Dec. 23, 1969

A. A. BERLINSKY ETAL

3,484,970

AUTOMATIC SHEET TURNER USING A ROTATING VACUUM HEAD
Filed March 22, 1968

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INVENTORS
Anthony A. Berlinsky
Robert J. Varson
Gordon W. Pearson
Norman C. Krebeck
BY Cann D
ATTORNEY


United States Patent Office

3,484,970
Patented Dec. 23, 1969

1

3,484,970
AUTOMATIC SHEET TURNER USING A
ROTATING VACUUM HEAD

Anthony ‘A, Berlinsky, Silver Spring, Md., and Robert J.
‘Varson, Gordon W. Pearson, and Norman C. Krebeck,
Washington, D.C., assignors to the United States of
America as represented by the Secretary of Commerce

Filed Mar, 22, 1968, Ser. No, 715,343

Int. Cl. GO9E 11/06

US. Cl. 40—104 7 Claims

ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE

An arrangement is described for turning the shects of
a booklet. A vacuum head is rotated on an arm and is
also rotated around its longitudinal axis. As the head en-
gages the edge of a sheet, it is attracted to the head and
turned. The sheet is then flattened by a brush or roller,

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

This invention may be used to automatically turn and
flatten the sheets of a booklet when the pages of the
booklet are to be photographed on microfilm. The sheets
are flattened to obtain a high degree of uniformity of re-
duction in taking the photograph. This is desirable when
the microfilm is to be used with a scanner that requires
a high degree of precision in the location of marking po-
sitions on the sheets and in particular when the sheets
have been folded before being photographed.

The scanner could be of the type used in the FOSDIC
System (a film optical sensing device for input com-
puters) and the booklets could be census questionnaires.
When the questionnaires are received at the Bureau of
Census, an image of each page is transferred to 16 mm.
microfilm, The film is fed into the FOSDIC System where
each part of the recorded information is located by means
of related marking positions on the film. The information
is then scanned and concisely recorded on magnetic tape
ready for computer input.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

In one embodiment of the inventive concept, a book-
let is placed on a table and is held in a flattened position
by means of vacuum, A vacuum head is rotated around
its longitudinal axis and is also rotated in a selected plane
on the end of a rotating arm. A source of vacuum is ap-
plied to the head during a time interval that starts prior
to when the vacuum head engages an edge of a sheet of
the booklet and extends to the time after the head passes
the center of the booklet, As the head engages the edge
of the sheet, it is attracted to the head by means of vac-
uum, and as the head continues to rotate the sheet is
tured. A brush is positioned to sweep the sheet during
a time interval that starts after the sheet has been turned,
and thereby flattens it against the vacuum able.

In another embodiment, after the sheet is turned a
roller, instead of the brush, flattens the sheet against the
vacuum table.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a pictorial view of the arrangement for rotat-
ing the vacuum heads and brushes used in the present
inventior

FIG. 2
in FIG, 1;
re: 3 is a top view of the structure represented in

FIG. 4 represents a section taken along the longitudinal
axis of a vacuum head in FIG. 1;

FIG. 5 is a top view of the vacuum chamber plate and

a partial side view of the arrangement shown

5

2

40

6

2

its related gear as well as a section of the associated shaft
illustrated in FIG. 2;

FIGS. 6 and 7 represent a brush and its support and
control mechanism used in FIG. 1;

FIG, 6A is a side view of the structure shown in FIG. 6;

FIG. 7A is a side view of the structure shown in FIG. 7;

FIGS. 8 and 9, and 10 represent the operation of a
vacuum head and brush as they turn and flatten a sheet
in a booklet;

FIG. 11 presents a roller and its support and control
mechanism that can be used with the structure in FIG. 1;
and

FIG. 11A is a side view of the mechanism in FIG. 11.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED
EMBODIMENTS

With reference to FIGS. 1 and 2, when switch 13 is
closed, AC power source 14 energizes motor 15 which
drives shaft 18 through shaft 16 and reduction gear box
17. Collar 19 is keyed to shaft 18 and nut 20 is screwed
‘on the shaft. Since the collar is attached to plate 21, the
plate is rotated when motor 15 is energized.

‘Vacuum chamber plate 23 is fastened to the top of
table 24, and gear 25 is fastened to flange 26 on the
chamber plate, For clarity in illustration, the width of
23 in FIG. 1, has been enlarged slightly. The output of
vacuum source 27 is fed through hose 28 and the top of
table 24 to recess 29 (FIGS. 2 and 5) in the chamber
plate.

Vacuum stands 31 and 32 are located over holes 33
and 34 (FIG. 2), respectively, in rotating plate 21. Hol-
low arm 37 is supported by member 38 and has one end
positioned in stand 31, while hollow arm 39 is supported
by member 40 and has one end positioned in stand 32.

‘Vacuum head 42 is rotatably mounted on hollow arm
39 (FIGS. 2 and 4), while vacuum head 43 is rotatably
mounted on arm 37. As represented by the cross section
of head 42 and arm 39 in FIG. 4, the heads are rotatably
mounted on the arms by means of bearings 47. Further,
the arms contain holes 44 and slots 45, while the vacuum
heads contain holes 46.

When motor 15 is energized, as plate 21 is rotated vac
uum is applied through recess 29 (FIG. 5), holes 33, 34,
and stands 31, 32 to heads 42 and 43 during respective
30 degrees rotation of the plate.

A paper peeler 48 (FIGS. 1 and 10) is attached to
each vacuum head and is supported on a bracket 49.

Bevel gear 55 and pinion gear 56 are positioned on
shaft 57, which is supported by bracket $8 on rotating
plate 21. Pinion 56 rotates around gear 25, while bevel
gear 59 engages 5§ and is connected through shaft 60
to coupling unit 61. The shaft is supported by bracket
58. The coupling unit is also connected through shaft 62,
which is supported on member 40, to gear 64. The latter
gear drives gear 65, which is attached to head 42. Thus,
when plate 21 is rotated vacuum head 42 revolves
around its longitudinal axis.

Likewise, a pinion gear 66 (FIG. 1) rotates around
gear 25 and is located on shaft 67. The shaft is supported
in bracket 68 connected to plate 21. Bevel gear 69 is also
located on the shaft and engages bevel gear 70 (FIG. 1).
Coupling unit 71 (FIG. 2) is connected between gears
70 and 72 by means of shafts 73 and 74, respectively.
Shaft 74 is supported by member 38 and shaft 73 by a
leg of bracket 68. Gear 72 drives gear 75 which is con.
nected to vacuum head 43, This arrangement rotates the
head around its longitudinal axis when plate 21 is rotated
by motor 15-

‘The mechanical arrangement for controlling brush 80
(FIG. 1) will now be described. The gear 25 engages
gear 82 which is located on shaft 83, The shaft as well