VACUUM GATE

• US 3,659,840 A
• Filed: 06/15/1970
• Issued: 05/02/1972
• Est. Priority Date: 06/15/1970
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Scan-Optics, Incorporated (Scan-Optics LLC)
• Original Assignee: Bernard W. Ruck
• Inventors: Ruck, Bernard W.
• Primary Examiner(s): Wegbreit, Joseph
• Assistant Examiner(s): Stoner, Jr., Bruce H.
• Application Number:
  US05/046,024
• Time in Patent Office: 687 Days
• Field of Search: 271/64,74,76,26,45,75,47,9,26ES,63
• US Class Current: 271/279
• CPC Class Codes: B65H 2406/323 Overhead suction belt, i.e. holding material against gravity
• CPC Class Codes: B65H 29/242 Suction bands or belts
• CPC Class Codes: B65H 29/58 Article switches or diverters

Abstract

Sheets of material can be selectively transported along either of two alternative flow-paths each of which is followed by a continuous perforated belt constrained by guides. A vacuum chamber is disposed along each flow-path adjacent to the belt. The vacuum chambers are connected to a valve which is responsive to a control signal to selectively actuate either or both of the chambers. Sheets of material which enter the apparatus follow the flow-path adjacent to the vacuum chamber which has been actuated. The apparatus can be constructed using four perforated belts, two of which run parallel to each other along each of the flowpaths.

Claims

1. An apparatus for selectively transporting sheets of material along either of two alternative flow-paths comprising a first continuous perforated belt, a first guide means for constraining said first belt for movement along a first flow-path, a first vacuum means for attracting sheets of material to said first belt, a second continuous perforated belt adjacent the first belt over a part of its length, a second guide means for constraining said second belt for movement along a second flow-path which extends in part in the same direction as the first flow-path to define a common flow-path wherein sheets of material are pressed between the first and second belts and which diverges in another part in a direction away from the first flow-path, a second vacuum means for attracting sheets of material to said second belt, and a valve means connected to said first and second vacuum means for selectively actuating either of said vacuum means in response to a control signal.

2. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said first vacuum means comprises a first vacuum chamber disposed along said first belt adjacent to the first flow-path, and said second vacuum means comprises a second vacuum chamber disposed along said second belt adjacent to the second flow-path.

3. The apparatus set forth in claim 1 further comprising a vacuum pump connected to said valve means.

4. The apparatus set forth in claim 1 wherein said valve means is arranged for selectively actuating both of said vacuum means simultaneously whereby double layers of sheet material can be separated.

5. The apparatus set forth in claim 4 wherein the force of attraction along one flow-path is substantially greater than the force of attraction along the other flow-path whereby single sheets of material that enter the apparatus while both vacuum means are actuated are caused to follow a single predetermined flow-path.

6. The apparatus set forth in claim 1 further comprising a wedge-shaped guide member disposed between portions of the first and second flow-paths.

7. The apparatus set forth in claim 1 further cOmprising a third continuous belt similar to said first belt and disposed parallel thereto, and a fourth continuous belt similar to said second belt and disposed parallel thereto, whereby sheets of material which follow the first flow-path are engaged along one edge by said first belt and along an opposite edge by said third belt, and sheets of material which follow the second flow-path are engaged along one edge by said second belt and along an opposite edge by said fourth belt.