
In the sorter of claim 9 including stop members limiting the extent of inclined positioning of said drive means and said idler means.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
100 words
Apparatus for aligning documents including frame means, rotatable drive means pivotally supported off center of rotation thereof and engageable with the documents for driving thereof in a downwardly inclined direction, and rotatable idler means pivotally supported off center of rotation thereof and engagable with the documents and cooperating with said rotatable drive means for urging the documents into a longitudinally aligned position, said rotatable idler means including bearing means having a portion thereof supported from said frame means for providing said off center pivotal support of said idler means thereby permitting a normally inclined attitude of said rotatable idler means.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
100 words
Apparatus for aligning documents including frame means, rotatable drive means pivotally supported off center of rotation thereof and engageable with the documents for driving thereof in a downwardly inclined direction, and rotatable idler means pivotally supported off center of rotation thereof and engagable with the documents and cooperating with said rotatable drive means for urging the documents into a longitudinally aligned position, said rotatable idler means including bearing means having a portion thereof supported from said frame means for providing said off center pivotal support of said idler means thereby permitting a normally inclined attitude of said rotatable idler means.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
57 words
The apparatus of claim 11 wherein said rotatable drive means includes a rotatable inner portion and a fixed outer portion, said outer portion being supported from said frame means for providing said off center pivotal support of said drive means and said frame means includes stop means limiting the extent of inclined positioning of said drive means.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
62 words
The apparatus of claim 11 wherein said rotatable idler means includes a rotatable inner portion and a fixed outer portion, said outer portion being connected to said frame means for permitting the inclined attitude of said idler means corresponding to that of said drive means and said frame means includes stop means limiting the extent of inclined positioning of said idler means.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
33 words
The apparatus of claim 11 wherein said rotatable drive means includes flexible coupling means permitting inclined driving relationship thereof with said rotatable idler means to urge the documents in said downwardly inclined direction.
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USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1980-08-29 | 1981-02-28 | 1981-08-30 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1984-08-29 | 1985-02-28 | 1985-08-30 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1988-08-29 | 1989-02-28 | 1989-08-30 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |