3,575,507

1

AUTOMATIC CAMERA AND LOOSE SHEET TURNER
USING VACUUM CONVEYOR BELTS

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

In the prior art, when more than one loose sheet had to be
photographed on both sides, each sheet was positioned by
hand for location and squareness and then photographed. The
sheet was then turned and positioned, again by hand, and the
other side was photographed. If the sheet was wavy or folded,
it had to be held flat by a piece of glass or vacuum before it
was photographed. If the sheet was wrinkled, it had to be
smoothed by hand before it was held flat by the glass or
vacuum.

‘When the principles of the present invention are employed,
the sheet is automatically smoothed, positioned, and
photographed. It is then automatically turned and transferred
to another area where the other side is photographed.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

When the present invention is used to photograph a
plurality of loose sheets, each sheet is fed in sequence to a
moving conveyor belt and automatically positioned in a first
area where itis photographed. The sheet is then automatically
tumed and fed to another conveyor belt which carries it to a
second area where the other side is photographed.

In one embodiment, a sheet is fed from a feeder to a first
vacuum belt which carries the sheet to a first photograph area
where it comes to rest. Side A of the sheet is then
photographed. The first sheet is then carried on the first belt
to a transfer area where a second vacuum belt is positioned
adjacent to the first and is driven in a direction opposite to
that of the first. A vacuum source is normally applied to the
portion of the first belt in the transfer area and is removed
shortly after the first sheet arrives in the area. Thus, the first
sheet is transferred, with side B up, from the first to the second
belt and is then carried to another photograph area where it
‘comes to rest. At the same time a second sheet is carried from
the feeder to the first area. Side B of the first sheet and side A
of the second sheet are then photographed simultaneously.
The first sheet is then moved to a stacker, while the second
sheet is moved to the second area and a third sheet is moved to
the first area.

‘The feeder is inactivated when an item fed to the first belt is
thicker than a single sheet, e.g., when a double sheet is fed, or
the sheet contains a paper clip or similar object.
Simultaneously, a camera cycle is inhibited and the first belt is
stopped so that the item comes to rest in the first area but is
not photographed.

If a sheet is not moved entirely off the second belt to the
stacker, circuits are completed to inhibit the operation of the
camera which prevents a bad frame from being taken.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING

FIG. 1 is a block diagram of an embodiment of the
invention;

FIGS. 2, 3, and 4 comprise a circuit diagram of the control
circuits used in FIG. 1;

FIG. 5 is a block diagram illustrating the assembly of FIGS.
204;

FIG. 6 is a side view of the transfer unit used in FIG. 1;

FIG. 7is a top view of the transfer unit in FIG. 1; and

FIG. 8 illustrates the slide and metal plate employed in the
transfer unit in FIG. 6.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT
Block Diagram

Automatic Operation. With reference to FIG. 1, when the
sheet turner is in operation, roller 10 is driven by motor 11
through clutch and brake assembly 12. The roller in turn
drives perforated conveyor belt 13 in the direction shown in

2

the FIG, Roller 14 functions as a pressure roller, 15 as an idler
roller, and 16 and 17 as follower rollers.
Feeder 25 feeds a first sheet between roller 23 and moving
belt 13. The sheet is held against the belt by vacuum applied
5 by source 26 through chamber 27, which has a pattern of
perforations in its side adjacent to perforated belt 13. The
speed of the feeder is slower than that of the belt so that the
belt tries to stretch the sheet which is smoothed if it contains
waves, wrinkles or folds. The hopper of feeder 25 is aligned
with belt 13 to provide vertical and horizontal alignment of
the sheet on the belt. Hence the sheet is positioned for
location and squareness in the first photograph area 30 when
the belt comes to rest as described immediately below.

As the first sheet is carried on belt 13, it is sensed by the
photocells in units PC1 and PC2. The output of the photocells
energize relays whose contacts open circuits in control unit 29
to release the clutch and activate the brake in assembly 12.
Belt 13 then stops and the first sheet is positioned in area 30.
‘The relay in PCI also operates control circuits in 29 which
inactivate feeder 28 and initiate a cycle of operation of
camera 33. Side A of the sheet is then photographed. During
the camera cycle, contacts are closed to activate a circuit in
unit 29 to restart the movement of belt 13. Simultaneously,
circuits are completed in 29 which cause feeder 25 to supply a
second sheet to belt 13.

When the first sheet is in area 30, it is sensed by the
photocell in unit PCS which energizes the relay in the unit 29.
As the relay is energized, its contacts complete a control
circuit in unit 29 to operate transfer unit 31. The output of
vacuum source 26 is then applied through 31 to chamber 32.
It is noted that the output of the source is applied continually
tochamber 33.

There are a number of holes in the sides of chambers 32 and
33 adjacent to perforated belt 13. There are also a number of
holes in the ends of chambers 27 and 32 adjacent to roller 17,
which contains a plurality of holes in its circumferential
surface. Thus, vacuum is applied from source 26 through the
chambers to the roller.

When belt 13 is restarted, the first sheet is moved over roller
17 on its way to a position over chambers 32 and 33. If the
vacuum in the roller is not strong enough to hold the sheet
against the belt and it continues to move in a horizontal
direction, the shect is deflected downward on the belt by guide
53.

20

When the first sheet is in area 30, it is sensed by the
photocell in unit PC2 which, as previously indicated, energizes
the relay in PC2, This causes a control circuit in unit 29 to be
conditioned for operation. As the sheet leaves area 30, its
trailing edge is sensed by the photocell in unit PCS. The relay
in PCS is then released to complete the circuit conditioned for
operation. When the circuit is completed, the brake in
assembly 42 is released and the clutch is engaged so that
motor 43 drives roller 44. The roller in turn drives perforated
conveyor belt 48 in the direction shown in the FIG. Pressure
roller 46 keeps constant pressure on belt 45 against roller 44.
Roller 47 is an idler roller, while 48 and 49 are follower
rollers.

Chambers $0 and 51 have a plurality of holes in their sides
adjacent to perforated belt 45 and a plurality of holes in their
ends adjacent to roller 49. The roller has a pattem of
perforations in its outer circumferential surface. Hence source
$2 applies vacuum through the chambers to the roller. It will
65 be understood that vacuum sources 26 and 52 could be
combined as a single source of vacuum or that separate
sources could be used for each chamber in FIG. 1.

After belt 13 is restarted, as the first sheet leaves area 30
and moves to its position over chambers 32 and 33, its trailing
edge is sensed by the photocell in unit PCS. The photocell
releases the relay in PCS to operate transfer unit 31. The
transfer unit then cuts off the vacuum to chamber 32 and
vents vacuum source 26 to the atmosphere. When the vacuum
is cut off, the lower portion of the first sheet is held in position
75 on belt 13 by the vacuum in chamber 33, while the upper

60

70


Jan. 26, 1965 A.A. BERLINSKY ETAL 3,167,244
AUTOMATIC OR MANUAL MULTIPLE PROGRAMMER

Filed July 3, 1961

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INVENTORS
Anthony A. Berlinsky
Martin J. Brennan
DY Sanel Gabber

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Jan. 26, 1965

Filed July 3, 1961

A. A. BERLINSKY ETAL
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INVENTORS

Anthony A. Berlinsky

Martin J. Brennan

OY Suvicl. Gobbnne
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ATTORNEY


3,167,244

16 Sheets-Sheet 12

A. A. BERLINSKY ETAL.
AUTOMATIC OR MANUAL MULTIPLE PROGRAMMER

Jan. 26, 1965
Filed July 3, 1961

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INVENTORS
Anthony A. Berlinsky

Martin
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ATTORNEY

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