The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document.
The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge covers the following: Patent number, Date patent was issued, Date patent was filed, Title of the patent, Applicant, Inventor, Assignee, Attorney firm, Primary examiner, Assistant examiner, CPCs, and Abstract. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document (in Adobe Acrobat format, aka pdf). To download or print any patent click here.
Patent No.:
Date of Patent:
Dec. 01, 1998
Filed:
Jul. 25, 1996
Henk Haan, Niagara Falls, NY (US);
Stephen Michalovic, Williamsville, NY (US);
John A Sabatowski, Grand Island, NY (US);
Moore Business Forms, Inc., Grand Island, NY (US);
Abstract
A sheet inverter is used in a method of handling documents, preferably to invert the documents, change them from an in-line configuration to a shingled configuration, and then move them in a direction substantially transverse to the original direction of conveyance of the documents. An inverter shaft is rotatable about a generally horizontal axis and has a plurality of sheet supporting elements, such as rods or bars (such as in an exaggerated generally S-shaped configuration) axially spaced from each other along the shaft, with each sheet supporting element comprising first, second and third portions defining first, second and third closed sides for receipt of a document, and an open fourth side by which the document may enter the elements. A support structure connects each of the sheet supporting elements (either together or individually) to the shaft for rotation with the shaft about its axis. The sheet supporting elements receive one or more documents at a first vertical level, which documents are sensed by a sensor. The supporting elements are then rotated with the shaft to deposit the documents (in association with stops) on a lower conveyor. The sheet supporting elements pass through openings between elements of the bottom conveyor and move back to the original position, which is sensed by another sensor, to await the next set of documents.