Patents Examined by Paul Thomas Bowen
  • Patent number: 5110025
    Abstract: A cover is disclosed for a paper feed tractor having first and second side frames, a paper receiving plate extending perpendicularly from the second side frame and having a hole formed therein, and a paper exhaustion detector mounted to the second side frame. The paper exhaust detector of the paper feed tractor includes a microswitch with an upwardly biased plunger, and an actuator pressed upwardly by the plunger and pivotable between a first position in which it detects the presence of paper and a second position in which it detects the absence of paper. The cover of the present invention includes a plate, and elongated ribs projecting downwardly from the bottom surface of the plate on opposing sides of an elongated slot formed through the plate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 7, 1990
    Date of Patent: May 5, 1992
    Assignee: Tokai Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Sadao Unuma
  • Patent number: 5046683
    Abstract: A reel spring for use in a magnetic tape cassette has an elongated central base portion and adjoining end portions extending out of the plane of the base. The spring has first and second parallel side edges and terminates at transversely extending tip edges. The tip edges are joined to the side edges by cutout edges such that the width of each tip edge is less than that of the overall spring. The method for making the reel spring includes the steps of feeding a continuous strip of spring material into a shaping die for cutting and forming the strip into a finished spring. An end portion of the continuous strip material is severed from the continuous strip to form an individual spring blank. This is done by removing a pair of facing cutouts from the side edges of the strip at the appropriate location and slitting the strip in the area of the two cutouts. The blank is then formed into a finished spring.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 13, 1989
    Date of Patent: September 10, 1991
    Inventor: William M. Carroll
  • Patent number: 5037016
    Abstract: An apparatus of the type for the supply of webs to a processing station is described, in which by means of a controllable drive mechanism, each of several webs is advanced to the processing station in superimposed guide channels. The front portion of the web, following processing, is cut from the web and the front end of the web, following separation, is retracted out of the processing station. For this purpose, the controllable drive mechanism can be selectively engaged with one web in the vicinity of the guide channel of the web for the complete forward and return transport of the web before and after a processing operation. The drive mechanism preferably has reversibly drivable rollers. For producing an engagement between a web and a drive roller the guide channels are preferably pivotable with respect to the rollers. The processing station is generally a printing means, in which, for example tickets of differing color are to be printed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 6, 1989
    Date of Patent: August 6, 1991
    Assignee: Klussendorf Aktiengesellschaft
    Inventor: Franz Wingerter
  • Patent number: 5029743
    Abstract: A system for passing long fan-folded documents and corresponding copy paper through a reproducing apparatus and including a collapsible, upright stand which carries a pair of copy paper roll supporting elements, a pair of paper guide plates pivotally and detachably connected to the top of the stand, and a guide bar for guiding copy paper from a roll on the stand to the guide plates. The system further includes an improved, two-part feed tray detachably mounted on the reproducing apparatus. Each part is selectively positionable on the reproducing apparatus to facilitate containment of a fan-folded document to be reproduced. Each feed tray part includes a base plate having a downwardly extending strap to locate the tray on the reproducing machine, and at least one upwardly projecting stop rib spaced from a paper discharge slot at the front side of each tray part, and acting as an indexing abutment for contacting and positioning the fan-folded document in the tray.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 5, 1989
    Date of Patent: July 9, 1991
    Assignee: Digital Magnetic Systems, Inc.
    Inventor: Thomas A. McNew
  • Patent number: 5027993
    Abstract: A perforated paper feed mechanism such as a tractor has an optical system for detecting the presence of the form and particularly the motion of the form and utilizes a reflector which may be mounted on the lid of the tractor at one end of the tractor (where the paper enters or leaves the tractor). The optical system may be implemented by a prism which folds the path of light from a light source (an LED) to a photo detector (a photo-transistor) the path is aligned with the perforations in the paper. Since the perforations are spaced, the photo transistor provides a train of pulses as the paper is fed by the tractor. A pulse detector responds to the presence or absence of pulses within a given period of time comparable to the time when perforations are fed past the optical path. An output from the detector thus indicates whether the paper is in motion and is being fed by the tractor. Failure to receive pulses indicates either the absence of paper (paper out) or a jam in the feed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 14, 1989
    Date of Patent: July 2, 1991
    Assignee: Precision Handling Devices, Inc.
    Inventor: Gregory A. Ferguson
  • Patent number: 5024394
    Abstract: A tape cassette of the type in which a tape-shaped medium having a light transmissivity at a predetermined portion is wound between an upper cassette half and a lower cassette half so as to surround a light emitting element insertion portion, a light receiving window is formed through a side wall of the upper cassette half or the lower cassette half so as to oppose to the light emitting element insertion portion across the tape, whereby when the tape cassette is loaded into a recording and reproducing apparatus, a light emitting element is inserted into the light emitting element insertion portion and a light receiving element is located outside of the light receiving window, thereby detecting the predetermined portion of the tape-shaped medium and wherein light-shielding ribs formed on the upper cassette half or the lower cassette half so as to face to each other across a light path extend from the light receiving element insertion portion to the light receiving window, and a tunnel core piece member is prov
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 14, 1989
    Date of Patent: June 18, 1991
    Assignee: Sony Corporation
    Inventors: Kazuo Ozawa, Masanori Sato
  • Patent number: 5022578
    Abstract: A sheet feeder for feeding continuous printing paper having sprocket holes includes a pair of frames, a drive gear and a guide gear interposed therebetween, and a pin tractor belt extending between the drive gear and the guide gear. The drive gear and the guide gear respectively have flanges at the both ends thereof for tightly holding the pin tractor belt. A guide roller is interposed between the drive gear and the guide gear and is rotatably supported by one of the frames. The pin tractor belt smoothly travels over the guide roller. The pin tractor belt has a plurality of pins provided at an upper surface thereof to be engaged with sprocket holes of continuous printing paper for feeding the continuous printing paper. Inasmuch as the upper surface of the pin tractor belt projects above the upper surfaces of the frames, the continuous printing paper is fed without contacting the frames.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 5, 1988
    Date of Patent: June 11, 1991
    Assignee: Oki Electric Industry Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Ryoukei Ohsaki
  • Patent number: 5016830
    Abstract: A method and device for combining cheese pairs made up of cheeses of different types in a cheese-producing textile machine having a plurality of adjacent winding stations and a cheese transporter disposed along the machine, the cheese transporter having an end at which the cheeses become disposed for further availability, the cheese transporter including at least one mobile automatic cheese exchanger for removing the cheeses from the winding stations and readying them for further transport, which comprises automatically transforming the cheeses to the cheese transporter in cooperation with the mobile automatic cheese exchanger; after depositing a row of pairwise arranged cheeses on the cheese transporter, setting the cheese transporter into motion only when at least one of the following has been determined by automatic devices: that the winding stations have delivered the cheeses correctly and in the correct amounts, that the predetermined amount of cheese pairs is present, that irregular pairs of cheeses and
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 27, 1988
    Date of Patent: May 21, 1991
    Assignee: W. Schlafhorst AG & Co.
    Inventor: Edmund Wey
  • Patent number: 5014929
    Abstract: A film strip feeding apparatus for use with a film storage device detachably assembled into the apparatus and having an inner peripheral surface portion defining a circular central opening merging with a film outlet/inlet opening and having a roll of a film strip rotatably stored in the central opening, wherein a rockable member is provided which has carried thereon a stripping roller engageable with the roll of film in the film storage device and operative to unwind and strip a leading end portion of the film strip from the roll of film and feeding the leading end portion of the film strip out of the film storage device through the film outlet/inlet opening, the rockable member being rockable between a first angular position having the stripping roller disengaged from the roll of film and a second angular position having the stripping roller held in rollable engagement with the roll of film.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 27, 1989
    Date of Patent: May 14, 1991
    Assignee: Minolta Camera Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Osami Kato, Tsutomu Tsukamoto, Takanori Saitoh
  • Patent number: 5011096
    Abstract: A tape cassette generally comprises a case body composed of upper and lower case halves, a front lid mounted to the case body, a mechanism mounted in the case body for locking the front lid, and a chamber in which the locking mechanism is mounted. The locking mechanism includes a lock plate which is mounted in the chamber so as to be swingable. The lock plate is provided with a locking claw, a projection on the front surface thereof so as to outwardly extend therefrom, and a position limiting member formed of an elastically deformable material and secured on a rear surface of the lock plate so as to extend therefrom. The position limiting member has an extended end which abuts against a projection formed to one of the pivot pins rotatably supporting the front lid at both side ends to limit an outward locking position of the lock plate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 14, 1989
    Date of Patent: April 30, 1991
    Assignee: Victor Company of Japan, Ltd.
    Inventors: Harushige Nagai, Masato Kiryu, Takeshi Sasaki, Akira Saotome
  • Patent number: 5009352
    Abstract: In an apparatus for conveying dielectric sheets used in copying machines, etc., sheets are held by electrostatic adhesion on the surface of a conveyor when such surface is electrically charged and thus conveyed by the conveyor, wherein a dielectric layer consisting of a dielectric material and electrode parts consisting of a conductive material, which are electrically connected to portions of the dielectric layer and grounded, are provided adjacent to each other on an adhesion surface of the conveyor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 30, 1989
    Date of Patent: April 23, 1991
    Assignees: Bando Chemical Industries, Ltd., Unico Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Masashi Yasuda, Yoshihiro Uchimoto, Yasunori Mikata
  • Patent number: 5005748
    Abstract: An impedance roller for use in VCR which includes an inertia spring damper member defining a plurality of inertia masses and a plurality of elastic members connected to each other and disposed between a hub and a roller boss of the impedance roller for absorbing the vibration of the tape so as to reduce the longitudinal vibration component of the tape.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 30, 1989
    Date of Patent: April 9, 1991
    Assignee: Goldstar Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Soo K. Kim
  • Patent number: 5005746
    Abstract: An apparatus for feeding paper in a printer adapted to utilize both fan fold paper and cut sheet paper includes a push tractor for feeding fan fold paper. A print head is positioned downstream of the push tractor along the paper path. A paper feed roller is positioned intermediate the push tractor and the print head. The feed roller selectively feeds paper towards the print head. A discharge roller is positioned downstream of the print head for feeding paper. The apparatus detecting the type of paper being fed and varying the pressure utilized by the feed roller to feed the paper in response thereto.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 4, 1989
    Date of Patent: April 9, 1991
    Assignee: Seiko Epson Corporation
    Inventors: Kenjiro Murakami, Hirokazu Iinuma, Toshikazu Kodaka
  • Patent number: 5005747
    Abstract: A wrap material spreader roll includes a smooth, cylindrical tube having spiral flights at opposite end portions thereof formed from spirally wound elongate members such as wires, or the like, the elongate members having respective inner ends defined by a radially inwardly projecting portion which is received in a respective hole provided in the tube. The spreader roll is mounted to opposite support walls by respective standard bolts having hexagonal flange heads received in hexagonal bores provided in the inner races of a pair of roller bearings that are pressed into the opposite ends of the tube, the bolts having respective threaded stems received in the smaller lower portions of keyhole-shaped openings provided in the walls and having flange nuts received thereon.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 23, 1989
    Date of Patent: April 9, 1991
    Assignee: Deere & Company
    Inventor: Henry D. Anstey
  • Patent number: 5002236
    Abstract: A webbing retainer plate retains an end portion of a length of belt webbing within a seat belt retractor spool. The spool includes a spindle and a hollow sleeve spaced outwardly of the spindle and rotatable with the spindle. An opening in the sleeve allows the end of a length of belt webbing to extend into the sleeve. The end of the belt is sewn in a loop and encloses a central portion of the webbing retainer plate. The central portion of the plate clamps the webbing loop against the sleeve and against the spindle, to block the belt end portion from being withdrawn from the sleeve. The webbing retainer plate has two arm portions which extend from the central portion. The plate arm portions engage the inner peripheral surface of the sleeve to maintain the plate in position lodged within the sleeve. The end portion of the belt webbing, including the sewn loop, is located within the outer peripheral surface of the sleeve. This allows the belt webbing to be wound smoothly on the exterior of the sleeve.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 14, 1989
    Date of Patent: March 26, 1991
    Assignee: TRW Vehicle Safety Systems Inc.
    Inventor: Patrick J. Cotter
  • Patent number: 5000393
    Abstract: A dispenser for rolls of sheet material including an upright roll chamber adapted to support at least three stacked rolls of sheet material, such as toilet paper, including a lower dispensing station, a primary reserve station above the dispensing station, and a secondary reserve station above the primary reserve station. Mounted for operative movement on opposite sides of the roll chamber at each station is a pair of eccentric rotary actuators, each adapted to rotate about a rotary axis extending front-to-rear, each actuator having a radial projection for entry into and withdrawal from the roll chamber on opposite sides of the rolls at the corresponding station in order to dispense sheet material from the roll at the dispensing station and to feed rolls downward from the upper reserve stations to the dispensing station when the lowermost roll is empty and its empty core has been discharged.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 22, 1989
    Date of Patent: March 19, 1991
    Assignee: Rollar Corporation
    Inventor: Jay D. Madsen
  • Patent number: 4998681
    Abstract: A toilet roll dispenser comprising a casing having a loading compartment which has a lid openable to enable a toilet roll to be loaded therein and a dispensing compartment to enable paper to be dispensed from a toilet roll. A locking means is provided to prevent the lid being opened when there is a toilet roll present in the loading compartment. Means is also provided to inhibit a toilet roll being removed from the dispensing compartment until substantially all of the paper has been dispensed from the roll.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 17, 1989
    Date of Patent: March 12, 1991
    Inventor: John D. McNeill
  • Patent number: 4998685
    Abstract: A container for dispensing thin line, such as tippet material used for fishing, includes a housing having a flat end wall and a cylindrical peripheral wall which together define a cavity for holding several spools of the line. The lines pass from their respective spools through a slit in the peripheral wall. The slit has elastomeric liners along its edges, and these liners serve to grip the line, so that its ends are presented for gripping beyond the container. The housing also has a spindle which projects from the end wall of the housing through the spools, beyond which it has a screw thread. An end plate extends across the cavity where it opens out of the housing, this plate being attached to the housing at the screw threads on the spindle so that it can be turned down to clamp the spools between it and the end wall of this housing. This controls the resistance with which the spools will rotate when dispensing line.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 5, 1988
    Date of Patent: March 12, 1991
    Inventor: Donald R. Spencer
  • Patent number: 4998657
    Abstract: An apparatus for feeding a material web includes a four-winged driving reel for intermittently feeding the material web in the forward direction. The four wings include two longer wings and two shorter wings. The distance between the free ends of adjacent wings is substantially equal to the distance between crease lines on the material web.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 8, 1989
    Date of Patent: March 12, 1991
    Assignee: AB Tetra Pak
    Inventors: George Ramsay, Arne Klint
  • Patent number: 4998686
    Abstract: A mechanical structure for video tape rewinder comprising a movable base, a main winding head, a motor, a cylindrical combining base for setting the motor in, two gear wheels engaging with the shaft gear of the motor and a gear wheel in the main winding head respectively. The movable base is provided with a hole at the right end and for a positioning post to go through for supporting the main winding head, and other two positioning posts fixed upright thereon for supporting the two gear wheels. The combining base extends upward at the left end of the movable base as a unit. The movable base can move sidewise with the left positioning post as a pivot so as to move the case opening arm also sidewise so that the tape case can be opened and the power cut off automatically.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 19, 1989
    Date of Patent: March 12, 1991
    Inventor: Long-Jing Lin