INTERMEDIATE STORAGE STATION MEANS FOR SHEET-LIKE INFORMATION BEARING MEDIA

• US 3,753,559 A
• Filed: 05/15/1972
• Issued: 08/21/1973
• Est. Priority Date: 05/15/1971
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Heinz Streicher, Jurgen Ries, Manfred Keck, Manfred Leutwein
• Original Assignee: Heinz Streicher, Jurgen Ries, Manfred Keck, Manfred Leutwein
• Inventors: Ries, Jurgen, Keck, Manfred, Streicher, Heinz, Leutwein, Manfred
• Primary Examiner(s): Blunk, Evon C.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Stoner, Jr., Bruce H.
• Application Number:
  US05/253,120
• Time in Patent Office: 463 Days
• Field of Search: 271/3,4,6,7,61,86,36,39,41,DIG.7 353/27,113
• US Class Current: 271/3.01
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 13/12 from conveying arrangement to magazine

Abstract

In apparatus for transporting sheet-like information bearing media along a feed path between first and second stations to an utilization station there is disclosed intermediate storage station means disposed along said feed path for storing a plurality of such media. The storage station means includes a storage chamber having first and second openings on either side thereof disposed in a plane coincident with the feed path. First and second transport means are respectively provided substantially adjacent said first and second openings for transporting information bearing media into and out of said storage chamber through said first and second openings. First and second holding means are provided respectively disposed between said first opening and said first transport means and between said second opening and said second transport means. The first transport means and first holding means are staggered with respect to the second transport means and second holding means so that they hold image bearing media stored in the storage chamber in a substantially S-shaped bent configuration.

Claims

1. In apparatus having a feed path along which information bearing media are transported seriatim, storage station means disposed along said feed path comprising:

means defining a storage chamber having first and second opposed openings in alignment with said feed path;

first transport means at least partially disposed within said chamber adjacent said first opening;

second transport means at least partially disposed within said chamber adjacent said second opening;

first holding means at least partially disposed within said chamber Between said first opening and said first transport means;

second holding means at least partially disposed within said chamber between said second opening and said second transport means; and

said first transport means and said first holding means being staggered with respect to said second transport means and said second holding means so as to hold one or more sheet-like image bearing media in stacked relationship in said storage chamber in a substantially bent configuration.

2. The storage station means of claim 1 wherein said first transport means includes a first transport roller, means for mounting said first transport roller for rotation in opposite directions, first idler roller;

and means for resiliently mounting said first idler roller for normal engagement with said first transport roller.

3. The storage station means of claim 2 wherein said second transport means includes a second transport roller, means for mounting said second transport roller for rotation in opposite directions, a second idler roller, and means for resiliently mounting said second idler roller for normal engagement with said second transport roller.

4. The storage station means of claim 3 including first reversible drive means for driving said first roller means in opposite directions.

5. The storage station means of claim 4 including second reversible drive means for driving said second roller means in opposite directions.

6. The storage station means of claim 1 wherein said first holding means includes:

first and second plunger means, means for movably mounting said first plunger means, means for movably mounting said second plunger means, and means for normally urging said first and second plunger means into engagement with one another.

7. The storage station means of claim 6 wherein said second holding means includes:

third and fourth plunger means;

means for movably mounting said third plunger means;

means for movably mounting said fourth plunger means; and

means for normally urging said first and second plunger means into engagement with one another.