# US 10,246,273 B2 · Trim removal system > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 10,246,273 B2 - Document ID: US10246273B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 14/919,896 - Filed: 2015-10-22 - Published: 2016-05-05 - Granted: 2019-04-02 - Earliest claimed: 2014-11-04 - Assignees: Alliance Machine Systems International, LLC - Applicants: Alliance Machine Systems International, LLC - Inventors: Louis M. Sardella; Kevin P. Brown; Marius D. Batrin - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US10246273B2 ## CPC - B65G 51/03: over a flat surface or in troughs - B26D 7/1854: {by air under pressure} - B65H 5/228: {by air-blast devices} - D21F 7/006: {Cutting the edges of the paper-web} - B65H 2301/4461: by blowing air towards handled material - B65H 2406/1132: Multiple nozzles arrangement - B65G: TRANSPORT OR STORAGE DEVICES, e.g. CONVEYORS FOR LOADING OR TIPPING, SHOP CONVEYOR SYSTEMS OR PNEUMATIC TUBE CONVEYORS (packaging B65B; handling thin or filamentary materials, e.g. paper sheets or thread, B65H; cranes B66C; portable mobile or lifting or hauling appliances, e.g. hoists, B66D; devices for lifting or lowering goods for loading or unloading purposes, e.g. fork-lift trucks, B66F9/00; emptying bottles, jars, casks, barrels or similar containers, not otherwise provided for, B67C9/00; delivering or transferring liquids B67D; filling or discharging vessels for liquefied, solidified or compressed gases F17C; pipe-line systems for fluids F17D) - B26D: CUTTING; DETAILS COMMON TO MACHINES FOR PERFORATING, PUNCHING, CUTTING-OUT, STAMPING-OUT OR SEVERING (for growing crops or plants A01D, A01G; for fodder or straw A01F; for bulk butter A01J; for dough A21C; slaughtering A22B; for tobacco, cigars or cigarettes A24; marking-out, perforating or making buttonholes A41H25/00; manufacturing footwear A43D; brushmaking A46D; surgery A61B; disintegrating, mincing or shredding in general B02C; cutting wire, making pins or nails B21F, B21G; of the kind used formetal B23; cutting by abrasive fluid jets B24C5/02; hand-held cutting tools B26B; perforating, cutting-out, stamping-out or punching, or severing by means other than cutting B26F; for wood B27; for stone B28D; working of plastics or substances in a plastic state B29; making boxes, cartons, envelopes or bags, of paper or similarly worked materials, e.g. metal foil, B31B; article or web delivery apparatus incorporating cutting or line-perforating devices B65H35/00; for leather or upholstery B68, C14B; for glass C03B; making matches C06F; for peat C10F; for sugar C13B45/00; for textile materials D06H; civil engineering, building, mining, see Section E; for light guides G02B6/25; cutting processed photographic material G03D15/04) - B65H: HANDLING THIN OR FILAMENTARY MATERIAL, e.g. SHEETS, WEBS, CABLES - D21F: PAPER-MAKING MACHINES; METHODS OF PRODUCING PAPER THEREON ## Abstract An apparatus uses forced air to remove trim from cut sheets during a converting process. The apparatus may include a plurality of wheels, arranged to allow trim to fall between the wheels, and one or more air chambers, configured to propel air toward the sheets as they are conveyed on the wheels in order to remove trim from the sheets. A method may include conveying sheet stock on wheels arranged to allow trim to fall through them, and propelling air toward the sheet stock with air chambers such that trim is removed from the sheet stock by the propelled air. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A method for removing trim from sheets, the method comprising: conveying a sheet over a plurality of wheels in a direction of travel, the wheels positioned spaced apart in both the direction of travel and in a direction transverse to the direction of travel in a manner to permit trim to pass therethrough; and propelling air, via one or more air chambers toward the sheet to remove trim from the sheet. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, wherein a pressure and a location of the air is configurable. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, wherein the one or more air chambers comprises: one or more air chamber plates having a plurality of holes formed therethrough for propelling air toward the sheet. ### Claim 4 (depends on 3) The method of claim 3, wherein the one or more air chamber plates further comprises: a plurality of recesses formed on the one or more air chamber plates, wherein at least one hole in the plurality of holes is formed through each of the plurality of recesses. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, further comprising: configuring a number of air chambers in the one or more air chambers based, at least in part, on a size of the sheet. ### Claim 6 A method for removing trim from sheets, the method comprising: conveying a sheet directly over a plurality of wheels, the wheels positioned to permit trim to pass therethrough; and propelling air against the sheet to remove trim from the sheet and maintain the sheet in direct engagement with the wheels. ### Claim 7 (depends on 6) The method of claim 6 further comprising applying a rotating lobed roller against the sheet. ### Claim 8 (depends on 6) The method of claim 6 further comprising applying a brush against the sheet.