Lines with other classes and within this classIn Class 271, a separation of an individual sheet from a stack of sheets is considered proper even if no specific feeding of the sheet toward an operation is disclosed. In Class 271, a sheet feeding or delivering means combines or places the sheets (1) adjacent to or on top of each other in a random order or (2) to perform the operation on individually fed sheets. In Class 270, a sheet material associating apparatus has a mechanism to place the sheets from plural sources into an operational specified association onto or against a surface which then groups the sheets in said specified association or places the sheets in said specified association. The delivery of the sheet to a stack from plural sources requires a specific order of associating the sheets other than mere random stacking. Class 270 accepts putting the sheets in a logical array or placing the sheets in an associated stack in order to perform the operation on the sheets in the stack. An explanatory note on the scope and limitations of this class is justified by the development of the art. The line between the art for stacking or unstacking sheets found in this and the indented subclasses of Class 271 and that found in Class 414, Material or Article Handling, was at best nebulous prior to the reclassification of subclasses 788+ in Class 414. During that project the classifier discussed establishing a line with three examiners expert in the material handling arts (i.e., Mr. Valenza representing Class 198, Mr. Stoner representing Class 271, and Mr. Paperner representing Class 414) and the following line was established: (a) Class 271 provides for the stacking or unstacking of either (1) individual sheets of unfolded paper, (2) packets of similar sheets of paper attached together or individual folded sheets of paper (e.g., signatures) when the thickness of each packet or folded sheet of paper is substantially uniform and any variation thereof is not utilized during the stacking or unstacking operation and (3) thin, substantially flat, nonfood articles when at least one of the articles to be stacked or unstacked is temporarily bent or flexed during the handling thereof; (b) Class 414 provides for the stacking or unstacking of either (a) sheetlike food articles (b) nonpaper, sheetlike articles (e.g., glass sheets) which are not temporarily bent or flexed during their handling, and (c) packets of similar sheets of paper when thickness of the packet or folded sheet varies (e.g., wedge shaped) and this variation is utilized during the stacking or unstacking operation; and (c) Class 414 also provides for the stacking of paper sheets or sheetlike articles otherwise proper for Class 271 (i.e., in (a) above) when the stack formed is subsequently handled as a unit and moved away from the location where it was formed by handling means other than an endless conveyor surface on which the stack was formed. All original patents within Class 414, subclasses 788+ have been placed in compliance with this line. | 
Quotables 
PatentStorm News
Patents 
