Abstract: A system and method for dispensing tokens in a Point-Of-Sale ("POS") transaction. The system and method include sensing errors in the token-dispensing operation whereby a POS terminal operator can be notified if a token is jammed in the token dispenser or if the token dispenser is empty.

Abstract: A sheet brake improves laying sheets off onto a stack in the take-off unit of a sheet-fed rotary printing press. The sheet brake is provided with a crank drive that generates a back-and-forth stroke by way of a synchronized drive mechanism at the rate traveled by the sheets. The rear portion of each sheet is forced by suction against a suction strip provided on the brake so that the sheet is braked while being stretched and then lowered onto the top of the stack. The suction strip has a groove arranged such that the sheet is braked and stretched as the suction strip works in conjunction with an operation of a take over gripper to accurately guide the sheet to the stack.

Abstract: Container diverter apparatus and method for displacement of selected containers on a conveyer for such purposes as rejection, sorting and the like. In accordance with the invention, a servo controlled actuator is positioned adjacent to the stream of containers on the conveyer, so as to be able to push selected containers to a different position across the width of the conveyer. The servo controlled actuator is controlled by a commanded position waveform, which may be tailored to the containers being deflected and which may be readily changed for different containers by use of a look-up table. Detection of the precise initial position of each container on the conveyer allows initial servoing of the actuator to a predetermined distance from the container prior to initiation of the ejection waveform, resulting in fast and precise displacement of selected containers in a highly reliable and very repeatable manner. Various embodiments are disclosed.

Abstract: A device for selecting cut paperboard blanks has two series of drive belts detining two paths tor the blanks, namely an upper path and a lower path each of which is defined between drive belts. The upper and lower paths diverge from each other in the device. A flap that is disposed where the paths diverge from each other is pivotally mounted about a downstream shaft and is capable of occupying two positions, namely, a lower position in which the blanks are fed to the upper path and an upper position in which the blanks are fed to the lower path. Each of the paths has an upstream portion from the flap and a downstream portion from the flap and each of the paths is more steeply inclined relative to the horizontal in one of its upstream and downstream portions than in the other of its upstream and downstream portions.

Abstract: The present invention provides communication servers at each device in a fueling environment and connecting the servers to a common network. The network may be a local network or a largely remote network, such as the Internet. Preferably, in either embodiment, primary communications between these devices and any devices accessible via the Internet use the hypertext transfer protocol (HTTP) and hypertext markup language (HTML). In particular, each device server is adapted to facilitate real-time access between the device server and the remote device upon access of a particular page, script or function. In particular, the present invention relates to embedding executable content onto an HTML page so that when the page is loaded into an HTML browser after being accessed, the executable content starts running automatically.

Abstract: A paper guide mechanism for guiding a movement of a paper in a printer includes a frame body having a lower roller and mounted in the printer, and a paper guide having an upper roller cooperating with the lower roller for guiding therebetween the paper, in which the upper roller is parallelly displaced with respect to the lower roller for biasing the paper in order that the paper can be guided through the paper guide smoothly. The paper guide further has an elastic rod being integrally formed with the paper guide and the elastic rod includes a retaining part to rotatably retain a shaft of the upper roller. The retaining part can have a retaining channel having an opening through which the shaft of the upper roller is received in the channel.

Abstract: A device is disclosed for storing a stream of a plurality of thin flexible objects, such as newspapers or similar printed materials, which is constructed from a number of generally parallel conveyor sections arranged in a number of vertical columns. The conveyor sections in each column are connected to one another by diverter belts located at the ends of the columns and the last conveyor section in one column is connected to the first conveyor section in an adjacent column by an offset transfer conveyor. In operation, a lapped stream of objects is fed into the input of the storage device travels in a serpentine manner along all of the interconnected conveyor sections in a first column, across the transfer conveyor to a second column where the process is repeated. The remaining columns are traversed in the same manner until the stream reaches the end of the last conveyor.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a sheet conveying apparatus comprising a separating mechanism and a conveying mechanism. The separating mechanism separates a plurality of sheets to convey it one by one. The separating mechanism applies a friction force to the sheet to be conveyed in a direction opposite to the sheet conveying direction. The separating mechanism has a plurality of separating members disposed in a direction perpendicular to the sheet conveying direction. The conveying mechanism receives and conveys the sheet separated by the separating mechanism. The conveying mechanism has a plurality of conveying rollers disposed in a direction perpendicular to the sheet conveying direction. An outermost profile width of the conveying rollers in a direction perpendicular to the sheet conveying direction is smaller than that of the separating rollers.

Abstract: A two-armed transfer robot includes first and second arm mechanisms each having a handling member for carrying a workpiece.First to third shafts associated with the arm mechanisms are coaxially supported by a stationary base frame for rotation about a first axis. The first arm mechanism has a pantograph assembly including a first arm, an outer link, a pair of intermediate links and an inner link. The first arm carries the outer link for rotation about a second axis. The outer link carries each intermediate link for rotation about a third axis. The third axes are spaced outward from the second axis. The second axis is located between the third axes as viewed circumferentially about the first axis. The first arm mechanism also has rotation-transmitting members and connecting members. The second arm mechanism is substantially identical to the first arm mechanism. The first and the second handling members are vertically spaced from each other to avoid interference with each other.

Abstract: In a mail inserter machine including at least one subassembly with a component driven in reciprocating fashion, an apparatus for inserting a sheet into an envelope. The apparatus comprises a movable gripper jaw assembly, an envelope vacuum cup assembly, an envelope opener assembly including a nozzle in communication with a gaseous fluid supply source, and an insertion assembly. An electrical control circuit is adapted to issue electrical control signals to the respective assemblies, in such manner that the occurrence and duration of the control signals determine relative periods of operation of the assemblies during a cycle of operation of the apparatus and over a range of speeds of the apparatus.

Abstract: A conversion frame mounts to pre-existing bolt holes in a conventional USPS tilt-tray carriage with bolts that extend into the holes which previously supported vertical axis rollers for the mechanical drive tilt-tray carriage. The conversion frame has a forward foot and a rear foot, both of which connect to a ferromagnetic driving plate. The feet elevate a connection platform above the driving plate, and provide clearance for the rotation of four positioning rollers which extend sidewardly from the platform on protruding ears. The conversion kit allows the rapid change-over of a conventional mechanical drive tilt-tray sorter system to a LIM drive system with maximum re-use of parts.

Abstract: An expandable cassette for use with device to support a sheet that is fed into from a communication machinery. The expandable tray may include a first tray and a second tray mounted on the first sheet support so that the second tray can be rotated around a shaft that is attached to tray in the direction that paper is discharged from the image forming device. A third tray may be slidably mounted on the second tray in such a manner that the third tray is moveable back and forth along direction that paper is discharged from the image forming apparatus.

Abstract: Sheet-guiding device assembly includes at least one sheet hold-downer disposed on a movable protective guard.

Abstract: A paper feeding mechanism holds a stack of print paper in pressure contact with a paper pick-up roller. The paper pick-up roller feeds the print paper out of the tray one page at a time when the paper pick-up roller is rotated. The paper feeding mechanism has first and second supporting surfaces. The first supporting surface holds the stack of print paper from behind a back surface of the print paper. The first supporting surface is at a second angle .theta. 2 with the horizontal direction such that the print paper slides along the first supporting surface to the second supporting surface with the aid of the gravity of the print paper. The second supporting surface supports the stack of print paper thereon. The second supporting surface is inclined at a first angle .theta. 1 with a horizontal direction such that a leading edge of each page of the print paper abuts the second supporting surface and slides toward the rotating paper pick-up roller with the aid of a gravity of the print paper.

Abstract: A device for individualizing and feeding individual conveying carriers into a revolving hanging conveyor system. The individualizing device contains a rotatably driven spindle provided with grooves on the spindle's surface, wherein the pitch of each groove increases in the direction of conveyance. The feed device includes the individualizing device and a transfer conveyor, wherein the speed of conveyance of the transfer conveyor is adjustable.

Abstract: This invention relates to a substantially circular tablet dispenser component system which may be adapted for a variable day start of a prescribed periodic tablet regimen. Also provided are a tablet dispenser kit, a tablet packge adapted for filling the tablet dispenser system, methods of filling the tablet dispenser of the invention and methods of administering a prescribed regimen of medication using the tablet dispenser system of the invention.

Abstract: A scraper constituting a blade which is yieldingly deformable in such a manner as to be curved from a linear state to an arch shape is held by a holding groove of a holder. The holding groove of the holder is formed by a substantially parallel rail like holding groove which is gradually apart from an axis extending to a transverse direction of the belt as the holding wall goes from both ends of the belt to a central portion thereof. The scraper comprises a leg portion inserted into the holding groove of the holder, an extended standing portion projecting from the holding groove so as to be in contact with the surface of the belt and a head portion formed by thickening a thickness of said extended standing portion more than a thickness of the leg portion toward a returning direction of the belt, in which a jaw portion projecting beyond a side surface of the leg portion is formed by a lower portion of said head portion.

Abstract: A screw feeding apparatus, which is designed for use with power tools, has a casing for holding screws, a platform slidably disposed in the casing for supporting and advancing the screw, a chamber assembly and a clamp assembly. In particular, the chamber assembly has an elongated cylinder for guiding the screw into a work surface. The clamp assembly is situated in the chamber assembly so that each screw from the casing is properly positioned for engaging a screwdriver bit. The screw feeding apparatus also includes a loading sleeve coupled to a rear cylinder mounted on the rear end of the chamber assembly. When the loading sleeve is retracted with respect to the rear cylinder, a screw is loaded into the chamber assembly.

Abstract: A discharged-sheet table device mounted to an image forming apparatus near the sheet discharging port for receiving a recorded sheet discharged from the sheet discharging port of the image forming apparatus.

Abstract: A separator assembly operative to separate and feed individual documents from a storage tray of an inset feeder apparatus. The separator assembly including an adjustment assembly configured to adjustably position the separator roller relative to the separator stone. The separator assembly further includes a leverage assembly configured to raise the separator roller from an adjusted position to a height suitable for clearing a paper jam and to return the separator roller to the adjusted position relative to the separator stone. The leverage assembly and adjustment assembly both having respective operator actuated mechanisms positioned atop one of the first and second side portions of the feeder apparatus.