The present invention relates to an innovation in the shapes of pages of documents, pages of books or other stacked paper which functions in cooperation with the thumb and/or fingers and other parts of the human hand to facilitate the ease of quickly turning pages in a stack of documents, one by one, without accidentally missing a page, and to apparatus for forming such shapes of the pages.
The process of turning pages in a stack of documents while reading typically involves several common methods. One method is to thumb through the pages by grasping the stack of pages with the human hand with the fingers under the stack pressing the underside of the stack upwardly causing the edge of the stack to come in contact with the thumb causing a fanning out of the pages for quick scanning and reading. While this method is good for quick scanning, some pages may stick together or simply move as a group causing the reader to accidentally miss seeing some of the pages of the document. Another method of turning pages involves pealing back the edge of the top sheet of paper from the stack, sliding the hand under and turning the page by moving the hand across the pages in the stack. Since stacks of paper contain sheets of generally thin and uniform size paper, it is possible to accidentally peal back more than one sheet of paper from the stack and turn it by moving the hand across the pages in the stack, causing the reader to accidentally miss seeing one or more of the pages of the document. Another method of turning pages involves the wetting of the thumb or fingers to provide adhesion to the top page of a stack of documents. The increased friction of adhesion caused by wetting the fingers or thumb allows the movement of a single sheet for turning by moving the hand across the pages in the stack, but this method also allows for the accidental movement of more than one sheet of paper at a time, causing the reader to accidentally miss seeing some of the pages of the document. Also, wetting the fingers which come in contact with the page with saliva causes discoloration, smearing, contamination and deformation of the paper documents, especially if the fingers are dirty.
Apparatus for reconfiguring page sheets are known. For example, U.S. Pat. No. 4,220,323 to Smith discloses a sheet receiving and stacking apparatus for alternating the sheets of a stack in a face up, face down, face up . . . manner. Also, U.S. Pat. No. 3,928,268 to Gilhula discloses a system of pressure sensitive adhesive strips added to the edge of the paper to form index tabs. However, none of the apparatus of the prior art is believed to provide the features and advantages of the present invention. In particular, the system of Gilhula is believed to be excessively expensive to operate in that the adhesive strips would be more costly than the sheets to which they are applied, being impractical for application on every sheet of a stack for this reason as well as for excessive bulkiness of the stack.
Thus there is a need for a system facilitating sequential and/or selective viewing of stacked sheets, and a way to alter sheets of a stack to facilitate the viewing of the sheets, that is easy to use, and inexpensive to provide.
The present invention meets this need by providing an indexing device wherein voids or notches that are formed at alternating locations in successive flexible sheets, producing an innovative shape of the paper which takes into account the functions of the thumb and/or fingers and other parts of the human hand to provide a new method of turning pages in a stack of documents quickly, one by one, without accidentally missing a page, without wetting a page and without moving the hand across the stack of documents (which would temporarily obscure view of successive pages on the stack). The invention also provides apparatus for producing the innovative shape of the paper. In one aspect of the invention, a hand operated sheet turning device includes a stack of sheets of flexible material having a void or notch shape extending inwardly from the edge of each sheet, the void or notch shapes alternating in position with each successive sheet in the stack, wherein the alternating positions are spaced apart by a distance of between approximately 2 inches and approximately 4 inches for engagement at a corresponding spacing between a user's thumb and finger. The alternating alignment can be of respective first and second sets of the voids or notches, at least one of the first and second sets being preferably formed with an outwardly beveled portion extending to the edge of the sheet opposite the other of the first and second sets for facilitating clearance with the user's thumb.
The void/s or notch/s can be cut into the edge of a standard size of paper selected from the set consisting of executive, letter, legal, tabloid, A, A4, B, C, D, E and memo size paper. The void/s or notch/s can be cut into the edge of paper selected from the set consisting of copy paper, color copy paper, printer paper, printed paper, laser paper, colored laser paper, ink jet paper, colored ink jet paper, premium color ink jet paper, photo ink jet paper, specialty ink jet paper, fax paper, multipurpose paper, colored paper, computer paper, stationery, business forms, loose leaf filler paper, paper rolls, design paper, specialty paper, presentation paper, colored card stock, fine business paper, card stock, poster stock, construction paper, drawing paper, watercolor paper, satin design paper, tracing paper, newsprint, columnar paper, perforated paper, hole punched paper, silk paper, rag paper, carbon paper, napkins, rice paper and art paper. The sheets of flexible material can include photograph paper, proof sheets, transparency film, transparency protectors/sleeves, laminated sheets, sheet protectors, sheet sleeves, photographs, or a ledger.
The sheets of flexible material can be bound together along one edge thereof, and the void or notch shapes are preferably located in spaced relation to the bound edge for free movement of sheet portions containing the void or notch shapes. The sheets of flexible material can be located in a multiple ring binder as one or more of pages, dividers, pockets and pouches. The sheets of flexible material can be releasably held together by a self-stick substance. The sheets in the stack additionally can have alternating void or notch shapes formed for each chapter or alphabetical letter or section or division of the stack of sheets.
The alternating void or notch shapes preferably have respective first and second contours, the void or notch shapes of the first contour being aligned and the void or notch shapes of the second contour being aligned in offset relation to those of the first contour for facilitating tactile discrimination between even and odd sheets of the device. The first contour can include a generally semicircular arc and the second contour can include a generally arcuate portion and a generally angled enlargement portion extending away from the alignment of the first contour for facilitating passage of the user's thumb.
In another aspect of the invention, an indexing system includes removal of material from each sheet of stacked material to create a void or notch cut inward from the edge of each sheet of the stacked material with alternating alignment on each successive sheet of stacked material to form an indexing system which allows quick one by one separation or turning of each sheet without missing a sheet, wherein the alternating alignment is at a spacing of between approximately 2 inches and approximately 4 inches for engagement at a corresponding spacing between a user's thumb and finger. The alternating alignment can be of respective first and second sets of the voids or notches, at least one of the first and second sets being preferably formed with the outwardly beveled portion for facilitating clearance with the user's thumb.
In a further aspect of the invention, a method for turning the pages of a stack of pages without missing a page, includes:
The method can further include using the thumb or finger in the void or notch to depress the next page through the void or notch; and hooking and/or lifting an edge portion of the void or notch. The turning can include holding the stack of pages in a curved condition for urging page turning.
In yet a further aspect of the invention, an apparatus for forming the hand operated sheet turning device includes a feeder mechanism for moving sheet material in a feed path; notch die mechanism including a die cutter and a die anvil, and means for periodically advancing the die cutter into engagement with the die anvil from opposite sides of the paper path; index means for registering a leading edge of the sheet material at alternating offset distances ahead of the notch die mechanism prior to successive operations of the notch die mechanism, whereby successive sheets are formed with alternating alignment of the voids or notches therein.
The feeder mechanism can include first and second synchronized and counter-rotating drums on opposite sides of the feed path; the notch die mechanism can further include the die cutter being a first die cutter mounted on the first drum and the die anvil being a first die anvil being mounted on the second drum in registration for engagement by the first die cutter in successive rotations of the drums, a counterpart second die cutter being mounted on the first drum in circumferentially spaced relation to the first die cutter, and a counterpart second die anvil being mounted on the second drum in registration for engagement by the second die cutter; and the index means can include first and second cutter blades mounted transversely on the first drum in respective different circumferentially advanced relations to the first and second die cutters, and respective first and second cutter anvils mounted transversely on the second drum in registration for engagement by the first and second cutter blades in the successive rotations of the drums, whereby the cutter blades form leading edges of successive pairs of sheets from the sheet material and the die cutters form the voids or notches with alternating alignment in respective sheets of each pair in the successive rotations of the drums. The notch die mechanism can further include counterparts of the first and second die cutters mounted in axially spaced relation on the first drum, and counterparts of the first and second die anvils being correspondingly mounted in axially spaced relation on the second drum for forming counterpart voids or notches along opposite side edges of the sheet material; the apparatus further including a means for longitudinally folding formed sheets to form nested pairs of pages. The feeder mechanism can include first and second paper trays at opposite sides of the feed path, the first paper tray being adapted for receiving the sheet material in the form of stacked sheets, the second paper tray being adapted for sequentially receiving sheets from the feed path; and means synchronized with the notch die mechanism for sequentially advancing a top sheet from the first paper tray into the feed path; and the index means can include a stop mechanism coupled to the notch die mechanism for periodically blocking leading edges of alternating sheets at different distances beyond the die cutter and die anvil of the notch die mechanism.
The means for advancing of the feeder mechanism can include a suction cup mounted for reciprocal movement relative to the first paper tray between a first position proximate a top stacked sheet and a second position laterally displaced from the first paper tray and aligned with the feed path, in synchronism with the notch die mechanism; and a source of intermittent vacuum synchronized with the notch die mechanism and fluid coupled to the suction cup, the vacuum being applied in the first position of the suction cup and released in the second position of the suction cup. The feeder mechanism can include first and second paper trays at opposite extremities of the feed path, the first paper tray being adapted for receiving the sheet material in the form of stacked sheets, the second paper tray being adapted for sequentially receiving sheets from the feed path; and means for sequentially advancing a top sheet from the first paper tray into the feed path; and the index means can include a control mechanism for positioning and holding successive sheets in the feed path with leading edges thereof at different predetermined distances beyond the die cutter and die anvil of the notch die mechanism prior to successive operations thereof. The feeder mechanism can include first and second synchronized and counter-rotating drums on opposite sides of the feed path; the notch die mechanism can further include the die cutter being a first die cutter mounted on the first drum and the die anvil being a first die anvil being mounted on the second drum in registration for engagement by the first die cutter in successive rotations of the drums, a counterpart second die cutter being mounted on the first drum in circumferentially spaced relation to the first die cutter, and a counterpart second die anvil being mounted on the second drum in registration for engagement by the second die cutter; and the index means can include first and second cutter blades mounted transversely on the first drum in respective different circumferentially advanced relations to the first and second die cutters, and respective first and second cutter anvils mounted transversely on the second drum in registration for engagement by the first and second cutter blades in the successive rotations of the drums, whereby the cutter blades form leading edges of successive pairs of sheets from the sheet material and the die cutters form the voids or notches with alternating alignment in respective sheets of each pair in the successive rotations of the drums. The die cutter and anvil can be a first die cutter and anvil for producing the first contour of the void or notch shapes, the apparatus preferably also including a second die cutter and anvil for producing the second, different contour of the void or notch shapes for facilitating the tactile discrimination between even and odd sheets of the device. The first contour can include the semicircular arc and the second contour can include the generally arcuate and angled portions for facilitating passage of the user's thumb.
In yet a further aspect of the invention, a tool for forming the hand operated sheet turning device includes a hand-operated punch and die for forming respective ones of the void or notch shapes; and a stop mechanism for locating leading edges of alternating sheets at respective different distances beyond the void or notch shapes formed by the punch and die. The stop mechanism can include first and second stop members for locating leading edges of alternating sheets at respective different distances beyond the punch and die. The first and second stop members can be movably mounted on a scale member having indicia thereon for showing respective distances between the stop members and the punch and die. The punch and die can be a first punch and die unit, the device further including a second hand operated punch and die unit laterally spaced from the first punch and die, the stop mechanism comprising a stop member located at a first distance from the first punch and die and at a second distance from the second punch and die, the difference between the first and second distances being the lateral spacing between the first and second punches and dies. The stop member can be movably mounted relative to the first and second punch and die units on a scale member having indicia thereon for showing a relative distance between the stop member and the punch and die units. The punch and die units can also be formed for producing the first and second contours of the void or notch shapes for facilitating tactile discrimination between even and odd sheets of the device. The first contour can include the generally semicircular arc and the second contour can include the generally arcuate and angled enlargement portions for facilitating passage of the user's thumb.
In yet another aspect, the invention provides a process for converting respective sets of sheets having voids or notches formed inwardly from each page into a device for one by one separation or turning of each sheet without missing a sheet, the sheets of each set having the notches or voids in matching configurations and offset from the notches or voids of the sheets not included in the same set. The process includes (a) providing a first supply of sheets of a first set of the sheets; (b) providing a second supply of sheets of a second set of the sheets; (c) advancing an nth sheet from the first supply in a feed path; (d) advancing an nth+l sheet from the second supply into stacked relation to one surface of the nth sheet; (e) advancing an nth+2 sheet from the first supply into stacked relation to the nth+1 sheet opposite the nth sheet; and (f) repeating (d) and (e) with n incremented by two in each instance for completing the device as a stack of sheets having the void or notch shapes alternating in position with each successive sheet in the stack. The first and second supplies of sheets can include respective first and second stacks of sheets, the advancing of the nth and nth+2 sheets including moving the sheets from one end of the first stack, and the advancing of the nth+1 sheet can include moving the sheets from an opposite end of the second stack.
These and other features, aspects, and advantages of the present invention will become better understood with reference to the following description, appended claims, and accompanying drawings, where:
The present invention is directed to an indexing system or device for viewing successive flexible sheets of a stack using an innovative shape of the paper which takes into account the functions of the thumb and/or fingers and other parts of the human hand in a new method of turning pages in a stack of documents quickly, one by one, without accidentally missing a page, without wetting a page and without having to move the hand across the stack of documents; and to apparatus for high speed modification of the sheets to provide the innovative shapes. With reference to
One preferred embodiment of the method uses a generally rectangular or square sheet of paper with the formation of a void or notch 21 cut into the edge of the generally rectangular or square sheet of paper. This sheet with a void or notch would be the top sheet 1 of a stack of like sheets. The next sheet 2 of like paper under the top sheet would have a void or notch 22 positioned out of alignment with the void or notch 21 in the top sheet. Subsequent sheets in the stack would be numbered 3, 4, 5, 6 . . . up to the total number of sheets in the stack. The void or notch 21 in sheet number 1 would align with the void or notch in all sheets in the stack having odd numbers such as 1, 3, 5, 7 . . . . The void or notch 22 in sheet number 2 would align with the void or notch in all the sheets in the stack having even numbers such as 2, 4, 6, 8 . . . . Placing the thumb or finger in the void or notch of sheet 1 of the stack of sheets would make it possible to turn sheet 1 while keeping a thumb of finger on sheet 2, thereby stopping sheet 2 from being turned with sheet 1. When sheet 1 is turned, the void or notch on sheet 2 is exposed. A finger or thumb is placed in the void or notch in sheet 2 allowing sheet 2 to be turned while leaving a finger or thumb on sheet 3 so it cannot be turned with sheet 2. By alternating the placement of finger and/or thumb on the void or notch of each sheet of odd, then even, then odd, then even, then odd, then even, pages can be quickly turned with complete control of each page without missing any pages in the stack.
For example,
Appropriate marks, including but not limited to page numbers and/or chapter numbers, are preferably applied to pages so as to be visible through the void or notch shape cuts. Also, in order to avoid difficulty locating the void or notch shape cut on the edge of a sheet, suitable means for differentiating the void or notch shape at the edge of the sheet by a visual and/or tactile identification of the shape. Thus a visual mark can be placed near and/or on the edge of each sheet which alternates position, color, and/or shape with each successive sheet in a stack of sheets making the void or notch more readily visible. The marks serve as guides for where to press and flip, enabling easier and quicker visual and/or tactile identification of the appropriate void or notch for sheet turning.
If a page is removed from the stack, regardless of whether an odd or even numbered sheet, the pattern of alternating void or notch locations would be interrupted and the voids or notches of the double odd or double even sheets would line up causing a condition where the two double odd or double even sheets could move together causing some information on the second sheet of the double odd or double even to be missed. The present invention also contemplates partially or completely covering the void or notch in the second sheet of the double odd or double even sheets, thereby causing the first and second sheets of the double odd or double even sheets to be separated for viewing each sheet without missing a sheet.
Referring to the drawings in greater detail, there is shown in
With further reference to
More particularly,
As the CCW and CW drums 42 and 46 rotate, an even sheet cutter blade 56 of the CCW drum 42 slices the advancing sheet material 41 against an even cutter anvil 57 of the CW drum 46, thereby defining a transverse sheet edge, an even sheet die cutter 58 of the drum 42 and an even die anvil 59 of the CW drum 46 subsequently forming a notch at a predetermined distance from the previously formed transverse sheet edge. During further rotation of the drums 42 and 46, an odd sheet cutter blade 60 of the CCW drum 42 (opposite the even blade 56) slices the material 41 against an odd cutter anvil 61 of the CW drum 46, separating a sheet from the material 41 and forming a counterpart transverse edge of the material 41, an odd sheet die cutter 62 of the CCW drum 42 and an odd die anvil of the CW drum 46 forming a counterpart notch at a different predetermined distance from the newly formed transverse edge of the material 41, the difference in the predetermined distances corresponding to the spacing S of odd and even sheet voids or notches 21 et seq. The drums 42 and 46 are driven in synchronization with each other, the CCW drum 42 having a CCW gear 64 rotating therewith, in mesh with a CW gear 65 of the CW drum 46 to maintain precise cutter alignment, the alignment being slightly adjustable by means of the above-described adjustment screw 54.
An air vacuum device 66 is connected for sucking die-cut waste paper through a vacuum tube 68 that is aligned for receiving such waste proximate the path of the die anvils 59 and 63 downstream of the contacting regions of the drums 42 and 46.
As further shown in
A drive gear 90 that engages the CW gear 65 is powered by a motor 92 for driving the drums 42 and 46, the exit rollers 74 being suitably powered by any suitable means (not shown) for clearing the severed sheets from the drums 42 and 46 and forming the stack of completed sheets. The sheet material 41 is maintained in lateral alignment by any suitable means such as alignment rollers engaging opposite side edges of the material 41, one such roller being shown in
With particular reference to
The released single sheet 126 of paper then falls by gravity through the mouth of the die punch 112 and anvil 113 and onto an alternating height paper stop 136, the stop being pivoted into its upper position as indicated at 134 in
Thus the eccentric control link 138 pivots the paper stop 136 to project into the upper stop position 134 for one rotation of the motor shaft 106 and to occupy the lower stop position 142 for the next rotation of the motor shaft 106, and repeating thereafter to produce an alternating pattern of stopping the paper at different heights for each cut of the die punch 112. A vertically spaced pair of guide bars 148 are located above and below the lower stop position of the paper stop 136, the guide bars 148 and a lower extremity of the upper tray serving to fend the leading sheet portions from retracing portions of the paper stop 136, thereby facilitating gravity feed of the single sheets 126.
A refuse chute 156 directs punched scrap 157 into a refuse collection bin 158. Also, the upper stack 128 is supported in an upper tray.168 having a shelf 160 and an extendable upper support extension 162, the support extension having a handle 164 that projects upwardly and rearwardly from a barb 166 that defines a lower travel limit relative to the upper tray 168.
After the single sheets 126 are die cut to form the voids or notches 21, etc., in proper alternating position, they fall to a lower shelf 150 as indicated at 152, forming a lower stack 154 of the sheets, the lower stack 154 being in the same order and orientation as the upper stack 128. The completed lower stack 154 is removable from the machine 100 by withdrawal upwardly and forwardly from the lower shelf 150. Die cut sheet refuse from the die punch 112 slid down a refuse chute 156 into a refuse collection bin 158 for disposal and recycling.
As shown in
As shown in
A second slidable block 240 having a second stop edge 242 (and being identified with the indicia “B”) is also slidably supported on the continuation of the stationary edge guide 210 for registration of alternating (odd) sheets to be punched. Advantageously, the sheets to be punched are aligned on opposite sides of the die cutter 228 and anvil 230 against the stationary and moving edge guides 210 and 212, being conveniently positioned for alternating alignment of the voids or notches to be formed by alternate engagement of the sheets against the first and second stop edges 216 and 242 of the first and second slidable blocks 214 and 240. It will be understood that the blocks 214 and 240 incorporate suitable spring members (not shown) for frictionally retaining same as positioned by the user. Similarly, another spring member (not shown) can be coupled between the stationary edge guide 210 and the moving edge guide 212 for biasing the hand punch 200 toward the open condition shown in
A vertically oriented alignment guide 266 projects from a die cutter head 268 that is horizontally adjustable along a cutter track 270, the guide 266 being positioned against the left side of the landscape stack 251 or the portrait stack 252 as the case may be (positioning against the stack 252 being shown in
In operation, the first die button 302 is operated with first sheet 314 registered against the scale 310 and the corner stop 312 thereof, and the second die button 304 is operated with the first sheet 314 replaced by the next sheet 316, the process being repeated for subsequent pairs of sheets.
As shown in various ones of the drawings, and in particular
Although the present invention has been described in considerable detail with reference to certain preferred versions thereof, other versions are possible. For example, the notching machine 100 of
The notching machine 250 of
This application is a divisional application of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 10/251,520, filed Sep. 20, 2002, entitled PAGE INDEXING SYSTEM AND APPARATUS FOR FORMING PAGE SHAPES OF SYSTEM.
Number | Date | Country | |
---|---|---|---|
Parent | 10251520 | Sep 2002 | US |
Child | 11092171 | Mar 2005 | US |